Bringing 2008 To A Close

Well, as usual, it's hard to believe that another year has come and gone. Wow. This year has been a good one, but not necessarily an easy one. Lots of valleys, heartaches, trials, disappointments. There have been plenty of wonderful moments as well, but it's the tough times that stick out in my mind. I'm not trying to be a "downer" here, really. When I think of all those tough times, I think of how God was faithful through each and every trial. His promises held true during those rough and rocky times. I didn't always have a smile on my face, but I did have peace in my heart (as long as my eyes were on Him, and I wasn't trying to fix everything myself). I don't know how I'd ever survive the hard times without having Him to rely on. My Lord really does bring a peace that passes all understanding. God's mercy and grace are never lacking. Never.

So as I look back at this past year, I see God. I see how He is everything I need when I'm scared and uncertain. I see how He has blessed my husband and I with 4 little girls to laugh with, to nurture and to teach. I see that he has placed life-long friends in my path. I see that God has given us a new church family. He's given us the responsibility to serve with them and encourage them to grow closer to their Creator, to know that they are loved beyond measure. God's chosen to bless me with a husband who is also my pastor now. I'm always challenged by his teaching.

The list goes on and on! I am blessed beyond belief! Through the good and the not so good, and the horrible, God never changes or becomes less. He is always sufficient, always giving me strength and direction as I seek Him. I don't know what 2009 holds for me and my family, but I do know that it will be full of opportunities to trust God and praise Him in uncertainty, and thank Him for incredible blessings, and to love Him for who He is. Happy New Year!

Here are some pictures of the family (and friends) as we bring 2008 to a close.

Christmas '08

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! The Jackson six had a fantastic day together. This pic was taken Christmas Eve.

Family...What's Not To Love?

I saw this on one of the blogs I follow, and just had to share it. I know many of you out there will relate to it. It's so funny, and yet maybe they're onto something here... *wink* Enjoy! (Please pause the music player below before playing the video)

Keep Your Socks On!

Despite what the calendar said, it wasn't officially "Christmas time" until I wore my rockin' Christmas socks :) Now that I have your attention, I have something else I really wanted to share today.

Okay, I'm switching gears quickly here, so get ready. 14 years ago today I received a phone call that pretty much changed the rest of my life. It was a Sunday afternoon and I was getting ready for choir practice, when my mom came in and told me I had a phone call. She kind of had a quizzical look on her face, but I didn't think too much of it. Once I realized who was on the other end of the line, I quickly understood what it was all about. It was my youth pastor's wife's brother (did you follow that?)....who lived a couple states away. Little did I know that the young man who called me that day in 1994 would later become my husband in 1998. Well, that's not entirely true. I knew very early on that there was something extra special about this guy and within 3 months of dating (long distance dating) I knew without a doubt that this was the man God had saved just for me.

I need to give a shout-out to my sister-in-law who played a pretty good matchmaker :) There's a lot more to the story of course, but I don't think I could really write it all out. But it's crazy to think that phone call led to a marriage and the birth of 4 little girls. We've had our ups and we've had our downs, and we are still learning what it means to love selflessly. But, I am so glad he called me! I now know that he started to dial my number a few times, but then quickly hung up because he was nervous. I'm glad you finally got the gusto to call, hon :) I love you.

Thanksgiving 2008

We had a first this past Thanksgiving. And it was a good first. While living in Ohio, we would usually travel to Wisconsin to spend the holiday with my husband's side of the family. And there were a couple years where we spent Thanksgiving with my side of the family. Then last year we had our first Thanksgiving without any family....but we had a wonderful day of feasting with some fantastic friends. This year, however, we stayed home and celebrated Thanksgiving with just the six of us. It was so relaxing! Well, after six hours of cooking it was relaxing :)

This was my first year of cooking a turkey and all the "good stuff" to go along with it, completely unsupervised, and without any help. It was a lot of work, but well worth it. I do believe my husband and children (except Emily) were very pleased with the outcome :) Emily apparently would rather have peanut butter and jelly instead of turkey and mashed potatoes....who knew??? Before our meal, we all took a turn expressing what we were thankful for. It was very sweet to hear my kids listing the things they thanked God for. It's always so touching to hear the younger ones lists of joys. For example, Emily was thankful for flowers. I love the innocence and true gratitude of children!

