Midnight at Mary's Peak

Scotty has been working OVERTIME in preparation for our trip, which means I am left with lots of alone time. If you know me at all, you know I suck at being alone. Lucky for me, I married into an AWESOME family...enter cousin, Caleb. Caleb doesn't like being alone either, so between the two of us, we try to stay out of as much trouble as possible.

Case in point, a couple nights ago:

Caleb said "Crystal?"

and I said "Caleb?"

..."Let's go do something"

Okay what do you want to do?

Let's go to Mary's Peak

Right now? It's midnight.

I know, I've never been, and I want to see the stars.

So we went, we looked at the stars, we sang Bon Jovi, Living on a Prayer and we were cold, but it was worth it.

Babies EVERYWHERE!!!

One of Crystal's good friends from high school, Amanda, is having a baby soon. Amanda is the one in the middle, I know, it's hard to tell she is 8 months prego. She is due at the begining of Nov. and I am super sad that I will not be able to meet the baby until she is almost 1! Amanda will do great during delivery and will make a fabulous mom.

Here is the baby shower crew, all girls from high school days at East Linn Christian Academy. This is Angie, Crystal's physical therapist friend. She works up at the Salem Hospital (Kurtis maybe you know her).

Okay, ladies, this is my attempt at being craftsy. I made Amanda a baby ring sling (that's really what they call them) from fabric from Andando. It was really cool giving Amanda the gift because they are super supportive of the whole Senegal thing. When one of the ladies asked where I got Senegaleze (sp?) fabric I responded " oh, from this great fair trade store in Corvallis", I then promptly hung my head because I realized how much the hippy I sounded at the moment. "Yeah, fair trade, oh and look at my dreadlocks. I think I will stop shaving my legs soon." It was bound to happen sooner or later. But in all seriousness, it was a great night to connect with friends I have seriously not seen in 8 years.

Going Away Party

Leaving the country for a year going away party!

Sat. Oct 4th.

Noon-ish?

Potluck

Walnut Barn

Jenn and Jenna are throwing us a literal going away party. We will be leaving directly from the party to catch our flight in Portland. We will probably leave the party at 4 or 5p. So come hang out and say your final goodbye (or good riddance).

Check with Jenn and/or Jenna for details...I know nothing.

8 years ago...not today.

So I kind of missed the timing on this one, but it's still fun:

8 years and 12 days ago...

...Scotty asked me to be his girlfriend....and the rest is history.

Malaria pills anyone?

We got our malaria pills today (Thanks Tom for counting them, TWICE). They came in the BIGGEST pill containers I have ever seen. We each got enough to last the whole year that equates to 720 pills total! Kudos to Tom for counting over 1400 pills. I don't use medication, so to have this large of a prescription is pretty funny to me.

Oh, and NO, I am not sharing my stash, get your own.

Last climbing trip of the year.

Morning faces. This is what we look like waking up while camping/climbing...happy.
Baby Josh is climbing and Crystal is belaying.
Wubby.
My hot husband, Scotty.
Girl time.

Lauren Hurt Photography

I forgot to thank Lauren for the below photos. Isn't she amazing?

Oh, and hey! Who's having the next anniversary party? What?!?!?

Anniversary Party photos

Other Oregonian (and Norwegian) in Africa

Introducing another blog to add to the blog community. Julia and Viggo and Daniel.

Julia (Schnake) is from Philomath, Viggo is from...Norway, somewhere.

But they and their little boy Daniel are now in Tanzania, East Africa, doing Bible translation with Wycliff, I believe. So you have:

Viggo and Julia in Tanzania

Baby Dorr in Ethiopia (north of Tanzania)

And soon -to-be Scotty and Crystal in Senegal (west of Ethiopia between Guinea and Mauritania)

Check 'em out (under Viggo and Julia on the right), they're pretty cool.

phone update

Update: Thanks Casey and Lauren for the phone..the rest of you, keep those phones available...you know Crystal.

Old cell phone?

If anyone has an old Verizon cell phone that Crystal could use until we leave for Senegal, that would be greatly appreciated. Her old phone has died, and the two that Jenn has let her use have also died, of no fault of her own (ie. Crystal didn't break them). Thanks for trying Jenn.





So...if you have your old crappy, worn out phone from your last upgrade and wouldn't mind letting Crystal use it, give her a ring 541-231-7129. Please note: she will probably have to call you back from a land line, since she can receive calls but you cannot hear her speak.

Downtown Corvallis Wine Walk

Rhapsody in the Vineyard

Saturday, Sept 6th 4-7

Cost: $5 (includes suvenier glass and ID bracelet)

Free drinks for DD

I have always wanted to go to this. Andando is hosting a taste, so I think we should get a group together after the Beaver football game and do the Wine Walk.

Here is the link for more info: http://www.downtowncorvallis.org/promotions/

Here is the link for the map: http://www.downtowncorvallis.org/promotions/walk98.pdf

Also, we can buy our glass and ID bracelet at any of the following locations. Any suggestions on where we should start/meet up? My vote is Sibling Revelry.

• Brown House *
  Spindrift Cellars
  462 SW Madison Avenue

• Camellia *
  Illahe Vineyards & Winery
  221 NW 2nd Street

• Footwise *
  Noble Estate Vineyard
  301 SW Madison Avenue

• The Inkwell Home Store*
  Cardwell Hill Winery
  234 SW 3rd Street

• Shoetini’s *
  Emerson Vineyards
  501 SW 2nd Street

• Sibling Revelry *
  Hip Chicks do Wine
  145 NW 2nd Street

Labor day weekend

Four years ago Scotty and I were asked to come help a Newburg youth group put on a rock climbing trip in Central Oregon. Each year they asked us back and each year our responsibilities grew. Then two years ago we roped Ben into it by adding rafting.

This last weekend marks the 5th trip we've done with the youth group. We have grown really fond of the kids and leaders, and to be honest it was a little sad when we had to tell them we wouldn't be able to lead their trip next year. Here are just a FEW pictures from the rafting portion of the trip. River-Guide-Scotty is HOT.

Scotty and Ben each led a boat, I was the official photographer, man I love this waterproof camera. There is a part of the river where you can jump in and float the rollers down.

First, you raft it.

Then you float it.

Things We'll Miss

Joei, our only child.
Doxology
Snow
Beaver gamesHanging out with little people
Having a reason to dress up