Surviving snow days

Here in the Portland-Metro area, we have had some serious winter weather. If you've never been to this part of God's country, you haven't experienced our varied terrain. I live at sealevel. We had 6 inches of snow, plus some drifts up to 8 inches. That was on Sunday. The kids did not have school on Monday or Tuesday for obvious reasons... the roads were ICY and such.
School was cancelled on Wednesday out of precaution.

Threats of another 4-6 inches for Thursday had officials cancelling school, again.
This was the sunniest, warmest no snow - snow day EVER!


I love my boys and our time together- however...I pray they go to school tomorrow. We all need one day of them at school before the Christmas break. The boys agree =)

I need them to go to see other people and interact with kids their own age.
I need them to go partake in any pre-holiday festivities and bring home projects they've been working on.
I need them to go because I am out of wine and Candy Cane Joe Joe cookies from Trader Joes.

(ps... new favorite wine...Silverlake's roza riesing or gerwertraminer)

long time no blog

While pondering the most effective and efficient way to send Christmas cards this year, I find myself distracted with chats thru Googlechat and Facebook, text messages and the occassional phone call. There are a few actual, tactile Christmas cards downstairs beckoning me..."send your holiday wishes and life update via snail mail! We did it! We also saw that look of joy on your face when you saw us tucked in with the bills and junk mail. You ripped us open and smiled at the hand written note."

I shall strive to do the same... HOWEVER, I have just completed my first term of college after being gone from it for over 20 years. Add to that with being a single mom of 2 amazing and silly boys, plus working, and you get a snapshot of my life.

I'm thinking with all that has occured since I sent the last batch of Christmas cards (2004), it's time to make one up and give my business to the USPS.

The reality is, I'm sorry to say, not everyone I connect with will receive a card sent via snail mail. The list will be limited to family and friends w/o computers (yes, I know a few people like that). The rest of you will be greeted w/ electronic well wishes complete with my pixilated children and cakes.

and no promises... but I WILL try to blog more often

One of the best days, EVER!!!

Those not familiar with United Methodist structure or lingo, bear with me.

I had the honor and addressing the laity and clergy sessions with my friend and collegue, Chris Kester today! What was more amazing was the topic... the Jars of Clay concert that is THIS Saturday night June 21st (see www.umoi.org for details about this free event)

What I was asking of them is to be part of our prayer team after we issue an invitation to discipleship... a Methodist altar call.

To stand before the 200 some odd clergy and ask them to be part of this team was SUCH an honor. What was so cool about it all was that we are on the same page about one thing... connecting people to Jesus Christ. That's what we're in this for anyway, isn't it??

wow.

and to top the day off, I had a wonderful dinner and visit with the Manske family in Albany.

ah. God, you are SO amazing!!

amen!

This is my Dad. William "Red" Reynolds.
Unless you are a family member, or old family friend, you missed the chance to meet him.

This Father's Day I want to honor him through our "new fangled technology" and share some of my memories with you.

This Iowa farm boy was the youngest of 5 boys. (Good heaven's Grandma, how DID you do it??) His life adventures included being tossed out of 2nd story window by his brothers into the snow drifts below, hitch hiking to California between 8th and 9th grade, and serving in the US Navy at the end of WW2. He met my mom in Phoenix, AZ. They met and married, had my brother, Gil, and 5 years later moved to Oregon. He was a "jack of all trades" and LOVED doing many things at once (sound familiar??)
He was a gifted and well-rounded artist. This had him working for the Oregon Hwy Dept in the travel and tourism bureau, owning his own ad agency with my mom, and a stint on TV.

In the mid-50's he hosted a kid's television program called "The Big Round Up" out of Eugene. Somewhere in here and my mom (a great writer) made a few movies and dabbled in some big screen adventures.

My 2 sisters came along and were part of that journey. December 1967 they welcomed me (a pleasent surprise ;). They had gotten involved w/ the school bus business and 2 days before my third birthday, we moved to Fairfax, VA. This is where most of my memories start.

I have to say I had the coolest Dad! My Dad made time for me, let me tag along, didn't let being a girl get in the way of anything, AND he embraced my love for dancing. I had a little artist easle next to his and we'd paint together. He'd tell me to "put on your grubbies we're going to Hechinger's" (the Home Depot of the day). I learned how to use tools, mow the lawn, build a rock wall and tons of other skills. I didn't care if it was hard work, I was with Dad.

He was a dreamer. And many of his dreams came true (except the ones that my Mom had enough brains to talk him out of... like being a chicken farmer- nothing against chicken farmers... it wasn't a good idea for my folks) His retirement dream was to build a house in the Arizona desert, with an art studio, and paint. The land was bought, the "studio" was built and the house plans drawn. He was to retire in July of 1982 and we'd moved out in August so I could start high school.

Sadly, he died of a heartattack December 9, 1981. It was 2 weeks before my 14th birthday.

I miss my Dad. And I am grateful for the years I had with him. His life, and death, have had the most signifigant influence on who I am today.

So many ponderables and unanswerable thoughts and questions...
I wonder what he would have been like when I started dating.
I wonder if I would have finished college.
I wonder what he would have thought of Dennis?
If he didn't die in 1981 of a heartattack, how much longer would we have had him around?
What advice would he have given me in all aspects of life?
What would he say to some of the decisions I've made?
What other life goals were on his list?
What would he think of all this "new fangled technology"?

I DO know...
we would have hit some rough patches here and there
he would have encouraged me in whatever endeavor
he would love his grandsons and want to spend copious amounts of time with them
he would be proud of all 4 of his kids and 6 grand kids
he would still love my mom and supporting each other's dreams

I wish you could have met him. I wish I knew him as an adult.

My senior year in high school we had to do a research paper. I chose my Dad. The teacher said I would not be able to be objective enough. Red Reynolds had touched the lives of so many people that I had more than enough resources to tap. Letters poured in. I got to know him better through others. One desciption that sticks with me to this day "Red was the most mulit-faceted person I have ever known". Guess that's where I get it from.

thanks for reading.

and Happy Father's Day

An unlikely hair cut

6 1/2 years ago my best friend, Lisa was diagnosed with breast cancer. After her 3rd chemo treatment she was ready to get rid of what little hair was left. As I shaved her head, we made it a monumental moment with photos and everything.

Today I had the honor of doing the same for an angel named Betty Ann Green. This brave 75 year young trooper invited me to shave off what was left of her locks.

Wil's Board Breaking video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ARnq4NPNzM

Check it out! Wil earned his black belt in Tae Kwon Do in April. I caught 2 minutes of the 5 hour test on video. Note the 2nd break and how the board flies towards me.

LEE HAS HIS NEW HEART!!!

after 4 months of being on the heart transplant list he has his new heart!!

please continue praying for him, our family, the medical staff and donor family.

http://gilreynolds.blogspot.com/