HAWAII

What can one say about Hawaii?

Beautiful

Refreshing

Relaxing

Rejuvenating

We probably had one of the best times together as a family.

While home was freezing in the 20s we were basking in 80 degree weather in our shorts and swimsuits.

Truly wonderful.

Our family had two weeks of being constantly together. That isn't new for the children and I but to have Daddy with us all that time was. It really drew us all together even more.

I was so struck by the beauty and natural splendor of the island.

We did a lot of things while we were there.

The first week we got to stay at a really nice resort.

We swam...a lot

We saw waterfalls

Explored a cave

Went to a lighthouse.

This is a coffee plant we saw at a coffee plantation.

Drove to the top of the mountains.

Played at the beach.

Watched the sun set.

We visited with Dan's brother and his family and got to experience the laid back lifestyle of the Hawaiians. We had such a great time but by the end of it all we were ready to come home. We missed our beds, our home, our friends and our family.

It was truly all a blessing.

Now we are refreshed and ready to start back with school and our regular routines.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The following is my Christmas letter and I thought I would share it on here.

Hoping this finds you all in good health, spiritually, physically and mentally. Our family is blessed. We are thankful for all of those things!

From the outside, it may not look like it as Dan has had two surgeries this year. One back in February and another this November. He is healthy as a horse and has faired well in both cases.

Back in February, while recovering from surgery, Dan was hired at PGE. He had applied months previously, but God worked it out at just the right time. Dan now works as maintenance electrician on the dams along the Clackamas River. He loves working for them and they love him!

I continue to homeschool and be a keeper of my home. Juggling four school children's education, running the economy of our home and thinking of future plans is a full-time, yet very rewarding job. The Lord is faithful and has filled me with Joy, Peace and Patience for this role. There is no other place I would rather be!

The children keep growing right before our eyes! They will soon be passing me in height this next year. (Not hard since I am only 5'1 but their dad is 6'1.) We are involved as a family with our church and various activities. Apologetics class, dance/tap class, worship team and sewing circle, to name a few.

Melody is 12 and loves to read! Naomi is 11 and is a reader also but loves to do crafts and serve others. Anna, 9 this month, also is finding a love of reading but her favorite thing is to be 'mommy' to her dolls. Finally, Jimmy turned 7 and is showing his creativity with building his Legos and making paper airplanes. They all are such a joy and a blessing to our family.

We are looking forward to the beginning of the new year as we will be visiting Dan's brother and his family in Hawaii. This is our first BIG family vacation anywhere. We usually do a lot of camping during the year and love it but have been blessed with this trip.

We are also looking forward to see what the Lord does in our lives this coming year. We are completely content with where He has us now, while learning always, to rely on Him daily. We are trusting Him for Wisdom in raising our children to affect generations to come. We want to be purposeful and prayerful, not just in parenting but in all our relationships.

May you all find your Joy and Hope in the One True Giver of blessings as we remember who the true Gift of Christmas is.

With much love.

A Dream Last Night

I had a dream last night.

I was in a room full of my friends.

They had all come to visit me and spend time with me.

As I looked around the room I noticed some were missing.

I saw on the far side of the room three of my friends who were sitting with their backs to me working on computers.

I was a little saddened but said nothing.

I walked down a hallway and saw three more friends on computers.

I was hurt because some of them had travelled far to visit yet would rather be on the computer.

I asked if they were going to join me for visiting and was put off with an

'Oh, yes, in just another minute we'll be there.'

To be put off by dear friends that I loved really hurt.

Then I went to another place and saw three more friends.

The room they were in was kinda dark but I could see their faces because a blue light was reflecting on them.

It was the light of a TV they were watching.

I asked if they were coming.

Two of them didn't even notice I was talking but one barely glanced up enough to tell me,

'No, we don't want to miss this show.'

I started to cry.

I cried so hard that it was hard to breath as I walked back to the room of all my waiting friends.

I was so sad.

I was hurt that these other friends of mine would choose to spend their time on the computer and TV and not with me.

I cried so hard in my dream that in real life I heard myself moaning in my sleep.

Then...

I awoke suddenly as I heard a gentle, love-filled, yet sorrowful voice quietly say...

This is how you treat me.

Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life

Proverbs 10:17a

Blessings

This is the month of Thanksgiving.

I love November because it reminds me to count my blessings.

To quote Madame Blueberry from Veggie Tales,

"A happy heart is a thankful heart."

I have much to be thankful for and I think the things I value most are relationships.

My relationship with the Lord,

My husband,

Our children,

My extended family,

My church family...

The list goes on.

I adore my husband and respect him in a way I never have before.

The thing that makes me giddy is that he cherishes me!

It wasn't always that way so I am truly thankful.

Dan was helping a friend haul some wood and ended up with a double hernia.

The poor guy has been toughing it out for a couple weeks now and will have to have surgery next Friday.

He's a trooper though.

No complaints coming from him.

So we will be spending the Thanksgiving week low-key while he recovers.

I'm thankful to God that He gave Dan a new job this year that allows him to have paid time off, and that he can return to work on light duty.

Unlike February.

As he goes into his second surgery this year,

I am thinking of how thankful I am for Dan.

He is hard working, loyal, faithful, focused and brings joy to others with his humor.

He balances me as I get too serious at times and I tend to get side tracked easily.

He is everything this woman wants in a man!!

I am blessed beyond measure!

So I have a heart full of thanks!

Here I am!

CHANGE

Who likes it?

I certainly don't.

When your friend informs you she is moving across the country.

When other dear friends decide to attend a different church.

When your husband comes home and tells you to do things differently.

When your body doesn't work as it use to.

When your children get taller than you.

When...

Okay, it's not really that bad.

What about when the weather changes for the next season?

I love that!

The beautiful fall colors that the Master has painted.

And

The grand adventure my friend gets to have in a whole other state.

The new and improved schedule for my home that makes life function better.

The reminder that even though I am not so young, I can still be fit and healthy.

The twinkle in my daughter's eye when we share an inside joke.

I was reminded last night that what we define as 'Good' may not be the same as what God defines it as.

So

Even though change is hard at times and it doesn't seem good at times,

I know that all things work together for good for those who love God.