After indulging (over indulging?) ourselves in our meal, we played games with the kids and just relaxed. I even took a nap, which is just unheard of. It's definitely a different kind of experience doing Thanksgiving with just our immediate family, but I absolutely treasured it. It was a great memory for me....and hopefully for the rest of the family too.

Hope you all had a very pleasant and relaxing Thanksgiving. I have so very many things to be thankful for. God has blessed me in so many ways that I don't deserve. God's grace and unchangeable love are definitely some of the things at the top of my thankful list. My family is definitely one of my favorite sources of joy. I can't imagine life without any one of them.

Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is well on its way! Can't wait!

Here are a few pictures of our Thanksgiving Day in the Jackson house.

Preparing for the feast!

Lynds and Hannah with the wishbone

No, I really didn't eat that all

Adam taking care of leftovers

Girls playing a game together

Thank You Lord!

An "event" took place a couple weeks ago in our kitchen, and I knew I had to capture it on camera and then blog about it.

One afternoon I was upstairs having a "lively discussion" with Hannah about something. I didn't want her sisters listening in on our talk (they were just waiting to hear what their sister's punishment would be...) so I asked them to go downstairs and color/draw until I was finished dealing with the situation upstairs. Just a few short seconds later, I heard a gigantic CRASH from the kitchen. I raced downstairs and this is what I saw.

All of the supports holding up the shelves gave way, and everything came tumbling out onto Gracie who was getting coloring books off the bottom shelf. Thankfully, she wasn't seriously hurt, but, oh my goodness, it could've been so much worse! There were broken bottles all around her bare feet. One canned good knocked her on the head on it's way down, but other than that, she was ok. Gracie was crying a little bit, but mostly because it just scared her so much. I told her not to move, as I picked her up and carried her away from all the shattered glass. Upon placing her in a safer spot, I noticed her jeans were soaking wet. A large broken bottle of red wine vinegar had poured all over her. Then I noticed the "sparkles." Looking closer, I realized there were super tiny shards of glass stuck to her wet jeans. I didn't even know where to begin. I needed to get these wet, glass-covered pants off of her without cutting her legs and bare feet. I tried to stay calm, but had a hard time doing so.

To make a long story short(er), I did get her pants off okay, but found a few little pieces of glass sticking out of her toes. She didn't even know they were there! So after a very thorough search of her little body, I got her bathed and dressed, and then proceeded to clean up this enormous mess. Fortunately my husband came home soon after to help me. I just kept thanking God over and over again for protecting her. She could've had some serious cuts, or even broken bones from heavy cans and bottles landing on her feet.

I just thought it was such a sight, I had to show it on my blog. Just for clarification, Gracie is absolutely fine...I think she dealt with it better than her mom did! It sure made for an eventful afternoon! Come to think of it, I don't think Hannah ever received her "sentencing!"

More.....Stuff

I realize it's been some time now since I've blogged, so my guilt is the driving force for this post *grin* Over the last several weeks, little things have happened here and there that made me think "Oh, I really need to blog about that." However, at this point and time, I cannot remember what any of those things were. I guess that's the downside of aging. I always say "If it's not written down, it doesn't exist!" I'm a list maker, it's just what I do. As I told a friend last night...making lists is a sign of organization, not senility! It made for a good laugh, but I'm not sure how much truth there really is to that! LOL.

As I said earlier, I don't really have a topic to blog about, so, as usual, I will rely on pictures to fill this post ;) These pictures consist of our trip to the pumpkin farm, Mt. Hood, a family walk through the woods, and our church's Harvest Party. We've made wonderful memories this fall!

Little Things

Sometimes it doesn't take much to make me happy. Finding the coffee already made as I come down the stairs in the morning, watching my girls delight in the company of each other, the times when it's quiet and my husband and I can talk without interruption....these are small, but very meaningful things to me.

This past Sunday our family made our annual trip to the pumpkin farm, just as we do every October. The weather was cold and rainy, but we still had a great time. We saw goats, horses, baby chicks, piglets, baby cows (one tried to take a bite out of Gracie's arm), and lots of pumpkins. We also enjoyed a fun hayride together and then warmed up with some fresh hot cider and homemade donuts. Yum! And then of course we took on the serious quest for the Jackson family pumpkin. Our search paid off and we found the perfect one; just the right size, shape, and color! We ended our time at the farm a little wet and muddy, but happy :)

Just as we were leaving, a couple with a little boy asked if we would take their picture for them. My husband agreed and then asked if they would please take ours. Getting all 6 of us situated can sometimes be a difficult task. And getting all 4 girls to look at the camera and smile all at the same time is sometimes next to impossible. However, this time we had a much different outcome. Everyone was looking and smiling...no one's eyes were closed, and no tongues sticking out (good job Adam!). This family picture is another little thing that has made me happy lately. What do you think?

