Hello Everyone from Everyone here in Bend

Hello Family and Friends. I just wanted to update everyone on how we are all doing out here in good ol' Central Oregon. Spirits are high for us all. One big weight has been lifted off my chest...I got a job! The whole family feels a sense of relief, I feel relief. Thank you Lloyd and Margaret for coming to Bend a few weeks back. I really feel that was a great impact on my life. I love you both. Jason just competed in his first Motocross race up in Prineville on Saturday the 26th. It was track and trail riding (which was the most difficult). You could say I was saying many prayers through out the day for God to keep Jason safe. Well, he did and Jason finished in 2nd place out of 10-15 other riders. His time was 1 hour 40 min. to complete 4 laps at 6.5 miles per lap. That's 26 miles. His Dad and I are so proud of him. Jason also had the pleasures of visiting with his older brother Dustin, whom he hadn't seen in 6 years or so. They had a great time.
Well, I guess that is all for now. Everyone take care and love life.

Happy Birthday Sammy!

The whole family met at River's Fork Park today where we all celebrated Sammy's 2nd Birthday. We had a nice picnic lunch and topped it off with Sammy's Birthday cake. Sammy and Jack both enjoyed playing with all the new birthday toys. (Additional pictures in our photo gallery)

Sammy checking out his birthday cake

Jack and Sammy eating birthday cake

Sammy with Grandma

One Happy Grandma & Grandpa!

Rhonda, Ray and Willow

Family Update From Roseburg!

What a lovely day it's going to be. Margaret and I just got back from the Y and are enjoying a cup of coffee. In a few minutes Amy should be arriving with Jack. We get to watch him while Amy takes Sammy into the doctors office for his annual checkup. That little Sammy sure is growing. Hard to believe he will be 2-years old this week.

Everyone here in Roseburg is doing fine. Bill is still enjoying his job with ODF&W and Amy is still enjoying being the Music Director of our church. Both seem to be keeping pretty busy. Bill's health seems to be about the same.

Trey is getting bored and a little irritated about not being able to find a job here in the Roseburg area. I think as soon as his house sells, he will probable start looking up in the Eugene/Springfield area. I think that Douglas County is probably the worst hit with unemployment according to all the reports I read.

Well I can't think of anything else to exciting that is happening around here. I would really like to hear from all the other family members to see what is happening in your neighborhood. So, set down for a few minutes and put your thoughts together and let us all know what you are doing. You might even post an updated picture or two.

Take care and may God continue to bless each and everyone of you.

Happy Birthday Herbietta

BEFORE AND NOW.

HAPPY 66TH BIRTHDAY. HAVE A GOOD DAY.

BUNKO Party!

What a great time we all had yesterday evening playing BUNKO (dice game) at our house. There were four tables (16-people) going with lots of food to eat and lots of laughs and enjoyment.

Is Christianity the One True Religion?

Yes, Christianity is the one true religion. That may sound awfully dogmatic and narrow-minded, but the simple truth is that Christianity is the only true religion. Jesus said that He alone was the way to the Father (John 14:6), that He alone revealed the Father (Matt. 11:27; Luke 10:22). Christians do not go around saying Christianity is the only way because they are arrogant, narrow-minded, stupid, and judgmental. They do so because they believe what Jesus said. They believe in Jesus, who claimed to be God (John 8:58; Exodus 3:14), who forgave sins (Mark 2:5; Luke 5:20; 7:48), and who rose from the dead (Luke 24:24-29; John 2:19f). Jesus said that He was the only way. Jesus is unique. He was either telling the truth, He was crazy, or He was a liar. But since everyone agrees that Jesus was a good man, how then could He be both good and crazy, or good and a liar? He had to be telling the truth. He is the only way. (Click here for complete bible study.)

MOCA Walk/Run

This is an update from Bonnie's website dated: September 15, 2009 6:52 AM, CDT

The MOCA walk/run was wonderful and tattoo held or at least most of it. Now it is a fading memory :-( Of course this is a picture of Randy and I. I have added pictures of the whole group, plus the sister picture and a picture of the survivors that were there for the photo shoot. Joshua, my son, and Carrie, nephews wife, ran the 5k and others walked the 2k. It felt funny not walking this year but there are a lot of people that don't so visited. Lots of people took pictures of my head and other women said what a great idea and want to do it next time they are bald. Started a fad here :-) (Click on the title for more pictures)

God's Many Blessings!

It is one of God's many blessings that we have when Jack and Sammy spend the night. Grandma joined Jack and Sammy in a pajama party last night. Oh, what fun it was to watch movies, eat popcorn and just goof-off with the grand kids. This morning Uncle Lloyd made Jack and Sammy their favorite breakfast.... Yep, you guessed it, Pancakes.

Below is a slide show of Grandma and Grandpa going on a morning walk with Jack and Sammy. Jack and Sammy just loves going on walks and when they got home they had worked up an appetite for some ice cream.

Visiting the Oregon Coast

We just got back from a lovely three days on the Oregon Coast. We stayed at the Mill Casino RV Park in North Bend. The weather was sunny and in the 70's just about everyday. The pictures below were taken at Sunset Bay where we had fun walking along the beach and looking at tide pools. (More pictures in our photo gallery)

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Bonnie's Henna Tattoo!!

This is an update from Bonnie's website dated Sunday, September 6, 2009 5:44 PM, CDT

"This is just for fun~Randy and I went to the Fair today and I got an Henna Tattoo on my head. Have wanted to get one for awhile and kept saying next time I'm bald (and it is warm) I am getting one. LOL We had a great time. "

Our Trip to Bend

Margaret and I had a wonderful visit with our family in the Bend area. Friday night we took Laura out to dinner and enjoyed visiting with her. This morning (Saturday), we stopped by Bonnie and Roy's house and had a good visit. I can always count on Bonnie to have coffee ready early in the morning. She also made us a batch of her delicious chocolate chip cookies to take home with us.

After leaving Bonnie and Roy's house, we stopped by and had a nice visit with Martha and Jim. We had lots of laughs while talking about "everything" and enjoyed a lunch that Martha prepared.

It is really hard to believe how grown-up all the kids are getting. I guess that means that we are all getting older. Anyways, we really enjoyed ourselves and probably ate way too much while visiting.

Thank you Bonnie, Roy, Martha, Jim, Donna, and Laura for making us feel so welcome.

Martha, Jim, Cortney, Jessica, and Wesley

Roy, Bonnie, Sean, and Shelby

Donna and Laura

(More pictures in our photo gallery)

Jacin is home for a few weeks

Enchanted Forest
were at the zoo on top left picture :-)

We had a wonderful day at the beach today. We picked him up at the airport and suprised the kids. Thanks for all prayers, school will be starting soon, then he'll be off again. I'm thanking God for a minute we get to be with him. :-) I'll post more pictures to FB later in the week.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!

Can you believe that our Family News Blog has been up and running now for a whole year! Our family blog membership is also starting to grow. We now have 27 blog Authors and 2 blog Readers who contributed to over 4000 visits.

I know that I really enjoy reading the different POSTS and COMMENTS that everyone has placed on our blog. There are still a few of our family members, with Internet service, that have not joined in on the blogging fun yet. So, please pass on the word to "all" your family that we would like to hear from them.

As far as an update here in Roseburg. Margaret and I are doing just fine. We are keeping busy with our volunteer work and we are really enjoying all the grand kids. This coming Friday we plan on heading to Bend to visit with everyone there. I hope to have a few pictures to share when we get back.

Now, if any of you haven't updated the blog lately, please take the time to do it so we all can keep up on what's happening in your lives.