private practice

Private practice can be a challenge. I'm learning how to market myself. I've never been great at telling other people what I'm awesome at, and I'm especially not great at it when it comes to telling them that they should give me some money. It helps that I really do believe in the work that I do. I've really been seeking God about this. A few mornings ago I was really worried because my paid office hours were going to kick in Nov 24 (today!) and no one had called yet. Later that morning I got a call and set up an appointment with my first client! So I saw my first client and it was very rewarding and I'm so grateful to God for making this work. I have so much hope that this will work. Now... to only fill the other 9 hours of paid office time.

reverse culture shock

When I went to Uganda for a semester it was the reverse culture shock, not the initial culture shock that surprised me the most. I wouldn't say that is true for my Portland/LA experience, but I do have some thoughts to share regarding some things that surprised me when moving back to Portland. I won't include moments from visits in the last year, although there were some really weird things that happened then! The accordion playing unicylist on the street was the strangest.

Here are some of my recent culture shock moments for me since I've been in Portland:

1. buying wild salmon at Trader Joe’s for $6.50 for two fillets... I cried right there in the aisle
2. my jeans are always wet from the rain
3. people let you cut into their lane during heavy traffic just with a simple notice of your blinker. nice!
4. I can fill up a pitcher of tap water and it tastes just like filtered water. yum!
5. my face is like a giant chapped lip. I’m not sure why
6. sideways rain always surprises me
7. waking up to cold mornings and needing a cup of something warm is something new
8. people are so nice! the people at the grocery store always want to have long conversations.
9. men have really long hair. just something that I’ve noticed. maybe it’s to protect them from the sideways rain
10. the leaves are falling off the trees and one morning I woke up to find my car looking like an elementary art project... it was neatly covered from front to back in tiny leaves held on by the rain water. it made me laugh!

weekend fun: pumpkin patches and surprises

This weekend we have been having lots of fun. We surprised Donovan and had a 25th birthday party for him yesterday. We barbecued and had nice pies. Happy early birthday, love! I'm so glad you were born!

We also went to a nice pumpkin patch that is owned by a family in West Linn. It was a small little property and they said all the proceeds go to their children's college education fund.

The three Scotts at Donovan's birthday party

Melissa and Scott posing with the pumpkins

Hershey dressed up as a spider for Halloween

GuluWalk

I walked to raise awareness about what is happening in Northern Uganda with others this weekend in Portland. It was a tiny gathering, but it was still really fun to do something to remember Ugandans.
While I was walking I got a nice reminder of some special places in downtown Portland, and even saw a historic home from the late 1800s being moved across downtown.

slow motion

Hee Jung came to visit. She was on her way to Korea for a month. We went to Buffalo Exchange and Starbucks. I also got to show her downtown and the Hawthorne area, which she really liked. Just before she left we took a stroll in Laurelhurst Park and she really loved it, she said it reminded her of Central Park. Well, I've never been to Central Park before but if it is like a big Laurelhurst Park I think I would like it.

I can't tell you how wonderful it was to have a dear friend in town. It seemed like life was happening in slow motion.

apartment shopping

The first two days we were in town we did some serious apartment shopping. We spent about 9 hours both days, I was so tired! We looked near Powelhurst, Mt. Scott, Clinton, Hawthorne, Laurelhurst, Lake Oswego, and the Pearl District, all favorite areas of ours. We finally committed to a place in Lake Oswego. We will sign the final papers for it Monday.
Here are some pictures I took after a day of apartment shopping. I went on a stroll in Laurelhurst Park, one of my favorite places in Portland, while Donovan was asleep in the car having a narco-nap.

Hahaha, I had to take a picture!

The church we got married at. So pretty in October!

The weather has been AMAZING here lately. Today the high was 68 and it hasn't rained once since we've been here. I love it!

the road from Pasadena to Portland

Moving is tough! Thankfully we had a lot of help from friends and family in both Pasadena and Portland. We had some GREAT coffees right before we left made by Jamie. Thanks Jamie! They were so good.







Kyle and Kelly let us stay at their house and it was so fun. We learned a lot about life in Davis, CA and shared stories and good food together. After many many miles we started to see some beautiful trees. We forgot what fall looks like!...

Ashland was my favorite. I want to go back there and spend some time there next fall. It's really beautiful. Our homecoming was really fun too because Hershey greeted us with licks and jumps for joy even though it was really late. I think he knew something was about to happen but when we showed up in our huge truck and hopped out he was really surprised. For the last week I have been spoiling him like a good auntie :)