We moved - again!

What has remained the same in the last 8 months or so? Both of our companies dissolved in the same week - which happened to be the week of our wedding. Nate's last day was 2 days before the wedding and I got the news via email on the way back from our honeymoon (on the plane before takeoff from Arizona - after about 24 hours of traveling - thank goodness for Blackberry technology, eh?). So, when we got off the plane in Boise, we were coming back to one thing: a 7-8 hour drive back to Portland, but not much else.

"Tough times are there so you can have a good time later on -- and really appreciate it." -Annonymous

We did the drive. Made it home. And spent the next 2 months on our laptops, seated across from each other, applying to jobs about 8 - 9 hours a day. The brightside was the fact that not many newlyweds get to spend so much dang time together - 24/7 in fact - and considered that a blessing in itself. Our jobs had been so busy, and I'd been traveling almost weekly, so it was a lot of fun seeing each other so much. Nate got a little temporary job in the middle of that 2 months doing document review, but amazingly enough, one day at about 4:45, he was working away at his desk when the manager stood up and told everyone that the company was no longer in business. That made 3 dissolved companies and 3 lost jobs within about 2 months. Little rough, but I’ve never been more thankful for Nate – what a hard working, dedicated and level headed man! With a sense of humor that doesn’t quit.

"My night has become a sunny dawn because of you!"
--Ibn Abbad

I did temporary jobs here & there, working at some pretty funny places like a shoe company and an ATM machine dispatcher office thingy. Eventually, Nate got a call asking him to start work in Boise on Thursday. That was on a Monday. We rejoiced, popped a bottle of $2.84 champagne, packed bags and drove to Boise. My parents let us stay with them until we knew the job would work out for sure. Nate spent the next 8 weeks or so working and studying for the Idaho Bar Exam. And we spent another month after that waiting for the results – which were good – and he became an official attorney….again. Now he’s licensed in Idaho & Oregon. He was offered on full time at the firm in October, bringing our 6 ½ months of insanity to a close. Somewhere in there, we terminated our lease at our favorite little town home on the Portland waterfront and moved into an apartment surrounded by BSU college students in Boise. I also got a job here in Boise, which is marvelous.

Our hearts have always remained here in Boise and we are thrilled to be back.

"Home is where the heart is."

And let me tell you – nothing is taken for granted anymore. Six or so months of uncertainty is eye-opening. Everything that we used to complain about before we lost our jobs seems petty and it has been a humbling lesson. We are so fortunate, in so many ways. And happier than ever. It’s a reminder of how fast everything can vanish right out from under you, which has made us thankful for everything we do have. A hard but priceless lesson that I hope stays with us forever.

"What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise." - Oscar Wildes

So, in the end, we're grateful for the lessons and came out the other end with some awesome stories to share with our future kids! Now, into the Christmas season we go: happy, healthy, doing just fine, and looking forward to a new year.

ps- The last move brings our count up fo 9 moves between the two of us in 2 years. Hopefully only one more move into a house in 2010 - then we're staying put.

Our townhome

As requested - here are some pics of our place. It's a little 3-story townhome across the street from the Willamette River in Portland by the Tom McCall Waterfront and marina. We love it! We can walk everywhere downtown and there's a free streetcar across the street when we don't feel like walking. Now that the weather is getting better, it's even more fun down here.

Jamaica Mon!

The sweet Jamaican view from our room :)

I don't think it could have been a better honeymoon. One night, we were lying in a hammock with the perfect view of a sweet reggae band to our right and the ocean view to our left with a plate of chocolate strawberries and two sweet pina coladas . . . we only got out of the hammock to dance. I'm pretty sure that was heaven, right there.

We spent the week sailing, kayaking on the ocean, floating around in pools, and taking naps on the beach. Minus the "hostage situation" in the airport that stopped us from landing in Montego Bay right away and the bad news that I lost my job on the way back, it was a perfect week! The Sandals resort we stayed at was about 2 hours from the airport, so we got to see a bit of the island on the way there and back. It is a whole different world over there. The workers at the resort were so happy and did their work singing and smiling. The tour guide on the bus said,

"Welcome to Jamaica. This is a no-problem island. You're on a no-problem bus. I am a no-problem guide. And you are gonna be no-problem people."

