Almost 8 months

Thanks for not giving up on me, I know it has been forever since my last post. The past few months have flown by as I have been busy being back at school, and coaching volleyball. It is really hard to believe that Brendan is already almost 8 months old. I already feel he is growing up too fast. He is no longer a little baby but starting to become a little boy.



He is crawling everywhere and pulling himself up on everything he can. He is learning to wave bye-bye and laughing more and more. What a joy to be his Mom. It is so fun to watch him explore and learn all about his world. It is a little more exhausting (gone are the days of setting him down on the bed to finish a few chores) but so amazing to watch him learn everyday. Now if we could just get over all the ear infections.

A GREAT Weekend!

We spent last weekend at Priest Lake with Jamie's parents and Grandma, and Josh's Mom and Kerry. What a special weekend to be all together. We feel very lucky to have families that love to spend time together--SO FUN!! Brendan didn't know what to do with all the attention. We are also able to celebrate Carol and Karen's birthdays. We decided that might need to become a tradition. Although they had way to much fun blowing the candles on their cake out together. Thanks for a fun weekend everyone!!

So Big

Brendan is now holding his own bottles. He is funny he puts his left hand on the side and his right hand on the bottom -- makes us laugh!

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Gormleys + Lake + Golf = Sweet Weekend!

Once again we we're blessed to be vacationing with the fabulous Zack and Kim; they're some of our closest friends.

It's no secret that Zack and I like to golf...maybe "like" is an understatement! Nonetheless, the ladies join us here and there. We played the Priest Lake Golf Course ($12 after 4:00 daily) and Mike, Jamie's dad - also an avid golfer, made for a 5-some. Everybody had a great time, Jamie was starting to groove her swing a little more, and everybody had some good shots and bad shots.

Kim and Zack are 6 months (or so) along with a baby boy - we can't wait for him to come home and for Brendan to have someone he too can hang out with while the parents are catching up and playing games.

Maybe one of the coolest blessings God has given us over the years are people in a stage of life behind us (newly married), in our current stage of life (having kids now - the Gormley's), and in a stage of life just ahead of us (families with young kids and families with older kids). Part of God's design for our lives is that we be people in community - we've been blessed by our pursuit of great, fun, deep, encouraging community. As "iron sharpens iron" we too learn from others how to be people who love God and love each other.

All this to say, we always enjoy our time with Kim and Zack and look forward to the next time we can go and be with them.

Thankful for our Community of GREAT Friends

One thing that Josh and I are so thankful for in Pullman is our AMAZING friends. We feel so lucky to have such neat people surrounding us. We know it makes us better people.

I was able to have several friends over this past week to celebrate Paige and Amy's Birthdays! We hung out on the deck, ate marvelous food (especially April's incredible cupcakes), and enjoyed being together.

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Thank you for all those who love and care about us. We appreciate all of you who invest in our lives making it so much better!!

Brendan hanging out at NBC

he was enjoying himself!

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We had an excellent couple weeks of NBC Camps at Eastern Oregon University and Whitworth University. We had an amazing staff and really neat groups of young ladies as campers. We are always pretty tired by the time both camps get done--but are always so thankful for the opportunity we have to do this ministry together. It is fun to see the camps growing and the impact the camp has on everyone, not only as volleyball players but as people.

Our theme this summer has been ELECTRIC. Please join us all as we pursuit to lead lives reaching for our ELECTRIC POTENTIAL (understanding that it takes struggle and precise practice to succeed), sharing our ELECTRIC POWER (influencing all those around you for the good, building people up instead of tearing them down), having ELECTRIC PERSPECTIVE (guarding our minds against the negative thoughts that say I can't do it, and being cautious of the traps in life that take us down empty roads...instead choosing to be self-disciplined, choosing to forgive, and choosing to think positively), and understanding that to be electric we must find our power--our ELECTRIC PURPOSE in the ultimate power source--JESUS CHRIST. What a fun and special summer at NBC!! Thank you all who made an impact!