I look at this man and these four beautiful girls, and am so glad I'm in the picture with them. My family...a really big deal that really brings me joy! Happy Fall everyone!

One Big Thought

I have had lots of thoughts swirling through my head lately, so it's a little hard for me to display them logically here in this post. I've been a little heavy-hearted recently, but there is one main thought for sure that I can relay to you very clearly.

My God is a great God! His grace covers every minute, every second that I breathe. Sometimes we trick ourselves into believing that, for the most part, we've got things under control, and then when the hard times hit, we go to God asking Him to be our shelter, our strength. There's nothing wrong with that at all....He tells us to come to Him. But, what I need to be continually reminded of is that He is always my shelter, my strength, my peace, my absolute lifeline. My identity is found in Christ, and Christ alone! I don't need more grace at one time than I do another. When I look at things like that, I'm making God very little, and myself very big. I don't want to do that! I don't have "just some of the Holy Spirit" dwelling within me while I'm watching TV and "all of the Holy Spirit" dwelling within me when I'm singing a praise song at church. God is never "less" at anytime. He is....all the time. He is.

These are the thoughts that have been a result of all the "stuff" that's been going on in my head and my heart. These truths are absolutes because it's what I read in His word, and how can I not be encouraged and forever grateful??? God, you are sufficient all the time! Thank you!

And here are a few pictures of God's goodness and grace....my family! We've really been enjoying some fun family time together, so I thought I'd share with you :)

Just Wait!

After being asked several times this week, "Have you blogged today?", I have decided to post this little tidbit in hopes of holding over the less patient. *grin*

Okay honey, this post is for you. (Honey is referring to my husband, for those of you who felt awkward being referred to that way. Sorry, I haven't had any coffee yet this morning, and I can never trust my behavior when I'm caffeine-less. Okay, I'm done now.) How do you like it so far? It seems I haven't been blog-inspired, lately. So instead of trying to make something out of nothing, why don't I just leave you with a few pictures? Pictures are good, right?

These photos are from our little trip to the zoo last Monday. Our older 2 girls were in school, so it was just me, honey, and the twins. It was a very relaxing and fun day!

Gettin' Dressed Up

I've wondered how the twins would do this week without Lyndsey or Hannah around all day. I wondered if they would get bored and just wait for that moment when their beloved big sisters walked through the front door. Umm, not quite.

All week Grace and Emmy have kept quite busy with their favorite playmates...each other! They have always loved to play dress-up, but this week they have kind of been in a dress-up phase. I have found them many times wearing their flashy outfit of choice, dancing around, singing their favorite songs at the top of their sweet little lungs :) This morning we played the soundtrack from "Enchanted" and they had a blast twirling away and dancing as only a princess can do! They are so much fun! Mommy even joined in the dancing, but unfortunately there aren't any pictures of that.

And yesterday they were all decked out and posing for the camera.

Butterflies

Yep, that's what I'm feeling in my stomach right now...butterflies. This morning I kissed and hugged Hannah and Lyndsey before their dad dropped them off at school. I will not see either of them until 2:20 this afternoon. I must say I'm not quite as nervous about Lyndsey going back to school; she's a pro at this school thing now. As a matter of fact, when her dad took her into school this morning, she actually wanted to go upstairs on her own to find her classroom. I'm glad it was Adam there and not me, 'cause that would've killed me! But anyway, my stomach is a mess because of me thinking of my Hannah Boo.

This is her first all day school experience. Last year she went to Kindergarten at our church (just the afternoon, 4 days a week) so I didn't have that little bit of worry in my head. I figured if she needed anything, daddy was just upstairs in his office. It was almost like we really weren't leaving her yet. But now, well, her mom is a few miles away and dad is no longer a few steps away. Eeeekk! Now, I should say that Hannah was very excited for her first day as a first grader; she was all smiles when she left :) This is definitely my issue, not hers.

