Vancouver is becoming home

Finally, after a month in corporate housing, we've moved into our our own place. It is great to begin unpacking and settling in. Graeme's parents arrived from California just as the movers were finishing unloading the truck. Great timing :-)

It was wonderful to have Jim and Barbara help us organize and get situated in our new home. Don't worry, we didn't put them to work the whole time they were in Vancouver. It was their first trip back to this city in 33 years after having lived here while Jim did research at Simon Fraser University in 1980. Fun to hear their stories of how the city has changed.

It was also good for us to explore the area around our place; find the boats where we can pick-up fresh live seafood, the market for good bread, more restaurants and the beaches and running paths near our new home. This city and British Columbia are incredibly beautiful. We have so much more to see and can't wait!

Huge thank you to Jim and Barbara for the help. We couldn't have done it without you.

We are looking forward to our next visitors. Come on up!

Great Oregon news

After the initial couple of weeks in Vancouver, Graeme returned to Portland for a few days to support our friends on election day. To our surprise and delight, it was announced that a big court decision would be released in Oregon when he was in town. May 19, 2014 will be remembered as an exciting and special day - U.S. District Judge Michael McShane struck down Oregon's ban on same-sex marriage. Memorable day as many friends in Oregon now have the same opportunity to get married as we do.

We were moved by the words of Judge McShane:

"Where will all this lead? I know that many suggest we are going down a slippery slope that will have no moral boundaries. To those who truly harbor such fears, I can only say this: Let us look less to the sky to see what might fall; rather, let us look to each other...and rise."

Also, that day was a moment of reflection as it has been a long journey for Oregon. Graeme door knocked in 2004 with family to encourage voters to vote NO on Measure 36, which amended the Oregon constitution to define marriage as a union of one man and one woman.

So glad we can celebrate the true meaning of marriage this year.

Speaking of the polls, the big reason to be in Portland was to support our friend and officient Jules Bailey on Election Day as he ran for Multnomah County Commission. An important night for his career and the state, it was great that we could call it a victory shortly after the polls closed.

 As Jules gave his election night speech, he referenced the big marriage announcement from the day before.  He spoke about his wife, Jessica, being the "rock" in their relationship during this election cycle and shared the importance of the previous day's court decision on their own relationship:

"Our love...our marriage is stronger when it could be recognized by a community that celebrates everybody's love."

We agree.

With that belief, we are excited Jules will be standing with us to recognize our love, our marriage and our future together on October 19, 2014 (5 months after U.S. District Judge McShane struck down Oregon's ban on same-sex marriage).