Home Sweet Oregon Coast

We decided to take a break from the chaos of unpacking and cleaning and head to the Oregon coast for a day - what a treat! It was in around 68 degrees (perfect for this prego mama:o) and sunny. After some initial fears of sharks, crabs and jelly fish the kids decided playing in the water, hunting for marine treasures and getting sandy was a total blast.

We ended the day eating supper at our favorite place - Camp 18, an old logging pit stop with all sorts of treasures to explore.

Jadon didn't hesitate to get soaked from head to toe - and had a ton of fun "hunting" with Dad

Elie was treated to being picked as the favorite ball thrower of two dogs, who randomly selected her out of all the people on the beach! (their owners were very friendly too:o)

One of the largest muscle shells that we found - among two jelly fish, several crabs and lots of tiny fish. We also had several seal sightings!

Hello to our Michigan friends from the Pacific Coast!!

We decided to make our move West as fun as possible - my parents never having done this particular road trip and our family making this journey for the sixth time.

We started off very early Friday morning (the 17th of July), and arrived at Mackinac Island, Michigan around 10am. We boarded a ferry and found a carriage tour and had an absolute blast exploring the Island. The island is the one tourist destination we haddn't seen in our 4 years living in Michigan. No cars are allowed on the island (with the exception of about 3 emergency vehicles), so the only way to get around is by walking, biking or horses. After lunch and coffee we boarded a ferry back to the UP (upper peninsula of Michigan) and headed west toward Escanaba to see our friend Lonnie for one last good-bye before leaving the State of Michigan.

(Grandpa and Jadon having fun on the carriage ride) We found this amazing hotel in Sioux Falls, South Dakota that had a water slide in the hotel. The kids had a blast that night and we got some good rest in before heading to Rapid City, SD, where Mt. Rushmore is located. We decided on attending the night ceremony where they light up the faces while telling the story of each president and how Mt Rushmore came to be. It was spectacular to see - and none of us had ever been there at night. The next day we played around in Rapid City, stopping in at our family's favorite "pit stop" Bear Country USA - a park that has bears, and other large animals roaming free in different areas and you drive through them. You can also get out and walk through an area that houses smaller and baby animals. Before heading West again we had to eat at our favorite steak joint - a place my neighbor and I discovered on the 3rd time through this trek when she helped me drive our car across the country.

(sleeping cub at Bear Country USA)

(Steaks for supper!)

We made it to Cody, Wyoming for a brief night sleep before heading to Yellowstone. We spent two days exploring both loops in Yellowstone, and for all of the seasons we've been through this national park, July was not our favorite... There were longer lines and fewer animals. But, we had fun and saw things we hadn't seen before. My dad and Bryce jumped out of the cars to see a deer, only to discover they'd been extremely close to a mama bear and her two cubs! (pictures on facebook) We also saw a few buffalow babies (not sure what those are called?? calves?), an eagle in her nest, female elk and a few other odd creatures.

(All six of us waiting for Old Faithful)

After Yellowstone we made it to Spokane, Washington where we spent the night in luxury before making the last leg to our new home, just North of Portland, Oregon (Vancouver, Washington). All in all the trip was about 8 days, and went extremely well. My parents got to see things they hadn't seen before, as did the four of us! We wouldn't have had nearly as much fun without them. And it was good to make our last trip a fun one:o).

Final Moments in Michigan

Our final moments in Michigan were rather surreal. We cannot thank our neighbors and friends enough for all the last minute hard work, cleaning and loading and packing - THANK YOU!

My parents drove in from Tennessee, (not because they live there - but because they were at a business conference there and wanted to road trip it up North), arriving in GR around 6pm. They helped and watched as we packed up the cars, closed up the container and walked around our empty house saying good-bye. We left our driveway for the last time around 10pm.

The six of us spent Thursday night in a hotel down the street from our house and got up in the wee hours of morning (no joke! We dragged ourselves out of bed around 3am and were actually loading the car before 4am!!) to head North to Mackinac Island... but that's another blog:o).

All-time favorite babysitter, Kaylee (her sister Danica is a very close second), Jadon, Elie and the voice of authority in Jadon's life, Camden:o). Some of the best neighbors in the world.
(Several others are not pictured:o)

Our van and the pile waiting to be packed in.

The final closing of our container - Thank you Brett & Tadd!!!

We miss all of you we left in Michigan - SO MUCH. Many tears have been shed.

