Reinventing myself

I decided that I needed a fresh start on a new blog. Why?

A new, stripped down, work in progress, less kitchy version.

More bemusing, more pictures (still to come) Less maintenance.

So here goes!  Be sure to change your blog lists.

http://www.livingliberty.wordpress.com/  And remember it's still a work in progress.

Click here for my latest post

Thanks for visiting!

the Pumpkin Patch

On Sunday we went to the pumpkin patch with best friends, Amy and Gary.  Again another glorious October day and we all had a great time!

 Aunty Reen and Emma

 Uncle "Nando"

 Uncle Nando and Emma have become fast friends

AWWW...

The Duck

This Saturday I got the privilege of taking some new Latvian friends into Seattle.  First of all, it was a gorgeous, rarely sunny October day - perfection!  I ahd heard rumors that riding the duck was pretty fun and I hadn't done it before, so I decided to take them with me.  According to them it was "the highlight of the decade" and it was although very corny,  actually pretty fun!  So here's a few pics:

 My new friends:  Andis and Kaspars

Andis and Kaspars,

Thank you for the amazing work that you do in Latvia.  It was a great joy and privilege to hang out with you guys and to hear about your heart for the Lord. As you may have guessed, All things Latvian are very close to my heart, so thanks for bringing Latvia to me this weekend!  Next time I'll expect some Laima chocolate from you!  May God continue to bless you, your families and your ministries!

Loreen

On Blogging

So I've been sucked in to the universe of reading people's blogs lately and it has caused me to re-evaluate my own and I've come up with a few conclusions:

• It is perfectly acceptable to ramble on about something that you think no one may particularly care about.
• You don't have to post a picture every time you write something
• BUT it is also acceptable to post a picture that is completely random and does not have to be related to anything in particular
• It's very interesting to see what people write about and what pictures they take.
• People write differently and have different styles - I like lists so I'm going to stick with that
• So stick around for more of Loreen's loquacious lists!

BTW: I've made a decision to join a photo hunt, so I will be posting pictures from that in the next few days. it will give me the motivation to bring out my sweet camera more and click away!




Click here to find out more. It looks like a lot of fun - there's a list of things you have to take a picture of and you have until the end of the month to post them all.  Then there's a vote to see who won from each section.  Maybe you will join me!

Ten Ten Ten

10 pictures on October 10, 2010 - I have to say that I loved this!  It forced me to get out my camera and have fun taking shots of random stuff.  I'm definitely doing this next month!

Without further adue, I present to you my 10 on 10 pics on 10.10.10:

  #1:  Wakey Wakey!

 #2:  Can't you see I'm starving, mom?

 #3: Portrait of Self

#4: Baby Hogs

#5: Hi Honey!

                                 

#6: Purple flowers in the fall

 #7: Autumnal beauty

 #8: Autumnal Beauty part two

 #9: Another Time, another place

#10: A new recipe for good friends

I'm still here

Hello!
It's been awhile since I've been on here so I thought I would check in.  there's really nothing earth shattering going on, nothing exciting to take pictures of per se, but here is what's going on in my world and in my head (kinda scary!!!)

1) Estoy enamorada de Fernando - I've been learning spanish. 

2) Because of #1, I've been a little distracted

3) My brother and sister in law are having another girl!  That makes the proud aunt of FIVE girls~ 

5) I really miss my amazing friends from Latvia

6) I really need to start working out again but I blame #1 on my increasing lack of motivation to do so

7) Reading Chandler Birky's Blog (which is awesom btw) makes me very grateful that I'm not in college (don't worry, Chandler, this too shall pass, but enjoy it while you can!)

8) I'm really excited to spend Halloween in AZ with my best friend and her husband

9) Did I mention that I'm trying to learn spanish???

10) Sunday is 10/10/10:  my sister in law always does this 10 on 10 thing which is 10 pictures on the 10th of the month that follows a regular day in the life, so I'm going to give it a whirl.  I can't promise that it will be nearly as cute, but it's the only 10/10/10 I'll see in my lifetime so why not.  click here on to see her last post.

Just for kicks, here's a pic of Fernando and I on his first rollercoaster ride at the fair.

The Procession

What do you get when you add the following ingredients together?

• At least 10 children 5 and under with meltdowns pending at any given moment
• A dinner at Carolyn's house
• A birthday party at Corinne's
• Bell cousins from out of town
• Lang cousins/ aunts/ uncles etc not from out of town helping themselves to our pie
• Any number of tete a tetes between the wild boys
• Lots of amazing food and of course, alcohol

!!!!CRAZY TOWN!!!!

I really wished I would have gotten some pictures but it was just too crazy.Under any normal circumstance, this would have been quite par for the course for our family but I brought my new friend, Fernando, to the party, not quite expecting what was to unfold. Poor guy. 
At one point he just looked at me and told me he needed some fresh air. 

There are few things I'm sure of:

#1: EVERYONE across the way came over - like a procession of sorts, shuffling in casually to introduce themselves to him while he was stilling sitting at the table. You people may say it was because the (amazing) pie Melody made, but I'm on to you.  Cherie even politely brought her food from Corinne's and sat right next to him. 

#2: Despite the circumstances, Fernando handled himself quite well, and in response to my question about my crazy family said, "They are no crazy peoples, just a lotta kids"

#3: Kyla had the best line of the night: "I just met Reen's friend and I think his name is Lombardo!"

Welcome to Crazy Town, Fernando!

here's a picture if you haven't met him yet: