Saturday night Sequence

Saturday night Joe and I settled down to our newly purchased game of Sequence. I played this game for the first time maybe 6 months ago. At first I was skeptical (the game box design looks like it dates back to the 70s), but once I started playing it, I loved it!

I won't go into too much detail here, but it's basically a strategy game using cards where you have to make a sequence of 5 in a row. You can play one on one or with teams.

I won the first game. Then we started playing the second game. I took this picture of Joe. What I didn't realize was the entire game he was playing with half a deck of cards in his hands (you're only supposed to have 7 at a time) and I never even noticed. But I did unintentionally capture his prank with my photo. Funny.

going green...

Since it's Earth Day and all, I thought I'd post about some of the ways I'm trying to be more environmentally friendly... please share in the comments about some of the things you all are doing too!


- Using canvas shopping bags at the grocery store



- Using Nalgene water bottles instead of bottled water

- Recycling (paper, plastic, cans, cardboard)

- Washing out & reusing ziploc bags

- Driving a fuel-efficient car (yay Toyota)

- Donating items whenever possible rather than throwing them away (school supplies to a school, books to the library, old computer to a nonprofit, etc.)

- Use fewer & nontoxic cleaning products- I'm planning to switch to Basic H at the recommendation of Money Saving Mom

Thanks to my mom for being a good example in this endeavor!

P.S. I've noticed that a lot of these ways of going green also help save money!

working at Children of the Nations!

I'm very excited that I have found a part time position here in Washington!

I saw a flyer at my church advertising available staff positions at Children of the Nations, a Christian nonprofit organization that helps orphaned and destitute children overseas. Ever since I was about to conclude my time as a semester missionary at Connecticut College, I felt like the Lord was leading me to work at a Christian organization in marketing, communications, or something else in that field. At that time I applied for several positions in nonprofits and was ready to leave Connecticut, but nothing panned out. Later that summer I met Joe!

After going to talk to Pam, the Communications Director, and meeting people at COTN, I was so encouraged to rediscover this calling and desire- and an opportunity only 3 miles away from our house. I think what draws me to Communications is that it is a way to connect people with what God is doing in the world.

This was my first week, and it was a great week- I got to meet a lot of the staff for an annual meeting & conference. All of the ministry directors from 4 other countries were there- Malawi, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and the Domincan Republic. I was really blessed to meet them and learn more about COTN. I'm still learning so much, but thankful that God has provided this opportunity.

the good things... of Navy life

Just thinking today about how many things there are that I am thankful for about Joe's job in the Navy. I know that these are things I'll miss when his enlistment is done.

Some of the great benefits...

- Spacious housing with utilities included

- Living 5 minutes away from the gym, post office, and commissary (military grocery store)

- The gym- it's free (including all the exercise classes)

- The commissary- I love shopping here to save money!

- The opportunity to live in beautiful Washington state.

- FREE health care (including doctor visits and all prescriptions)

- The chance to go to Japan, my first trip out of the country. (Maybe my next trip will be Hawaii! There's a sub base there too...)

- Our fully paid move to the West Coast. I got to sit around and watch the movers pack and then unpack our stuff.

- Military discounts for all sorts of stuff (entertainment, cell phone, hotels, food, clothes, you name it.)

And the more intangible things...

- Being thankful for all the time I get to spend with Joe.

- Learning how to handle the unexpected- we never really know for sure what Joe's schedule is going to be.

- Through deployment I learned a lot about unconditional love and patience.

- Being proud of Joe because he works a lot and has learned so much over the past 3+ years.