Everything is "noooo-problem, mon" - and that "no-problem" feeling is contagious! By day two, I'm pretty sure the only words we were saying were "No problem, mon" and "More sunscreen, please."

We love you, Jamaica! Hope to see you again soon.

Gamel Family: Established April 18, 2009

It was a beautiful day!

Everyone helped with something and I loved it. Ted made the tasty cake, my mom made my veil, Grandma Irvine arranged the flowers, Nate and I put together the music, my bridesmaids all picked out their own dresses, Stephanie Craig sang at the ceremony, Sarah and Laura made my rehearsal dinner outfit, Nate made me a "book of love," Nate and I spoke our vows, and almost everyone at the reception gave a toast that made me cry! It was such a beautifully personal day, every bit of it, which is exactly what we wanted.

Name: Anna ATWELL

1. Real name: Anna Elyse Atwell
2. Nickname: Annabelle, Banana
3. Status: Engaged
4. Zodiac sign: Cancer
5. Male or female: Female
6. Elementary: St. Pauls (Columbus, Ohio) & St. Marks (Boise, Idaho)
7. Middle School : St. Mark's, Lowell Scott
8. High School: Centennial High School
9. College: University of Idaho, University of Hawaii
10. Hair color: Blonde
11. Long or short: Medium/short right now. I chopped off about 8 inches last summer and now I'm letting it grow again.
12. Loud or Quiet: Quiet voice by nature (I'm told).
14. Phone or Camera: ? My phone is like my security blanket...and it has a camera!
15. Health freak: Used to be but now I go through inspired phases
16. Drink or Smoke: I secretly love cigars. Terrible. I know. And a lavender cosmo with a fine sugar rim is amazing.
17. Do you have a crush on someone: Yep and I think he's caught on.
18. Eat or Drink: Eat eat eat!
19. Piercings: I've had two in my ears and one in my belly button. I only had the belly button for about 4 months before it was lost in the ocean and I never replaced it. The second hole in my ear closed up I think, or I haven't tried it in over a year or two.
20. Tattoos: Nope
21. Music: Ahhh music. I love all music. I especially love music when we it makes us break out into spontaneous dance parties in our living room - be it country, oldies, rap, slow or 80's rock ballads. It is all good.
22. Comedies or Horror: Comedy! Laughing for an hour is WAYYYY better than being scared all night.
FIRSTS:
23. First piercing: My ears at 11 or 12 years old
24. First best friend: Ann Wingert. We were both little blonde girls - Ann and Anna. We pretended to be twins.
25. First award: Probably for girl scouts.
26. First crush: Josh. Red head, freckles and crooked teeth. Love, I tell ya!
27. First Boyfriend/Girlfriend: John I think. Asked me out with a note in the cafeteria. We didn't talk at all and I broke up with him in a note in the same cafeteria 6 days later. First real boyfriend - Nate Price. Poppyseed muffins are the first thing that come to mind. Clarification - it's not the same Nate I'm marrying!
28. First pet: Whiskers the calico cat was around when I was born.
29. First big vacation: Family roadtrip from Columbus Ohio to Disney World in Florida
30. First big birthday: BIG birthday? Not sure I've ever even had a birthday party!
31. First Car: 1982 Volvo. Green, boxy and held together with T-shirts and duck tape.
32. First Favorite Song: Annie's Song by John Denver
33. First phone: At the end of my senior year of high school - graduation gift for college
34. First Surgery: Minor surgery on a scar under my eye when I was about 13
35. First time on an Airplane: I believe it was when we moved from Ohio to Idaho when I was 9
LASTS:
36. Phone Call: On my way to work this morning to my goofy finace, Nate
37. Instant Message: AOL? We use it in my office so it was probably to a co-worker
38. Text Message: To my friend Erin telling her we were stuck in traffic on our way to her house for dinner last night
39. Song you listened to: "Fix You" by ColdPlay - in my headphones right now
40. Time you laughed: when I got to the office
CURRENTLY:
41. Getting on your nerves: Portland weather
42. TV: nothing...
43. Drinking: water
44. Hair: undone but not sticking up
45. Wearing: jeans, flats, blue sweater and white sweater over that
46. Eating: nada
47. With: a room full of co-workers
