Lent: Day One-Addysen's Clothes

We had play group this morning and a friend of mine was taking about lent and what she was doing this year. She called it decrapifying. Simplifying. Decluttering. 40 days, 40 bags of things. I made a list of the 40 areas I want to tackle. For me my physical space reflects my inner being. When I feel chaotic you can see it in my bedroom. Laundry everywhere, clean or dirty. I was having a hard time with thinking of something to give up for the lent season. I wanted it to be something other then food or coffee or media. I wanted to learn to be disciplined and learn to be a simpler person. So when my friend talked about this it resonated in my heart. It's always nice to do things with other people too. So, day one was Addysen's clothes. I started with a paper bag but ended up having to grab a bigger garbage bag. I think writing the list was a hard thing for me. I got to number 15 and got stuck. But prayed through the areas in which I need to simplify and got to 40. Hope that through this my heart will be more thankful for what I have and that I can think of others and give things away. That I will take to heart not worrying about my daily needs but see how much God loves and cares for me. May this season of Lent draw you closer to the one who created you. 

2013 Recap

Wow... it's been a long while since I have blogged. I am sure the five of you reading will be happy I am actually updating something. :) Here's our year in review since I was so great at keeping up with everything. Of course this isn't everything and missing a whole lot of important moments...

We started off 2013 at our friend's Pete and Jean's house... The kids past our on the couch before midnight. But it was a fun evening getting to know new friends. We also made a quick trip to Seattle to throw my mom a surprise 60th birthday party!

February we got to have our first ever Tran family vacation to Hawaii! We celebrated a destination wedding of Vince and Kirsty and celebrate my 33rd year of life! We ate a lot, hung at the beach and fell in love with Hawaii again.

March I became a "soccer mom" we enrolled Kaden in his first indoor soccer lessons (Thanks to Kaden's sponsors: Uncle Zach and Mei Mei) and realized how quick he picks up on all the techniques. Joel also got the privilege to baptize his very first person: Olivia Dailey. She asked for Joel to baptize her over Easter weekend. It was a beautiful moment that we will all treasure. Addysen learned to walk and there wasn't a dull moment since.

April was a busy month filled with LOTS of birthday celebrations. Kaden turned FIVE and Addysen turned ONE! And we can't forget about Joel...he turned 37. We had a Portland party where we rented a soccer-plex and had two hours of open play and lots of pasta to feed an army. We celebrated in Seattle at the drop in day care that Kiki works at. We ate at Red Robin a few times (Kaden's choice) and the party month was a blast!

May Kaden had his last day of preschool at SonShine Express in Lake Oswego. His teachers: Kathy and Nancy were so sweet and he learned a lot there. He made many friends and got to spend the year hanging with his best friend Lillian. We also adopted a new housemate: KaoXu. She moved into our basement and has become family.

June was the month of graduations.... we were able to attend Kiki's graduation and our family even made the evening news! (We might have been a little loud! LOL) Joel and I celebrated our 9th anniversary with a staycation. Chi Thu and AT were kind enough to adopt two more kids for two nights and allowed us to be a tourist in our own city of Portland! We ate at yummy happy hours, slept in, and dreamed of what the future holds.

July we were able to put Kaden in Soccer Camp at Jeld Wen Field, home of the Portland Timbers! (Thanks again to his sponsors). We were all in awe of him actually playing on the pitch that the Timbers play on... and the daughter of the owner of the Timbers was in his camp too. Of course it was THE HOTTEST day of the year we were out there... but Kaden was in Soccer heaven so he didn't mind. We also go to light up the skies at the Lam's abode with many friends and family. They never disappoint. The Banker's also returned back to the states and it's always good to have them back.

August the biggest wedding of the year #phanwedding2013 was a blast. We also had Chi Gracie come back up to the NW where we ate wayyyyy too much and baked yummy treats! Lots of adventures with Uncle Zach and Mei Mei too! Addysen also had her modeling debut for Zulily.

September Kaden started Kindergarten!!!!! Ahhh! We have a school aged child. He took about two months to adjust to the schedule. He was starving and tired every day he came home from school. He picked up reading super fast and loves every minute of it. His teacher Mrs. LeRoy is amazing. She had those kids functioning like clockwork in that classroom after a week. Kaden also joined his first soccer team the Foothills Bobcats. We played him up to U-7 team. He had a great season and scored most of the goals in his games. (Although we don't REALLY keep score.) Addysen was a trooper she didn't know what to do with Kaden gone to school all day so we enrolled her in a four week art class at the Children's Museum.

October was filled with lots of soccer and trick or treating at Multnomah Village. We also threw a Halloween party with some friends from Missio and Hayhurst Elementary School. Went to the pumpkin patch with my brother and his family. It was a blast! I also was able to coordinate Compassion Connect's annual banquet and loved every second of it.

November came too fast. We made a whirlwind trip to Seattle to say goodbye to my brother and his family as they loaded up their belongings and headed South to Irvine, California. We hosted Thanksgiving at our house and spent lots of time just enjoying family.

December was a very enjoyable month for me. It was the coldest month ever... but it was also magical to cut down our tree at a farm high enough that the snow was still there. We did a lot of our gift giving through baked goods and online shopping. The Tos had a wonderful Christmas celebration Saturday before Christmas. We were able to spend a week in Seattle with my family.

This year was a lot more stable than last year... no moving, no new jobs... there was lots of other events and milestones that happened this year... but not enough time or energy to write them down. As we look back we are thankful for 2013 and look forward to 2014 and what adventures God has for our family of four. Happy New Year! 

