Meet Daisy! She has been my baby since 1999 (a year filled with grief) - she was a gift from God. We lost her on Saturday and God provided miracle after miracle to bring her back to us. Shortly after she ran off (she's very social and likes to go visit people) Jeff went to search for her as I was not home. He found out from someone a block away that she had been run over by a moving van---BUT that he didn't think the tires had hit her, it just rolled her because she ran off. We searched and searched until dark calling, driving, looking all over the area. She was nowhere to be found. I cried my eyes out like a big baby. I thought she must be alive, but where was she? I hoped that the humane society had her at that point although she wasn't licensed (bad, I know --I could make many excuses, but it comes down to it just wasn't a priority--lesson learned). God spared us that because it could have cost us upwards of $1000 to get her back if they decided to quarantine her since her rabies vaccine was due last month.... Finally Sunday late afternoon someone called, seeing her tag and told us they had found Daisy. She has a hurt back leg, but other than that she is fine (scared too which is probably a good thing). I took her to the vet yesterday, had her checked and got her shots. The license application is in an envelope, stamped and waiting to be put in the mail. Praise God for sparing our beloved Daisy! I know He cares about even her!

Anyone ever read "The Bait of Satan" by John Bevere? It is a must read! We are doing the Bible study right now and it is great! I have never heard a group of women so quiet as they are during these video sessions. You could hear a pin drop! God is doing amazing things in our body. I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been enjoying my daily Xanga subscription and realize I have not been contributing...again! Well, now I have arrived! I FINALLY have broadband internet service....welcome to the 21st century! I am attempting to share a few pictures today. I spent some time with Jeff's cousin yesterday trying to get the PERFECT picture of the kids...easier said than done.

We are enjoying a rainy spring here in Central Oregon! We almost feel like we are back in Portland. It has rained every day for a couple of weeks and the rain continues in the forecast for another week. I love it! It is so refreshing.

The Lord's rain has been pouring out upon us here in Central Oregon as well! It is so exciting to see what God is doing in me, my husband and our church! I have never experienced such an outpouring of His Spirit in my life as if have over the last few months! Our ladies Bible study has just finished "Drawing Near" by John Bevere and was it EVER "for such a time as this". It has had an amazing impact on our church body (our Pastor saw what an impact the study was having on our women and he started leading it on Wednesday nights too! God is moving and shaking us!!!! I love it!

Right before my eyes, my children are growing and changing and getting BIG. Isabella is just finishing 4yr old preschool and Hayden is now 3! Yikes! I have decided to homeschool Isabella next year (double yikes!). There are many reasons, but ultimately, I feel that is what the Lord is leading me to do. Besides, how bad can I be at teaching Kindergarten????? Hayden wants to go to school in the worst way! Whenever we take Isabella to school, I have to practically drag him out of her classroom! He is my outgoing child, ready to take on anything!

Here are my fun pictures...I really need some lessons in photography! But these will look GREAT in my scrapbooks! Have a blessed day!

These smiles are about as fake as it gets!

The best picture we got!

God is so good! I am never tired of His presence and work in my life (although sometimes the work is painful). I was just lamenting to the Lord this morning about difficult relationship issues in my life. More specifically, asking Him why it is easier to get a long with my friends than it is a lot of my family???????? (It's not the first time I have asked this question...). And in His ever-so-gentle way, He spoke to me this: "This is how you HAVE relationships" - meaning to me, I take them trials and all. It is what relationships are all about. Even if I didn't get to choose my family like I do my friends. Then He said "this equips you to minister to others who walk through relationship difficulties". Hmmmmmm...God always has a purpose.  Why did he allow it? Because.... I love His gentle whispers and the answers I receive that are NOT what I was looking for! He calls me by name and knows my EVERY need, even to the deepest spaces of my heart!

Thanks for letting me share! Have a blessed day!

This weekend was pretty fun.  We left Thursday for Cannon Beach as Jeff had business meetings there.  We traveled with one of his customers and his family.  While they were in meetings, the kids and I (along with the customer's family) got to play in the pool and go shopping.  We were in Cannon Beach and loved it.  What a cute town! Then on Saturday we went to Portland to stay with Troi and visit the Barnums. We all got to go out for dinner at Olive Garden (we don't have one in Bend yet) with Pauline and Hannah too!  It was a very fun time. Then on Sunday we went to church at Portland Christian Center.  It felt like going home.  Isabella said she liked it better than her church. And when we were in the car, Jeff said, "I sure miss Pastor Wilson." Although we love the place where God has placed us, PCC will always feel like home. We miss you all so much!  Our trip home was exciting...snow, snow, snow!  The snow is so pretty, but such a pain to drive in!  We have snow here now.  The biggest pain is that as soon as you open the door, Hayden thinks he needs to run out and get some! (shoes or not)!  This weekend should be fun as well.  We are back in Portland. This time at the Benson with no kids!  We are so excited since we can count on ONE hand the number of times we have been kidless over night since having Isabella!  Fancy dinner...fancy hotel... well, anyway...gotta go for now! This picture was taken at dinner Saturday night at dinner.

Wake me up when it's time to eat!

Isabella was a flowergirl in my nephew's wedding in November. She took her job VERY seriously!

Troi just pointed out to me that it has been ... oh... six months since I wrote anything.  Ooops! Well, much has happened since then.  I really have to get better at this!  Let's see... since then we sold our old house and bought a house that was forclosed on in September.  God worked it all out perfectely as far as timing and such.  But basically, the house is a one level with AWESOME views of the Cascade Mtns and in a great neighborhood.  BUT it was TRASHED!  We had to replace all the floor coverings, paint the entire inside, buy new upper cabinets for the kitchen (the previous owners stoled them), replace the dishwasher (also stolen) and all the door knobs in the house.  What a mess!  I can't believe the way people live! It was a lot of work and we did it during the month our old house was in escrow and lived with my sister for a week and a half until the house was ready.  It was quite an undertaking.  We did all of the work along with a couple of friends who helped.  There are still touch-up work projects to do, but we are pretty settled now.  Two weeks after we moved, Isabella and I went to Mississippi for my nephew, Marc's, wedding.  Isabella was the flower girl.  It was a long trip (1 week), but fun.  After we got back - in November - we started gearing up for the holidays.  I had a lot going on in November (can't remember right now what that was) and in December I had lots too (don't ask what-I don't remember).  I did cater a buffet for Jeff's customers in the middle of December.  It was lunch for 300 people. Yikes!  It was a lot of work, but the $3/hr I got was sure worth it!  So, here we are.  All caught up - the readers digest version. We are looking forward to a great 2005.  Still album making, doing some fun things with women's ministries, vacation to Shasta Lake & Hawaii and having fun!  Oh, and more work on the house -- we have to put in a yard including a 7 ft. retaining wall and fill with grass and the works!  It is looking to be a busy year!  I will try to be better about this.  I only have dial-up internet service right now as DSL is not available in our new neighborhood and it is very frustrating.  So, maybe I will get cable soon.  At any rate, I am having Troi teach me how to do this so that I can be more into this.  So, I will catch up again soon.

Hayden and his buddy Cameron heading out for a boys day out! (Hayden on right)