Little Green Sprouts

The last several weeks have been lovely, and also quite busy. We are starting to work on wedding plans and trying to get things figured out. Somehow in the middle of it all we managed to get the garden planted. We were so behind that I was wondering if we would ever get it planted, so I am happy we did! Now we have little plants peeking up all over. The corn is up and so are the beans. A few melons and cucumbers are also coming up. I hope that everything grows well.

Tea Party Surprise

Over the last two months Andrew Engell and I have been courting. So early last week my friend Jessica who I hadn't seen since before the courtship started, called to invite Melissa and I to tea at the Tea Cozy. She wanted to hear all about everything going on. So we set Thursday afternoon to go.
It was a little odd that morning how much my mom and sister encouraged me to wear something a little nicer. Finally I did, and was glad for it later.








We had a lovely time having tea and visiting. It was very very calm and relaxing. I was just enjoying myself and taking my time.
As we were leaving Jessica said she had forgotten something and had to run back inside. It took several minutes. Then she sugessted that we stop to see the Cambria Pines Gardens.


We walked a little way then came to a bench where Jessica wanted me to sit and take my picture. After she snapped the picture, she suddenly told me to stay there for a minute while she showed Melissa something, and they quickly walked away.


I only had a few seconds to look around and wonder what was going on, before Andrew came around the corner singing.


He gave me a red rose, then got on down on his knee and asked me to marry him.
My answer was yes.





Afterwards we sat in the gardens for quite awhile and talked, then we went to the beach and walked on the pier, and then we went and had dinner. When we went home there were lights, and candles, balloons and a congratulations sign.


It was a perfect day. Andrew did a wonderful job of surprising me and making it very romantic.
We are planning the wedding for the end of September. We will be living up in Washington. I am very excited and so happy.
It has been amazing to see how God has brought us together, I feel so blessed.

Painting

Over the last few weeks we have been working on repainting our house. Here is the nearly finished look. It was all grey before. Now we have tan, green and red.

Water Fight

Last weekend was the the homeschool group campout. Dad and Jonathan went for the whole weekend and the rest of us just went up for Saturday and again on Sunday. It was a fun time. We ended up having quite a wild water fight on Sunday afternoon. Here are a few pictures of the fun!

Wildflowers

Yesterday after church a group of us went out to see the wildflowers. It was a beautiful day for the excursion. There were fields of blue, yellow and orange flowers. There were patches of small purple and white flowers also. We enjoyed exploring the hillsides and picking lovely bouquets.


Sitting on the hillside


Mary picking flowers


Melissa and I


Bethany enjoying the view


Here are some of the flowers we saw. I only know the names of a few of them.


California poppies and a few lupines



Cheerful yellow flowers


These dainty blue flowers were some of my favorites.


California poppy


A wildflower bouquet

Photo Shoot

Melissa and I dressed up and went outside to take some photos today. We did it just for fun. Here are a few of what we took.

The Importance of The Resurrection

These verses were read last Sunday at the sunrise service. They really made me think about how amazing and important Christ's resurrection actually is. If He has not risen then our faith is in vain. How wonderful to know that Jesus did rise from the dead and that we have hope through Him.

Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
1 Cor. 15:12-19

An Eventful Weekend

This last weekend we all traveled up to Oregon for Bob and Molly's wedding. It is hard to believe that only one week ago we had not even left for the trip to Oregon yet. Somehow it seems like several weeks ago! That's not a bad thing, it's just that so much has happened and we were so busy.
On Friday we drove up to Oregon. We had a great time eating dinner with Rudi and Carla Booher and their children. After that we stayed the night at their aunt and uncle the Nydem's house. We had never met them before. They were so hospitable and friendly and it was easy to feel comfortable in their home.
Saturday was the wedding. It was a simple and elegant wedding. I wasn't able to take very many pictures because my camera didn't like the lighting in the church :(
That evening we stayed up late playing games and being silly. That night we all kind of went separate ways, also. Our parents went to the coast for their anniversary. Melissa and I stayed at the Shultzes with the Keulens and Jonathan stayed with the Engells.
On Sunday morning we drove over the pass to Bend for the reception for Daniel and Jenny Gillogley. It was a fun and busy day. We spent that night at the Johnson's home. There were many people staying there. It was enjoyable to have a chance to spend more time with everyone before going home.
The plan was to leave at 9 a.m. Monday morning but that isn't what happened. It always takes longer than expected but this time the reason was an accident. The Keulen's cousin was driving the four wheeler and flipped. His shoulder was injured so we waited while he was taken to the doctor. It was a blessing that he was not hurt more seriously. Anyway by the time everyone got back and we got on the road it was 4:15 in the afternoon. We traveled all night and didn't arrive at the Keulens until 6:30 the next morning. We were so exhausted that we all just went to bed and slept until much later in the morning. We had a very lazy day at the Keulens then went home that night. Our parents got home a few hours later than we that night also.
That is the shortened and condensed version of our crazy trip. There was so much more that happened, too. It is really strange, but for some reason I didn't take nearly as many pictures as usual. So there are only a few.


Bob And Molly's wedding




Daniel and Jenny's reception

Meaningful

These are the verses that I have been thinking about this morning. Actually they have been coming to mind the last few weeks, too.

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Beach Fun

Even though the wedding is over things haven't slowed down around here. We have been keeping busy and having way too much fun! Last Monday we went with a group of friends over to the beach. We had a wonderful time playing on the beach, walking, talking, and exploring tide pools.


Football


Eating Lunch and visiting


Walking and talking


Exploring the tide pools


Waving at the camera