So, it's been a pretty eventful month in my little life.  The three main events that transpired fall into the categories of Josh and his visit home/New Years Eve '07/and A day trip to Silverdale.  I fell in love with all three of these categories in their own very specific way, (though most enjoyably and unabashedly with the first).

Josh's visit brought with it some of the most favored activities he and I shared in the three times we'd hung out before he left for Cambodia (and before we prayed that the Lord would bless us with the ease and enjoyment of as geographically distant a relationship as possible.  We shy away from tradition.)  Some of the events not pictured here involved things like a push-up competition (not important who won, only who can brag the most about being able to do push-ups on an exercise ball..), homemade Ronda Ferguson burritos, a jam session in the Ferguson living room, lots of current action movies like "The Pelican Brief" and "Clear and Present Danger," some intense DDR and Guitar Hero competitions at Leland and Ashley's, an amazing 16 mile (give or take) hike to Narnia (or Lake 22) in my new waterproof pants, and in general smiling quite a bit and getting to keep at least one of my hands warm as I walked next to Josh.  As for the other events... 

Destination #1 was of course the Dollar Store.  No question.

Followed up immediately by a picture with Santa.

Sadly, the line to Santa had a projected 48 minute wait time, so we settled for the holiday magic of the famed "Wooden Toy Jeweled Hat Moustache Barrel Wearing Soldier Guy" at the Pacific Place Mall.  Again, we shy away from tradition.

Destination #3 was Prom 2007.

Better known as dinner and a Will Smith sci-fi movie at the IMAX (we were just there for the extended Batman preview).

Destination #4 involved live, wild animals.  Just like missionary jungle life. 

Sort of.

Destination #5 involved fixing a stubborn bathroom door at Jaime's. 

He's handy.  And brave when a large wood chunk lands in his eye.  (And wise when he realizes that the safety glasses could probably serve both a fashionable and practical purpose). 

Destination #6 involved a lot of pictures like this, which we will print out and glue into paper mache frames as gifts for friends and family next Christmas.

That is, if I can convince him that this really is a brilliant idea.

Destination #7 involved a similar picture but with fur. 

Don't throw paint on us.  It's not real. 

Nor are either of our smiles.

Destination #8 involved a small hand painted ukelele and a moving rendition of "Smells Like Teen Spirit."

(and an appropriate encore of "When You Say Nothing At All")

Destination #9 may very well be your paper mache'd Christmas present next year.

You're welcome.

Destination #10 was Christmas Eve Ultimate Fighting after Hope's 6:30 service.  Or maybe during.  I can't remember.  I know that people were holding lit candles around us, and maybe there was singing going on at the time.  And I distinctly remember Pastor Tom yelling "Arm bar!" at one point from the pulpit.

I guess I do love some traditions.

Destination #11 involved some of my favorite Fergusons (and DeJong's respectively).

It was a great Christmas :)

On New Years Eve we headed to the place where we spend the majority of our Friday nights eating amazing food and playing Disney Scene It (and ultimately losing when playing with Levi or Brenda.  Who can keep all the princesses straight??).

We celebrated the night in typical fashion by paying a mere $5.00 (thank you On Demand) to watch the antics of a potentially mentally unstable foreign man as he dances (if one could call it that) in a public square for money, chases chickens to retrieve his bus ticket, evades the police, and makes the majority of us in the room feel entirely uncomfortable in the Academy Award winning feature film, "Mr. Bean Goes on a Trip and Everything That Could Possibly Go Wrong Does, In the Most Foreseeable Way Possible" (with occasional subtitles thrown in to make up for the lack of dialogue).

We all felt a little anxious after the movie was over, but I think Marli handled it the best.   

My entire digestive system shut down on me out of spite for what I had just put it through, and I learned that when Safeway dares you to compare their generic brand of Immodium to the real deal, it is not confidence based within truth or actual remedy.  :(

We ended our New Years festivities by watching the Seattle fireworks go off at the prompt and pre-planned time of 12:15, and then all sang along to our favorite song "Fergalicious." 

Second only to the "Umbrella" song.

To ring in the New Year the following day, Jaime, Devin, and I decided to sail to the most magical land on earth.

Silverdale.

More specifically, the city of Southworth, WA, whose charm and mystique is secured due in part to its similarity to the name "Hogwarts," its nausea inducing giant hills, and its vintage creepy naval ships ominously anchored throughout the surrounding waters.

In fact, local Southworth folklore tells us that an actual scene from Harry Potter was filmed in this very location. 

It's the scene where Harry and Esmerelda find the magic key and then steal the naval ship.

It is history like this that bade us and the innumerable masses to come onboard for a magical $30 ferry ride from Seattle on that beautiful day.

