Another Sweet Moment with Jonah

Last night I went on another hike with Jonah, my sis Elisabeth, bro-in-law Jon, Ava, and bitty baby Brynne. At the end Jonah and I were walking together, talking about how creation can't wait for Jesus to come back and there won't be any more poison oak anymore, and also how well God take cares of us, and he said: I get worried about you in your house by yourself all the time without a husband. I said: I'm okay, God's with me. He said: Yeah, He's taking care of you.

How strange and sweet that the memory of such tender care can come from the words of such a little guy.

The Best Hike EVER or Digital Madness

Last Saturday Jonah and I completed the Angel's Rest hike that is snuggled into the Columbia Gorge through which the Columbia River cuts. The Gorge is part of the Lewis and Clark Trail. It only took us around 31/2 hours (!), many rests, and extreme digital documentation. Needless to say, I was so proud of us. It's about an 8 mile hike roundtrip and pretty much straight up on the way to the top. At a few points we thought we might go home, but we held out. When we finished and had this spectacular view Jonah said: I wish Ava was here to see this. Ava is his 4 year old sister...such a sweet boy.
On the way home we stopped and bought him a new pair of shoes with better traction. The poor kids kept slipping on the way down and every time he fell he said: I'm just getting beat! Perhaps it was exhaustion, but he deserved a reward for all his hard work and diligence.
Jonah and I talked about taking mental pictures while we walked...what it means to stop and remember a moment in your mind and in your heart. Under a tree swept bend, with afternoon sunshine dripping through branches, we stopped and remembered. In the OT it talks about remembering as part of worship...how especially priceless for me to stop remember and worship with Jonah. In that moment I was convinced of the goodness of God in letting me share such a time with Jo.
These are in no particular order...please enjoy them. For me they are an indescribable memory of time spent with my 6 year old nephew and while there happen to be a lot of pictures, they are priceless. Come remember with me...

For you were strangers in Egypt...

Today is World Refugee Day. For more info click here.

Some of my favorite kids...

The fam, Mary and her kids, and me went to San Clemente, CA for a day at the beach to celebrate Grace's second birthday...she's the little blonde in the middle standing with Tanner who's the greatest 10 year old I know. From left to right: Sarah (sweetie), Makenna (sugar), Tanner, Grace, Jonah (Bubbie) and Micah (Mikes). Did I mention how great, sweet, intelligent, and amazing they all are?

Stay tuned: more pictures to come of my time in California and my mom's 60th birthday!!!

Prayer is Social Action

I just read this article and found in inspiring and informative. Please take a bit of time to read it...Prayer is Social Action

Favorite Quote of the Week...

Last week held many special communicative moments...and many of them would be worth repeating.

Such as when my nephew Jonah expressed his disapproval over having to end our hike a tad bit early: This is the most horribleist hike I've been on in my life! (I tried to help him out by reminding him that if this is the worst it could be, then all the rest of his hikes for the rest of his life will never be this bad and will always be better than this one...he picked up dirt and threw it at me. :) I deserved it).

What I didn't deserve was the note he wrote later that said: Beootiful Bepo.

But my niece Ava won quote of the week when she draped herself over me and said: Don't go!
I asked her why I shouldn't leave and she said: Because I love you and will miss you when you go.

This kind of love I do not deserve.

Hiking in the Columbia Gorge

My sister Elisabeth, her kids Jonah, Ava, and Brynne (only 3 months old)and I have taken to enjoying the Oregon sunshine and beauty by hiking in the gorge on the weekends. Here's some pictures I took of our first jaunt. Sometimes I can't believe I live so close to so much beauty.

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On my birthday I had to drive to the coast for a training. When it was over I took a little drive along HWY 101 and captured the day on film...the Oregon coast is exquisite. I also took some pictures of a covered bridge. I hope to visit a lot of covered bridges while I'm still in Oregon.