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Visiting "home" at Christmas

by Shaun

 It's been a good trip back to Dallas for Christmas.  Kyndra has been living here since Thanksgiving, me staying in Reno, so this was a visit to friends and family as well as a reunion for us.  Interesting, to say the least.  I expected to have to learn how to live in a new way, but I couldn't expect what that learning would be like, really.  So, the experience is still new and hard.  That story is ongoing.

What continues to be interesting is visiting "home" after living away.  It feels both extremely comfortable and foreign at the same time.  Seeing friends and former co-workers sorta starts to feel like no time has passed at all (the year and half so far!).  That's strange; but, I also like it. It is good to feel at home somewhere.

And yet, I think it's also good to be able to tell new stories to each other, and I think that's happening as I live away from "home" too.  In the end, I want to feel comfortable being back and yet uncomfortable if I don't share the little/big stories that are hidden within the days I've been away.  

On a VERY small level, I guess this is a link to the story of Christmas - a small tale hidden away in days past, told well and inspiring love and joy even today.

Merry Christmas!

Advent in our Lives

by Kyndra

I am settling in at my apartment in Euless, TX. Shaun is settling back into our home in Reno, NV. I am looking forward to many things now that I am back in DFW, and one of those things is re-joining the community at Church in the Cliff (CITC).

In all the buzz of moving and taking our first step on this unknown journey we have chosen for ourselves, I was reminded by CITC that this weekend begins the season of Advent. Courtney (CITC pastor) writes ...

"... But this is Christmas-time. As we prepare for Christ's birth why not focus on hope and celebrate all things sweetness and light? ... All I can say is that our tradition is smarter than that. The ancients knew that you could not fully celebrate light and life without first waiting in the darkness. And that darkness is not always tight and gloomy, but can instead be a place of God's deepest work. It is into this darkness that we step on Sunday, the first day of the Christian Liturgical Year. We step into the deep, deep blue of the night sky just before dawn. We step into the mystery-yearning to be taught again this year that it is somehow in the waiting that we encounter the mystery of God's presence. "

I am appreciating the side by side beginning of the Christian liturgical year and the beginning of Shaun's and my journey in separate physical locations. I don't expect our journey to be easy or happy all the time, but I don't expect it to be fully dark either. I expect both. And, for now, it brings me comfort to acknowledge that the dark before the dawn, the waiting, is also a time of heart work and an encounter with "the mystery of God's presence."

All is good.

News

We have some news on the O'Reilly-Reno front!  Drumroll please ......

Kyndra will be taking a new OT job at Cook Children's in Ft. Worth, and will be moving back to the DFW area!  Tada!

Now, before any speculators get out of hand, hear the specifics:

1.  Our marriage is great, and this decision has nothing to do with us WANTING to leave/be apart from each other. In fact, because we feel so committed to one another and to the other's dreams, we are opening ourselves up to this possibility for a time.

2.  Kyndra went to OT school with the specific goal of working with children in a hospital/rehab setting. It is the setting where she was first exposed to occupational therapy and wants to give herself the chance to experience working in it early on in her career. Mostly because she has a passion to work with children and their families who are experiencing major life transitions. Unfortunately, Reno does not have this kind of work opportunity.

3.  Shaun is staying in Reno, with the goal of finishing his Literature and Environment program at UNR in Summer of 2012. He plans on being super busy, working and mastering grad school and then seeing what's next. Every time he gets lonely, he'll simply head to the library to read or write something. And, he will always be accepting visitors!

With this in mind, we are taking on this long-distance thing as an adventure. We know that the next 2 years will fly by (our first 6 years of marriage sure have), and we're looking forward to what this time will bring about! Thanks as always for your support and care, and be sure to catch an O'Reilly near you - now in DFW and Reno, NV!  :)

peace,

-shaun and kyndra

So it begins.

by Shaun

Tomorrow I head to campus and to my first class at UNR.  I think it will feel good to finally begin doing the thing that brought us across the country, to this place and time in life.  I've already learned a lot out here, but school will bring a different kind of knowing and experience.  I plan to enjoy, savor, and celebrate every day I have in class - so hold me to it!  There shall be no complaining about the assignments or the readings or getting flats on my bike ride to & from school!  :)
Upon my beginning, I hear a warning from Kurt Vonnegut,

"Beware of the man who works hard to learn something, learns it, and finds himself no wiser than before. "

I'm thankful to begin grad school; I won't take the opportunity lightly and, heaven help me, I'm resigned to get wiser from it!

