Prayer Request...

A friend of mine came a crossed this blog the other day.
Heart breaking.
And almost exactly where Jen and I found ourselves last year around this time. Please pray for this family. The lack of words that I had last year at the death of our daughter, Anarazell, is where I find myself again here.
Please, Lord, comfort them...

Time in Oregon

It has been really good to spend time with our family here in Oregon. After last Christmas when things were so far from "normal" it is kinda nice to have nothing going on.

Just a young couple enjoying themselves.

Uncle Matty with his two nieces.

Three of my brothers. We got Air-soft guns for early Christmas presents.

Isabella is learning how to cut hair...

Merry Christmas everyone.
God Bless

Life in General

Relaxing is the word I would use to describe life right now. Which is a good thing. Not that life has been totally hectic up to this point...but in comparison it feels like we have completely stopped moving.
We have had our life planned out pretty much from June to December...and now December is here and we are running out of "planned", so that is a little scary. It looks like we will have to make a trip to the Midwest in January, but the dates are a bit up in the air still so it kinda feels like we are in a holding pattern. Which isn't a completely foreign feel for us, it just hasn't happened in a while so it will take some getting used to.
We are just enjoying spending time with our families and each other...
And the rain.
Yes, I have been away for too long and have forgotten how much it rains in western Oregon.
Good Gravy.
But all in all we are doing good as a family.
December 9th, the one year after Anarazell's death we just stayed home by ourselves and just hung out as a family.
Thank you to everyone who prayed, called and wrote to let us know you were thinking about us.
At Jen's parents we have neither Internet or cell coverage...pretty crazy so I'll try to update when I can.

Fun in Idaho

Our time in Idaho was both relaxing and such a blessing. Not only were we able reconnect with the church, we were also able to build better relationships with people we knew just a little bit. One couple, Ken and Jane, we had visited with a bit before, but this time we spent the majority of our time. The reason was that they have a guest house on their property and they let us stay in it while were there. It was so amazing to have a place to ourselves, and to have them as neighbors. They are such wonderful people. All their kids and grand-kids live in California and they really miss them all, so they poured out their time and affection on us.
Visiting the rest of the people in the church was an equal blessing. We are so thankful for the friends we have met there, and for the circumstances that brought us to their door.

Ken, Jane and Jane's mom Dorthy on Thanksgiving Day.

Playing in the mountain snow in Baker City, Oregon.

Here we are all dressed up for a little memory party we had for Anarazell.

Our faithful car in the snow...oh and the ladies as well.

The little house that we got to stay in for the month of November.

We are now heading to spend December with our families in Oregon. Hopfully we will be able to keep this blog more up todate. We'll see!

One Year Today...

Our daughter Anarazell would have turned one today.
I can hardly believe that it has only been a year, and at the same time I can't believe that a whole year has passed.
Thoughts of what might have been, go through our minds.
Would she be walking before now like her big sister was? What would her personality be like?
We try to not let the thoughts take control.
After today we have two weeks...and then is the day that we let her go. What will be going through our heads then?
We also think about how vastly our life has changed since she was here. We are now planning on writing for missions full-time...a concept that would have never really been if I didn't start writing for Anarazell during her life here.
The pain, the joy of having her, the excitement to see what the end product will be, the feeling of loss...all rolled up together with many, many, many more emotions...is what we are feeling right now.
Here are some pictures of her...some of our favorites.

Oregon and Idaho

Well, we made it to Eastern Oregon and Idaho. We forgot how beautiful this part of the country was. It is late enough in the year that there is even snow on the mountains. Someone asked that since we have been all over the country, what part we think is the most beautiful...and we would would have to say that this area is it.
Our time with our church here in Idaho is going very well. We have gotten to talk to our Pastor quite a bit and we are getting in date set to meet with the missions committee as well, so we are excited. It looks like our future plans are beginning to firm up and that is a blessing. We have been in training for seemingly forever, and it is awesome to feel "movement" in our life!
Here are some pictures of us.

When I went to to coast I just had to take this picture. There is a lighthouse on the little island out there and the only tree for miles!

When I went paint balling with Bryan and three of my brothers. We all look really serious don't we!

A "God" story here. When we were with Anarazell in Wisconsin last year this couple randomly called us up to pray with us. Not only did a Christian "happen" to find our blog among all the millions of blogs out there, but this couple live in Oregon! So since then we have had the oppertunity to meet them in person and visit. This time they asked us to share with their youth group. It was a blessed time. I love how the Body of Christ works!

Isabella and I at our little house in Idaho. A couple at our church has a guest house on their property and they have graciously let us stay in it for this month. The view is beautiful and we are so thankful to have our own little place for a while.

Jen doing what Jen does when she has her own kitchen! Baking something or other!

