Our Coffee Culture

You know, families are unique- they are known for different characteristics and have different identifying markers. For us, drinking coffee is a defining cultural activity- someone is sad? They need a cup of coffee! Time to celebrate? Lets head to the coffee shop! Time for a heart-to-heart? Put the coffee on! Even my husband calls hot piping cups of coffee he brings home to me 'Kelly's bouquet'. :-) OK, it's probably my fault. Probably originating from my Old World family traditions that I was brought up with. Whatever the reason, the tradition continues and it makes for a fun aspect of our family life and time together!

Taking advantage of Starbucks buy one Holiday Drink, Get one Free!

The girls snapped this photos at a coffee shop near our house! Lol!

Grant, Ashley & Amanda walked into Brownsville to our local coffee shop!

Perfect for a cold Fall day! (And of course they brought Mama one also!)

Ashley recently purchased this for me at Goodwill. It hangs in our kitchen! :-)

For a fun family 'coffee culture' story, the book 'First We Have Coffee' is a great read!

https://www.amazon.com/First-Have-Coffee-Margaret-Jensen/dp/1565074246

Encouragement Weekend!

We were so blessed to be invited to our friend's 'Encouragement Weekend' It was full of singing, testimonies, sharing and messages. We are so grateful to be able to gather with this amazing group of folks! Thank you all for making us feel so welcome! What a blessing and ENCOURAGEMENT!

Our friends felt the Lord calling them to invite friends from many fellowships and groups to a weekend where we could all pray and share and sing and encourage one another and be encouraged in the Lord. The family took the time to clean out their barn, organize meals for three days.. and host quite a few families. It was packed. Brothers and Sisters from all over.

The kids enjoyed sitting on the stairs during the music and skit time. God really blessed the time.

Ephesians 5:19

singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.

Hebrews 10:25

²⁵ Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Beethoven's 5th Symphony and the Carosel with Grandma B

The little girls and I have had a fun season of all-things Beethoven. Grace especially loves the 5th Symphony.  I found $22 tickets for the Portland Youth Philharmonic preforming the 5th Sympohony at the Arlene Schitzer Concert Hall in Portland.. but upon further research I found that they were offering a free concert the week before at OSU! We invited Grandma Bonnie to come down that weekend and join us! In addition, the little girls had earned a trip to the carousel in Salem so we did that during her visit also!

After doing their morning chores without reminded for 1 week in a row, the girls had earned a trip to the Carousel! Yay!! Good job girls!

They convinced their big sisters that they should come along with them-

Grace was a little nervous about the up-and-down motion of the horses! Mandy held her hand

Our 'cool' guys (secretly wishing they could ride the horses too?? who knows!! :-) Grady with his mom Grandma Bonnie. Shes so sweet- she bought both girls lovely stuffed horses in the gift shop!

We were absolutely stunned by the talent of the Portland Youth Philharmonic orchestra. Ranging from age 11-21 it was the most amazing and terrific performance we have had the pleasure of hearing! Amazing!

"Corvallis-OSU Symphony invites you to come as you are in your most comfortable clothes to enjoy a thrilling performance by the Portland Youth Philharmonic's exceptional musicians and musical director David Hattner. This performance at OSU in Corvallis is FREE and all are welcome. Young musicians are especially encouraged to attend.

From the moment you hear the signature opening of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, you will be swept up in one of music’s most powerful and majestic experiences. Share the passion of PYP’s accomplished young musicians on this epic journey. A noble, historic Dvořák overture and a virtuosic piano concerto by the teenaged Chopin, performed by Natalie Tan (winner of PYP’s Piano Concerto Competition), round out this magnificent program.

The Portland Youth Philharmonic is a full symphonic orchestra that demands commitment to an intensive schedule of rehearsals and performances of repertoire that closely parallels that of a professional orchestra."

I had made only 1 mistake! I was able to choose the tickets online.. well of course being closer is better, right?? Well, even with earplugs (we tried to think ahead for Grace's sake!) it was far too loud for Gracie! Especially the first piece by Dvorak, who tends to be quite wild! She was practically hysterical because of the noise! Grady had to take her out and they ended up in the balcony. A very helpful usher helped Grady find a seat in the back (right next to the door in case she had to 'escape'!) Poor thing. Bad mom.. why didn't I remember that it would be better to be further back? This special needs parenting takes being one step ahead. Sometimes I fail but I learn to try harder next time! The usher was a very kind lady who told Gracie that she probably just has 'dolphin ears' and that she has met other people who are very sensitive to loud noises. That made Grace feel a little better. I was glad she was able to get situated before her favorite- Beethoven's 5th began. She was able to drink it in and thoroughly enjoy the beauty of the orchestra- from a distance!!!  