Celebrating SIX years!

In May, we headed west to celebrate our 6-year wedding anniversary in San Francisco. It's so amazing to live in another part of the country where so many incredible places to visit are accessible by only a short road trip. I think we were so excited to go on a mini vacation and celebrate 6 years that we didn't take into account that our wedding anniversary falls on Memorial Day weekend, and thus, might not be the best time of year to visit a very popular city!

 

Though the city was incredibly crowded along with many of the popular places to visit, we managed to have a great time together exploring the city.

 

We love to eat at new places in new cities, so we enjoyed many delicious meals ... thanks to Frommer's recommendations! Our favorite was a small hole-in-the-wall-Italian place where we dined on the 2nd floor with a 7 foot tall ceiling, pretty cozy! We loved the Irish Coffees and plenty of delicious cappuccinos as well.

 

Six years go by fast, and we are thankful for each year as they have all brought change, growth, beauty, and love.

 

We tried really hard to get a pic in front of this bridge, Shaun's head kept getting in the way of the bridge! This is the best we could manage on our own. Did I mention it was COLD and super WINDY?!

 

Here is Shaun riding the famous SF cable cars while standing. Of course, Kyndra was not crazy about this, and would have much preferred he at least have a helmet if dangling his body outside the car!
 

 
 

 Kyndra was impressed by our visit to the Great Fortune Cookie Factory, tucked away in a tiny alley-way. Women and men were stuffing and folding every fortune cookie on the belt by hand. Those cookies were pretty tasty, fresh and warm off the assembly line!

  

  We really enjoyed our beverages:
  delicious cappuccinos,
  phenomenal sangria at Cha Cha, and some
  smooth Irish coffees to get us out of the windy cold weather

We walked alot.  Tramping through the North Beach area, visiting sights, coffee shops, bookstores and the Beat Museum was fabulous!  We took an especially long walk, and Kyndra met a new little friend! We don't recommend the long walks in SF, unless you are trying to get a serious gluts work out (which is probably needed in our case, but wasn't on the to-do list while we were there!)

One of the best parts of this trip is that we got to stop at CHIPOTLE in Sacramento. Oh, how we crave Chipotle ... please come to Reno, please! Just puttin it out there!

And, that was it. Happy Anniversary!

GRADUATE

 by Kyndra

 

 

It's official ... I am a Master of Occupational Therapy!!! I graduated on Saturday, and it was so much fun and gratifying to walk that stage with all my hard-working classmates! I guess in some ways, I never really knew if I would make it to the end of OT school. I just kept taking it one semester at a time. I find myself still taking everything in stride ... one day at a time. I expect that as I continue on this OT journey, I will find myself very satisfied and happy. I love OT and am excited to be a part of such a wonderful field where I can use my skills and passion to help others.

 

I am so proud and excited to be at this point in my life. It's exciting to think about what lies ahead ...

 

 

Me, Kim, & Kelly. I got to know these two girls through school, and they are amazing women. They have huge hearts and are so considerate of others - some of the greatest friends I could ever ask for!!!

 

 

Me and Kacey. I love Kacey - she and I worked so hard together on our research during school and became great friends. I think she has the most beautiful hair ever!!!

 

The Ray Family and Uncle Andrew. I'm really thankful for each of these people as they have been so supportive in many different ways as I have journeyed through school.

 

 

My sweet doggies are excited that I am done with school! No more staring at the computer or my books when I get home - I can play with them!!! They are thrilled!

 

 

Thanks to Pat & Donna for coming to cheer for me!!

 

I missed sharing the celebration with Shaun at my graduation - he stayed back in Reno to finish work before the holidays. He's been to 2 of my graduations in the past, so it was ok he wasn't there for this one. Shaun was there through every good and bad day for the past two years and has been a huge support - I have so much love and thanks for him!

O's Visit Tahoe!

by Shaun

September has been a packed month so far!

-         My parents visited us and celebrated their anniversary while here

-             The Great Reno Balloon Races

-         Kick-off of Fall programming at the church where I work

-         Kyndra leads an in-service for therapists at Renown hospital

-         Shaun preaches a short sermon at church

-         Kyndra finishes her 1^st internship!

