24 December 2008

Merry Christmas!

(Farmer Joe in his overalls. :D)

Happy Holidays to the people I love most! My family and my friends!

It’s hard to believe that no matter what situations are thrown your direction, life keeps on going without even skipping a beat. It almost seems unfair.

For me, this year started out with a flight to Nigeria in January. I had a long layover in London so was able to take the underground sub into town and see a bit of England.

Let me first explain why I was on a plane to Africa in the first place…

After my two trips to Haiti, I had big dreams of starting my own orphanage there (Haiti). I had no idea where to start or even what everyday life at an orphanage was truly like. So I said to myself that before I go trying to start my own orphanage, I might just want to volunteer in one first. Anyway, for those of you who don’t know, my patience with large quantities of children wears thin quicker than most. “But I’ll be all the way over in Africa, I will love those children there as if they were my own,” I thought to myself. Did you know that regardless of which continent you are on you’re still the same person? I had no idea.

Anyway, I ended up at the largest one I could find, 200 children out in a village called Xtutulu. I was under the impression it was English speaking, but most spoke broken English or Xgalla. Very hard to communicate and I’ve always been horrible at charades anyhow.

My first day in Nigeria started out with a broken tooth and a scar on my chin that will last me the rest of my life. I wont go into those details because it is all written in earlier post. It didn’t take me long though to figure out that starting an orphanage was no longer my dream in life. I ended up staying at a bible college there in Xnyigba and helping out in different areas.

My best friend Amanda eventually joined me there and we have so many great stories. I must say that those three months were some of the most difficult times in my life. But I learned so much about God, myself, and just the world in general; that any tough situation will make you a better person if you let it. I am so blessed to have experienced Nigeria as I have and I wouldn’t change one day for another.

When Amanda and I returned to the U.S. in April we took a trip to Mexico with our friend Randy. For years I had said I wanted to learn how to surf, but I never made it a priority because I just figured I would “do it later”. I came to the reality while in Africa that later might not come and that I shouldn’t always count on having a tomorrow. So off to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico we went for sun, surfing, and relaxation. I think that was probably the best week of my life!

In August I traveled with the Friend Ships crew from Lake Charles, Louisiana to Los Angeles, California to help out with a yacht that was donated to them. We were supposed to sail the new ship that Friend Ships has in Seattle around the Panama Canal and back to the home port in Louisiana, but hurricane Ike hit before we ever made it that far and plans were altered. I did have a great couple of months in Cali working on the hull of the yacht and surfing my little heart out! Have I ever mentioned how much I love surfing?!

It’s December 14th today and I just returned from a trip to Idaho. My best friend Amanda, whom I’ve mentioned above, just got married yesterday and I was able to spend a bit of time with her and be a part of her beautiful wedding. I of course was happy to see her marry the man of her dreams, but also wish life could have stayed the same and we could have gallivanted around the world for the rest of our lives.

I’m looking forward to this upcoming year and all it will hold. If everything works out accordingly I already have plans that will last me until 2010. I’m hoping to go to this YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Discipleship Training School in Australia this next October. It’s a five-month program and I’ll be able to surf and learn about God all at the same time. Now I can’t think of anything better in life than that! I’m super excited and am hoping to make enough money this winter/summer to have it paid for before I even go. Between working on a cruise ship (which I hope to be starting in January) and fishing in Alaska this shouldn’t be a problem.

I hope each of you have a wonderful Christmas and a better year than the one before.

Love and Hugs,

Danette Ann

(The siblings and my two nieces.)

16 December 2008

Amanda & Chad

Well, I was planning on having all these beautiful pictures of Amanda and Chads wedding to post, but I didn't really have any free time to be taking pictures. Hopefully later on down the road some good pictures will show up and I'll be able to post some more.

Amanda and I pre wedding. She was the most gorgeous bride EVER! They had such a beautiful white wedding, with tons of candles and lots of friends and family.

