tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69522185873849137202024-03-14T01:35:36.217+08:00To the ends of the earthby Roy & Jennifer AlmasyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17433811950980575524noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-11347480822093442052012-01-15T08:58:00.005+08:002012-01-15T10:44:24.067+08:00Baby Almasy<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left; ">Jen here. It is time--Hallelujah! A time I have looked forward to since I was a young girl (not sure why...maybe God?). A time we have looked forward to eagerly.God has blessed us with a baby! </span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBxqnCaeM5khw-Hl_K6Dwv-Bb5TTmKCNNprpjeq9W4CsDyXqQ0uIO3rgK8U_SkVB_R0gNCXbov_i9hIvO8uvvo1UgdrkwGPe7w-vHCBtdMbcerhMmv3gnBMBzxOIZWF5H1OeQapxTz5g/s400/2011-1223BabyA+19+Weeks+14.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697657276014691234" /><div>God is so gracious. He has placed us in an amazing, authentic community of people who need Jesus and who LOVE Jesus and long to serve Him with their lives. Many of these dear friends and acquaintances have children (new babies to teenagers), and Roy and I have had a front row seat to their families, discipline, struggles and general life with kids. Over the past year and a half I have learned so much through the women about being a wife, mother and mother-to-be. Through all of it I have concluded: Wow, having kids really is a huge commitment and sacrifice, yet, I still want to have kids, to the glory of God. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>So, here are the facts: </div><div>Baby is due around May 18th, 2012 (day before my little sis' high school graduation!)</div><div>In the photo I am 19 weeks along, but now I am 22 weeks along (40 weeks is the entire typical pregnancy)<br /></div><div>Things are going well--no complications or problems this far. Praise Jesus!</div><div>I feel the baby moving several times a day--little pokes and prods from the inside. So interesting and fun!!</div><div><br /></div><div>More updates soon!</div>Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-509947026451263972011-08-16T14:01:00.008+08:002011-08-17T13:41:06.087+08:00The EdgeJen here. "You are in bear country" WHAT??? This sign might as well read "Where your every childhood nightmare comes true".
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYD8sjgas5tzAW_tZKfwV6SCISQytqYk_ZRFaXpRUrepchkfFI8-MflqFb6tjKyNls1JL_Giho7PZleNN8LpKS-kRtmvqSF9xHrOvWfQomgDH3DlSX2YFn3YHw0or3GF19B25Az6mounY/s1600/DSC01656.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYD8sjgas5tzAW_tZKfwV6SCISQytqYk_ZRFaXpRUrepchkfFI8-MflqFb6tjKyNls1JL_Giho7PZleNN8LpKS-kRtmvqSF9xHrOvWfQomgDH3DlSX2YFn3YHw0or3GF19B25Az6mounY/s400/DSC01656.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641329975312494162" /></a>Wild animals have been in my nightmares since I was young. Wolves, cougars, dinosaurs (thanks, Jurassic Park), bears and the dark sum up most of my scariest dreams. I grew up in rural Idaho, so these things were a reality (except the dinos...). <div>
<br /></div><div>Living in WA is a blast, but what if we run into a wild animal? </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Just the other night Roy, Dale and I watched the movie "The Edge". I chose it (it was <b>my</b> fault!). It is about three city guys who crash in middle-of-nowhere Alaska and while they not only need to survive and wander their way back to civilization, they also have a "ravenous bear" stalking them. This huge, scary, Kodiak bear eats one of the guys alive and continues stalking the other two men because "once the bears got the taste of humans, that's all he wants". Yikes.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>And the next day we went on a hike in the mountains....Praise be to God, there were no ravenous Kodiak bears stalking us...</div><div>
<br /></div><div>That evening I was so afraid. I was nervous. I kept thinking about the bear in the movie and wondering if there was a bear outside (in the city?), maybe one looking at me right now! Ahhh!!! </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Bad place to be. I needed Jesus. I ran to God's Word, searched for the word "fear" and wrote down every verse that applied. By "applied" I don't mean every verse where God told people not to fear the Kodiak bears... Verses where God comforted His people and protected and defended them. Verses about trusting in God and not fearing those who can kill the body. Verses about fearing God, and about God as our Refuge and Shield.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Reading God's Word brought me back to Earth, reminding me of my AWESOME God who is head over all creation, who made all things, who shut the mouths of the lions to save Daniel and who made the donkey speak to Balaam. God is so much bigger than I make him out to be. He loves you, and me intimately. He is able to calm all my fears and defend me. He works all things for <b>my good</b> and His glory. What peace to rest in Jesus. Amen!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Enjoy a few of the verses:</div><div>
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span></div><span><span><div><span><span>Deuteronomy 31:8 "It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you</span></span><span><span>; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed."</span></span></div></span></span><span><span><div><span><span>
<br /></span></span></div>Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
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<br /></span></span><div><span><span>Psalm 33:18-21 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
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<br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
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<br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.
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<br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>Jeremiah 17:7-8 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. </span></span><span><span>He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
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<br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>Lamentations 3:57 You came near when I called on you; you said, 'Do not fear!'
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<br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
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<br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? [fn] And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
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<br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.</span></span></div>Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-85577498880633816242011-08-16T13:17:00.006+08:002011-08-16T14:00:30.781+08:00Sis Visit Part 2<div style="text-align: left;">Jen here. Here are several photos from Sarah's visit. Enjoy!</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwfkCL7ziWKs_BovY-Ust-Oaeyfo8aYE-N3yWbhb63GkBXgNgboStQLX2i5JZy4GtFjf_A7kgWcxJE1FPbDuaLfTZRHfiUQiwIma8ThFZ0Cvd9zw7dksk715kH4dw9sqAb4Rw9EGZdHE/s400/IMG_6854.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641319937319930962" /><div style="text-align: left;">The Fremont troll! You can't see it, but the troll is holding a real VW Beetle in his left hand. (Those people are sitting on the troll's right hand!)</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvcqk7M1MREHWYdTl8RJbzhG0w3rCgM4JouXVlZsQhdsgJvcYwJhbDG85AeDJC6EG1h6I_bJOMd5yelPnA7q6PRNfDVVJamDSkk1cGZIPdPDVIxj0XIQycECylXDAxb42rd1RxxHPQxA/s400/IMG_6879.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641320440452465186" /><div>The view from the Space Needle is awesome--downtown Seattle, the Puget Sound, the Olympic mountain range, the Cascade mountain range and Bellevue (see the skyscrapers in the distance).</div><div>
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<br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1pBi_vgduy66sHDejO7GTl08gX8-t8p0clsHBVxZFy9RctziqI1wbkaDVVTgP0ITNDedRdJMa8yQ9Yq8cAb_ICDERnhV6jCZIV4emAG5_ltO8YlLqZHg3lT2zigJ5IfzdjIEfBvzQHw/s400/IMG_6896.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641322420330202642" /></div><div>I introduced Sarah to Bubble Tea and a little shop I frequent to speak a little Cantonese to the owners and buy my beloved bubble tea. She got a fruit smoothie with mango jelly (similar to jello) in it...I got honey green tea with bubbles. Yum!</div><div>
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<br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGN6u9YxuwF_uM0WLHMTPXggKqTz0lWRLc-MnZQ-pxTMMxCnn0Uy4W4is5-3pUqVQiAaUDjcGeukCuv5LEFPf00c2dFKrPZXGHKp868rvzHDc3NITVRzvJRIcap0LMD5SWoWAuqNCP940/s400/DSC01621.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641322434354817154" /></div><div>On the weekend, Dan, Sarah, Roy and I took a hike on Mountain Loop Highway--Heather Lake. The last 0.5 mile was snow covered and there was an "aggressive mist" for most of the hike, but it was a blast! As you can see in the photo, we looked like drowned rats, but God's creation is totally worth it. Roy and I had (hiking) sandals on so our feet thanked us as we left the snow area. :)</div><div>
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<br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAI4xVw6DQQWrY8tbgHlTXHhIVEyL1S3_Pr4EbBbOq-nEcgrRO0MzIxhP4xmf2OR7kotGfoPmHdXeDU4wSb6eBeMSZYC-fBHx_-6qucL_do5YVBipLwVf1YXF0Wkg7omHuYl0-yTBHIqI/s400/IMG_7138.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641322423889877762" /><div style="text-align: left;">Roy, Sarah and I went hiking at Mount Rainier. This was in June, which some in Seattle call June-uary, and this year the snow melt is especially slow, so most hiking trails were super snow-covered (one particular area we wanted to go to was covered in 20 feet of snow!). We were able to hike a lower trail and enjoy the green and pines of the Pacific Northwest, and experience a little snow on the ground. Fun!</div></div><div style="text-align: left;">