48. I'm about to: write my heart out in preparation for a conference in Texas
49. Listening to: Coldplay
50. Plans for today: Work hard & late, go to Powells to get Wicked, do some laundry for my trip, hang out with my man, maybe workout
YOUR FUTURE:
51. Want kids: yes!
52. Want to get married: in about 38 days
53. Careers in mind: Anything but Public Relations, stay at home momma, non-profits like the Make-A-Wish Foundation, writer
'54. Place of Residency: Boise or somewhere with 4 seasons and sunshine
55. Car or Truck: Car or small SUV
WHICH IS BETTER:
56. Shorter or taller: Taller
57. Romantic or spontaneous: Spontaneous romance
58. Sensitive or loud: Sensitive
59. Serious relationship or casual dates: Relationship
60. Trouble maker or hesitant: Depends on the day and the weather
61.HAVE YOU EVER:
62. Lost glasses/contacts: Sunglasses
63. Ran away from home: Hahah I thought about it but never seriously
64. Hold a gun/knife for self defense: A knife
65. Killed somebody: Nope
66. Broken someones heart: Yes.
67. Been arrested: Almost for trespassing
68. Cried when someone died: Yes
69. Kissed a stranger: Practically
70. Had someone ask you out and you said no: Sure
71. Laughed until you cried: Yes! I am marrying a pretty funny man
72. Met someone who changed your life: Everyday
73. Fallen in Love: Yes
74. Found out someone was talking about you: Of course
75. Been Cheated on: By 3 different guys that I know of. College was brutal at times.
76. Cheated on anyone: Never.
77. Lost someone special: My grandpa
78. Broken a bone: Fingers and toes?
DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
79. Yourself: Sure do!
80. Miracles: Absolutely
81. Love at first sight: haha maybe lust at first sight. Or intrigue at first sight. Connection at first sight. But real love? No.
82. Heaven: Yes yes yes
83. Santa Claus: There will always be something magic about Santa
84. Holding Hands on the first date: Ok
85. Kiss on the first date: I don't believe I ever have
RANDOMNESS:
86. Righty or Lefty: Righty
87. Last time you saw your Dad: About 1 month ago
88. Do you like the snow: Yes!
89. Whats your favorite season: I don't like a certain season as much as I like SUN. Sun is a treat! Even if it's cold.
90. Can you swim: Yep - I was on swimteam for a few years & have spent plenty of time in lakes. I love the water!
91. Ridden a horse: A couple times. I wish I was a cowgirl.
92. Ridden a bike: So much fun.
93. Photogenic: Ummmm I've grown to be more photogenic but it's by no means consistent
94. Have siblings: 3 brothers, 2 sisters
95. Beach or Mountains: They both take my breath away every time.
96. Hot or Cold: Hot
ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:
97. Is there one person you want to be with right now: Yes. And he knows it.
98. Are you seriously happy with where you are in life: Other than my job, yes. But happy to have a job!
99. Do you believe in God: Yes - and that's the reason I am the way I am.

One more move in Portland

We're moving again! For the record, I've been living in Portland almost 20 months and this is will be my 4th residence:
Beaverton
West Hills/Portland
Lake Oswego
and the latest place is at the Southwest Waterfront/Portland

This will be Nate's 4th residence here also!
Beaverton
Downtown/Cultural District
Lake Oswego

It is time to stay put for awhile, that's for sure. I told Nate I would not be moving anywhere else unless a)We left Portland or b)We had a baby. So hopefully, we'll be hanging out at this place for awhile.

It's a cute little townhouse with a garage on the Southwest waterfront, on the very outskirts of downtown, so we will have a free street car right outside, and we'll never have to actually drive on the busy downtown streets to get to our place. Downtown starts across the street :) And Nate can walk along the river to his office - a 10 minute walk. I'll have an opposite direction commute so traffic won't be bad.

There are tons of shops, restaurants, and salons along the waterfront right outside our door. It's right next to the marina, so we can join the Dragon Boating, rowing teams, go fishing, launch kayaks, take a dinner cruise, or play in the grass by the river from our backyard!

We are so excited!!! I circled the townhomes in red & I'll add more pics of the inside after everything is all moved in.