R is for Ronnebeck!

Here we are with our new keys... Here's the last of the "New Car" photos that we took this morning on our way out to run errands, which is much more fun now..... Eric and I with our new ride... we're proud owners for sure. And as a side note... I'm so glad my husband humors me with my picture taking wants / needs. He's such a good man.

We got to bring our baby home last night. By "Baby" I mean new car! We have been carless for nearly 3 weeks now and It feels good to have our Focus (above) Safely in a parking space awaiting a new title, and our Fit parked under the carport awaiting our next adventure out in the world. After work last night I rode the bus to Burien . Eric and Tim met me at the gas station on the corner of one of the stops and got into the Cav with them; we drove to the Honda dealership and Tim took off with his Cav which we've had for the past three weeks. We walked into the dealership and Karl (our salesman) was there waiting for us to show us our new car. We sat down and signed some more paperwork with Tim (not friend Tim - Dealership Tim) and then we sat at Karl's desk while he went over our owners manuals - gave us our keys, and gave us free key rings for a gift for buying from him. So, armed with all of the information on our Fit we could ever want or need, we walked out to s...

On our weekly walk about a month ago Mariya and I decided we'd probably travel really well together. We talked about what we love about traveling, our pet peeves and the way we like to enjoy a new city. We then said "Let's take a trip together" ... "Where should we go" ... " Las Vegas it is!"... Now, I have NEVER EVER Been to Vegas, But Mariya has. We're so excited to have a girls weekend in Vegas. We'll both miss our spouses so much, but know that we will have the best trip ever! So far our trip includes (But is not limited to) ... A night at LOVE by Cirque Du Soleil at the Mirage. Staying at PLANET HOLLYWOOD Complete with a soaking tub in our room! A trip through the TITANIC Exhibit at the Luxor . We're also trying to put together a photo scavenger hunt to do while we're walking around the strip, so if you've been to Vegas or haven't and have any ideas of what we can put on here, please let me know! We'll be exper...

Let me start this post off by saying I'm a creature of Habit who fears change and Newness around me. I will some day turn into that guy from 'As good as it gets' where I do the same thing every day, and when something doesn't go the way I expect it to, I will freak out and lock myself in my apartment. So in a venture to break that cycle and not turn into a crazy person in my old age (no promises) I have made it one of my [Numerous] New years resolutions was to try at least ONE new thing every month; and post my experiences here. This month, I just kind of "Fell" into it, and found myself being that girl on the other side of the sales man desk with my Husband buying our first new car. I was so scared when our old standby broke down - questions flooded my mind and I couldn't find all the answers I needed. Of course Eric was there beside me being the wonderful husband he is, and we survived and will be driving a new car off the lot hopefully this weekend. ...

HAPPY 33RD BIRTHDAY ERIC!!!!! To my Husband... who is my best friend, and favorite person... I hope you have a wonderful day my Love. ♥wife.

This one has been laid to rest in our front 'yard' parking spaces, until we can find the title. Long story short, we were going to sell it to our mechanic, but couldn't find the title, so we have to order a new one, so we had to get it out of our mechanic's parking spaces, so last night when traffic died down, we walked to Winston's and nursed the car back home, and that was an adventure and a half. But it's home safely now, thank you GOD! Before that, we went down to visit our good friends at Burien Honda. We got to test drive the Honda Fit for about 35 minutes or so, and fell even more in love with it than before. When I got in the drivers seat it had 12 miles on the odomoter. And now, we will be bringing this car home later next week with an additional 16 miles that we put on it! Right now it's at the dealers, getting detailed, waxed and a cargo cover installed. We should have it by this weekend. Looking forward to the time when the car was just someth...

Since the end of my 365 project I've picked up my camera less, and less. Perhaps I'm just sick of hauling it around, maybe I simply took too many pictures in one year and I figure I don't need to any more. Either way, not only have less pictures been taken but less uploading has happened. So here's a mish mash of a few things that I want to post from what I've found on my camera tonight. At the beginning of January, I switched desks with my co-worker which landed me this amazing view... It's only one angle of it, and the view is even more amazing in the left of this picture but, I really liked how the sun is peaking over the mountian tops. Who needs coffee with a view like this? Well, I do, but you get the point. Meet my shaggy dog. He's incredibly, cute, friendly and stinky. Here he is giving love to the cat.. which I'm sure she swatted at him shortly after this picture was taken... Now, he's less shaggy... and way Less Stinky!!!! Yay for groomers...