 

And that’s where we are today. 

Here’s playing some catch up:

My parents came and visited over Labor Day weekend, and we packed out the schedule of things to do – which seems to be a running theme when we have visitors!  Still, this is the place to do that. 

They stayed at the Casino/hotel that is closest to our house, so that was a breeze.  We spent some good time there at the slots and roulette table, and also showing them around the downtown Reno casinos.  Nobody lost too much money, so that’s all good!

 

We also did some things that Kyndra and I had been wanting to do, but waiting for visitors to partake with.  We headed up to Tahoe (south shore) and hopped on a big paddle wheel boat – the M.S. Dixie II.  The boat was fine, but the point was that it takes you to the described (and most likely true) “most beautiful section of
Lake Tahoe” – Emerald Bay.

It was stunning.  Just when you think the lake itself is spectacular, this glimpse was even better.  Kyndra and I hope to get back there very soon!

 

Another attraction that Kyndra and I hadn’t quite taken in was the historic Virginia City, about 40 mins from Reno.  This town is a page out of the big mining days, and the town grew solely based on the big money that could be made, especially from silver discoveries. 

So, it’s a cool place to walk around when you’re in the touristy mindset – people in costumes, re-enactments right and left, old things to look at, and trains to ride! 

It was a hot day out there, so learning about what miners’ work life was like was startling. 

Very hard work, but paying off big at times!

 

Also, we dove into one of the casino’s buffets while the parents were in town (we hadn’t done that).  These things are expensive, but the food is fine.  The new buffet at the ElDorado was packed out, and it’s quite an experience.  We were completely stuffed.

 
And, really, that’s what the weekend felt like.  We stuffed all the attractions in – Tahoe, Virginia City, Reno night-life, church visiting, and seeing our home here in Reno.  I just hope it was a good anniversary trip for them!  We love seeing family come visit us way out here, so it was a treat.

More pics here!

 

That’s how our September Reno began.  Now it’s getting colder and summer is changing, so it’s cool to see this place in transition.  More updates soon!

Texas Visitors

by Kyndra

Richard and Brendon came to visit us last week. We loved having them here and we had plenty of fun playtime.

We made sure we took them to our favorite food places around town throughout the week ... Peg's Glorified Ham N Eggs, Silver Peak Brewery, The Blind Onion, Roses, & Sup.

SATURDAY: We ventured downtown for the River Wine Walk where we walked from vendor to vendor to sample the different wines. We even got to keep the painted wine glasses from the Art Mansion for souvenirs! It was a great time, especially watching Brendo's reaction to the new kinds of wine! ;)  Wine Walk Pics.
Later, we got a little Dark Knight action at the theater. (Anyone else share the love for Christian Bale in this movie?)

SUNDAY: We started out the day with church at The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, where Shaun just accepted a job as Family & Children Ministry Coordinator. They introduced us to the church, and we pretty much shook hands with everyone there after the services! Brendon and Richard came to support us - and they loved every minute of it! In the afternoon, we took a trip up to Lake Tahoe for some nice bike-riding along the Truckee River and the west side of the Lake. It was beautiful, and the down-hills were tons of fun (not so much on the uphill!)

I had to go back to the hospital for internships once Monday came, but the boys kept playing ...

MONDAY:  Hiked up to Mt. Rose and explored another summit overlooking Lake Tahoe. Checked out Wall-E on the big screen. Everyone loved it!

TUESDAY: The boys headed up to UNR to check out the campus. In the evening, we made veggie burgers and headed downtown again to the Truckee River with the dogs in tow. Brendon & Richard jumped in and took on the rapids. We finished the evening with some fancy ice cream from Cold Stone. Can't forget the little casino visit! Shaun finally came out on top this time (not sure this has ever happened!) Can't say the same for Richard and Brendon.

WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY: Traveled to the South shore of Tahoe to Desolation Wilderness and hiked to a nice camping spot next to Susie Lake. I hear it was breath-taking views, freezing cold swimming and burnt oatmeal. Those Pics here.  Later that evening after everyone was home, we all crammed on our bed and watched Juno, the dogs too! We were packed in like 4 grown adults on a queen sz bed with 2 dogs bouncing around on top of us!

