News Archive

7/13 Lightening the Load - Moving Sale continues...

Last weekend we had our moving sale and sold quite a bit of stuff.  It's amazing to see how much we have left - and how much STUFF we have here.  Some is from roommates of years gone by, lots is from the pallet my parents sent down of all things Karrie - even from when I was very young.  So the sorting and tossing continues.  Folks are still coming by to buy things from the moving sale, which is fine by us. We'll probably leave the stuff out for this week.  We're still bringing items out, and have had repeat customers come and buy more!  Please pray that the Lord will provide the funds to move the items we wish to keep. At this point, we may have to get rid of those too.

A few ladies from Central Christian Schools have each offered to send up a box for us!  So as of now, that's 5 -10 boxes that for sure get to go.  We're SO grateful to them for this gift!

Patrick's last day at Sunforest Construction is 7/14.  I'll be glad to have him around - we've lots to do before we leave on August 1st.  His company is having a lunch for him on his last day to send him off right.  He's been with the company about five years now I think.

Oh, one of the wonderful things about the Moving Sale was the preparation last week.  Students from the organization Hands and Feet came to help clean and sort things into categories for the sale.  Hands and Feet is a group that was founded by and is run by students in Redmond.  They serve anyone that needs help.  What a wonderful group of teens.

6/11 Preparation

Now that classes are over, I'm packing up the last of my books and supplies at Central Christian and giving most of it away.  Because of space, weight and financial restrictions on the move, we're giving away and selling most of our belongings.  It's feeling good to lighten the load and see that there are people who can use our things here in Oregon.  Pray for us as we sort and decide which things are important to take with us.  We'll be mailing up those things and taking whatever we can on the plane.  Also be in prayer for just the right job for Patrick, as well as a residence off-campus for us and Sabbath. 

5/22  A New Direction

Patrick and I love Central Oregon and the friends we've made while here.  And though it will be difficult to say goodbye to our loved ones here, we're being directed on a new path... to bush Alaska.  Patrick, Sabbath and I will be heading to our new home in Galena, Alaska at the end of July.  I will be working at the Residential Hall for a high school there.  We hope to get there early enough to help our sister and brother-in-law put the finishing touches on the house they've been building.  As we embark on this new adventure, please remember us in your prayers.

4/30    Sunshine!

Bend weather is unpredictable as ever, but we're really enjoying the days of sunshine and warmth that are more and more frequent.  Patrick's hair has developed the beginnings of his summer highlights and I have my first little sunburn.  Sabbath and Patrick are itching to get out into the woods, so we're planning a small camping trip for Memorial Day weekend.

May can be a busy month in the realm of school, so I'm getting geared up to accomplish what is necessary and prepare my students with tools to succeed in their upcoming performances.  Two of our bass singers transferred to a different school, so our accompanist has been doing more singing than playing to make up for it.  We'll miss him at CCS when he graduates next month.

Our nephew Daniel received his first haircut last week and we look forward to getting pictures of the special occassion.  His sisters are already enjoying playing in the break-up weather of Galena, decked out in full rain gear when necessary, riding their bikes or galavanting through the woodlands.

I've been leading music at church more often recently, both singing and playing the piano, which can be challenging since we don't have a piano at home on which to practice!  But I'm truly enjoying opening up that part of my life again - I didn't realize how much I missed the piano.

That's all for now!

4/02 Spring is in the Air

The choir tour in March was a blast!  And I'm sure Patrick didn't mind a bit of alone time, though we were certainly excited to see each other upon my return from the week's absence.  The teens enjoyed time spent at the Choral Festival as well as the fellowship they had with students of Valley Christian Schools, with whom we toured in Washington state.  We came back full of excitement, though very weary.  The vocal solo adjudicator, a professor from George Fox College here in Oregon, was simply excellent and the students who took the challenge of preparing a solo for this event really gained some valuable tools to improve their vocal health and personal style.

Spring Break quickly followed the tour and brought important lessons to me about my weakness in the area of housekeeping!  A friend who is beginning a new career as a Life Coach (and a good one she is!) helped me to think through choices I was making and to identify problem areas.  My sister Kim also assisted me in this: helping me see my lack of self control when it comes to cleaning and clutter.  So now I pray this fruit of the Spirit to grow in me... it helps so much!  And as my coach friend suggested, I began to utilize a calendar to help me focus on when I am to clean and organize.  But I didn't want to look at it and be overwhelmed with the sight of so much work!

So instead, I initiated the Freedom Dance!  This is the name for the work I do in the home to keep it more free of clutter.  It's so much easier to keep my cleaning appointment when its name reflects what I desire out of the time spent!  Crazy I know, but HEY, it's working!

Patrick and I are seeking the Lord on where we are to live this year and we are trying to be open even to ideas that would bring us to leave Central Oregon.  All of the prospects are exciting ones so far, it's just a matter of being in the place we're supposed to be.  Weeeeeee!

2/29

We are loving married life!  Yesterday, Patrick and I took a few friends to see The Passion of the Christ - an amazing film.  On the school front, I'm still working on ironing out the wrinkles in the high school choir tour, slated to begin March 9th.  The choir will be adjudicated at the ACSI Choral Festival for performing a contemporary gospel setting of the Quaker text How Can I Keep from Singing as well as the a capella English song My Soul, There is a Country.  Patrick and Sabbath still love rough-housing and it just seems to increase as the temperatures rise and the snow melts... the promise of spring!  We are praying to find an affordable home and hope to locate one this year some time.