back to the library...

So...soon we will be moving...although we have been saying that for a while now. Really, we are going to move...soon. In the process we have disconnected our home phone and our Internet...so I get to go to the lovely Longview library to meet all my internety needs. All that to say...you won't be seeing many posts on here for a while...like maybe a month, or so. Most definitely not any posts with pictures...because they frown on me sticking foreign electronics into there precious computers. Understandable.
Side note: It is kind of a pain to use the computers here, you have to sign up ahead of time and can only use them for a hour each day...this is fine for me but I am glad I am not trying to write a paper or something really important!!!
On a more newsy note, we are going to Canada tomorrow. We are really going this time...because it is just supposed to rain for the rest of this week(and next week, and probably the next)...not snow. I am packing in anticipation.
Well, I think I have had just about as much as I can stand in terms of the Longview public...and the Longview Public Library.
So, see you on the next post!

Happy New Year!!

Christmas fun!!!

Merry Christmas...

Pretty much any plans we made for Christmas this year have been changed because of the snow...we have enjoyed it though!



Merry Christmas to everyone...we wish we could see you all to celebrate together!

More snow fun...

We like to take pictures of our feet...you know in the sand at the beach, in the water at the creek...and in the snow...



Today we had to get out to run a couple of errands...while we were out we went to the mall and Doug gave me an early Christmas present...new snow/hiking boots!!!



So to break them in...we went for a walk for a couple hours...the lake was so pretty:



Here we are all bundled up:



Doug made a snow angel:



and he played on the playground:



and stuck his tongue on the frozen gate:



Here are a couple pictures of the island all lit up at the lake:

Our new house...

Soon we will be moving...to this house...we are really excited.

Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole

Letha says that this is a yummy recipe...from The Taste of Home Cookbook:

4 pounds sweet potatoes/about 5 large peeled and cubed
1 cup milk
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
18 large marshmallows

1) place sweet pototoes in a large saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 15-20 minutes or until tender; drain.....(seems like you could used canned instead)
2) Transfer into a large mixing bowl and mash. Add the next nine ingredients, beat until smooth. transfer to a greased shallow 2 1/2 quart baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until heated through.
3) top with marshmallows, bake 5-10 minutes longer or just until marshmallows begin to puff and brown.
yield...10 servings

Walkin' in a winter wonderland...

Doug and I enjoyed the snow today...we went for a couple long walks around our neighborhood...


Here is Doug right outside our house:


Here is one of me:


We walked down the alley with Turbo and Jasmine...they love the snow!
Turbo:

Jasmine:

Us:


We walked down to the lake:


Doug with a nice snowball:



Just one more of us in front of the house...

Little baby Dougie...

Over Thanksgiving I asked Doug's sister if she had any baby pictures of Doug...so we all had fun looking through pictures of their family from years ago... Here are some of Doug as a little guy:

This one was taken when he was just five months old with his mom:



Here he is at nine months old with his mom:



To be fair...here are a couple of me as a baby:

It's Christmas time...

'tis the season for lights and colors...here are some of our decorations around our house!!

First of all....our coffee table, which is acting as our tree this year...






Our stockings...



Our outdoor lights on the house... it turned out a bit dark in the picture...guess you all will have to come see it for yourself...:)



Here is a closer picture of the doorway...




So, for this evening, before everything gets going for the holidays...I am watching The Princess Bride...Doug and the cat are...sleeping...



and the dog is participating quite well too...

Cool Dog video...

I have watched this like four times...so cool! Check it out HERE!

turbo vs the computer

see this cute cat...



see why i'm mad...

A new tradition...

Doug and I were talking about finding a "new tradition" to start for us to do each year at Christmas time. While we were perusing the many stores on Black Friday, Doug had a great idea. We like the little Christmas towns with the post offices, restaurants, houses, etc...sooo our new tradition is....

drum roll please...

Each year we will get a new building for 'our town', and each time the building we get will represent something that we did or that happened that year. This year we got married...and although we were not married in a chapel...we got the "Faith Chapel". Here is a picture with more light so you can see the details better...



Also, we got a clock tower to represent the beginning of our time together as a family. It is a little hard to see in the darker pictures, but it is there.
Here are some more views...





Just one more...



Enjoy your traditions of the season!

I need Africa...

I follow this blog...and this is a great post about visiting Africa and getting 'it' under your skin. For anyone thinking that they may or may not ever want to go on a mission trip overseas...read this post...you might just have to make sure you visit there too.

Ladies and Gentlemen...we'll be back in a few weeks...

So, about the previous post. Yah, he sure was cute...but turns out, a little clueless. Jasmine has a different boyfriend now...who knows what he is doing (ahem), she will see him again on Tuesday.:)

This week is Thanksgiving...which is wonderful because of the food, and for the fans...the football. Well, at least the American sense of the word. Let me just say to everyone out there...DVR just might be a marriage saver. It took Doug approximately 30-45 minutes to watch a three hour game today...HALLELUJAH!!!
Right, back to Thanksgiving. We get to do it twice, noon is at my aunt and uncle's..and after that we will be headed out of town to Doug's sisters house. This will be our first holiday shared with extended fam...so we are excited, I think.

Tuesday of this week, however starts our ever approaching foster parenting training hours...not sure if I am supposed to put both 'ing's in there but you get it. Our training hours will restart the next week with our Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and then the next week that same schedule as well as a FULL Saturday session. From there it is doctor visits, records, paperwork, fingerprinting, more classes, paperwork, CPR training, BBP training, paperwork, and then a home inspection..which is going to happen after we move of course. And after we find a fridge and washer and dryer, and redo the kitchen and bedroom floor, and the living room walls...and a few other touch ups...:) We are hoping by February or so...