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<br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqXVTwocgI5qK9DgIVCNeKeQBYxmfZT94J09gOOhyphenhyphen77NJAA70mXZaD4L9jMVzXaw1yLMCR1qV96XtgS2fr3jYCpNg4obHCfcm5A9HFa3p9G7AObbLrdZ1kjm_9DsMQ1XAIilBV4lxdlc/s400/DSC01551.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641329189457353842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div></div><div>What a joy it was to have Sarah visit. Thank you!</div>Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-445265803417154092011-06-30T12:10:00.001+08:002011-07-03T11:02:19.540+08:00My Sister's Visit!<p style="margin:0in;font-family:Georgia;font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Jen here. My sister Sarah decided to come visit us for a week. She got permission from my parents and paid for the tickets on her own. Wow, she loves us. :)</p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Ho_o6gq8ALnIjcGplQdacPbvd9WT7KxLxMU87JPc39LVH5R3jA0Iwx_PFuc3frU7K_TdZfBIlDQqUpXTn4oiz6JWPUBpvueMRQXxHQ7aU0_BuctwU8DcZVl9IJ3NhEMOR9CDAlPFW_Q/s400/DSC01486.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623863333499554754" /><p style="margin:0in;font-family:Georgia;font-size:12.0pt;color:black">She split her time between Roy and me, and my brother and his wife. I was able to take a day off work (my last week of work until the fall!) so Sarah and I could be tourists. I stayed up late deciding what to do and early in the morn we headed out.</p> <p style="margin:0in;font-family:Georgia;font-size:12.0pt;color:black">The plan: kayak Lake Union, stay clam at Ivar's, Space Needle and possibly the Underground Tour. Tourists in Seattle. :)</p> <p style="margin:0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin:0in;font-family:Georgia;font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Roy and I kayaked through NWOC the summer before we left for Hong Kong, so I decided to rent our kayaks from the same place. We arrived at 9:30am and they opened at 10am, so we had plenty of time to get ready. :)</p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGPaOifeLIfMVN4uPCq3erGhMR0C3izOYNE0xdqRo1StMZPLTrlmIiXdKHOgTtyBHZ_2aGVK1YOlYOM9jCDCVD5gdmFPfyPwlIhDjhyphenhyphenaQ4NrpNwutXAhZbSefqU3LONRYX72DgU4p8OE/s400/DSC01504.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623863339255599650" /><p style="margin:0in;font-family:Georgia;font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Our double kayak served us well. If one of us was tired, the other could paddle and keep us going. And boy, we both got tired so fast! In looking through Sarah's pictures (I didn't take my camera for fear of ruining it) it appears that I paddled most of the time and Sarah just took pictures of us. Haha...it is somewhat true.</p> <p style="margin:0in"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgN5E4rRWFG7wvX8mFAaItpKD8ppENzofJmwIYVFN5IQTP7RUerBPuyInox0YutrmFmYikP8kvNNx15CxkskYt5WdFdt87gbhcjt8R09DuMPxp12l5c6ODUs8bq8S9VuBEdvUMH3k03FY/s400/DSC01494.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623863337211955554" /></p> <p style="margin:0in;font-family:Georgia;font-size:12.0pt;color:black">The house boats (is that what they are called?) interested us right away. They literally are houses floating on the water. Wow. NWOC asked us to stay at least 20 feet away from the house boats so as to respect the privacy of the "house boat dwellers" (they sound kind of scary to me). It's so hard to stay 20 feet away when one wants to see the houses and also is being moved by the waves. :) Sarah kept reminding me to steer away from the boats (my kayak seat had steering pedals connected to an udder). It was fascinating how there were little neighborhoods of house boats. Similar to in a city, the houses were next to each other with space between for a boat dock (driveway) and were in rows separated by larger stretches of water (roads).</p> <p style="margin:0in"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84200CzlZ7bzR-qEk8Fw5k_YkB7vTR3u7qOMkS2c7DX53M9RJ0XOYptiwi5xi0-r3aHq-ingtN1kAUT97yj6DZH51RTLVhr-KGIlBkQXmWQFA9ZFAtQMwZjGNha0Ijf1pNv5qnUUDhG4/s400/DSC01523.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623863348475545554" /></p> <p style="margin:0in;font-family:Georgia;font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Our kayak journey began in Lake Union, a small lake in Seattle with a view of the Seattle skyline (see photo--the space needle is just to the left of Sarah's head). We paddled west through Portage Bay to Union Bay which is just off Lake Washington near to the University of Washington. We saw several sea planes take off and land, the duck boat tours go by multiple times and artists perched on the shore painting landscapes.</p><p style="margin:0in;font-family:Georgia;font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><br /></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; ">Sarah had a blast and took many pictures. My face got fried because I did not bring sunscreen or a hat! And both of our arms were so tired. Once we made it to Union Bay I seriously wanted to ask one of the leisure boaters if they could tow us back to NWOC. Ha! We stuck it out and paddled back. All in all we spent about 2 or 3 hours on the water. Sweet!</span>Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-40404344405337157422011-06-12T10:38:00.001+08:002011-06-12T10:38:37.571+08:00Blue Skies<div><p>Who said it always rains in Seattle?</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtkikmlFfSoZd92XWiQ3J6Leh1YrTXvyeUKCMZhY4LRlU4V7aePrvGbDJVcy15QAc0rZvVlMiGMyLE5IMx1PzdNJm2PSBd0EUnMpgYL2A3UApjwUm3HyALrgN6Mg6UNu9xpY5jv-gKtY/' /></div>Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-84348298937164876152011-05-19T11:17:00.001+08:002011-05-19T11:17:38.394+08:00Outside<div><p>Jen here. This place is gorgeous! When we decided to move here people back home kept telling us about the rain. Many people are affected by the nearly daily misting and grayness...but I am not(praise be to God!). I can't get over the amazing views of mountains and greenery I see nearly every day. Yes, nearly every day!</p>
<p>Today's weather was sunny and warm; Dale wanted to do a cookout spur of the moment, so we did. Hotdogs, brats, deviled eggs and corn on the cob...yum! </p>
<p>Yesterday was the same so Roy encouraged me to go for a walk at a park near work. I did. Beautiful! </p>
<p>Thank You, Jesus!</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YU_UtrKnMONFDq885DkHWz6FVPxM9mRthdkvE-4NzVjl3iVPWexhn31cz1M5Jiqi3Zb04WqApmQ9ChXR5pr7KSzDCS_9OTxq7vgXqe-XQ3T1I_TdJekFcqOay2XM4x1gEjKc8HWVSYM/' /></div>Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-66588462433650947912011-04-21T23:43:00.001+08:002011-04-24T04:20:46.279+08:00Family!<div><p>Jen here. My family came to visit!! I am so excited and have been for about a month. :)</p>
<p>Dad and Mom got a hotel; we invited Sarah to come stay with us at our house! They are only here for a few days. I will try to post some photos of the visit.</p>
<p>Here is my sister on an early morning walk. It is so beautiful here!<br>
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More to come later. :)<br>
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<br/><img src='http://lh4.ggpht.com/_O5D6yNweJRU/TbBT3hQlXbI/AAAAAAAABDk/gAH6YTyCOT8/1303401412742.png' /></div>Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-75038116647629012532011-04-19T13:33:00.001+08:002011-04-21T23:40:02.289+08:00Random House Dinner<div><p>Jen here. Roy and I love entertaining/hosting. In our first year of marriage we had a weekly meal at our place with three of my good friends and anyone else who came. It was random, and it was dinner. Thus began the random house dinner. </p>
<p>In our fourth year of marriage we have picked it up again. Praise God for His awesome provision of a house to rent with ample room for dinner and hanging out with friends. Hallelujah! </p>
<p>We invite anyone and everyone, the same day every week.  We have had from just the 4 of us (Roy, me and two housemates) to about 8 people. The most common guests are friends from work, so I am surrounded by chess coaches! Games of chess are common as well as Backgammon, Euchre(my favorite!) and Apples to Apples.</p>
<p>Tonight the guys decided to film a kung-fu chess game, which is what the photos are of. :) </p>
<p>Enjoy!</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8PsWGj4HDROdtGRQ5RW-RQPXbcvO8ktXWPtr3jmX4Jd2UO9G3808KZm18qZWtOY40AWaOj0zZrk1-K6BRqxQVYNL_Nl7h7TNuYcED0wzBu43EExNGWIj867OD1elbolMODsPspMpmtk/' /><br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnC8M0keunsXTQcmURMvA4dEAj5ScCP7PKy_VGxVqkjWqiAhGT8faSrbxB7ZpWyvCzpWtWmV5BrQdA7ThQar_ikFv4eYA062nI3ryXO7JehE7sOZ2ty1qfXRlNW1IT3mAdJCklod9XB10/' /></div>Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-56673061004964259632011-04-18T22:40:00.001+08:002011-04-18T22:40:58.818+08:00The Troll<div><p>Jen here. So I've been posting more often than usual, but my posts are shorter. Why? Roy put a blogging app on my phone so now I can take a photo and immediately write a quick blog about it and post it. Hooray! </p>
<p>Yesterday Roy, Dale and I went to sushi with some friends in Fremont, which is in Seattle. Our friends are moving to Chicago in one month so it was a sort of farewell dinner although we will see them a bit before they leave. It was a good time with good food at a restaurant called Chiso. </p>
<p>Each time we go into Seattle we talk of going more often. A tourist has probably been to Seattle and knows more about its different areas than we do. Maybe we will plan some outings... René and Patrick mentioned something about a giant cement troll under a bridge nearby. Cool, we thought, maybe we will come back to Fremont to see it. And off we went. It just so happened that we drove right by the troll! </p>
<p>Check out the picture! He is huge...and is holding a VW Beetle. Pretty cool :)</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQMPgh5WjBDVAKb83bN1cWvYevfLuCKPngxvbhlN0Uf9v4DEKYt6ysIUpciwHIucdSeDik6qPEoiQa4SzNj_cP2IDnuboXOZXoFeLWEK3wx-XAT4L3IUeG1DCDK8bQVxUhYarAJmBE2Y/' /><br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2-78KarpK4hiGTnONGdnX8rsgfeqs4lNB4tes4ptbjjoqZo2LEdfmMe6aredIuUvreZF-UWR9m6NmOBAYcrIDJ-j55VihvUKX504f4IgIlRMHVD7Lhu9HEUJ66W6NzwXnxMtjGn4fJM/' /></div>Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-61078657606287204512011-04-18T14:38:00.001+08:002011-04-18T14:38:34.392+08:00Flowers!<div><p>Jen here. Last fall I planted bulbs. Now they are up or almost up and I am so excited! The daffodils are mine but the tulips are are from our landlords. :) I love spring!</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrQk-DhCMNHpuZu3jhCYUDxHauV3ciolE8uKQgHeUWD83N-34EtxzHlfkyOCg8CB8miOW-G29R_vreGyaQP07q3ANnlu5RQaRw-Vks6vp9sUu7CZhMQgJZFHC_0pbDApM8OsCRsKSev0/' /><br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiVkyiNGGn9mbJqzwLebxccy4Cf1Cg5-wZq34HgdLZWNrD8eck2uGI9D5o_Qwpc0r_57M91UBUqMWbIrJcA_8TSLIKykR-KOJnSvZUOfjwgkrZr_OMCl7LR0wMj-ew8LO3KOBlxK4iBc/' /></div>Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-37939744741975628712011-04-17T01:05:00.002+08:002011-06-30T12:10:21.272+08:00Green Gardening Fair!<div><p>Jen here. I am so into Spring. My hands are tender, my back aches and my legs are sore. Why? I've been weeding! </p><p>I suddenly want to weed and plant flowers, bushes and veggies. The trouble is I know nothing about plants or gardening. Ah! </p><p>So on I go to learn. Today we are at Bellevue Nursery's Green Gardening Fair. I've had this on my calendar for weeks and have told everyone about it! I'll let you know more once I plant our buys. :)</p><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9eR-9hT14HenPB6RkKrAt2hy7UJA5L_HfneSxArZkk3tmdwdFcH9B9aaa3CaufY4HNFrYOqLi8Crqx0FoPsdRzGiVcmsJAyD5APNmNPpBaqFB6uACZsRtAmQisSlHSgldEUmhdHPOLs/" /></div>Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-41596047419705849132011-02-21T11:01:00.004+08:002011-02-21T14:54:08.960+08:00Thanksgiving!<div style="text-align: left;">Jen here. Thanksgiving 2010 was not what we planned, but it was grand. :) We had been planning for months to visit Roy's sister and family in the southeastern US for Thanksgiving because it had been about 1.5 years since we saw them last (before HK). But as time got closer, our funds and the plane prices weren't lining up. Plus, Thanksgiving isn't exactly a long holiday off work. So we ended up staying in Seattle and our good friends Scott and Jill invited us to join them for a large feast!</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRbRjYx7A1B3DRJHTSsMIoOFNPmmb0OhhMEQLvl0LY3j75CIg_pHsG0_FK1lM3ncc87wOkNW5Kd7lPTQosR-SSDen4Qn-q80IaG2JJYAurqzl0_7qHH0P_pzUCYapri-r7D6n9_I3_YA/s400/2010_1126Thanksgiving+014.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576027825080864322" /><div>All in all they had about 16 people in their welcoming home for a delicious meal. Friends, family of friends, friends of friends. It was a great time. Scott and Jill are like family to us...we feel so comfortable around them and in their home. They invited us to stay the night before and after thanksgiving, which made us feel even MORE like family! :) And God added blessing upon blessing by giving us snow over the holiday...so it really felt like a holiday! Yay!</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNcj5MPmVRdFdP4lX5ae0k73cwVVhUniciei-Ak94rEbzxN9MBF5X7y3S1h6c2gfoEGoAlXw7JMvovRSmwin_awpIa2qJJV_00XunGAdggwnPFtnQRdFyKB24uGqUjP6zc-tw07ezVHA/s400/2010_1126Thanksgiving+011.