{Catching up}

Merry Christmas from the #mightymeeks!!

It's that time of year again when I take a look back over the year and recap for all my friends what has gone on in our lives this year.  Many who read this will have seen many, many Facebook updates or Instagram shots, but I like to have a way to recap the year in one place.  Although I've neglected this blog all year long, this seems like the logical place for my year end letter.

Gabe, (age 17 and a SENIOR!) has had an eventful year.  He turned 17 in February, ran track in the summer, ran like crazy all summer for summer training, attended cross country and youth camps, got his driver's license, ran cross country this fall and has kept his amazing 4.0 GPA while taking Honors and AP classes, and beginning to apply to colleges this Fall.  So far, he has been accepted to Whitworth and the University of Montana, but no decisions have been made yet.  He had a great XC season, helping his team win their 10th straight State title and a number 3 place at NXN Northwest.  We are so proud of him and all his accomplishments.  I can't believe he will be graduating in a few short months.

Bethany, (age 15 and a sophomore) has been busy this year, as well.  She is doing well in school, and her running keeps her busy.  She ran Varisty track as a freshman for most of the Spring, attended cross country and youth camps, turned 15 in July, and ran as the number 3 Varsity XC team member until her recurring hip injury pulled her out of racing for a few weeks mid-season.  Rehab and PT got her back in shape for the last couple of meets of the season, and she was back to number 3 by the Regionals qualifier race.  Unfortunately, the girls team did not make it to State, but she had a great time cheering on the boys with the rest of the girls and guys teams.




Michaela, (age 12 and a 7th grader) is involved in a new school program this year.  She is taking part in a pilot 7th grade program housed at North Central (Gabe and Bethany's high school), called the Institute of Science and Technology (IST).  She absolutely loves it.  She is taking microbiology as a 7th grader!  It's been very fun seeing the things she is learning and it's also great having all 3 kids at one school!!  Micci turned 12 in January, ran Bloomsday in May, "graduated" from elementary school, earning several awards for community service and being an all around awesome kid,
attended youth camp and spent some time in Montana with family while the rest of us were at cross country camp.  She also ran cross this fall, and of course, is still dancing.  She had her winter recital a couple of days ago, and I am so impressed with the progress she has made since last year.



Jon (not 40 yet), finished out the school year with Guitar Club and was able to pull back from it this fall when our church was able to start paying him more.  He still teaches a few private lessons here and there, and teaches at a homeschool co-op one day a week.  This has been a big blessing for him, as he now has more time to spend with our church family and training younger leaders (which he loves).  It also enables him to spend time at cross country and track meets for our kiddos, and to continue mentoring the different running groups he has been part of.

As for me (also not yet 40... nice try, Matt), it's definitely been busy.  Spring felt like a whirlwind of OULA classes, submitting my first National Boards component, concerts, track meets and all around craziness.  Summer was more relaxed, but it felt very short for some reason this year, and with Montana trips, youth camps, birthdays, anniversaries, training for a half marathon... Well, it was very fun, that's for sure.  This fall has been great; trying to savor every moment of Gabe's senior year, and not be a puddle of tears the whole time... It's been busy enough and joy-filled enough that, so far, I haven't had any ugly crying episodes. 

We are enjoying our winter break, we had some relaxation before our quiet Christmas at home, and are looking forward to the fun of family filled days when we make the trek to Montana. Then, we jump into Spring and concerts and track and yes, a graduation!! (Family, mark your calendars! June 11!!)  It's always quite the ride for us here at the Meek household, but it's always marked by joy and memories, so I don't complain!  We are looking forward to 2016, and hope this finds you and yours well.  Please drop a line or visit, or keep up with our journeys however you can...  I'll leave you with a few picture highlights from our year!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Love,
The Meeks

Gabe and his best friend, Mica, at Nike Cross Nationals, their last XC race together

The kids enjoyed showing Mica around Missoula this summer.

First day of school 2015

My beautiful girls... One of the last shots where Beth is still taller than Micci.

Turkey Trot 2015

Nike Cross Nationals

Winter Glow at Riverfront Park

{MId-February Update}

So it's been not quite a month since my last post.  I'd say I'm improving my record!  :)

As always, things have been busy in the Meek household for the past month.  Since my birthday post, Jon has joined me at 37, Micci has turned 11, Bethany has been registered for high school, and Gabe has competed in his first indoor track meet.  I completed OULA training at the end of January, and have been working hard to get my choreography and leading skills ready for teaching practice classes.  It's so fun, though!!!

It's hard to believe that tomorrow marks the 19th anniversary of when Jon and I officially started dating.  Considering that we were 18 when we started dating, this means that we've now been together for more than half of our lives.  It's a weird feeling, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. 