So I got to thinking...although Hannah does not have her mom and dad close by, she's got someone who can help her much more than I can. Although Hannah is the one in class today, I do believe it is I who is learning a big lesson. Is this yet another opportunity for me to trust God? Definitely.

Because my husband is a pastor, I have often been asked why we don't send our kids to Christian school or why we don't homeschool. I personally don't have issues with either one of those options (really), but as of yet we feel that public school is where God wants our kids right now. Adam and I have always believed that it starts at home. What does that mean? We don't think that "church on Sunday" is enough to help our kids grow to know Jesus. Does it influence them positively? Absolutely, but that's not enough. Do they see their mom and dad pray? Do they see us reading the Bible? Do we use every opportunity to point them to God? Do they see that I have a relationship with Jesus, not just knowledge of Him? I realize I can't honestly say yes to these all the time, but even that is a lesson of God's grace and unconditional love in my life. Now, after saying all of that, I also need to say that I don't want my kids to read their Bible just because that's what dad does. I don't want them to pray just because they see mom on her knees. I want them to know Jesus on a very personal level because they realize their need of Him, not because that's what they're supposed to do.

Because of what's been taught at home, modeled at home, they will take that to school, to the mall, to their friend's house. They will learn that God has more (much more) to offer than anything that's being offered in the world. As they grow to know their Lord more, they will experience that for themselves. It is my job as a mother to encourage my daughters to trust God, to receive His love, and love Him in return. I can only share with them day in and day out, that choosing to honor my God with my words and actions is what brings true joy and peace.

So, after all that, what am I so nervous about? They know that Jesus went with them to school today. They know they can talk to Him at any time, and that He wants to be the One they turn to for direction and comfort. As I have been reminded by my husband many times, Lyndsey and Hannah don't serve a mini-God, they don't have a mini-Holy Spirit dwelling within them. They know the Alpha and Omega, the one true God, just as I do. That thought alone takes away all my worries!

I will be praying for my girls today, that they would rely on God for strength, patience, and comfort. That He would be the one they thank when they meet a nice friend on the playground. He is all they need. He is all I need. I guess I'm ready for the school year now!

Oh Happy Day!

Okay, I have to share some really exciting news. Today I made a stop at my favorite coffee shop ever....the one and only Peet's Coffee and Tea. As I was about to order a medium freshly brewed 101 blend, my eyes were drawn to a bright orange sign. What was that??? How very delighted I was to see that they are now serving my seasonal favorite...pumpkin spice lattes!!! Oh how my heart skipped a beat! Sometimes it just doesn't take much to make me happy and a little bit whippy :)

Although a pumpkin spice latte is one of my all-time favorite coffee drinks (and yes, the best is found at Peet's), I decided I need to wait until it is officially September until I can truly enjoy it. Sooo, that's where you'll find me come Monday morning!

Me and my Peet's

Our Last Month of Summer

Well, the girls start school in just 3 short days. I guess that means summer is now officially over. Wow. Each school year seems to rush by a little bit faster and the summers even faster. I thought I'd share some pictures showing how we've finished up our summer. There are pictures from Luis Palau's CityFest in downtown Portland, a fun day of with our Life Group family, and a Jackson family get-away in beautiful Seaside, OR. Fun stuff!

9 Years Ago Today....

Nine years ago at this very minute, my husband and I were on a date. After dinner at Applebee's, we saw a movie, which I still love to this day (Runaway Bride) and then went home. Sounds rather typical, right? Well it was anything but!

As we ate dinner that night, my mind would not, could not, stop racing with thoughts of excitement, wonder, worry, and thankfulness. You see, bright and early the very next morning I would be admitted to the hospital to induce labor. That's right, I was nine months pregnant with my very first child and something so common, like going to bed on a Wednesday and waking up on a Thursday, was about to change my life forever. The very next day I was going to become a mother. A MOMMY!

Of course I had spent the previous nine months trying to prepare for this life changing moment. I thought I was ready. Her crib was prepared, the rocking chair situated just so, packaged diapers piled by the changing table. Incredibly small outfits full of pink ruffles and bows, were just waiting to be worn. Neatly tucked away on the shelf were beautiful, soft blankets just waiting to wrap around a little one. The back seat of our car held a car seat designed to keep our little girl safe. Yes, I was ready.

I wasn't ready...

