Friday, February 20, 2009

Say Say basketball...

Gymnastics Time...Here ya go Grammy...

Here's lots of videos for you so you don't feel so far away... pause my music so you can hear the crooked video...sorry I couldn't turn it right side up.


Chasey..

Say Say again...

Chase doing her thang...

Sailor tumbling a bit.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Make new friends but keep the old...

Josh Craig Josh


Here are some oldie but goodie buddies of Josh's from childhood, college and daddyhood...
Craig brought his family to our Sunriver house where Josh's family was staying with us for the weekend. We stayed for a long weekend in our favorite house with our Ashland friends, Seattle friends and formerly Seattle friends now Bend residents. It was fun to catch up and all the wives liked watching the guys reminisce and be silly...good times were had by all!

Tis the season to SKIIIIII...

We went on our annual Mt Bachelor ski trip with friends. We hit the slopes with our kids and then the tubing hill with our friends...good times with beautiful blue sky!!!





I'm getting excited for Boulevard...

Oh my oh my...tile and machines this week...oh my oh my...




Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Sailor is paying it forward in the form of a MOOOOO...

Moments like this make a momma smile big. So my kids are kind of over getting birthday presents from their friends at their birthday parties. They LOVE gifts, but they've felt compelled to give rather than receive for their last couple of birthdays. I'm so proud of them and their big generous hearts. They're only 6,8 and 10 but to see their wheels turning, trying to decide who to give to each birthday floors me.

In September Sailor decided she wanted to sponsor a child for her birthday. Even though I knew this would mean mom and dad picked up the monthly tab after her birthday was over, we loved the idea of sponsoring a child as a family. So Sailor and I spent lots of time browsing the World Vision and Compassion International sites for the perfect girl for Sailor to sponsor. We eventually ran across a girl from Uganda that was born on the exact same day as Sailor. She was perfect...Sailor wanted a child from Uganda because that is where her friends from the African Children's Choir live. So we signed up and they sent information and a picture of Alenyo. Sailor keeps it in her room and they have corresponded back and forth twice. Today we got a letter that made me completely lose it. Sailor received almost $500 from her birthday party friends, family and a neighbor. We were able to send Alenyo her max amount of $40 and the rest to her family. In todays letter, we found out her family was able to purchase 2 cows, a sheep, blankets and a birthday dress for Alenyo. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!! Sailor asked why I was teary and I told her that she changed the lives of a whole family. She was so happy and immediately wrote Alenyo a big letter to send off thanking her for her letter.

God is so good! Despite the emotional, dramatic, craziness that that sweet girl can bring into our lives, her heart is bigger than all of it... all because she's focused on Jesus. What a blessing she is to me and now, many around the world!

Boulevard Coffee...we are STILL underway...



Here ya go Sarah Rose and all y'all out there that give a hoot...
by the way, those are automatic opening doors...yes, we're very fancy now!







Sarah, the front desk was taken out last night, this was my first time seeing the empty spot. They found bright green and yellow carpet under the desk from 1980...yikes! I wanted to frame the scrap but I think the dumpster already ate the entire front desk area...so fun!!!! The coffee bar should be tiled next week and then here comes the big equipment and coffee counter. The new beautiful front desk gets installed tomorrow...wowee...I'll keep you posted.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Speaking sweeter...

We're hosting a small group from church in our home for the next few weeks based on a study called "Live like you were dying". The theme song is THE song...focusing on the chorus to... Love Deeper, Speak Sweeter and Give Forgiveness I have been denying...

This week I studied how to Speak Sweeter. I'm reminded that God's most important commandments are to Love God and Love Others. When those two things are done, all else is good. Bad things can happen in our lives but when we, as people, are loved...all else is good. I was also reminded that yesterday is gone. We can never get back tomorrow or the missed opportunities we had to encourage someone or positively change someone's day because we cared enough to smile, acknowledge or dig a little deeper. Just as yesterday is gone, tomorrow isn't a guarantee. We only have today. We only have this moment to speak sweet words to those around us.

Why is it so much easier to speak sweetly to those people not in our closest circle? Why do we feel compelled or more compassionate for those not in our closest circle? I feel motivated to continue my mission to positively change, even if slightly, every person's heart who crosses my path in a day. Beyond that and most importantly, I feel compelled to humble myself and speak encouraging, kind, gentle and sweet words to those under my own roof...regardless of how I'm being treated, I will allow the supernatural power of Christ to sweetly work in me so I can sweetly speak to others. Only when I fall to my knees and ask God to empty me of me and fill me with all of Him, will I be able to sincerely and passionately love on others.