Little Timber Kaden

Kaden's dreams came true this week. He got to play soccer on Jeld-Wen field. Zach and Amanda sponsored Kaden to soccer camp and we found one put on by the Timbers. Kaden got to play for three days, four hours each day with 100 other kids. Kaden was the youngest and so excited to play! He put on his Timber jersey and we got him shin guards and cleats and he was off. He looked like he belongs out there. Of course it was one of the hottest weeks in Portland but he braved the heat and learned new skills and played his heart out. I would figure he would be so exhausted by the end of the four hours but he wanted to keep playing when we got home. I think I was more emotional sending him off to the pitch then I was on his very first day of preschool. I enjoy seeing my kids love something so passionately. Kaden even got to meet one of the Timbers players: Diego Valeri. It was a very cool experience for him. I am very thankful he gets to do cool things like this. I guess I'm a real soccer mom now. We also got a minivan this week. Haha!! I think Addysen's first song she can fully song is going to be a Timber chant and not twinkle twinkle. Haha! 

One and Five

A late post. But better late then never. The kids had milestone birthdays this year. Addysen turned one and kaden turned five. We celebrated with dinner at Red Robin (kadens choice) for the day of his actual birthday. But celebrations lasted all month. Lots of fun outings: free ice cream, free burgers at Fudruckers, two parties. The Portland party was held at the soccer field and was a hit! We had two of our friends be the coaches and had the kids do some organized soccer drills and scrimmage. Then we had a Seattle party at The Nest. It's a daycare facility that has all sorts of fun stuff for the kids. That party was mostly family. We also had professional pictures taken at the Picture People. It was my first time as a true customer on the other side of the camera. Pictures turned out great! I can't believe these kids are growing up sooo fast before our eyes. Kaden lives and breathes soccer. Addysen is super funny and loves the out doors and birds. I am blessed to be able to call these two as my kids. Happy birthday dear ones! We love you so much! 

33

I turned 33 while in Hawaii. It was a relaxing birthday no big hurrah, just spent it with the family as they packed up to head home. Joel an I had one more night there.

As I reflect on my last year of life it was filled with transitions. New baby, good bye to close friends, sold our house, blessed with a beautiful house to live in. Quit my job at the Portland Art Museum. Got a new job at Compassion Connect. Our church is growing and exciting to see how God is molding and shaping us. It's been a stretching, beautiful, life-giving season!

As I look ahead to my 33rd year I am excited to see more stability. More of a rhythm of life. I am a steady Eddie... So, stability is a good thing for me. Haha! I'm excited to see how I can be used by God this year...how my family will grow and learn. I can't believe I will have a ONE year old and FIVE year old in a few weeks. I was going to write down 33 goals for the year or 33 something something. But I am not sure I'm up for that sort of challenge. I feel like I am learning to simplify instead of adding right now. Maybe later. Maybe I when I am a little less sleep deprived. Thank you for the masses amount of birthday wishes from near and far! It made my day extra special!

Hawaii

We got to spend a week on the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawaii. We got to celebrate a beautiful wedding and have a Tran family vacation. My parents, siblings, their spouses, and my niece were able to spend to all take time off to hang at the beach, eat good food and spend quality time together. The kids did great through all the traveling. They loved playing in the sand and water. It was no agenda, relaxing, and filling! We love good food! The weather wasn't too hot or too cold. Kinda windy though. It was just good to be with family.

Day 31: A Year in Pictures

Here's my 2012 in pictures...but how do you choose 12 pictures when I shot 12,000 pictures? So, I added some highlights... HAPPY NEW YEAR!

January: 

Rung in the New Year with my cousins! 

Missio launches into full weekly morning services.

February: 

I celebrated my 32 birthday!

These two are the LOVE of my life! 

March: 

It snowed! 

We prepared for Addysen's arrival.

We had a birthday party in Seattle for Kaden.

Joel and I saw Wicked.

April: 

Joel's birthday.

Kaden turned 4.

Addysen decided to enter the world. 

We got an offer on our house.

May:

Kris decided to move back to Hawaii.

Adjusting to life with two kids.

Threw a bridal shower for Lori in Seattle.

June:

Joel and I celebrated our eighth Anniversary.

We attended TD's pinning ceremony.

Went to lots of birthday parties. 

Went strawberry picking.

July:

Lori and Kyle got married.

Zach and Amanda came home from China.

Gracie came to visit.

Quit my job at the Portland Art Museum.

August:

Tim and Annhi got married.

Kevin and Liz got married.

Lots of trips to Seattle.

TD moved down for a few weeks. 

Went to the Oregon Coast.

Got a job at Compassion Connect

September:

Had to say good bye to Zach and Amanda.

Kaden started preschool.

Moved into our new house.

Mike and Liz moved to Seattle.

October:

Went to two pumpkin patches: one with Kaden's preschool and one with the family.

Trick or treated at Multnomah Village.

Went to Seattle to celebrate Lucy's birthday and visited Raygie after getting his new kidney!

Compassion Connect's banquet.

 November:

Hosted Thanksgiving Dinner at our new home.

Threw a baby shower for Isaiah Homola.

Lots of family time! 

December:

Celebrated Christmas in Seattle.

Had a belated Christmas in Portland with Joel's sisters'.

Had a cookie exchange at our house with our Missional Community Group.

Kaden was in a Christmas Program. 

 May you feel blessed as you reflect upon the last year and have hope for the new year! This list is not complete whatsoever. We are very thankful for how God has stretched us this year and allowed us to grow in so many different ways. Our kids are such a joy in our lives and it's crazy how fast they are growing. This year was a year of many changes... lots of friends moving away, having babies, moving houses, and job transitions. But through it all we know we are right where God wants us to be and focused on the things that matter. We are grateful for all the new people that are in our lives and all the friends and family that have journeyed with us through it all. Thank you for reading my blog the last 31 days (give or take...but i was pretty close to blogging every day). I will keep blogging but not as pressured by a challenge. :)