How We Never Met

Funny story. Jordan and I don't remember meeting each other. Obviously we know we did, but we just have no clue when or how. Here's what we do know.

After graduating high school, we both headed up to Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C. We were in the same friend group but he was dating someone and I was dating someone, and you know how that goes. It wasn't until 2 1/2 years later that we ended up together. We had both transferred schools, I ended up back in Spokane and he ended up in Bellingham. One weekend, Jordan and three of our other friends came down to visit me. After that trip we started the craziness of long-distance dating. Through AOL Instant Messenger (yup, that's how old we are) and phone calls that lasted for hours, we decided to "give it a shot" as Jordan suggested.

Our first official date was a group camping trip where I was welcomed with flowers and some camping essentials. We had been really good friends and it was pretty nerve-racking to start down the whole relationship path, but we both knew we had to go for it. Long distance isn't easy, I'm not going to lie. But for the right person, its totally worth it. Since you don't have the actual face to face interaction, it really forces you to work on good communication right from the start. Bellingham and Spokane were about 5 1/2 hours apart so we would take turns making the drive to one place or the other to see each other.

After 7 months of weekends together and weeks apart (and a couple of speeding tickets), Jordan proposed on the boardwalk in Bellingham on January 1, 2006. My parents came up the next morning and we celebrated at our favorite local breakfast spot and took the usual newly engaged pictures with the ring front and center. So much fun. I didn't know exactly when he was going to propose but it wasn't exactly a surprise either so I had gotten a manicure just for the occasion. Perfect to show off my new bling.

We were married that July on literally the hottest day of the summer, the temperature coming in at 108 degrees. That was a pretty crazy day, but I will save that for another post. Let's just say one car accident and one car breakdown later we were officially car-less but hey, we were getting married. And it was still one fantastic day.

I always knew Jordan was a special guy and that some girl would be super lucky to end up with him. I'm so glad it was me.

House to House

4 years ago, me and Jordan were on our very first house hunt. I was pregnant with Lu and we were looking to find the perfect spot to bring our baby girl home to. We searched high and low and finally came across this little gem out in Southeast Portland. This was our first house. A total turn-key, which Jordan didn't love, but I was thrilled about since we were about to become first time parents. Measuring in at about 600-something square feet upstairs with an unfinished cement basement downstairs, it was cozy, but we loved it.

I can sill remember thinking, is this real life? Are we seriously old enough to be doing this? Somehow when you're younger looking at life ahead of you, you're always waiting for that next big moment, and then when you get there, you kind of can't believe it. This was totally one of those moments. 

Thanks to the Obama tax credit, things were looking good. The catch with that credit is that you had to stay put for 3 years otherwise you had to pay it back. We were planning on making Southeast our home but things just didn't turn out that way. Life just kept pulling us back to Lake Oswego. So after two summers of the temperature almost hitting 100 degrees INSIDE the house (luckily we had a couple window air conditioners), we were more than ready to move on. That plus I was pregnant with Jacksen and we just needed more space! Once that three year mark came around, we were good to go!

So last spring it was on to house hunt number 2! With the help of Jordan's Grandpa Jack (Jacksen is named after him), we were able to zero in on the Lake Oswego area. Perfect spot for us. After a few failed offers, we ended up looking at a foreclosure. After a bit of a bidding war we got it! It was definitely a fixer but (with lots of help from my Dad and others) we were up to the task. Well not really me, but definitely Jordan. I will do another post on the interior remodel but for now, here is the most recent change we have made! 

Loving my new orange door. Even talked Jordan into painting the inside of the door orange too. We are so excited to be living here, closer to family and most of our friends...miss you Provenzolas.
Our sweet Southeast house was great then, but this house is better for now.

Young Life

For the past five years I have been a Young Life leader in Lake Oswego. To say it has been an amazing five years doesn't even begin to do it justice. To say it has changed my life is a little closer. The mission of Young Life is to meet high school kids where they're at and walk alongside them in their journey to faith. I had the chance to lead two groups of girls through parts of their high school experience.

I can still remember meeting that first group of girls for the very first time. My very first official leader experience. I was so nervous and afraid they would think I was too old or super boring. But to my surprise, they didn't, or if they did they were super nice about it. And I kept going back, and they kept coming back. The thing about being a Young Life leader is that you are investing your life into the lives of these high schoolers and at some point you realize it goes both ways. That they are so important to your life too. I can remember telling the girls I was pregnant with Lu. I can remember celebrating the wedding of my good friend and co-leader with them. We shared life.

Some of my favorite memories with these girls were up at Malibu. Crazy amazing goofiness. Camp is an amazing place. I feel like life at camp is exactly what we were created for and what it will be again someday. Time together with each other and time to grow in faith. There's a song I hear on the radio by Brandon Heath and it instantly takes me back to this week of camp.

