Everybody Eats Bugs....Sometimes

We have returned from our mission trip successfully. It was an interesting week but at the end of the day lessons were learned and Christ was encountered. It was hard but a very beautiful week in the end.

Here are two pictures from our time in Nevada with Chi. His first mission trip appears to have been relatively successful. Don't you think?




We are now in the midst of packing. It's awful! But we have had some good help. Jeff's parents come Saturday to help. Their arrival is anticipated and their help is welcomed!

I have to say that leaving here is harder than I ever thought. I am going to miss a lot of these people. But more on that later. I am still formulating my sappy thoughts.

Life Update

Here we are, July 7. It's been a wild past few weeks!

The weekend before last we did our last fundraiser with the the youth. Black Tie Bunko. It's always a hoot. Following the fundraiser, Jeff preached. Amazing that he could pull it off and lead worship that morning with only 30 minutes of sleep the night before. I have to say, I am amazed by him!

Last weekend, we had some 4th of July fun.



We had a great time with friends on the 4th.

However, if I do say so myself the highlight of my weekend was getting a chance to hang out with just Jeff for the first time since Chi was born. It was much needed time! We not only got to go on a date and have dinner but also got to go ocean kayaking Saturday morning for a few hours. It was a blast!





We are now in the midst of packing for the youth mission trip to McDermitt Nevada. We leave on Saturday and return the following. I have my data colloqium for my dissertation the following Thursday. Jeff's parents come Saturday the 27th and we move July 31. So, we also are packing (very slowly) our apartment and preparing for our move to Spokane.

I have been asked several times how I am feeling about moving. I have to say, that I have always thought I'd be ready to go and that leaving would actually be fairly easy. However, I have come to discover it is actually really hard! I am sad to be leaving the youth we've worked with. I'm sad to be leaving some of the families that I have grown to love and consider dear friends. I am unsure of life in Spokane. I am so aware that in many ways we are starting over there as well. We have some fabulous people that we love there but lacking close friends as they have all moved to other corners of the world. Honestly, we don't even know who is there anymore. I guess, what I am realizng is that we just don't know what life will look like in Spokane, and I guess, perhaps that makes me somewhat apprehensive? Who knows. I believe the change is going to be a good one, hard at times, but good. We are looking forward to time with family and for Chi to grow up in the midst of that community of people. Basically, what I am realzing is that it is bittersweet to be leaving this community.

3 Months Old

Rocking the paci & the shades and lovin it!

Graduation & Fathers Day

Another busy weekend has come and gone. Last weekend was a weekend of celebrations!

Jeff graduated with his master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy! We are so excited for him to be done with one degree. Here are some pics from graduation. As you can see Chi managed to make it through the entire event the way that of us wish we could.





After graduation we got to hang out with some of our greatest friends. Brian & Tiffany were here visiting family and spent the evening with us. We had a marvelous picnic followed by a bit of arts and crafts. We each decorated little cars and started to create a map for a fundraiser for the youth mission trip to Nevada. It was so great to be with them. We wish they lived closer!




Sunday, we celebrated Jeff's first Father's Day. It was a relaxing day for everybody. Our friend Shannon came down to visit after running the Disneyland Triathalon. We enjoyed time wih her as we always do! She so kindly used her creative talents to help us with our fundraising project. (Photo's to come) She also got some time with Chi.

Growing Boy & Life Update

Chi is growing fast! It's fun to watch his little developments and to look back through his pictures to see how fast he has and is growing.



We have had a couple of very busy weekends! Two weekends ago, Kelli Friedlander and Carissa Page came to visit. It was so good to spend a bit of time with both of them. Time with them is special to me! There is something special about spending time with people who have shared so much of life with you. We have been friends for over a decade, shared ups and downs, moves, marriage, and now kids. I wish I had more time with them!

Last weekend Leisel Bogan came down. Again, another special friend. She brought her dog Tweak and we had a late night doggy boot camp. Tweak is a bit out of control and even scared Denali. It was a fabulous time! Time with Leis was also fabulous! It's fun to be with someone who just gets you. I'll miss her when we move north.




This weekend is Jeff's gradution. Tiffany and Brian Broaddus are coming to vist on Saturday. Shannon Roark and Susan & Jordo may come Sunday. It's Jeff's first fathers day.

Other happenings: my classes end in two weeks! my dissertation is about to be defended! We have started packing to move and we hit the road for Spokane on
July 31st (6 1/2 weeks).

Week 8

We had a great weekend last weekend with Jeff's parents. A great lunch up at a winery in Temecula. Chi also got his first shots...handled them like a champ. He is weighing in at 8 weeks at 14 pounds and is 24 inches long. Growing boy! Two old friends also visited in the last few days. It is so nice to be with people who know you well! It reminds me how much I miss them!

Bathtime Mohawk

Everybody needs a bathtime mohawk once in a while!

