more computer/camera problems

It is very frustrating when my camera and computer don't like each other. Last time Brian ended up calling the Canon people for me because I was about to chuck the computer out the window.
Anyway, we just got back from Creation Fest!! It was a great time. More fun than I thought. Saw a lot of great bands; my favorites: Newsboys, NeedtoBreathe, Toby Mac and Audio Adrenaline with their new unplugged concert. Saw a whole crew from Juneau and will get to hang with the Ewing family a bit more this week. Things are going well.
So, I'll work on the computer/camera problem to get some pictures online!

The napping bear. I found him in a tree napping, so I went to check out the glacier. After taking pictures of the glacier, I went back to the bear and it was perfect timing because he climbed down the tree and started eating grass right under the raised walkway. Plus, there weren't a bunch of tourists (unless I am considered a tourist), only four of us watching this little bear eat his dinner.

Pictures from Juneau!!

We spent a week in Juneau in June and of course it was tons of fun! Saw many people, did some fun hikes, I was able to see a bear, a few porcupines, eagles, mountain goats, and whales at much more of a distance than I wanted.

The mountains continue to amaze me here. I'm blessed to have the eyes to see them and have had the chance to get to Juneau so many times.




Hiking up Mt Roberts! I finally made it all the way to the top. I've gone up many times to the cross or halfway up, but never to the top. Thanks Lisa and Brian for a great hike!




Thanks to Karen for some AMAZING king crab. Wow, it really filled me up!

Hamilton Mountain

A few weeks ago mom, Brian and I hiked Hamilton Mountain in the Gorge. It was a great day to hike. Hopefully many more hikes left to come this summer!

Spring time fun!

The last few months has actually gone pretty quick. I finally started my job on March 29th! And now I see how valuable it was to have that time off to just be available for Brian as he was in school and working. I know I say it often, but God takes care of things for me and knows what he is doing. :)
The below pictures are pictures of my friends, Sarah and Darla and I on a beach day for Sarah's birthday. It was March and we actually had great weather!




And of course a few visits to Silver Creek Falls near Salem in April and May.

Tyler and Rolita's beautiful little daughter!! Sue and Loryn Mason came to Oregon for a few days. We had a good time

Updates for March

My camera has been gone for almost two months now. The focusing motor was broken and needed to be fixed. Unfortunately it takes a long time for it to be fixed. Who knows why... and in the meantime, the blossoms are in full bloom here in Oregon. Daffodils and just finishing and the tulips are coming.
We are in the week of spring break and Brian is so glad to be done with the last term. It was a tough one. We have a beach trip planned for Thursday, and maybe one last snowboarding effort tomorrow.
I have to say a little blurb about my dog, Sophie. My chocolate lab I bought in 1995 just had to be put down a few weeks ago. At almost 15 years old, she was doing good until a few months ago when blindness hit her. I think a little canine cognitive dysfunction also crept into her brain: AKA: dementia/confusion/craziness.
She was a great dog, the best hiking companion who never complained. Here is a picture from 2007, probably one of the last long hikes she did with me. Monty is the golden and Sophie is on the bottom.
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I finally get to start work at Emmanuel Childrens Hospital next Monday. Three almost four months off from work. Wow. It will be very different to have a full orientation to a hospital, I haven't had that since I worked for Salem in 2005.

Brian and I will probably be moving closer to downtown in a few months also. We need to be closer to PSU since Brian bikes all the time. I'm praying for the perfect little duplex or apt. Thats all for now!!

80's party!! Brian and I dressed up for a great birthday party. Thanks Erica for a fun party.


Isaac and Jeremiah both came over for a night with us last week. It was a lot of fun and we made some great pancakes in the morning.


February continues to be an interesting month. So far I've had two months off from work. Three interviews in three weeks though and I'll have results next Friday. I'm hoping to get one of them at least. But I'll probably have another three weeks off at least. UGH. I know everyone reading this says, awesome, I want time off!! But, I'm a bit sick of it.
I decided not to go to Haiti, but my friend Sarah and her mom went on Sunday. Praying for their safety. They have already been put to work helping with babies where they're staying.
Brian also had an interview today. It is for a scholarship program at Portland State University. Praying he gets it. It would really provide some good funds for school.

That is the update for now!!

