What We're Doing...

Gina and I have long had personal blogs.  Unsurprisingly, we've both gradually lost interest, and rarely made an entry the last couple of years.  There has been a lot of growth in that time:  for each of us, as individuals, and as a couple, and we feel like we are taking the first steps down a new path.  I realized, the other day, that we should have a joint blog.  We've always been a tight-knit couple that prefers each others' company, and doing things together.  Why shouldn't our blog reflect that?

Our children are grown now.  At this time, we are living in a rented home.  Gina is a homemaker, and stays home with our autistic son, Matthew, while I work at the Portland (OR) VA Medical Center as a cardiac telemetry technician.  Our daughters both live in Montana, the eldest with her husband and our three grandchildren, while our youngest is just starting her family.  Both are expecting children in the months to come.

We spent the first phase of our married life concentrating on raising our children, and sorting out issues from our youth.  We've had a chance to think about what we want to do with the rest of our lives together.  Gina loves children.  We both desire a lifestyle that is more self-reliant, and in closer harmony with the planet.  We have always done a lot of writing.  We both love to cook.  I have enjoyed gardening and the martial arts, as hobbies, for much of my life. 

With these things in mind, we will be working towards some goals for the next few years:  adopting some younger children, preferably a group of siblings (these have the most difficulty finding placement; not many wish to adopt more than one child); buying and developing a property that can become our hobby farm, closer to our daughters (we are thinking the Spokane, WA area); becoming professional, published writers (we both have multiple projects we wish to see completed); and achieving teaching rank in one, or more, of the martial arts that interest me.

This blog will serve as the primary vessel, and record, of our journey.  Additionally, we will maintain The Vance Family Kitchen and Steven's Training Hall.  We'll be sharing our experiences, thoughts, interests, concerns, and delights.  We hope you'll join us...

Steven