Broken-with hope

When you are totally broken, feeling overwhelmed and have failed...then Jesus reminds you of His power to redeem you and give you strength in your great weakness...all through the sweet gift of flowers and the encouraging reminder of HOPE through the words and hugs of a friend.

Motiv8ed by Amy

Motiv8 is the perfect name for Amy's business because the example she sets herself is both motivating and inspiring. She designed an individual plan for me that I followed, and she checked in along the way. Having her continual support and encouragement was what kept me motivated to press on, especially on days when I just wanted to quit. 

She is in amazing cheerleader for her clients and truly roots for their success!!
When Amy says, "I am proud of you," it makes you want to get up the next day, eat right, and kill it at your next workout.

Thanks to Amy, I am the fittest I have been in my entire life (and that says a lot, being the mom of 2 and turning 40 in a few months)!!

Walking Tour PDX Date

We had such a fun date on a walking food tour in Portland (with all the tourists from out of town). We have been here 15 years and still love exploring our city. Thank you for the PERFECT birthday gift Craig Cockrell and Denise Cockrell!!!

Beauty in our Backyard

The more we travel, the more we are amazed and grateful for the beauty we have living in Oregon (often in our own backyard). This is a view we get to enjoy on one of our regular evening walks. 

*Within 1-3 hours, we can go to the sunny high desert, gorgeous ocean beaches, snow in the mountains, cave exploring, boating on the river, picturesque lakes, to pick fresh produce from a local farm, to enjoy some of the best dining in the nation, take some of the finest hiking and biking trails, or even see a Broadway show.

Dar & Darcie @ Alpenrose

Thank you Dar Arnoth Rodgers and Darcie DeZordo VanderZanden for a fun day. You both are amazing personally and professionally. Xo

Love this man!! 18 years and counting...

I love this man! I especially love that he went into a photo booth and took selfies with Abigail...because FREE is more fun.

I love him because he sends me emails with sweet songs attached:

"Amber,

Thank you for your note. I heard this song a couple of days ago and it was if I personally wrote it about you. Know that no matter what happens between us, this is how I feel. This is my heart. I literally have tears in my eyes with the thought of how blessed I am to be married to you. I love you and I will never stop."

And...
Of course our sweet daughter made these for us to wear on our 18th wedding anniversary today...

School's out for summer...FINALLY!!!

Abigail and her friends got surprised with getting hit with silly sting, an ice cream party, and a water fight at the Jones' house. It was pretty fun!!!

"Isaac says goodbye to Springville for ever! It's been a growing year for sure. Very proud of this young man!!! Now let's get on with summer!!!" --Dad

What to Choose

I’m standing at the a fork in the road,

I have a backpack that must weigh a truckload.

One path is clear as glass,

It shows of a year of a boring class.

The next is as dark as night,

Taking it may excite.

Taking it may spell doom,

It might end in a huge boom.

One is predictable,

The next might be convictable.

What to choose?

Which will lose?

By: Isaac

(about next year's school)

Father's Day Eve

I love this man! On Father's Day Eve, I think about how blessed I am to be united with this guy. 
HE IS RELENTLESS!
...as a husband, father, son, brother, at work, in friendships, in physical fitness, and in whatever project he puts his mind to. 
THIS MAN NEVER QUITS, AND PURPOSES TO BE POSITIVE WITH PERSEVERANCE.
I am thankful for Chris, who strives to glorify Jesus and love others above himself.
HE IS HUMBLE.
He is characterized by his willingness to say sorry and say that he "will work on it" (and mean it).
I love you, Christopher William! 
We should celebrate you every day!!!

AWANA Awards Night

4th Grade Besties!

     I am just going to say that Chloe, Malia  Blayke and Addie are the best friends I have at school. They are the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I  just wish that Malia, Addie, and Blayke were Christians.  C.A.M.B. I have great laughs with them. All of us has seen the greatest showman🎩, so ( of corse ) we SING!!! 

         *****posted by cornnie Korenthal*******

POEMS by Isaac

Here are some poems and a meaningful Art Lit project to express his inner feelings:

I really like to bike,

and when I’m with my mom I like to hike.

I made a video game,

but I think it is mostly lame.

My life is good,

but sometimes it is misunderstood,

that we are blessed.

We are fed, pampered, given shelter, and dressed.