Girls I love

For the last several years I have had the opportunity to walk alongside these girls. They are very special to me. For the last year we joined together and worked through a class to prepare them for college. Last weekend we went on retreat as the capstone for the year. It was bittersweet to be with them. They have become amazing women of Christ. Each of them are beautiful and strong in character - they have blessed me and impacted me. I am thankful for each of them!

Week 6 & 7 and Our Little Family

Growing Boy!!!

Week 4 & 5

Week 3

We are starting to find a bit of a stride. Tomorrow Jeff gos in for surgery on his akilles. Thankfully Nancy Crotty has come to help us! Here are some pics from week 3.

Pretty cute...

Two Weeks

Today marks two weeks of life for Malachi. It's been a very full, rather exhausting two weeks - but all worth it and wonderful! Here's a brief summary of our life's little adventures.

1. Malachi comes home from the hospital
2. Boomba & Grandma Kubiak (name TBA?) visit
3. Dog comes home from Camp Steele (our friends)
4. We survive week 1 - lots of diapers, feedings, and little sleep!
5. Aunty Garrett and Uncle Andy come to visit
6. Jeff ruptures his akiles (spelling?) tendon and we prepare for the possibility of surgery in the coming weeks


Today marks 14 days of life....what will happen next?

Malachi John

As many of you know, our son, Malachi John Crotty arrived on Monday morning at 5:13 am. The delivery went very well. He weighed 7 pounds 14 ounces. We're back at home and doing well. Tired but doing well. Malachi has a bit of jaundice that we are praying clears up quickly and without much intervention. Other than that...all is well!

Becoming Inpatient

Yesterday we went to the doctor, again he reported that it could be anytime that labor starts and our son is born. They said that last week...and if I make it to Wednesday they'll probably say it again. I am beginning to find the phrase annoying.

We have taken our "how to deliver a baby class" and "how to take care of a baby class" and now we wait. Now, waiting is fine as I'm not anxious about delivery but what I am hating about waiting is that I feel a bit stuck. I have been working on papers and things but am bored by them and sick of just being at home. I think I feel unproductive.

Anyhoo...thats the update...anytime...anytime...anytime

Coming soon...

Doctors report today said that we should expect Malachi's arrival in the next two weeks...can't believe it!

Senior-itis? Procrastination? Pregnancy?

As you can see on my blog I am nearing the end of pregnancy. I am also nearing the end of my doctoral degree. I have a few lists of things I really need to do before the baby comes in order to finish my degree. However, I also find myself lacking any motivation to really do anything. Then I have a list of things I need to do before the baby comes, wash clothes, put sheets on the crib, etc. I keep thinking that "nesting" instinct will kick in and I'll go into super mode at least in that arena. I'm not sure if I'm experiencing senioritis? or if my pregnancy exhaustion is just simply causing all lack of motivation. I think I need a sharp kick in the pants to get myself moving on this long list of things to do!

Painted Toenails

I wanted to paint my toenails...it was the hardest thing I've done in a while. Sometimes I forget that I have a beach ball sized stomach in front of me. Funny how you could forget such a thing.

I did by the way succeed, and for the record this photo is not of me...thank goodness I'm not that huge!

Life Update

The news is out. I have made it through "match" and have "matched" with Spokane Mental Health. Which means that next year I will be working as an intern in Spokane at SMH.



Jeff and I are excited about this next phase of life but at the same time are very aware of the sadness we both feel as we begin preparing to say good-bye to our community here. The students and families we have been blessed to meet and work with here have been incredible and have touched our lives in special ways. We look forward to the time we do have remaining in this place and the time we will share with our friends and the students and families here.

We also look forward to returning to the great NW, a place that we have longed for over the last 6 years of so.cal living. We delight in the thought that our families will be able to place a significant role in Malachi's life. We also long for the slower pace of Washington living, the mountains, the lake, the clean air, and the people. I am excited about apples in green bluff, watching the leaves change, having winter weather (snow?), and so much more.

We do not know our timeline yet but will in the coming month. We'll let you know when we know more.

Target.....GRRRRRRRR

Jeff and I have registered at Target for baby stuff - as have so many of our friends. Last night we went to return a few things that we got multiples of and had hoped to exchange for something that might be more useful instead of keeping the 12 yellow and green hats. Unfortunately, we found out that Target's return policy sucks and that you can't return things without a receipt. After working with two customer sales folks and two managers - I wanted to simply scream at them. THEY WERE GIFTS WE DON'T HAVE RECEIPTS! I was so frustrated! My favorite comment made by one of the managers was, well...could you call the person that gave it to you and ask for the receipt? I think my mouth dropped open at that point. The thought of even thinking about calling someone and asking for a receipt for a gift they so generously seems ridiculous!! I think that the customer sales folks and management need to go to an etiquette class! Lesson learned...avoid Target!