More Snowy Fun

We definitely enjoyed the snow at our house. It snowed consistently for 2-3 days and we ended up with a total of 8 inches. I got to stay at home since my clinic day was cancelled and just relax. Chet still had to go to work but being a good Montana boy he had no issues driving in the snow. 

It was like a winterwonderland though... and quite pleasant. Down south of Seattle there was a ton of freezing rain and power outages, but we just got fluffy white stuff. 

For awhile, it was even hard to keep up with shoveling the snow. Doesn't our Subaru look great sitting in the snow? It got around quite well. We heart you Subaru. ;)

While Chet was sleeping, I got a chance to watch folks sled down a huge hill near our house. It was definitely interesting to see who is in our neighborhood. It is very diverse...

I also went for a walk in a small wetland park near our house. It was pretty covered in snow.

And of course, here is our house in the snow. The mossy grass is covered up... I think it looks nicer that way.

The next day, as the rain was washing the snow off the roads, we head up to Stevens Pass to go snowboarding. I have to say that it was a great snow day. Due to the dumping of snow that week, there was lots of beautiful powder which is something of a rare happening. The snow was light and we got some great fresh tracks. Probably not quite as good as the days prior when snow was dumping everywhere, but still awesome.

Chet also started something with his friend, Jason... snow tailgating! Some brats and caramelized onions in the snow, yes please!

 

Fun snowy adventures this January... we'll have to see what the rest of winter brings!

Snow!!!

I got a wonderful treat today... a grown up snow day! My clinic decided to do a reduce clinic due to snow so only one provider was there and I got the day off! 

This means being lazy and a glorious walk in the snow with Chet, Renee and Luke... oh and hot chocolate... and some book reading with snow drifting down outside.

We all bundled up in our Seattle winter finery (aka waterproof fabrics like soft shell and a lovely Arcteryx shell for Chet) and took a walk from Renee and Luke's house to Carkeek Park.

We also got to dodge lots of sledders and were somewhat jealous that we didn't have a sled. We did consider taking borrowing a garbage can lid from someone but decided against it.

The berries were splendid in their finery. I love how they look with the snow on them!

We hiked the trails at the park... a kind of a beautiful refuge in the city.  

 

I love snowy photos with my honey... even though, because he went for a walk with us, he is going to be really tired for work tonight! Sorry, Chet!

One of the most beautiful things is seeing all of the trees above the Sound dusted with snow and the water was a deep gray green color. 

This bird was hopping like mad from branch to branch... didn't want to be photographed!

Snowy coastline anyone? Yep, it was lovely. 

Loved getting to enjoy a wintery walk with these wonderful people!

I felt like I was playing hooky today from work (though it wasn't my decision, I was told to stay home), but it was a wonderful relaxing snow day! The funny thing about Western Washington snow is that you get it only once or twice a year and it doesn't last for more than a few days. By this time next week, it will be back to 40s and raining and the snow will only be a memory!

So, thanks for the break from normal life, snow!

Lazy Snowy Sunday

Today was such a relaxing day. Somedays (or whole weekends) we just need to catch up and putter around the house.  I still never get everything done that I plan because I am so easily distracted (i.e. iPad my parents gave us for Christmas!) but that's okay... we still enjoyed our day.

"Important things"...

As it is a rare snowy weekend in Washington, we carefully made our way to church, which happens to be on top of Queen Anne so could be difficult if there is very much snow.  Luckily, there was much less snow the closer you got to downtown.  Today, our pastor continued our series on "Living a Generous Life" and discussion of making margin in our lives with talk of how we use our time.

I'll just say that it was yet another great, practical sermon that I go away from wanting to implement in my life.  It comes down to this... how do we use our time?  Do we schedule ourselves to full throughout the day that we don't have the ability to love, serve or be present with people?  Are we focusing our time on "getting ahead"?  Are we giving God our time and trusting Him in His wisdom with it?  Or do we hold tightly to it and try to micromanage/control everything?

And most of all, do we spend our time focusing on making the most important things, the most important things?

No, I didn't just repeat the words accidently.