It was also this place and its magical light and dark brew samples that kept us in the town for longer than 20 minutes.

We knew that a day in Silverdale would not be complete without a trip to the famous Kitsap mall with its sprawling vistas and more than 5 luxurious stores to choose from!

We began of course at "Whistle Workwear," where safety comes first and bright magnetic clothing strips allow you to frolic freely in the streets at night without concern.

I will wear this in Cambodia one day.  It is both breathable and flame retardant.

We then set out for all of our favorite New Year Destinations, like "Holiday Lane," where dreams come true and fake trees are sold for 75% off.

Celebrities abound in the Kitsap Mall! 

As do palm trees.

We hit some final hot spots, fighting the crowds to get a good spot in line in the 15 minutes we had remaining before the mall closed at the late New Years Day hour of 6pm.  Because people cannot wait to get done with work just in time to celebrate New Years Day with friends and loved ones. 

We made our way to two more exotic Kitsap locations before heading home.

The magic of this Target was slowly stolen away as Devin discovered the 20th anniversary DVD of "The Princess Bride" and through quiet sobs lamented something to the effect of, "I remember seeing this when it came out in theaters..."

Fortunately, he was able to console himself both by finding The Secret, and telling himself that with enough positive motivation, he could figure out just what the secret is. 

As well as finding out the Christian version (which must always exist), in The Secret Things of God.  Because we need another book to tell us these things...

The secret of Silverdale/Southwarts/Kitsap is that it is nearly impossible to make it back to your return ferry home on time.

Which is why disappointment also abounds in Kitsap/Southwarts/Silverdale!

And quickly turns to anger/desperation/disgust.

But eventually relief comes (however you choose to express it) when you finally do make it to your second ferry attempt (with the comfortable buffer of 3 minutes to spare).

There are some time-tested ways to make the most of your $30 ferry ride back home. 

These involve:

Cat naps.  You have the comfort and luxury of a large ocean liner all around you.  Take advantage.

Human Art.  Christina Aguilera tells us we are beautiful.  No matter what they say.  Let's flaunt our awkward and occasionally abrasive modes of expression and call it art.  Like rap artists do.

Jaime has a distinct fear of whales.  And whale brochures apparently.  It was the only thing that ruined her casual enjoyment of the Sequim Lavender Farms brochure.

We don't know what a muster station is.  From the picture it looks like a place where you get eaten by robots larger than you, yet maintain your original shape.  And then things chase you.  This, incidentally, is identical to the plot of "I am Legend." 

And "Atonement."

We ended our time on the $30 ferry ride by taking artsy self-portraits, much to the enjoyment of the crowded deck we found ourselves on. 

And yes, these next two shots are a series of Devin trying (so hard) to get his leg into the picture.

And falling to the ground from his chair as a result (yet finding ultimate success, depending on how you define it).  Note how Jaime and I maintained only a mildly awkward reaction despite the loud clamor behind us.

Next on the agenda....Vashon Island. 

Here we come.

Generally, when people think of me, I think three things come to mind:  Incredible math skills.  A love of early mornings.  And hiking. 

The only other person who nearly comes close to matching my hiking abilities is currently residing in Cambodia.

But that doesn't stop us from planning the most hardcore, physically challenging, potentially dangerous hike that any two people could set out on in the month of December in Washington.

(And apparently it won't be crossing the crowded, icy parking lot of Target as one of us may have suggested.  fine.) 

Jaime and I went to REI tonight to stock up on all of the appropriate gear necessary for any simple death-defying hike. 

The first piece of gear is of course the oversized baby bjorn backpack, which allows the male hiker to easily (and nearly painlessly) carry the female hiker for the majority of the trip.  It not only saves space on the hiking trail (smart), it also prevents the hikers from accidentally being separated.  And maybe the female hiker gets tired easily and doesn't see how the situation is "unfair" or "ridiculous."  Ridiculously ingenious?  Yes.

It's important to only pack the necessities on your trip, like food and water.  And every hiker knows that the best way to stay nourished and hydrated in the great outdoors is with the compact "Camper's Dream Ice Cream Maker." 

(may also double as a hamster wheel).

While hiking, be sure to wear as many fuzzy wool layers as possible.  There could be snow on the ground, therefore you will be quite cold as you trek directly up steep inclines for 16 miles.  Trust me.   

If you don't own a bike helmet, I advise wearing something that will keep your head fully protected from the elements on the trail (as well as match your fuzzy sweaters) and double as ear muffs, along with allowing you to blend in seamlessly with the other animals on the trail.   