Other people are not so lucky,

there life is mucky.

They are scared for their next meal.

To us, that feeling is just not real.

They worry about not having an education.

But us, we may take a vacation.

We are happy to get out of school.

But for them, just having a chance to go to school would be cool.

That is why our life is so good.

But they don’t have a chance at our childhood.

So even the things that make me complain,

is something that they would gain

We just came out of a show,

my mom said “lets go!”

Taking long strides,

I followed her to a cluster of rides.

I stood staring at one poster,

it boasted of the Rockin’ Roller Coaster.

My mom motioned for me to come closer,

to the ride mentioned on the poster.

We waited in line,

ice shot up my spine.

We got on the ride,

I might as well have died.

Then when the ride started,

my body and my soul figuratively parted.

I glanced at the water,

and that’s when I saw her.

I jumped in without a doubt,

not knowing fully what it was all about.

I stretched out my body to its full length,

not knowing fully what it was all about.

As hard as I was trying,

I was determined to keep this girl from dying.

Hiking down a hill in the rain was rough,

I had to stay tough.

To survive the hike from the top to the ground,

as I ran, my heart started to pound.

The rain no  longer drizzled,

my confidence fizzled.

I needed to get to camp,

and run up the ramp.

Into our cabin.

I have to take the bus,

the people there love to cuss.

I’m stuck on that old wretched bus,

everyday, when I think of the bus, I fuss.

On the bus, I just sit and watch EYSTREEM,

to drown out the people who scream.

I like my bus driver,

he helps me be a survivor.

Through and through,

even when your life might stink like poo.

Take an opportunity when it hits,

and don’t throw major fits.

Be kind,

because you don’t know what you might find.

(The picture, in Jacob Lawrence style, shows how Isaac feels trapped at school...waiting for June 19th...which, ironically is also known as "Juneteenth," the celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States in 1865).

June Reflections

Today is the first day of June and I (Chris) love it! It is the month that my dad, mom and I were born. It was also the month that I married my best friend! Amber and I make all these amazing plans to just spend time on Fridays while the kids are at school doing everything possible. But we just find ourselves so tired. We are so busy serving that we often didn’t find time this school year to have one of those adventurous dates! Today we went and did errands, made a nice salad then put on the Food Network and crashed on the couch. Amber took a small nap with Fonda, I couldn’t have been happier. I don’t need to be bungie jumping, or sky diving to cherish my time with my wife; just being on the couch, watching the Food Network relaxing is just perfect with me!!!

Daddy and Princess

Abigail and I haven’t had many dates lately due to the busyness of life. We finally were able to get 2 tickets for A Wrinkle in Time playing at OMSI! Although the movie wasn’t my favorite, I loved being with the most beautiful girl I know! The screen was so big and you could see the details of the actors faces. We brought in some candy (for Abigail), dried fruit (for me), Kombucha (for me) and pickled popcorn (for both of us). Before the movie started, we cracked open the bag of pickled popcorn and enjoyed. I go so thirsty I drank the Kombucha and ate all the dried fruit. The movie started and I started getting motion sick, burping up pickled popcorn, Kombucha and dried mango. Abigail felt nothing and kept eating pickled popcorn, not sure I can eat that stuff again. Regardless, I love being with princess!

Mother's Day 2018

The highlights of the day included:

 -the amazing "mom chair" Abigail created that made us all nearly fall over with laugher

-the amazing comic book Isaac made

-going out to lunch with Gramma and Abigail

-taking a beautiful evening family walk where were witnessed a hawk grab a huge fish from the lake at Progress Ridge in his talons

"I want to take this time and thank my beautiful wife for tirelessly being an amazing mom! I'm so proud of the mother you've become! I love you so, so much! Our children are beyond blessed to call you mom! Happy mother's day my love!"--CHRIS

"Oh dear!" That's all I can say about the picture Abigail took of us at lunch today...

But, about you, I want to say how thankful I am that you moved up to Oregon and have invested so much in our lives. I feel closer to you now than I ever have. I am proud of your hard work in your fitness goals (hurray -50 lbs.) and your new outlook on life. I know you will always be there when I/we need you with such a servant's heart. I am also so grateful that my kiddos have a special relationship with their gramma like I did with mine. Happy Mother's Day 2018 Diane Thompson Boddye ! Xoxo

Crazy, Messy Life