Our Time in Oregon

Isabella with her Uncle Tim showing off and dividing their loot after the harvest festival. Doesn't Isabella look good in her ladybug suit?

Our friends Matt and Jalna. We have know this couple since before they were Christians and way before they were married. They are one of our closest friends in Oregon.

And their two children. Two little rough and tumble boys. So cute and so different then a girl!

Isabella with her little cousin Kacee. It was Kacee's second birthday and it was good to get all the family together for a little while.

Grand Ma Patty's 50th birthday. She had it back in the summer but we weren't there to celebrate it with her...so we did it now!

Well we are on our way to Idaho now. We should be there tomorrow. We will be there for a month and Lord willing our plans for the next couple years will be cleared up by then!
Please keep us in your prayers!

Time Sure Flies...

...when your life is on the road.
Sometimes it feels like we are living in some sort of time warp. Time doesn't seem to exist for the most part. Maybe we will use a clock if we need to meet someone somewhere, but otherwise...
Our time here in Southern Oregon is about over. We were actually planning to be on the road today, but the first people that we were planning ton seeing are going through a rough time and asked if we would skip them on this leg of the journey. Hopefully we will be able to see them on the way back down in a month!
We have had a really good time with family and our church friends. Since both our parents live here in this part of Oregon it is somewhat easy to spend time with both of them and let them hang out with their grand-daughter.
I've gotten to go surfing and paint-balling with Jen's brother as well as hang out plenty with my five brothers that live here.
Here are a few pictures of our time here and I'll update when we get on the road!

Here is Isabella with her cousin Kacee Raye picking pumpkins.

We went to Jen's old high-school for the Homecoming football game. We sat directly in front of the cheer-leaders and Isabella informed me that she was going to be one when she grew up...that is still under negotiations. Jen broke out her old letter-man jacket and had a blast yelling with everyone else. She got to see some people that she knew and went to school with, so that was fun for her. I just sat there and laughed at my family and froze...

When Bryan, Brianna and I went surfing we found this huge sea-lion and we tried to get it in the picture with us. He is in a weird position so you can't see from this picture how ginormous he really was. I only found out later that here in Oregon sea-lion attacks are more common then mountain lion attacks...ooops.


Isabella and her first "alone" ride. Putting up her hands to show us she isn't afraid!


Here we are in California during the almond harvest. Isabella is on the tractor with her great-grandfather. That is the same tractor and lap that Jen used to ride on when she was Isabella's age! Pretty cool!

Through California

We had a relaxing time with Jen's grandparents in California. A couple weeks if helping around the almond orchard, seeing the sights and just hanging out visiting. It sounds like they are going to try to make it up to Oregon for the Christmas Holidays, so that will be fun.
Jen and I haven't been with our families for Christmas in 3 years so we are looking forward to hanging out this year. Three years ago we were in Germany. Two years ago we stayed in our home in Baker City, Oregon and then last year we were in Wisconsin with Anarazell.

Speaking about Anarazell, we are swiftly coming upon her one year birth date...
Not really sure what that is going to look like. Then two weeks later will be when she died...again not really sure what to expect. Please keep us in your prayers.
We have a fake cell phone that Isabella runs around with and "calls" people on. The other day she was animatedly talking away on the phone saying stuff like, "Hi, Sweety...it is good to talk to you, how are you"? Then she ran to me with the phone and with eyes shining and told me it was Anarazell and asked if I wanted to talk to her.
Wow
To please my Isabella I was try to "talk" to my Anarazell on the phone...talk about hard! Jen just instantly started crying.
It is still hard and I figure it will be this way for sometime yet to come.
But at the same time...you still live. Sometimes I feel fake. Inside I am one way, and outwardly I am portraying something different, but that is life for now.

More Arizona Pics

Some more pictures of our time with our family in Arizona.

Here we are at Aly's volley ball game. As you can tell, everyone is watching the game intently, but half the fun of going to a game is just hanging out with family.



Aly and Dori, her Laberdoodle...(a mix between a lab and a poodle.) Dory is an excellent hunting/retrieving dog, but sheds less then most dogs and Aly like her father is an excellent hunter. You should see their trophies hanging in their house. It is amazing.

We went to a little town called, Oatman, where there are "wild" burros all over the place. They were brought in for mining years ago, and after the gold ran out they were let loose. As you can tell they don't look too wild to me. Especially if you have carrots to give them!

Jen trying to find some shade on a sunny day!

Behind me on the rocks are ancient Indian drawing. I love this kind of stuff and would go miles out of my way to see them. Sadly no one knows what the drawings mean anymore.

Me just hanging out with my Aunt. Unlike Jenny I try to find the sunniest spot to sit in. I've been in school too long and it is time to get out and lose some of my pallor!

