Trying to Finish Well!

What a weird, yet faithful journey God has taken us on since we left Portland last June.  As it is said "hind sight is 20/20", however I would not trade the time we have spent in Idaho developing the relationship between my kids and parents. And the memories that we have made, spending time canning, freezing, and digging to get our pantries prepared for the following year. Some of the highlights, were  being able to spend the Summer with my parents, seeing Neva, Thomas, and Kathrine, Kurt, and the girls.  Going to the Twin Falls County Fair and Rodeo, digging for Spuds, helping my parents cut and wrap the deer Dad got this past year.  Exploring Southern Idaho with the kids and picking Choke Cherries in the South Hills.  We also got to see the Blue Angels Fly over us at the Air Show.  I was able to watch a huge brush fire, burning across the desert and the parade of Fire Fighting Vehicles responding to yet another fire.  It was bad for...

It was a rainy morning on the 23 of July, fortunately we had great neighbors and brother in-law who faced the torrential downpour to help us move boxes into the Uhaul.  i Jason and Thomas came down Friday night and I got to spend the day with Thomas. They left for home Saturday night.  Tara came over to help us deep clean the house, and finish the remaining packing so we could hit the road for Idaho after church got done on Sunday.  We have been truly blessed by the neighbors God gave us in Portland, and the support of those on Campus, faculty and students.   .   We pulled into my parents yard, early Monday morning around 7 a.m because of sleeping for a few moments outside just inside the Border of Idaho.  One exciting moment was when I got pulled over for no lights on around my license plate.  The cop was very nice and I got away with a warning!   Monday we scrounged the newspaper looking for a place to rent since the one we thought we h...

My family would get this reference; I wanted to listen to Johnny Horton "North to Alaska" but am listening to Jerry Reid "Eastbound and Down". Even though most of my family who frequently talks to my parents or to Shane & I know that we are moving to Idaho this coming Monday the 25th.  We're hoping to rent a house close to my parents, so they can help out when Shane not home. Shane is going to the Oil Fields in North Dakota, with the plan on paying down the student loans that we acquired getting our fancy education. We met my parents in Baker City for Lunch on Saturday, and my wonderful parents took Kelli, Dakota, and Seth to spend the week with them so Shane, Daniel and I can pack up the house in Portland and me go to summer school this week.  It has been an amazing journey thus far in Portland and Multnomah and are excited to see how God is going to use us in the next phase of our Journey but in Idaho.  WE had a low key Father's day, spendi...

Well we have made it through Shane's last semester of Seminary and my first semester! He is walking tonight to get his Masters of Divinity with an emphasis in Theological Studies. We honestly could not have done this without God walking beside us all the way and the support of Family, Friends, and the Faculty. Wow what a ride for 3 years! We know that God isn't done with us yet and in His timing He will open the door for the next step that we are suppose to take together. Thank you for the prayers and encouragement as we pulled through the months of losses and triumphs. Our kids are still healthy and adapted enjoying school and life. We have had a busy day thus far with Chapel and pictures this morning, Marie made it into town last night for the Alumni Banquet, then tonight is the graduation. Here are some friends of ours Armae who started with Shane and is finishing, she's a great young lady full of God! Roger Trautmann whose been mentoring both Shane and I th...

As always it's remained busy for us this last month. We enjoyed a few days away from Portland at the end of March with Dawna, Kurt, and Girls; and Neva, Jason, Thomas, and Katherine. They are all getting so big, it was a treasure getting to spend time with all the nieces and nephew. Unfortunately, Kelli brought headlice home from school. Ugh! We are still battling this with the kids. I'm remaining vigilant. We had a great Easter with sunny weather, and school friends coming over for dinner. The kids dyed some Easter eggs Saturday afternoon which was fun to do. They all looked great in their new outfits. School is gearing towards the end of the semester so we are staying busy. It's been a good year thus far and we are looking forward to the journey of continuing.

Long awaited update, we have made it through 7 weeks of school both for the kids and ourselves. It's been a productive semester, God has been guiding our steps and we're continually thankful for that! He has also been growing us and peeling off bandages of hurts I haven't dealt with. Through it all He remains faithful and I am most grateful for that. We've had a slew of birthdays roll through our house these past months. Dakota had hers on the 30th of January! She got some really pretty outfits from Grammie & Grandpa Aunt Nelma,Uncle Paul, and Cousin Steve. She also got a coloring book and sunglasses, another little doll, crown from cousins and neighbor kids, sorry if I forgot anything. We had a little party for her with homemade pizza! My little girl is now 5 years old, scary when she was once so little. My little boy Seth turned 3, February 15th. We had a family party on the day of his birthday. He got some great outfits, and cool cars from Grammie ...