Being able to share this experience with Jordan is something that made it even more special. While I was leading girls, he was leading guys and there's something so special about serving together. 

I can remember saying goodbye to these girls as they headed off to college and feeling almost like a Mom saying goodbye to my own kiddos. I was so excited for what they were going to do but so sad to see them go. These girls took hold of my heart and I miss them dearly.

That next Fall, I started with another group of amazing girls. I can remember our first meeting too. I remember that same nervousness. Walking up to Papa Haydn's and hoping that this already formed group would be happy to have me. And they were, and the feeling was totally mutual.

I have loved these past two years with them. Pumpkin patch trips, yummy dinners out, and bible studies at Starbucks. Now these girls are ready to head off to college. And I can't believe its that time. How did I get so blessed to know this amazing group of girls.  I have seen God do amazing things in their lives and I know that He isn't finished with them yet. And neither am I.

These past five years with Young Life has taken me from a 25 year old young married to an almost 30 year old mother of two. So much has happened and so much has changed and I have had the privilege of sharing my life with these two groups of amazing girls. When I think about Lu and Jacksen and pray for their futures, I hope that they have someone who keeps showing up for them. Who meets them where they are at. I know it won't always be me but my hope is that it will be someone who loves Jesus and uses that love to love them too.

Lake Oswego Young Life has given us an amazing community of friends. People who love us and love our kids and who we can share our lives with. This coming year we won't be leading anymore and I'm super sad about that, but I know its the right time to change things up for our family. Young Life's tag line, is "You were made for this." And I totally believe it.

Confession

Confession. I've never really been into working out. Running for fun just never really appealed to me. As time has gone on and babies have been born, I've noticed more and more of my friends making it a priority. Then after Jacksen was born, I got some blood drawn and my cholesterol came back a bit on the high side. Not sure if it was just from the pregnancy or what but either way I was definitely not ok with that and wanted to make a change. So I made some easy changes to my diet and then started thinking that I maybe needed to get my exercise on. A friend of mine told me about a class she had started going to called Stroller Strides and it sounded fun so I signed up for a free class. Problem. I had a no double jogging stroller. Oops. So i quickly scoured craigslist and found a used Phil & Ted's. Sidenote, the Bob Duallie seems to be the crown jewel of double joggers, but I have been really happy with the Phil & Ted's flexibility, especially with the age gap between my kiddos. Its definitely an option worth looking into. Anyway, I went to the class and I loved it. Gasp. No one was more surprised then me. It felt so good to get my body moving and to be doing something healthy. So after looking over the budget, Jordan gave me the green light to sign up. Its been a few months now and it has been awesome. Being in a group setting really helps me push myself and the fact that I'm paying for it gives me even more accountability. Its a great work out that combines tons of cardio with exercise band routines. Totally recommend it. The cool thing is that your kiddos stay in the strollers so they get the chance to be right there in the action. Truth, Jacksen isn't always the biggest fan and Lu is typically rocking her Monsters Inc. headphones and iTouch but still, I love that my kids see me making fitness a priority. They also see me eating donuts. Like this morning while we were driving to Stroller Strides. But hey, I earned it. Or at least I was about to. Seriously though, I'm so happy I started exercising. I even signed up for my first 5K, the Color Run. Totally turning over a new leaf I think and so far, so good!

The First

First there was me.

Then there was him.

7 years ago we officially became us.

 
Life was good.

Almost 4 years ago she was born and it got even better.

6 months ago, we had him, and life is the best its ever been.

We are a new us.

And this is our story.

This is about who we are, what we do, and the things we love.

I'm Kelli. A stay at home Mom of two kiddos. I am hopeless in the kitchen. Luckily, my husband isn't. He cooks, I clean, and it works for us. I would love to be craftier. I can do little things here and there but my pinterest success list is pretty limited. My husband Jordan is a welder and one fantastic Dad. Lucy is nearly 4 and a sweet and feisty combo of fun. Jacksen just hit 6 months and is a happy little guy. I want to be the kind of Mom they can be proud of. Believe me, I'm trying! Oh and then there's our Bassett-Beagle Hound dog Charlie.  We adopted him a few years back. He is one low-key guy but a sneaky escape artist. Day to day, we live a normal life. Parks, libraries, friends, movies…pretty much the usual suspects.  My husband and I have been Young Life leaders for the past 5 years and that has truly shaped what we do. And more then that, it became a part of who we are. This year will be different with two small kiddos and taking a step back. We will miss it for sure, but hope to be there again someday. We are a family who loves each other and loves Jesus. We love the people God has given us the best we can, but there is always room for more. I've tried the blogging thing before and it was pretty much a giant fail, but this time, I'm feeling hopeful! I want a place to share our lives with people. And a place where we can remember. So this is it!