Also difficult to believe is that Bethany is now registered for high school and that Gabe will be turning 16 in just a couple of weeks.  I feel like my babies are growing up so quickly.  I'm so thankful that both of them are still very much homebodies and love to just spend time with us.  My kiddos amaze me on a daily basis. 

Worship team rehearsal has returned to our home for the time being, and I am loving it.  Jon and I used to hold different band rehearsals in our living room, and it just feels right.  We are building real friendships and family-ships with our team, and playing, laughing, singing, and eating together is what it's all about.  I. LOVE. THESE. PEOPLE.

I'm also taking a functional fitness class through my work, and that's been super fun to get to know some of my co-workers outside of the school day a little bit.  I've had a few days when I've had some sore legs and arms, though!!  It's all good, and I just remind myself that it makes me a better runner and OULAgin.  Speaking of OULA....  I'm pretty much thinking there's going to be another post about how that's going pretty soon. 

So there's a little update...  Til next time!!

Year in Review

2013 is coming to a close, but as always, I try to look back over the year and remember what we've accomplished. This year has felt very like a whirlwind to me. So many amazing things have happened, and we've had some really great times. Here are some highlights...

Gabe (age 15 and a sophomore) is very involved in his high school running team. We live and breathe and sleep cross country (XC) in the fall, and in the spring it all channels to track.  He is doing very well, running solidly in the top 12 on the XC squad this fall, lettering in XC, and even winning a JV race. He has a good shot at varsity next fall if he keeps training and pushing himself.  He is also still involved in band, is always coming up with creative things to pursue, and keeps his grades at top notch as well.  I'm not sure exactly when he has time to do all this, but we are very proud! 

Bethany (age 13 and 8th grade) is also excelling at school. This year she earned straight A's for the first time ever, and is enjoying singing in choir and being a part of the yearbook committee.  She ran track last spring and had a great season, but is not planning to run again this year.  She has also become very involved in a local youth group she attends with several friends (since we don't have one yet).  She has many friends who are very amused by her sweet, funny, and sometimes quirky personality. We often have a good laugh over things she says and does. She is sunshine in our lives and it is impossible to not smile when you are around her.

Micci (age 10 and 5th grade) has handled two school transitions in two years with grace and confidence.  She is coming to Holmes with me this year and is having a great year so far.  She loves her teacher and is at the top of her class in everything.  She has made some great new friends, and is involved with student government and a playground mediation group called Peacemakers. She also helps in a kindergarten class a few times a week and is dreaming of becoming a kindergarten teacher someday. She is really coming out of her shell and gaining confidence in being a leader to her friends.  She is also still very involved in Irish dance and is doing a great job!






As far as Jon and I go, we are also both doing well.  Jon is still doing Guitar Club and is also teaching privately and in a homeschool co-op. Our church is growing slowly but surely, and we are excited for the coming year.  We moved out of our living room at the end of February last year, and we are again finding ourselves feeling like we have outgrown our new space.  So we are praying and looking for the next step. 
We were able to buy a home in the spring, and spent a couple of months remodeling before we moved in at the end of July. We miss our neighbors, but we love our new place. Jon and I also ran our first Bloomsday races in May, and accomplished our first half marathons in October! Running has definitely become a way of life around here.
I am in my second year at Holmes and so far, this year is going very well.  My before school choir has grown from about 8 students last year (on a good day!!) to right around 35 this year!!  We were able to take two field trips in December to sing for local businesses that provide support for Holmes. 
Dolly is still our sweet, lovable dog.  She will be 4 in April, and has become very lazy in her "old" age.  She loves to lay on the couch, take naps, and keep the neighborhood watch out the front window.
We have many plans for the New Year, including continuing to work on little jobs around our home, more running (lots of it), and some travels as well.  We hope this year end review finds you well, and wish for blessings, peace and joy in the coming year.  2013 was grand, but here's to 2014!!

If you instagram, you can follow our adventures using  #mightymeeks.

{Going Coastal: Part 3}

On Saturday, we had the chance to hang out with our wonderful friends Warren and Kim Stroup.  Warren leads The River Center in Lebanon, Oregon.  Any time we get with the Stroups and their great kids is a wonderful blessing.  They took us to the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.  It was a fabulous time!  Jon loves airplanes (who doesn't?) so it was especially exciting for him.  This place was amazing!  So many fun things to do, and they even have a waterpark!  The kids had a great time swimming after they looked at all the cool airplanes.

On Sunday, Jon preached at The River Center and then we had a relaxing evening with the family we were staying with, the Jeffers.  Such a blessing to have wonderful friends around the world!

Monday arrived and it was time to head home. We made a quick stop at Multnomah Falls, which was gorgeous, as always.