I was so happy to be there to see her marry the man of her dreams! Of course I wish we could have forever gallivanted around the world together, but all seasons in life change as time goes along.
A assured me that she wasn't going to fall off the face of the earth just because she's gotten married. So our DnA of God ministry shall continue on. Whew, that was a close one!

I thought I would add one of their engagement photos since I didn't get any good wedding ones.

11 December 2008

My 23rd Birthday!

I have just had the best birthday of all the twenty-three years I’ve lived! For some reason I usually hate my birthdays and I’m not quite sure why. Anyways, this was definitely my best!

Before I left for Idaho my parents got me the COOLEST laptop case EVER! My mom made me my special birthday cake that I have every year and then my best friend Debi sent me a present in the mail.

I just wanted to tell you all how amazing Amanda is. She is getting married in three days, yet she set a whole day aside just for me, because it was my birthday and she was determined to make it special for me. And that she did indeed.

To start the day off, Amanda’s parents Bill and Christy came over to the house A and I are staying at and left me a gift. Then we went out to lunch at Chapalas Mexican Restaurant and had a great time. I got to sport the sombrero hat while listening to the “happy birthday” song and eating fried ice cream. :D

We went tanning; A got us a pedicure, hot tubing and so much more! Then we went out for pizza and A’s grandma made me this cake in the picture!

(Wishing for all my dreams to come true.)

I’m just amazed at the incredible people I have the pleasure of knowing!

I wanted to say thanks to everyone for the phone calls, texts, e-mails and all the facebook/myspace messages! I had close to a hundred messages! You all have no idea how much that meant to me! So thanks so very much for making my birthday so special! Love you all!

08 December 2008

Idaho!

I just wanted to let you all know that I’m in Idaho with Amanda having a blast! A is getting married next Saturday (December 13th) so we’re working on the final details and decorations of the wedding. Fun! (And I’m not even kidding! I love weddings!)

A with her “Bride to be” crown, Andrea and I.

This was A’s super cool bridal shower cake that her friend Lori made. Absolutely amazing! And check out the super cool mice! I loved them!

Amanda and I laughing over the bouquet I think. I’m not sure what exactly was so funny, but I like this picture. It’s so happy. :D

So, I have to tell you how excited I was last night! We were hanging out in the hot springs, in the dark, there were tiki torches and it was snowing! Hanging out in a hot spring while it was snowing was incredible! I have pictures, just not at the moment. I'll post them later...

And I’ll have wedding photos to come… :D

24 November 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!

(My two B-E-A-U-tiful nieces! Rebekah and Emma!)

Well, I haven't made a post in a while because my computer had been typing backwards on me. I know, imagine how frustrating that is! It gets old rather quickly.

Anyways, I love Thanksgiving! I always make a list of the things I'm most thankful for and it always reminds me of how truly blessed I really am! I really don't have many things to frown about if I think about it.

There for a while I was starting to hate life, or actually not starting, but hating life... After my uncle Carl died, it made me realize that seasons come and go in life and that, yeah sure, it's not all enjoyable, but that life is NEVER that bad... Period... The more you dwell on the things that aren't working out for you the worse it seems to get. However, it does work both ways, so when you dwell on the positive things in life, the more you start to realize how many good things you actually obtain...

So, I for one am starting to count my blessings, and I now walk around with a huge smile on my face for no apparent reason.. :D Gosh, I love smiles!

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. ~Philippians 4:8

30 October 2008

Beautiful Arkansas

In the last year or so I just haven't been sure which direction to go with my life. When I was in California I said if I could just surf and be a beach bum for the rest of my life, I would be pretty happy. So a couple of the guys there would talk about my "Beach Girl Ministry". I'm not sure what it all entailed but it sounded like a good idea.

Anyways, there obviously aren't many beaches in Arkansas so that kind of flew out the window.

A couple weeks ago I was talking to one of my friends online and he was telling me about this YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Waves DTS (Disciple Training School) in Australia.

It's five to six months of training where they teach you about God and surfing all at the same time! How cool is that!

I don't know at this point how serious I am about going. But I think I might start working in that direction and see where I end up.