Yes, I knew I would have sleepless nights and tiring days. I knew it could be a challenge learning how to do simple things like cooking and laundry, AND take care of a baby. I knew I would love her. I loved her the second I knew she was being formed in my womb. I had a relationship with her for 9 months before anyone else did.

I wasn't ready...

What I did not know was the overwhelming feelings and emotions I would experience when I first laid eyes on her. That I would've never been prepared for.

I don't think there's any other situation on earth where you can love someone so completely the very first time you look into their eyes. She changed my life right then and there. I didn't want to do anything but take care of this sweet little bundle. She needed me, and oh did I need her. She absolutely completed me. Because of her, I was a mother; something I had always dreamed of being.

Lyndsey, you brought me such complete and total joy the day you came into this world. I am so thankful God has given you to me! I am blessed to have you as my daughter, Lynds. You were such a beautiful baby, and you are well on your way to becoming a beautiful young lady...inside and out. Your dad and I are very proud of you and our prayer continues to be that you grow to know your Saviour more and more. We pray you trust Him and love Him the rest of your life. It's been such a privilege to watch you grow these past 9 years. I love you Lyndsey Taylor...I always will.

Lyndsey hosted her first birthday sleepover, so she was very excited about this. Here's a picture of her and a few of her friends celebrating.

Camping Trip at Detroit Lake

Our camping trip was a success! We left for Detroit Lake on Thursday and came home Sunday afternoon. How much fun!!

Our girls are natural campers, which makes their mom super happy! The last time we went camping, Lyndsey was almost 2 and I was pregnant with Hannah....yea, it's been a while. I was so excited to see the girls running around with smiles on their faces. Oh, and we didn't even hear any complaints about being hot/tired/bored. That's a big deal :) Granted, they had plenty of friends to play with, but still, their attitudes were great all in all.

Detroit Lake is absolutely gorgeous. Our pictures just don't do it justice. The lake is huge and so cold. No wait, freezing. Really. It was well into the upper 80's outside, and the water still felt too cold to go swimming in. Really cold. One afternoon all the women went out into the middle of the lake on a raft to have some "girl time." After a while of sharing some stories and laughter, we all jumped in for a swim. Wow! Did I mention that the water was really cold??? Anyway, it was lots of fun.

We really enjoyed hanging with friends, and making new ones. Again, I have to say, I am so thankful for where God has placed us. We have seen such beautiful places and met such beautiful people; I just couldn't be any happier.

Below are a few pictures of our camping trip. This last one was such a success, I'm sure we'll have many more in the future. *One side note.....I had a blast camping, but nothing quite compares to comfy furniture and a nice hot shower at home :)

Summer Family Photos

July Already?

I can't believe it's July already! I was sure it was just yesterday that we were attending our girls' end of the year programs. I couldn't wait for the relaxation of summer to settle in. Ya know... long, lazy days of basking in the sun. Sounds good, right? Uh, I don't think so. Summer has been so busy! So what has been happening in the Jackson world since my last post? A whole lot of fun :)

My in-laws visited for about a week and a half in June, which was great. The girls are always excited when Grandma and Grandpa come! We enjoyed showing them around this beautiful state we live in. We spent a day at the beach, checked out Multnomah Falls, and ate at some yummy places like Typhoon. (If you haven't been there, you've got to go. It's the best Thai food ever!) We really enjoyed their visit and 5 days after they left, my parents came for a week long visit. Again, we had a great time with them too. My girls were experiencing Grandma and Grandpa bliss! Of course we did more sight seeing with my parents throughout the week too. It was their first time out here since we've moved to Oregon. One of the highlights with my mom and dad was a visit to the Rose Gardens in Portland. Everything was in full bloom and it was just beautiful! Wow! Between our visits to the ocean, the water fall, the rose gardens, and the majestic views of Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens, I was reminded again of how creative my God is. I am so thankful that He created such beauty for our eyes to see. Every time I watch the waves roll onto the sand, or watch an eagle soar above the bluff, I am reminded of my Heavenly Father and how much He loves me. It also makes me daydream what heaven will be like. If the earthly creations amaze me, the beauty in heaven is going to blow me away! So cool!

