One last Swim

Today the pools are closing even though our forecast still looks warm.  The students are going back to school therefore we lose our lifeguards.  But we got in one more swim of our 2011 summer.

Water in the ears, no fun!

She's a champ in the water

We picnicked with Grandpa and Nana the day before

Brian was playing around with the features on the new camera

I like this

Spokane to the Oregon Coast

We piled into an RV and headed to the Oregon Coast and what great memories were made!  There aren't many people I know that would willingly cram 9 human beings (including two one year olds) into a motor home and go for 5 nights, but our best friends the Soehner's would and they did! And yes, we are still friends after this trip! :)

 Mt. Hood (We had beautifully clear days!)

 Hiking Multnomah Falls

 Touring Portland

 The boys lovin' the sea life

Starfish everywhere 

 What's the beach without sandcastles and someone getting buried

Gorgeous Views!

We ended most days by the fire with s'mores

And Gracie girl - could her legs be any cuter with chunkiness!?

Our Angel Babies

Brian and I have two babies in Heaven, I call them my Angel Babies.  I don't know why the Lord allows certain pain in our lives. I don't know why the Lord would take our babies home before we even get to meet them, I don't know why I would have to spend my summer enduring the pains of morning sickness only to make it to the end of the first trimester and say goodbye to my baby.  I don't always know how God is at work in certain situations but I do know why I can trust Him.  Os Guinness writes,

"Suffering is the most acute trial that faith can face, and the questions it raises are the sharpest, the most insistent, and the most damaging that faith will meet.  Can faith bear the pain and still trust God, suspending judgment and resting in the knowledge that God is there, God is good, and God knows best? Or will the pain be so great that only meaning will make it endurable so that reason must be pressed further and further and judgements must be made? To suffer is one thing, to suffer without meaning is another...If we do not know why we trust God in the beginning, then we will always need to know exactly what God is doing in order to trust him..When we see Jesus on the cross we can come to trust God with an unutterable trust that never for a moment considers he will not stand by us in our sufferings."

I do know these babies little lives were not pointless and just some sad accident but they had a purpose.  This side of heaven I may not understand the entire story, but I do know that their lives have left an imprint on my heart that has forever changed me. They have drawn me closer to Jesus as I learn to press into Him. They have helped me not take life for granted and helped me see that life is so very fragile and a gift from God.

I know that suffering is part of life. We each suffer in this life to some degree. I don't mean to downplay tragic events that happen to us, but I've read enough of Paul’s life to realize I have it easy and am blessed beyond belief! I pray the Lord's will be done in my life through the joys and trials. I look at my two babes on this earth that God has given us and my heart overflows with thankfulness.  These children are not my own, they belong to God and He has numbered their days as well as mine. I cannot imagine going through life in this fallen world and not have the HOPE and PEACE that comes from knowing Jesus. There is far more to life than what we see.  "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal!" (2Cor.4:18)

My friend loaned me this book, Be Still My Soul.  It's a compilation of 25 readings written by different authors such as, Tim Keller, R.C. Sproul, John Newton, Calvin, Philip Yancey....on the problem of pain. Edited by Nancy Guthrie. It's been such an encouragement to me! 

A Time of Healing

Romans 8:28   "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to HIS purpose...If God is for us who can be against us?! He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"

Ecola State Park, Oregon

320 sq. ft. home

I found this story very interesting. A family of 3 live in a 320 sq. foot home and have no mortgage.  check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y15dxUZN3s&feature=player_embedded

Soakin' It Up

As we all know, summers in Spokane are just not quite long enough.  Before we know it we will have to pull out the sweaters and shut the windows and turn on the heaters, but until then we are soaking in the warmth everyday as much as we possibly can!  If your tired of the heat where you live, you should come here for a visit, you won't be disapointed!

And "How Big is Grace?"  

"SO BIIIIIG!"

Surprise Guests

Well, it happened, Grace turned one.  It was a fun time with friends watching Grace be cute and eat cake.  We even had 2 surprise guests join us to help celebrate.  (you'll see who they were in one of the videos).  :-)

Johanna's in the background holding the Skype camera! :-)

Number One

Number One

You are one,
Let’s have some fun.
Teddies or blocks,
Where are your socks?

Milk tastes so sweet,
With honey and heat.
Today we will play,
With Sunshine and day.

We wish you the best,
As you grow healthy, no less.
Has it been a year?
We love you our dear.

By Martin Dejnicki

Happy Happy Birthday Sweet Grace