Conference in Oregon

Well this post is a bit late. I have been meaning to post about this trip ever since I got home. That was almost two weeks ago.

This last trip to Bend, Oregon was the fourth time I've been to Oregon this year. It was a little different because only three of us went; Mom, Jonathan, and I. Dad had to work and Melissa stayed home to keep him company. We haven't really traveled without Dad before so this was a new adaventure for us.

This time we were there for the Berean Call Conference on the Seduction of Christianity. The speakers spoke on the affect phsycology, mysticism, ecumenicalism, marketing. and other ideas have had on the church today. There was so much information it was almost overwhelming. I took a lot of notes but I am really a terrible note taker, so they don't always make sense:) I think one of the most important things spoken on was the sufficiency of God's Word and the impotance of testing all ideas and teachings by the Bible.

We were surprised at how many people came to the conference. It was so encouraging. At the Saturday evening banquet we had the opportunity to meet a sweet family with three young children from Kentucky. It was enjoyable to talk to them. Another highlight was hearing the Booher Brothers play both Saturday evening and Sunday morning. It is always fun to hear them.

On the way home we took several detours to admire the beauty of God's creation in Northern California. Because of our many stops we got home later than planned. But the trip was safe and it was good to be all home together again.

I didn't take any pictures at the conference but did get some on the way home. My camera was acting really strange part of the time but then started working again just fine. I hope its not going to break.

Horseback Ride

On Tuesday afternoon we went on a walk with the our neighbors, the Stevens.

I convinced my mom and Mrs.Stevens to ride the horses, even though it had been a long time since either of them had been horseback riding. Celeste rode the other horse while the rest of us walked.

New Blogger

If you look at the sidebar on the right you might notice something different. I have changed my blog so that from now on my sister Melissa can post also. So look for her first post coming up soon! This is going to be fun!

The Girls

Callie, Windy, and Misty enjoying an afternoon out in the pasture.

A Crash and a Firetruck

After reading the title of my post you probably have all sorts of wild ideas flying through your mind. Well, they are probably all wrong. You also probably think that the crash and the firetruck have something to do with each other. They are in fact two different and completely unrelated events.

THE CRASH

The first event happened on Wednesday afternoon. I had just arrived home from work. I went over to my computer to check my e-mail when I noticed a strange blue screen telling me that it was shutting down due to an error. So it shut down and restarted. As it booted up it got as far as the Windows XP logo before... uh oh... there it was again, the blue screen! This occurred several times. I spent a very frustrated afternoon trying to figure out what to do, before giving up in fear of causing more damage. I have not been able to get on since then. I am hoping that there is some way to recover my files. I had been being very careful to back things up until earlier this year. So all my photos from January until now, a website that I was working on, and other design work and artwork has never been backed up. Right now I am still able to blog and use e-mail on the other computer. If anyone has suggestions for what to do when a computer crashes please let me know.

THE FIRETRUCK

OK, now for the second event. This one was unusual. I was sleeping peacefully when suddenly I was awakened in what felt like the middle of the night. It was actually very early Thursday morning, around 4:30 a.m. Outside my window it was very bright and a loud motor was running. When I looked to see what was going on I saw a huge firetruck with glaring lights parked in our driveway. What in the world was going on?
Now I think I'd better go back a few days to explain things. On Tuesday evening my grandparents from the Bay Area came down to visit us for a few days. Before coming down Grandpa had been to the doctor to have a cyst removed from his head. As I was leaving for work Wednesday morning the wound had begun bleeding and didn't seem to be stopping. Eventually the bleeding was stopped and it seemed to be doing ok. But early Thursday morning Grandpa woke up to find it bleeding a lot. My mom tried to stop it but was unable to so they called emergency. My room is back in the converted garage so I didn't hear any of the commotion until the firetruck arrived. Anyway Grandpa was taken to the hospital where the bleeding was stopped and more stitches were put in. Mom, Dad, and Grandma followed him there shortly after. They all came home around 8:30 a.m. We were all glad that it was not anything more serious. My grandparents are getting older and neither one knows the Lord so this was somewhat scary for them. Hopefully this event will help them to think more seriously about their relationship with God.

Apple Season

This afternoon we went with our neighbors to See Canyon to get apples. It has become almost a tradition we do every fall. We took a picnic lunch to eat in the beautiful garden behind one apple farm. At the apple farms we sampled the apples and then bought a large box of our favorites for fresh eating, baking, and making apple butter. After that we headed over to the Avila Valley Barn. We spent our time buying produce, looking at the gift shop, visiting the animals, getting lost in the hay bale maze, and eating ice cream. Apple season is always an enjoyable part of fall. I am looking forward to making delicious apple pies, apple sauce, and apple butter.


Posing by the old tractor


The ladies eating a picnic lunch


Enjoying our ice cream


The boys with their ice cream.

After the Rain

Books, books, books

I have been tagged by the Servens to post about books. So here goes.

1. One book that changed your life. Inside the New Age Nightmare by Randall N. Baer. I have never read this book, but my parents read it and were saved right afterward. They had been into some new age ideas and this book really opened their eyes to the truth. If they had not read this book I am sure my life would have been very different. Also the Bible, the Word of God. The Bible continues to change me as I read it more and more.

2. One book that you've read more than once. I have read many books more than once. When I was younger I read many books by Marguerite Henry more than several times.

3. One book that you would want on a desert island. The Bible. I would need this book more than any other book.

4. One book that made you laugh. All the Anne of Green Gables series. Anne was always getting into the most awkward scrapes. Also Nicholas Nickleby and others by Charles Dickens.

5. One book that made you cry. A Tale Of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. I really, really enjoyed this book.

6. One book that you wish had been written. I can't think of any right now.

7. One book that you wish had never been written. I am not sure about this one either. There are many books that it would probably have been better if they had never been written.

8. One book that you are currently reading. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. I am enjoying it so far. I will know for sure if I like it when I finish it.

9. One book that you are meaning to read. Well there is a whole list of those:) I just bought some used classics that I will read soon. I always enjoy getting suggestions.

10. Now tag four people. I don't know very many people with blogs so I will only tag Mandy. If you don't have time to do this don't worry about it.

Glorious

The sunset this evening was glorious. It always amazes me how beautiful and unique each sunset is. They are like paintings done by God who is the true artist.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.

I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,
And on Your wondrous works.

Psalm 19:1 & Psalm 145:5

He Who Keeps You Will Not Slumber

Psalm 121
A Song of Ascents.

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—

From whence comes my help?

My help comes from the LORD,

Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved;

He who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, He who keeps Israel

Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper;

The LORD is your shade at your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

Nor the moon by night.

The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;

He shall preserve your soul.

The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in

From this time forth, and even forevermore.