I just returned from Spokane for the Landing of our last three mission teams for the 2009 mission season. It was a great time at the Spokane Hub (Faith Bible Church this time).
I’ll be posting some pictures soon and am looking forward to next Sunday night at Cutter’s Point where we will celebrate with any/all interested through worship, testimonies and prayer.
I’m tired. That’s it for now.
Happy napping!
Grace,
Brian
Our family got to go to Sunriver, Oregon a week ago for a week, great time with the entire Aaby-clan. Here are a few of my favorite shots from the week.
Hope you were able to get away on a vacation this summer!
Grace,
Brian
Very excited about an opportunity we just put together for anyone interested in celebrating Jesus, fellowship, worship and good coffee!
On Sunday, August 30, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM Youthmark is hosting ReLAUNCH. This will take place at the Cutters Point Coffee in Covington (particulars below).
Each of our missions started at a Hub, we called the weekend a “Launch,” well, this will serve as a relaunch into the new school year and the mission we have in our own Jerusalem (the greater Seattle area).
Whether or not you did a YMV or are just a friend of the Aabys/Youthmark, we’d love to have you come. The coffee and blended drinks are all being offered at 50% off! Save on your coffee and then bless the baristas (what a great witness) with a good tip!
We’ll have great times of worship through song, testimonies and prayer. Most of the evening will be fellowship oriented with a brief program time of songs, a brief challenge and slides from the summer!
Hope you can make it–bring your family!
Here’s the scoop…
ReLAUNCH: Sunday, August 30, 7-9 PM
Cutters Point Coffee
27177 185th Ave. SE Suite 101
Covington, WA 98042
Grace,
Brian
Last week I had suggested to our family that we head over Lake Meridian to have a picnic and enjoy a sunny Sunday evening. We loaded up, got in the car and as we got in I noticed that Halle didn’t even put one of her new books down while she got in… she just kept reading as she climbed into her booster, as she buckled up and as we drove off. Halle is quite the reader. SIDE NOTE: On our vacation last week we went to the Library right before we left and picked up at least four books for her and not once, but twice during the week we had to go to used book stores to pick up four to six more books (each time) for her.
Back to Sunday.
We arrived at the park and as we got out of the car she continued to read as she unbuckled, climbed out of the car and as we walked across the parking lot. The conversation that ensued:
Me: Halle, you can put your book down for a second or two, at least while getting in and out of cars…
Halle: Daddy, I just love reading, you might call me The Bookie Monster.
Wow. Speechless. Though laughing VERY MUCH out loud.
PBS has The Cookie Monster
The Aabys have The Bookie Monster
We love the great quotes we get from kids!
Grace,
Brian
For those of you who missed it last week, I did a full week of “Top 5” blog posts. Well, I’m continuing the tradition, only I moved it to Tuesdays, so each Tuesday (at least for awhile, and if I remember) I am going to be posting a Top 5 list.
The debut: Top 5 Offices may seem like an odd one, but for those of you who know me know that I “office” out of coffee shops for the most part. For whatever reason I have a hard time getting much work done at home. So, todays post is all about the local places you may find me getting my work done. I decided on “local” because I have had some pretty sweet offices (read: coffee shops) through the years and through my travels.
My criteria certainly included the quality of the coffee (if applicable) but also includes ambiance, noise, climate control, distance from home, Internet Connection, productivity for me, etc.
So, without further ado, here’s the list:
Honorable Mentions because I like them a lot: The Blend in Maple Valley, Cutters Point in Covington (near Fred Meyer), 5 Corners Sbux in Burien and The Met in Renton.
Honorable Mentions because I use them a lot because of proximity to home: Benson/Petrovitsky, Fairwood and Panther Lake Sbux.
Five: Seattle’s Best Coffee in Renton. I don’t visit here often enough, in fact, I probably hit it up once every other month, but I have a soft spot in my heart for SBC (the Fairwood Sbux was an SBC and my best work memories from Phoenix were from an SBC). The reason I still come here is because it DOES NOT have internet service. There are times you need to go to a place and not be distracted by the net. I have one regular meeting here and then it ends up being a great place to get some work done before or after. This is also the one place on the list where I don’t run into people that I know.
