Life At Korthuis Manor

Life At Korthuis Manor
Captain Randy and his First Mate!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

It was a good trip!

Of course it was................it ALWAYS is!

There was snacking........................
There was time spent with Hailey........................
There was birthday coffee while sitting outside in the beautiful sunshine (I DO love Boise weather!!)
There was a fabulous birthday present!  As only a BFF can do, she nailed it!  A new cookbook, cute little wire pumpkin/gourd place card holders, and candy corn! (Side note - a bad pic of me - but the only one I had with the present)
We pulled out the ol' sewing machine and made Hailey a Raggedy Ann costume.  I do enjoy sewing when I have time!
Almost done...........................a "try on" to mark the hem.
Saturday night I got to go to BSU stadium and watch the rest of the Marching Band competition Spencer was in.  Very cool.  The BSU marching band performed too - AWESOME!

We relaxed a lot!  Time spent with my friends is always special.  Thanks Brian, Judy, Spencer and Hailey!  You are all the best hosts!!

Friday, October 22, 2010

6 months ago...............

 Tomorrow it will have been 6 months since we got the dreaded phone call that Nathan had been in a motorcycle accident.
 Every now and then something will bring a memory from that time to the forefront of my brain and I am overwhelmed.  For those of you who ask how Nathan is doing..............at times I can answer with joy and a positive attitude....................and other times we are struggling here and I am emotional.  I am sorry if you are one of the ones that got the latter of the moods. I try not to be a downer, but some days  - I am.

There is NO denying that we were given miracle after miracle!  Nathan is doing well.  Especially considering that he is 2 months out from his most major surgery.  He is bending in all the right places, gaining weight (he currently weighs the most he has since the accident), down to PT once a week and working out at Homestead every day.

He still has decisions to make about his future, so pray for him and us, as we help him consider the options.

He has started pre-school!  Last Friday he volunteered in Ethan's (the cartoon watching buddy) class.
 The teachers and kids LOVED him and want him to come on a regular basis!

The picture at the top was taken a week ago - I'm hoping to get more pictures this weekend as we are having lunch with Randy's family on Sunday - I was hoping to have the family over for the 6 month anniversary, but I have been gone and am going to be gone again until Sat. evening, so when Randy's mom called to say she was having lunch I told her we would celebrate there!

THANK YOU for your faithfulness as friends, blog readers, prayer warriors, etc.  We have been strengthened by you and are blessed to have walked this journey with you.  We continue to covet your prayers!

Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you............

GOD IS GOOD!

Monday, October 11, 2010

A scrumptious appetizer.....................

A while back my friend Julie made an appetizer for me!  Absolutely marvelous, scrumptious, delicious (notice how all those good sounding words end in ous?  I'm just sayin'). 

Tonight I had a few girlfriends for dinner and I decided to make this appy..........
Scrumptious Appetizer
(honestly, my friend didn't write down a name!!)
1 sheet Puff Pastry
2 onions, sliced thin
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1 T. Brown Sugar
1 T. Balsamic Vinegar
Brie Cheese
Blue Cheese crumbles
Remove Puff Pastry from freezer and let sit 30 min.
  Add oil to large skillet and cook onions until caramelized, then add brown sugar and balsamic vinegar. Cook about 10 min.

Slice Puff Pastry into 3 sections (follow the lines in the dough that are there from being folded).  Place on parchment paper or silpat on cookie sheet.  Put onion mixture directly on puff pastry. Crumble blue cheese on top of onions and place slices of brie cheese without the rind.

Bake at 425 degrees for 15 min.  ENJOY!!  This one is a dazzler!!

Saturday, October 9, 2010

1 week.....................

1 week from today I am leaving here..............to spend time with.....................
Our dear friends Brian and Judy  

Spencer, one of my favorite teenagers!

Hailey, whom I adore!
This will be my suite (minus the man)  
I plan on doing a lot of this.....................................
and this..........................
It's been almost 6 months since Nathan's accident, and I am so ready for a breather!  I can't wait!  When I go spend time with Judy (& family) I always come back refreshed (and a few pounds heavier! - hey what can I say - some friends are just foodie friends)!

