Happy Holidays!

The past week was a blitz of Christmas activities and a quick trip to Portland, but somehow I only managed to take the following pictures. I can't tell you exactly what compels me to take a photograph, but it's apparently random....and little strange. Here you go....

While shopping for an HBU shirt in the HBU bookstore, I came across this lone donkey in an HBU shirt. What. the. heck?. HBU's mascot is a husky. Why on earth was there ONE little DONKEY decked out in an HBU shirt?! Absurdities like this make me very happy. I bought it.

On Saturday, December 18, I flew to Portland, Oregon. They've been having an unusually dry December and that Saturday was gorgeous with clear, blue skies. The first thing I saw when I stepped off the (tiny) plane was a clear view of Mount Hood. Beautiful! The rest of my days in Portland were gray and cloudy, but it never really rained. I kind of wish it had.

My first stop, after picking up my rental car, in Portland was IKEA. Then I went to Petsmart where I found this adorable pit bull luggage tag! Which I bought. For myself. I'm much better at Christmas shopping for myself than I am for others.

I spent 3 nights in Portland, 2 of those nights were with Erin! And Leonard! Since I moved from Portland Erin and her boyfriend, Chris, moved into a new apartment in North Portland and got a dog (Leonard). Their apartment was so nice, it was so gracious of them to let me stay with them, and I had so much fun!

After church on Sunday, I came out to my rental car and found that I was parked behind an SUV with a TEXAS license plate! This excited me. Who goes all the way to Oregon only to be excited about seeing a license plate from the state they live in?!

At my favorite thrift store, Village Merchants, I found this fur purse. Of course I did. I had been eyeing one at JC Penny in Houston that cost $40. This one cost $8! Gosh, I love that thrift store!

On my last morning in Portland I ate a pumpkin bagel with cinnamon cream cheese and Stumptown coffee, while observing cool Portland people, do cool Portland things on their Macs. 

I also went shopping on NW 23rd and found this hotdog necklace. No, I didn't buy it. I'm not spending $22 on a hotdog necklace. But I did buy 4 sequined scarves (to give as gifts), an Eiffel Tower key chain, and a new collar for Henry.

My flight back home was crazy and annoying. When we landed in Houston one guy asked the flight attendant, "where do we get our luggage?". She looked at him like he was an alien and responded, "At baggage claim". That's just one example of the lou-lous that were on that plane.

My flight got into Houston at 12:45 am on Wednesday, December 21. That night we celebrated Christmas with my mom's side of the family and I made this veggie lasagna. I adapted it from this recipe.

At Powell's Bookstore in Portland I bought Henry's sister, Cali, this natural, organic, cotton-filled toy that was made to look like a stick. Before I had a chance to pack it up and send it to Georgia, Henry found it, chewed on it, ripped the tag off, and got it muddy. Merry Christmas, Cali!

My Christmas present wrapping theme this year was lime green and silver.

I received a gift on my dad's side of the family in this cat bag. At first glance I thought it was a lion dressed like Santa. Later I realized it was just a regular cat with a Santa hat on, but I loved it nonetheless.

Greg (my cousin's husband) gave me said gift in said cat bag. Here he's modeling one of the sequined scarves I bought in Portland.

My cousin Denise's baby, James.

I made these cinnamon rolls for Christmas Eve brunch. I made these for the first time in 2008 I think and now they've kind of become a tradition. I use the Pioneer Woman's recipe and they're really not that difficult to make. And they are honestly the best cinnamon rolls I've ever eaten. I half the recipe.

Henry receiving his Christmas gift.

Henry's favorite part of Christmas was playing in all the wrapping paper and with all the boxes. It brought my heart such joy to see him so happy.

Here's a close up of the collar I got Henry in Portland. It made from recycled neck ties and he looks sooo handsome in it!

Henry, modeling a scarf I received from my brother and sister-in-law. Isn't he dashing?

This collection of pictures in no way truly represents my Christmas, but it is what it is. 

Merry Christmas!

Always Running

When I moved to Portland the first time I was running. Running from depression, from fear, from disapointment, from pain, from consequences, from myself, from God, from embarrassment.