My best Friend Amanda is getting married in December so I'll be in Idaho for a couple weeks for that. Then in January I plan to have a job lined out, probably on a cruise ship again, to start saving for this school or the Dream Center program in California. Who knows what will happen.

As for now I'm working at JC Penneys again. It's obviously not a bad job because this makes three times now. I was so happy my (wonderful) boss Rusty hired me back and only for a month too! I'm so blessed!

I did move to Springdale (which is about an hours drive from my parents) and am living with one of my friends here in town. It works out nicely for me now because I get to go "home" and see Joey on my days off.

Well, I think that's all for now, we'll see where the wind takes me from here. Ha!

26 October 2008

How Patriotic...


Well, election is only eight days away... And I hope you're voting. Because as they say, those who don't vote can't complain.

Huntly Brown says, "that whoever wins this election will have his prayer support", and I would have to say the same.

I have been so very interested in this election. Normally I could care less about anything political, but these last couple of months I have been doing a little research; mainly on our man Barack Hussein Obama. Who accidentally said "my Muslim faith". Oops, that happens to me all the time when I'm talking about my Christian faith.

Did you know that he is friends with Mr. Ayers? If you don't know who Bill Ayers is; in 1969 he co-founded the radical organization the Weather Underground. Ayers and the Weatherman were responsible for 30 bombing aimed at destroying the defense and security infrastructures of the U.S.. "I don't regret setting bombs," said Ayers in 2001 after 9/11, "I feel we didn't do enough"
Hello! And he's buddies with Obama?

I received this forward from one of my aunts and thought I would share it.

'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts!

If you're interested in reading what Huntly Brown has to say about "Why I Can't Vote for Obama", here's that link:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/huntleybrown.asp

13 October 2008

In Loving Memory of My Uncle Carl

This is a very difficult post to write so I'm going to keep it fairly short. If you saw my previous post you would have seen the obituary for my uncle Carl Bjornstad. He lived just four miles down the road from my family in Arkansas, so even everyday life won't be the same without him.

My earliest memory of Carl was when I was about 3 or 4. He was playing ball with my older sister Lynn and I up in North Dakota. We were in the hallway of my aunt Laona's house and I just remember having such a great time.

When I would come home to see my parents in Arkansas, Carl would always ask about what I had been up to and what I was doing next. He always listened to my stories about life and would tell me that he was proud of me.

He is already greatly missed by his family and friends. There will always be an empty hole where he should have been.

A lot of family came down for the funeral so I thought I would post some of those pictures.

(Uncle Ronnie, Aunt Sheila, Aunt Laona, Dad, Mom, Uncle Bobby, Aunt Nancy, Uncle Norman, Brother Luke, Cousin Travis, Brother-In-Law Robert, Grandpa Pete, Grandma Joyce, Sister Lynn, Niece Emma, Cousin Bobby, Niece Rebekah, Me, Sister Sarah, Cousin April and Brother Joseph.)

(The cousins, or some of them anyways.)

(I love my grandpa!)

(Joey taking time to smell the flowers)

If you think to remember the family in your prayers, it would be much appreciated.

Carl Dwayne Bjornstad


Carl Dwayne Bjornstad, 50, of Wesley Arkansas passed away 06 October 2008 at his home. He was born 05 November 1957 to Pete and Joyce Bjornstad in Cando, North Dakota

He accepted Jesus Christ as his savior in 1982. He worked in construction and loved the outdoors. He was a hard worker and always enjoyed visiting with people. He would always go out of his way to help people when it was needed.

Survivors are his wife of 26 years Mary Lue Bjornstad; One Son & Daughter-In-Law, Dale and Sarah Knott - Cotter, AR; One Daughter Kelsey Bjornstad - Fort Smith, AR; One Son of the home Casey Bjornstad; One Granddaughter Melody Knott – Cotter, AR; Parents Pete & Joyce Bjornstad - Cando, ND; Karen and Monte Anderson - Perham, MN; Norman Bjornstad – Maricopa - AZ; Bobby & Nancy Bjornstad – Carrington, ND; Sheila & Ron Hartl – Dickinson, ND; Laona & Garth Eggl - Cando, ND; Royce & Charlene Bjornstad – Wesley, AR

Funeral services were held at the Brashears Funeral Home in Huntsville Arkansas.

