Another Treasure

A while back I wrote that one of my favorite parts of moving is sorting through things and getting to take a trip down memory lane. When Jordan was here a few weeks ago we took another trip.

When we originally packed up in Laredo for our move out here to Arizona, we packed everything the kids left at home. Our storage room was crammed with childhood toys, books ranging from cloth baby books to novels in hardback with a few text books thrown in, school and band awards, memory items - you get the picture. A couple of years ago we started taking bins to Amanda since she and Josh had their own home. I tried to downsize it before taking it to her, but I really wanted her to decide what to toss and what to keep.

Jordan's treasures have just been stuck in storage, until his recent visit. We had the idea of letting him go through everything with the hopes he would get rid of the things he had no interest in keeping (and that passed Mom's memory gauge). Jordan went through all his bins - things ended up in the trash, others back into bins (to stay with us), some treasures went with him and he passed a few things down to Casen. We accomplished what we had hoped for including a fun trip down Memory Lane. It was so good to play "Remember when . . ." and "Look at this . . ." with Jordan. We laughed and talked, it was good.

Simple chore turned into Treasure - Good Times with Jordan.

Oh and Amanda, we've got a few things for you . . .

A Mountain Steam

We've had a pretty dry year down in Arizona, so Brian and I really enjoyed the abundance of water up in Oregon. This just one of the beautiful streams we enjoyed! Don't turn up the sound too loud - it is better as a gentle sound!

Time with Family, two New Friends and a couple of Doggies

Aunt Georgia, Mom, and me

with Bubba down front.

We enjoyed a quiet evening out at the "Trout Farm" and took a few pictures. This City Girl expected to see big cement tanks buried in the ground with open tops and tons of fish - all different sizes - which I assumed would later be relocated to actual lakes. Instead it was a pretty little lake with a nice trail surrounding it. I guess the fishing is pretty good there too!

Brian and the elusive Uncle Gary
( don't think Uncle Gary is crazy

about having his picture taken!)

At the Cant Farm

At the Trout Farm

Uncle Gary and Me up on Dixie Trail

Dolores has been such a good friend to Mom

since her move up to Oregon. We couldn't

have asked for a better tour guide to the

area than Dolores and we teased her about

knowing everyone in the county!

Dolores and Mom during

one of our Jeep Rides

Mom's neighbor girl, Jeannie and

Brian playing Ladder Ball.

This is Aunt Georgia and Uncle Gary's little dog, Dandy. He is a cutie just like Bubba. He loved having his chest scratched.

A New View

A few years ago I enjoyed a women's study on the Psalms. During this study we talked about what in nature speaks to us of God and His presence in our lives. I really identified with that thought - the study reaffirmed to me how much God speaks to us thru his wonderful creation.

Psalm 125:1 & 2, "Those who trust in the Lord are like

Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures

forever, As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the

Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore."

The above verse is one of my favorite "comfort" verses - a verse I have turned to in the past to remind me that God is there and surrounding us with His love. I read it over and over the summer of 1999 when it felt our lives were being shattered. Then again, this past year it has come to my mind and lips a thousand times. It words have truly been a comfort to me.

Seeing the created beauty in Oregon, my verse kept coming to mind and I felt a gentle reminder that God surrounds me by His love and presence in my life. This past week in Oregon, I began to view these words not just as a source of comfort, but I also came to see them as a promise for what lies ahead. I know God holds wonderful plans for our future and I can barely wait as those plans unfold.

The House Is Under Contract

Someone has put in an offer (which we accepted after a counter offer and another counter offer) on the house, so now it is under contract! Praise God - He has blessed us these last few weeks. His Spirit gave us both such a sense of peace over our decision to lower the price of the house and we knew in our hearts that we could leave this matter in God's loving hands. The price was lowered about 5 minutes when the buyer's realtor called ours to set up a time to view the house. The buyer has come by several times, plus he had his folks come by to see it. Each viewing left Brian and I both with a good feeling. He is a first time home buyer, so he is taking advantage of a Arizona program to help with his down. The sale becoming final is contigent upon that working out, but we are leaving it in God's hands. The buyer doesn't want to take posssession until the end of August - perfect timing for us as Brian's retirement date is August 31st. God is good and he is keeping his hands on our lives! I praise Him for seeing the big picture and taking care of our needs and timing!

Grandbaby II is on the Way!

We have a grandbaby on the way! Brian and I received an early morning phone call a couple of weeks ago. "Mom and Daddy, we are pregnant - we're having another baby!" We were instructed it was a secret until Amanda had her first appointment but I admit, I did tell a few people here and my best friend Joyce. Oh the bliss of the news! Another Grandbaby to love! I think of how much we love Casen and then I try to grasp the thought of that love multiplied by two - what a thought! I can barely wait!

Yesterday we received this phone picture:

We were so excited - the big news was out. This morning, I remembered, "I can now post the big news on Facebook, my blog, and I can talk about it with our Moms and the rest of the family - yeah!!!

Proverbs again comes to my mind, "Children's children are a crown to the aged . . ." It is true! What a wonderful blessing we receive here on this earth - Grandbabies!

Our Home

I have been thinking about us selling our house and I realized that I have been calling it our "house" not our home. Hmm . . . it got me to thinking. I love this house - it was the first place Brian and I have owned as just the two of us. We have tried with God's help, to make it a welcoming place, a place where our friends and family would find love, joy, comfort and peace.

As our Home these walls have:

seen us at our best and at our worst,

been a place of refuge, comfort

and peace for Brian and I,

heard our prayers to God -

both our petitions and our praise,

welcomed our friends with

warm meals and a soft bed,

been a safe, fun place for children to come,

welcomed a few strangers

and saw them become friends,

enjoyed Casen's first Christmas,

been a temporary home for both of our Moms,

welcomed our children and their families,

been filled with the laughter of reminiscing

each time our siblings came to visit,

heard a few heart to heart talks,

seen tears fall -

some of joy and some of heartache,

and been filled with love - always.

These wall have held a lot of living and I believe that is why we have called it home. God has blessed Brian and I through this home - with good friends, loving family and lots of memories. I think placing it on the market has made me begin to tuck away all the memories and start looking ahead to our next home and the blessings God will provide to Brian and I there.

Psalm 127:1a, "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain."