Party Season

This is the season for parties and we have been to our fair share this year. Friday was our homeschool co-op Christmas party. It was fun to see friends we hadn't seen in a while. (that was our favorite part) It was also fun eating treats, decorating gingerbread houses, playing games and exchanging gifts!

Andy's house

Zack's house

Will's house (or at least it was before the accident)

Then today Chris and Will and I headed south to my sister's Christmas open house. As usual her place looked so cute and she has the greatest vintage and retro decorations to go with her apartment. Thanks Theresa we had a great time!

After the open house my grandma took us to dinner at this great Balkan resturant that Theresa recommended. We had the greatest food! If you are ever in Portland I highly recommend Two Brothers on 39th and ? (I just blanked!).

Zack and Andy couldn't come down with us because they were up in Olympia at a youth group Christmas party. They had a great time, too!

Ladies' Christmas Party

Last night was our church's WMF Christmas party. We chose to have a Scandinavian theme and had lots of treats. Although I don't a Norwegian bone in my body, I lived in Minnesota, so I really like most of that stuff. There were lots of good things last night and the boys were so excited that I brought home a big plate of goodies that were left over.

Other than the treats, we also enjoyed singing carols, choosing our Secret Sisters for 2008, making origami boxes, and a gift exchange. There were lots of really nice gifts to "steal" this year and it made the choice really difficult. But I finally decided that I would swipe this one...

I just love it! I can't wait to have a tea party so I can use it! Thanks to my friend Renee for so graciously giving it up. I promise to invite you to my first tea party. :o)

A Visit From Kari

We didn't think she could make it with I-5 being closed and all, but it opened up Friday afternoon and she came!

Our good friend Kari has been living up near Tacoma for the past few months and came to see us before she heads back to Minnesota and her next job in Wisconsin. Kari is a traveling nurse and goes to work temporarily in hospitals around the country. I think that is a great opportunity and wish they had a similar program for "traveling pastors". :o)

We had a great time visiting, going to church, attending our church Christmas party (she got some books for her nephew at the white elephant gift exchange), looking at Christmas lights, talking crafts, walking around the Oriental garden at the lake, going to Oregon, and seeing Mt. St. Helens. We were so blessed because as we drove up to the mountain the clouds were very low and thick. I was beginning to think we wouldn't see a thing. Then as we got closer, we climbed above the clouds into a beautiful sunny blue sky and a perfect view of the volcano covered in snow. It was a gorgeous view for her first time seeing it! (see link to Kari's blog on right side)

We had a great time, but didn't get a lot of sleep! Talking with a good friend is much better than sleep. Thanks again for coming, Kari! We had a fantastic time and hope to see you again soon! God's richest blessings on you as you travel home.

Going To Bethlehem, Twice

A large church in our community puts on a live nativity every year called "Journey to Bethlehem". It has been going on for 11 years now and attracts thousands of people each year. It is more than just nativity scene with real people and animals. It is a reinactment of the entire town of Bethlehem. You travel as a family going to Bethlehem to register with Rome to pay your taxes.

Along the road you stop at the home of a scribe and hear him talk about what he is reading in the scroll by the prophet Isaiah and have some bread.

As you near the "city" you can hear all the noises coming from inside the walls. Roman guards stop your family at the gate and tell you (rather roughly) that you cannot enter the city. So your "cousin" gives him a bribe so that you can go in to find lodging for the night.

When you enter the crowded city you are surrounded by the sights, sounds and smells of Bethlehem. Beggars ask for alms, merchants are peddling their wares everywhere along the streets, animals walk by, fires are burning, music is playing and people are dancing. But unfortunately there is no room for your family in the inn and you are turned out to pay your taxes.

a beggar in the street

Then your family is ordered to the publican's tent where you are told the many values of paying taxes to your "brother" Rome. Again you are treated very gruffly by the armed guards and sent out quickly.

As your family leaves Bethlehem you pause by a shepherds' fire and are greeted by an angel telling you of the Messiah's birth. You hurry to the stable and find Mary and Joseph and the Baby.

This year we got to go twice with friends. The first night we went with friends from church and saw friends from our homeschool group while we were there. Chatting with them made the over two hour wait much more fun!