Wow, this is a wordy post...I'll quit now.

Jasmine got a boyfriend...

More things that make me happy...

1. Stuff that's on sale, and then on sale again, and also 50% off
2. honey-combs
3. the litter box in the shed (not in the house)
4. scrap booking supplies
5. tacos (that is not swahili)
6. coupons
7. febreze AIR effects (rocky springs and cool)...I actually smile when I spray it...which evidently was a limited edition scent because it is now nowhere to be found, my 9.7 ounces is kapeesh
8. clean floors
9. my stash of sharpie pens
10. fridge magnets
11. Christmas shopping (pre-season)
12. surprises...when I know about them
13. the knowledge that each and every DMV will eventually pass away
14. mileage checks
15. 20/20 vision...yah, waking up, looking at the clock and seeing more than a red blur...it's GREAT!
16. handwritten letters
17. Hallmark stores
18. Doug

We're moving...

Because we think it is just so much fun and a great way to organize and reorganize our belongings...we have decided to move. Ya right! Some friends of ours that we go to church with happen to be moving out of their house into one that is more suitable for their family's needs...and have offered us their 'old' house to us. We are VERY excited about it because:
a. it is waaaaay less rent to pay each month
b. it is out of town
c. it is out of town
d. it is bigger than our current house
e. it is nicer than our current house
f. it is waaaaaaay less rent each month
g. it is out of town
h. we really love the house
i. there are trees

did i mention that it is way less rent each month and that it is out of town?
'Cuz it is.

Pictures to come...most likely we will be moving at the end of December...so after Christmas, whoever wants to help load up some stuffage...comeonover!!!

A book, part two

Above is the link to my first published book..."If it takes my whole life...I'll live again." This is something I have been working on for a few years and just never thought it would really get published. Recently, I decided to put the time into getting the book 'out there' so here it is!
p.s. evidently the spell check on this computer is bugged soooo...there is a misspelling in the book, see if you can find it as fast as I did!

A book...

Here is a chance for you to support us and independent publishing...click the lulu symbol below. (The top half of the book cover is white...so try to look past the website design flaw)

Life is different there...

I thought this was a great video...and a great song too...it is funny when I come across videos like these, I miss the good old days. Videos and people that remind me of the many many children like them and pictures taken like these...that I have experienced. I makes me miss always having a baby to hold during church..even if they did pee on me, always having someone touch my hair and giggle, shaking hands with EVERYONE, nyama choma, and all those great things that as a kid...I thought were normal for everyone. But now I just miss. Someone asked me the age old question the other day..."what was it like growing up as a missionary kid oversees?" To this day I am not sure how people expect me to answer that! I told her it was just normal for me, that I love that I had the experiences that I did, that I miss it, and that she should make her kids travel too...that she should definitely travel as well! I wish for everyone that they get to see, touch, taste and absolutely smell...Africa.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSdP6PqsbJY

Give Away...

So, I entered a free giveaway and part of the participation requirement is to post about it on my blog...so here goes...go here To Walk on Fertile Ground for some more info!!! (and to possibly become the winner!)

In other news, I now have 20/20 vision and improving...will find out just how great my vision is in three weeks at my next check up. I am seeing the world through no glasses/contacts and am loving it. Things are much clearer than they ever have been...lasiks is great! If anyone wants to get there eyes fixed and they live in the Portland or surrounding areas I would definitely recommend LasikPlus They are great and the doctor was awesome...and qualified..that's always a plus! (if you are considering it, let me know so I can be listed as a referral...'cause they will give me money for referring people to them)

Also, a newish ministry has begun at our church that we have had the opportunity to serve in. The name of it is, Come Unto Me Ministries and we are focusing on ministering to orphans and foster kids. Right now we are focusing on kids in our area but we are hoping that soon we can reach out overseas as well. Our project at the moment is a fun one...that YOU might like to be part of! We are collecting personal items (toothbrushes, notebooks, throw blankets, socks, etc) for kids and teens and putting these things together in bags. This is to give to foster kids who are bounced around from home to home...to have something of their own to take with them wherever they go. Many people feel that they do not have time to go and purchase these items so they have provided funds to help us go and get the things that the kids need...if you want to be part of this, drop me a comment and I will get in touch with you!

Well, I think that's just about it!
Pictures to come from our harvest carnival!!!

Who can pray?

For the last few weeks at church we have been going through a series on prayer each Wednesday night. Last week the pastor touched on a topic, and I had some concerns, but tonight, he expressed a pretty clear opinion that I am not sure what I think about.
Last week, he was speaking on sin in our lives and how we need to confess sin before we pray about anything else. In fact, if we do not confess our sins first, then God will not listen to our other prayers. hmmm... while I believe that confession of sins is important, will God turn a deaf ear if we pray in the wrong order?
Tonight, he was talking about praying without ceasing. He asked the question, "Who can pray?" We all answered, "Everyone". To that he said, "The Bible is clear that God does not hear the prayers of unbelievers but yes, ALL believers should pray." Huh?
So, does God hear the prayers of unbelievers? Is there scripture to back up this idea?

Jackos...

So, when Dad and Mom visited we all went out the the pumpkin patch and got some great pumpkins!!! I didn't have my camera for that event but believe me, it was super fun. I did however capture the exciting carving party in digital memory...it is a good thing too because last night we got home and two of our pumpkins were gone...sad. BUT we still have the two big huge ones...which we haven't carved yet...