Thursday, November 5, 2026

Fall beauty

 

We soaked up a lot of beauty with this girl in our short visit. 

maple right in front of our house 

on Ravenna Blvd on a walk with Anna on Tuesday 

campus run Thursday 


UW campus wall of fall glory 



on 16th Ave NE 




end of 16th 




Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Mason Lake- Year 7!

such fun to have Anna along for the annual Mason Lake birthday tradition, and we loved adding a few peaks to the mix to share with our almost 24-year-old! 









hiking buddies 


post-cold plunge 



 ðŸ’™

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Welcome Wagon

 

We got some more mileage out of the bear costume we borrowed from Guy for Halloween to go pick up Anna today at the airport.  Too much fun! 

Anna's dot coming our way... 





A Blessing For Election Day


A Blessing For Election Day

May the God who spoke light into the darkness hover over this day as the Spirit once hovered over the deep, bringing peace where there is fear and breath where there is weariness.

May Christ, who wept over Jerusalem, teach you to love your city with that same tender ache and to seek its welfare with all your heart.

May you remember that every person you meet today carries the image of God, and that no outcome can erase what heaven has written there.

May your words be seasoned with grace, your spirit kept gentle, and your heart unhardened toward any neighbor.

May wisdom rest on those who will lead us, humility guard their power,and compassion for the least of these guide their hands.

When the day feels long and the night feels longer, may you rest in the One whose kingdom has no end, whose throne stands beyond every election, and whose love will not be moved.

And when the sun rises tomorrow, may you rise with it, ready to break bread with your neighbor, to bind up what is broken, and to keep walking the way of Jesus together.

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Amen.

-Beau Stringer 




Monday, November 2, 2026

A Tiny Love Story: More than a PB & J

Google Maps sent me to the wrong place on Saturday. There was an accident on the road.  Frazzled, I texted to let them know I’d be late.

When I walked into the kitchen, Ivan was there with groceries from Whole Foods and Lunch at the Shop open on the table to a recipe for “A Sandwich with Fresh Apple, Fromager d’Affinois, Arugula and Almond Butter.”

He’d found this cookbook that elevates the lunch hour to sacred time—a chance to pause, gather, and connect. He’d bought the ingredients and was making us gourmet sandwiches.

We sat at the table, sang “Ubi Caritas” as a blessing, and savored the meal. Who knew almond butter would pair so well with cheese?

On any other day, I would just be shoveling down a PB & J.

His world is moving a mile a minute these days, and yet he’d driven all the way to our house to make us lunch. When was the last time someone made me a sandwich, much less a fancy one?

The words we sang came back to me: “Where charity and love abide, God is dwelling there.” And there we were: God dwelling among us on an ordinary afternoon, around a table, with slow food and an unexpectedly delicious sandwich.





Sunday, November 1, 2026

the first of November (and some more Halloween weekend pix)

a few photos of the fall colors showing off in Bellingham this afternoon: 
a run to Big Rock Garden Park today in Bellingham near Lake Whatcom 




Lake Whatcom 

and a T-rex skeleton in the neighborhood as a remnant from Halloween last night 

Halloween bike ride in Santa Cruz from yesterday 
38 miles- 9 laps- and over 7500 feet of elevation gain! 

Love seeing how many folks Taylor rallied to join up for a ride! 
the art of gathering at its best. :) 

Halloween weekend pictures from Anna with Porter in Toronto