02 October 2008

Back in Arkansas

I find it difficult to keep track of my life and what I'm actually doing, so I can't even imagine how confusing it must be to try and follow along... What am I doing anyways?

Well, I'm not sure exactly, but I'm back in Arkansas again... ...I never made it to Washington or the Panama Canal like I thought, but spent the last two and a half months in California working on a yacht Friend Ships has there.

Did I say working? ...I meant surfing. Well, on the weekends at least.

(Have I mentioned how much I love surfing? ...This is actually a picture of my friend Damien.)

Anyways, I decided to return to Arkansas for a hundred different reasons. And none of them I feel like discussing here at the moment.

But instead of Seattle being our next stop, the trip was postponed and Friend Ships decided to do disaster response for hurricane Ike in Galveston. That means all the crew in California are now on their way back to Louisiana. I opted not to go this time around, but who knows what will happen in the future... ...Not me...

Here are a couple pictures of the love of my life!

(My little pumpkin Joey!)

(Isn't he a cutie! He just loves playing in the leaves.)

17 September 2008

Pulling Through...


Wow, life is tough…I know in my last post I said I’ve been going through a tough patch in life, but gosh, I’ve really been struggling since my trip to Africa.

While I was in Nigeria my life was flipped upside down. And that is an understatement! I went to Africa to tell the Nigerians that God loved them. And as it turned out, I didn’t even know that myself.

I was in my room one day (in Nigeria) searching my bible for something that said God loved me. Well, I ran into a scripture in the sixth chapter of Genesis. It was right before God was going to flood the earth and He said He was sorry He ever created man. I was angry! I was so angry at God and asked why the heck He even created us then… Why would God have created us when He knew how everything was going to turn out? And knew He was going to be sorry He created us?

…I didn’t get an answer…

I’ve been trying to figure out how God –the King of the universe could be Love when there is so much hurt in the world.... The kids at the orphanage in Nigeria, the ladies working the gravel pit or even a broken heart… How could God see that and not do anything about it?

…I don’t want to have my own children because I believe it is greater love for my unborn children (if that makes any since) that they are not brought into the world at all. (I'm not talking about abortion, I'm talking about not having kids at all.) I would never wish the pain of this world on anyone! (This is simply my own personal opinion that is liable to change next year or even tomorrow, because it seems I’m capable of changing my mind about everything more than the average person.)

So, how can God, being Love, send us to the world to deal with this pain? And how could a loving God send people to hell?

Well, I read awhile back in a book titled “A Time to Dance” that going to hell is our/my choice. God does not send people to hell. We make the decision for ourselves of where we go when we die and God simply just honors our choice… He didn’t make us robots, but actually loved us enough to give us a choice to follow Him or not.

We are given a free gift of eternal life with Christ (that we certainly don’t deserve). But it’s our choice whether we take it our not. God loves us so much that He gave us a choice!

I don’t have the answers to my questions above (so any input would help me so much!), but I do know that there are MANY people I love dearly. And I ask myself, “how do they know I love them?” Besides the fact that I have told them, do they have proof of my love? Or is it simply just believing? Is it just trusting even?

How do I know that Debi, Amanda, Rebekah or even my family love me? And I guess I know because they say they do and I trust them. Because we have a relationship and I can see it in their actions that they care…

So if that’s the case, than why would I not believe God when He says He loves me? (Ephesians 2:4-5, Ephesians 3:17-19, 1 John 4:10 & 16, Romans 5: 5-8, Jeremiah 31:3, 2 Thessalonians 2: 15-17 and the list continues.) Especially when He is unable to lie and actually sent his Son to die in the place of MY sins. Is there a greater love? ...I haven't heard of any.

