An Ode to Number One

As you know if you've been reading the blog - our company is going through some layoffs.  The first people affected (temporary employees) are unfortunately leaving today. 

I sit relatively close to HR so I've had a chance to build relationships with these folks over the last 6 years.  And, if you know me - you know I absolutely hate paperwork - so I find these people invaluable.  A joke I have going is that whoever helps me the most (meaning gets me out of doing the most paperwork) I designate #1.  So, I walk around talking to them kind of like when House (the TV show character) numbered a bunch of job candidates and still refers to one of his colleagues as '13'.

The current #1 is being escorted to the doors at the end of the day.  Sad.  I have been asking God to allow me to be an encouragement to my colleagues as we go through this transition (which will be ongoing for months).  Yesterday and this morning He put on my heart to encourage #1 in writing (as well as verbally) as He moves her down the path.  Here's what I came up with.  Is there someone you work with that could use a kind word today?

An Ode to Number One

Hear ye, hear ye, all who have ears

I’ve recently heard news that leads me to tears

For one who brings joy and smiles and delight

will be banished from our lives and whisked from our sight

It’s criminal at times the folks they let lead

who choose against people and focus on greed

Their minds may be nimble at profit and loss

Frankly, I prefer more compassion in a boss

But, alas, their decision is made, sealed and signed

and so it’s your farewell to which I’m resigned

With hollow words of hope to the door you’ll be led

and then to a sound sleep they’ll repose in their bed

A pox on the decision makers who brought us this blight!

A quiet pox, however, as we cower in fright

But let us be fearless and boisterous in praise

as we lay down our tribute in this simplest of ways

A smile in the workplace does wonders indeed

for joy is the harvest that comes from that seed

Now you, more than others, have offered this gift

with laughter and kindness our spirits you lift

Our days have been brighter because you are here

Your quiet, unsung value to some is quite clear

It speaks to your character that you will be missed

You're more than a name that populates a list

A path is a journey that’s not always straight

it carries us to people with a vicariousness of fate

Yet as we look backwards and see all the signs

it sometimes is possible to see a design

The pattern we see as we reflect on you here

is of beauty, warm-heartedness and uncommon good cheer

So for all your great work and laughter and fun

I officially designate you:  Permanent Number One!

Rachel's Rescue

Check out this little one that Rachel Rescued today.  It's a newborn gray squirrel - to go! - the newest entry on the Chipotle menu!  Definitely an acquired taste.

Another week... some more tweets..

Busy.. busy... busy...  Sorry folks.. I got nothing exciting for you.  How about you?  Got anything exciting for the rest of us?

Tod: Monday was the day over half our company got their official lay off notices. 
Tod: is very disappointed by the first two nights of live performances on American Idol.  Crazy song choices and horrible singing from many!  What's up?  When does Glee come back?
Tod: speaking of disappointed... have you been watching 24?

Another Great Reason to Love Oregonians!

Yesterday I read some news that just infuriated me to no end.  So, it was with trepidation in my heart I even opened up my browswer this morning to check stocks and read some news.

But then I stumbled onto this heart-warming story. I just have to share a bit with you.  I know many of us are healthy eaters.  I hope you will seek out Bob's Red Mill Natural Food products to support this great company.

MILWAUKIE – Scores of employees gathered to help Bob Moore celebrate his 81st birthday this week at the company that bears his name, Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods.

Moore, whose mutual loves of healthy eating and old-world technologies spawned an internationally distributed line of products, responded with a gift of his own -- the whole company. The Employee Stock Ownership Plan Moore unveiled means that his 209 employees now own the place and its 400 offerings of stone-ground flours, cereals and bread mixes.

"This is Bob taking care of us," said Lori Sobelson, who helps run the business' retail operation. "He expects a lot out of us, but really gives us the world in return." Moore declined to say how much he thinks the company is worth. In 2004, however, one business publication estimated that year's revenues at more than $24 million. A company news release issued this week stated that Bob's Red Mill has chalked up an annual growth rate of between 20 percent to 30 percent every year since.

"In some ways I had a choice," Moore said of what he could have done with the company he founded with his wife, Charlee, in 1978. "But in my heart, I didn't. These people are far too good at their jobs for me to just sell it."

Pre Weekend Tweets

Time just races by sometimes!  It's Friday already!  So.. got any weekend plans you can share with the rest of us?

Tod: this working on Fridays is for the birds :)
Tod: is heading to Oakland to watch the Warriors play Sunday night
Tod: is hoping to enjoy some of that sunny and 60 degree weather the forecasters are promising us!

Tod:  ouch!  just removed Hannah's abandoned blog from our watch list.

1978 Schoolcraft High School Year Book

okay.. so Julie starts reading me a note that was left in her 1978 high school year book (she would have been a sophomore.. i would have been a junior).  sometimes when you've been together for so long the old memories fade a bit.  what a nice reminder.  here's how i signed her book that year!  she was the better of us two then... and remains decidedly so even now.

i was also kind of taken back to realize how much of who i was then i remain today.  weird.  but we still love doing all sorts of things together... love the Lord... love going to church... love bread... love playing card games... and i guess i nailed it when i told her i would always love her.  now.. if i can just stave off Alzheimer's long enough to keep my promise to always remember her!  

julie, sometimes mankind, after many trials and tribulations, allows itself to blunt its feelings, and hides itself from all the beauty of the world - just to escape some of the ugliness.  i did that.  but, unlike mankind in general, which digs deeper and deeper - i was held up - helped out of my hole by one of those beauties. and when i had risen i found that it would be my destination to explore and learn about life and love with her.

thank you for all the dear, special times we've had to share together.  the walking in the rain - letters - riding daisy - poems - songs - drive-in movies - movies - flowers - anniversaries (1500 hours!) - camping at the cabin - two sisters - curfews - our street - sleeping - chasing cows - fair - tractor pulls - canoeing - swimming - ice cream - ichthus - summer '78 - euchre - rook - listening to records - tickling - first kisses - 2nd kisses - 2,000,002 kisses - kisses for golf - (makes you think we kiss alot!) - my holey jeans - memorizing the bible - church every sunday - bible study - GOLFING! - bowling - picnics in the park - wading - being gone all summer - losing rings - maggie - my bread! and 1001 things i just can't remember - but are every bit as special!

you know i love you - but just remember it! always stay the way you are, and thanks for understanding me, putting up with me, and caring for me!  you're the greatest unofficial or official girlfriend ever! i'll always remember you and love you!  WINKS! 