Life's challenges

It has been an interesting last couple weeks. My unemployment has been rough. I am normally a pretty busy person, so having all this free time is too much! I know, some of you say, what? I could do so much with more free time. But, when one has too much, that is when it is a problem. Plus, I feel almost like I have no purpose to most of my days, other than looking for jobs...
Challenging? YES.
Yesterday I was reading in a great little daily devotional book called Streams in the Desert, and read something that was profound for my situation right now. Let me just share some of it with you.
January 18th, "God wins His greatest victories through apparent defeats. Very often the enemy seems to triumph for a season, and God allows it. But then He comes in and upsets the work of the enemy, overthrows the apparent victory, and as the Bible says, 'frustrates the ways of the wicked' (Ps. 146:9)...If there is a great trial in your life today, do not acknowledge it as a defeat. Instead, continue by faith to claim the victory through Him who is able to make you 'more than conquerors' (Romans 8:37), and a glorious victory will soon be apparent. May we learn that in all the difficult places God takes us, He is giving us opportunities to exercise our faith in Him that will bring about blessed results and greatly glorify His name."
A good reminder to me to continue to trust the Lord despite the challenges of unemployment.
Today, the opportunity to go to Haiti has been presented to me. As in, leave next week. This is all very sudden and a bit overwhelming. I've got some praying to do and more thoughts in my head need to be figured out. Brian is in support of me going; I'll have to keep you all updated!!

A few months later.

The last few months have been a bit busy. I finished my job at Portland Providence on the 12th of December, enjoyed Christmas with my family, New Year's was in Juneau, was in a wedding, and have been looking for jobs the whole time. Here are some pictures to update you all to whats up with Brian and I.



My first friend while living in Juneau was Rachel Alderfer from Pennsylvania. She just got married to an awesome guy, Lee Phelps on the 1st of January. I felt very fortunate to get to be a bridesmaid in her wedding. It was a good day!

Yum, who can resist Russian dumplings in the Juneau way of eating them??

Walking on Mendenhall Lake with Kristin and Janelle. It was making a little too much noise for us though, so we didn't go all the way to the glacier...

An aerial shot of Juneau. The plane turned just right so I could see down and behind the wing. Plus the sun was just rising. It's a beautiful city.


Now we're back at home in Tigard. Brian is busy working two night shifts and going to school four days a week. I...am still looking for a job. But, I will trust the Lord in this matter.

Fall Fun!

Brian and I have been pretty busy the last month. We've had our first visitors, all from Juneau. Paul came first for a weekend adventure, then Brian's dad and stepmom came down for a few days, then Lisa Ewing was here with us two weeks ago, and during that stay Karen, Brian's mom came for the last week and a half. (she just left on Monday). Whew, so it has been busy...My job is going well, just a quick 8 week rotation at this hospital in Portland. Then the job search continues. Brian is enjoying school, he just went to his biology class this evening even though it was not required and just "hung out" with the professor. :) Anyway, on with the pictures. Just a quick update through October and the fall.


These are the cutest, Jeremiah and Gwyndolyn, my sis says they just love each other and posed very well. Which made for picture taking easy.


Our annual pumpkin carving day! No Atlantic Giants to carve unfortunately, but a whole lot of small ones. Everyone did great and I think we ended up with only a small cut on Isaac's finger. He just calmly told us, "I cut myself", no tears, nothing. Too bad that didn't continue for the rest of the night...


Our serious accident for the evening. We were all playing freeze tag and I do admit it was in the dark...I was frozen, Brian was "it" and Isaac and Noah ran around me opposites ways and WHAM, ran right into each other. They were crying right away, Brian and I picked them up and wow did the blood run! As you can see, they both had to go to the ER and get stiched up. A 3 hour wait, 85 other patients waiting to be seen in the ED and a large $ bill. And the stiches came out two days later, what is up with that??



Halloween! Brian was a librarian. Gwyndolyn (see picture below) was a green fairy. It was a fun, rain free night!

Until next time everyone!! Thanks for reading!

Fun stuff in Oregon!

Brian and I headed to the beach today. And we really lucked out with the amazing sunshine and blue sky. Oct 20th and so warm out!! This is an awesome fall!



Brian just had to get in the water and swim. Of course he had his wetsuit on, that helped the water be a little warmer I suppose.



Our living room! We painted two walls blue!!! Thanks to Amanda, we got a good deal on paint!


Last week we went to OMSI, a big museum for kids (and adults). It was a lot of fun, here are some shots of us in the chemistry lab. My mom and I above and Benjamen below playing with the flubber they got to make.



Brian and Jeremiah.


Brian and I next to OMSI, outside in the sun!! Downtown Portland!