The second night I (Carrie) took our friend Kari who had come to visit. Again, the wait was much more fun when there is a friend to visit with.

Needless to say, we are looking forward to our Journey to Bethlehem again next year.

FLOOD!

This past weekend, this part of the country got to get a taste of God's power and realize that we are NOT in control. There were 120+ mph winds on the coast and torrential rains for much of Sunday and Monday.

While the damage in our immediate area was minimal, surrounding areas were VERY hard hit. The worst flood damage is about 30 miles north of us on I-5 (the main freeway from Canada to Mexico). A 20-mile stretch of I-5 closed Monday afternoon and will probably remain closed until next week. The detour is about 7 hours long and is causing quite the disturbance around here. That being said, our friend Kari will not be coming down from the Seattle/Tacoma area to visit us this weekend before she leaves Washington for Wisconsin. We will miss not seeing you, Kari.

These are pictures from the flooded areas. They are something to see.

The jersey barriers got quite the juggle from all the water
We saw pictures of salmon swimming on the streets in this area on the news last night!

Amtrack is not running trains from Eugene, OR to Vancouver BC
More of I-5

The Super Wal-Mart parking lot
The Highway 6 exit off I-5. A guy from our church was working at this K-mart (just right of the picture) that night. The employees "sandbagged" the doors with bags of dog food which ended up about 3 feet under water. They had to spend the night in the loft until they could be rescued and taken to the shelter!
The clearance here is over 14' normally
The orange building is a little Mexican resturant

The same place from a distance

notice the white car in the parking lot

Be praying for the people who have been greatly affected by this flood.

Open House

Last night we had a Third Annual Christmas Open House for our church. It is nice to have people to our house and get a chance to visit with them. The boys helped Chris and I a lot with getting things ready, which was so nice. Thanks, guys!

We had a great time and are looking forward to doing it again next year.

It's Really Beginning To Look Like Christmas

It snowed today! It's gone already but it was fun while it lasted. The boys got to play with their friend Dane and got really wet.

Joshua Daniel's Baptism

Today was a very special day for our church as well as our family. Our friends had their son baptized this morning and we were asked to be his godparents. It is such an honor and privilege to be a part of JD's spiritual growth and his walk in faith. Not only was it special as JD's godparents but also because it was our first baby to be baptized in our church!




As part of the service, Josh (JD's dad) wrote him a letter that he read aloud after the baptism and Susie (his mom) took Psalm 139 and paraphrased it especially for JD. Chris also invited all the kids in the congregation to sit in the front row so they could see. I love doing that because I always remember that as a kid I could never see when a baby was baptized and I always felt like I was left out.




It was a very special service and we pray that God would bless JD and his family as he becomes part of the family of God.

As you can see, poor JD was in need of a nap and was tired of the whole picture thing a LONG time ago. :o)

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. " Matthew 28: 19-20a

"Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Mark 10:14b

Decorating Day

The day after Thanksgiving (usually the 2 days after) we decorate for Christmas. This year we got it all done in one day thanks to all the help from the boys. Zack already had the lights outside done. They put up the trees, set up the Christmas village and did a lot of decorating and moving boxes.

When it's all done, we turn off all the lights (except the tree lights), light all the candles and read the Christmas story from Luke. Afterwards we get to eat a few of the Christmas cookies and drink some hot cocoa. It is a great way to start the Christmas season!

Here are some pictures of our day...

Happy Thanksgiving

What are we thankful for this Thanksgiving? Lots of stuff. God has so richly blessed us that I could type all night and not list all of the things we are thankful for. But today we are specifically thankful for the fun day that we got to spend with family and for all the wonderful food!

Charlie and Uncle Chris

playing the Tea Party game

playing My Little Pony wedding

playing puzzles

scooting on the kitchen floor

Yes, this year we got to spend Thanksgiving with my sister and her family. It was so much fun! Zack had fun entertaining Charlie and I got to play all kinds of girl stuff with Maggie and my sister Theresa. After dessert we went over to my parents and looked at the progress on their new boat (which is SO cute and I can't wait to go out on it) and have dessert again. Yum!

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever." Psalm 136: 1-3, 26

As we spend time reflecting on what we are thankful for, let's not forget the One we are thankful to.