I can’t believe I did it. But I did. The experience was fantastic. The running, not my favorite…but you knew that anyway! I had to be on the bus at 4am…that’s 1am in “the hood”…and when I got there, the line was super long. I met some wonderful ladies from a Ft. Lauderdale running/walking club. They were kind enough to let me tag along and two of them were in the same group I started with. There were soooooooooooo many women…and quite a few men as well…and most everyone was dressed in some kind of princess garb. Fireworks went off at the beginning of each running/walking group. The ladies from Ft. Lauderdale walked, but were sure to give me hugs before I ran away .
The run itself was harder than I expected it to be and I was thankful for the training I’d done in some of the hillier places. There were Disney characters positioned throughout the course which made for many photo opps along the way I decided that I wanted to enjoy the experience instead of worry about finishing in a certain amount of time…which was good since I’m a sucker for a photograph . I am unbelievably thankful for the prayers and encouragement of all my dear friends and family. My back only bothered me once which is a complete testament to your prayers for God’s grace over me as I ran. I walked for a short time (less than .10 of a mile) somewhere between mile 10 and mile 11, because I was really tired. I was frustrated and I definitely felt like quitting. But in His mercy, Jesus came for me, as He always does and I was able to start running again. The last mile and a quarter felt like the longest mile and a quarter in my life, but I was definitely not willing to stop that close to the end.
So it’s over. After some 3 hours 11 minutes and 17 seconds, I crossed the finish line. I feel so blessed to have made it to this point…and I’ll be wearing my medal around for awhile . I ran the race and can’t wait to get home to hug all the people who were praying for me…and if you’re someone who prayed for me that I can’t hug right away, know that I love you and am hugging you in my heart! I’ll post an update from home with the final amount I’ll be giving to the Rogers’ for their adoption. I can tell you with certainty it’s up to 4 figures and that…makes me very very excited!

I am such a SAP!!! Had a great time at the bridal show at the Civic in The Dalles Last Saturday. They had a fashion show and of course I left the booth to go watch!! I was sitting near the door with a great view of the models as they descended the stairs. Here comes a cute little ring bearer boy escorting a gal in a beautiful bridal dress. I couldn’t believe it!! I started tearing up right then and there! I had to get a grip and tell myself, “it’s a fashion show Samantha”. . . . 

For all my hub-bub about being nervous designing and setting up a booth, it turned out GREAT!!! Sorry the photos are just from our little point and shoot camera. They don’t quite do it justice but you get the idea! I partnered with Carol from Palate Pleasers , and hung photos from the very talented Jim Semlor, Kimberly Kay, and Vlado Sklenar. Carol she added such beauty with her cakes, flowers, and design. I think our booth rocked!! By the amount of traffic we had, I think people agreed!

Top 10 (plus one) Reasons to Have your Columbia Gorge Wedding at the Balch Hotel

1. Dufur (just 40 minutes southeast of Hood River) gets more sunny days and fewer windy days than Hood River. We’re the sunniest wedding location in the gorge!!

2. Wedding packages includes a day coordinator to help you relax and enjoy.

3. Schedule a massage as part of your wedding day preparations.

4. The four different wedding locations on the grounds offer a gorgeous backdrop for your special day.

5. You can book the whole hotel for lodging for your family and guests (sleeps 36!).

6. The bridal suite is gorgeous and includes your own personal Jacuzzi tub and stunning view of Mt. Hood sunsets.

 7. Hosts Jeff & Samantha Irwin are enormously charming, helpful, and focused on helping you with your wedding preparation.

8. The lobby and parlor are a gorgeous place for Hors d’oeuvres, Cake, or Mingling.

9. Wedding and hotel guest love it!

‘Elegant, sophisticated & warm. I enjoyed my stay at the Balch, and only wish I could have stayed longer. Excellent for the business traveler or a romantic get-a-way. Thank you!’

‘Thank you so very much for the hospitality provided during Brandon and Kristi’s wedding. There are so many things that you did for all of us that I can’t begin to list them. My only hope is that more people find your Hotel and realize the unique setting and the first class treatment that you provide. Thank you again.’

‘The entire stay was perfect. Homemade ice cream, warm cookies, super clean rooms, beds that we all loved – hated to get out of! Bathrooms that were sparkly clean. 5 star. We’ll be back again.’

10. Book between now and May 1st and get 2 nights lodging – free! (Gift certificate to be used anytime within 1 year after your wedding date.)

 11. Super cool photo ops nearby!!

Email Samantha@BalchHotel.com today to learn more!

Sunday, March 7, 2010 I will be running in the Disney Princess Half-Marathon. The race itself is a benefit for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society and while my entry-fees go toward that incredible organization, I had to find a deeper reason to run. I’m not really a runner, at least I wasn’t before this. For me to run a half-marathon meant finding a bigger purpose…something way outside of myself, because simply running to run would never have been enough motivation.

Let me tell you about my motivation…

Somewhere in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia there is an orphanage called Hannah’s Hope. Somewhere inside Hannah’s Hope is a precious little princess who is waiting to be brought home to live with the Rogers family.

Bob and Cheri Rogers, and their three boys are currently on a waiting list to be given a referral to adopt a little girl from Hannah’s Hope, run by All God’s Children International – an adoption agency out of Portland, OR. Bob is a high-school math teacher and Cheri home-schools their three boys. They are currently #7 on the waiting list and while they wait, they are trying to raise the $27,000 needed to pay for the adoption. This is the reason I am running!!

Training has gone pretty well…although I still don’t LOVE to run. I’ve wanted to quit several times, but every time I feel that way, I imagine a little face with big brown eyes, curly hair and pink bows. She keeps me going and I dare say, I like running a little bit more every time I do it!