So, I guess that's where the faith thing comes in. I know God loves me because it's evident in my life. But I wanted to be able to explain how I knew God loved me, to be able write it all out in some sort of a formula or something. But as I hear it's like trying to explain how God IS, always WAS and always will BE. And I won't even go there.

It seems like I would have had these questions figured out by now. But I guess it took being in Nigeria with nothing but God to realize that I really knew nothing about Him for myself, but only what I had been told.

24 August 2008

SURFING!

(My first surf board!)

Wow! Can I tell you all that I love surfing!

Life has been getting to me these past several weeks. Well, actually ever since returning from Africa, but these past couple of weeks especially. I wont go into the details because it’s really beside the whole point of this particular post. I’m writing because I can hardly contain my excitement about surfing!

Since arriving in California I’ve been able to surf every weekend, 3 of them actually, and just love it! Yesterday I was able to buy my own board and had such a wonderful time out on the water! I was out there surfing away and having the time of my life! I couldn’t not smile!


If you’ve been around me recently at all, you’d know that I write on my arm with a huge sharpy marker the word “smile”. It’s because I actually have to remind myself to do so.

Did you know that in Proverbs 29 it says, “where there is no vision, the people perish.”? I went to a church this morning called the Dream Center. Some of you have probably even heard of it before, they do huge outreaches in L.A.. But the pastor gave a message this morning about having a vision and a dream, that you will die without one. I’m not talking about a physical death, I’m talking about being dead while you’re still alive. The message hit me so hard and I realized that I have lost my dreams in life and I have lost my vision. You could ask me what I want to do with my life, and I will tell you that I have no idea. You can ask me where I want to go in life, and I will tell you that I have not a clue. You could even ask me what I love to do, and again I would tell you that there is absolutely nothing I love to do.

Well, I've found that surfing truly makes me smile, and I'm not going to stop there... I'm going to find a dream for my life and go after it! I'm going to find a passion in life and I want it to be built around God. Because He is my first love!

Friend Ships Crew

I just wanted to post a blog dedicated to all the Friend Ships crew out there, past, present or even future.

(Eating lunch on the stern of the Pearl 2008)

I was sitting down for lunch the other day with the 12 other crewmembers that are here in Los Angeles, and we were having a great time just laughing at everything and anything. It was just like having an overly large family.

So as I was sitting there it just dawned on me that I have met and know some AMAZING people!

It’s not every day you run into a fairly large group of people that, for the most part are walking the same path as yourself and that will except you just the way you are. Sure we have our bad days and don’t get along all the time, but in the end the situation is usually resolved and both have come to an understanding somewhere in the middle.

So, to all the Friend Ships crew, thank you for being you, for being real, for being a friend and for making my life so much better.

Love you all!

Danette


(Spirit Messhall 2006)

(Hope lounge 2007)

(Israel 2006)

I wish that I could add everyones picture to this post! But I know so many wonderful people and the pictures would just go on...

08 August 2008

Los Angeles, California

Wow, I almost forgot how much I loved the beach/ocean. Is that not the most amazing thing you have ever seen? It’s absolutely beautiful! Gorgeous!

The waves were crashing on the shore and the sound of the rocks hitting each other and rubbing together was so beautiful. I could have stayed there forever and just listened to it.

There wasn’t any surfing that I saw but I’m not giving up that easily. California and surfing just go together like cake and icing. I actually dream about surfing every night, and the good thing about it is, is that I just continue to improve. I’m nearly a professional now. (In my dreams only.) :D

Well, I have obviously departed Lake Charles, Louisiana, because you wont find this scenery anywhere close. I was there for two weeks helping Captain Stan with odd projects before the Integrity (vessel in Seattle) crew is able to journey west. Teri, Stuart and I made the 26hour drive yesterday and have been resting up today. It was actually a good trip and we only had one blowout. We came earlier than the rest of the crew (who will be here in three or four days) to get the Friend Ships warehouse here in Los Angeles cleaned up a bit.

