A Time to Sled, A Time to Slide

Here's a little tribute to different seasons of fun on the Kercher Hill....
Tips to remember--
1. Do not automatically don your swimwear when invited to a "water party" at the Kerchers. You never know what form the water could be in.
2. Make sure your regular Chiropractor is going to be in the office the following day.
3. Always let a younger sibling try it first. If you're the youngest, well....Mark has a support club. Bring ice packs.

Snow Day

Snow doesn't visit us here in the Willamette Valley very often. This makes for some excitement all around when, after several years of waiting, a "snow day" finally arrives!!! Usually, brave "snow-seekers" have to drive about 1 1/2 hours to find a good sledding spot. However, thanks to the treacherous valley in front of our house that is good for basically nothing but sledding, we became the center of activity this morning. Several of our friends appeared, dressed in sledding finery and toting rusty/dusty/moldy sleds (I'm exaggerating so you get the idea that it has been a while...) in bright-eyed and rosy-nosed anticipation of some "North Pole delight"!!!

Hey there, Little Lady....

Do cowboys get any cuter?
(notice the beads, or "pretties" in Malachi's vocabulary)
Malachi loves western movies, mostly because of all the horses. If a horse is in the near vicinity, you'll soon hear an adorable little, "Ga-look-ga-look-ga-look" and Malachi trotting in imitation. This is soon followed by a "Ne-eeeigh". We've started watching our movies on "mute", his sound effects are so good! :)

Boda/Wedding

It was my second boda!!! A boda is a Dominican wedding, and this wasn't exactly Dominican...but the groom was. Michelle and Amy and I drove up to Seattle last weekend to attend the wedding of our beloved Dominican pastor's (Julio, in the picture below with his wife Maritza) son, Reyner. It was so neat to see them again, and see them experience an "American wedding". Believe me, if it was as different for them as a boda was for me....well, it was an experience. I am still wondering what in the world they thought of our tradition of the bride and groom shoving cake in each other's faces. And unlike the DR, in American weddings the whole congregation doesn't erupt in cheers after the "beso" (kiss) and shout "Otro! Otro!" (another one!!!) :) If anyone thinks that weddings aren't intricately cultural....THEY'RE WRONG!!!!

The neatest part of the wedding was when Julio (father of the groom) prayed for the new couple in spanish. There weren't many dry eyes after that.

It wasn't planned, but most of us 2006 summer interns were at the wedding, too, which was so fun to catch up with/see everyone!

There is another baby in my life, contrary to popular opinion, or at least from what you can see on my blog....


Jadon is my sister Melody and husband Mark's baby. They live in Bend. As you can see, the cuteness has extended beyond my parents' offspring! :) ~chuckle~

Fun Being 21

Now that I'm 21, the fun begins....on my big day, I opted for a 2lb bottle of....CHOCOLATE. (Thanks Leisel & David!) It was a great day, a bunch of my awesome friends went roller skating with me, a favorite pasttime.

Too Much Christmas Candy?

"What did yer mama always tell ya 'bout eatin' too much Christmas Candy?

"Ta not 'ta....."

Enjoying Mark's Christmas gift. It was just years ago that we were both in braces...anyone want my orthodontist's number? He's great!

Nativity Play

Malachi stole the show at last Sunday's Nativity play during our church service. Madalyne was a shepherd and Malachi was her sheep. He wasn't in the mood to cooperate, however, and wandered all around the stage bleating (at least he remembered his lines) and staring at the other children's costumes. Notice his little tail in the picture.

Mary and Joseph by the manger

The Three Wisemen

Mark was the Star.

Uncle Malachi

Yes, you're seeing right, this is an uncle and his niece. (They are three months apart.) Camden and Malachi, despite their unusual family relation, enjoy sharing toys, speaking eachother's language and seeing who can nap the least. :)

Christmas Quilt

Hannah, Jenni, Miriam and I have been trying our hands at ministry projects, varying from watching people's children, cleaning their houses, and our latest, making a quilt from fabric donated to us by Pine Creek Bedding. We gave the quilt to a family whose father is in prison this Christmas. It has been a really fun experience for the four of us, learning about serving others and looking for ways to help. If you have any needs, let us know!

the boss!!

Malachi is learning to talk now. He runs around the house shouting, "Ada-lada-lada-lyne" which, being translated, means "Madalyne". He is her shadow. He also finds many adorable ways of getting his own way, whether it is grinning from ear to ear when we mention something he would like to have, or crying and saying, "uppa?".

We often remark on how boring our lives might be without Malachi. He's a very observant little guy, when the smoke alarm goes off in the kitchen (that has nothing to do with my cooking, let me assure you....) Malachi will drop what he is doing, grab a magazine and run into the kitchen fanning it in the direction of the smoke. What a helper!
He is wearing Mom's socks here...
But this is his favorite pasttime....anything "dayee" does, Malachi does. All of Dad's favorite foods are called "dayee" and are also Malachi's favorite. It doesn't matter that his legs don't reach the footrest, he MUST have it up if daddy does.

Road Rage

 
I guess maybe someone should take the time to teach Malachi, er....the Prince....a few road tips. This is a great example of our peaceful household.


There is always something happening, even if it is only a family cheer that Mark actually volunteered to take a shower. 
Here's our most recent family photo. This was taken in Newport, we took a family vacation there in August.

Malachi

And then there's Malachi...

...the most adorable thing in my life.

He is beyond cute, tottering around squeaking and getting his own way. He never fails to cheer me up after a long day.

Best Amigas?

This is Amy and I, with the matching spanish shirts our dominican mama sent us. They say the classic "Somebody loves me in the Dominican Republic..." Cute, huh?

Amy went to the DR as an intern two years ago and lived with the same woman I did. She worked in the clinic. This is an amazing bond for us, she is someone who never tires of hearing of my experiences, not to mention practicing spanish and reminiscing over our beloved dominican culture.

We have worked at staying in good contact with our family and friends there. Emails in spanish frequently fill our inboxes. We recently received a package filled with letters from our loved ones, it was so amazing. One of my sewing students had sent a note (she can't write, but she had a friend be her scribe) saying she misses me and is continuing to learn under Charo's teaching.

I'm so thankful that the relationships didn't have to end when I left. I am praying about when the Lord would have me go back. I don't have any clear direction except that I am going to school right now, and I also don't have any money:) so, I think I'm staying home for now.

Still Sewing....

So, I'm getting settled in, finding my old rut in the sewing room. I'm actually working for a dry-cleaners in Lake Oswego, doing alterations and delivering twice a week. It is a nice job situation, I'm still working at home, on my college student hours, and I can just drop off and pick up work on my way home from school. It actually pays decent, which is spiffy, too.

School is keeping me drumming my drum. I really do feel like the energizer bunny:) I'm at PCC (where tuition is free, thanks to Professor Kercher) taking general ed classes. I am tired of not learning anything all day at school, I'll be really glad to transfer to the Art Institute next fall.

I am still using my spanish, I have been tutoring spanish students 4 hours a week at the college, plus conversing with my Costa Rican friend at school. When I can I go to a local spanish church service and occasionally bring myself to turn on the spanish radio station....that's only for an emergency spanish high, though. :)