Karen

Who is more fantastic than Karen???  Do you see how that girl got air???

We love you Karen!

Catching Up

Our great friend and neighbor Tim celebrated another birthday this last week!  We celebrated on Friday night (his actual Bday was Thursday) with a dinner out at The Fish Market followed by some deserts, presents and some game playing! Here's the crew at the restaurant (credit Auntie for all the photos within this post!)















Along with wonderful food - it was great to get the whole gang together again.  Karen is an accountant and is in the midst of tax season - so seeing her at all is a treat.  Jon and Rachel were also able to make it and we have missed having them closer. So, it was a treat to have them there.  And - drum roll... there's a new kid in town. Yes, Tim invited a date along for the dinner.  Her name is Barbara and she is very sweet!  We thought it was cute that they ordered the same meal!

After dinner we retreated to the Logan's for some ice cream cake and presents!  The cake was good - but the gifts were very mediocre.  I mean, check out this ugly blanket that he got (that's a joke grandma!).

Then we played a game of Apples to Apples which is a fun card game that is good for large numbers of people.

Thanks to Auntie for her excellent, as always, organizational skills along with being our official photographer for the event (explaining why you don't see her in any of the pictures!).

We love you Tim!  I hope we do another 40 or so of these!

Oregon Visit

Okay.. this post is long overdue.  I've been overworked and a bit under the weather since returning.  So, please accept my apologies for keeping you waiting!

Last weekend Julie and I got a chance to visit with the Team Henderson 2 in Salem.  We arrived late on Thursday and stayed through the weekend.  We stayed with Joel and Carissa (in Ryan's future room!) which was a real treat.

It had been a few months since we've seen them last - and there's been some changes!  Yep, Ryan is certainly making his presence known at this point as evidenced by the following pictures.

Joel had to work Friday morning - so we got to sleep in a bit.  The weather was sunny Friday morning and Julie and I got out for a nice walk before we met up with Joel for a wonderful lunch at our favorite Salem restaurant: La Perla Tapatia!  The food was delicious.

Oh... hey - speaking of food - we were very impressed with the cooking around TH2land!  Friday morning I had one of the best cinnamon rolls I have ever tasted.  I believe (Carissa, correct me if I'm wrong) that they were whole wheat.   All I remember for sure is that they were delicious.  They only lasted to Saturday morning!

After eating we had an opportunity to go shopping with the kids at Babies R Us.  We learned very early on just how much more complicated things have gotten since we had kids.  There are literally dozens of choices for every imaginable baby product.  It was interesting and informative to hang with Joel and Carissa and hear and see what they are thinking about for little Ryan.  For sure, they are making every effort to make sure you are safe and happy!  Good for you!

Friday evening we had a yummy homemade pizza.  I apologize for the skimpy number of pictures I took.  I'm getting a little irritated at my camera's indoor performance!  Anyways... just image a really good looking thin crust pizza and you would have nailed it!

Saturday we enjoyed an evening with Joan and Dan (Carissa's parents).  We got a chance to eat a wonderful dinner of Crepes - made by Joel and Carissa.  I have learned that they do a really good job together in the kitchen and create some very good and healthy food!  Here's Carissa in their kitchen.

Here's Joel enjoying the fruit of their labors!  What's awesome about Crepes is that you can have them both for the entree and desert!  We made all sorts of fruit creations for desert.  My favorite was raspberries, blueberries, this really tasty cheese sauce I can't recall the name of and chocolate!

We also had a great time playing Wii games Saturday night. Joel was the undisputed champion - but we did pretty good at a couple games.  Here's Joel and Dan playing!

And here's Dan and I giving it a try!

On Sunday we went to church with the kids and then took them to lunch.  It was a nice enough day that Julie and I walked back to their house from the restaurant (about 4.5 miles!).  We we arrived Joel and Carissa had just gone out for a bit of a walk of their own.  And, the Superbowl had just started.  So, Julie and I moved some living room furniture around, hauled the air mattress that we had been using into the living room and set it to watch the game (and perhaps get a minute or two of shut eye!).  We thought the kids would be pretty appalled at us when they came home - but they had a really good attitude about it.















All in all we really had a great visit.  It is exciting to see the two of them enjoying being married and anticipating Ryan becoming a part of their family.  We just can't wait ourselves!

Thursday Tweeting

How is your week going? We'd love to hear what you're up to ... tweet away.

Tod: knows he's delinquent on Oregon stories... working it...
Tod: is challenged at times to figure out how to be a good friend...
Tod: is so lucky to have a great Valentine for a wife!
Tod: could have been in Vancouver judging Olympic Skating .. but the Committee has important work to do for you.

Tweet Me!

How is your week going? We'd love to hear what you're up to ... tweet away.

Tod: is working his last day before flying to Oregon for a long weekend! 

Tod: is thankful for a great Bible Study group.  We're taking a couple weeks break to 'tell our Spiritual journey' stories to each other and they have been great!

Tod: needs to remember to bring Mandy to Oregon.  we need her!