Leadership Retreat

This year's leadership retreat at Cannon Beach was the best ever! Justin Vold came from Alaska to be our speaker. He did an amazing job and it was such a blessing to hear him speak on living our lives focused on God and being a missionary to a lost and dying world! Thanks so much Justin!

Justin

Haystack Rock

the "river" to the ocean was huge this year!


where we stayed

the taffy machine

we got a piece right off the line (yummy!)

Wendy and I watched this guy blowing glass

these are some of the gorgeous things they make

they even looked pretty on a dreary day

this is this year's fabric from my favorite quilt shop

The other great part was getting to spend so much time with great friends! It was so fun and it is kind of sad to be back in our "real lives" again. :o) We had meals with friends, went shopping with friends, played games with friends, walked on the beach with friends, stayed up really late talking with friends... Yes, we had a lot of fun! It was a gift from God!

ready for breakfast
(Carrie, Chris, Stan, Judy, Phil, Wendy)

Chris and Phil on the beach (it was really cold and windy)

Phil and his seafood dish

having Thai food

Randy, Phil, Wendy, Linda, Carrie, Chris, Steve

the girls: Wendy, Sue, Linda & Carrie

Sue wasn't really cranky, we just liked the sign LOL

Levi

the Leingangs, the Paulsons and the Heisers

playing mini-golf

Justin's trick shot

waiting for the perfect timing

Phil's timing wasn't perfect but he did make the shot

Then we headed south to Portland for a birthday party for Chris and Grandma Ide. It's always fun to see family!

there was snow at the rest stop at the pass

opening presents

Ada and Maggie
Charlie loves the drums

Charlie and his baby

Charlie also loves coloring with Grandma Ide

Ada is so happy about crawling backwards :o)

blowing out the candles

Grandpa helps Will empty out his coconut

Chris headed home Sunday night and the boys and I stayed in Portland. Monday morning, the Volds came to spend the day with us. Justin and Levi spent the day at my parents' place with the boys and Melissa and I went south to visit with Emily and Elias.

Elias

Elias slept during most of lunch

he was so good!

Emily and Elias

Melissa and Me

it's dark but it was a great picture

Elias, Emily, Melissa, Carrie

It was so fun to meet Elias and just hang out together. We went to lunch, shopped at the WalMart Supercenter and had a great time just talking! I just wish we had been able to spend more time together. After supper, I drove the Volds to their hotel so they could get a good night's sleep for their big day of flying the next day! I miss them already! :o( Who knows, maybe we'll get to go up and see them someday?

Melissa, Levi and Justin

The boys and I spent one more day in town on Tuesday running errands and playing with Ada. (she spent the day with Grandma while mommy was at work) We were able to gets lots done while we ran all over town!

Ada

It's good to be home, but I already miss all our friends! Thankfully Annual Convention will be here before we know it!