Family Devotional

We recently started a short family devotional for the summer.  I really like the format of this one.  It breaks it down in to weekly sections.  Each week you get familiar with a scripture and then focus on how to use the scripture in the family setting.

We had just started the first week, on Love One Another.  The scripture passage was John 15:12-My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

During the discussion questions we were asked to describe what a command is and how is that different from a suggestion.

Allie answered, "It's like mom and dad."

I asked her to explain.

Allie replied, "Mom is like a command, whereas dad is like a suggestion."

This is going to be a FUN devotional!!!

Puppy Update!

Well, we visited with Yawkey's puppies.  They are getting so much bigger and very defined personalities.  The other family is hoping to sell all of them next month.  I hope we get at least one more chance to visit with them.

Spokantopia 2019

Last year, we were here in Spokane looking for our future house.  During that visit I noticed ads for an outdoor event called Spokantopia.  It looked like fun, and I promised myself I would look into it this summer.

I did!  And I signed us up for tandem kayaking.  We had SO MUCH fun!  Jake even tried Paddle Board Yoga, while I had the kids try their skill at solo kayaking.  They were ALL naturals.  Owen managed to stand up on his paddle board, but Allie fell in.  They both LOVED solo kayaking.

It was a fun filled day that sold us on the dream of buying our own!  Yesterday, Jake and I went and got 2 yellow solo kayaks off of Craig's List.  Next purchase...life jackets!

Big Man Room

Since Allie had gotten a new bed, Owen wanted one too.  We also traded out for a smaller dresser and a new TV stand to hold all of his gaming consoles.  We rearranged his furniture to make it work.

We finished Allie's room with a free standing hanging Egg Chair.

Scoops And Bowls

I love how there are ALWAYS interesting events that are for a good cause.  This is one example.

Yesterday morning, I was randomly looking at Facebook and found an event taking place today at Manito Park.  So after Jake and I showered from yoga, we ALL walked down to the park and checked out all the bowls that were made for sale.  The prices were ranging from $10-20.  But the money went to the Urban Art Coop.  They even had a Scoops (an ice cream parlor) donating their time and ice cream to give free sundaes to anyone who purchased a bowl.  We got 5 bowls.  (One of them was picked out for my sister.)

Here are the pics.

Hoopfest 2019

There is a festival of 3 on 3 basketball that is held in downtown Spokane every June.  This year was the 30th year of it.  What started as a small local tournament, has become a HUGE national event.  There were over 6,000 teams,  3,000 volunteers,  225,000 fans and 450 courts covering 45 city blocks.  So of course, we had to check it out!

It lasted a Saturday and Sunday, the later being the champions day since teams were eliminated the day before.  We went on Sunday and it was still very crowded.  We walked down several blocks and saw many teams playing.  The weather was perfect!  Jake and I even got shirts to commemorate the 30th year of it.

A kind gesture

I've always believed be kind to everyone and kindness will come back to you.  Now I know that this isn't ALWAYS the case, but I live it anyway.

For example, there is a Starbuck's downtown that Jake would go to regularly on his way to work.  The baristas would recognize him by his order in the drive through.  Once in a while, I would get Jake his breakfast and bring it home to him.  So they got to know me as his wife, Carrie.  A select few of them I even got to know their names.

A week or so ago, Jake was going through the drive through and the clerk told him it was her last day.  She also said she had a card for us, but left it at her apartment.  She said she would leave it at the place for him to get the next time he went through.  It was an amazing gesture of appreciation for how we interacted with her.

Volleyball Camp

Allie attended a week long volleyball camp.  It was about 40 minutes north of where we live, but she LOVED it!  I was very proud of her for attending each day 8-4.  She never once complained.  As an added perk, we discovered where Retro Donuts was located at.  We stopped there almost daily during that week.

Summer Solstice

Jake and I attended Yoga ON Main Street.  It was a free yoga class that was held downtown.  They shut the street down to traffic and we set up.  My friend, Becky met us there.  It was a good class and beautiful weather on the longest day of the year.

RJ Condit

I have been busy these last few weeks, so I promise to catch up.  But before I do, I want to pay tribute to my step-dad...RJ.

Today would be RJ's birthday.  He passed away June 28th.  For those of you who knew him, know what he was like.  But let me introduce him as my step-dad.

Everyone wants to see there parents happy.  We, as kids, try to please them.  But this world is broken and we are only human, so challenges will try to take that happiness away.  Thankfully, God has a plan for us.  Even when our plans don't work.

So when marriages fall apart, God will provide.  And he did just that 11 years ago.  My mom met RJ online.  They agreed to meet at a public place to see if dinner would be an option.  It was.  They ate at the Blind Tiger.  The rest was storybook.

RJ showed my mom what if feels like to be valued as a wife.  He was a very smart man, who managed the money for their household.  My mom was the spontaneous partner that showed him how accessible adventures are.

Adventures will continue to happen, but he will always be a part of them in our hearts.