Four: Forza Coffee in Kent. This is a new shop and I really like it and the Baristas. Might be the best cup of coffee of the top 5 (seems to be a great balance of coffee flavor with my sugar free haz. nut and 1 inch of non-fat). I also have loved my conversations with the baristas and the customers here. In just 10-12 visits I have had more engaging conversations and opportunities to talk about Jesus with these new friends than at any other individual store. Forza has a few things to do to help it move up the charts; in other words, it has some down sides right off the bat: it needs more furniture (a fireplace and some comfy couches would automatically give this two more spots on the chart) and for whatever reason, the entire store has NO garbage can out on the floor (you need to give it to the baristas or take it into the bathroom). Weird.
Three: Cutters Point Coffee in Covington. First, the down side, it is a little too far from home, however, I have more and more meetings out this direction, so it certainly has the potential to go up the chart. I love BIG cafe’s because you can find hiding places to work; while at the same time I like the noise of a semi-busy coffee shop from time to time. I have had a number of good conversations with Christians at this shop (whereas at other places I look to engage the non-Christians). Great cup of coffee at Cutters, and I appreciate the ability to order a very large coffee (larger than a venti).
Two: Mike’s Community Cup in Seatac. Wow, didn’t realize how much I missed this place until I’d been gone. Mike’s is the place I meet with the Burien area network of Youth Pastors. Great quiet atmosphere, until the boys all gather. I am able to get a ton of work done here before the meetings and then it has proven to be a good atmosphere for our talks as well. I like the coffee at Mike’s and they are very generous with the refills (never charging, even for the syrups). The only down side is the distance from home, if it were closer, it would probably be #1.
One: Kent Kangley and 132nd Starbucks in Kent is my current favorite place to office. I seem to get the most amount of work done here and it is so convenient for drop off and pick up Audrey for her school. Our new church is only a minute or two away and it has been nice to run into some new friends here. In addition, it has proven to be a great meeting place for many south-end Youth Pastors as well. The coffee and tea are both so predictable to Starbucks, and though it isn’t “the best” it is pretty consistent at each one. However, I do feel this status is in jeopardy because of the recent switch to a bathroom key that needs to be obtained at the register… ease of bathroom list might be the downfall of the #1 for the mighty Bux.
You have some suggestions for me within a 20 minute drive of the greater Fairwood area? You have a reason I should bump one of mine out of the top 5? Let me hear ’em!
Grace,
Brian
A couple weeks ago I posted a contest photo of Titus Kinimaka, a professional surfer from Anahola, HI. Well, within a tw0 to three week window I had three different brushes with fame.
The first was when I was launching the Gulf Coast mission teams from Dallas. I was at the airport waiting for my flight home when I ran into Jon Kitna and his family who were also taking the Alaska Air flight back to Seattle. Jon was two weeks away from his first training camp with the Cowboys and was coming home for a couple weeks to see family (who all live in the NW).
I talked to them for a couple minutes, it was fun to see how “normal” he and his family are. For those who don’t know of Jon Kitna, he has an amazing story. He grew up in Tacoma, played football for Central Washington University and then went undrafted in the NFL draft. However, he signed with the Seahawks as a free agent and has since had a very good NFL career with a few teams. But, what defines him more than anything is his faith in Jesus.
I found an article from the USA Today which did a fairly good job of describing Jon and his faith. Click here if you’d like to read the short article. Note: this is from 2007 when he was still with the Lions.
It was very fun to see his kids running around the chairs and other airport obstacles just as I have seen my kids horse around while waiting for a flight. It was neat to see he and his wife say no a few times to his kids’ request for a couple quarters so they could buy a vending machine snack… in other words, it was just good to see a guy who has a lot of the worldly possessions at his disposal, not flaunt it (not that giving his kid a couple quarters is flaunting your wealth). And yes, when we got on the flight and they all sat in coach.