When I moved back to Texas from Portland the first time I was running. Running from pain, from embarrassment, from consequences, from bad choices, from the unknown, from temptation.

When I moved to Portland the second time I was running. Running from disappointment, from loneliness, from fear, from embarrassment, from the unknown, from stagnation, from God & purity & trust & faith.

I'm about to move back to Texas. This time for a good, long while...if not forever. And this time I'm not running.

In BSF we've been studying Isaiah and it has really been speaking to me on the whole concept of prophesy, exile, rebellion, and redemption from the Lord. Not long before I found out I would be returning to Texas we studied this passage and not to personalize the Bible too much, but I felt like God was applying this to my life, saying to me in my heart, this is you right now.

Out of here! Out of here! Leave this place!
Don't look back. Don't contaminate yourself with plunder. Just leave.
But leave clean. Purify yourselves in the process of worship,
carrying the holy vessels of God.
But you don't have to be in a hurry.
You're not running from anybody!
God is leading you out of here,
and the God of Israel is also your rear guard.
Isaiah 52:11-12 The Message

Since moving back to Portland the second time the Lord has both broken me and healed me. Broken me of my pride and own self destruction while simultaneously and graciously healing me of depression, pain, dissappointment, and shame and teaching me how to trust and live in faith, to live loved.

I am leaving Portland not because I am running from anyone or anything, but because God is gracious and has made me whole and free. Free to make good choices, free to seek Him and beg Him to refine my heart, free to pursue the refined desires of my heart in submission to His will and in the peace of trusting His ways.

I am leaving a place that I dearly love and people I dearly love for a place that I adore with people I adore. Portland means so very much to me; it is precious. Houston is indescribably home. My coworkers at Multnomah have been some of the kindest, most loving, most welcoming, most godly people I have ever known. My family is a profound blessing.

I am not running. I am choosing. I am walking away, calmly, serenely, happily, gratefully, humbled, and knowing who I am and who I am loved by. I am overwhlemed by the Lord's kindness - to save me, to teach me, to discipline me, to lead me, to redeem me, heal me, and most of all to love me so, so, so very well. Perfectly.

I can see the difference. I'm a mess and I always will be, but in Him, well, who cares about me when there's Him? I even forget to worry about myself in the light of His goodness, grace, and power...and that is a wonderful state of living. :)

No more running.

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes from faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith - that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. Philippians 3:8-12 ESV

A Lovely Evening

For the past week I was house and pet sitting for some friends. They live in a really neat house, in a really pretty area and it was fun times. Plus their pets are cute and hilarious. However, I was surprised to discover how much I missed my home, my tiny little studio apartment in NW Portland.

I think I might be a NW Portland snob. I've lived in SE, NE, and now NW Portland and NW just fits. I adore my neighborhood. In my imagination it almost feels like I live in NYC or something - lots of apartments, lots of walking, always busy, lots of shops and places to eat, it's very, very fun.

So last night I went over to my friends' to walk the dog one last time and clean up the house before they got back. Then I loaded up my car and headed back home. My first stop was Trader Joe's because I didn't have any food...and because I will make up any excuse to go there. Trader Joe's sells toilet paper? Then that's where I buy it. Ha. As soon as I got out of the car (it's only 2 blocks from my apartment) I was so happy, I couldn't stop smiling.

I wondered around in a happy little daze and picked out a few things. The few things that I live on. I pretty much subsist entirely off of hummus, pita chips, olives, yogurt, chocolate (dark & milk), and wine. Oh and coffee and water, but that's stating the obvious.

Anyway, as I was checking out my groceries the checker (which I pretty much know all of them) asked me how my week was.

Me: oh, it was good. I just got finished house-sitting and I'm so glad to be back home in this neighborhood
Him: So, which part of East Portland were you in?

This cracked me up. I personally like East Portland just fine, but I thought it was funny that if I was glad to be home then I must have been in the East side of town.

When I got home to my precious little apartment I ate my delicious hummus & wine based dinner and watched a little bit of When Harry Met Sally. I could watch that movie over and over and over and over again. I think it makes me instantly happy and relaxed.

