My New Camera

Picture heavy post to share my new toy. I don’t even really know how to use it yet. I just know that it is really hard to take a blurry picture with it. I thought I’d share a few from this evening just after I picked up this new little cam. Thanks Jeffy.

Family Life And Stuff

It seems like I’ve been all business lately and haven’t shared much about what is going on with the fam. We had a great fourth. From pancake breakfasts to picnics at camp to fireworks at Claire’s it was a full day. The weather was just perfect; not too hot and not too cold. Just call me Goldilocks.

Mom and Dad came down to Eugene for the Olympic Trials. They were officials for the race walk. We eventually joined up with them down at the “Olympic Festival.” After they went home we went around and experienced some of the free things. Here is part of what we did.

The kiddos helped power the event by riding the bikes to charge up the batteries.

After participating in the kid’s mock track and field events they celebrated their victories…

and their defeats…

I took these pics on my camera phone.

I’m excited for a couple of things happening in the next few days.

1. I’m spending time with my very first friend I made when I moved here to go to the U. We’ve known each other for almost 22 years. We go to the same church yet over past few years have only seen each other once a year, on the Fourth of July. So, for her birthday we’re going to have to lunch today and get our nails done.

2. I’m taking a family portrait tomorrow. With my new camera. I don’t have the new camera yet. I will pick it up in less than three hours. Yea! I’m looking forward to adding things to my portfolio.

3. We are going to the beach this weekend for a family reunion. It will be a short trip since the boys have to be back for Sunday-go-to-meetin’-time.

4. There is a fun concert, that I mentioned yesterday, that Jeff and I are involved with Sunday evening.

5. Jman turns 14. I’m excited and dumbfounded. Fourteen years! Fourteen years!

6. I’m hoping to hear about my sister in law’s trip to Romania with Northwest Medical Teams. She made the whole two week trip with nothing but a backpack. The rest of their luggage was filled with donations. I’m thankful that she is home safe and sound.

7. And Solace For The Artist’s Soul is coming up! I am ever hopeful the people will be encouraged by this event.

Music In The Park

***Solace For The Artist’s Soul, July 19th 5-8 p.m. @ the Camp Harlow Amphitheater.***

I forgot to mention that Jeff and I are playing with “The Get Togethers” this Sunday at EBF. It’s a group that our friend Steve Leighter put together. No pun intended. I’m also singing one song with Neil. It’s song that we recorded in our front bathroom while I was pregnant with Em, and pre studio.

It should be a fun afternoon. It’s free!

Solace For The Artist’s Soul

It’s kind a hard to read, huh? I did want to share it with you. It is my first time for a Solace For The Artist’s Soul. And it’s the first time that I’m leading a co-ed Solace. Yeah, men and women together! It’s been on my heart for quite a while. Since I’ve been digging deeper into the Word over the past decade, yikes that’s quite a while, I’ve seen my skills in drawing and painting become an extension of what I read and pray about. I thought that there might be people like me with a talent for drawing and/or painting who would like to use it as an extension of their worship.

It will run similar to a usual Solace. Adoration: Worship, time journaling and in prayer. Confession: Worship, time in prayer and painting or drawing. Thanksgiving: Worship, time in prayer and painting or drawing. Supplication:Worship, time in prayer and painting or drawing. We’ll hang the finished paintings/drawings in the atrium of the church for the Sunday morning services to enjoy.

I am really excited about this. Some people look at me like I am crazy, like they just don’t get it, but then I tell some one like me and they get it. That’s all that matters. I want to minister to fellow artisans and creative types that might not feel like they fit; like they have a place to use their gifts. It just like when I want to minister to those ladies that need to hear a really good old hymn, and I realize I have to skip some of the new songs that I’ve fallen in love with. It’s about meeting people where they are at, so that they are ministered to. They can then, in turn, minister to others.

Jeff and I have a deep desire to “build up not use up.” We want to see people using their talents and gifts for the Lord, so that they don’t feel stale and empty. We’ve been there and done that. It’s not fun. It can be a struggle to use those gifts and talents in amidst the craziness of life. Hopefully this Solace will be an opportunity for people to re-energize from time in God’s Word and by using their artisan muscles. My other hope is that it will be an opportunity for us to meet each other and be inspired by other believers’ works of art.

If you want to know more, you can email me.

Getting Caught Up

By now many of you know that we have a new pastor. Yea! He is already here and working. The vote was cast and passed by a large amount on Sunday morning,and Pastor Ben and his wife accepted the call Sunday afternoon. I am so excited. What a blessing to have new leader in place for our church. He a leader that will shepherd us, and also guide us in ministering to our community.

We had our second evening of camp pastor. They are a sweet bunch of little guys. It difficult to understand how much pain some of these kiddos have experienced in their short lives. One little boy came up to me tonight and said that he prays to God every night that his daddy will come back to life. How sad is that?

Fast Forward to Friday night…I kind of didn’t have time to finish what I started. We spent the first part of the day out at camp finishing up our time of camp pastor. Kids made decisions to become part of God’s family and some kids made decisions to use kind words or just be a good family member. It’s a privilege and honor to be a part this time a camp.

On to something completely different. We watched THE WORST MOVIE EVER MADE. “Why?” you ask. Why did we continue to watch the movie until the end if we knew 5 minutes into the movie that it was indeed THE WORST MOVIE EVER MADE? I told Jeff is was like watching a train wreck. I was in such shock at how bad this movie was that I just kept watching it with the hopes that it would eventually get better. Don’t ever see “Face The Music” with…Molly Ringwald and Patrick Dempsey. I can just hear my brother Andy rolling his eyes and saying, “Amy. Amy. Amy.” Like I should have known better. I think that she had been living in France by the time this movie was made and just wanted to make a movie in France where she could sing the whole time. Eye-yi-yi! Thank goodness I was trying to knit at the time and Jeff was returning emails during most of it. Okay, I’ve got that out of my system.

Have a great Saturday.

The Shack and stuff…

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Holy Schnikes! I just finished up “The Shack.” Holy Schnikes! Lorie we have to talk.
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On another note, Jeffy and I are having a splendid time at the beach celebrating our anniversary. We are thoroughly enjoying our time together, and resting in the fact that our precious family is safe with yayas and papas. I’ll share more later.
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Have a great Saturday!

Happy Anniversary to ME!

Today I’ll have been married for 15 years. 15 years! Where does the time go? So much has happened. I feel like life has just whizzed by! At the same time I still feel like the 17 year old that went off to college. Yikes! I’m glad I’m no longer that 17 year old.

But on to the reason for my post. I love my husband! I am so thankful that he chose me. I sit and wonder why on earth the Lord blessed me with Jeffy. How grateful I am to be married to a man who is so different than myself, yet so much the same.

We process information differently. We load the dishwasher, well, he loads and I don’t. He is a planner. I am not. He would not choose to dance with our daughter out in the rain with no shoes on. I would.

Yet we come together on so many things. We love the Lord. We love to laugh, and laugh at and with each other about the same things. We love to play; music, games, whatever. We love to pray for other people. We rejoice in our children. We believe that family is one the most important things to nourish next to a relationship with Christ.

So, Happy Anniversary my dear sweet husband. Thank you for 15 fabulous and glorious years. Thank you for being an example of Christ’s love for the church in how you love me and our children. I adore you. I abide in you. You are the love of my life.