Isabella learning how to steer a boat by Uncle Ward. It gave me a little glimpse into the future when she is going to be wanting to drive the car...Pretty scary!

We have so many more pictures of our trip and so many that I want to share, but this will probably be the last post of Arizona pictures for now. We have been in California for over a week now, and it is time to get some of those pictures on here as well! We really enjoyed our month in Arizona and are looking forward to visiting there again.

Our Time In Topock

Our time in Topock with my family went by really fast. Part of that was because we were only there for a week and the other part was because we stayed so busy! They live right next to the Colorado river and so we went out on their boat several times. So fun and relaxing...and you are amazingly tired when you get home! With that went fishing, swimming and wake-boarding. Isabella made sand castles and tried to reel in a carp that weighed almost half of what she does! We have so many pictures from there, but I guess that the limit is six pictures on at a time, so I will put some more on in a day or so.

My cousin Aly, the dog Dory, my Aunt Eve and my Uncle Ward. (And of course Bella!)

Uncle Fred and Isabella making their sand castles.

The finished product. Pretty good, with a bridge and all!

The Three of us soaking up the sun!

This is me trying to wake-board. This is about as far as I made it out of the water...

Jen got pretty close to getting out of the water, but not quite. You can tell by her face that she is enjoying it!!!

Pictures Of Our Time In Phoenix

Isabella, Auntie Jess, Miai and the cat. Auntie Jess is who we stayed with most of the time we were in Phoenix. Miai is the little girl she was a nanny for.

We went to a baseball game. You could tell that we are "country mice"! All of our eyes were super wide as we walked around.

We have been good friends Auntie Deb for about 5 years now. She works with the organization that I took the Biblical Discipleship class with. We met Deb in Bible School and have been close ever since.

Auntie Jess had a birthday while we were there. We met Jess when Jen was pregnant with Isabella and she even came to her birth. So needless to say we are very close to her as well.

This is my class. It is amazing how close you can feel to people after you spend a whole week with them. We had a really good time together.

Well, I figured out that I CAN post pictures with just a dial-up connection...it just takes forever. I kid you not, it has taken me over an hour to post these five pictures. So I will post some of my family...tomorrow...

Good-Bye Arizona

( I just found out that the "Enter" key doesn't work on this computer here...so this post will look a bit funny...) Our time in Arizona was...well great. Four different cities...all vastly different. It was amazing that we were in the same state for all that time! And the experiences were as varied as well. When I was looking for pictures to post on this I realized that I had soooo many! I will never get all the ones that I want on here! Another wrinkle is that the computer that I am on now is dial up...So I don't even know if it can handle posting pics, so after I get this on the blog I will work on pictures. My class in Phoeinx went really well. They call it an intensive...and boy is it ever! About eight hours a day for five days. I told them that it felt like I was trying to drink from a fire hose. But really good stuff. It is a Biblical discipleship course and gives some real practical, biblical ways to work through issues in life. I am excited to bring it home and share what I have learned. Already two of my brothers have said that they will sit down with me and go through it. I think it would be really beneficial for all of us. After we finally left Phoenix we headed west to the border to visit the first "real" family member on our trip. My Aunt Eve, her husband, Uncle Ward and daughter Aly. I think this was the fourth time in my life that I have been down to their house. (How sad is that?) Last time we went (and Jen's first time) they were hosting the family reunion so we weren't able to really hang out with just them. I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive walking up to the house, but those feeling disappeared quickly. Family is always going to be family and we fell in love with this family all over again. The only other time I had ever spent one-on-one time with them I was a kid, so it was awesome to get to hang out as an adult...with a family of my own. Isabella had a wonderful time as well. She got to go to the river, swim in the pool, feed the dog...do what all three-year-olds love to do! Also there was another uncle that just moved there...Uncle Fred. One can't help but love Uncle Fred. Everyone loves him. Isabella even named her new stuffed animal after him. :-) I can't wait to get some pictures up about this trip. Well, we are now in California. Finally made it to the West coast! Yeah! Our Oregon plates on our car don't attract so much attention anymore! We will be here for a couple weeks hanging out with Jen's grand-parents and then up to Oregon. I'll update as often as I can and I will try to get pictures on right......NOW.

The Big Helper

While I have been at class and Jess is at work Jen and Isabella have had plenty of time together doing...well, let's see what they have been up to.

Isabella's first attempt at wielding a huge knife. I always say that the only response to a woman with a large knife is, "Yes, Ma'am". I think she going to make a cake.

There is more than one way to skin a cat...or smash cookies for a crust!

Vacuuming is a useful skill to have. I guess that now is as good of a time an any to learn!

Making Pb&Js...