Teri took me out so see the Pearl today. Which is the yacht in the middle pictured above. We’ll be here in Los Angeles for a while (hopefully no more than a month) giving her a little TLC and then we’ll be towing her to Lake Charles with the Integrity. Integrity also needs some love so we’ll be working on here for probably longer than I’m imagining.

In a previous post I said I would be putting in my request to name the vessel in Seattle the Pink Pearl, but it was to late by the time I did, because Friend Ships had already picked out their names. I thought it was kind of funny though that they happened to name the yacht the Pearl. Anyways, I told Capt. Stan I would be referring to her as the Pink Pearl from here on out because it is such a better name. :D

23 July 2008

My Little Surfer/Sailor Man!

Well, I wanted to post one more blog with pictures of my sweet-little-man Joseph before heading off in another direction.

At midnight tonight I'll be departing Arkansas and on my way to Louisiana. It takes me nearly 10 hours to make the drive when I do, but I'll be on my first greyhound bus ride and wont arrive in Lake Charles until nearly 20 hours later. I'm not looking forward to the ride but am going to be on the lookout for interesting stories.

This is Joey watching the dog run around the yard. He really gets a kick out of that. And he's wearing his little pirate outfit that I think is just the cutest.. :D

Playing in the creek is an everyday activity; that I'm going to miss very much! We have so much fun!

Smiles from Joe!
And my little surfer man! Before going to the pool.

I hate that life is full of goodbyes! Because one cannot possible know my much I'm going to miss Joey while I'm gone! (tears).

"No matter where you go or what you do, around the corner is yet another goodbye."

09 July 2008

Hello Lord ~ By Sara Groves

(Debi's photo of the Ashdod beach in Israel)

Hello Lord, it's me your child
I have a few things on my mind
Right now I'm faced with big decisions
And I'm wondering if you have a minute, cuz
Right now I don't hear so well
And I was wondering if you could speak up

I know that you tore the veil
So I could sit with you in person
And hear what you're saying but
Right now, I just can't hear you.

I don't doubt your sovereignty
I doubt my own ability to
Hear what you're saying
And to do the right thing
And I desperately want to do the right thing
But right now I don't hear so well
And I was wondering if you could speak up

I know that you tore the veil
So I could sit with you in person
And hear what you're saying but
Right now, I just can't hear you.

And somewhere in the back of my mind
I think you are telling me to wait
And though patience has never been mine
Lord, I will wait to hear from you
Oh Lord, I'm waiting on you

Right now I don't hear so well
And I was wondering if you could speak up

I know that you tore the veil
So I could sit with you in person
And hear what you're saying but
Right now, I think you're whispering

02 July 2008

Just an Update

(Joseph and my littlest niece Emma)

Well, I was going to wait to post a new blog until I had my life all planned out... But it's turning out to take longer than I was expecting.

I'm still sailing through the Panama Canal as officer at some point this summer/fall. We have to be back to the USA by the end of October, so the time is drawing near... I be feel'n it in me bones...

Amanda's in Alaska fishing near Bristol Bay (different than where we fished the previous years). Unfortunately the site was only hiring one person so I'm still in Arkansas working for my dad (Ha, sort of). I still have my fingers crossed in hopes that I'll be getting a call this week from one of two "Fish-site-owners" that are keeping their eyes open for a job for me this summer.. (Salmon commercial fishing season started this week.) Fred, the owner of the site I originally worked for said I could just show up in Alaska and he was sure I could find a job. He assured me he wouldn't let me starve. I don't think that's the best way to go about getting a job though, especially because Capt Stan wants me in Louisiana right now.

If things work out like I am wishing for, I'll fish until the beginning of August and then meet the Friend Ships crew in Seattle to sail around to Lake Charles. I'm guessing that things aren't going to work out quite that nicely though. But I guess can always hope.

So, here are some pictures of "my" baby that I'm going to miss SO much while I'm gone!

Joey getting a little beard trimmage. :D

And Joey being Joey!

