long long ago in a land far away

I started this blog right before we left for Hawaii, then Guatemala. I once thought I'd update this weekly, then monthly, now it's whenever. Sorry to anyone who may check in regularly or should I say thank you.
We are excited to have Steph coming to the mainland for the summer. For those who know her and would like to see her, give her or us a call or stop by after June 13. She should be here through July, then in and out for a time, but still in the NW.

Eli turns 14, back in November

Boys just wanna have fun......I love that they still love to play. The next day they went to the football field with several more of the guys and played football in the pouring rain. Great times and memories.

God is hilarious....

I have always found zebras to be one of the funniest animals that God created. This picture was taken from a friends blog. They actually live in Africa.

Having some fun in Hawaii-Christmas 2008

A friend sent me this with a note that maybe she wasn't such a boring person afterall. I never thought you were boring Christina!
Hers's my responses to the list.


*1. Started your own blog
*2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
*4. Visited Hawaii
*5. Watched a meteor shower
*6. Given more than you can afford to charity
*7. Been to Disneyworld(Disneyland)
*8. Climbed a mountain
*9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
*13. Watched a lightning storm at sea-does a large lake count?
*14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
*16. Had food poisoning-haven't we all!
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
*18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
*21. Had a pillow fight
*22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
*24. Built a snow fort
*25. Held a lamb
*26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
*29. Seen a total eclipse
*30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
*31. Hit a home run
*32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
*35. Seen an Amish community
*36. Taught yourself a new language-a work in progress
*37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
*42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
*43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
*44. Visited Africa
*45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
*51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
*52. Kissed in the rain
*53. Played in the mud
*54. Gone to a drive-in theater
*55. Been in a movie-does a local comercial count, and our daughter was on Lost
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
*57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
*60. Served at a soup kitchen
*61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
*62. Gone whale watching
*63. Got flowers for no reason
*64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
*67. Bounced a check
*68. Flown in a helicopter-scared me to death(well nearly so)
*69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (book!)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
*72. Pieced a quilt
*73. Stood in Times Square
*74. Toured the Everglades
*75. Been fired/laid off from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
*77. Broken a bone
*78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (in a few months anyway)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
*84. Had your picture in the newspaper
*85. Read the entire Bible
86.Visited the White House
*87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
*88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
*90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
*93. Lost a loved one
*94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
*98. Owned a cell phone
*99. Been stung by a bee
100. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
*101. Learned to play an instrument
102. Kissed the Blarney Stone
103. Ridden a camel
104. Ridden an Elephant
105. Petted a cheetah
106. Eaten Opposum-gross....

Merry Christmas

Hi all. We are in Hawaii enjoying Christmas with Stephanie. Eli, Bob and I are taking full advantage of the sun and ocean. Oh to feel the warmth on our faces. It was snowy and icey in Oregon for more than a week before we left. I'll add pictures as soon as possible. We went and saw Steph dancing at the Christmas eve service here in Honolulu.

Love these kiddos

the "Tourists" I love the ABC bag, it totally makes the costume.

Hopefully this is as close as he ever gets to a motorcycle......

Brother and sister mugging for the camera.

Fall color

Happy Fall.
I love the changing of the seasons. The old ones mark is left behind as the new one ushers in an unexpected freshness. I know it's coming but it always brings me joy. Shuffling through the fallen leaves, checking out the changing colors, and even putting on a sweater. They all signal a change, a chance to enjoy once again, Gods' creation anew. I just seem to feel different about things when the seasons change, ready for what God has in-store.

YWAM revisited, well almost

I met these lovely ladies in Kona, HI in 2006. Amanda(long blonde hair)was our school leader, Tina(sassy new hair cut) was one of our staff leaders, and Alexis (cute prego one) was one of my fellow students. Alexis is now married, Tina is managing a Starbucks in Canada, and Amanda is making a new life for herself right here in Oregon. We all met up in Portland last week and had a fun time together. Ya, Bob was with us, but he took most of the pictures so wasn't in to many. Can't wait to meet the new little girl who will soon be joining us.