Westwoods

I've very sadly fallen out of the habit of blogging.  I haven't forgotten the want to though.  I still lovelovelove writing and do it almost everyday.  Just, no one gets to see it.  What I really want to show you though; I send pictures to show you.  And just so you believe, I will send some evidence that we are getting close to the end of building.  This weekend I get sidewalks and a back patio.  A very good thing too.  The mud and dirt being drug into the house is taxing my "niceness" endurance. Look at my lovely fireplace....  Bruce did such a good job.  Good man, that. And then Shaunti has been getting her grand initiation at the dentist and the end of kindergarten... A tired family after our first boat ride of the year. OK. A very scattered update.  I have much to say but can't seem to find the time to organize all that stuff floating around in my head.  I will send a finished photo of the house with the trim stuff....

I love this color of green.  So fresh and clean.... and full of hope... Thoughts about Christmas and the season.  Last night I watched Sabina Wurbrant or is it Sabrina Wurbandt?  Sorry,  I forget the details of her real name.... What I remember is her testimony of her time in prison.  She talked of our words.  Are we blessing or cursing in adversity.  She kept repeating a verse.  "Let the redeemed of the Lord, SAY so"  She said we say so by how we bless or curse what the Lord has given us.   Such wisdom.  She said to study Psalm 107 as they were able to remember that Psalm in prison.  Her testimony gave hope to many.  Hope:  A reason to LIVE....  The gift of Jesus!    Live.  Hope.   Bless. 

My Baby is five. We celebrated at home, just us, with a castle cake which turned out like my cakes always turn out. {which means they hardly look similar to the idea I was after.} Aargh! Oh well, she enjoyed it all as if it did turn out picture perfect. The neighbor girls came down and played with the girls in the front yard for a hour. They are the girls ages and so Toria and Shaunti go out to join them as often as we allow them. I feel sad that my baby is five but also very blessed to be her mommy. I want to write down all my mixed up thoughts on motherhood but right now my brain is dead... So happy Birthday Dear Shaunti! We love you!

The ledge my baby is standing on is magnificent. One miss-step and it would be a sure, sudden death. We took the kids camping in Canook Basin about three weeks ago. I can now look at this picture without my stomach lurching all over the place. When I took the picture, my instincts were screaming for loved ones to please move away from the edge. I'm not afraid of heights. Just extremely, high drop offs. There's a difference right? Bruce recommended that I spend a hour looking over the edge as close as possible. He thought surely then my stomach would relax and then I could truly train myself from worry each time I watched my four year old glibly walk or run along the edge. He's a good man. He's what I need. He just doesn't understand that a hour of standing on the edge of nowhere isn't really my kind of thing. At the time this was not a good moment, but now, three weeks later, it's a good memory. Shaunti turns five this week and that picture with her daddy pu...

Canuck Pass...It was beautiful! We went camping this week Thurs. and Fri. Just our little family and of course the dog. I was on a mission for huckleberries but didn't find them. We made some good family memories though; and that of course is far more important than huckleberries. Laife getting more experience driving the four-wheeler... The Mom and Dad of the operation... The wonderful camper Bruce bought and fixed up for us to use...

Yes, we're home from our four day vacation over to Oregon and back. How good it feels to say "We're Home!" A lot of the trip there and back on the road made me think of living out life in a Godly manner. The road with its bumps, curves, hills, and construction. The view along the Columbia River and Mount Hood. The good and bad; the beautiful and the drab mile after mile. I was impressed with the way Lora and Rawlin work together to get the job done whatever it is. Lora is my hero in the way she joins her man in life. I could learn a lesson or two from her. It was encouraging to be with family that sees each others faults but is accepting and encouraging in spite of what we aren't. Isn't that just like God? I also bumped into that verse written above... We are given everything we need by His divine power to live out our Godly lives through our knowledge of Him... We WILL overcome on this journey called life...Together... Encouraging...Growing in His knowledge.....