Anyway, back to what we've been up to :) This week the Jackson 6 are going to experience a first. All of us are going camping. I am so excited! When I say that to other women, they kind of look at me like, yea, sure you're excited. But really, I am so looking forward to this. I grew up camping, so I guess it's in my blood. I'm hoping the girls will have the same love for it that I do. I'm sure it won't go without a hitch, but that's okay. It looks like we're going to have perfect weather for it too. We recently bought new sleeping bags for the girls and a new humongous tent (thanks to our stimulus check) and some other little odds and ends that are going to make this trip a success.... hopefully :) We're going with some other families from church so our girls will have other kids to play with, and Adam and I will have our friends to hang with too. I'm sure I'll have some great stories to share when we come back.

Hmmm, what else is new with us? Oh yes, I got a new washing machine! I must say, it has brought me much joy watching my laundry pile go down...way down. Our washer broke down about 1 1/2 months ago and not wanting to go outside of our budget, we said we'd hold out until our stimulus check arrived. Needless to say, it took a little longer than we'd hoped to get that check, but it was well worth the wait! I won't bore you with this topic much longer (how exciting can laundry be?) but I have actually sat and watched entire cycles of wash (it's a front loader where you can see the clothes being washed) just because it excites me so much! I realize the things on my wish list might be different than yours, but the washing machine is a BIG part of my world and I appreciate having one that works efficiently and properly. Okay, enough about that :)

I hope everyone enjoyed their 4th this past week. We went to Vancouver to see the fireworks and had a great time. We spent all day hanging out at the festival and eating foods that probably permanently clogged our arteries and rotted our teeth. Fun times! We picnicked on a blanket and danced to the band and just enjoyed each other. It was a great day.

I hope to blog again soon. I have some recent pictures that I'd like to share, but don't know if they're on my computer yet. I'll have to get my hubby to help me with that.

Hope you are enjoying your summer. Even in the busyness of things, take time to take in the beauty around you, whether it's a shrinking pile of laundry, the scenery, or the love of your family. Enjoy your summer my friends!

End of the School Year "Shtuff"

It's been a while since I've blogged, I suppose that's because we've been a bit busy. This time of year is always full of "end of the school year" stuff. I have to say, however, that I am really enjoying this craziness.

The twins had their Spring program recently, and they actually sang! Not only did they sing, they also did all the hand motions! Well, Emily missed just a few, but Gracie was right on the whole time. Too cute! Oh, and another thing, as they were singing (they stood right next to each other on stage) they would occasionally look at each other, just making sure the other one was on cue :) I was just tickled to watch them sing their little hearts out. They've come a long way since their Christmas concert! Grace and Emmy, you two bring such laughter into my life. Your dad and I love you both very much!

We also recently made a visit to Lyndsey's school for her end of the year open house. We got to check out all the work she's been doing and also saw her "barn owl" project on display. She worked for weeks on this thing, which included a written report, a display board, a model, and an oral presentation. She got the highest score possible, and we couldn't be more proud! Also, we spent some time talking with her teacher and heard nothing but praise and compliments about our oldest daughter. Lyndsey has been especially blessed with a fantastic teacher this past year. I am so thankful for that. So Lynds is doing a phenomenal job at school and I know without a doubt that she is a diligent worker who gives 100%. Way to go Lynds! We love you!

And as for Hannah Boo, tonight is her big night. She is performing in her Spring program and also will be officially graduating from Kindergarten. It just doesn't seem possible! I don't know if I'll get through tonight without crying... it just seems Hannah is getting so big, so quickly. Hannah is especially gifted in numbers, and sometimes surprises me with the math problems she does with ease. She certainly didn't get that from her Mom! I think the compliments I have heard most from Hannah's teacher is how sweet and caring she is in class. My heart fills with gratitude when I hear these things, although it comes as no surprise. Hannah has always had such a soft, tender heart. She is very thoughtful of others and puts them before herself. I love this little girl so much and am so very glad that she's ours!

Last Friday we took our first trip of the year to the ocean. It was a HOT day...somewhere in the 90's. We couldn't have been in a better place for such a warm day though. The water was very cool...too cold to swim in, but it sure felt good on our feet! As always, the girls had a blast and wore themselves out...makes for a very quiet ride home :)

We've been living here in the Pacific Northwest for about a year now, and are still drinking in all of it's beauty. Our kids are growing bigger at a rapid rate and I am reminded how blessed I am to be their mother. Life can bring some difficult things our way, but God is the constant goodness in my life. I pray He is that for you too.