This picture is for Amanda... Because she thinks it's so cool my family has a pet deer... Her name's Jasmin and Joey always calls her when he sees her. It's so cute...

12 June 2008

*Ting *Ting *Ting

(Special sunset in Lake Charles)

I have an announcement! (No, I'm not getting married!)

I'm hitting the road/sea again... I'm headed down to Friend Ships once again (in Louisiana) where I'll then travel to California with a crew to dry dock (I believe) a yachtish-boat-sea going thing (I really only have a vague idea)... Anyways, from there we'll either sail or drive (again, I really have no idea what I'm talking about) to Seattle where we'll spend some time (no idea how long) preparing to sail our "new" ship through the Panama Canal. I'm super excited about the Panama Canal and can't wait to experience it!

I don't think the vessel has a name yet, so I'll be putting my request in that we name her the Pink Pearl. :D

Then from there, to the island Roatan for some time.. (Don't know what were doing there or how long will be there)... ...And now that I think about it, some more information might be a good idea... ...But like it's always said (with a Kiwi accent),"you need to remain flexible". Because plans are always subject to change...

Anyways, I was assuming it would take about a month to sail around and through that Panama Canal and we'd be home around the end of July-beginning of August. Capt Stan actually laughed at me and then began to assure me he would probably have me home by Christmas.... "Christmas?!" I say. I was kind of thinking of settling down somewhere this summer/fall, you know, grow some roots and stay awhile.. But here I am, again, blown with the wind and off to another adventure... ...How does this happen?

I am excited... A little stressed... Five months is a very long time. Especially without seeing my little brother Joseph... And though I am trying to sweet talk Capt Stan into letting my friend Amanda go, I don't know how that's all going to work out...

Life's crazy... I guess you just have to take everything with a smile...

As time moves along, I'll fill you in on what's really going down... Thanks for taking the time to read this...

01 June 2008

Arkansas Fun!

My little sister Sarah came "home" for a couple days (from Missouri) and gave Joey his first horse ride!

As you can see, they both had a great time!

Joey! He loves three-wheeler rides! Dad usually gives him a ride everyday and he was a little sleepy this evening.

My friend Gabriel from Oregon came to Fayetteville with a team for a Track and Field meet. He's a coach so was here coaching a pole vaulter.

We actually met in Alaska a couple years ago when we were commercial fishing. Gabe was fishing for the site neighboring the one Amanda and I were working for, and by the messages in a bottle A and I sent out we made a couple of friends. It was great to see him again and I was able to watch pole vaulting for the first time... It's actually very cool.

(Trent and Ashley)

A couple random pictures for you of some of my friends and I hanging out at the "Old Post Office" in Fayetteville.

(Ashley and Nick)

26 May 2008

It's all About Joey!

I'm one of those people that never understood how EVERYONE had the cutest kid in the world. And I'm actually not a huge fan of looking at thousands of baby pictures of the same kid... ...Because it's just another kid to me. Well, I may have turned into one of those people that think they have the cutest kid EVER... He's not actually mine, but he does call me mommy and I would take him in a heartbeat. (He calls our mom, momma and it's just so cute.)

Sweet? ...Or not so sweet? (You've got to love the raised eyebrows!)

He's definitely sweet!

You are not going to believe that Joey actually loves onions more than anything else. As you can see from the picture we were trying to bribe him with a Reese's bar, but he wouldn't even take the bait.


I broke a jar the other day and apparently didn't get all the glass off the floor. So a couple days later Joey got a piece of it stuck in his foot. I gave him a couple suckers to "make-it-all-better". (I know, I know, I would make such a horrible mother...) But it did take his mind off his foot for a second, until I took the suckers away anyways. He has this thing with smelling everything.

Joey's first real bubble bath! He wasn't quite sure what to do.

Did I mention he loves lotion?

Joseph LOVES being outside! So anytime he's indoors he will bring me either his shoes or mine, and then grab my hand and try to pull me outside. The face he gives it's practically impossible to say no to... So we spend a lot of time running around outside.