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.

Seems like so long ago that Adam left for school and now he is returning from his externship. He was in Waterton Lakes Park, Alberta, Canada, working at the Prince of Wales Hotel. The food, of course, was excellent!!!
Bob, Eli and I went for a visit so I thought I'd show you some pictures. They really tell the story better than I can.



I think you can figure whats what!!! It was awesome to see so much wildlife. We saw bear also, but to far away for a decent picture.


Enjoying a little sun out on Waterton Lake. We were actually in American waters when this picture was taken. The park is part of an international Peace Park with Glacier Park in the USA.

Bob,ELi and I on top of "Bears Hump", a grueling uphill hike, but so worth the view.

Eli and I on the shore of Linton(sp)Lake(took about 20 minutes to hike around it)

This and that

Singing songs on a sunny summer Saturday.


A little tag football on a sunny summer day.


What to do on a rainy summer day...

Perspective

I was looking for a picture of Steph to put here (one she recently sent us)but I couldn't find it. Truth be told, I just didn't know how to get it from the email to here. This reminded me of her for many reasons. For those of you who know her, you can surmise for yourselves what they are and for those not in the know you can use your imaginations!!!!
"Perspective"
When God speaks to me I "hear" him in many different ways. Sometimes it's in something I see, like a beautiful sunset, the smile of loved ones. Other times it might be in what I am hearing; a song, the laughter of a child, even in the thunder. What kid, growing up in the Midwest, wasn't told it was God and the angels having a bowling match!!! The fragrance of a flower, the smell of a baby, arouse my sense of smell and remind me of the Creator of all things. And how can a stone be both smooth and hard? As I hold it in my hand and feel it's weight, it's softness and hardness at the same time, it's mind boggling. God also uses my sense of taste. That perfectly ripe strawberry, the steak cooked to perfection, that fresh picked ear of corn. Who am I to deny the existence of a loving God, I should daily be extolling his greatness, his majesty.
This past Sunday a man from our church spoke on the importance of putting things in our lives in the proper perspective. Do we live by fear, which usually involves our senses or do we look to God and see things in the proper spiritual perspective. When he spoke of David, the boy, going up against Goliath, he, David, had the proper perspective. When I go up against my Goliaths, do I?
This challenged me. We are flesh, we are full of senses. God uses those senses to speak to us, to me. Yet, they can be a stumbling block as well as a source of wonderment. How do I know the difference? How do I separate my feelings, my reactions in my senses, from what God wants from me or what the enemy would like me to do? I don't. Only "He that is in me", can. Only by putting things into their proper spiritual perspective can I be who and what God wants me to be. May God help me day to day, moment to moment, to see my situations through His perspective.

Rooster man...

After reviewing my last several post, I realized I hadn't really put anything about Eli on here in a while.
The many faces of Eli.
As the Rooster, in a fundraiser for our local animal shelter (they did the Tortoise and the Hare)
Hanging with his buddy Dallas.
In the music room doing his thing!!!!

"The Prince"

Adam is loving Canada and working at "The Prince." (Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton, Canada.) He is cooking up a storm and enjoying his surroundings as often as possible. We hope to go visit before his externship ends.

For Susan!!!!!!!

Hey Susan,
Here are some more pics for your enjoyment.
There's nothing like kayaking in the Caribbean. This picture is already hanging in our house.

Relaxing with my honey.....

Bob and I went to Cancun, Mexico in celebration of our 30th wedding anniversary!

Hope springing eternal...

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and cetain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1
They say it's spring, but the weather doesn't support that comment. So as we sit here in Oregon, chillin', waiting for the spring weather, we still proceed with hope. Gardens are being dug and planted. Flower beds are awakening with lots of "spring" color and hopes of summer glory.
I'd like to always live my life like this. Proceeding with the hope and assurance I have in Christ Jesus and being certain of what I do not see or know! When I do step out in faith, it is so awesome to feel God working through me. I don't always get to see the end results, in fact, that is rare. Yet I know He is doing something, even if that something is only in me and not in those I think I am reaching out to.
Yesterday at church, Amanda challenged us to see the individual, not just the need
"People with needs are always going to be among us, but can we see them as more than just a NEED?" To love as Christ loves. When we do that, we will often times not see the results of our actions, yet we can be assured that Christ in us, will do more that feed the hungry, house the homelss, heal the sick.
Proceed with hope. Go out with love. Spring is coming.....

Where I'd like to be somedays......

It's Official....
She's an island girl!!!!!

Adam at school in Portland

Adam getting ready to cook us a yummy meal at Oregon Culinary Institute

The "chef" visits our table
Adam is getting ready to head off to Banff Canada to do his internship.
He will be at the Prince of Wales Hotel for 16 weeks beginning June 5.

HAPPY GOLDEN BIRTHDAY ADAM-SWEET 19

Snow and such

Well the new year is well under way and I am just getting back to this blog.
I am thrilled to learn of another Holton family out there serving our Lord.
Not to much new yet this year. Eli is playing basketball and really enjoying himself. Adam is doing well at school and beginning to look at locations for his internship, look out world! Steph is enjoying life in Hawaii and still going through a little transition phase. She is currently living and working full time with a family that she nannies for. She is hoping to get a place with some friends in the near future, while continueing to nanny. Fall will find her going to school in Hawaii full time.
At this time Bob and I have no mission trips planned, though we are always open to what the Lord has for us. We do have a triped planned though. We are planning on spoiling ourselves this year in celebration of our 30th wedding anniversary!!
Just had a delightful visit from my sister Margo. It was great to have her here in Philomath and to introduce her to all the "church ladies" ( several, who have been my sisters for over 20 years) and my home schooling friends. My family doesn't get to see me in my own element very often. I hope she liked what she saw even if she didn't understand it all. Love ya sis.
We are looking forward to another fun eventful year. I'll try to keep you posted as things transpire.
The photos are out front of our house one wintery morning in January and Margo and I at the beach.