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576026030361450834" /><div>The day before and day of we helped them set everything up, including two themed tables to go along with their dishes. One table was "the blue table" and had blue and white plates, a cheese pumpkin for decoration and blue/green/tan place mats. But my favorite table was "the cow table" and well, you can check out the picture to see why it was so named. Look at the white cow creamer with flowers in it! Cute!</div><div><br /></div><div>The next day we planned to have a post-Thanksgiving dinner with a few new friends from church at our home. We made a splendid meal of ham, potatoes, etc...and enjoyed another day of feasting, games and talking. Ahh...it was grand. :) </div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXrrZd9ycW5vHh7eA05YWxOtjzN9P7j69xK8A6PZNqB0w85APGrQMZtBkMOo5BIHL4gF8cdflV5l02Sii583MQN2n3Zh29K6vC_Gl7p7TsJfptj8qtfDbQ48hjYKSjYS5QEK03k4yQ6I/s400/2010_1126Thanksgiving+043.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576026031988736882" /><div>That weekend my brother Dan and his friend Daniel ran in a 5K in Seattle, so we had them (even Christie and Baby E) over for lunch, games and even a bit of time in the sauna. Daniel has ways of tricking the thermostat in the sauna so that it heats to his desired (really hot) temperature. Later on there was a brief shopping run, during which Baby E napped and woke up...and this is how we entertained her.</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHMj8Lp9fHcN39_cWlIhyphenhyphenKXgEz6DTE_TamwjN9_mwXaWEKcg3k5PbYEE_JFd_nS4APYgZsdukC6SmPZrFd978z1m5ceLZAqp19S7Hrq38aSECYWxtXeCeYMuzVL2yf8MYcHbNVAnQZgQ/s400/2010_1126Thanksgiving+049.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576026037461644450" /><div style="text-align: left;">Uh, yes that would be a metal mixing bowl with a glass jar in it. Baby E LOVED it. She was ecstatic--smiling, giggling, grabbing the bowl and looking into it nonstop for at least 20 minutes. So adorable. We think she loved seeing all the reflections of the ceiling lights in the bowl...plus when you tipped the bowl, the glass jar made a cool sound. After a while, we turned the bowl over and it became a drum! Good times.</div>Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-68412281444975169932011-02-16T13:09:00.004+08:002011-02-16T14:29:19.127+08:00MHC | Shoreline Women's Retreat!<div style="text-align: left;">Jen here. At the end of October MHC's Shoreline campus put on a women's retreat at Suncadia Spa and Resort, about an hour east of Seattle. Even though Roy and I decided to attend the campus of Mars Hill Church closest to where we live now, I attended our old campus' women's retreat. And boy, I am so glad. :)</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR08kmWlo8VHvROqKvkHcNwEga_2Uag6QL2axvAGcQIQ7IAgeHNjN6EQnzvLTi3Qx3Dzc_Kw5pFQ38BOXvMk1FTTxTcGygMN1buTLSyFjKLTyyKoNKlk6Jzjv__uo6BvQlB6VE_hEoS5I/s400/IMG_5544.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574150951053110386" /><div>First off, look at the scenery!! Who could NOT have an amazing time here?? :) Here in God's beautiful creation...and at a spoiled fancy resort. Ahhh...it was wonderful. Praise to God for providing it; perfect timing. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The retreat wasn't just about relaxing and getting away. Nope. It was about Jesus. AMEN! We had several women who shared where God has them in His story and spoke to us about Identity in Christ. The women were open and real, sharing their struggles and their sins, and then how Jesus saved them and is saving them and calling them to Him even now. Jesus-saturated...one word to describe the weekend. The titles of each session (possible identities we can put on) were real and provoking. Don't think blue-hair convention. Think single women, newly-wed women, young moms, old moms, grandmas, working women, women of God seeking to know their powerful Savior more! </div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17DDSwNqOalQKVuD6tSxV-eRwFLi4rKPBLQANWceq-J9h3oQuckYA6JOwcn6H8CCjN6xiXlef_2DcTqireXzPqHT_gT61FpGtqosBc3ahxdEQWCWO19zeUAKF5TdezjekaUbSIynhS70/s400/IMG_5549.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574150958619371954" /><div><div style="text-align: left;">All of the sessions were beneficial. I could identify with each identity. But my true identity is Clothed in Christ as a Child of God.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Jill and I chose to room together, and we were with two other women. I enjoyed getting to know them a little and was able to gain a little perspective when one said, "Oh it will be so nice to take a shower, and not have any kids to worry about or rush through the shower for." Wow. I don't think about that much...not having a moment alone. Perspective. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here are a few quotes from the weekend:</div><div style="text-align: left;">"But this I call to mind and therefore I have hope, The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning, great is your faithfulness. (Lam 3:21-23)"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">"I don't have the option to look at others apart from the cross, because God looks at me through the veil of the cross."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">"God has written you into His story to say something about Him."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">"The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe (Pro 29:25)."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Through the weekend God continued to show me that I need to be proactive about reaching out and being in community in our church. I need to be the one inviting women to come over for tea or go for a walk...and not sit back and complain because no one is inviting me to do anything! </div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzn-QiLEsURiawm2g_XmYdFyTNKcvdJxfX1rRtEwaiy5Htf2NAhX6d5GxBPi7GqCNbJcJcoOGoDCq5WkHfWX46wXF1dLCWxGEYkIBccqwK9mSL-yvr1XKcNrCe7jOG13OiKSnZNdTO7Mw/s400/IMG_5550.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574150961656635122" /><div style="text-align: left;">Thank You, Jesus, for continually chasing after me. You are the Giver of life and breath and all things. Amen!</div></div>Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-45237957095584921162011-02-15T04:34:00.003+08:002011-02-15T04:52:30.240+08:00Dear Friends at Mt. Rainier<div style="text-align: left;">Jen here. I just cannot stop posting photos of Mt. Rainier. Amazing! Here are a few more photos from our hike with the Almasy family and two of our dear friends, Scott and Jill. I'll also intersperse our story of how we met Scott and Jill. Enjoy! :)</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhZOnoSF8bwfnyo9V1icsUcklJO7SJgzItMVLeumYjUUx-Ye_D00yA6BF0jais0Kr5abhV926_DLyUo5G1KRst-nNNVMUo8o0ToGo4_b3nQJVH2ZUTCG9VHjmhnnQNWuunTLuoT7cNqc/s400/IMG_5353.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573647678207028658" />We met Scott and Jill in the fall of 2008 just after we moved to Seattle. We both attended Mars Hill Church | Shoreline and were in a class called "How to Study the Bible" taught by Pastor Steve Tompkins. The community group (small group, kind of) we were in decided to take the class as a whole, so we noticed and met Scott and Jill right away. After the class ended, they decided to attend the same CG we attended and wanted to host a CG in their home. Roy ended up being the leader of a CG replication which met in Scott and Jill's home. What a blessing it was to get to know them and become friends. Their home felt like home for us. Both being Midwesterners, they were so friendly and familiar. <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dfTi4Xxc1HcdTiXobRh1QbgHOVGB5QBQzlGJGE18u3GpGG40ErnGgVziIhIxsOvwAVGVWZPjePBq3qft8mDH-x2tBzvs35VVOR-UZbSQQ68hu_HRX5fBVcwHOQmi2JFbnId-3DR9mlI/s400/IMG_5418.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573647697818182450" />Jill and I frequently met up and graded papers or did lesson plans(both teachers); it was so much better to do that alongside someone rather than all alone on a Friday night! <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7nDESi3xPcrVgMdiDx6k8WuSSLEAjRtrlC5uISU8KXxAdaenW9do85NGhiQRM5pawppt1kqJRZlJijC4suKJus77tZgaltJFdQqwO-wGtO1z6B1WIWoyaa4txkUWJhAZVlCpBviaWp8/s400/IMG_5463.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573647709194950722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " />That summer we went on several hikes with them in the GORGEOUS mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Moving to HK was especially difficult because we had to say goodbye to Scott and Jill! Praise God for technology; Roy and Scott were able to talk on the phone several times a week and Jill and I had a weekly Skype date. Those times were blessings for us in the midst of loneliness and the strange culture of HK. <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvWMvqdxslhM3gY3CDbsjvoehOwH0slNCXtraBGAbY6nqvoyyasJRZzJuk-7ZBXsThvn8s6fZsSzdf8MbrDCC01S6eOGM_uo627MT5cmaz7IHENIRZnke1Dx7UP-Z8Ol9C2TIOhXpd1U/s400/IMG_5451.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573647716520776466" /> (Isn't this tree so cool looking? They were all over the place on Mt. Rainier...the pine needles are so small and they have a peculiar look to them. I want one!)<div><br /></div><div>Praise God for great friends like Scott and Jill!</div>Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-14258475469721829272011-02-14T12:45:00.006+08:002011-02-14T13:15:21.551+08:00Almasy Fam arrives<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYddJFhUZiVDIAJyGwnTwbm7HI8hs2VSax97YkCPDhxqYX1s3X-jqZVgCms2fws4O3mGcniZ6M2FhvBIh6ydJ2xNPzcW5NvY2_QcuGrNgo8rn1_9xZAemuuW441jLfA4HvTPbJqzjMyM/s400/IMG_5443.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573403808884147026" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " />Jen here. Roy's theory seems to be true. His theory of Familial Gravity. The more family living in a certain area, the stronger the pull is to bring more family to that area. :) Dan was the first. Then Christie. Then Roy and me. And now Dale. Yay!<div><br /><div>Dale arrived in Seattle near the end of October. We are so glad he decided to move out here and know that God is using it for good for him. Dale is renting the house with us (and one other housemate), and it is nice to have him around. He is friendly and fun and I know Roy enjoys having family near. Dale was able to get a job working for the same company we all do and has</div><div>really taken to coaching students in Chess and helping out in the office with IT. </div><div><br /></div><div>A few weeks after Dale arrived, Mom and Dad Almasy graciously drove Dale's packed truck from Michigan to Washington. The drove at a pretty quick pace, but were able to stay for about a week. We loved it! </div><div><br /></div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmOFc2q7WrTmZY1JNiCBjUCnNFDbwR4TT6mFQ6460SNh1zkxWg1m381xUQd3jvD0XcuCFO64uGWhEmpRlxScHtp-YagkPdIJZe9Vexfuc3synefbY8jdUphylDUTKYxdUZHKmH22UKWA/s400/IMG_5326.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573403819925796930" /><div>We all still had work while they visited but tried to squeeze in as much as we could. And while we were at work, Mom and Dad transformed our landscaping, weeded gardens and cleaned up the garage. I was amazed at all the work they did. Thank you, Mom and Dad! :) What a blessing it was to have them...and not just for the work. :) We loved their company. </div><div><br /></div><div>One morning, Mom, Dad and I went to the REI in Seattle. Another morning Mom and I went to Pike's Place Market in downtown Seattle. That weekend before they headed home, we went for an AMAZING hike in God's creation--at Mt. Rainier. I cannot praise God enough for His beautiful creation...especially with Mt. Rainier in front of me. Wow. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks, Mom and Dad, for coming to visit!!</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQ1aRcI_o2gaPoIN6ksMJRGKBJqSH9GcDVL_i0XTlNt_1XgbjRQIXdm4YD8UeQYngxfFquHjxRocONBi82C0MH-cDkbrX6eZf76RLT8FxGAQ_VrrBf3_-graZZiNcNJrCjTykqygYUOM/s400/IMG_5393.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573407665685980562" />Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-57064463163719860932010-11-24T11:05:00.005+08:002010-11-24T11:46:09.899+08:00Anniversary Surprise<div style="text-align: left;">Jen here. The summer was difficult. In Hong Kong we still had work, and then were a bit sad to leave new friends. Returning to the US, we spent brief time with family and then headed to Seattle to live in a new area, attend a new church and (for me) to work a new job. In all the adjustments and change, we were not without trials. Yes, we had sweet times and rejoiced in seeing friends and family again! But we were also stressed, worried, anxious and grumbly (especially me). One of my dearest friends kept telling me (as I poured out my heart to her) Roy and I are going through major life changes...of course things will be hard!</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JMCh5O8jAvnQHY_EZ4hrH04LGml6g159wa2ssYLTcfTUm0YEwL8QcDdYc6eclUiCGJcLMJFp21A2upYkaFcbIFhmEBRwllH4d4ILwz7yeImCJlERO494fi2uoMb1c-OwxOty4WT8gCo/s400/IMG_5135.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542949315560537570" /><div>Our 3rd Anniversary is one of those heavenly sweet times between the trials. As mentioned earlier, Roy and I stayed with friends for about one month while we found and moved into our home for this year. Roy had already begun working and every so often I would go to work with him, just to be with him and get some fresh air. Roy invited me to go to work with him one August 17th and I thought nothing of it. "Sure" I said. Courtney made us pancakes to celebrate Judson's 1st birthday and then we headed to work. As we drove, Roy missed the exit to go to Chess4Life. Hmm... he must be distracted, I thought. But he didn't turn around, he just kept driving down 405 South. Something's funny. He began talking of taking the morning off...or maybe the day off. We could go to Mt. Rainier, he suggested. I love mountains, especially Mt. Rainier and I hadn't been there before. I've only seen the colossal mountain from 3 hours driving distance away...and it still looks huge. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfOCsUw2Wp6R_ehFfHeZBJV7C4cX04B0GG7xqsmwKJWTPz7Pipth3GOOpM2mhuFrgaIur62J3Hur1Nky-Ghey5b0aGdPdgv8wRFC0GrmaPUk5hKXUmLacj_QLJiEtRYKYnmYvnX408Os/s400/IMG_5136.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542949335203884306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div>As it turns out, Roy planned a surprise anniversary get-away, and expertly, I must say. I had no idea. We kept driving and headed into Mt. Rainier National Park. We went toward Sunrise, an area of the park with a visitor center and spectacular views and hiking trails. We chose a trail and hiked. BEAUTIFUL. AWESOME. Wildflowers everywhere (check the photo!) and God's awesome creation of mountains. Mmm... As the day went by, the depth of Roy's plans began to show. He packed some things in the trunk and every once in a while he would grab something out--maybe my tennis shoes, or hiking pants or my camera. This is more than just a day trip, I thought...but I'm going to soak it in no matter what it is. :) </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBx_0hdsz2Lex4AL4qqIHMuV-IzvjXYgah6ftelsx9z28KQlG-b_P29qfSddvfMDVE6coAvNBJbMDmsopPPlACApxtdDdXuqb2att7cJFQWV2p1dY3iHARuyufSLsCv_DJMpcNwK1jZ-8/s400/IMG_5172.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542949330691529554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>Roy spoke of returning to civilization in time for Community Group and asked what I wanted to do. I made up my mind: let's spend time together instead of rushing back. We slowly drove around the park, stopping at overlooks and shooting many pictures. When we exited the park, Roy was following secret driving directions to somewhere, and it turned out to be a cabin he rented! Ah! :) How precious! He carried me in and set me on the couch while he brought in the rest of our stuff. Aww.... </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFKb1aTTZ7zoHEIhyhJDNCDG5f143YKCYbCw93-mC3u2P0x6exzGX9rB5EETOMUv_Qk_ucEi4kN_0kC-SJtXiMYaMgevKeLIgvRNJ1-qurDEK33uceHWp9x3HnIra4VV0uyW-O8G86X0/s400/IMG_5218.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542949319616158850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div>I could go on forever. :) The whole plan unfolded was two nights and three days in the cabin just a few miles from Mt. Rainier National Park, followed a day and night in the city. We made meals for one another, sang to the John Denver CDs, played Scrabble, built a fire, ate s'mores, soaked in the hot tub and just relaxed together. It was a wonderful time!! I cannot describe how sweet our time together was. :) Praise Jesus for that huge grace! And thanks to Roy for planning it!</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8FOVFs6sKLsH_sRivKCKwlmAzZikqPzUm_iUxSnDYLlE02kwFetl9gRCiI3eMAmKUfAcXSGELXXh1t2tp7CSiQnYaG9LZbj32fBloxYqJOoVUeDsHyX0kQJL9LdvkvVyuj2EeMgsoJA/s400/IMG_5188.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542949325843867346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div>"Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people from this time forth and forever." -Psalm 125:1-2</div>Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-63937771736799831192010-11-22T13:13:00.005+08:002010-11-22T13:48:25.426+08:00Hospitality of Friends :)Jen here. God is so gracious and generous. I am continually blown away by His provision, protection and blessing. We arrived in Seattle in the end of July and began searching for housing. Two friends from Mars Hill Church graciously offered their guest bedroom and opened their home to us. It was a huge blessing to be in a home with familiar faces and loving hearts. We treasured time getting to know Mike and Courtney more and LOVED seeing their 11-month old Judson crawl, cruise and learn to walk. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsExP2XHHUaCuJOaSeZ8PCqt6cA0NyXXWvw25rxLucKPNDo45OBQBMwbHpCjLki5LKPYZ2cOVc7KmUARcv6cYxjXtDwfhjiCqBRWwgWn-WherCmQGGPqWIsTWVS1vx_ZAUXdlXWSTRaA/s1600/IMG_4809.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsExP2XHHUaCuJOaSeZ8PCqt6cA0NyXXWvw25rxLucKPNDo45OBQBMwbHpCjLki5LKPYZ2cOVc7KmUARcv6cYxjXtDwfhjiCqBRWwgWn-WherCmQGGPqWIsTWVS1vx_ZAUXdlXWSTRaA/s400/IMG_4809.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542239270931754098" border="0" /></a>Here's Courtney, but this darling baby isn't hers(you'll see a photo of Judson later). This is Eowyn, my niece!! Courtney and Mike are date night babysitters for Dan and Christie, so we got to see our little niece more than planned. She is adorable...and I love spending time with her.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lMGjGwl2Y4GIPs_Jr5gpIbsX09Z5nHh7wM6OqQvO_s_r0ons-gGlq7RBAPfFLW5fkdi1IhcN9VsucEUSPEbaWKLxrD_NG002sYLiPBuZnN5uCmxgldur-8uY7Dl8SCoEkrvVZLyGqXg/s1600/IMG_4817.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lMGjGwl2Y4GIPs_Jr5gpIbsX09Z5nHh7wM6OqQvO_s_r0ons-gGlq7RBAPfFLW5fkdi1IhcN9VsucEUSPEbaWKLxrD_NG002sYLiPBuZnN5uCmxgldur-8uY7Dl8SCoEkrvVZLyGqXg/s400/IMG_4817.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542239276239198802" border="0" /></a>Roy and I looked for housing, met up with old friends and continued going to our old church Mars Hill Church | Shoreline. It was a blast to be back and to see our church family again. Oh how we missed them! When we walked into Schirmer Auditorium for the first time, we felt so loved, so cherished. Hugs and tears abounded. :) After leaving the service, Roy and I looked at each other and said, "Can't we just live up here, go to church here and commute to work?Do we really want to do church in the same city where we work?" :) <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuTrv4P1Ia6fIRaqWdyJLONo0pAdU8G4boTcRoc3zKnxbPORuY39r630cT2qZAm7fFQSmszQ2uknElmw9XKAFg-Tk1XeAVWNMcQ6JALYjUUPBrixNZP2yDZRXePNwEleeg5BKacMWpx4/s1600/IMG_4821.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuTrv4P1Ia6fIRaqWdyJLONo0pAdU8G4boTcRoc3zKnxbPORuY39r630cT2qZAm7fFQSmszQ2uknElmw9XKAFg-Tk1XeAVWNMcQ6JALYjUUPBrixNZP2yDZRXePNwEleeg5BKacMWpx4/s400/IMG_4821.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542239287662770658" border="0" /></a>MHC | Shoreline had their annual BBQ Beach Baptism in the beginning of August and we attended. Pastor Steve preached a great message and several people decided to be baptized. It was a great time of rejoicing! I LOVE Washington's beaches, water and mountains all in one. It is good to be back in Seattle. For a while we double-dipped in regard to church. We attended our old Community Group from Shoreline during the week and on Sundays attended the MH campus near our work (and house to-be) in the morning and our old MHC | Shoreline campus in the evenings. We began searching for a community group at our new church in Bellevue.<br /><br />Our housing search was long. Long before we left Hong Kong, we were told of a house for rent owned by a former Chess4Life employee who just recently found a job in Washington DC. He and his family were preparing to move there and wanted to rent their house to fellow Christians...they wanted their house to be used for God. We were in contact with them and planned to check out the house. We did and it was awesome. It is a rambler (whatever that means...) 3 bedroom 2 bathroom. The living room, dining room and kitchen are open and spacious. Beautiful. Clean. Spacious. Perfect for entertaining.<br /><br />To be wise, we continued looking at other places, but none of them compared. Our hearts were set on this house. We prayed for God to provide housemates to share the cost and live in community. Roy began working in the beginning of August and we decided to rent the house.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCU0xQmZxxbb1cv_sjQOmIbzRAV8oEAvu7hA_1ja9GTOxlIxHrZJqAH0hYP-ovFGf4Zq5Iq8HCwNnDZQs53_5qzSPQaUDGUCu3DZeNJ6LQt_5UQnaUjAkKZBpuHV94Y757pJHyuDCG96Y/s1600/IMG_4906.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCU0xQmZxxbb1cv_sjQOmIbzRAV8oEAvu7hA_1ja9GTOxlIxHrZJqAH0hYP-ovFGf4Zq5Iq8HCwNnDZQs53_5qzSPQaUDGUCu3DZeNJ6LQt_5UQnaUjAkKZBpuHV94Y757pJHyuDCG96Y/s400/IMG_4906.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542239277454809186" border="0" /></a>Courtney did an amazing job taking care of Judson; I was blessed to talk with her and see her interact with Judson. He is so adorable. Roy and I laughed with him, crawled with him, played peek-a-boo with him. He was a true joy to see every morning, so smiley. :) BTW, he was born about a week before we moved to Hong Kong...and he celebrated his first birthday while we were staying with Mike and Courtney. :)<br /><br />What a blessing our friends and church family are to us. Mike and Courtney's gift of hospitality was vital in a peaceful transition to life in Seattle once again. Thank you!! And praise Jesus for His people!Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-2675256646077350082010-11-22T12:26:00.003+08:002010-11-22T13:07:22.902+08:00Driving to Seattle: Leg 3 | More Yellowstone and Idaho!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQS83GXKr2hwGWHIof9G7OIUS185gRfGwbWT6JLOjUR43N4z6J0LnLZ8F-8043FdW8ixRuMWixkQkxg_YF9KVzNAq28pytIfqup9lW2MaRQxyVEJ2mB3TwLT75D2qe33BFMiTto4xkLhA/s1600/IMG_4709.