Being back in my apartment, back with my routines made me realize what a brat I am. I've always known I had a tendency to be a brat, but really, I don't know how the good Lord (or anyone) puts up with me. Maybe it's the melancholy-phlegmatic personality type, but I have a tendendy to be ungrateful, unsatisfied, and whine.

You know how when you're reading through the story of Israel in the Bible, you keep thinking those ungrateful brats, don't they know what God has done for them and how much they have to be grateful for?! I would of fit right in with the Israelites.

As many things in life are, gratefulness is a choice. A lesson I must learn over and over and over and over again. Most of us probably have a whole lot to be grateful for. Sure, we all have crappy, difficult, stressful things in our lives, but we also have heaps of good things that bless us on a daily basis. On a daily basis. Like comfy beds, stable jobs, friends, family, coffee, food, homes, cars, parking spaces (this is a very personal one), beautiful trees, nice weather, books, TV shows, dogs (and cats I guess), laughter, clothing, cities, intelligence, ice cream, ETC!

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:15 NIV

My mom came to visit me!

Like I said in my previous post, my mom came to visit me last weekend and I took lots of pictures! Most of them are of food (don't judge us!). This will just be a picture post (with captions)...

One of my goals before my mom came was to finish painting these canvases (they were black when I got them...for free!).



And I DO!

After getting our hair and brows done at Dosha.

Pit Bull Magnets that look like my 2 favorite pits!

an entire stairway of purses

Lunch @ McMenamins

Ruby beer

Truffles from Moonstruck Chocolates.

They even had tails :)

Getting ready for the Multnomah banquet.

At the banquet.

A blurry view of our table.

Us at the banquet.

Our banquet dinner :)

My mom being a good donor :)

Clever.

Sunday morning breakfast.



Thanks nice Besaw's server.



Besaw's kitchen.

Coffee in Cannon Beach, OR.

Well, not just coffee, specifically "French Kiss Lattes".

This was like a beautiful little village of shops.

It looks like we're about to drive into the Pacific Ocean.

I took a lot of pictures of the OR coast because I just thought it was so beautiful, even in miserable, cold rain.

Haystock Rock.

I look awful in this picture, BUT the wind was blowing so hard and it was freezing...so, I'll take it.



My mom had a crappy, $3 umbrella that was pretty much worthless (this picture was taken in Seaside, OR).



In Cannon Beach we ate crab cakes.

From this place.

After we ate the skies cleared up for a few moments, so we took some more pictures. Beautiful!

Daffodils are blooming everywhere in Portland, it seems.

Monday morning breakfast of kolaches & coffee from this cute place on Belmont, that is owned by HOUSTONIANS!

I love it!

Pretty lattes from Stumptown.

My favorite thrift store. Half the stuff in my apartment came from here.

A new skirt, new shirt, and funny magnet. I have a thing for funny cat stuff.

My mom bought me this ring. I like it because it reminds me to hope extravagantly.

Monday lunch at The Observatory.

At an antique mall in SE Portland. See, even in Oregon, you shouldn't mess with Texas.

My grandmother had canisters like these!

Say hello to my new purse.

Say hello to the biggest crouton you've ever seen; I had to cut it into 4 bites! We had appetizers and dessert at Papa Haydn's, but I forgot to take pictures of the desserts :( and went back later to take pictures of the outside of the restaurant. But it was so fun.

Tuesday morning breakfast at Pine State Biscuits.

Splitting the Reggie.

Apple buttttttttter!

Baby cupcakes at Saint.

Decorating my apartment. I've wanted to frame these old recipes from my grandmother for years & years.

"Pies Men Like" - I adore this one!

Rose pictures in my bathroom. I took these in Portland back in 2006, my first trip to the City of Roses.

Flower hooks near my front door.

Pies Men Like above my kitchen table.

Marshmallow Roll and "Cookies that make themselves".

Lattes and reading at Palio.

"Tex-Mex" in Portland.

Galveston? Really?

Margaritas and chips & salsa. I was desperate for the food of my native land. Ha.

This is not a taco. This is a barbeque sandwich in a tortilla, but it was still tasty.

Overall, an amazingly fun 4 days with my mother! Just what I needed!