Category Aaby Family

The Week Behind

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This was an incredibly busy, but productive week (mostly at home)… Because I need to get cleaned up for a wedding for our good friends Nathan and Megan, I thought I’d give a quick bulleted list of a few highlights:

  • Network meetings with West Seattle (Tuesday) and Burien (Wednesday).  Both discussions were fantastic; it is neat to see/hear some specific areas of youth ministry in the Puget Sound region.
  • Sent off my first “mailing” for Youthmark, sent to hundreds of churches in WA/OR as a last-minute pitch to participate in a YMV.
  • The Blogs at youthmark.com were set up and several have posted already (I encourage you to check them out here).
  • Took an all-day trip to Portland on Thursday with my friend Chris.  I was able to meet a bunch of Youth Pastors and see a bunch of friends down south. Portland Youth Foundation gathers 200+ YP’s each year for a lunch.  Nice to be able to represent Youthmark there.
  • Was able to take/pick-up Halle from school a few times this week, so fun to see her in her new element!
  • Able to spend time with just the three kids a couple times this week when Elisabeth had errands to run (or sanity to reacquire  after my recent travels).
  • Dinner with the Andersens, new friends, Alan is a YP in the greater Seattle area as well.  My parents watched all three kids, so this was a real grown-up date!
  • Coffee with John; one of my lifeboat guys
  • Time dreaming and praying for the Spring Retreats out at Lake Retreat Camp.
  • Diagnosing the problem and replacing my Starter in my 4Runner, thanks to my good friend, Walt.  We spend 5 hours+ on that baby!  If you have a 99 4Runner that has had a starter go out, you’d understand.

Quite certain I missed a couple things, but overall, it was a fantastic week.

Grace,
Brian

On The Way Home…

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As many of you know, Halle started at a Christian school a little over a week ago, if you didn’t know this you can link to Elisabeth’s blog from my blog (see the side panel) to read all about that.  

So, today, I picked up Halle and we had this brief conversation which had me laughing pretty hard.

Me: So, do you like going to the cafeteria for lunch?

Halle: Yeah, as long as it doesn’t burst my eardrums.

Me: Oh, do they have music?

Halle: No, they have screaming kids!

She cracks me up!

Grace,
Brian

Another Prayer Request

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

We would very much appreciate your prayer for our friend, Byron.  On Monday he was diagnosed with cancer,  he had a procedure done the next day to remove the tumor and that was successful, however, test results have shown that it had, in fact, spread to other areas in his body.  

Byron and I spoke on Friday afternoon, after getting the news, he sounds good, but obviously the road ahead is tough.  Both he and his wife, Shannon, were a part of our youth ministry.  We are close with both families (their parents and other kids).  Byron’s brother is graduating from Boot Camp (Navy) at the end of the month, so Byron will go see his brother graduate and then immediately start his chemo.  

Please pray for them.  Thank you!

Grace,
Brian

First a family report…

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

As I stated in my previous post, I will be posting about my scout trip to the Gulf Coast and consulting experience in Colorado, but first this cute Halle moment from yesterday…

Halle was visiting a library yesterday when an adult asked her, “Halle, do you like books?”

Well, as many of you know, Halle is quite the reader. 

She responds, “Yes, books are some of my best friends.”

So cute!  But then her next line was the heart-melting line of the day, “My  best-book-friend is probably the Bible.”

 

one of her good friends!

one of her good friends!

Though I have my seminary done, I think Halle will help me with my next degree program.

 

No worries though (for those wondering if she is only 7); she’s grounded enough to love the Bible, childish enough (or enough like her daddy) to laugh when Will toots and girlie enough to enjoy playing with dolls and toys for hours!

Grace,
Brian

Elisabeth’s Break

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Sunday afternoon afforded Elisabeth the opportunity to have a few hours to herself.  Elisabeth got away and was able to decompress after a few straight days of being “on” all the time; and I was able to get away with the three kids and make a few new memories of our own. 