Officially Introducing: Tuber Sally

Here, finally, are a few pictures of the turtle we found on a walk. Tuber Sally, named by Jadon. When we found "him" he was about a week old, according to the pet store reptile lady. He has quite the personality! A very picky eater... right now he eats baby krill and baby shrimp, and if he gets those two delicacies will also eat the turtle twigs filled with vitamins and calcium. He is a household delight for now :o)!

28 week Belly

The best of week 28! Probably won't have many more belly photos for a while. :o)

Family Camp at Grace Adventures

We had a very refreshing week at family camp again this year - and it couldn't have come at a more perfect time! From staff to accommodations and food to activities, this has got to be one of the best places to vacation as a family.
We had amazing teaching, the kids absolutely loved their groups and made a ton of friends, several of which they made last year and remembered. The food was incredible - where can you camp and have fresh salad bars every day?! The kids loved the food too, huge bonus. The activities were tons of fun too. Bryce and Jadon got to shoot BB guns and bows & arrows, Elie and I did crafts, Jadon was extremely excited to ride the banana boat, Elie loved jumping on the water tramp, playing on the beach with friends, s'mores around camp fires, horse back riding, and Bryce and I even got two dates! Here are a few highlights.

Elie and Bryce on the water tramp

Painting in the craft house

S'mores and stories with friends at campfire

Beach time with lots of friends

Horse rides!

We'll post more pictures on facebook:o)!

Mr. Mischievous

A day or so ago we were out as a family doing some fun thing or another. We piled into the car and took off... only to hear Elie squeal in shocked surprise (is that descriptive enough:o). She announced, "I fell back!"
Looking behind us, her feet stuck up in the air and the bottom of the seat faced us. We have a stow-n-go van, so the seats fold down into wells instead of pop out. There are a series of cords to pull to get this done, and if you skip one you can make the seat only fold part way... So you have something like a "backwards" seat.

Jadon - much to our total surprise - figured this out! And at our last stop as we were all piling in had quickly gone behind her and pulled the exact cord needed to pull this prank...


This is a "redo" of what happens! (Please overlook the messy van - we haven't cleaned it out in a while and have been semi living out of it due to all the showings of our home...)


Jadon then explained what he does... "I pull the cord with the number 2 on it and the seat falls back when we move the car forward, and sissy falls!" Of course, with gleeful delight all over his face. (Neither Bryce or I showed him this!!!)


This is my baby boy... a full fledged prankster of his own right! (at the tender age of 4 no less...)

Laughter

To make a brief list of life...

*Downhill battle for paychecks at work
*Need to sell house/move to better job market/make enough money to pay bills (well... find a job with will pay us the money we make in order to pay the bills)
*House on market, strangers sorting through personal items in closets, barn & garage - wondering if the off button in the freezer works (we loose close to $200 in frozen food for the month) - have to keep house spotless at all times.
*Pregnant! (yay!! we're having another boy!) abnormality shows up on ultrasound, supposedly nothing, level 2 genetic ultrasound ordered to confirm it's nothing. 2nd abnormality shows up - could mean nothing, could mean down syndrome or the fatal trisomy 18... not so great! Increased risk of preterm labor confirmed - increase that risk again for 2 abnormalities found in ultrasounds that could mean preterm induction...
*Planning a move/road trip across 10 states while pregnant and 10 weeks from due date... So glad grandparents are going with us!
*Husband get's fired for trying to negotiate as the last of his compensation package was being stripped... unemployment takes close to 3 weeks to start payments - if nothing is contested... we leave in four!

Looking at the list, we are seriously laughing! Dare we ask, "Can it get any harder?" Honestly, so much has been taken out of our hands at this point all we can do is sit back and watch God work.

We laugh as Bryce wanders from room to room not quite sure of why...
We laugh when we have repeated the same conversation twice and didn't realize it until half way through...
We laugh when the kids ask the same question for the 3rd time because we couldn't think of the words to the answer they needed...
We laugh when Bryce hits his head on the sun visor in the car, and then forgets why he wanted it moved...
We laugh when I start a sentence but forget why...
We're laughing at the reason Bryce's boss gave for firing him (it's seriously out there!)...
We're laughing that we're unemployed...
We're laughing because there is so little else we'd rather be doing right now.

We're together, the kids are relatively healthy, we just finished paying this months bills & have food in the fridge, we are being upheld in prayer and encouraged on all sides, through emails, phone calls, and random visits from friend who drop by to give us strawberries and meat and other wonderful gifts... seriously - the walls are crumbling, but the sunlight is coming in!

