Snow Day!

God blessed me with the joy of a snow day! I took a short run outside and tested out my "yak tracks" and running gators (fun purchases from the REI buyback sale that I hadn't used yet). They both worked great!

Here's some photos of the beauty!

...And the drive home!

Well, the weekend was amazing, but I still had to get home so that I could get to work on Monday. I left Keizer, OR around 3:15pm. It was partly cloudy with the sun shining through. It had rained just a bit, but there was no "adverse" weather around. We had heard reports of snow coming, but we thought I might be driving ahead of the storm. Well, as I drove out of the driveway I realized I had two messages on my phone. One from Tobin saying there was snow in Medford and to drive carefully. The second was Marty (my mother-in-law) and she told me that she had heard of closures on I-5 near Medford. So as I drove out I called Maryanne, who soon became my "The Weather and Road Report" (cell phones are wonderful)! She told me there were closures near Cottage Grove and that I would be encountering snow soon.

Snow came at the Kuebler Blvd exit, and for those who don't know that is merely South Salem. But just as the "mail must go through" "Patients must be seen." I had to get to work on Monday, so I felt I had no option but to keep going. The drive actually was quite good and there weren't really any "problems" until I saw a readout just south of Eugene, "Accident 30 miles ahead, use caution, and expect delays."

Sure enough just 4-5miles south of Cottage Grove, I came to a complete stop, with a line of cars and trucks, of which I could not see the front. I called Maryanne and she told me there was an overturned truck blocking all lanes. So I sat,

and sat,

and sat,


and SAT! Get the point? I was there waiting at a complete stop for 2 HOURS!!!!!! When I had gone by the exit in Cottage Grove I had thought to get out and use the bathroom, but I figured, "No I need to keep going because the snow might just get worse." So as I started to wait I already needed to go. And then it got to an hour, and I was starting to get desperate. I HAD TO GO!!! If I had been on the Santiam Pass with 2 lanes and trees on each side, I would have just went. But as you picture I-5, 2 lanes each side, a large concrete median, and a large barren embankment on each side because I was right under an overpass (without an on-ramp). So I had NO WHERE to go without 100 people seeing my bare bottom! So I started going into survival mode, I distracted myself with talking on the phone or reading my NP magazine (with a flashlight because it was dark and I didn't want the battery to run out on the car). But I couldn't concentrate because my eyes were floating. I starting thinking about using the Nalgene; the only container in my car! And you know you're desperate when a girl starts to think about using a container to go number one! Well, the line started to move after 1 1/2 hours. So I had hope, allowing me to hold it! I moved 200 feet then stopped again for another 1/2 hour! Then FINALLY, the line moved and cleared the Semi that was still rolled on its side!

I then drove to Sutherland and stopped at the Taco Bell and was able to relieve myself! I don't know if I've ever experienced such relief! The drive wasn't over because I had to go over the pass between Roseburg and Medford. I was going 35-40mph almost the entire way because it was snowing hard! But I didn't have to put on chains, which would have been an adventure because they are new chains, that I've never put on!

After 7 hours I finally drove into our garage (with the help of Tobin so I wouldn't spin out in the snowy driveway) at 10:15pm!

Was it worth the drive to see everyone? Definitely YES!

Oh...And by the way....the clinic I work at is closed today due to the snow. The Irony. =)

The Weekend!

Since Tobin had to work all weekend long and wasn't even going to be home while I was off, I decided to drive up to Salem to visit my family: brother, sister-in-law, nieces, nephew, brother-in-law, and sister. I wanted to go shopping for a bridesmaid dress for my sister-in-law, Shannon's wedding. And there really isn't many stores in Medford, so going up to Portland to shop with Maryanne sounded like a great idea. And it was a wonderful weekend. Somewhat wet, but lots of fun.

Maryanne and I had fun as we took Grace and Benjamin to the Carousel in Salem and an exciting trip to Walmart. I only got one picture of Benjamin at the Carousel and realized my camera was out of batteries. =( But you can "picture" Grace on the "Rainbow Horse." Benjamin is still a little intimidated by the horses and we road on the Oregon Trail Wagon!

This is Benjamin having fun on the Wagon! He made me smile and laugh the entire time with the things he would say and comment on!

Then Maryanne and I headed up for an afternoon of Shopping in Portland! We made it around very well. We had lots of fun looking and not having a time schedule and finding a few cute items.

Sunday we went to church at Mosaic in Portland. I saw my old roommate Allison, which it was lots of fun to see an old friend! Then AJ, Maryanne, and I went to "Bread and Ink" off Hawthorne in Portland for breakfast. And I had yummy whole wheat blueberry pancakes!

Great sisters!

Our new "Couch-able"

Well, I don't know if there's much else to say. I guess you never know how "resourceful" you can be. This was a free coffee table, but since we don't have a couch we converted it for now. It actually works better than you might think. Not necessarily the best for entertaining, but ok for now. I must admit though, I'm praying that the Lord will provide us with a real "couch" soon. Thanks for your prayers too! =)

My new job....

Well, I have completed the second week of my employment at La Clinica. It has been good, stretching, and exciting all at the same time. My hours are Mon, Tues, Thursday, Friday from 8:30am-when I get done, which seems to be averaging around 6pm. Right now I get all my weekends off, and once I start working weekends, I'll only be working one Saturday a month. And the first one is in March! It's such a blessing to get such great hours. And I love being able to more closely follow my patients and learn more, rather than working two different jobs! And it's great to get a day off during the week!

Thank you everyone who prayed for a great job opportunity, because this definitely was it! And the Lord provided just the right thing. I have the admit that it isn't "easy," but that's not what I wanted. Instead, I want to be challenged to be a thorough and knowledgable provider who is a witness of Christ as I'm working. So thank you for your continued prayers!

Y yo voy a aprender mas espanol. Cuando yo no trabajando, yo estudiando espanol con "Rosetta Stone." Esta muy bien!

Well, that's not perfect Spansh, but "farely" correct. If you can't understand then maybe you should starting learning Spanish too! =)

"Steam" Alarm

So for anyone who cares, I was taking a very nice shower this afternoon after I had gone on a wonderful bike ride in the sunny crisp air, when suddenly my smoke alarm starts going off. Now to get somewhat of an idea, I had just soaped up my entire leg to start shaving when the alarm starts going off! Apparently, since the alarm is just outside our bathroom door, if you forget to turn on the fan, the alarm "thinks" that steam is "smoke." Last time I checked those two things are very different. Anyways, as to not bother all the neighbors and have the fire department come while I'm in the shower, I jumped out of the shower (all soaped up remind you) and had to run to wave something in front of the crazy alarm for it to stop. In the process our entire bathroom got shaving gel and water all over it (just after I had cleaned it this morning). Anyways, it was quite the ordeal, but I'm okay now. Just wanted to share this funny moment.

Mt Ashland #1

Well, we decided that we needed to go enjoy the nice snow that the Northwest got this past week. So Tobin, I, and our friend Jenna (who is also a Medical Student rotating here in Medford) all went up to Mt Ashland and did some boarding on the slopes! It was great. The sun was shining because we actually were ABOVE the fog and clouds that seems to sit in the Rogue Valley! It was a great day, so wanted to share it with y'all!

This is evidence that we were above the clouds! Looks crazy huh?!

This is Jenna

This is me getting stuck, once again, in the powder in the trees.

Tobin was there, but he was the main camera man. =)