"Remember, gang. Mind Mom and Dad, eat everything they tell you to eat, brush your teeth and say your prayers before you go to bed. That's the most important part. So long crew, nice being with you." Captain Eleven, aka: Dave Dederick passed away this weekend. He was 81 years old and lived a long happy life. I am so sad to see him go, it breaks my heart. I remember once when I was little I was eating in the Silver Spoon in Sioux Falls with my Uncle Leon, his wife Fran, and my Mom when we spotted Captain 11. I was so scared, and star struck at the same time, and Uncle Leon took me over to say hello. Good bye friend...

One of my New Years resolutions (amongst many) was to not nap on the bus in the morning. Not only does napping make me sore from the positions I end up in trying to catch my Z's but I also am usually more tired when I get off the bus at the end of my ride. I have tried many tactics to keep my eyes open few have been successful, so today I try blogging from my cell phone. I hope the guy sleeping infront of me doesn't mind the key clicking noise. My stress level has been reduced this week, a lot. I have had lots of help from people in accomplishing this, but mainly things are resolving themselves and that in its self has been a blessing. Eric and I will be purchasing our new car (likely) next weekend. Happy Birthday to both of us! I am working on my dental issues by getting a predetermination on getting my top wisdom teeth pulled. (YUCK - No offence Doc.). I de-stress by doing things little kids love and I am serriously considering a 2nd career as a coloring book artist. My job l...

We FINALLY put our minds at ease this weekend and went car shopping! I have never driven a car that hadn't had at least three previous owners, and 100,000 miles, and Eric has only had two previous cars in his life time, so we were excited to get behind the wheel of something we've never driven before. We have done a LOT of research over the past few weeks, and have narrowed our decisions down to Toyota & Honda. Both of which have wonderful lives, and will last past 10 years and 120K miles. (we hope). I should preface this post with the fact that Eric and I grew up in two totally different places. I grew up in a small town and it was not abnormal to go to a dealership after hours and drive around looking at what they had on the lot. Eric grew up out here where you can't drive into the lot without someone coming right up to you to see why you're there. The moment we pulled into Burien Toyota, Zoran walked up to us, introduced himself and asked "how can I help...

Wow, what a crazy, stressful week it's been. I am so thankful for this three day weekend, though I know it will fly by just as weekends do. I decided to post some Happy's , as sometimes when I'm stressed I forget to stop and remember all the great things in life I have. - The new co-worker we added to the fold this week has been amazing, and seems to be 100% trainable, and this my friends is what has kept me from melting down. - I am very thankful for the Cavalier. It has been such a loyal car to our friends, The Oleson's over the years, and now through their generosity it's been a loyal loaner car to us. I am so thankful for the loaner, it's giving Eric and I lot of time to think and do research. - In that same line of thinking, I'm really happy we have two laptops complete with Internet. When our HP gave out this summer we brought the ASUS home, and now, Eric has fixed the HP and lately we can both be found sitting side by side on the couch doing car r...

I could sit and name all the wonderful things my Husband does for me, but you don't have that kind of time on your hands to sit and read them all. He's such a good guy, and treats me so well. After a not so clean bill of health at the dentist office, I came home frusterated and stressed last night. I need to get a couple wisdom teeth pulled and aparantly I'm grinding my teeth in my sleep (yuck). Either way, when I got home, Eric had supper planned, and then we laid on the floor and colored for awhile, and then we played play-doh like the 4 yr olds we are, and with each stroke of the crayon or mush of the doh, the stress just melted away. Then he ran a bubble bath for me, and I got to go to bed early. Oh yeah, and I snuggled the crap out of my cat... she howled most of the time but I know she loved it :).

I am so pleased with this application that I decided to do another in light of us facing our first married life big decision together. I love my Eric so much... he's so good to me.

