AUTUMN!!!!!

perspectives

on illegal dumping/littering
Cooper, age 6 1/2
One time we found a bunch of cans in our green trailer when we lived at the apartments because somebody had a party. Everybody threw their cans and bottles in there. If I was an adult right now and I went to a party, I would carry my cans in my pockets home with me and then I would throw them away.

on kidnapping
Carter, age 5, in response to me pretending that I didn't know where he went by saying that i thought somebody took him, when he ran outside to meet his dad coming home.
I didn't have my socks on. Nobody would take me without my socks.


I've temporarily suspended my cycling expeditions due to the fact that I do not know how to downshift the gears. Julie, the mom, is letting me borrow an old bike while I'm here. She hardly used it so she doesn't know the gears either, but hopefully her husband Matt does so I might be able to get the problem fixed without visiting a repair shop in case the gears are "stuck". And, needless to say with all of the inclines around here, the hardest gear is an impossible feat for my quads.
I can't wait anyway to ride again. There is a trail near the house that goes 30 miles to a lake in another town. While I would love to believe I could build up to this, 60 miles round-trip in one day is a little extreme for me, not to mention that spending the night would involve sleeping out in 40 degree weather. But I love the trail even if I can't make it to the water because it goes through rural areas past the outer limits of Spokane. The hills turn are fitted with farm houses and fields with grazing llamas and sheep. I love it all! One of the bragging points of Spokane is its accessibility to the outdoors, which is so convenient! It is mostly surrounded by rural areas for hiking, kayaking, climbing, biking, skiing, etc. And speaking of I went for a short, easy hike this weekend past the north end of town. The trail went parallel to the Little Spokane River so we saw some kayaks and canoes, plus a coyote and rafter of turkeys. I went with a new friend who is way into outdoor activities so I'm excited to have someone to share that with, especially trying new things like snowshoeing, I hope!!
Also not far is Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. The town is about 35 miles West. I went swimming in the lake a few weeks ago for a birthday gathering. It was so clear and cold like a spring because of the snow feed from the mountains. Who knew anything was in Idaho besides potatoes? ehem, everyone should know. Afterall, the state's license plate reads Scenic Idaho.


I've found my home church it's called Vintage Faith Community -click the name to go to their site. I didn't entirely choose this church on my own. Before attending any churches, I was specific with God in asking him to confirm which I should join, and of course my prayer was answered. So... I like that this place is like a house church of sorts. One of their priorities is to branch into other communities by breaking-off and moving to different neighborhoods throughout Spokane. Also cool is the fact that I am challenged by the teaching because it's more of a dialogue and sometimes even small group discussion than a lecture or sermon that is "preached".

Something I've learned regarding my last entry is that the absence of stop signs and yield signs is not an attempt by the DOT to save on metal and printing costs. This is simply "uncontrolled traffic". See, there are arterial roadsigns that route drivers to roads with "controlled traffic", meaning there are traffic lights, signs, etc. And in turn meaning you would never approach an intersection lacking traffic controll with parked cars lining the streets, timidly inching across in hopes that you don't mistake a parked car for one in motion. So if you're the type to make incomplete, rolling stops at stop signs, well this is the solution: do not take the Arterials in Spokane, maybe even the whole state of Washington, I don't know yet.