Coming to an end

I paid our last rent check yesterday...I wish I would have taken a picture. I can't tell you how relieved I am to have that done. Sorry Dennis and Abby, and I think Pamela too, and whoever else is voting for "Stay put in DC" on our poll...this area is just too stinking expensive!

The other exciting news is that we are actually packing now. I've managed to get some boxes together, and Tom pulled some from the garbage the other day, and we're filling them now. I did the China cabinet today and it's nice to be really moving on it. I've just looked at the calendar and we leave in 3 weeks from tomorrow! Exciting but anxiety rasising, as we have a LOT to get done.

Tom has one night class left tomorrow which is awesome. We are soooo looking forward to this being done. After years and years and years of school, it is finally ending. It'll be nice to have evenings together and I'm happy Tom can take a rest from papers and exams and forced reading. He's definitely excited about reading books that he really wants to and having it all behind him. He has done amazingly well through it all, not too stressed, but I know it is a huge relief for him. He should also be graduating with Honors, which is pretty impressive. He's in the middle of a few papers this weekend, but is currently taking a break to play old school Mario3 on the Nintendo. He's trying to conquer all the worlds with no warping which is obviously a big feat. We're celebrating classes being done tomorrow by going to Fuddrucker's. Tom seems to think he can manage the 1 lb. burger...he failed before. I'll definitely update the results.

Plans coming together

Well, I've got a job in Oregon!!! I have taken a position in Labor & Deliery at Willamette Falls Hospital in Oregon City. It's through a nursing travel agency, where they place you in a temporary position for 8-13 weeks, depending on what you're available. It's been fantastic though, I started the application on Thursday and by Tuesday I had already had 2 phone interviews and an offer letter. I'll be working nights, which I'm not crazy about, but I know for 11 weeks I'll be able to manage. I'm just so excited to have a job before I even arrive and to be in Labor and Delivery again! So my start date is May 30th and I'll for sure be in Oregon for the following 11 weeks. After that...well, we haven't gotten that far yet but are working on it! Can't wait to get to Oregon!

Another run

We did the GW Parkway Classic 10 mile run this morning, bright and early. It was an 8:00 start, but the nice thing was that we were done and home by 10:15! Tom decided to run with me, after having just finished Boston on Monday, I think that was a good choice. It was a lovely day for it, no rain or anything...just nice and cool and perfect weather. A bit tougher that I thought it would be, as everyone said it was going to be all downhill, but either way, it was nice and I'm done! It was the first time running a race with Tom, and apart from him occasionally humming songs while I was huffing away (which he was then banned from doing), it was nice to have the company. That's it for races for awhile, thank goodness! Oh yah, the race was sponsered by BAE Systems, which is where Tom is doing and internship, so we got to be a part of "Team BAE" and wear the red shirts.

Photos

All streched out with my cat Colin. He loves to lay like this...weird cat.

Our first BBQ of the season...in the rain no less. Oh well, still nice to have one. Summer will be here before we know it, filled with endless BBQ's at Grandma's house! Can't wait!

And finally...the coveted Boston Marathon jacket. Fits perfectly and is a new favorite for Tom! And look how long his hair is getting!

Nest building

So it's Springtime, time for little birds to build nests and have babies. The problem is that the birds love to make nests in our bikes. Even with the cats continually on the patio, they have somehow managed to make these things. The first nest was in Tom's bike, which we got rid of (the nest, that is). Not to be easily distracted from their task, this week I found one in my bike. Oh well, we'll see how long until we have chirping baby birds...I know the cats will love that!

Nearly ready

The cats' collars arrived this week. We ordered collars that have their names on them and my parent's phone number in case they go missing in Oregon. They've taken to them fairly well, and are almost ready to fly now.

Almost done in Guatemala

My mom is on her last few days in Guatemala. She recently went to a little village nearby and got to play with the local kids...she somehow got involved with some funny Taiwanese travel channel filming. Anyhow, she had lots of fun.

Playing with the kids


Graduation day for her on her last day of school...here she is with her teacher, Merle.

Boston photos

All ready before the race...Union Jack will make him run and make him easy to recognize!


The one time I saw him at mile 16.8, he's in the middle and small in this photo, I just got excited and started taking pictures

He made a bee-line straight over to me with a big smile and I got a hug and a kiss before he kept running. I licked my lips after and realized they were really salty...and I hadn't eaten any pretzels, mmmm, sweat! It was great to see him though and cheer him on. Too many people were at the finish line to see him, so this is it for photos, sorry!

Boston

He did it! Tom finished Boston Marathon today in 3:27. He is pretty tired and sore, but pleased with his run and very happy to be done! He's already had a bath and is ready to eat some 'really unhealthy' things to make up for running through lunchtime. He said it was an awesome race with excellent support from the spectators the whole race. I only got to see him once at mile 17, so it wasn't my favorite race to watch, but great a great run for Tom. I'm having some trouble loading my photos, but will sort it out hopefully soon and post them.

Easter Baby

Congratulations to Brandon and Alison Gentry on their new little man, Jackson (their link is to the right for their blog). I just talked to Brandon and they sound like they're doing really well and loving their new little boy.

Name game

Just a warning for anyone looking up Tom on race day. Also registered for the Boston Marathon are:
Thomas Mather
Timothy Mather
William Mathers

Tom is registered as Tom Mather, #4993

Hope that helps.

Jes :)

Boston Bound

Because Tom is so fast, we are heading to Boston this weekend for the Boston Marathon. He qualified with his last fast run at National Marathon and found out last week he was still able to sign up for Boston. Anyhow, if anyone is interested, you'll be able to track him during his run. Go to the Boston Mararathon website on Monday the 17th, search for him by name (Tom Mather) or number (4993) and I think you should be able to watch his time as he passes the 10K, half marathon, and 30K checkpoints, and of course the finish. The whole website front page will change on race day and walk you through the process. It starts on Monday, yes Monday the 17th at 12:00 noon. Funny date and time, but it is the Boston Marathon. So we should have a fun weekend away, we got an amazing hotel which I am so very excited about! And you can be sure that photos will be on her as soon as I have them!

Away we go...

It's official. I've bought plane tickets for myself and two small cats. I'll be flying the little ones to Oregon on May 11th and staying through the 15th, when I'll return to DC for a few days. I'm more nervous than ever to take them on the plane, as they haven't even been outside more than a trip to the vet and back. I just have to focus on it being for their good and think about all the trees they'll get to climb and birds they can chase at my parent's house. Tom graduates with a Master's in Security Studies on May 19th (Friday) and then after we get all packed up, we'll be driving back to Oregon. As for plans after that, they continue to change and grow daily, as we are provided with more information and ideas. In the meantime, we trust in God's guidance and assurance that all things work together for good and that wherever we end up, however we end up, with whoever we end up, it will be for the best. Whatever happens, we anticipate the next few months of planning and seeing where the future leads.

Thriving in Guatemala

My mom continues on in Guatemala, doing really well and studying hard. She hiked Pacaya last weekend, a volcano that is still active. This is the one that Tom and I hiked and it blew up and they evacuated the city, etc. Glad to see my mom made it through safely, although she had to hike to the tippey-top and said it was a really tough hike!

Here's mom at the hospital with her "favorite" kid, even though we were always told not to have favorites! She was invited special by the nurses to come to one of the children's birthday parties on Saturday and had lots of fun. She even says she is starting to get possessive of the kids when other people come in!