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQS83GXKr2hwGWHIof9G7OIUS185gRfGwbWT6JLOjUR43N4z6J0LnLZ8F-8043FdW8ixRuMWixkQkxg_YF9KVzNAq28pytIfqup9lW2MaRQxyVEJ2mB3TwLT75D2qe33BFMiTto4xkLhA/s400/IMG_4709.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542226401792002146" border="0" /></a>Jen here. Our 3rd leg consisted of packing up, sight seeing in Yellowstone and driving to my birthplace. Yay! After freezing during the night, we packed up our things and prepared to leave the campground. I was hoping we would see some wildlife--especially for Roy's sake. It was his first time to Yellowstone! A buffalo wandered into our campground grazing the grass. The other campers watched at a distance but weren't surprised. They said he came there every morning. Hm. I got out my camera and shot some photos at a distance (with Dad's voice in my head warning me about all the people who have been gored by buffalo) and Roy headed to the bathroom to brush his teeth. Several minutes later I wondered why Roy was taking so long. I wandered toward the bathroom and <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UOcR8b-dLZdopXFWpp_s3CSNQLaSeEvlknvnMHYQUZGuXThuaLHvHRFshcoEI_xXK358XbfHQCB1fBXcQPKnVV_8ZANeKP3NbnBuuSioHaGMdCkDU_FEAalRF4emMBULXdF3oYn278w/s1600/IMG_4714.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UOcR8b-dLZdopXFWpp_s3CSNQLaSeEvlknvnMHYQUZGuXThuaLHvHRFshcoEI_xXK358XbfHQCB1fBXcQPKnVV_8ZANeKP3NbnBuuSioHaGMdCkDU_FEAalRF4emMBULXdF3oYn278w/s400/IMG_4714.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542226405931878882" border="0" /></a>BUFFALO and Roy! Apparently he was thirsty so he decided to drink the puddle of water outside the men's bathroom door. Roy noticed and was very careful not to make any sudden movements. The buffalo slurped the water up like a dog and looked at Roy a few times, then went back to drinking. I went back and grabbed my camera and shot some pics of Roy's encounter with a buffalo. Yay! :) Disclaimer: Buffalo (or, okay this may be a Bison...really, does it matter?) are very dangerous and I praised God that Roy and everyone else were safe. The buffalo eventually walked away and Roy snuck out the door and we were off. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CZ9sXMJWQd6xbD6VdVj5JevrbKmh-gqNSL4KMVWwbka3LBfjHG99CWvgZPFvEIP813g5oJn879VRlEZnYZLg4ffaJQrqPwOXSsMhzgYiQ4ctny9T6cn26QJ8j-Zz_Jtq9fl-jb0HGYs/s1600/IMG_4738.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CZ9sXMJWQd6xbD6VdVj5JevrbKmh-gqNSL4KMVWwbka3LBfjHG99CWvgZPFvEIP813g5oJn879VRlEZnYZLg4ffaJQrqPwOXSsMhzgYiQ4ctny9T6cn26QJ8j-Zz_Jtq9fl-jb0HGYs/s400/IMG_4738.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542227712885453090" border="0" /></a><br />We drove around most of the main road loop in Yellowstone looking at the GORGEOUS scenery and some wildlife along the way. We saw a few bears (in the distance), many buffalo and a fox. We stopped and hiked near the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone--AMAZING! I could have stared at the scenery all day and still wanted more. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmMS2CP3aatjEnOPaE7TFz3tyETUqiaxb-WFcSytcQZspJM5k1fV39g3mZB5_RNAzCpjW-am85aqHlQ8L0Um_mmfVeKlHm-RdSOWMvXjAsZXGHaNsjSIEZmZWfcjEo6fF8dU_oq6CiWY/s1600/IMG_4783.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmMS2CP3aatjEnOPaE7TFz3tyETUqiaxb-WFcSytcQZspJM5k1fV39g3mZB5_RNAzCpjW-am85aqHlQ8L0Um_mmfVeKlHm-RdSOWMvXjAsZXGHaNsjSIEZmZWfcjEo6fF8dU_oq6CiWY/s400/IMG_4783.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542227715134916738" border="0" /></a>At lunchtime we stopped at Tower Fall and planned to go for a short hike, but I was hungry and Roy was hot. He headed into the gift shop while I grabbed some food from the cooler. I shuffled back and forth between the front door and back door and one time the door shut before I caught it and I pulled on the handle and...NOOOO! It was locked! Oh no!! The keys were on the seat by the cooler...and next to my sandwich I just made. NO!! I prayed and tried to open every door. No luck. :( Shaking I went in to find Roy to tell him what I did. He was very calm and told one of the rangers he locked the keys in the car(What a husband! He claimed my mess up!). The ranger gave him a phone and number for a mechanic. Roy called and then told me to pick out a prize from the gift shop. Needless to say, I had TONS of time to browse. I know every piece of merchandise that shop carried. Most of the shirts, mugs, cups, glasses and bowls had buffalo, but some had deer, elk or moose. If you gave me a piece of paper and had me draw up the floor plan for the shop, I could do it. The mechanic had to drive from Cody, WY through Yellowstone up in the mountains on the 35mph road to us. Yikes. About two hours later he came and it was no big deal to get in our car, though it was a big cost. :( I picked out a mug, though reluctantly because I thought it would remind me of my awful mess up and our miserable time waiting two hours to get into our car. Now I smile looking back at it. It was no fun. I was hungry, Roy was feeling sick, it was hot outside and we just used up the last bit of our time in Yellowstone browsing in a gift shop! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetGeN3r_LrATROhLEfwd8FarOdI1cyVWBYiXK3q0HrJuAt313Hesd5-nkr-SAFvzlE12JSxNX8yoT6dJZTxBHtYAmVUtfOGOUSiJkXPSNIWWw9sHM1y4S6QM_fmB3UR_7EMKQgMdWww0/s1600/IMG_4793.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetGeN3r_LrATROhLEfwd8FarOdI1cyVWBYiXK3q0HrJuAt313Hesd5-nkr-SAFvzlE12JSxNX8yoT6dJZTxBHtYAmVUtfOGOUSiJkXPSNIWWw9sHM1y4S6QM_fmB3UR_7EMKQgMdWww0/s400/IMG_4793.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542227731429388834" border="0" /></a>Anyone who has seen my drawings of mountains may recognize these. The mountains of my birthplace!! This was my second time returning since my family moved to Ohio in 1998. We stayed with my God-parents and got to catch up with them and two of their sons whom I haven't seen for years! It was a GREAT time...I love going there. We need to spend a little more time there sometimes. Both visits were less than 24 hours... :)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWoDE_l05WeWngCeu8fw92y9XxHlWAjak0HVwAVRNDxY9vZGVPWr9g6HuDFcvEk6R0367iXeYA1kPGm0khG0VvK1Gu9O1kdm-iHpSJKQO28zNqy84ifyTyp375CknF2piQhhzBhkUjfo/s1600/IMG_4794.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWoDE_l05WeWngCeu8fw92y9XxHlWAjak0HVwAVRNDxY9vZGVPWr9g6HuDFcvEk6R0367iXeYA1kPGm0khG0VvK1Gu9O1kdm-iHpSJKQO28zNqy84ifyTyp375CknF2piQhhzBhkUjfo/s400/IMG_4794.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542227725149897826" border="0" /></a>My God-parent's oldest son was looking for a ride to Missoula, MT to pick up a truck so we condensed our things to create a spot in the back seat for him and off we went. Over the three-hour drive we got to know Crispin a lot. He's at least 10 years older than me, so when I was a kid I never knew him; I only heard stories about him. He was a kind of mysterious older brother of my friends. I enjoyed catching up with him and hearing his take on life, which seems to be very common to the west coast. I took it as a cultural learning experience and time getting to know him. We were able to share some about our life as well and had a great time. We dropped him off in Missoula, stopped at a McDonald's for the free WiFi and a bite to eat and continued on. (Hong Kong totally took away my bias against McD's.)<br /><br />Seattle is about 9 hours from Missoula; we arrived just after dinner. Aww...it's nice to be back to Seattle. I wonder what it will be like to live here again. :)Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-19882922721643033262010-10-21T11:41:00.006+08:002010-10-21T12:38:44.178+08:00Driving to Seattle: Leg 2 | Yellowstone!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIcback-8x-xfKO0kfeEE5ZZpnwMTGWtnCVEYtNA9Uq7h_tBusX9ZQMjBtffpEf6YKQ00EEYO99bRZw78zuUWhZ4ZOZPNCjKrDHNUkZTlyC6dArTZbqYWggaRpTN4yaOqx9Xoj9OiyiM/s1600/IMG_4623.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIcback-8x-xfKO0kfeEE5ZZpnwMTGWtnCVEYtNA9Uq7h_tBusX9ZQMjBtffpEf6YKQ00EEYO99bRZw78zuUWhZ4ZOZPNCjKrDHNUkZTlyC6dArTZbqYWggaRpTN4yaOqx9Xoj9OiyiM/s400/IMG_4623.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530344735337703714" border="0" /></a>Jen here. After sleeping decently well in our tent, Roy cooked us eggs for breakfast over his little cook stove. It looked like rain and sprinkled off and on as we had breakfast, packed up and took showers. Speaking of the showers, how interesting. They were pay as you go showers, except we had no idea how long the water ran per 25 cents. So Roy went with $1.00 and had to dry off with conditioner in his hair. I went second, so Roy sent me with $1.50, which was great, but it felt like a car wash where you have just a tiny bit of money. Rush! :)<br /><br />All squeaky clean, we headed off, destination: Yellowstone NP. Gorgeous views on the way--fields, valleys, farms, mountains, hills, badlands--God's creation is awesome! The drive with Roy was so much fun. We got to chat with one another and call family. We got to soak in our Maker's greatness. Wonderful.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUzXB3NJpCxbCYOwCDAjXYrl1DWRJiP1WpA2NwG5T3wBdDHh7xk9BtXHnhWHeglObNkSN6SYF6eq9FlBViXcBEZlXM-UDhQbieA-nCtAjQLMm423pdy18fphUMDB2pRTTbMOEO0BM_8Y/s1600/IMG_4653.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUzXB3NJpCxbCYOwCDAjXYrl1DWRJiP1WpA2NwG5T3wBdDHh7xk9BtXHnhWHeglObNkSN6SYF6eq9FlBViXcBEZlXM-UDhQbieA-nCtAjQLMm423pdy18fphUMDB2pRTTbMOEO0BM_8Y/s400/IMG_4653.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530347798400504402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOkiCVmTk6nEOtA1n50x9SYmKEVz0tg7PsdQrSz8cyTyZIRLczm2TuUyo_4SFc2cy_5JM1LfaUeOoPR1B4G-ZikET3Lq7gcyuvw95R0q8cAW4Rd9IoMqq1ssL18rOIKtAGuQkSgeziho/s1600/IMG_4661.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 169px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOkiCVmTk6nEOtA1n50x9SYmKEVz0tg7PsdQrSz8cyTyZIRLczm2TuUyo_4SFc2cy_5JM1LfaUeOoPR1B4G-ZikET3Lq7gcyuvw95R0q8cAW4Rd9IoMqq1ssL18rOIKtAGuQkSgeziho/s400/IMG_4661.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530344743493186850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGTSFlMTHGyFYK1QBZNlouwKNxOL9_3NMRy-qdFFMgW0c47ICnmO6NLQhce87gCrPAuNao9hXVosfRYOFJnc1cDgJ4u6NyMBp7u4EL1wzfMgbXWSBt8TLqg-SwlKOR_80XXpuWfU2swM/s1600/IMG_4638.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGTSFlMTHGyFYK1QBZNlouwKNxOL9_3NMRy-qdFFMgW0c47ICnmO6NLQhce87gCrPAuNao9hXVosfRYOFJnc1cDgJ4u6NyMBp7u4EL1wzfMgbXWSBt8TLqg-SwlKOR_80XXpuWfU2swM/s400/IMG_4638.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530341923227379250" border="0" /></a>We stopped at Buffalo Bill Dam and at the crest of a hill to shoot some photos of Lake Yellowstone (I think).<br /><br />I'll let the pictures do most of the talking; there are so many I want to post!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Our lodging for the night was a campground in Yellowstone (Bridge Bay I believe). Yay! I LOVE camping with Roy. My family camped a few times in Yellowstone when I was a kid and a few times elsewhere, and I always had a blast. While we were setting up our site I kept looking around, waiting for a buffalo to graze into our campsite...I must admit, I was a little scared a bear would walk out of the woods and try to eat our food. Upon entry into the park and again when we entered our camp ground, we received MANY warnings and rules. No food outside or in your tent. No perfume in your tent. No anything that a bear might possibly want in your tent. Last time I went to Yellowstone, I never read these papers; my parents did! I kept thinking back to old trips there. I remember stories of buffalo goring people, and I vividly remember Dad warning us to stay away from wildlife. One day when my family returned to our campsite, there was a HUGE buffalo grazing in the grass. Needless to say, we turned around and went to a gift shop for a while. When we returned the buffalo was gone. Would that happen on this trip with Roy?