Also, never feel bad about yourself if you have weird ankle bones that seem to cause every pair of hiking shoes that you pick out to jam into that bone.  It's not your fault.  And, as the guy in the shoe department would try to convince you, it's apparently more important to find a shoe that "fits well" rather than one that is "fashionable."  As if people following behind Josh on the trail aren't going to be staring at my ugly shoes dangling out of the oversized baby bjorn backpack!  Please.

When testing your shoes to see if your ankle bones will cooperate, always try to climb the nearest rock/cliff/handrail display for both an accurate depiction of your hike and the added attention of passerby's. 

Always bring tools with you.  Lots of them.  And try to fit them all into one small contraption if possible.  It's more impressive that way.  The one on the right is my toothpick/scissors/can opener/guitar tuner/paperweight/sewing kit/flare gun/stain remover/toothbrush/mp3 player/swiss army knife.  The one in the middle is the Batman symbol.  And the one on the left is what I thought was a guitar stand. 

Lastly, be safe out there.  This of course means wearing your head lamp at all times (it doesn't matter if it's a day hike), and taking the appropriate hour or two out on the trail for some "you time."  That means climbing out of the oversized baby bjorn backpack and unrolling your yoga mat for a little relaxation and calisthenics.  And always bring a map.  It doesn't matter if it's a map of the place you are actually going, it's mostly for something to read while you're being carried along the trail. 

I hope this has been helpful.

Brenda, Jaime, and I had the opportunity to lead worship for Hope Foursquare's Women's retreat this weekend in LaConner.  And as everyone in the fine city of LaConner now knows (thanks to the sky writing machine I rented), it was also my birthday weekend.  I love my birthday.  And I love to make other people develop a love for it as well.  Fortunately, my friends know this about me :)

I must admit that I got a little emotional today thinking about how absolutely spoiled I was this year.  My delightful worship leading friends took me on a shopping spree and then we spent my birthday-eve leading worship and eating pizza in bed.  I could ask for nothing better :)

On Saturday, the day of my actual birth, we ate a lovely contintental breakfast, did more worship, enjoyed a moving rendition of "Happy Birthday" (both from the ladies at the conference and from the Scandrett's via cell phone), got a text message from Briell, heard a phenomenal talk, ate fish and chips, had our conference speaker prophesy over us, had our lives rocked as a result (in a good way), took a little nap, and then woke up (and bundled up) as we set out to explore the fine, bustling city of LaConner, WA. 

Unfortunately, after retrieving our espresso from the same fish and chips restaurant (they also sell furniture and can fix your car for a reasonable price), we quickly became aware that any "bustling" that might occur in LaConner does so before the late afternoon hour of 3pm.

Fortunately for us, we came across this lovely establishment that was open and provided us a way to wash down our fish and chips espresso.

After finishing up at the Vineyard, I managed to pry this boat wheel off the wall as a nice little keepsake (it was worth the effort it took to tie it to the top of Brenda's car and bring it home...regardless of what she says). 

And Jaime, who is widely known for her deep love of sea creatures, retrieved this fine wall decoration that we quickly identified as a "catfish" after consulting our "Fisherman's Guide to the Great Northwest."

And Brenda took home this handsome (if not cumbersome) keepsake who appeared to have the reaction most individuals do when we attempt to include them in one of our photo shoots.

He'll warm up.

We went to "Bear Crossing" where we learned that the average lifespan of a grizzly bear is 32 years and were disappointed to learn that you cannot rent circus bears in LaConner, regardless of the fact that it is someone's birthday and all they want is a small (yet impressive) circus, maybe with some elephants and the guy who rides the motorcycle upside down on the high wire. 

Is that asking for so much??

Brenda tried to appease me by making the convincing argument that riding this stuffed warthog was more fun than a circus. 

Her attempts were unsuccessful.

Though I did befriend this pleasant black bear who told me tales of his days at sea and agreed not to eat my family if I gave him a piece of fish.

And I read to some of the neighborhood children from the best-selling forthcoming novel "I'll See You in Heaven," by Jaime E. Bronsmann. 

Later, Jaime tried to befriend what she thought was a stuffed pigeon, perched near the waterfront to amuse the tourists.

After dropping her coffee and scrambling off the deck before the bird caught up to her, she realized that not all of the animals in LaConner are friendly.

And I marveled at the majestic beauty of the waterfront in all of its natural glory and splendor.

I then stepped into a puddle and got half of my leg wet, vowing to never step foot into the town again.

We made our way inside where I quickly found Cambodia on the nearest map, which has become one of my favorite (and most impressive) hobbies.

Later on in the day commemorating my birth I was entirely spoiled by the ladies at the retreat as I was showered with gifts and chocolate.  And I felt good about this, despite the veiled awkwardness in the cake cutting process (a LaConner tradition).

