Friday, July 11, 2008

OREGON 2008!

"Oregon", for my family, is the most special place on earth. It is a place where are hearts are at rest, where we find that rare "peace" from our crazy schedules, yet it also is a place that exposes us. It's "raw" yet refined. What makes it so precious are the people. Wynne and Linton Whittles are, unquestionably, our spiritual mentors, and have been for years, though we don't often call it that. They know us well enough to challenge our thinking, yet are gentle enough to guide us right back to scripture. What I most treasure is that our girls treasure "Oregon" as much as Michael and I do. No matter what the topic, we are always confronted with scripture and challenged in ways that we typically never anticipate. It might come in a sermon, or one of the bible studies that Linton teachers. Sometimes it comes in a reaction to something status quo in our lives that we suddenly feel uncomfortable about in light of the Word. It's hard to explain. All that I know is that year after year we come home with a renewed spirit, a new focus, and a new determination to be more serious and intentional about our Christian lives. Yet, year after year, we're discouraged with our two steps forward and one step back... yet, we're still applauded for the advancement of that one step. I so hope to someday be as much of an encouragement to someone as Wynne and Linton have been to Michael and me. I hope to distribute "grace" like the grace apportioned to us out there and I hope to reflect Christ like He is displayed to us by the Whittles family. Now, everybody knows why Kasey's middle name is "Whittles".

Here's a picture of Linton & Wynne


The "last day family picture"

Still Our Little Girls...

Kasey, Rachie, Grubber, Rebekah, Krissy and Jordan... "cousins"...

Mike and his girls...


Kasey and her little pixie!


Our Anual Trip to "La Tea Da", A Tillamook Tea House...



Our Tea Party thanks for Kristin and her "Tiny Treats" book, complete with Wynne's wedding Lemoges Dishes! It was lovely!

The Hummer that we cruised in all week thanks to Budget Rental! We took this baby on the beach a few times!

Four monkey's on a rope!


Wynne and Me



My favorite photo spot on Cape Kiwanda...


Mike got this pic while out salmon fishing in the Pacific...







Here's a video of Kasey on Uncle Linton's 200 foot zip line! Mike whipped her and she hit the tree at the end! Ouch!

3 comments:

Sister Cindy said...

Love the zip line video! Great pics--thanks for sharing!
CB

Momma-of-5 said...

How mad was Kasey? Seriously, she should get whatever she asks for after that...

NICE MIKE!

Looks like a great trip. Great pix!

Anonymous said...

Your trip looks awesome! I love the Hummer part! We need to get together sometime this summer!
~Lori

HANNAY HAPPENINGS...

HANNAY HAPPENINGS...