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZC22H04DshyKVdVoXZmMe80EiHLJNq0H02YmmQ-pOfT0lYN6-QcdOs1ERAT_wdpD1TbzG4-T3q0uK4318ikHQXvibSkvQAIKICs7dTPRF-sqyICdK4rjwF-6G4u2iXNtDOANlM1TRxQ/s1600/IMG_4695.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZC22H04DshyKVdVoXZmMe80EiHLJNq0H02YmmQ-pOfT0lYN6-QcdOs1ERAT_wdpD1TbzG4-T3q0uK4318ikHQXvibSkvQAIKICs7dTPRF-sqyICdK4rjwF-6G4u2iXNtDOANlM1TRxQ/s400/IMG_4695.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530347804716819106" border="0" /></a>Roy and I gathered enough wood for that evening and the next morning. Mom Almasy told us it was supposed to get down to 25 degrees. Yikes! She was right. It was SO cold. Neither of us slept much that night, though Roy slept more than I did. Yes, I was afraid some bear would come and claw into our tent (though we had NO food or even deodorant with us!)...but more than that, I was shivering! I couldn't get warm. We had a tarp down, our tent (of course) a wool blanket, two single air mattresses, and a double sleeping bag. We had to cuddle for warmth! Roy got up at 4:30am and built a fire to warm himself by...and I soon followed him. Isn't fire great?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawrO7nAxRdJTCR8BxdAfPmJoe_63kV2HXa3kUV011mMcnWre-Ilb4bJSWNWV6tyIwM1f5abHzntfRNkMHKoDHaAIg_Tchy5EFpILPXfmpYWzAezdUDDWjol_O5nyX_0-1rxSbQ5jyssU/s1600/IMG_4698.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawrO7nAxRdJTCR8BxdAfPmJoe_63kV2HXa3kUV011mMcnWre-Ilb4bJSWNWV6tyIwM1f5abHzntfRNkMHKoDHaAIg_Tchy5EFpILPXfmpYWzAezdUDDWjol_O5nyX_0-1rxSbQ5jyssU/s400/IMG_4698.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530353320747694994" border="0" /></a>Check out these old-school tents in a neighboring site. Sweet! The campground atmosphere was fun. An extended family seemed to be having a reunion/vacation of sorts. They had three sites and were in RVs. There were grandparents, kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. It was cute to watch them. What a great idea to do a family vacation camping trip! I'd like to do that someday. :) More later!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmMzcbYfnGHcuhDGTjv6bjwaA87NFos4hNEq9lizxi49oROoukTOxovqnZd70vB5CjgKRGFic0FUpNiKx7TBRL4Vimdhk8WZthD_lHcghyphenhyphenzaPtbeccjoPBBiA5PIIXfssu6RAwy7B7o8/s1600/IMG_4713.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmMzcbYfnGHcuhDGTjv6bjwaA87NFos4hNEq9lizxi49oROoukTOxovqnZd70vB5CjgKRGFic0FUpNiKx7TBRL4Vimdhk8WZthD_lHcghyphenhyphenzaPtbeccjoPBBiA5PIIXfssu6RAwy7B7o8/s400/IMG_4713.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530347813046870818" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGW6f5Qy3RLPyUJDllT4uCbjAWZTTL02gpt0NIo1kTZGTamrhXYxbVKjgnyojy9UYUlQimjTNNJf8F2VNo5h4XcZGZrunmbhdZ7lbqe13XAF8GGeXjRDAfSrNiTVssqhpmVcYrBQpkgaE/s1600/IMG_4714.JPG"><br /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmMzcbYfnGHcuhDGTjv6bjwaA87NFos4hNEq9lizxi49oROoukTOxovqnZd70vB5CjgKRGFic0FUpNiKx7TBRL4Vimdhk8WZthD_lHcghyphenhyphenzaPtbeccjoPBBiA5PIIXfssu6RAwy7B7o8/s1600/IMG_4713.JPG"><br /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZC22H04DshyKVdVoXZmMe80EiHLJNq0H02YmmQ-pOfT0lYN6-QcdOs1ERAT_wdpD1TbzG4-T3q0uK4318ikHQXvibSkvQAIKICs7dTPRF-sqyICdK4rjwF-6G4u2iXNtDOANlM1TRxQ/s1600/IMG_4695.JPG"><br /></a>Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-67581488625678978632010-10-07T13:01:00.008+08:002010-10-09T14:12:57.724+08:00Driving to Seattle: Leg 1Jen here. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX02mvnnyEHXmhmvtxYyYnWphi3MvGDpgbqRcSNzI1p3OVbwfzouyarQWcustDGl_Wx99agkRIo52VEDVx9Nr9u8CBU2pFcuO8j6sbOD59EXENafWv2w_T51ewSCIoCQXdvqPA2IB-cNw/s1600/IMG_4572.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX02mvnnyEHXmhmvtxYyYnWphi3MvGDpgbqRcSNzI1p3OVbwfzouyarQWcustDGl_Wx99agkRIo52VEDVx9Nr9u8CBU2pFcuO8j6sbOD59EXENafWv2w_T51ewSCIoCQXdvqPA2IB-cNw/s400/IMG_4572.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525167113497897778" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiKZ8hSztAt4rnWT_8nlNvsvnWuHOnZJbGb_rVCdg75g0UZauJn7DpM_vngpmtfBBMwvdXWp_7n8r7f2-ZvCrW-XqCFIIdu-08He0OSGre8erA4YS_5s89up1RTX7k9ubSqCarjB02js/s1600/IMG_4579.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiKZ8hSztAt4rnWT_8nlNvsvnWuHOnZJbGb_rVCdg75g0UZauJn7DpM_vngpmtfBBMwvdXWp_7n8r7f2-ZvCrW-XqCFIIdu-08He0OSGre8erA4YS_5s89up1RTX7k9ubSqCarjB02js/s400/IMG_4579.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525167249718131634" border="0" /></a>Our time with family in the mid-west drew to a close and we loaded up our car and began our journey to Seattle, round 2. You may remember we drove to Seattle in August 2008. This time around (or across, ha) we planned 5 days driving and four nights stopping before arriving in Seattle. After camping together, we compiled Roy's camping gear from olden days and gifted gear from Roy's fam and prepared for a few days of camping during our travels. :)<br /><br /><br /><br />We left early in the morning on July 21st from the Almasy home. Destination: St. Paul, Minnesota. Roy's best friend from childhood, Russel, and his wife live there. We arrived around 5pm and were able to take a small tour of the town and eat at a local restaurant. After dinner we strolled around Raspberry Island and over a bridge over the river and just chatted. We played games and had a great time together. The next morning we went to a Mom and Pop place for breakfast and said our goodbyes. :) This has become a sort of a tradition. I like it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuuASFexn0nvus_ibwng1IML_gxCFA5ckvoEm3119xImp4U8TZmBhd5ThDY0-KePBdEGAjxaI37EuwTbOQfBQWsMqla7DNJGIRexu2lHLydAJj3SLcIOUklvTx7142pCPbEBPHiez0Tc/s1600/IMG_4598.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuuASFexn0nvus_ibwng1IML_gxCFA5ckvoEm3119xImp4U8TZmBhd5ThDY0-KePBdEGAjxaI37EuwTbOQfBQWsMqla7DNJGIRexu2lHLydAJj3SLcIOUklvTx7142pCPbEBPHiez0Tc/s400/IMG_4598.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525918110000968018" border="0" /></a>On day two our destination was Little Missouri National Grasslands on the western side of North Dakota. The directions for this day: Merge onto I-94 West. Drive 567 miles. Exit at Little Missouri National Grasslands. Roy was amazing and generous in time. He told me many times if there was anything we wanted to stop and see, or take photos of, we could make a stop. We wanted our trip to be a vacation...and it was!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33iWNL9RLrnV8JYznf4MeuaNecqS_BmZCfctpeG3uwuufjWZTT5tOSWjce9zLwI5TnlNvrx7rj8pZM3SL5EzAwHqxdv5mrJHsKGtxo03XzZWHoY-vX-UtBjc7dx5gBVSaHJu6HrmwweQ/s1600/IMG_4600.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33iWNL9RLrnV8JYznf4MeuaNecqS_BmZCfctpeG3uwuufjWZTT5tOSWjce9zLwI5TnlNvrx7rj8pZM3SL5EzAwHqxdv5mrJHsKGtxo03XzZWHoY-vX-UtBjc7dx5gBVSaHJu6HrmwweQ/s400/IMG_4600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525918314602120786" border="0" /></a>We were blessed to see so much beautiful scenery. Unending plains, bluffs and random hills in the middle of nowhere--I LOVED it, especially after living in the city for a year. Ahh...to breath fresh air and see tons of God's creation. :) The farms always catch my attention, whether it's the hundreds of round hay bales that freckle the landscape or the irrigation patterns in the more dry regions of the US. I love the farms. :) (Can you tell I really enjoyed it?)<br /><br /><br />I drove the last leg of the day while Roy napped. Every so often I got a sneak peak at the beautiful badlands near Teddy Roosevelt National Park. Gorgeous, but no photos because I was driving! We had our pick of campsites and the cost was wonderful--$6. Working together, we set up camp, made some dinner over the fire and headed for bed. It was a nice evening, but Roy's Mom told us the weather forecast was rain over night and in the morning. The weather would get cooler as we headed west--in Yellowstone the predicted low was about 30 degrees. Yikes!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57GsC9OuqFwVDXVu115Q3hcwl2GpXoe3mPiMFnaXCUgizFAkP8k_6Abp9epmyCcJufdP9oRKQIWiPNC954LHDLuFGpV1BAwzkGH24q16lUxmTC2-d21ZZ6fNPiwfl60nVE3mN4JEZjh8/s1600/IMG_4611.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57GsC9OuqFwVDXVu115Q3hcwl2GpXoe3mPiMFnaXCUgizFAkP8k_6Abp9epmyCcJufdP9oRKQIWiPNC954LHDLuFGpV1BAwzkGH24q16lUxmTC2-d21ZZ6fNPiwfl60nVE3mN4JEZjh8/s400/IMG_4611.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525923316096502466" border="0" /></a>Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-64427977152321067392010-09-22T23:18:00.000+08:002010-09-23T00:12:20.816+08:00A Few Things I MissedJen Here. In my summary blogs I missed a few events of which I have photos. More sweet memories of time with family and friends in the Midwest.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnO9FXrHXXRbxe9Kxwyt7pNwffw1X7P6r7xErhWgy-6mTf3MnSiqi2U53mw9x6kpHh1dWxbflt67TWDGhn5eNdkJcRCnsiqpK13Bxdd8GncgcAh1kB2wocMR3tiy_NJHwQ6pA9PMo7As/s1600/IMG_4405.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnO9FXrHXXRbxe9Kxwyt7pNwffw1X7P6r7xErhWgy-6mTf3MnSiqi2U53mw9x6kpHh1dWxbflt67TWDGhn5eNdkJcRCnsiqpK13Bxdd8GncgcAh1kB2wocMR3tiy_NJHwQ6pA9PMo7As/s400/IMG_4405.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519751628236869458" border="0" /></a>Being back in the States is wonderful. I couldn't soak up the beauty of God's creation enough as I felt the amazing summer weather (wasn't very humid compared to HK) and saw gorgeous sunsets each evening. My little sister and I laid out on the trampoline at night watching the stars a few times. Ahh...beautiful. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvucpuOeZ1V4hX2PRiizz97DiGa0DXl3ybK5m8ttV3gx-2w5y0oatJLhvEEm2CiEr2PsOhMkGMXlMYY9oy0Of43I3DzeuyZWmM7DLglgrJOIwqjWasHpVRachW7nbF3g6aDVX-4F17Q3c/s1600/IMG_4387.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvucpuOeZ1V4hX2PRiizz97DiGa0DXl3ybK5m8ttV3gx-2w5y0oatJLhvEEm2CiEr2PsOhMkGMXlMYY9oy0Of43I3DzeuyZWmM7DLglgrJOIwqjWasHpVRachW7nbF3g6aDVX-4F17Q3c/s400/IMG_4387.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519751621532573138" border="0" /></a>There were so many people I'd like to visit but so little time. One morning I was able to visit some dear friends on the way to Athens. Yay!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiw5z4LcSVTaalWH-zzVEbDPRLv6jgAecH3PvJb41pxu9JmmqYxC8qGSsEofn4w22IJPEV6d-VjgL4dPrU_qpPXsCmEluPpowSwZ9xwPIBmxLV0HdYNjg-bhv2xdm25RXmEaLLTurrgOc/s1600/IMG_4389.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiw5z4LcSVTaalWH-zzVEbDPRLv6jgAecH3PvJb41pxu9JmmqYxC8qGSsEofn4w22IJPEV6d-VjgL4dPrU_qpPXsCmEluPpowSwZ9xwPIBmxLV0HdYNjg-bhv2xdm25RXmEaLLTurrgOc/s400/IMG_4389.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519770559653375506" border="0" /></a>Speaking of Athens, my sister and I made a trip to Athens. I love that place. :) The place of my Alma Mater and many fond memories. It's changing but still familiar. I so want one of these bricks. :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFe8d-_gAdSaiqAfT1A-oNNGf0DRkPeIjsKeVXLd7F39Ryb-n2lg6_sBy6LF58khDCPO5C3f-lA5ptYVzEIuOYq0P6H2Dd3T7QsxIje7U7qPo3lb_RknSqG4P9FnOZRaOBTuPYkzWJnfc/s1600/IMG_4394.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFe8d-_gAdSaiqAfT1A-oNNGf0DRkPeIjsKeVXLd7F39Ryb-n2lg6_sBy6LF58khDCPO5C3f-lA5ptYVzEIuOYq0P6H2Dd3T7QsxIje7U7qPo3lb_RknSqG4P9FnOZRaOBTuPYkzWJnfc/s400/IMG_4394.