Memorial Day Weekend

We spent Memorial Day weekend at Long Beach Washington. A fantastic break and time to see Janice's family as well as let Espn swim in the ocean. That dog had such a fun time jumping all over the surf and waves.

The Golf Membership...

I got it again. I talked Janice into letting me get the golf membership at Canyon Lakes again. However, this year it came with more of a price. It now costs the membership + new patio furniture + her manicure/pedicure on Sunday...This was much easier last year when I was just able to get the membership.

So, tomorrow, I'll be on the greens while she's getting the manny/peddy. Then in the afternoon, we can enjoy drinks on the patio.

More good news...Espn hit her 2nd birthday May 15th. Janice got her a new bed and a new pink collar. I don't know why we can't get more of a cool collar, because the pink just doesn't say coolness when I take her to the park for some dock jumping.

Happy Easter!!! In mass today we were reminded that Good Friday is ALWAYS followed by Easter Sunday! Regardless of who we are, we can now approach His throne with confidence. Jesus' death and resurrection tore the veil from top to bottom and we have the ability to approach the Holy of Holies without fear. While Good Friday has perhaps resembled darkness, fear, loneliness in our lives....we can now receive the light, hope, and joy that comes with knowing Christ and what he has done for us! For in Jesus there is no darkness...NONE.

Our circumstances don't necessarily changed because of this, but our reaction to our circumstances does...we now have someone who is above all things and can help us navigate through all of life's trials...someone we can approach freely, lifting up prayers knowing there is a God who hears and feel the peace that is ours because of His sacrifice for you, me and the entire human race.

He is Risen!

Good Friday

Today is Good Friday. It's a special day, representing the core of our faith, the reason we get up every morning and are able to face the day.

There are moments of life we all face...dark, sad times that make us feel wobbly, uncertain of who we are and what our purpose is. Life takes us down roads we don't understand because we never expected to be there. We question the fairness of what we face, mourn over bad decisions, wonder "why them and not me?" We watch our world crumble around us or those we love. We cry and pray and hear only silence in return. The ground we walk on suddenly feels like shifting sand beneath our feet. Relationships fail and people disappoint us. The valley is deep and the shadows are long. All the while we long for a light and for peace, but it never seems to come. We're always searching, always longing, always wondering. Any room for hope is squelched by the fear that moves through our heart.

Yes....we all go through days like Good Friday, where the only sound that breaks through the silence is the sound of defeat and heartache....darkness settles over us. And all hope is gone.

Almost 9 years

On our great Disneyland trip, we realized that this year will be 9 years of Janice and I being married! Holy Cow! 9 years? What the heck happened? We were just on our honeymoon at Disneyland, and bam, 9 years later we're back visiting some friends on a business trip...When did we grow up? I might as well start telling stories saying, "Back in my day..."

Disneyland in the Rain

Janice had a convention in Los Angeles last weekend, so she had to fly down for the weekend. Naturally, she can't go alone so I went with her. The weekend started off fantastic as we got bumped into First Class. Even the water tastes better. I didn't feel bad at all as I watched all the peasants file by to ride in storage class. :)

It was the LA Times Travel and Tourism Convention in downtown. So, on Saturday and Sunday, she worked and I checked out all the places I'll probably never go, unless I win the Lotto.

It was really nice in Downtown LA and we ate at some great restaurants. We just lived it up.

But on Monday, we decided to hit Disneyland for the DAY!!! It rained like crazy, which was fantastic to keep the lines short. Disneyland must have a conspiracy with the weather because we bought the $138 for tickets, $15 for ponchos, and $40 for hats and we had just walked in the gates...I guess we were trying to recover the economy on our own in one shot.

We got to meet up with two of our fantastic friends from college, Derek - Hailey, and the cutest little girl in the world, Miss Vivian. She met Janice and asked her, "Are you Cinderella?" Then, after a couple hours hugged my leg and said, "I love Mr. Corey..." I have to admit, she is so cute that if she asked me to rob a bank I'd say, "Just a second sweetie, let me get my coat!" It's so great to see Derek and Hailey who'd drive 90 minutes to see us at Disneyland in the rain. Although it rained until they got there, stopped and turned into great weather. But as soon as they left it started raining again! Talk about incredible friends!

We hit all our rides and never waited more than 5 minutes. The walk to a ride was longer than the wait! In fact, at the end of the night, we stayed on Splash Mountain for three trips straight. The girl said, "No one's in line. Want to go again?" After that third time, the Brer Rabbit song kinda gets annoying though...

Dad-hogs Day

Every February 2 is Dad-Hogs Day. My Dad's birthday occurs on this famous day. Not every Dad gets his own holiday. He walks out in the morning and looks out his porch. If he sees his shadow it results in six more weeks of winter. Well, today, He saw it again. I tried to tell him to sleep in, but we must keep with tradition. Happy Birthday Dad! If you're still on dial up, this page may load by your birthday next year!! :)
Speaking of, here's a pic of my Dad when he was in the service and Darren's basic pick from a long time ago who is currently in the service and heading back to Iraq...uncanny. Apparently the looks ran out by the time I got here, so I rely on humor as a defense mechanism.