Afterwards, Grandma took us all out to the Spaghetti Factory! We usually go there when she comes for visits. They are usually tolerant of our 3 hour stays and there are lots of gluten-free options! Yay! What a full day and a fun time with Grandma.

"Exciting" California Trip!

Ok so you can never accuse me of not loving my kids! Lol.. Recently all 5 of us ladies hit the road to pick up a puppy for Miss Ashley. She and Mandy have decided to raise Standard Poodles instead of Goldens. They are a super fun breed- very smart and non-shedding! ANYHOOO, why we had to travel 7 hours one way for the 'perfect one'.. wellllll-if you know us we'll do anything for our kids! Ashley paid for a rental car and got us a motel.. and we had a fun (?) 2 day trip getting Shirley, the red-headed poodle!

taking a break at the rest stop.

Our car was really fun! And only $50 a day! Super sporty and comfortable!

Lovely Mt. Shasta

The Siskiyous are so beautiful!  

Things were going along great until.... we sat in 1 hour traffic just to find out that I-5 Southbound was closed to all traffic. We were diverted back to Northbound and had to take a 3 1/2 hour detour! :-O

 Thankfully Ashley had brought two books on CD- 'By the Shores of Silver Lake' and 'Rainbow Valley' So at least we had something to pass the time! Our trip was extended by 5 1/2 hours that first day because of the road closure! I was SOOOO tired! And of course being the person who rented the car I was the only one allowed to drive it! AND it was Halloween! (have you ever noticed how much crazier people drive on Halloween after say, 9pm?? and especially in CA??)

So we finally got to the lady's house to get Shirley at 10:30 pm.. it was a dark neighborhood in a suburb of San Francisco.. kinda creepy and dark.. complete with all kinds of ghouls and goblins.. We finally got to the hotel at 11:30! That was an ordeal also.. Loud neighbors, car alarms going off.. peeling out and wild music late into the night!!! At around 2 am someone started pounding on the door of our hotel room! At that point in the night I was wishing the girls had decided to adopt German Shepherds.. or Pitbulls.. or something a little more- er, impressive and intimidating! "Watch out! We have a killer....poodle...in here!?"  :-) Quite an adventure! We *were* able to get some burgers at In-N-Out! That was worth the whole trip!!!

Miss Shirley! You were worth the trip! ( I think....!!!!)

Family Photos 2017

In mid October we had a great time trying to get a good family photo! With Grady, Ryan & Grant working different shifts at their jobs.. and weather issues, it took about 2 weeks to finally get a chance to take some pics! The day that we decided to go for it, the weather was just beautiful!

Ash with Gracie

Official birthday pic with mom and dad!

( We are so blessed to have such great relationships with our adult children!!)

Our sweet birthday girl

Always fun to get a goofy photo!

We moved to our lovely Brownsville Park for a few shots!

Ashley is an expert at creating a tower for her camera to perch on to take the photos via timer.. this time it was a small shelf and about 12 thick books! I wish we would have gotten a photo of the tipsy tower! Our friends the Krabills heard of our photo taking methods and surprised Ashley with a tripod for her birthday!! Thanks guys! :-)

I was sad this one turned out to be washed out. Love this crew so much!

Mandy and I show the guys how we want them to pose for the 'boys pic' :-)

good job guys!!

Dad & Mom

McDonald Family 2017

Happy Birthday Ashley!!

We had so much fun spending Ashley's birthday at some very special friend's home. They treated us to a delicious lunch, including many blessings for Ashley.. then we headed down to their creek where we had a blast in their paddle boat and the boys fished. Afterward we attended a very entertaining and educational class at their church. It was a very full & blessed day!

Sweet friends!

The girls!

Hanging out, fishing and visiting

bailing out the boat!

We look a bit nervous here, lol. It was such a fun time

The kids kinda directed us from shore- "look out for that stump!!" So cute!

The little girls' turn!

It was such a special day,, celebrating such an amazing daughter. We love you so much dear precious first-born! You are an amazing and devoted Christ-follower who I respect and love beyond measure.