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519770554948047874" border="0" /></a>Did I mention we spent quality time together? This picture is not posed. They're both texting! We did get to spend some time at Brenan's for lunch and the Donkey for a quick smoothie. Oh, Athens. :)Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-82309073079591939072010-09-21T13:09:00.005+08:002010-09-22T01:31:45.193+08:00Michigan!Jen here. And after a week of waiting and hanging with the Ellis family, Roy arrived in the good ol' USA. Yay! We spent a few days with the Ellis' and then were picked up by Roy's dad and our good friend Elliot and we headed up to Michigan. Roy and I had been planning for a few months what we might do with family during our short visit to the Midwest. it had been over a year since we had seen any of them (except Roy's Mom)! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgFPRmA4RzPcEGVpT_D8LlsBoCkKJrxve-iTwYQx3wLgjepQ2QWNEYRvPFAOkIx_e3oxZlXloa137yXZZCqLAMcVwJf1aDWPNwKAP0f3ldGGeMMEInrf7-A23fv7Lrfjyg1IaN4TkUfg/s1600/IMG_4494.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgFPRmA4RzPcEGVpT_D8LlsBoCkKJrxve-iTwYQx3wLgjepQ2QWNEYRvPFAOkIx_e3oxZlXloa137yXZZCqLAMcVwJf1aDWPNwKAP0f3ldGGeMMEInrf7-A23fv7Lrfjyg1IaN4TkUfg/s400/IMG_4494.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519230516344085330" border="0" /></a>(Isn't Roy so handsome? I had to post this pic.)<br />We decided we wanted to go camping. We planned and Dad Almasy generously gave us and bought us equipment, and we set out. Wilson State Park near Harrison, Michigan was our destination. It was a few hours from Flint, but not too far, and it was close to Mom Almasy's family. Dale, Roy and I set out one evening and Mom and Dad met us there the next day where we camped for an additional night. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAht0zZ2aZ6hkpN_trZ7J8YFZzw417jGay4QMKkhB3M9tOBmnNe1in4tFlZN62KseZGac3BQr-zxAygpbJRKrN3W391lhwveN2k97pQXN305XXMA6ViJZVNDMJGIGthAAbJhnznaYGxYc/s1600/IMG_4444.JPG"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwVagBmKWZ1y2cxbpY4e9YXLxvGICRXQ9HYzVmnDlXWzw12aWNL-feA9MHzPbR9YKT5-kL8WGab0_h4Hf_1JQW1uDKQ5AgqYItngvy8JhujM2wkJwgcdmxIL21UUXKeVykb_sYMZasJI/s1600/IMG_4498.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwVagBmKWZ1y2cxbpY4e9YXLxvGICRXQ9HYzVmnDlXWzw12aWNL-feA9MHzPbR9YKT5-kL8WGab0_h4Hf_1JQW1uDKQ5AgqYItngvy8JhujM2wkJwgcdmxIL21UUXKeVykb_sYMZasJI/s400/IMG_4498.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519230534361481330" border="0" /></a>This was our first time camping together! Had to get a photo for the scrapbook (or blog)!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAht0zZ2aZ6hkpN_trZ7J8YFZzw417jGay4QMKkhB3M9tOBmnNe1in4tFlZN62KseZGac3BQr-zxAygpbJRKrN3W391lhwveN2k97pQXN305XXMA6ViJZVNDMJGIGthAAbJhnznaYGxYc/s1600/IMG_4444.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAht0zZ2aZ6hkpN_trZ7J8YFZzw417jGay4QMKkhB3M9tOBmnNe1in4tFlZN62KseZGac3BQr-zxAygpbJRKrN3W391lhwveN2k97pQXN305XXMA6ViJZVNDMJGIGthAAbJhnznaYGxYc/s400/IMG_4444.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519232008213917698" border="0" /></a>Here's the tent Dad Almasy bought for us. Our first tent. We have many plans for this tent. It will be well-used.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8JpxKA4kpJ7BGrmXywptqRX9Lwu004a5PPQjaFQJoF6LiTkGr8ydoUlYOPNfWhNlHTVH9GpofQj2tvMpLRyGXQfOxc9xOByFbCQ-G3xVeM0tU4snoPH3qGmGLbxwh2SmV-7VmtVhx1k/s1600/IMG_4480.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8JpxKA4kpJ7BGrmXywptqRX9Lwu004a5PPQjaFQJoF6LiTkGr8ydoUlYOPNfWhNlHTVH9GpofQj2tvMpLRyGXQfOxc9xOByFbCQ-G3xVeM0tU4snoPH3qGmGLbxwh2SmV-7VmtVhx1k/s400/IMG_4480.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519230506815710786" border="0" /></a><br />Dad Almasy had some "hobo pie" irons which we used to make, um, hobo pies. At Girl Scout camp we called them pie irons but I like the fun name. We ate many a hobo pie. Pizza, breakfast, dessert. Mmm... I forgot how much I missed smelling the smoke of an open fire and cooking over it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35qhmUOHSiS0g2iCOg-CCQCbQcpuXH5wx4Vu11rCy2wsbJQuWI4KlrP04jpL9tiHYENhI1E8mHqdYyv7q7gkBvkI42cJKSGwGsV7o2JVNIo3utiJVckLbbCSLxsqw-gGdaR54rPAT1eU/s1600/IMG_4477.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35qhmUOHSiS0g2iCOg-CCQCbQcpuXH5wx4Vu11rCy2wsbJQuWI4KlrP04jpL9tiHYENhI1E8mHqdYyv7q7gkBvkI42cJKSGwGsV7o2JVNIo3utiJVckLbbCSLxsqw-gGdaR54rPAT1eU/s400/IMG_4477.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519230500802099634" border="0" /></a><br />We learned how to play Chinese chess and brought the game back with us. Roy taught Dad how to play and beat him (Roy always wins!). Then I played Dad and thought, ha, I'll probably win. After all, I do play against Roy and sometimes I even give Roy a hard time to win. We played and Dad beat me in about four moves. WHAT? Time for some humility, Jenny.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyrxcIYmiYvfeCTWfIO7fEnEm-ejFI1hvHc6zIBwJawEHsqHluGRYGXh2_F-fEe0s1RsStlg4uDVXALbjz20pOxPKsJyNt0f8Py9zBEcXfpFHYetgWaqjMz5hjhXvqN6v2nHiOb0ueO0/s1600/IMG_4451.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyrxcIYmiYvfeCTWfIO7fEnEm-ejFI1hvHc6zIBwJawEHsqHluGRYGXh2_F-fEe0s1RsStlg4uDVXALbjz20pOxPKsJyNt0f8Py9zBEcXfpFHYetgWaqjMz5hjhXvqN6v2nHiOb0ueO0/s400/IMG_4451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519230492050042770" border="0" /></a><br />Good photo of Dale, eh? I believe he's enjoying a rice meal of sorts. All parties (Dad, Dale and Roy) got to break out and use camping items they haven't used in years. Even though we only camped for two nights and two days, we went all out. If you saw our camp, you would have thought we were going to camp until the fair (which was two weeks away and right across the street). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSQiata2viB2HHO5ajg6yYqiZZlyjy3xEyWQGQvz7ruKJwxWbNQASEAQN6_SWS-A08-6obuZh-9PBivYyJJFOz5dMTAc7CYFd0Ps1_JE30Ih86-TYjP8rOhdIL6VlJPCm3W1aLQRCUk0/s1600/IMG_4531.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSQiata2viB2HHO5ajg6yYqiZZlyjy3xEyWQGQvz7ruKJwxWbNQASEAQN6_SWS-A08-6obuZh-9PBivYyJJFOz5dMTAc7CYFd0Ps1_JE30Ih86-TYjP8rOhdIL6VlJPCm3W1aLQRCUk0/s400/IMG_4531.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519232017770206146" border="0" /></a>Everytime we visit the Almasy's in the summer, it's blueberry season. And it was again this time. We got up early one morning and picked away...picking some 36 pounds of blueberries, or was it 50? Either way, it was a lot!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQWvo23RIzMHRJGclo7wJ9TYwB-kezqE0e3IRKecbeYrnYGZQQu_DVbMNJeQPMNMPSRHxyXB3_dEhgcUrSK2nh-qY6awlBI2xB0Zm3yWY5ixSs9fU_SB7simwvvm_v_JFtOVSTPC_w3E/s1600/IMG_4541.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQWvo23RIzMHRJGclo7wJ9TYwB-kezqE0e3IRKecbeYrnYGZQQu_DVbMNJeQPMNMPSRHxyXB3_dEhgcUrSK2nh-qY6awlBI2xB0Zm3yWY5ixSs9fU_SB7simwvvm_v_JFtOVSTPC_w3E/s400/IMG_4541.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519232037010048962" border="0" /></a>The conclusion of our trip was the retirement party of Roy's high school chess coach and good friend, Mike Skidmore. Roy wanted to make it to the party, but we weren't sure if he could because of work. Once we found out he was able, we didn't let Skid know because we wanted it to be a surprise. Boy, was he surprised and so happy that Roy was able to make it. Throughout the day there were tons of people who dropped by. Skid worked for Kearsley for 37 years before retiring. Wow! At the party, I was asked to be the impromptu photographer of all guests so Mike could see who all came. Roy played lots of Chess and caught up with all the Chess alum that were able to make it. It was a fun time; we were so glad we made it. :)Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-88519823324887636272010-09-21T12:01:00.008+08:002010-09-21T13:09:18.182+08:00Ohio!Jen here. I have many photos to post to summarize our past few months being back in the states. I'll try not to skip too much, or to talk too much. Enjoy. :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iNGkyDEUmwMTQcgL2oMjNlM5RBAaijYrlA4_2LYl1ux0AtVdVMJcXpR3HfIvs76Zf5WxgwXTVw9glenuSBIlarvVuvWdNlkbSXHFZxGQU-EEPfdAia1aURkBiLR49OxACESUKUSCM1c/s1600/IMG_3938.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iNGkyDEUmwMTQcgL2oMjNlM5RBAaijYrlA4_2LYl1ux0AtVdVMJcXpR3HfIvs76Zf5WxgwXTVw9glenuSBIlarvVuvWdNlkbSXHFZxGQU-EEPfdAia1aURkBiLR49OxACESUKUSCM1c/s400/IMG_3938.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519216627693597858" border="0" /></a>I flew back from Hong Kong earlier than Roy for one reason--PARTY! My family sneakily organized a surprise 60th anniversary party for my grandparents. When I say family, I mean FAMILY. All of them. My parents, aunts and uncles came up with the idea several months ago when they were all brought together for a funeral. The story is that Dad volunteered the farm and the planning began. It was super secret and super amazing. I cry just thinking about it (Yes, even now).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwu3NEop3nMbZ6dznbAJ9uZhVfIkQFBG99np_r1H18QBdVDLjaewtG6mpPIcf3DZg3_tGcIKWPpy8Z-sU14JrMCemXKrTq44qJwPEIdVTO2JxzfbivJ-MYlALWLxJRsk6Sth8fqzLfNoU/s1600/IMG_3893.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwu3NEop3nMbZ6dznbAJ9uZhVfIkQFBG99np_r1H18QBdVDLjaewtG6mpPIcf3DZg3_tGcIKWPpy8Z-sU14JrMCemXKrTq44qJwPEIdVTO2JxzfbivJ-MYlALWLxJRsk6Sth8fqzLfNoU/s400/IMG_3893.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519216660096046610" border="0" /></a>Grandma and grandpa were brought to tears by all the people who came (even some of their siblings whom they hadn't seen for decades) and all the effort given for a wonderful weekend-long open-house celebration. The M&M's were perfect and delicious. Check out grandpa and grandma's wedding photo etched onto the M&M's! It was a blast.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVVc8pgkgLuhQl7L7GVcsoBCwxKSfyUO6xlihKaw61Bybl7ScB5lPE1zgRL1ASn9xlE-rElWQblqMrijadmXkroiXApU2A1GVRywi4wjB9HenI4xZHLnHNNo7lOm9GX1kcee54yaTFag/s1600/IMG_3844.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVVc8pgkgLuhQl7L7GVcsoBCwxKSfyUO6xlihKaw61Bybl7ScB5lPE1zgRL1ASn9xlE-rElWQblqMrijadmXkroiXApU2A1GVRywi4wjB9HenI4xZHLnHNNo7lOm9GX1kcee54yaTFag/s400/IMG_3844.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519216633655571170" border="0" /></a>All of our cousins came and people flew in from all over the states (and me from HK!) and we just sat outside in lawn chairs, chatted, ate hotdogs and burgers and had a great time. One of my favorite parts about it was seeing my nieces and nephew. Oh how I've missed seeing these little ones growing up--and now I get to see them all at once(all the Ellis ones, not the Almasy ones)! In this photo, little JoJo is experimenting with (his great-)great Aunt Laura's hairbrush as she laughs. I took every chance I could to walk Jo Jo around the farm, going to see the "baa" or the "cok cok" (sheep and chickens).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHAmcxTErVJsW4uXSnBC2DT6Odk_MmGjZwIbLc4jHND4Y26FWWUFok0aJqg3ovZHobEABCzLB2bQwTclXiHjs3cTYCiyA5jcS45nl4vWfqN_dZGD3w4yWbSE-5w8Pqa8geMERrAFtQ60/s1600/IMG_3877.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHAmcxTErVJsW4uXSnBC2DT6Odk_MmGjZwIbLc4jHND4Y26FWWUFok0aJqg3ovZHobEABCzLB2bQwTclXiHjs3cTYCiyA5jcS45nl4vWfqN_dZGD3w4yWbSE-5w8Pqa8geMERrAFtQ60/s400/IMG_3877.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519216652999891762" border="0" /></a>And here's the newest niece in the family--little Eowyn Lynn! Dan and Christie had Eowyn in April, so this was the first time I got to meet her. I delightedly volunteered to bounce her and hold her while she napped. She's an adorable cowgirl! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKMvk-RCG67iz7pHB3tTti3ijBXoGqngIF7i91rdWUyPusLL1Zac1LVFvvN9SF0S0ogxjB8h6-LLQvPecD2T82WjF8UtKrMH7fvs630MMEhx6AYgXCC9ZCTEyix2bOotCsZtSm9Vz6I4/s1600/IMG_3903.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKMvk-RCG67iz7pHB3tTti3ijBXoGqngIF7i91rdWUyPusLL1Zac1LVFvvN9SF0S0ogxjB8h6-LLQvPecD2T82WjF8UtKrMH7fvs630MMEhx6AYgXCC9ZCTEyix2bOotCsZtSm9Vz6I4/s400/IMG_3903.