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Misc. updates

1.  Nathan is not going to go to Kona on Nov. 3rd.  He's not physically ready, it's only been 7 weeks since his most major surgery and he needs to get stronger.  He is going to Homestead daily, is off pain meds, and is BENDING in all the right places.  Now, he just needs to GAIN weight!  Pray for him as he is trying to figure out what life is going to look like in the future and what God has for him.
 I know you all need to see a more recent pic of him - I'll work on it!

2.  Please pray for work for Randy, he has a few little jobs lined up, but nothing more than a few days.  God is GOOD and we've lacked for NOTHING, and we don't worry because God has ALWAYS provided - but we are human and work would be nice.
 Meanwhile, he's "hunting and providing" - salmon anyone!

3.  As I was walking through the living room on Tues. AM I said outloud "Lord, just sell my house".  4 hours later our realtor called and someone wanted to look at the house on Wed.  They spent over 1 hour here, but we are waiting for more info.  Not thinking it will sell, but isn't God's timing amazing - just a reminder again to me that day that He listens to me and HE is in control.
 4.  Brandon called and said he studied 6 hours for a Quantum Physics exam only to discover that 6 hours wasn't quite enough :-(!  He's loving being back and plugged in at college - I miss him - a ton!!
5.  Emily is cheering her way through the fall and we are having fun watching her.  She reminded me on Oct 4th that in 6 months she could get her license - ya - thanks Em! 
The verse I flipped this morning by my sink-

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; HIS mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; GREAT is your FAITHFULNESS.
Lamentations 3:22-23

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Vote for Grandiflora!

Most of you know that I work at Grandiflora Home and Garden in Lynden............


...........and right now, we're in 1st place for The Best of Western Washington on King 5!  We need to make sure that we keep getting votes to KEEP us in 1st place as we get down to the last few days of voting (voting ends Oct 10th).

So, if you are willing to go vote for Grandiflora just click on this link:
Vote for Grandiflora here...........

If you've never been to Grandiflora, or if it's been a while, come in and see our awesome fall displays!  Not only is it an awesome place to shop, it's an awesome place to work!  I count it a blessing to be employed by these girls! For the last 5 years I have laughed with, prayed with, worked with, and been blessed by being not only their employee but their friend!  Through Nathan's accident, they have been flexible and understanding and have allowed me to be a mom first!
Trish and Jan see things so cleary!!
Kim, Trisha, me and LaVon ...........bringing home the goodies!
Sometimes Trisha just needs to relax....................:-)
 Sorry Girls, you know I've been saving these pictures for just the right time to use them!!!  Trust me, there were more I could have used :-)

I will keep you posted if we win..............and thanks for voting!!

Friday, October 1, 2010

A foggy morning

Saturday afternoon Randy, Max and I loaded up on the boat and headed for Friday Harbor...........................bye bye Bellingham!
We arrived in beautiful Friday Harbor and saw Mt. Baker trying to peak around the clouds............................         
 It was a gorgeous afternoon and evening.................................
We walked into town for a wonderful dinner.  I always order the Chicken Gorgonzola salad with barbeque balsamic dressing, I need to figure out how to make this!!  On our way back to town we were escorted by this.................
We woke up to this.........................
Walked into town for breakfast and came back to this! Now you see it.............now you don't!  It was crazy!

 We drank coffee and kept waiting for the fog to lift - it didn't.  Read books, napped,................still...............FOG! Finally we decided to go because it was clearing in spots.  My confident captain trusted his radar and drove through thick banks of fog.  The water was smooth and I sat and read my book.  At times I would look up and feel claustrophobic and stick my nose right back into my book.  I'm so glad HE knows what he's doing.  We arrived safely back into Squalicum harbor without any issues!  The weekend was relaxing - this is the first time we've spent the night on the boat all summer - and technically it was fall!