I feel like I'm breathing...

Oh the simplicities of life! 

I am enjoying every minute of this thing they called "small town living". I am so very thankful what the Lord has provided for me to experience Him in such a divine way today. I woke up got ready and packed a lunch for Justin and I. I met him at the park and waited for him to get done with coaching his dad's kids basketball camp called "Coach Nics Little Hoopsters". He helps his dad coach in a couple of weeks in the summer. It was such a beautiful day outside, not too hot with a slight breeze. After he was all done and had packed all his stuff up, we ate the sandwiches that I had made at a near by picnic bench. I observed several people at the park, doing their own thing. Most of them were woman with their children. Some of them sat in the sun in their tank tops and shorts and chatted with their girlfriends as their kids played in the playground. Some parents had come to see their smaller children play at the basketball camp and cheered them on. Their were some joggers and bike riders. Others playing tennis in a near by court. So much activity going on. I loved it. 

Everywhere you go in this town is beautiful. Have I mentioned how green it is? I can't get over how nice everyone is here. They all smile a hello as you pass by, whether of not they know you. All the small town folk that live here pretty much all know each other anyways. Justin and I went on a walk Sunday in the later afternoon and we ran into 4 different people that he knew and had made conversation with as they stopped and said hello. The neighbors, near by school police, his parents friends, kids our age that he went to school with, you get the idea. I am enjoying and embracing all the moments I am privileged with, as I live in this town so different from the one I grew up in. 

After Justin and I had lunch, we strolled down to the local coffee shop. I love to sit in there. Not only do they have big comfy couches with colorful pillows I might add, BUT they also have very colorful decorations covering the walls, and is very creative with the different chairs as one can choose to sit at the counter in tall stools where your feet dangle off, (yes even my feet dangle, the chairs are that tall!) OR you may sit by the window and watch as the locals walk by while walking their dogs, or pushing their toddler in a stroller, or holding their significant others hand, or watch the gramma's and grandpas with their grandchildren. I sat by the window this time and once Justin left for his second job ( he works construction and was painting all day), I imagined myself as apart of this town, which I guess I am now, right? I do live here and will soon be working here. I start my job in september. Until then I spend my time with the simple things and doing what I love to do. I wrote all afternoon today. It was an amazing feeling. I felt like I was breathing again. I drink lots of coffee daily. I water the out door plants. I pick raspberries and blueberries and marionbarries (which are only grown in Oregon). Oh! And strawberries! Yes, I hand picked them! I play lots of games in the evening like crochet (we set it up in the back yard, and played with Justin's Brother Jeremy, his wife DJ, and their son, Zion), 313 (a card game I recently learned), and Becky (Justin's mom let me borrow her bike this evening; I toured the neighborhood and watched as everyone was enjoying the weather just as I was. It had gotten so much cooler in the evening and it felt great to be outside! And, I also spend my time with my new boyfriend, Justin, who makes everything fun as I enjoy doing absolutely anything with him :) 

I have also learned that their are all different ways to make top ramen. Justin last night was nice enough to make top ramen for me while I was catching up on episodes LOST, and to my avail the ramen was made completely different than how I had been preparing it for myself for years! I ate what he had prepared for me so nicely, and ate it with a smile. I told him and he had to try the way i'm used to making it. I made it my way tonight. Well, we agreed that we will come to some sort of compromise on the whole top ramen ordeal. This is a important issue :)

I kind of refuse to call myself an Oregonian. The concept of that word remind me of a orangutang ( you know..an orange monkey), which doesn't all sound appealing. THEREFORE! I have kind of adapted a new rule that I sort of made up. But if you think about it, it makes sense. And here it is: I can't officially be an Oregonian unless I either have a.) grew up here or b.) lived here for at least 10 years. AND since I do not personally apply to either one of those things I am NOT an Oregonian! I might also add that that is the name of their local newspaper. THE OREGONIAN. I can just see it now on the front page.." THIS JUST IN!!!! BLONDE GIRL CAUSES AN UP ROAR IN THE CITY OF WILSONVILLE. THE ABNORMALLY TALL GIRL WAS CAUGHT SINGING AND DANCING IN THE STREETS. ALL CARS STOPPED AND BYSTANDERS STOOD IN AWE AT THIS GIRL WHO CLAIMS SHE IS FROM CALIFORNIA INFLUENCED THE PEOPLE AROUND HER TO JOIN IN SONG! PARENTS, CHILDREN, AND EVEN SENIOR CITIZENS IN WHEELCHAIRS WERE SINGING! WHEN QUESTIONED AFTER THE INCIDENT, SHE SAID, AND I QUOTE, ' I JUST WAS WALKING WITH MY FACE IN A BOOK, COMPLETELY ENTHRALLED IN WHAT I WAS READING, WHEN I LOOKED BEHIND ME TO SEE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE BEHIND ME, FOLLOWING ME.  I STARTED TO SING DANCE AND THEY KNEW THE SONG, EVERYONE KNEW THE SAME SONG I WAS SINGING! AND THE SAME DANCE! BEFORE I KNEW IT I WAS STARTING TO SING A VERSE TO HAVE THE MAILMAN FINISH IT IN PERFECT HARMONY! IT ALL STARTED HAPPENING SO FAST AND BEFORE I KNEW IT, THE WHOLE TOWN SEEMED TO BE INVOLVED!' " THE GIRL MADE AN INQUIRY AFTER WE QUESTIONED HER, SHE ASKED," HASN'T ANY OF YOU SEEN THE DISNEY MOVIE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST?" (STORY CONTINUES ON PAGE 8)

End note: Today at the coffee shop this older gentlemen was walking by and accidently hit his foot on the near by chair, the lady accompanying him asked him if he was alright and he responded, "Yes, I am alright, thankfully for you I kicked the chair not the bucket."