A photographic memoir of our activities this fall.
Parks…
Preschool…
Pumpkin Patches & Apple Farms…
Biking…
Zoo…
Train…
Celebration Planes Style
I asked G awhile back what he wanted his birthday theme to be this year, beach or planes (he loves both)? Without hesitation he said planes. So I went about planning his birthday at the local park, complete with glider plane races and pin the prop on dusty cropduster. I was even going to get a pinata!
As the date approached, I was watching the weather and it was predicting rain, rain and more rain. In fact we had over 8 inches in 24 hours! Steve did some stealthy (pun intended) research online and found out that we could have it at the aviation museum cafe. I was really nervous switching everything last minute, but it turned out wonderful. G has several preschool friends, his buddy Brae and sister Sienna, our close friends Fawn and Michael and their kids, and Daddy’s side of the family there. We were so thankful everyone braved the rain and came to celebrate! G had the best time seeing all the planes. Who could have asked for a better location? We were so thankful for the Lord’s provision and that being there was the best gift G received.
On the moon with Ava
They have a biplane ride for the kiddos. It was so fun to watch G go from holding his ears (due to the noise) to flying his own plan up and down and up and down over and over and over again. He probably rode it 10 times. It was definitely the highlight of his day.
Four
Happy Birthday to…
Fire fighting…
Beach dancing…
Rock throwing…
Water splashing…
Pole flinging…
Hide-n-go seeking…
Silly hat wearing…
Sweet flower picking…
Creating hand painting…
YOU!
We are blessed by the joy you bring us each day and how your contagious smile brings joy to all who hold you in their hearts, both near and far. You are a treasure. Happy birthday son.
Last and First Part 4 – State Fair
Oregon State Fair
On a beautiful, late summer Saturday, we set off to go to the Oregon State Fair for the first time. I was nearly as excited as G to go see the fair. It was a hot and sunny day and we were not disappointed. We trekked several miles looking at all the animals, tractors, amusements and even stopped for a show.
G loves the livestock. He was able to finally touch a cow. He had been asking too for months. We saw cows, pigs, chickens, rabbits, ducks, horses and miniature ponies.
There was a childrens toy display. G thought the Farris wheel was impressive.
And the tractors were a favorite!
We watched a show on wild birds of prey. It was great! The birds were pretty amazing.
We had such a wonderful, memorable time at the fair. It was a great way to end the summer!
Last and First Part 3 – Daddy
I love the parable Jesus tells in Matthew, chapter 7.
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Mt 7:9-11
There is something so very special about having a daddy that will do practically anything for you. Steve is that type of a Daddy; one who mirrors the love that Jesus has for us, without even realizing it. He is protective, kind, loving, everyday present and gives his whole heart. I absolutely love the privilege of seeing the love between G and his daddy.
The local water parks are closing. So we decided to visit one last time before they closed. This time we choose a new park and G had a blast. The first thing we had to do was to see the geese and ducks. G asked Daddy for bread to feed them, so Daddy went and got a loaf of bread and the two of them fed the entire loaf of bread to these water fowl.
Waiting for daddy to return with bread…
Bread! Dinner time!
Time to get wet!
Launching shoes in water jets!
“Daddy, c’mon!”
And Daddy, fully dressed, says, “Yes, son.” And then magic happens…
Daddy’s are the best!
~
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for loving us infinitely more than even our best human efforts display.
Heavenly Father we are so grateful for your love.
Last and First Part 2 – Zoo
The first day I really noticed the seasons changing was when G and I went to the zoo last week. Autumn has that distinct smell, crisp air and the obvious change of colors. It is a beautiful time of the year. We had such a great time, as usual.
G loves the beach. So we had to start our visit at the tide pools.
Up close and personal with a cheetah!
G wanted to ride ‘Thomas’ not ‘diesel’. So we had to wait some extra time to be the first passengers on ‘Thomas’. It was a great experience too. Since it was the first trip for the steam engine for the day, we were able to watch them fill the engine with water, we stopped several times to set up the tracks to operate with two trains and we were able to watch him release a large amount of steam to clear the boiler lines. It was cool.
By far one of his favorite exhibits, time and time again, the Lorekeets.