Super Bowl with a Soldier

Corey, Todd, Darren, Grams, and Pops

My brother is home on leave for 15 days from Iraq. Today, we watched the Super Bowl at his house with his family and my nieces. It was nice because my Dad & Mom were there, Aunt Joan, my Grandma, and an some other family members I haven't seen for years. It was a great day to spend some time and see him and hear some stories from Iraq. He's a soldier, and serving his country. It's amazing to hear firsthand of things that are happening and what you hear on tv or news. He shared how there is a constant smell of trash and stench and burning smells, and a poverty that you could never imagine until you drive through the streets. There are many incredible things our soldiers do over in that country that do not get credit or noticed. My brother was able to share some pictures from Iraq that he's captured and it makes me glad to be living in America, and to have the freedoms and life we live because of soldiers who protect our rights, and others. He heads back on Monday to finish the rest of his tour with the 81st from Washington.

This is my brother's "limo" as he calls it, in the bottom right. He drives it for his convoy missions. He said it's not a tank, but it's a monster.

Call me Iceman

I drove combine for a local farmer during the summer, and he promised to take me up in his personal fighter jet. Today, we did! I dont' know which is better, flying at Mach .82 and seeing the ground fly by, pulling 4 G's, or the barrel rolls...but it's the coolest experience. We flew to Prosser in about 5 mins, did a flyby over the airport and pulled straight up. Then toured all over Tri-Cities and the Snake River Canyon area. He has years of flying experience, which makes you very confident as you see the horizon of the Earth and Sky switch. It's very surreal as you feel gravity literally turn upside down. There's a reason I call him Maverick. So if anyone in Prosser or on the freeway between Prosser and Tri-Cities saw a yellow jet doing barrel rolls and banking, that was me, Iceman.

90 degree turn

Prosser

Housel Middle School

As for getting sick, yes. Trying to remain as cool as possible (and macho) I never did say that I was feeling queezy...until about the last 10 mins...then I said, "I'm not sick, but straight lines are nice." What else could I say? It's like saying "uncle." Sitting there, I'm thinking if I do have to ditch the food, it has to go down my shirt...Luckily, I was strong. But when I got back on ground and home I started to feel my stomach disagree. I never did hurl, which I see as a victory. I can't wait for Janice to go up!

The Three Amigos!

Janice and I have been busy looking through a bunch of old photos for a "special" project we are updating. In the process I came across this gem. It's my cousin Matt Boast, Brett Steen, and me as we did a Three Amigos skit at College Youth Group. We sang, "My Little Buttercup," just like the movie...and we are wearing a table cloth and drapes we bought at Goodwill! (our best

costumes!)Once I saw this picture again, I just started laughing so hard. It's funny how you can be instantly transported back to a time with a photo. There are 4 guys from college who are more like brothers to me.
Derek (I'm stilly embarassed about falling asleep at your parents house during Apple Blossom)
Barry (My roommate who hated my snoring-snooze button, but his hedge hog, Corey, loved me!)
Matt (My cousin, best man, and a brother in all senses of the word)
Brett (Incredible breakdancer, childhood friend, and a great lazer tag sniper)

As years have gone by, it's always tough to keep as close, but years can't ever erase the great times and how close they will always be to me.

This picture is Janice and I on August 7, 1999. It was the original day we planned to have our wedding, but we ended up postponing it to July 8, 2000. This picture was at the time we were supposed to be married, but we were on a family vacation and deep sea fishing excursion. We postponed it since we were both fresh out of college and we decided to wait and earn some extra dinero and solidify some plans. Truth is she was rushing me...and I can't be pinned down like that. ;)

Sometimes evil wins...

In real life, sometimes evil wins. Take the game Janice and I drove to Pullman tonight to watch... It was the classic struggle between good and evil. WSU and UW. Unlike movies, sometimes evil comes out the victor...

VS

It was still great to go see the game and be in the Coug gym. One of the best moments was when Janice asked for a starburst candy I had bought. After handing it to her, she immediately popped it in her mouth, only to realize she hadn't taken off the wrapper. It took about 4 bites before she spit it out and said, "I thought it tasted funny..."

We were given tickets by Steve Thonney, who happens to be quite good friends with Robbie Cowgill. He played for the Cougs and graduated last year. And is the tallest man Janice has ever met. She only came up to his knee caps. An extremely nice guy and they could have used him tonight. Oh well, as my Grandpa used to say, "Even the sun shines on a dog's rear someday."

Pooch 'n Pal Run

Every year on January 1st, Tri-Cities has a Pooch and Pal run. It's a 1.5 mile, 5k trek in a sagebrush field for dogs and their owners. This is the second year we did it. Last year, we ran it. This year, Janice's parents brought their dogs and we all walked as a group. After the race, they serve chili and pie and pass out awards. The rain did not stop us, we forged on. Janice's parents came down from Yakima this morning and said it was snowing like crazy up there. Here...rain. Dang it. School starts up. How am I supposed to cope with going back to work a full week? The race was fun at least. We beat some people.

Yogi Hollis Espn

Espn makes friends very quickly...