Women's Retreat 2009

Women's Retreat was so much fun. This year I drove up with Rose, Whitney and Leanna but I roomed with Janice, Krissy & Jenna. These ladies are so much fun and so beautiful inside and out. Janice is my "adopted mother in-law" and Jenna & Krissy are my adopted "little sisters" since Aaron lived with them off and on for a few years during college. We learned a lot from a very funny speaker named Poppy, ate great food (that I didn't have to cook or wash the dishes for) and spent lots of time just hanging out!

Jenna & I

Janice & Krissy

Jenna & Krissy having fun at the range

I had a lot of fun shooting all the guns at the range!

Time flys too quick

Baby sisters should never grow up. It seems like yesterday when my mom announced she was pregnant with Jenna. Soon it will be boyfriends, dances, middle then high school. Oh my.

What am I thankful for?

Today I had the opportunity to attend church with one of my friends at the church she attends in Monmouth. It was very different atmosphere for me at I had never been to this denomination before and it was much smaller than I am used to at Salem Heights.
I find it amazing how God can work in such wonderful ways. Although I didn't love the worship, and I didn't feel a real connection to the way the preacher spoke and he had turned me off to what he had to say due to some political references about our President Elect; God still was able to reach me. The preacher emphasized being more thankful, more grateful and more content in our day to day lives.
I realized that all too often due to the stresses and burdens that are present in day to day life I forget to thank god daily for all of the blessings that I have in my life.

Today, November 9, 2009 I am thankful for many things:
* I am thankful that I live in a country that has the right to practice religion freely.
* That I have a warm bed to sleep in every night.
* That I have been able to attend college and I almost have my degree.
* That my parents are still married.
* That I have a job.

What are you thankful for today?

Tumalo 2008

We just rolled in from a camping trip to Tumalo State Park in between Sisters & Bend. We went with a bunch of friends( Rose & Pat, Brittney & Raymond, Krystal Klassen, Kris, Amanda & Kameron, Jason Leon, and John & Sarah) At least one of each couple had grown up camping there with our parents every summer and had all been about 10 times together throughout the years. This year was special because it was our first year going as "grown ups" now that most of us are married and our parents no longer go. Here are a couple pictures while camping and some fun shots Aaron took of the river and the moon:


Krystal & Kameron:
Rose & Brittney:
The amazing shot Aaron captured of the moon from the rocks that we hiked up:
My Amazingly cute husband who just loves it when I take his picture:

September 2, 2008

Today is our 1 year anniversary. I had heard how fast the first year would fly by but I never imagined how quick it would really pass. I still feel like such a newlywed and I can't wait to see what this next year will bring us. Thanks for a great first year hubby-man, I love you!

New House, New Car, Lots of Thanks & Prayers!

Throughout our first year of marriage we have definitely had our share of trials. We have been learning how to live together and have dealt with the changes that every relationship makes as it matures into a married relationship. We had our months of trying to pay the bills off just my income when Aaron quit his job (and somehow we made it, even if it did include a humbling trip to the food bank) We have learned that God provides, and even when it doesn't feel like it things eventually look a little brighter.

This has definitely been a brighter week for us. We have officially been in our new rental house for 1 Week now! Last Saturday we started packing and on Sunday my family was amazing and helped us move nearly everything over to the new place. It has been so wonderful to have a fenced yard to let our dog out in and a shop & patio for Aaron to paint our furniture on. This house is such an amazing place and we are so thankful! Honestly if anyone ever needs a place to stay let us know, we have room!

The second huge blessing that we have received this week is our new car. It looks like this:

It is a 2008 Toyota Corolla, and it is beautiful. Aaron's Grandma has owned it since January and now that she isn't driving anymore they have decided to give (that's right, GIVE) it to Aaron & I. Aaron is being so sweet and decided that it is my car since his car is still pretty new itself and mine is an older gas guzzler. Since this car has a whopping 1700 miles on it you will now and for the next 20+ years be seeing me driving around town sporting this pretty little car. Thank you Lord, I never imagined I would own a car that is so new!

If anyone is looking for a Red 1994 Honda Passport we are selling ours. Hopefully by the middle of September because the Boys & Girls Club will be closed for the month, leaving us a little under budget for our monthly bills :)

Blessed

Tonight Aaron and I turned in our first ever 30 day notice. We will officially be out of our tini-tiny Apartment on August 31st and we couldn't be happier. Wednesday we went and met with our new landlords, they showed us around their house and asked how much we could afford to pay in rent. Isn't that unbelievable? They are a wonderful Christian couple who have decided they would use this house that they weren't able to sell to help others out. It is a 1600 sq ft house, 2 bedrooms, a huge air-conditioned attic, an office, 1 1/2 bathrooms, a dishwasher and oven that both work and the best part is it has a fenced front and back yard that our dog will be able to play in! I never though I would be so excited about a rental but I was pretty much in tears due to how it has all worked out for us. God is so good! We will post pictures of the house once we get moved in and will definitely be having a BBQ in our yard sometime soon.