Moving

The actual move day for the house was March 21st, but we spent many days before & after preparing the pasture/fence for the animals and moving the animals from Lebanon to West Linn. Thank you to the MANY people who helped us before, after & during the move. On the 21st we were blessed with over a dozen helpers & made the move in ONE trip!! Here are a few pictures of our move....

Melody helping us paint at the new house.



Melody & Valerie

Ready to move...
On the side of the freeway in Salem, trailer came unhitched during one of our trips south :S



Relaxing & playing "Apples to Apples"

Loading the trailer on Move Day


Unloading at the new house!

Building beds :-)

Taking a break to "jam"

Disassembling the chicken coop in Lebanon.

Valerie Got Her Braces Off!!

After almost 4 years, on February 23, 2009, Valerie got her braces off!!!

Before

After

Spring is here....?

Spring is here - at least as far as the animals are concerned. Our fist lamb of the season was born today! Jedda is the proud mommy. Stay tuned for more "additions" as we have many animals due this year.

West Linn here we come.....!!

Praise the Lord!! We are SO thankful for His provision of a wonderful house & property for us!! The house is 4 bedrooms, office, bonus room, 3 bathrooms, 3300 square feet, garage & barn, on 7 acres of pasture & trees. We also are signing a 2 year lease!!! It’s in West Linn, and a 30 minute drive from Rick’s school. We are also thankful for the many encouraging words & prayers said for us during our time waiting & seeking the Lord for a home.

*rear view of house*

*front view of house*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I knew in my heart that this was the house He provided as soon as we met the landlord. She actually wanted a LARGE family to rent the house & she WANTED people that had livestock to rent the house. In her mind it was wasted space & land if it wasn't being used!! That's not a "normal" way of thinking. Thank you God!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

During the past week, these are some of the things He has been showing us: He is our rock, fortress, stronghold, refuge. When we are weak, He is strong. He loves us & cares for us & hears the prayers of His saints.

Lord, we thank you for this home and we cannot wait to get settled & start using it for Your glory!

Caleb's 8th Birthday!

February 12th was Caleb's 8th Birthday!! We celebrated by having homemade pizza & cake and ice cream. The neighbors (McCarley Family) came over to celebrate with us also. I am SO very thankful for the 8 years we have had with Caleb!! His birthday is the most precious to celebrate of all of my children, due to the fact that he was born not breathing (due to the cord being wrapped around his tiny neck) but God was merciful to us. Today he is a happy, healthy, smart, talkative boy!!

Pro-Life Rally

On Sunday, January 18, 2009 we attended the Roe vs. Wade Memorial Rally in downtown Portland @ Pioneer Square. The rally was a memorial to honor the 50 milliion babies killed by abortion since the Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973. It was the largest pro-life event in Oregon's history with an estimated 7,000 people! Here are some websites to find out the truth about abortion & how you can help the pro-life movement:

http://www.abort73.com/

http://www.standupgirl.com/

http://www.abortionno.org/

http://www.portlandprc.org/

Joey's 2nd Birthday

Today was Joseph's 2nd Birthday. He had fun opening his presents, blowing out his candles & eating cake.