Brush with fame #3 coming soon, probably in the form of another Who Am I contest.
Grace,
Brian
She did it.
Grace,
Brian
P.S. If you don’t know what I am talking about, read my last post.
Will she take the challenge?
That’s right, I’m challenging my wife… since she has not blogged in quite some time, I am challenging her to take the next few posts of hers and do what I just did… she can even steal some of my subjects for her “Top 5” if she’d like.
I just know that most of her blogs have me laughing, and I would like some more laughter. So, there ya go Babe, consider yourself dared!
I love you.
Okay, now for the rest of you, click here to see if she does it!
Grace,
Brian
Today marks the completion of a week long series titled, “Top 5’s.” It’s been so much fun that I have decided to make it a regular post. So, starting this Tuesday I am going to do “Top 5 Tuesday.” I’ll do my best to remember to make a top 5 list each Tuesday.
As we conclude the week, I save the best for last, my top 5 places I have been to with my bride! This is going to be a very difficult list to complete because we’ve been to some pretty great places together and we have created quite the list of memories. Some of the places we have been to as a family (read: with kids) and others just as a couple. Instead of doing a pre and post kids individual lists, I’ve made it tougher on myself and had to create the master list!
So, without further ado, the list:
Honorable Mention: Jaipur, India; Disneyland; Flagstaff, AZ; Bed and Breakfast in Port Townsend; and several others I can’t think of right now!
Five: Sunriver, Oregon. This week we have spent in a very nice rental house in Sunriver, OR. My parents gave their three kids and their families this week at Sunriver with them. The house is a five bedroom house with a bonus room. Each couple has a master-mini-suite (except I’d call my parents room the master JUMBO suite). And then the cousins have the other room and a bonus gaming room to share. We’ve had a blast, good weather, great pools and biking and hiking trails galore! My brother brought his Wii, so this entertained for hours!
Four: Copenhagen, Denmark. Around Christmas and New Years in the year 2000 Elisabeth and I led a mission trip to an orphanage in Kota, India. Though the India trip itself is a honorable mention, we did have a nice 20-hour layover in Copenhagen on the way home. I wish we would have had several days there, but to have this time as a couple after a 10 day mission was amazing. The hotel was a cute little villa and we loved our dinner out at an American Diner (after the time in India I honestly felt this burger was one of my best ever). The “date” was concluded the next day when we got to our flight and we got upgrade to Business Class on our 10 hour flight home!
Three: Catalina Island, Avalon, CA. Because I was a Youth Pastor for so many years Elisabeth and I have had a hard time finding the opportunity to do a trip during our anniversary time (July 20). Camps, retreats and missions have prevented us from doing an extended trip, so we decided to do a pseudo-anniversary trip in February 2005 by taking a cruise. We did a quick four-night cruise which included a day at Catalina Island. There is a beauty of Catalina that literally feels like you’re in a different country. We loved our time on the island and my favorite memory was having coffee together off the beaten path at this little cafe at the top of a hill.
Two: Salish Lodge, Snoqualmie Falls. For Elisabeth’s 30th birthday I surprised her with a sweet deal at the Salish Lodge. I couldn’t believe the Internet special I scored which included our night at the lodge, two massages, and a $30 credit at the restaurant. The November night had a perfect late fall, early winter feel. Each room has its own fireplace and a great sunken tub! What a great way to celebrate her 30th!
One: Kaanapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii. We have had the great privilege of being to the Marriott at Kaanapali Beach twice! When we wed in 1996 we spent an entire week at this haven! Then, several years later, with Halle, we got to go back when I was invited to speak at a camp on Maui. We extended our trip by booking a couple nights at the same hotel we had our honeymoon. I can’t wait to go back to this place sometime in the future! There’s something about having the pools, shopping, restaurants and the ocean (not to mention 85º weather) steps away from your beautiful ocean view room.
You have some “top places” you’ve been to? Any suggestions where I can take Elisabeth (and/or my family) to crack the top 5?
I look forward to Top 5 Tuesdays in the future!
