Song for a season

Desert Song
Hillsong United

This is my prayer in the desert
When all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides.

This is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
of more worth than gold
so refine my Lord through the flames.

Chorus:
I will bring praise
I will bring praise

No weapon formed against me
shall remain.

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and he is here.

This is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on his promise I'll stand.

Bridge:
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've received I will sow.


I am walking through the first three verses armed with the knowledge that these are seasons; however short or long they may be, I still have a reason to sing and praise and I know God will provide in his timing.

Reasons to Love Seattle

Sun is to Seattle as Rain is to Nicaragua. In both locations weather is a bit of a phenomenon. One has lots of rain, one has lots of sun and when the "opposite" weather is experienced there is a physical and chemical reaction that occurs amongst the natives...pure joy. Last year our skin tingled with the relief of cooler temperatures and we rejoiced as we felt and heard those long awaited drops of rain. Five months later it's the exact opposite; our skin tingles with excitement to feel the warmth of sunshine and we rejoice in being able to partake in the natural beauty Seattle has to offer.

So I thought I'd create a quick list of reasons why I love Seattle:

1. There is lots of great coffee (even though I'm not that big of a coffee drinker, I am happy that so many other people are addicts). This coffee can then be spilled on white shirts by your friend who then tries to cover up his mistake in pictures the rest of the day. Example: Josh King and Steven Pyke


2. There are people who think that they are cool enough to drive supped up cars that should never have really been supped up.





3. You can almost kill yourself by making a see-saw out of drift wood found on the beach.






4. You can explore tide pools and find all sorts of crazy creatures. You can also wander off the beaten path and be "tweeted" at by a little old lady in charge of the beach.








5. You can see chubby babies squeezed into life vests which prohibit them from being able to turn their head/kneck in a normal fashion.






6. It doesn't matter if the temperature of the water is frigid, cause when the sun is out, there's not better place to be!

My amazing brother

Here is a snippet of my brother Joseph's most famous song "Color Up My World" which was performed at his band's (Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful) last performance together in Spokane. Usually he is not the lead singer but is on the key board as back up vocals. But he has written a few songs the band perforams and while he is probably tired of having people request him to play this song he is, in my completely biased opinion, a lyrical genius and talented musician. It's fun to watch how engaged his audience becomes as he plays his music. We, his four other siblings and two in-law siblings, are not so subtle in our support of his talents or in the expectation to see him do great things.

Three down...Two to go

This past weekend Josh and I road tripped over to Spokane, Washington to witness the college graduation of my younger brother Joseph. It was a fun weekend, filled with driving, yummy snacks, laughter and getting to see where my Sister-in-law, Theresa, hails from (Priest River, Idaho).





Elias and Theresa
Road trip must's - Starbucks, Peanut Butter M&M's and good music. Check, check, check.

We had a lot of fun staying with Theresa's parents and were wowed by her Father's amazing carpentry skills...the biggest being the fact that he made their house from the foundation up, even splitting the cedar shingles for the roof! Before the evening events in Spokane, we wandered around the 40 acres of land the Miller's (Theresa's family own.)



The house that Theresa's dad built.



More of Dan's handy work...I'd love to have a door like this!


The boys found an ant hill...Elias took pictures and the boys poked it!



Skittish horse, Theresa tried to coax.
Galen and Josh's boy band album cover.








Beaver Tree: Josh and Galen showing the huge tree the beavers chewed down.

Saturday evening we went to Joseph's house where we celebrated with his housemates with a BBQ, an impromptu concert by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful (Joseph's band), and a rousing game of Beersbie...a Whitworth drinking game.




Beersbie (place beer bottle on post, try and knock it off with a frisbee. Drink beer if lose.) Joseph (aka Willy- for Willy Nelson) performing his ever popular Color My World.






Mom and Dad...Josh (trying to give himself bangs with Joseph's curly locks), Joseph and me at Grad brunch. Our tall skinny long haired graduate, Joseph Michael Carlson.
Finally on Sunday we saw Joseph graduate! Way to go brother, I love you and am proud of you :-)

Nannying

As I wait for a full time job to show it's face. I have been nannying for two very sweet kids, Sammi and Hillary. They are tiny (2 and 3), love Diego and Dora, and keep me busy three days a week. One of my favorite things Sammi said this last week to me was after I had accidentally locked my keys in our house. I came out to to the car where the kids were in their car seats and said "Guys...Tia (meaning auntie in Spanish) left her keys in the house and locked the door." Sammi promptly responds with "Don't worry Tia, I'll think of something." After a long pause he says.."I know! Diego will come save us!"

Anyway, they are hilarious and confirm the fact that I'm ready to have my own children!



Hillary



Sammi