FRIDAY: After Richard asked for a Peg's breakfast again, they cleaned up the guest house they had been staying in, and then they all came to visit me at the hospital and we ate lunch together. Special! But, I hear they had to make one last stop at the favorite brewery before heading back to Texas!

So, come and see us and we'll show you a good ole time in Reno.  Here's how Brendo and Richard feel about it:

Things I didn’t consider when moving to our tiny house in Nevada … and it has nothing to do with the square-footage.

by Kyndra

1. dryness
2. the dirt
3. 100 year old brick and grout
4. no bathtub
5. outdoorsy neighbors

1. This place is the DRYEST place I have ever been. It took only 24 hours before my already very dry-prone skin started to look like a parched desert that hadn’t seen rain for months. My feet took on a condition that mimicked a cheese grater … I could literally grate cheese on the balls of my feet! This led me to the grocery store to buy white creamy lotion – eww! (For those of you who know me well, know my serious disdain for all things white & creamy - mayonnaise being at the very top of that list!) But, for some reason the prickly and flaky skin was so irritating to me I had to face my fear of white, creamy lotions for a remedy. After about 30 minutes of reading the ingredient labels of all the lotions on the shelf, trying to avoid glycerin and petrolatum (because these things are very disgusting), I decided on Aveeno, which listed glycerin as one of the last ingredients … it was the best I could find. With my Aveeno and help of my pumice stone, my skin (and mind) is in a much relieved condition.

2. This place has a lot of dirt, I mean, it is the desert, we shouldn’t be that surprised! The homes here do not have grass. All the gardens are ‘desert gardens.’ This doesn’t seem to be too much of a problem … the desert gardens are actually very beautiful and very low maintenance. The problem it poses for us is that we keep our windows open because we do not have an a/c. Dirt blows in and we get dirty floors, which equals dirty feet. And with the dry, crusty feet, the dirt becomes wedged in the pedi-cracks. Shaun and I walk around with black feet all day. I can’t tell you how many times a day we wash our feet!!! It is becoming a new hobby! This also poses a problem for our fine dogs … if there is no grass, where do you poop? These guys have gotten creative … finding a single flower plant with green foliage planted in the desert rocks and crouching over it to not let a single lump, we’ll call it, fall to the rocks! I’ve been impressed! It is funny to watch them panic a bit as they look for anything green to relieve themselves on.

Sink Foot Washing!!!

3. We also have dirty floors from the incredibly old brick wall that is exposed in our living room. The grout that holds the 100 year old brick in place, spills out into a million tiny pebbles whenever it is touched … or even barely nudged. This leaves us with plenty to sweep in a days time. Good thing I enjoy sweeping!

4. So we have a tiny house (370 sq ft to be exact). To save space, only a shower was installed, which means, we have no bathtub! This really isn’t a big deal ... neither Shaun or I take baths – ever. So, no big deal. Oops … forgot that our dogs take baths all the time! How in the world am I going to keep these stinkers clean in this desertous place?? I have never seen their paws more dirty than here in the last couple of weeks. Our solution: bathe the dogs in our kitchen sink! That has been interesting because it is much smaller than a bathtub, but honestly, we have a pretty big sink for a tiny house. Seriously. It works – thank goodness!
 
5. So, I’ve never really wanted to “Keep up with the Jones’s” as that saying goes … until now. We have 3 neighbors in our little community of tiny houses. They are incredibly outdoorsy. Shaun and I dreamed of being more active once we got here … going hiking, biking, and kayaking. But we are waaaay behind our new friends who all have bikes … not just one bike, but FOUR bikes for all different occasions. They also have a goal to hike every mountain in Nevada and are well on their way to completing this measly task! Also, they have started gardens of their own, and are planning a community-beautification project to finish the backyard area of our shared property. I have never even pulled a weed! Anyway – this has left me feeling pretty city-like and waaay behind our “Jones’s.”

The Ohome Sale

*Now plugging the buying of our stuff - we're downsizing as we move to our 380 sq ft place.  So, come get some good stuff.
SEE THE GOODS HERE.

And direct your buying friends to that page.  It will change and grow in the next few days.  There's a link on the left too - OHOME SALE.
There will also be a garage sale (of good stuff) this coming weekend.  If you're in the area, just come hang out with us and chill ... and then maybe decide you see something useful to you and pick it up!

We'll post those details later. 

-wow.  it's more and more real each day-