How to unsubscribe from email blog updates …

If you’re receiving blog updates via email and no longer wish to be subscribed to the update list, I just checked with WordPress and there’s no way for me as administrator to remove people from the subscription list … but they informed me that you can remove yourself by following the instructions at the following URL:

http://en.support.wordpress.com/following/#unfollow-a-blog

It’s now official … “WOOF!”

Just completed my first day at the University of Washington so it’s now official … I’m a Husky!  (Hence, the WOOF!)  :-)

This is actually a lifelong dream of mine.  Things didn’t work out when I was younger to attend college right out of high school … then kids and life.  Blah blah blah.  Anyway,  it’s just so awesome to be able to finally pursue this particular dream.  A long long time in the making.

So for the next two years, going to college full-time will be my full-time job (takes a bit of loans and Financial Aid to make it all happen, but it actually enables me to return to school right now AND to provide for my family — even medical/dental insurance which we haven’t had in years!) … plus it’ll put me in a better position when I finish my degree for providing for myself later on (about the time I’m done with school, the kiddos could all be moved out on their own!).

Off to the land of VACATION… :-)

A few photos from early in our vacation … we started going by train from Seattle to Vancouver BC … then onto the Disney Wonder cruise ship … (haven’t had a chance to sort through the cruise photos or San Francisco or Disneyland yet).  For those who don’t know, our family was surprised with a gift of an all-expense paid vacation … 6 days/nights on a Disney cruise of the West Coast followed by 5 days at Disneyland!

Waiting at the King Street Amtrak Station in Seattle.

Shannon and I practicing our ship steering abilities at Canada Place in Vancouver BC.

My reaction to my first glimpse of our ship? “Gotta take a picture!”

Canada Place, Vancouver BC, Disney Wonder

Sail Away party on board Disney Wonder. They sounded the ship’s horn and it played the first few notes of “When You Wish Upon a Star” … it gave me goosebumps!

Going under the Lion’s Gate Bridge as we were leaving Vancouver.

Shannon gazing off to places yet to come … bye bye, Vancouver!

View along upper deck of Disney Wonder … last glimpse of Lion’s Gate Bridge and Stanley Park in the background.

Home again, home again … jiggity jig

Just returned late last night from vacation.  Will update more later!  It was awesome, but it’s nice to be home, too.  :-)

Seasons of life …

About to wrap up my season at the college radio station.  I put in my two week notice on Monday … so a week from Sunday will be my last on-air shift.

Definitely having mixed feelings about it.  I know it’s time to move on to new challenges and new adventures, but the station has been such an important part of my life for the past two years, that it just feels sad to think of that door closing.  Along with the assorted changes in my own life, there have been changes at the station, as well, which makes it not feel quite so homey or part of what I want to continue in my own life.   So it’s a good move all around, me thinks.

I feel lighter and optimistic about the future now that I’ve put in my notice, and the changes it’ll be bringing to my life are unknown but exciting.  So I suspect it’s just the last “letting go” that’s hard right now.  (And sitting by folks in meetings who have a hard time holding back their tears about my leaving probably adds to the mixed feelings I’m experiencing this week.)

But it’s nice to know I’m loved.  :-)

Lyrics that touched me today – “Even If” by Kutless

“Even If …”  by Kutless

Sometimes all we have to hold on to
Is what we know is true of who You are
So when the heartache hits like a hurricane
That could never change who You are
And we trust in who You are

Even if the healing doesn’t come
And life falls apart
And dreams are still undone
You are God You are good
Forever faithful One
Even if the healing
Even if the healing doesn’t come

Lord we know your ways are not our ways
So we set our faith in who You are
Even though You reign high above us
You tenderly love us
We know Your heart
And we rest in who You are

You’re still the Great and Mighty One
We trust You always
You’re working all things for our good
We’ll sing your praise

You are God and we will bless You
As the Good and Faithful One
You are God and we will bless You
Even if the healing doesn’t come
Even if the healing doesn’t come

“Hooray!” and “Ouch!”

Realized I got busy and wasn’t updating the blog regularly like I’d said that I would.  Sorry ’bout that.

Here’s the “Hooray!”:  Long story short, I’m officially registered for college again this Fall!  Looking for work wasn’t … um … working … so I realized I’d actually have more money available to meet our month-to-month expenses if I were in school full-time rather than trying to find a job (unsuccessfully).   So in September I’m officially a University of Washington Husky!  Go, Dawgs!  :-)

And here’s the “Ouch!”:  I stumbled in the dark in my room the other night and fell face first (actually NOSE first) into the back of the metal chair by my desk.  Fortunately my nose isn’t broken, but I have two black eyes and my entire face is swollen and puffy.   :-/

Will try to keep in touch better in the future.  I seem to be good about posting on my various Facebook accounts, but this blog seems to fall through the cracks.

~Debi