We are thankful to have enjoyed such a great vacation!  It was great to come home and get back to all of our friends and projects that we have going on.  Hopefully I'll be posting some remodel pics soon...we are getting close!

{Going Coastal: Part 2}

Behind on my posting, but here are pics from days 2 and 3 of our vacation!


Crepes for breakfast at Cannon Beach

 My view for most of the day... 

Which explains why my legs ended up sunburnt and I took very few pictures.

We drove to Seaside for dinner and caught the final NBA game, completely by accident.  

Enjoyed people watching those who actually knew about the game and came to watch it.

 

Friday, we traveled to Silver Falls State Park before heading to Lebanon to meet our friends. 

We saw 8 waterfalls in about 5 miles... A gorgeous and easy hike.

Behind the waterfall

{Update}

Wow, as usual, the time gets away from me and here we are almost 3 months later and I'm finally updating my blog again.  I have big dreams of blogging my life and doing creative projects everyday or at least once a week, but the reality is that I'm a mom of three kids, pastor's wife to a church planter, and almost full time music teacher.  Right now, that dream of "full-time" blogging (or even "more often" blogging) is something I've had to set aside in favor of reality and enjoying the life I'm currently living.

So, I'm sure you are curious what's been happening in the land of Meek...  Well, if you are a facebook friend, or a twitter follower, or an Instagram follower, you'll know that there is never much down time around here.  Jon and I have been busily training for our first Bloomsday run, which is coming up in just a few short weeks.  The kids and I are on Spring Break right now, which has been relaxing and fun.  We spent the first part of the week back in Missoula for some much needed family time and to celebrate Gabe's Eagle Court of Honor.  It was such a good time to celebrate his amazing accomplishments and to see friends and family.  It was also a great time of eating at many fine Missoula establishments that we love and miss now that we are in Spokane.

The past 3ish months have been busy for sure.  Since my last post, Jon has joined me at the ripe old age of 36, Micci hit the double digits (10!!), and Gabe is now halfway to 30 (insert evil laugh).  Our small but growing church has moved out of my living room to a coffeshopish location right in the heart of downtown Spokane.  This means a little more work (I can't go to church in my pajamas anymore, not that I ever really did...) but overall, it has been really good. 

Gabe has started track season, Micci had several Irish dance performances in March, and Bethany has been working a ton on the yearbook committee.  She will also start track when we return from break.  I'm gearing up for my first ever Spring Music Program, and we are in process of trying to buy a house.  We have an accepted offer and now we are playing the waiting game until we close the deal.  We will have some work to do to make it how we really want it, but that's ok with us!  I'm super excited about it... 

In short, there's been a lot going on, and there's never a dull moment!  Life is short, so we try to enjoy every moment that we can, and I don't feel TOO guilty if I forget to blog it, because I figure it's more important to live it than to blog it. 

More soon...(ish)
Becca

The promised pics....

My new coat. (I adore after Christmas sales). Sorry the pic quality isn't so good.

Gabe at the Robotics Competition in Bozo-land. Note the Griz hat that he wore in strict opposition to the MSU lanyard around his neck. I'm SO proud!

Michaela blows out her candles at the bazillion girl birthday party. What a blast!

A Christmas Poem... Our year in review.

Four days before Christmas, we’ve just settled in
For some pre-holiday fun and some relaxin’.
It’s that time of year, when we take back a look,
At the fun that we’ve had, ‘fore we close the book…

On yet one more year. Two thousand and eight
Is closing down soon, but, man, was it great.
Michaela turned five, and went off to school,
Her Mommy cried, like most Mommies do.
But, wait, Mommy went back to school, too!

“Madame Librarian,” that’s what I’ll be called,
If all goes as planned, I’ll have a “real” job in the fall!
Bethany’s in third grade, she’s now a fiddlin’ fool,
She’s still a monkey, and doing well in school.

Gabe is in 5th now, he’s right at the top.
Reading’s his strong suit, we can’t get him to stop!
Scouts and robotics club, that’s what else he does,
Legos and saxophone, two more things he loves.

Jon is still strumming the old guitar,
He brings home the bread from near and from far.
He’s still writing songs, which I think are the best!
And hopefully, someday, so will the rest…….(of you)!

Another bright spot in our wild crazy year,
Jon and I traveled to England, land of good “cheer.”
A conference, sightseeing, wonderful new friends,
It’s really too bad it had to come to an end.

But then there was Silverwood, where fun abounds,
Until the second day, lightning drove us off the grounds.
This was a bummer for all of us there,
But when you’re with friends, you make fun anywhere!

So there is our year in a nutshell my friends,
The Meeks are busy, but the fun never ends.
Stop by and see us, or give us a call,
And we wish Merry Christmas, to one, and to all!