Samantha’s husband Jeff put together a training schedule that has allowed me to gradually work up to longer distances, while training speed on my shorter runs. My lower back gets pretty stiff and knotted on any runs longer than 8 miles, but I’ve found ways to deal with that throughout the training process. I’ve also figured out how to stay fueled during the long runs. My secret? Cold gummy bears and salted cashews …and of course water and G2 Grape Gatorade!

At this point, the Rogers’ have been able to raise all but about $6,000. This money will be used for travel expenses to Ethiopia to get their daughter and bring her home. My goal is to raise $2,000 for the Rogers’ family. To date, I’ve raised $532 through the generosity of a few friends and family members. That leaves me $1468 short of my goal.

Jeff and Samantha are generously donating a percentage of overnight stay this Saturday, February 27th to my fundraising efforts!! It’s PERFECT timing because Jamie Snell is catering a rocking Supper Club! A great excuse to take your honey on a date night. Get away to the Balch for a good cause! www.BalchHotel.com

This Saturday night!! Call NOW for reservations! 541-467-2277.

And, thank you in advance, for supporting such a good cause.

~René

P.S. Samantha says that if you feel moved to donate and cannot stay this weekend you can send something to her c/o René at:
P.O. Box 5
Dufur, OR 97021

Oh my. Oh MY. OH MY!! I’m really looking forward to getting my feet wet and participating in our first Bridal Show!! It’s this Saturday at the Civic in The Dalles. The event is from 10-3:00 with a fashion show at 1:00.

I’m reading up on ways to make your booth reflect your business, what brides are looking for, what kind of give-a-ways to have, etc. etc. It makes my head spin just a little bit! Ok. It makes my head spin a lot!

My biggest challenge is decorating the booth! “What??” you say, “How can this be? You decorated the hotel!!”

Cat’s out of the bag now!! In actuality, I had a vision and then connected with the talent to make the vision come to life!! I can describe in words what I like but to actually put together the pieces to form that vision . . . . well, that stresses me out! I can plan a wedding or event just perfectly and love doing it! To me, that is not a challenge. Arranging flowers, that’s a challenge that should be left to the professionals! Looking for great photograph shots = professionals! Decorations = professionals.

I like to think I am good at seeing talent in other people and then connecting with them. We’ve been blessed to have people in our lives with plenty of talent and a desire to help us move forward with our vision. It’s like a symphony. All the players have valuable talents. They are like our photographers, florists, invitation designers, planners, etc. The conductor, now THAT’S who I relate to. Take all that fabulous talent and bring it together in a wonderful performance. That’s my kind of thinking!

Where is my first cellist or my second flautist? Where is my booth decorator? Fortunately I have great colleagues who are giving me all sorts of ideas for the booth. It amazes me the ideas they spout out. It’s remarkable to me and seems so easy for them!! Lucy, who owns Lucy’s Informal Flowers just tossed out three ideas. JUST LIKE THAT. I was stunned and loved every one of them! My, that’s talent.

Anyone want to decorate our booth?? 

Since the Greater Dufur Area Chamber was reformed a couple of years ago, I jumped at the chance to be involved. I love the idea of a group of people with common interests brainstorming, serving, coming together, and getting things done. “Two heads are better than one” is a phrase I strongly believe in. It was off to a bit of a rocky start because I, Samantha, was at the helm! While I really appreciate the compliment by my fellow officers and those who nominated me, my inexperience slowed us down. I am used to being a one man band! Working and leading intelligent, business, and community minded adults is/was fun and a challenge. I’m still on the board and just as active but also learning from others with experience. Together experience, enthusiasm, and energy can accomplish a lot!

I love the ’smallness’ of the town. Dufur residents are extremely community minded. Support for sporting events is amazing! During games, I think most of the town shows up to cheer. It’s really great. An advantage of working with a small town and smaller groups of people is that you find people to be very passionate and outspoken about their home. I know, I know, don’t get too worked up about that statement! I’m not dis-ing bigger places, other people from other towns are passionate about their community too!! I suppose the difference here is that it’s still small enough to help form future vision. People are coming together and deciding the direction of growth – or non growth – that the town wants to embrace. People and businesses are revitilizing buildings and taking care of that history that makes Dufur so very special. I really am passionate about helping form this vision.

Well now, it seems I’ve gone off on a tangent! I need to write about our first Business After Hours event! This Thursday, February 25th at the Balch Hotel, we are very fortunate to have Lisa Williams with Media Forte Marketing presenting about the nebulous I N T E R N E T. She’s focusing on how to increase your presence on the net. Let me tell you from personal experience (www.BalchHotel.com) that’s she knows her stuff! I’ve been impressed with her knowledge, the groups and training that she’s involved with that keep her connected and up on the latest. I sure wouldn’t want that job!! I rather enjoy the idea of “mastery”. Hers is an ever changing beast and I’m glad she keeps up with it translating  it to a language that I can understand. She’s presenting from 6-7:00, then we’ll network and meet our fellow business men and women from 7-8:00 while enjoying some tantalizing treats from Imperial River in Maupin, Janet Stauffer (for judge!!), and the Balch. Join us!! You don’t have to be a member, but after Thursday night you just might want to be!

Thursday, February 25th
Balch Hotel, Dufur
6-8:00 p.m.

Welcome!!

So, we are starting a blog. . . how fun! I suppose this first blog, the introduction, should contain a bit of history. Jeff and I bought the Balch in 2006. Upon walking in the back door, I immediately fell in love with the building. We prayed that if it was the right place to be that the doors open. Boy did they open quickly! I fell in love with the history of the building, the location out here with rolling hillsides, sunshine, and small town atmosphere. It fit ALL of my criteria for a wedding location! We’ve found a diamond.