Grace,
Brian
As I noted from the get-go, I didn’t know if my original list of top 5’s would survive the week, today was supposed to be an internet related post, but decided on a different subject today!
For you non-sports fans, come back over the weekend, tomorrow will be my top 5 places I’ve been to with Elisabeth (romantic huh?). So for today, my Top 5 sporting events I have attended seemed to be a fun one to think about. So, the rule, I had to actually attend the game to have it qualify (in other words, not just see it on TV).
Without further ado, here is the list:
Honorable Mentions: 1992 Kentridge wins State Championship in basketball (the year after I graduated). With Elisabeth, M’s Win game 114 in 2001 to tie record (later to win 116) and Yankees/Red Sox, July 5, 2008.
Five: Cubs vs. White Sox, Wrigley Field, May 18, 2007. This set the stage for #4 a year later. As a “build memories while we can” surprise (no worries, neither of us is dying, but you know what I mean… right? My wife said this sounded too morbid). I surprised my Dad by giving him a trip to Chicago to take in a few stadiums together. We were able to see Yanks/White Sox at US Cellular Field the day before and then after Wrigley’s day game we drove to Milwaukee for a night game between the Brewers and Twins. What a day, what a three day trip. Wrigley Field was incredible and my Dad and I had such a fun time interacting with the fans around. Great game too as the Cubs come from behind for a 6-3 victory.
Four: Red Sox vs. Twins, Fenway Park, July 7, 2008. Not a big Red Sox fan, nor am I a Twins fans, however, I am a HUGE baseball and baseball park fan! The experience of Fenway Park is worthy of a top 5 by itself, but to take it in with my dad and my brother created a great family memory. Manny Ramirez, just weeks before being traded to the Dodgers wins it with a late-game single for the 1-0 victory.
Three: Rainiers vs. ???, 2008. Don’t remember who the Tacoma Rainiers played, I do remembered we won the game, but want stands out to me about this game was that it was with my two daughters, it was a blast and we made it through all 9 innings! Talk about a great daddy-daughter date! A friend of mine (Brad) IM’d me early in the day stating he had a few extra tickets for a youth event he was doing that night. Within a few hours we were on the road where we enjoyed hot dogs, dip-n-dots and nine innings of baseball! The girls cheered so loud with each home run!
Two: Seahawks vs. Packers, Monday Night Football 2006. Attended this sn0w-bowl with the Heider boys and Marc Gronholz. What a great game and how incredible that on a Monday Night Football game we had about 3-4 inches of snow fall during the game! The Seahawks won the game 34-24!
One: Game 4, Mariners vs. Yankees, October 1995. Without question, game 4 of the Mariners and Yankees in 1995 stands out as the best sporting event I have ever attended. When Edgar Matinez came to the plate in a 6-6 tie in the 8th the crowd of over 57,000 had already been on their collective feet for most of the game. Though we were not listening to it, I could in my mind hear Dave Niehaus screaming “Get out the rye bread and mustard grandma, it’s grand salami time” as Edgar crushed a grand slam en route to an 11-8 Mariner victory.
I was a Youth Pastor in Roseburg, OR at the time. Elisabeth and I had just gotten engaged three weeks prior and she had flown up (from school in SoCal) to celebrate with our family and begin the wedding planning process. My brother had tickets to all the playoff games and when he invited me to the game it was a difficult choice to make because we had come up to Seattle to celebrate with family but needed to get back to church by Sunday morning (small town, not good for the Youth Pastor to be gone so early in his job). So, when I saw that Elisabeth was willing to have me go (gotta love that fiancee) to the game and sacrifice sleep for us to get back to Roseburg (5.5 hours south), I jumped at the opportunity.
I remember after that home run turning and yelling something at my brother and he screamed back. To this day, I have no idea what he said and I have no idea what he said, it was just that loud!
Okay, I need to stop, because I am beginning to re-think this list and am remembering games I attended that probably should be on this list… So, have you been to some good ones? What is your best sporting event you have attended? Has anyone else been to any of them that I have been to?
Grace,
Brian
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