Look Out River - Here We Come!

I just made reservations for my beloved and I to do a bit of white water rafting on the Deschutes River. I am ever so excited we get to go on this adventure.

I have a conference to attend in Hood River on the 26th. So husband and I will drive over Wednesday night, have a nice dinner somewhere and relax away from our many work responsibilities. (He's up to his eyeballs in wheat harvest, so getting him to commit to go was a BIG DEAL, and one I appreciate immensely!) He will go fishing while I attend the summer conference for the American Association of Women in Community Colleges.

Afterward we may do a little geocaching or just explore around Hood River.

Then on Friday we head over to Maupin where we will take a five hour guided raft trip. I can't wait! The last time I was rafting was with our good friends Pat & Chuck Butcherite when we all went to Alaska together a couple years ago. That was SO MUCH FUN that I am very much looking forward to going again.

Then on Saturday we head over to Bend to knock around antique shops, do some hiking, and maybe geocache some more. That evening we go over to Sisters, OR to hear Terri Jentz speak out about her experiences relayed in the book "Strange Piece of Paradise." After having corresponded with her via e-mail for some time it will be great to finally meet her!

So I would say we have one full weekend coming up. I am very much looking forward to it!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHUCK!

Our good friend, Chuck Butcherite, will be celebrating a birthday on Dec 30. Here’s hoping he has a fantastic day and knows he is much loved by friends and family alike. (Photo here if of he and his wife along with my beloved and I when we went white water rafting together on one of the glacier rivers up by Denali on our trip together to Alaska….we had a WONDERFUL time.)

I was thinking some about what it would be like to have a birthday so close to Christmas. While presents and parties are not the main point of either birth anniversaries or Christmas in my book – both do signify the way we celebrate, especially to little kids. I suspect many who are born close to Dec 25 get them lumped together as often as not.

Or, for those born right on any major holiday, I suppose it COULD seem like all the excitement and preparation were just for them.

I dunno… birthdays mean different things to different people. As long as I get my pie in the face, I’m happy.

This year I won’t be able to celebrate directly with dear Chuck, because he and Pat are serving a mission as temple workers in Atlanta, GA. I both miss and envy them.

Many blessings to you both. Know we are thrilled for you to have this opportunity, but we are anxious to have our favorite traveling companions back so we can plan some new trips together! Have a great birthday Chuck. How about a proxy pie? I’d be happy to do the honors.