Pastor Bill was talking about how we have urgent things and important things in our lives.  Do we spend time focusing on the urgent things or do we give priority to the important things.  I think I focus on the urgent things, the things that need to be dealt with, quite often.  The important things are also a priority but when I get busy or stressed at work, the important things of family, friends, etc., get obscured by the flashing neon lights of "you have to or should do this now".  (I hate the word should sometimes because I'm really good making myself feel guilty!).

So, I want to start making "important things" my priority.  Phone calls with friends/family? Yes, please.  Date with the hubby? Absolutely.  Self care with prayer and exercise? Definitely.  Being open to opportunities to serve? Yep.

Snow in Seattle

This afternoon, we've enjoyed a snowy day at home.  There is really very little on the ground and it all melted off the roads, but it felt like a good stay at home day.  To bad tomorrow is back to work... likely on icy roads!  They are supposed to get amazing snow in the mountains though so snowboarding this week is looking like a definite must!

We had fun making food today... roasted root veggie and black bean enchiladas with chipotle enchilada sauce (pretty tasty for an experiment to use up roasted root veggies in the fridge) and we make roasted brussel sprouts with balsamic.  I can't believe I used to dislike brussel sprouts... we were popping these into our mouths off the pan and there are barely any left for my lunch tomorrow!

A current addiction

One thing Chet and I are addicted to right now is Good Earth Tea (the original).

For an herbal tea, it is amazingly addicting and I think we have each been drinking a cup a day for the last 2 weeks.  It doesn't need anything added to it either... just hot water and it is so sweet and flavorful just as it is!  I'm not trying to advertise but it just seems to be the perfect thing to drink on a cold winter's night.

Well, off to bed I go for another week at work.  I do my first solo Saturday clinic this week so that will be a new adventure!

A new year, a new start...

So, 2011 has been a bit of a year.  I went into the year excitedly seeking a new job, wanting to move on from being in graduate school to something new and, hopefully, better.  It has been a harder year than I expected in many ways, but I know that God is using this to grow and shape me. 

I haven't blogged since June because I felt I didn't have much to say.  I felt pretty down at times, with a lack of self confidence and self esteem.  I think that for a long time I felt that I was doing fine prior to this job but the stress of a new job where I am learning and I don't know what I am doing brought out my lack of confidence in myself but also my reliance on my own strength and abilities.  The pressure of making decisions every day, diagnosing problems (or knowing my limitations) and looking tons of things up (and realizing how I thought I was doing the right thing but wasn't quite right) is uncomfortable for me.

Because I am working with people's children, I want to do the right thing... the first time.
I want to make them feel better... and put their parents at ease.
I want to have them feel cared for and in good hands...

And I certainly know that I set too high of expectations for myself, as none of us know it all.

Maybe a little bit of it is pride in doing things "right" or "perfect" (I know I'm a perfectionist with all of its benefits and stuggles).   If people doing this job for 20-30 years still ask questions, how should I know everything after 9 months.

What I am coming back to realize that this all centers on whether I believe Jesus is who He says He is. That He is the One who, with grace and healing, allows our imperfections to be okay.

That I am loved whether I diagnose a cough or a rash right the first time or the second. Or even if a family gets frustrated by me and goes to see some one else instead.  Or if I am running behind... again.

That I am a beloved child of God so that is enough. That I don't need to come home at the end of the day and fret about the mistakes I made at work today or the mistakes I will surely make tomorrow.

That I can do my best, still striving to take excellent care of patients but knowing that I will never be perfect.  That is reserved only for Jesus and my expectations, or my yard stick of my worth, needs to be His and not mine. Mine is all notched up with things I think I should be doing well at in order to avoid possible inadequacy.  His has only one notch... to come to Him and love, trust and obey Him with all my heart. There is where I find my worth and I can rest in Him completely.

Mark 11:28-30: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

I forget this easily, especially when I am stressed.  I know it wearies my husband that I have such a short term memory in this regard.  But, I can see that, without this job, I may have never been broken to realize my inadequacy in such a way, to realize that I can't do this myself.  So, I look forward to 2012 being a time of growth and change... of learning to trust the One who made me and to rest in His presence.