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519216669309214706" border="0" /></a>As mentioned earlier, we had lots of good cook-out food, and got to spend lots of time with cousins. Here's Corrie and her boyfriend.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqY_LHF9Si5A1UNWKrboakQBtvzH62i7642RA_g1gcyM57n3L-JQ7zmtb3XGv8KQq9oQUivhXYz4JHUDMJwedU4bWpxUQ9h-SAZriuYeSF3zyNBT6Eb52Z9Z6dNOij1151FVqtU38FBY/s1600/IMG_4239.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqY_LHF9Si5A1UNWKrboakQBtvzH62i7642RA_g1gcyM57n3L-JQ7zmtb3XGv8KQq9oQUivhXYz4JHUDMJwedU4bWpxUQ9h-SAZriuYeSF3zyNBT6Eb52Z9Z6dNOij1151FVqtU38FBY/s400/IMG_4239.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519223469830411602" border="0" /></a>My cousin Brian spotted Dad's tractor in the shop and asked a few people if they thought Dad would teach him how to drive it. Uh yeah, actually I bet Dad would love to! And thus began the first of many tractor driving lessons. First Brian, then anyone else who wanted to learn! It was quite comical. The tractor has A/C but lest you think it's new, look for the CD player and you'll find an 8-track player. Wow. I saw some 8-tracks in the house and was really confused. What in the world are these giant cassette tapes? I thought. Weird. Oh, they're for the tractor. Ha.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUEq4x2PCX5rwpLrUv-VgUlWJNSMaSFRdKeeXMrIWWvSFD91SnhLCmzgGBKAhCOFtkEuuMtyoHFqD4f4nRO0S_4eNUkO5A3dYFrsVpywwb6rOrUfMZDpu9sgkJLfjSmR9FK7J3uynVPE/s1600/IMG_3976.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUEq4x2PCX5rwpLrUv-VgUlWJNSMaSFRdKeeXMrIWWvSFD91SnhLCmzgGBKAhCOFtkEuuMtyoHFqD4f4nRO0S_4eNUkO5A3dYFrsVpywwb6rOrUfMZDpu9sgkJLfjSmR9FK7J3uynVPE/s400/IMG_3976.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519223424416790882" border="0" /></a><br />You can't have a two-day open house party without having a few country games--hillbilly golf and of course corn hole. Oh yeah! Cousin Stephanie played hillbilly golf with Noelle. :)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsLlYOjh1zek0egqofq27g3ZHeOvq_yvVfMiA-h0AnLccgzqzLb8ynxzLXncad5U0i5cR4S7RogP4cx-8Rnu_fSx2n848gaVvAqm1EBe6hrx5RZrYds69uqwDbfl_uIcgXOB0pVwjq90/s1600/IMG_4174.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsLlYOjh1zek0egqofq27g3ZHeOvq_yvVfMiA-h0AnLccgzqzLb8ynxzLXncad5U0i5cR4S7RogP4cx-8Rnu_fSx2n848gaVvAqm1EBe6hrx5RZrYds69uqwDbfl_uIcgXOB0pVwjq90/s400/IMG_4174.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519223434184932626" border="0" /></a>Saturday was the day when everyone was present who was going to be present, therefore we took family photos. The same couple who shot Mom and Dad's wedding (and various other weddings of my family members) shot family/group photos of everyone and anyone for free. Hooray! If only Roy was there... :( He still had one more week of work to complete before he could leave HK. BTW, isn't Dad and Mom's house looking sweet? They blasted the white paint off the bricks, Uncle Mike made and panted new shutters and it was a wonderful background for the family photos. Lookin sharp!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSb9BfaRmN4sgC4d-kUO-id5rq5ei32irEhNyXyMOwh0aGHdXhvnnRVlX1wWOCcigIZRRQ-hMXahCIy3j-y-xS1us1bKYVD7LGP9Tx0gZ5Fh1K2yFEzRo_OSI_9dnzSBUjcbI3SdwRJRQ/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSb9BfaRmN4sgC4d-kUO-id5rq5ei32irEhNyXyMOwh0aGHdXhvnnRVlX1wWOCcigIZRRQ-hMXahCIy3j-y-xS1us1bKYVD7LGP9Tx0gZ5Fh1K2yFEzRo_OSI_9dnzSBUjcbI3SdwRJRQ/s400/DSC_0009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519226817146575202" border="0" /></a>Here's the Ellis family photo (except for my Ishi Roy!). 3 grandkids so far...I hope there will be many more! :) Noelle was so cute, she would say "Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese" until she knew the picture had been taken, which was hilarious and caused everyone to laugh and smile, hence our smiles. Ha. :)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_LiCtKcCePOX7AcBSodgJmvVneHCGZYvwdPsyNdrfBakNpXASVBVG3a2n_grIYdoHA3lFyO7Un0EtHOtftK5YdZKqGHJp6tsZY31RhU3GZ0rq79hkYNz-LZdrKS35z5YRpUA7VDwlXs/s1600/IMG_4197.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_LiCtKcCePOX7AcBSodgJmvVneHCGZYvwdPsyNdrfBakNpXASVBVG3a2n_grIYdoHA3lFyO7Un0EtHOtftK5YdZKqGHJp6tsZY31RhU3GZ0rq79hkYNz-LZdrKS35z5YRpUA7VDwlXs/s400/IMG_4197.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519223446037547826" border="0" /></a>Hmm...looks familiar...except I think I like this version better (they're smiling)!Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-10236452370390095162010-08-25T17:01:00.002+08:002010-08-26T08:02:02.324+08:00Goodbye<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCu0c_SwE5muCWunJybBQQlSMWd8Ht74m3Idlab3idUGsF3r_1hc7YTIpkrabWHVPcdUfsKBomt_oosUOWhC3y0-VWOuHNa-XxG-GoQ6Flqe1rLu7GNJiqQMNfAYtZk3jLnZkmlaM66QE/s1600/IMG_3615.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCu0c_SwE5muCWunJybBQQlSMWd8Ht74m3Idlab3idUGsF3r_1hc7YTIpkrabWHVPcdUfsKBomt_oosUOWhC3y0-VWOuHNa-XxG-GoQ6Flqe1rLu7GNJiqQMNfAYtZk3jLnZkmlaM66QE/s320/IMG_3615.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486560507858828194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGRS5jG9hIoGH2iAKJjgj7TYF4Wpkut6iZgF0Mm62WJPSi8kkuuq2wW1-5lYhrpItHGuZpE2o0Ml7bJZqOOPBQZrEgUAoi8Toc_xHGaJaH9GMUzhXDwX89Dvd0ZBN1nMtVRtd7Gpjais/s1600/IMG_3803.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGRS5jG9hIoGH2iAKJjgj7TYF4Wpkut6iZgF0Mm62WJPSi8kkuuq2wW1-5lYhrpItHGuZpE2o0Ml7bJZqOOPBQZrEgUAoi8Toc_xHGaJaH9GMUzhXDwX89Dvd0ZBN1nMtVRtd7Gpjais/s320/IMG_3803.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509500192367956146" border="0" /></a>Jen here. Moving is bittersweet. I could feel the end of our time in HK coming to a close...and I was excited and sad. The lasts began happening in June: last Chess classes, last Chess tournament, last youth group meeting...<br /><br />At our last "Encounter" (youth group meeting) Marcus asked students to share testimonies of God's grace and work in their lives. Students got up and shared for the next 90 minutes! Wow! God is at work in these kids' hearts; they are learning from their leader's, friends and on their own. Praise God! After testimonies, we had a fun dance party. Those who didn't want to dance could play video games, foosball, ping pong, Chess or just chill and chat. Dancing was a blast, everyone having a great time. Another leader and I brought our cameras and let students shoot photos. Enjoy.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBk7wt7W7GryQ5GMPAOnEYXSTHCHXWcp3Im-Y48iXkyF184aeOSs8fTFEbujkaoy-O8j3uqoVIog5FuLsKIXfqs0DPEIdj8NCk9gBJkA6dZa-fZt6cId26EMppVnRURhP61uxZFfo4KQ/s1600/IMG_3451.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBk7wt7W7GryQ5GMPAOnEYXSTHCHXWcp3Im-Y48iXkyF184aeOSs8fTFEbujkaoy-O8j3uqoVIog5FuLsKIXfqs0DPEIdj8NCk9gBJkA6dZa-fZt6cId26EMppVnRURhP61uxZFfo4KQ/s320/IMG_3451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486560499441262066" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnknnwOG2iEykFayc1bgU_K5M6wSekVsS6jGELNZLfARqDqzyba0Jg_BRZqNH8JThW9dUJ1fRbB6fnLKXYyHlz8pfR4SFJXqDqXcyYdNxM_-lrwZvnT4a3VCJ796lmGBTs2mitxmeiYTA/s1600/IMG_3800.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnknnwOG2iEykFayc1bgU_K5M6wSekVsS6jGELNZLfARqDqzyba0Jg_BRZqNH8JThW9dUJ1fRbB6fnLKXYyHlz8pfR4SFJXqDqXcyYdNxM_-lrwZvnT4a3VCJ796lmGBTs2mitxmeiYTA/s320/IMG_3800.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509499064983645970" border="0" /></a>During my last week in Hong Kong I hung out with a few of my small group girls from youth. We met in Times Square (not NYC...Hong Kong has a smaller Times Square) where there were tons on Toy Story aliens, and of course we had to take some photos with them! Next we went to get some Bubble Tea, which I've only had a few times. I wanted to have it one last time before moving back to the US. One of my girls taught me how to order my own, so I did and we walked around Causeway Bay, talking and drinking our bubble tea(see photo at top). We found a place to sit down and thought about what was ahead. I was sad to be leaving and the girls were sad to see me leave. One of them kept offering to help me unpack (in HK). :) We cried and prayed together and it was time to head home.Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6952218587384913720.post-52381833491919291242010-08-14T08:14:00.007+08:002010-08-14T08:31:11.934+08:00Scholastic Chess Championship<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_B86HeIrmbR6k5JjdrMNZ7Z5LisQD6jZtwvtSJo4rrL0L43r7zFkPVguv0YG2OCCmR4vGarJguNzsSGkNkz_x0AdPeZsN1lBrXYv0f2lTK3YqmifypL7DaqY0dTrZR0AIaJgthIWpMOo/s1600/IMG_3746.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_B86HeIrmbR6k5JjdrMNZ7Z5LisQD6jZtwvtSJo4rrL0L43r7zFkPVguv0YG2OCCmR4vGarJguNzsSGkNkz_x0AdPeZsN1lBrXYv0f2lTK3YqmifypL7DaqY0dTrZR0AIaJgthIWpMOo/s320/IMG_3746.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505053656985856402" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYSpEazdBERjMaw_khVvnQS3Vc3z4zCxes2UfWK1EPZLxftiaABH2B_fw2wF-2xcMWSTBiPAC7KoaPuS4Ste6BWIral0AktEaUIxcqvjp1Mdy6a0_P0AlhxDvGo-eT_IpthkOyj5tve0/s1600/IMG_3726.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYSpEazdBERjMaw_khVvnQS3Vc3z4zCxes2UfWK1EPZLxftiaABH2B_fw2wF-2xcMWSTBiPAC7KoaPuS4Ste6BWIral0AktEaUIxcqvjp1Mdy6a0_P0AlhxDvGo-eT_IpthkOyj5tve0/s320/IMG_3726.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505053351511887410" border="0" /></a>Jen here. I've almost caught up with our HK adventures...I don't think I could ever write all of them down.<br /><br />Our last tournament that we put on was the Hong Kong Scholastic Championship, held in June. It was an interesting tournament, as we had many new staff present in order to be trained. Many university students were looking for jobs for the summer and we had lots of camps scheduled. Perfect fit! It was a good tournament. Roy was the man in charge and he delegated duties to the other staff. I helped Roy in whatever ways worked best--taking photos, being a floor tournament director, keeping kids quiet, organizing the trophies, etc. It was a good time. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WrJ8SdUXGUJe1x71_SmnVBYaT8f3-owYovpnzWu2Yrhf3CvfuohVukKBTYnqAJnzKoM4dhONzj7teQ-9dOa8NpVI4dzXGWKAPH-xYPSGvDVYR99SatltrfypNbUJTFtei9ljvimSC_E/s1600/IMG_3682.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WrJ8SdUXGUJe1x71_SmnVBYaT8f3-owYovpnzWu2Yrhf3CvfuohVukKBTYnqAJnzKoM4dhONzj7teQ-9dOa8NpVI4dzXGWKAPH-xYPSGvDVYR99SatltrfypNbUJTFtei9ljvimSC_E/s320/IMG_3682.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505052968163797938" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdd74l4YSBf29WpFYbHVX8VRdKx6DzXkXGuQTqzMynaiX3oURnvkaX623GYx3HkLKeY8ucojJzQisBf6kRqF9uLlWBxVUKkBAxSp1JZQ5psOxb6OYWuiUvC8sxQmj4VsnmwHjUfviqZI/s1600/IMG_3671.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdd74l4YSBf29WpFYbHVX8VRdKx6DzXkXGuQTqzMynaiX3oURnvkaX623GYx3HkLKeY8ucojJzQisBf6kRqF9uLlWBxVUKkBAxSp1JZQ5psOxb6OYWuiUvC8sxQmj4VsnmwHjUfviqZI/s320/IMG_3671.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505055568352783362" border="0" /></a>All students received a trophy at this tournament--see the large trophies in the top left picture, down to the small trophies in the top right photos. This tournament was similar to all our others: three age divisions for trophies, 5-6 rounds (depending on age). One difference: this was Coach Roy's last tournament in Hong Kong this year! He announced it to parents and many wished he would stay. He's an excellent Chess coach and he works well with the students. They have improved so much--I would want Roy to stay too! :)<br /><br />But, not to worry, Roy still had about a month of classes, camps and quads until he would be leaving HK in July.Jennifer Almasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01541827445526890416noreply@blogger.com1