4th of July

WOW--what a crazy but fun month. We were able to visit Josh's family in Sun Valley over the 4th of July, what a special and great time. Brendan got to meet his Grandpa Tim, Great Grandma Cathy and Donna, Aunt Kathy and Uncle Steve, Great Aunt Vickie, and Cousins Tammy, Amy, David and little Dirk (they are already great buds). We feel very lucky and blessed to have such wonderful family. It will be fun to watch Brendan and Dirk grow up together.

Fun At the Lake

Here are some pictures from time at Priest Lake.
Brendan had his first boat ride.


He wasn't so sure what to think at first!








But then had a fun time with Grandpa...


Mimi...

And Mom!!










Is is fun to get to enjoy my parents beautiful lake house that was finished this March. They did a fabulous job building the house, what a special spot it is. We'll have many memories and great times there!

Happy Fathers Day

So fun to celebrate Josh's first Fathers Day weekend as a family. Brendan is getting to be a lot of fun to play with. He is smiling more and more, rolling over, grabbing for toys, kicking his feet, putting everything in his mouth, sitting up with a little support, loving his toes, and interacting with anyone who will give him attention. It was a fun weekend with him. Josh and I also got to go on a little date to play tennis and out to lunch. The weekend ended with my dad coming over for chocolate chip cookies :) It was a wonderful weekend.




We are looking forward to our visit to Sun Valley. Brendan is excited to meet many new people including his Grandpa Tim, Great Grandma Cathy, Aunt Kathy and Uncle Steve, and Cousins Amy, David and Dirk (most excited to meet Dirk his new buddy)! We are all looking forward to our time with family and friends.

Palm Springs

We got to go with our dear friends Kim and Zach to Palm Springs for Memorial Day Weekend. It was a wonderful weekend spent shopping, golfing, laying by the pool, relaxing, eating way too much, playing cards, and catching up with amazing friends.

Brendan did great traveling! He stayed on his schedule, slept most of every plane ride, did good sleeping in a strange place, and seemed to enjoy the warm weather (who wouldn't)!! Kim and Zach were very patient as we tried to figure out what traveling looks like with an infant. It was awesome to know that traveling doesn't have to stop when you have a baby!

Here are some pictures from the weekend!

Saying Goodbye to a Man of Influence

My Grandpa has been a role model to me my entire life. He lost his arm when he was 16 in a hunting accident. This didn't stop him from doing anything. He always said the only thing he couldn't do was row a boat...he says he would just go in circles. He was even asked by WSU to play on their basketball team. I would have loved to watch him play, I bet he was pretty good. Grandpa also lost his wife at a early age (which I am now thankful for because he then married my Grandma, had 3 lovely daughters--one who is my mom--and now I am here). He lived through the depression, started his own insurance agency, that is now one of the most successful agencies in the Palouse area. He lived life with so much integrity, honor, and is respected by so many people.

I grew up in the same town as him and therefore spent lots of time with him and my Grandma. They own a lake cabin on Priest Lake (it is my favorite spot to be on the whole earth). I am so blessed to be his granddaughter. I want to live my life just like him. I hope to be just as active as he is at almost 93 years old.


Last week he was diagnosed with acute Leukemia and we were told he only had several days left to live. This week has been very hard and very emotional. It is amazing how quickly a body can shut down. It has been a very special week to spend with him as a family, to honor him, and to say anything to him that we feel like we haven't said before. It hurts to let someone go who you love and look up to so much. Yet, I am so excited that he gets to go and be in heaven--he deserves it. I am so thankful for my Grandpa, thankful for the way he has been the leader of our family, thankful for all the support he has shown me, thankful for all the memories I have with him.

Brendan shares Grandpa's middle name and I pray that Brendan grows up to be just like him. Thank you Grandpa for being the best Grandpa on the face of the earth. I can't wait to see you in heaven. I love you.

Weekend with My Grammy

Weekend at the Lake!!

Brendan's getting so big so fast! 10 weeks old - 13lbs - 24" long...