Golf Cart Races and Creepy Foyers

We fly out tomorrow so I wanted to write a post before we left. Chuck fixed our email issue this morning so now I can post a few pictures!

I caught Beth at work last week. She doesn't know I took this picture! She's already doing the job by herself, I don't even have to go with her anymore. And actually, I haven't in quite a while. She really learned it fast: clocking in and out, where to get all the supplies, and she loves it. She can't wait to go to work every week!

 

Pulling double shifts last week was kinda creepy. Our church is busy 7 days a week and there's always something going on so having to close up late at night after everyone's gone home was scary! I kept looking over my shoulder making sure no one was following me!

 

Yesterday we celebrated Bosses Day by hosting the 'International Raceway'!! We've spent more than 3 months planning this and the pastors had a blast! We rented a golf cart and had them drive it through an obstacle course, over ramps, around trash cans while they tried to shoot a basketball, backing up around sharp turns, they screeched the tires, one almost tipped over, another almost fell out... we were all (the pastors included!) laughing so hard! Then we headed inside for pulled pork burgers and potato salad. The day was a success!

Two of my co-workers (and co-conspirators!) taking it for a spin before everyone got there. 

 

Some of the support staff getting their instructions before the pastors arrived.

 

Having lunch

It was so much fun planning it, all the secret meetings, hiding the cones and flags... but we did it! The pastors had no idea! It was awesome!

A Few Minutes

I have less than an hour before I have to go back to work, it's been all-consuming lately.

I lost 4 custodians this summer; two are now working for other departments at our church, one left for college, etc. Of the 4 I have left, this week one is in India and another is in Oregon... and even though I've hired a couple of people to make up for my summer loss, they aren't familiar enough with the job to work alone yet.

So the last few days I've been working the evening shift. Along with my regular day job. From 8:30am - 10pm. I'm thoroughly exhausted but thankful the week is just about over! Everybody comes back this weekend!

I took some pictures this week... but alas Outlook has stopped working on our laptop. We still get email on our phones but I don't know how to get photos from my phone to my computer without email.

So this is how my week has been and why I haven't posted. I hope you're all doing well and the beginning of fall has been fun and relaxing for you! 

I'll post another picture of my dad. We leave for San Diego next week to celebrate his life. It's strange having both your parents gone. Even though they were both in San Diego and I'm in Seattle, they were always in my thoughts, I knew where they were, what they were doing... now it's just... different.

In The Meantime

Despite everything that's been happening in our family lately, we have found some time to have fun.

In August we went to Leavenworth, a small Bavarian style town about an hour from here. They have a two story Christmas store - year round! - and I wanted to find an ornament to remind me of our ski trip last Christmas. The scenery was gorgeous, I love hanging out with the family and I found my ornament!

 

Beth went to the dentist 

 

 

Sharaya, Allie and Beth went out to the ocean on Labor Day. They rode the ferry to the Olympic Peninsula and Beth did her best Titanic imitation. 😊

It was kind of windy when they arrived, so Beth improvised. Makes it a little hard to have sister bonding time! Well, they all said they had a good time!

I spent a couple of hours one afternoon down at the waterfront.

And we went to see The Peanut Butter Falcon. It was such a good movie, just a couple of guys out on an amazing adventure! Sort of like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn! 

So have you been on any adventures lately?

What Does The Front Of Your Refrigerator Say About You?

Let's talk about something fun and lighthearted for a change, shall we?

Sometimes when I'm in the kitchen waiting for my tea water or fixing dinner I go over and look at all the magnets on our fridge. Yep, we're one of those families whose refrigerator is packed with magnets! 

I love to collect magnets when we travel and we love to travel! At last count we've been on at least 40 road trips and our refrigerator is a time machine of all the places we've visited over the years.

For a long time I just bought the usual rectangle magnets with a cute or pretty picture of where we'd been.

  

Then as the girls got older we got a little more creative.

 

 

But when the girls started traveling on their own, oh my goodness the amazing magnets they would bring home!

 Sometimes it's fun to just look at them all and remember the amazing adventures we've had over the years!

 So what is your refrigerator like, filled with memories? Clear and bright? I know stainless steel is becoming popular nowadays but I don't think I could give up my magnets!

Rest In Peace Dad

My dad went into hospice on Wednesday, September 4 and I flew down on the 6th to be with him.

The hospice facility was phenomenal because not only did they take such great care of my dad but they also cared for me and my sisters, our whole family! There were only 4 patients in the facility and the nurses and assistants would bake fresh cookies for the family members every day, they made sure there was plenty of coffee and tea. The rooms even have couches and recliners so you can spend the night with your loved one! One night my sister and I were awake at 2 am so we went out and talked with one of the nurses for quite a while. They made you feel so at home there. 

I spent a lot of time out on the back patio

A very calm and peaceful living room

My dads room was big and most evenings all the family would gather to look at pictures and reminisce.

All week I'd been praying I'd be there when he passed away but he kept holding on. I even extended my stay by a couple of days but it looked like it wasn't gonna happen. About 45 minutes before I was due to leave, I leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Well dad it looks like I'm gonna have to leave for home before you do. I love you and I'm gonna miss you so much." 

On Wednesday, September 11 at 12:37pm my sister and I stood together next to his bed and we had our arms around each others waist when my dad took his last breath. Even though we had been expecting it, it still came as a shock. We cried and hugged each other and she went out to get the nurse.

I picked up my phone to text Chuck and saw the message from Super Shuttle telling me my ride was outside waiting to take me to the airport. 

I was still crying when I went outside to tell the driver that my dad had just passed away and could he give me 5 minutes. He apologized, he felt so bad and said he could wait. One of the NAs came out with me and asked the driver if he would like some coffee. They ministered to absolutely everybody involved!

I went back in and called our other sister, then I got my suitcase and Deb walked me out to the shuttle. It was a whirlwind few minutes but I'm so grateful the Lord let me be there when he died!

John Theodore Burke

November 23, 1924 - September 11, 2019

My mom and dad

Me, my sisters and our dad

My daughters and granddaughter

 Taken in August 2019