Sarah & Hannah Visit

This was a special weekend with the visit of John's sister Sarah and her daughter Hannah from Medina, Ohio.

Our descriptions of Seattle's incredible July weather were abruptly drowned out by a wet and cold front that broke all records. But we had a fun weekend anyway, even squeezing in boating between showers.

Some highlights were the Pike Street Market, a ride on the Duck of Seattle, the Seattle Art Museum, Snalqualmie Falls, boating through the Ballard Locks, and a picnic on the on Puget Sound.

A Child's Right

For those of us who walk up to the faucet or fridge door for a cool clean glass of ice water as the whim strikes, we are in the minority worldwide. Clean drinking water is a dream, not a commodity, in much of the world today. An organization called A Child's Right (headquartered in Tacoma, Washington) is an organization dedicated to bringing vital water filtration systems to the areas of the world that need it the most. They recently completed a project that assisted thousands of children in the hardest hit areas of China. Please click here to visit their website to learn more about their cause, but also to view hundreds of pictures from their time in Child Welfare Institutes (orphanages) in China. If you've ever wanted to see the inside of an orphanage, here is your chance.

When it comes time to make your annual charitable contributions (or the next time you have a nice cold glass of water) consider this cause.

Three wonderful years

Pamela & John celebrate their 3rd anniversary today. We agreed that the last three years have flashed by. It's hard to believe it's been three years since we committed ourselves to each other on the beach in Fiji.

We celebrated a couple days early by going to the Seattle Symphany's wonderful performance of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D major and Orff's Carmina Burana. It was a "Wow" performance--- just like our relationship.

And one day earlier we enjoyed time together on our boat on Lake Washington. We feel so blessed to be living in such a beautiful part of the country and our ability to have such a wonderfully boat that lets us enjoy it.

Barbara & Jolane Visit

Early July was a special time at the Block house. We were visited by Pamela’s Mom Barbara and Aunt Jolane. Barbara lives close to Tampa and Jolane lives near Minneapolis. Barbara and Jolane hadn’t seen each other for 25 years and so that had fun catching up and reliving memories.

Jolane had the opportunity to see the sites in Seattle for the first time.

We celebrated Barbara’s 59th birthday (okay it was really her 65th!) with friends Tim and Kris and good neighbors Sara and Howard.

July 4th we tied up boats with Tim and Kris and their daughter Kaitlyn on Lake Washington and enjoyed the perfect Northwest summer day.

Jolane, Pam, Barbara

Jolane at Pike Street Market

Barbara, Pam, Jolane in Lake Union

Barbara's 65th

July 4th, 2007

Kaitlyn & friend

Tim & Kris

Captain Barbara at the helm of "110%"