For anyone who finds themselves in a similar place, whether actually similar in circumstance, or just similar in another way - can we encourage you?

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
"With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27
"It it God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect." Psalm 18:32
"You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light" Psalm 18:28
"The Lord is my strength and my song: He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father's God, and I will exalt Him." Exodus 15:2
"We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield." Psalm 33:20
"For Great is your love, reaching to the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies." Psalm 57:10
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5

We've had plenty of evenings full of tears, frustration, impatience, anger, fear and doubt - TONS of struggling with "why?" and where the heck is God right NOW?
One thing we know, and hope to pass on, is that God's big enough for all of that from us - and whether or not we can see clearly or feel fully, He is at work for us right now. If you're here in some similar capacity - know you're not alone!

Our prayer for you is that you'll find that sometimes, laughter is all you've got. It feels pretty darn good too... especially when things just keep getting harder. Whatever you face today - may you be able to laugh!!!

When it Rains it Pours...

...And we can either throw up our hands and dance in it or run for cover!

This week we found out that something which was supposed to be a nothing in the development of our unborn son may very well be a big something... potentially fatal something.

This comes at a time when we are trying to sell our house in a depressed economy, move our family across the country to Washington state, and deal with a volatile work situation.

This week has been filled with tears, anger, frustration, agitation and TONS of laughter. How ironic our lives have been!

As we wait for more tests to reveal more about what might be going on with our son, sort out how to sell a house long distance, pack, fight for a paycheck, plan a cross country road trip with an increased risk pregnancy, sort out fall enrollment details in another state for our older children, and keep the house spotless in the mean time, we have to sit back and wonder where is the peace in this life?

When coffee cups and strawberries become topics of argument, and the phrase "I'm a dork" set off peels of laughter for no reason we've learned to recognize God at work.
Do we think this is happening just because we're being taught a lesson? NO. But one of the things we've seen this week is specific ways God has been at work in us over the last few years; quietly, faithfully, cleaning up bad attitudes and mending open wounds... reconciling conflicting views and softening hard spots.

Right now we have no way of knowing what He's up to, or how things are going to turn out. But we are confident that He's here. Not because we're feeling Him or even seeing Him - but because we're in the midst of this we're seeing the evidence of His presence up to this point.

The day may come very soon when we are going to run for cover and cower in pain or fear and have to be dug out of miry depths... it may start to thunder very soon. But for now, it's only pouring. And we're just getting wet... maybe drenched. For today, though, we're dancing in it. Confident that all He's asked of us is for today. Hopeful that tomorrow the sun will shine instead.

And if not, we'll decide what to do then. Today we're dancing.

Knight in Shining Armor in Training

Driving home from Krispy Kreme doughnuts Elie and Jadon sat in the back of the car playing with balloons. Elie's popped and she started to tear up and cry, begging us to turn around and get another one. By that point we were well on our way home - a 20 minute trip one way, so the answer was no. She cried harder.

Softly we hear, "Elie, you can have my balloon." And Jadon was untangling the ribbon and handing the balloon over to her. She refused, wanting her own back.

Jadon's eyes were big and solemn as he thought about what to do next. His little voice piped up, "I'm going to do something really great!"

He turned to his sister and said, "I'll make you a new balloon!"

He sat and thought and then, "Mom, we just need to find something green, just like this, and then you need to help me write on it, just like this," (pointing to the Krispy Kreme logo on his balloon,) "and then we'll find one of these," he said, fingering the plastic insert that held the air in his balloon. "How would that be Elie?"

Being in somewhat of a snit, Elie shook her head and continued crying. She was set on returning to the store for another balloon.

Jadon's face fell. "Well, then I'll just pop mine too."

With that he began to work the plastic stopper out of his balloon and it quickly deflated. His eyes gleamed with pride as he showed his sister, who actually cracked a smile despite herself. The two of them began another round of games with their newly flat balloons...