When all was said and done, the ladies had given me flowers, clothing, a journal, bubble bath, rubber duck, and Ronda even managed to give me a circus :) 

And then I got to come home to a cookie cake, Starbucks cards, and a "World's Greatest Grandma" balloon (they were out of the birthday ones..)  

I must say it was a good weekend :)

There are some people in life who make you feel as if all is right with the world and who you should never be separated from. 

I got to spend a few glorious hours in the presence of my most favorite Remingtons last week, and it was worth every bit of anticipation built into the prior 3 week countdown.  Not only did I learn deep spiritual truths (such as the dangers of eating bat as presented in the OT), I also got to hold Sandy's hand while she engaged in deep conversations with the people around her (I still feel like this was reasonable) and quietly whisper to her at inappropriate times in the conversation phrases like "never leave". 

I like to think they just went back home to pack up and then move back to me.  I will wait patiently. 

Due to popular demand, I am forsaking the 7 hours I could be spending to further my education by doing homework, and instead putting those hours towards a more fruitful endeavor... 

Updating this blog.

At the end of August I had the chance to go to LA with the high school group from Hope Foursquare so we could win thousands to the Lord and ride the most magnificent of roller coasters.  I was a last minute addition to the team because they needed an even number for the rides at Magic Mountain.

We got into LA where we picked up our rental car. 

And then made our way to the Dream Center where the layout of the building bears a striking resemblance to the LA freeway system...confusing and virtually impossible to correctly navigate. 

Eventually we made our way to our room via the cafe, via the gymnasium, via Echo Park.

There are very specific stages that you go through as a leader on a missions trip.  We experienced them all in a very brief, emotionally awkward period of time.

Stage #1.  Energetic.  This stage comes after just getting into town, feeling fully rested and prepared for an entire week of constant activity.

Stage #2.   Exhaustion.  This comes after 3 days of sleeping for four hours a night in a bunk bed and attempting to get up at 5 am to do devotions (give it up.  do them at night.  you'll thank me).

Stage #3.  Anarchy.  Sometimes a good food fight settles the tension that has come from the week and gives you some time to think about "responsibility" and "setting a good example" when you are later made to clean up after yourselves.

Stage #4.  Physical Aggression.  When you get banned from the cafeteria, you have to find some activity to fill the dinner hour.  Occasionally this results in reenacting ultimate fighting matches.  Arm bar!

We didn't get many pictures of our actual "ministry" time, which makes for a questionable slideshow during church, but we did capture some of our finest moments around town, like our visit to In N' Out Burger.

And our visit to Chili's, where you can celebrate someone's birthday, even if the technical day of their birth fell roughly 3 months prior..

Our visit to Tom Cruise's church.

And our self-guided tour of the local Hollywood celebrities (thanks to my phenomenal and unquestionable sense of direction).

Celebrity #1. The Cat in the Hat.

#2 and 3. Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom.

#4. Hanson.

# 5. Yoda.

Aside from celebrity tours, we also did the typical late-night street ministry.

Graffiti ministry.

Spontaneous dancing during service ministry (not typically well received by the person speaking....fyi...)

80's outreach.

Gymnastics ministry.

Kitty outreach.

Aimee Semple McPherson reenactment ministry.

And finally, local 90's comedian outreach. 

We found comfort during our LA trip in finding this same sign hanging in many fine establishments, reminding us of the potential souvenirs we could involuntarily take home with us.

After our week of full-time ministry was up, we headed to Magic Mountain, where dreams come true and it costs a mere $7 to quench your thirst with a compact 8 oz bottle of water.

The rides were just as thrilling and heart rate inducing as we had all imagined.  Like the 3 mph "log ride."

And the "tram," which not only returns you safely to your vehicle, but also may or may not slow down for speed bumps.

But our favorite ride had to be the "mist machine," which was a fun, death defying way to keep from passing out in the 95 degree weather after your $7 water had been consumed.

Always carry a bar of soap with you as you trek through your favorite amusement park should you need to freshen up during the day.

Don't limit yourself to the $7 bottles of water, but also be sure to splurge on the $16 Icee to keep yourself adequately hydrated.

After Magic Mountain, we spent our last day at Malibu beach before heading back home.

And Chandler got to put the life guarding skills that he claimed to have gleaned from watching "Baywatch" to good use when Brenda got taken out by a large wave (or pushed into the wave by Chandler...either way...)

And Brenda got to return the favor when Chandler got mysteriously shoved into the surf as Brenda passed by.

It was what she called a "reverse rescue" where she actually dragged him further into the ocean. 

(Out of our fear of her strength, none of us questioned this tactic).

And we ended our time at the beach with the typical beach activity of "wave jumping," which is a valid athletic activity, no matter what any passerby might imply.