We heard Starbucks is feeling the effect of the slow economy, so we did our best by making a $6.33 investment in the company.  Here are some pics from the Daddy, Daughter and Little Dude Date.

Now Starbucks doesn’t need to make those layoffs… right?

Just doing my part.

Grace,
Brian

My Wife, the Saint.

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Returned home from the Aloha state Friday morning after a few days of scouting (previous post and another to come).  I had a couple morning appointments immediately after flying all night (yep, 30 minutes of sleep is GREAT).  I returned home at about 12:30 in the afternoon and was able to hang out with the family for about 3o minutes before needing to crash for a nap.

Typically after a trip I prioritize a time for Elisabeth to get away and have some extended time off (though, “extended” doesn’t mean much right now considering Will’s feeding schedule).  So, taking the nap pretty much wiped out the Friday possibility of Elisabeth getting away.  She was fine with that and we decided that Saturday morning would work just fine… we thought.

We went out as a family to a new Mexican Restaurant last night.  It was great to be back with my family.  The decor was great at this place.  The food was pretty good, but a little overpriced (I don’t like when places charge for refills either).  And I ate too much.

The drive home seemed to take a long time, the kids were hyper and I still wasn’t rested after the night of flying and the nap.  So, upon getting the girls to bed I decided I’d crash as well.

My wife has officially received Saint Status because not only did the restaurant give me a full stomach, it gave me food poisoning as well.  I was up by 3:30 in the morning.  Not to get overly graphic, but each of the last 3-4 times I can remember throwing-up it was caused by bad mexican food.   Today has been a total waste.  I have been in-and-out of naps while also in and out of the bathroom. This has left Saint Elisabeth one little break (right now) to get away–to the grocery store to get me gatorade and saltines.

My wife is the best.  Pray that tomorrow gives her the break that is so overdue!  

Grace,
Brian

Hot Tub Club, Reunion

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

If you haven’t read the NTOY Surprise post, start there (last one)…

The previous night (Tuesday) the Heils and Aabys had gone to the Spaghetti Factory together.  During the meal Jeff and I decided that on Wednesday night we’d go to my parents and sit in the hot tub.  

So, on Wednesday morning when Mike and I had our Tully’s run-in we decided it would be classic to surprise Jeff that night at the hot tub!  For those not in the know, my entire  Junior and Senior Year I was part of a Friday Morning “Hot Tub Club.”  The original members were Mike and me.  Several weeks into our “Club” we invited the third (and only other) member, Jeff.  

More on the Tub Club: Each Friday we would dine together (though the first year it was just donuts) then our Senior year we would rotate making a large “grub” breakfast.  The festivities began at 6:00 AM and lasted until 7:20ish (though by the end of our senior year we were pushing it later and later, arriving a little late to school even).  It is quite the memory, I loved these guys!

Back to last week.  Mike arrived a few minutes before Jeff, he changed and quickly got in the tub.  When Jeff arrived we both got ready, had a few words with my parents and then proceeded down the dark steps to the tub.  I got in first (Mike was laying low in the dark shadow, even though I knew he was in there I had a hard time seeing him).  Then Jeff got in… with a simple “hey Jay” (we often call Jeff, “Jay”) Mike revealed himself.  Great reaction from Jeff and then some giddy laughter from three grown men.

The next two and half hours was pure fun.  Memories.  Story-telling, catching up and more laughter. It had been years since we had all three sat together in the tub.  It had been years since we had related in this way, the three of us.  The years have ebbed and flowed.  Our friendships have done the same.  I have remained close to Jeff, but for some reason Mike and I have faded a bit through the years.  I miss what was, but understand that things sometimes change.  For this one night it all felt the same.  I still love these guys!

 

Tub Club 2009

Tub Club 2009

I look forward to the next chapter, the next Tub Club and am proud of my two best buds from high school!

 

Grace,
Brian