A great gift

We had a great time with my extended family the day after Christmas. When we got home Lij decided he wanted me to take a picture of him with his gifts from Grandma and Grandpa.

He loves his new blanket and Galaxy set. 

This momma loves it, too. It is geared for a little bit older than he is and that means some assistance from his older siblings is required.



In the last three days this set has provided hours of putting together, following written instructions and problem solving. Fantastic!!!

Tis the Season...

...to be busy. At least that is what it is this year for us. Crazy busy but a lot of fun things have been happening. My mom and dad now have matching degress from George Fox University as of last Saturday. We are all so proud of both of them.

(My dad and I) 

My brother who is living with us made the varsity basketball team here in town. Here he is dressed up for a home game while he was waiting for OSAA approval for the disctrict transfer.

Our washing machine has been really loud for awhile so we decided we had better get it serviced before it quit on us. This is the pile of the concrete the technician found underneath. We are pretty sure this is not normal. Apparantly there are concrete weights that balance the drum and ours broke. The repair man said he has never seen one this bad. Yay us, over achievers that we are.

My husband's family decided to give my mother-in-law a mini home make-over for Christmas and her birthday. She has new carpet, new tile in the entry and under the woodstove, windows and paint. It has been a whirwind the last two weeks but the house looks great. Steve laid the tile and I am so impressed!!! He is so talented and it really adds a lot to the new look, don't you think?

Winds of change

There are lots changes happening in our house. You may notice this guy making an appearance in my pictures. This is my brother. Born in Africa and then again conceived in my mother's heart when he was three years old.

The reasons he has chosen to live with us is his story, one I hope that he shares someday.



Matters of the heart can be like that. 

Private healing for now, a testimony later.

In the meantime we will enjoy getting to know him in a way we never have before.

And that works for me.

Big man little man

Sometimes you need your things around you

She says she feels safe when she has all of her stuffed animals around her. This is just a sampling of the things we find tucked in with her when she is sleeping.

There have been plastic stools, flashlights, spatulas, you name it, we have probably found it in bed with her. I do love that the doll has her purse around her arm. One must always be prepared for shopping at any given moment, even while resting.