In the Quiet Places of the Storms: 8 years of marriage

“After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper…” 1 Kings 19:12

This morning, June 2nd, as I spend time reading Scripture I am struck by how much I have to be thankful for. This is my 8th wedding anniversary, and I find myself deeply in love and entering into a contentment I’ve longed for all my life.
Looking over the last 8 years, we have been busy and run the gamut of struggles than many get to face over a lifetime. From a month before our wedding when my future mother-in-law nearly died from an infection, to contracting mono, a surprise pregnancy to months of disappointment while trying to conceive, to a family member’s death, issues with sex and raising our children, from financial prosperity to unemployment, under employment and debt, to disappointment in life, people and each other, and now being on the verge of our 9th move in eight years of marriage and awaiting the birth of our 3rd baby who may or may not have complications… We have been living the “for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, etc…” part of our vows with intensity.
I think we have fought just about every fight a couple can have. And there have been several times when I’ve been ready to give up and throw in the towel, convinced I didn’t sign up for this when I walked down the isle. We have also had the tremendous highs, when we click and soar together and laughter is spontaneous and life is so easy.
What I feel overwhelmed with gratefulness for this morning isn’t all the good times when we laughed and it was easy to love each other and ourselves, but all these trials, struggles – the earthquakes, fire and storms. I am deeply grateful for these opportunities to see ourselves transparently, to view life honestly and for the growth and maturity we’ve come to because of it all.
When I look back and see the waves of chaos we’ve ridden through together I see how closely God stayed by us and how faithful He’s been to us, especially when we were clueless and unappreciative. I see His quiet whispers, when He didn’t move our mountains for us, but He did teach us to hold hands as we climbed over them together. I see how He’s increasing our understanding of unconditional love, forgiveness and grace, to recognize true peace and to have the stamina for never giving up on what is good or right. He has humbled us and is teaching us about intimacy and just how much we need Him and how much we need each other.

Today, as I reflect on the promises I find in Scripture, and the years we’ve spent together I recognize that all of this good has been possible in my life because of the man I married eight years ago, who came into my life, turned it upside down and has been God’s perfect gift of perfect provision ever since. Today, I am truly content and at peace, thanks to all the storms and struggles – and for that I am deeply grateful and deeply in love.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

“He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart: He gently leads those that have young.” Isaiah 40:11

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified: do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

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My latest inspiriation and source of encouragement...

As you wait upon the Lord,
You learn to see thing
from His perspective,
move at His pace, and function under His directive.

Waiting time are growing times
and learning times.
As you quiet your heart,
you enter His peace...
as you sense your weakness,
you receive His strength...
as you lay down your will,
you hear His calling.

When you mount up,
you are being lifted by
the wind of His Spirit...
when you move ahead,
you are sensitive to His timing...
when you act,
you give yourself only to the things
He has asked you to do.
~ Roy Lessin

Edible Playdough!

Here is a wonderful play-dough recipe that is edible:
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
1 cup powdered milk
Mix it together first with a spoon then with your hands until mailable but no longer sticky (may need a bit extra powdered milk)

This treat kept the kids busy for close to an hour - no joke! I didn't hear a peep from them the whole time. They had a blast and thought is was so funny to be able to eat play dough:o). The recipe also said you can use raisins to decorate, but non of these kiddos eat those.

Oh dear, not the best picture of Elie's friend... no, she isn't choking! Just enjoying the treat.


Elie cutting shapes


El & J getting into it:o)

Jadon

So this post is all about Jadon. I will write more about the events of this weekend later, but this I had to get down right away!

We went to the Tulip Festival parade today, and both kids have been extremely excited about it - but today, Jadon took the cake. He couldn't stop talking! And he came up with really funny stuff. Unfortunately, we got a ton of pictures of our family and very few of the things he was talking about - so I'll try to fill in the blanks as best I can...

About a red bird riding in the back of a car waving (and every other human-sized animal)... "Mom, that's really just a people right? It won't come eat me?"


About the pooper-scooper people following the horses... "Op, looks like those guys are for picking up the horse dirt!"
"What are those guys doing, Jadon?"
"They are picking up the horse dirt after the horse drops it on the street, so no one steps on it. That would be yucky to step on horse dirt."


About the marching bands... "I like this music, it shakes me!" "Daddy plays those!" (pointing to the drums)


About the Vets & Marines... "Those are solder guys with real American guns! Right? Are those guns real? Are those real solder guys? That's the flag!"


Just about every car that passed had a name according to Jadon's favorite movie, "Cars" and we'd hear over and over again - "Look! It's Ramone" "Look, it's the old car from Bah-Queen!" "Look! It's Sally!" (most of them were Ramone or the old car... and few names neither of us recognized:o). Trucks, floats and the fire engine were no exception - it was so much fun to watch this exuberant kid!!

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