Winter 2010-2011

As spring officially begins this weekend, I figured it was time to write my winter blog! Maybe I say this about every season, but it was a crazy season!! It started off common enough enjoying Thanksgiving in Portland with the Pringles, and Christmas at my mom’s house. Late December I went to a skate-ski clinic in Winthrop with the Middleton-Young family and had a blast learning to skate ski! I have been skiing about once a week, although bursitis in my left shoulder has forced me to ski without poles most of the time. I spent New Year’s Eve with the Parsons at their condo in Wenatchee and we had a great time sledding, playing games and just being together.


Annette and I XC skiing

Then things started to get a little crazy! I had wanted to volunteer at the Washington Family Ranch (in Oregon) this summer, and the Camp Manager told me I had until March 1st to decide. Around New Year’s he asked if I had a better idea of my plans as they were in the midst of hiring interns. After a few days of praying and agonizing I emailed Rich that yes, I was coming! But I was not finished with agonizing decisions yet…Rich then called to ask me if I would be interested in applying for a full-time year-round office position. I had some plans in my head of what I wanted to do this year, and getting a job was not actually one of them :) But when I read the job description I was intrigued. It sounded perfect for me. So I applied, interviewed, and was offered the job. The two days prior to accepting I cried…a lot. It was difficult to know if that was where I should be or not. Although I prayed and fasted I never received clear guidance from the Lord. He did not fling the door open wide, however he did not close it either, so I trust that He will bless this decision.

They were looking to hire someone to start February 15th. But I felt I had too much to wrap up in Bellevue and negotiated moving to May 1st, although I did start part-time February 15th. January was crazy with three weekends out-of-town, moving from the Johnston’s back to Beth and Anya’s house, and accepting this new job (while continuing to nanny and work at Bellevue YL). The first out-of-town weekend was interviewing at the Ranch and visiting the Kearbys in Yakima on the way home. The next weekend was in Portland with the Johnstons, going to a Derek Webb concert at Donald Miller’s condo and watching the filming of Blue Like Jazz. And the third weekend was back to Winthop with my mom, XC skiing and snowshoeing. It was special time together as our last big event before I move.


Mom and I


Sun Mountain Lodge in Winthrop


View from our hotel room!

In February I spent one week at the Ranch being trained on my new job. It is surreal moving back there ten years later. So much has changed, yet so much is still the same. I have visited several times a year each year over the past ten years, so it seems natural to be there for as long as a week, but I am having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that I will really be living there again! I returned home to Bellevue for two weeks, during which time I was working all three jobs, starting to pack, and visiting or scheduling time with friends and family for “one more visit” before I go.


Girl time! Pedicures with sis-in-law Teresa, mom, me, cousin Vanessa

Now in March I am back at the Ranch for two weeks while the Johnstons are in Europe and Africa. I am enjoying my work, and the peace and quiet of country living, where I have seen more elk and deer than people! The five of us in the admin department went on an overnight last weekend to a cabin near Sisters, Oregon, right on the Metolius River. We hiked along the river, shared life stories, ate good food, and laughed a lot :) They are great people and I already enjoy working with them.

Stay tuned for the next blog with stories of Ranch life!


The admin department on our retreat


See the white building on the left? That's my new office!


The camp


View on my "commute" (10-15 min by bike)