fillings, fog, and fun-dip

So it's the end of February already--Spring is on it's way. Though, not for everyone! As i drive through the gloomy fog here in Spokane, i hear about feet of snow still comming in the Mid-west and other Eastern states... i'm so thankful for our 40 degree weather and fog.

This past weekend i spent with the youth group at a winter retreat. I wish i had pictures to post... i'll see what i can get from those that had cameras there. High schoolers are a blessing, they really are. I sooo greatly enjoy hanging around them...i'm reminded of where i was in HS, and who i was... and it's fun to see them enjoying some of the same things i enjoyed at that age (such as fun-dip, red vines, perfecting cartwheels, converse shoes, guys who are in a band, instant hot chocolate in coffee, and peanut butter on pancakes). Despite the many things that didn't turn out as planned, the weekend was still a sucess. One of our students who firmly held to his atheistic standpoints, had some walls broken down and now loves Jesus. A couple of our girls had some great questions, and are earnestly seeking to understand what it means to be a Christian. I was reminded of how God works to draw people to himeself--even those that seem hopeless! An awesome weekend that will lead to great things in that youth group! I'm sad i have to leave.

I got to experience something new yesterday. I went to the dentist to have 2 cavities filled... there was about a year and half inbetween checkups where i didn't have good insurance, so the obvious tragedy occured: a cracked tooth and two fairly deep cavities. I still have two more appointments to have a crown incerted. Lovely. Anyway, the two cavities were both on the top. To make the filling of the cavities more efficient, they've come up with this new technique to keep the tounge and extra saliva out of the way...while protecting the cheecks and tounge from chemicals, etc. It's called a "a rubber dam." Basically, there is a rather large, but thin rubber sheet that they attached to my top back teeth on each side. The sheet then comes down to cover my tounge and hang out of my mouth (tight with a wire contraption...). this procedue is quick, but weird. I've never experienced anything like it. It's a good thing i'm comfortable breathing through my nose.
-- Kate

Blue Steel-- a tribute to Scott

This is my husband... Scott William Lyon. If he wasn't pursuing to be a Doctor in Physical Therapy, i think he would easily find a career in modeling, or acting...or maybe he's just really clever. He would tell you he would be a photographer, or maybe a financial planner...on the other hand, i think he makes a great husband regardless. Here's why he makes me smile...

One of his greatest accomplishments so far this year has been covering his friend Jared's car completely with snow:

I do beleive that Scott is the way he is because of the people he spends his time with...

and his love for Sports...

esspecially the Buckeyes























and then there's his love for photography... and trying to best capture the things that make him smile...

It's definetly a joy being married to this man.
I wouldn't have asked for anything less! More pics, more laughs, more stories of adventures to come....

I, on the other hand... still have my Xanga, Myspace, and frequent my facebook page. :) -- Kate

Cancelled my space

Hey this is scott. I cancelled my "myspace" page. I got about four comments and sent one in about eight months. Now you do the same...go outside.

So the worst thing in life right now is not being able to download my panoramic photos for viewing. So you get the average pics. ~Scott

4 more months in Spokane

Thoughts of moving to California often invade my thoughts and crush any efforts of focusing on the now. It's a challenge to live this way... to be here, knowing that in 4 months im going to be there-- a new life, new peeple to meet, a new job, a new place to reside, a new church to find, a new culture, and new climate! I have no idea what to expect, but i still dream about the move.

Recently, my efforts at investing in the people here have become weighty and burdensome -- do i do it out of guilt or love? I feel too spread out sometimes, and i can't give my all to everyone. I'm a reck on the weekends, as i take time to manage my thoughts and organize my list of "to-do's," while at the same time allowing myself to relax and try to enjoy time with friends... or by myself. Scott has his friends, his job and co-workers, his "Study-buddies," and the group of guys he consistently meets with on Wednesdays and Sundays. Where are my friends? Where's the consistency? I do have to say that i will walk away from Spokane with lifelong relationships, but my struggle is a feeling of loneliness amist the craziness of too many relationships in my life.

I long for the time where all i have is Scott and a job. Where we are able to start fresh with our relationships... with establishing friendships together, and finding a church family that we both feel apart of. I will miss Spokane and the memories of the past 4 and half years i've been here.

But God is teaching me something so much greater than holding on to these things, He's teaching me about His Glory. I'm learning to see how mulling over my "issues" is a waste of time, but allowing myself to rest in Him and not be troubled by hardtimes is satisfying. I'm learning to not spread myself out and commit away all of my free time so that He becomes less and less in my life. I'm seeing how being an extreme "people pleaser" can be a curse, not just a blessing. A curse in the way that i put others' feelings before my husband's... a curse in the way that i'll be "committed" in vain only to satisfy the desires of others.

This is a challenging time. Conviction is wearysome and humbling. No one ever said it was suppose to be easy. But at the same time, it feels so good... and so satisfying knowing that God's work doesn't stop here.

old books, financial aid, and a bottle of wine

As things begin to slow down a bit after the holidays, I'm beginning to realize how quickly time goes by! I started this blog with the intention of having it fully furnished with pictures and an update on life...before the end of the year. As you can see, it is now the 10th of January and i don't have much accomplished. But anyway... life goes on.

Last week Scott and two of his buddies made a trip to southern California for an interview he had at Loma Linda University, all the while taking advantage of a night at Joshua Tree NP and a couple visits to In 'n Out Burger. We now wait for a letter to come...

So in the meantime, Scott and i are starting to look into Financial Aid for a spendy 3 yr Doctorate Program. Thoughts of finding a new job, a new church, new relationships, and new places to shop often fill my mind along with how nice it will be to have warmer weather year round and beaches only an hour away... ahhh.. it's all very exciting. But we wait...

This weekend we decided we might as well start going through our stuff to begin the packing process... just in case :) So we're going to start with our bins of old books. We also makes lists of potential things we want to sell if we move, and things we want to look for in an apartment... hhmmmm....

But, of course, life still goes on here, and we aren't sure where we'll be in 6 months... so we'll step away from dreaming for awhile, and probably enjoy a nice dinner by our fire and a nice bottle of wine... a typical weekend evening for us...