Oregon

A few weekends ago, I went to Oregon to visit my brother. To my luck, Analia Zukowski, Kelly Ritter and Mary Baum happened to all be in town the same weekend. Okay, we  may have planned it last minute...

I love flying Alaska Air. I love everything about it. The early flight times, the free cookie/cracker things they give you... They even offer free wine or beer on flights... except when it is 7:45 am and that is the last thing in the world that sounds good.

Because he is such a good guy, Brandon took me to the airport at 5:00 am, even though my flight wasn't until 7am, and I live 20 minutes away from the airport... Ever since missing my flight in Ireland, I have this stress about flying... Not like a nervous stress, more like panicky.

Usually I fall asleep on flights, I just tilt my head back and 5 minutes later my mouth is open and I'm drooling... But, this time I leaned back ready to close my eyes, and I just couldn't sleep. I'm not sure if it had anything to do with the fact that the lady sitting next to me was frantically searching the seat back pocket and her hand emerged with "the bag"... Or if it was because the flight attendants kept making announcements, or because I was so excited to see Junghwa for breakfast when I land; Kelly, Analia and Mary after that; then my brother and mom!

After I landed, Jung picked me up and we had a wonderful breakfast at La Petite Provence in Portland. I had not seen Jung since her wedding in May, so we had lots to catch up on.

[Breakfast with Junghwa]

From there, I met up with Kelly, Analia and Mary in Portland for J.R.R.. Tolkien's Birthday Bash at McMenamins where we listened to an animated reading of "The Hobbit." We got dinner and headed back down to Salem. That night, we hung out like a bunch of giddy school girls, sharing stories of dating life, married life, school, work, and anything and everything else girls talk about.

[Reading of The Hobbit]

[Kelly Ritter, me, Analia Zukowski and Mary Baum... #reunited]

[Josiah: Guys, don't do anything to embarrass me.

Mary: gets out of car and starts walking into coffee shop, completely oblivious her cardigan is still buttoned and hanging around her legs...]

Right when I thought the weekend couldn't get any better, it started snowing! I was so overjoyed I sent Brandon several pictures of me in the snow, as if he had never seen snow before... The snow was amazing, until we  realized Analia lived down a black diamond worthy hill and we all departed immediately.

 

[Snow!]

On Sunday, I got to hear Analia share to a group of high school students about what she is doing in Taiwan - her dedication and obedience to God is amazing, and I am continually marveling at her wisdom. Check out what she is doing here: http://analiachristine.wordpress.com/ and be inspired. I know I am.

[Analia sharing to the youth group]

[My beautiful friend Analia]

The rest of the weekend consisted of me playing with my brother, working from home and sitting face-to-face with Analia, shocked every time because I am so used to a computer screen in between us.

 

[Brother!]

 

[Cassie and Connor at Red Robin... I may have made them do that...]