G, what is that? “DINOSAUR! RAAAAHHHHH!”
Big Cats!
We love going to the zoo. We hope to go back again soon!
Last and First Part 1- Harvest
The last days of summer have quietly, in a nearly unnoticeable way, slipped by. Without even realizing it, another season has spent its splendor and bids me farewell. But my heart whispers, “I don’t want to say goodbye…yet.” We were riding the train at the zoo when I first noticed the arrival of Autumn sprinkling her joy through the sun lit canopy of trees. A fallen leaf fluttered into the car we were sitting in making its way to the floor. G noticed too, picking it up and declaring, “Look, Mom, a leaf!” Yes, son, it is. Autumn is coming. The colors, the scents and the weather are all shifting to welcome the cozier time of the year. I love fall, its one of my favorite times of the year, but I love sunshine too, and there is the rub.
We spent the last several weeks of summer in a flurry of activity. We had cousins visit, we went to the state fair, spent time on the river, wrapped up summer camp and went to the zoo. So much to write and catch you up on. So I am doing a mini-series on the last things we did this summer and the first things we did this fall. I’m going to start with the most recent things and work my way back, hopefully touching on all of the fun things we’ve been up to.
This week we began harvesting our crops from our little garden out back. We had a bounty of strawberries earlier in the summer, then came the carrots, lettuce, and basil. The sunflowers G planted grew into mighty giants, the squash grew big and our green peppers turned red. It has been so fun eating from our garden this year. Now we have pulled the sunflowers, waiting for them to dry to get the seeds. The tomatoes are still taking over and the squash is ready to eat.
Making strawberry jam with a cute little strawberry thief…
Picking HUGE carrots with friends Adria and Kalem
Harvesting sunflower seeds. Yum!
The Lord’s bountiful blessing.
Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. Joel 2:23 NIV
Great Quote
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” and then I thought, that is where faith steps in.
That just struck a chord with me today so I thought I’d share it with you.
Family Hearts in Tunisia
This is my sister Frederique. Sister, not born of my mother, but born in the heart. We’ve been friends, family really, for nearly 25 years.
Originally from France, she came as an exchange student and lived with my family when we were teenagers. I then lived with her and her family for a summer following my graduation from high school. She came back to the US for college and met her husband, Tony. They have two handsome boys.
Three years ago they felt called by God to live in Tunisia. To serve the forsaken there in the name of Jesus. Frederique works with the abandoned babies. Those born to unwed mothers and abandoned at the place of birth due to sin. In a society that follows the teachings of Mohammed, a child conceived in sin, bears the sin, and the mother, she is told, can be restored by bearing and leaving her child there. Heartbreaking.
Those children are considered unclean. Untouchable. Unlovable. But God is so much bigger than that. God is using Frederique to not only help children get into ‘baby homes’, but also to educate and teach those nationals who are in charge of those homes to hold the children, touch them, play with them. This is a huge change in a society that labels this children, ‘unclean’. Through her influence, and the influence of those on her team, the children are smiling and laughing and even being adopted! Such joy!
Tony works with another group of cast off people. Those who have physical or mental challenges. He provides vocational training to help these individuals learn a craft or trade that will enable them to earn an income. He speaks so fondly of the relationships he has built through this. He is anxious to return to his work.
When they return to Tunisia in September, Frederique will begin working with the single mothers in prisons and will continue training up staff in the baby houses to create more joyful bearable conditions for these children.
There were here for a short time fundraising. If you have any desire to support them, please visit https://www.ideasworld.org/give/. Their last name is Herrera.
We had the joy of spending ten days with them. Here are some photo highlights from our time together.
1k
G ran his first 1K this past weekend. It was part of our towns annual celebration, ‘Colony Days’. Some friends encouraged us to sign him up for the race. We weren’t sure if he would do it, but he did! As the kids took off he just followed. He LOVED it and ran the entire way! I can not tell you how proud I was to see him and his daddy running together down the hill towards the finish line. He continues to amaze me each and every day.
The kids each got a t-shirt and a real medal. How cool is that!
Best buds showing off their medals and a high five from Dad! Way to go G!
Three Little Sparrows 