2010 has been out to a good start sunny days and much happiness. The rain clouds moved in last night when our car (aka: The Green Hornet) wouldn’t start after picking up Spyro’s for dinner. We walked home, and Eric worked with our mechanic Winston’s to get the car running, it didn’t work so he came home with plans to have it toed to Winston’s in the morning. We talked a lot about money, making things work, and God forbid, getting a new car. We prayed about it, and felt at peace with our situation, knowing God would take care of us. Now, I’m not saying that God didn’t take care of us, He gave us our answer to our prayers; we just don’t like the answer we got very well. After having it toed, (by the same guy who took it to Les Schwab for us in November after our two tire blow out ) our mechanic Kai at Winston called us with some less than great news. The Green Hornet is dead. Something to do with the cylinders… and I guess I tune out mechanic talk after that, the bottom line is, $4000 to...

Zarquon Lewis Cass passed this afternoon (1-6-10) in his home after 19 wonderful years with his owners Anastacia ‘Tacy’ Cass and Rick Lewis. He enjoyed a long and illustrious modeling career; some of his most memorable frames were when he was dressed as a Hula Dancer, Chef, Felon, Teacher, Queen and Mr.T. Zarquon, also known as Z, or Zeebert to those of us who knew him well, relished in chasing the “Bug” on the wall which was actually a nail, and driving Tacy crazy with his infamous “Cement Boot”. He spent his time begging for treats and taking up most of the space in Tacy’s bed at night. There will be tears shed, but we know that Z is happy running around in the kitty afterlife with Cozy and Pomme.Zarquon is survived by his furry friend Lucy Fur Cass, and Tacy Cass whom he resided with; also Rick Lewis, and many loving Aunts, Uncles and Friends who loved and will miss his howling meow.

Here's a little something that made me smile today. As random as it may be, I have this picture in a frame on my desk at work. I really like this picture, and it reminds me of the day it was taken. Like normal, Aunt Brenda (Far right) had something up her sleeve, and drug us all our of bed to go on a hike, little did I know, I would end up looking Crazy Horse in the face that day. I remember walking up that mountian bitching and moaning the entire way, and Brenda being so happy that she had gotten me out of bed. I was in awe once we got face to face with Crazy Horse but the hike was less than desireable for a tired, 20yr old Abby. I think this hike was a benefit of sorts, but I don't really recall what it was for. This was 5 years ago allready. The back of the picture says September, but I think it was actually August. My Aunt Kathy, Mom & Aunt Brenda are all coming out here to visit me this year, and again we'll be doing a lot of walking, but this time it's for ...

Tim Oleson has been a mentor and a friend of mine for almost 12 years now... we've been through many ministry programs and worked very closely together. In 2003 I worked as the summer intern at the church that Tim just got his first youth directing gig; Grace Lutheran in Des Moines. I fell in love with lots of things and grew closer with Tim and his wife Katherine as more than just my NeSoDak counselors from high school, they were friends, best friends. When I needed a change in life, Tim and Kat were there, Tim introduced me to Eric, and it's been a great history. Tim has decided to go back to school to become a pastor, and an amazing pastor he will be. This means leaving his gig at GLC to do school full time. The kids are all super sad to see him leave, and the advisor's aren't sure what we'll do without him. Last night, we all decided we'd show Tim just how much of an impact he's made in all of our lives... We threw him a surprise Thank you party! He...

Eric and I had a pretty wonderful Saturday, it's our New Year's resolution (amongst many) to wake up earlier and do more on the weekends to maximize our time together. We normally sleep in till 11 or so, but 9 is our new goal. Today after Pax's Baptism we ate breakfast together at Jack's in Des Moines, then we went and picked up a few things at Ikea, Bed Bath and Beyond and headed to get coffee at Starbucks. We then spent some time at home and bumed around a little bit when we got an invite to go to our friend's Lee & Jess' house in Tacoma. We accepted and found ourselves eating pizza, drinking white russians and playing apples to apples with not only Lee and Jess, but two other couple's I didn't know when I walked in the door. It was such a great day to spend together! I am SO ready for bed though. Good night :)

A couple weeks ago I recieved an e-mail from Jenn as an invitation to Pax's baptism, my first thought was that "I wouldn't miss it for the world..." Ryan is our former pastor at GLC and he and his beautiful wife and family moved to Minnesota this fall shortly before Pax was born. We miss them like crazy, and were so honored to have been invited to this special time with their family. Here's a few shots from the celebration that totally make my heart smile. Pax means Peace in latin, and got his middle name, Luther because he was born on Martin Luther's birthday. He is a very good little baby and this was a very unique and wonderful baptism celebration, welcome to God's family Pax.