Spring Break!

It's spring break for us, but I mostly feel like sleeping on the couch since I've picked up a lousy cold. Actually, I'm glad that I've got it now and not when I need to work. Speaking of work, after much prayer and deliberation, I have accepted the position to teach job readiness skills and ESL to refugees. I'm excited about it except for working full-time. We'll just save the extra income and maybe use that for another overseas trip. We've had our eye on an island in the Philippines.

I'm looking forward to working with refugees and learning more about their lives. Around Everett, I've heard most of the refugees are from various parts of Africa, former Soviet states, Bhutan, and Iraq. Classes start on March 30th.

During the next week and a half, I'll be resting, gardening, visiting with new friends--we've got a crepe brunch date with another couple and their kids on Sat., lesson planning for the coming quarter, and maybe taking a few day trip down to Portland. Ryan and I have never been to Portland beyond driving through it. I've done a little research--which I do a lot if you know me; I'm a planner--but if you have been to Portland and have some "must do's", please send them my way. Ryan took this picture of me earlier today. I'm trying to get some things in the ground while the weather is decent. As you can see, I try to dress my best. : P When we moved in, the only things in the yard were a couple of trees and shrubs. The grass was about half moss, and the rest of the yard was dirt. We put down moss killer that helped a little, but as is evident from the picture, it's left the grass "splotchy" from where we pulled up the moss. There is a tacky chain link fence around the front yard that we'd surely rip out and replace with a wood one if this were our house. But since it's not, we're trying to make small, cost effective advancements to this neglected yard.

I'm putting down mulch in parts so that it looks nicer and will also help keep weeds away. We may only be here a year, so I have to make sure not to go too crazy. Flower seeds are cheap, but I want to see color in the yard now. : )

That's probably enough of my gardening rambling for now.