Visiting our Friends in Halsey, OR

Back in late 2009 our small fellowship came across an Anabaptist organization back in Pennsylvania that had a listing of Annabaptist churches throughout the county. That is where we first heard of Valley Christian Fellowship in Halsey, OR. Our first trip down there was to attend their yearly campout in July 2010 when Laura was just a few weeks old. Since then we have managed to travel down there every few months (it is 3 hrs away!) While in Belize, the Halsey church was such a blessing to our family. One of the things they did was write a sending letter in order to help out with a missionary permit (which did not come through) They also generously helped support us financially which is no small feat since it is not a very large church! When Willow and the Kings came to Belize for a visit, their church gathered all sorts of household items, fabric, clothing and more to send down for us. They had asked for a list of things that we needed and PROVIDED EVERYTHING on my list. It was so encouraging to have their support and prayers.

This past weekend we were able to travel down to Halsey for another visit. Amanda had made plans with Willow's family to stay for a week's visit. Driving her down and attending church with them and then leaving Mandy there was one reason to plan a trip. In addition, our friends the Kings had also planned on heading down there. Spending some time with them was another great reason to make the trip! :)  After the church meeting and shared meal at the building, we headed over to the Hertler's home.. Brother Roger's ministry http://www.watchmangospelsigns.com/ Watchman Gospel Signs provides gospel signs; bumper stickers, street witnessing signs and yard signs. Both Jeremy and Grady wanted a few signs and bumper stickers made so that is what the guys spent their evening doing. It was such a wonderful time to spend with Roger and Phebe who both have such a burden for the lost and perishing.

 

 

 

The Hertzlers are also very involved with Christian Aid Ministries who has recently expanded their ministry to the west coast. http://www.christianaidministries.org/ CAM is a wonderful ministry who distributes approximately 15 million pounds of food, clothing, medicines, seeds, Bibles, Bible story books, and other Christian literature. Much of the aid goes to needy children, orphans, and Christian families. CAM also helps families provide for themselves through the Family-Self-Support and SALT Microfinance programs. Currently, Valley Christian Fellowship is making warm blankets to send to North Korea to suffering tuberculosis patients.Once CAM has enough, they will load a shipping container full of blankets to ship out. I believe Phebe said that the Valley Christian Fellowship ladies have already made over 20 blankets!  While at the Hertzlers, Stephanie and I were able to help Phebe on one of these blankets. It was such a nice time of visiting.

 

 

While the parents were busy with sign and quilt making, the children had a fun time playing in the Hertzler's fun living room. Our girls were enchanted with all of the baby dolls and 'little people'

 

 

After a quick dinner, we and the Kings headed home. It was nasty weather and a three hour drive ahead of us! So although we would have loved to stay much longer and visit more with our sweet friends.. it was time to hit the road!

 

 

Here are one of the two bumperstickers that the guys made for us.

The other one says "Seek the Lord While He May be Found"

 

 

Our Snowbunnies

Next week we plan to travel to the mountains to play in the snow! With all of the snow pants, gloves, sleds and hats laying around, the children have been getting more and more snow crazy! Finally Grant organized an imaginary snow day where he helped Grace and Laura get all dressed up in their snow clothes and proceeded to give free sled rides in the grass. It was so cute. 

All dressed up with no where to snow!

Even Gracie's baby was all bundled up!

 

You want me to climb into that thing?

Whee!

 

Then, the most wonderful thing happened..... a few days after their dry run it really truly did SNOW!

Laura was one of the first to notice the snow! ''What's THAT''?

She had no memory of ever seeing snow!

What a beautiful sight

 

The birds came a-visiting all day, looking for food

The last rose of the year, just outside the living room window

 

After the snow stopped the children got all dressed and braved the elements

 

Yay! REAL snow!

 

 

Can you tell from this picture that Laura had been up all night with the flu?

Can you believe we let her go outside?

Well who could resist this face?

 

A request...

I have a confessiopn to make. I am a terribly disorganized person. I have (once again) lost our address book that has loose pieces of paper with addresses, email addresses, phone numbers etc. I was *SUPPOSED* to enter all of our contacts into our computer contact list but alas my address book now lies somewhere between Spanish Lookout Belize and Napavine Washington! :O

So here is my request~ if you are a family/person who sends out seasonal cards, letters etc.. or if you just want to say 'hi' and give us your mailing and email info, could you please send us a letter/photo/newsletter to the address below? I would love to add you to our contact list. Thank you in advance! We are so blessed by all of your prayers and support. We are so blessed by you all.

McDonald Family
P.O. Box 76
Napavine, WA 98565

We love our girls!

On occasion, we 'authorize' our 2 oldest slaves daughters to venture out and stay with friends and family. :) ~hee hee~  Upon Nana's request, the girls decided to stay at Nana and Papa's over Thanksgiving weekend. They had a great time and especially liked making lotion and lip balm with Nan. The unfortunate thing about them being gone on this particular weekend was that our Cockapoo puppies turned 8 weeks old; which left Grady and I to meet up with the families who were purchasing the puppies!  You shoulda seen me, trying to bathe and get all of the paperwork together for all of the puppy families! Ashley and Amanda had been the ones to raise them and care for them.  We really had to rely on the boys to help us give the right puppy to the right owners.. (good job boys!) Well anyhow, at the end of the weekend I decided that Ashley and Amanda cannot ever move out. I simply cannot live without them. Well, at least we all decided that they cannot both leave me at the same time. :) Well at least not until Gracie and Laura can pull a bit more of their own weight around here! :)

Truly we are so blessed by not only how much Ashley and Amanda DO around here.. but much more so by their sweet spirits, love for Jesus and their eternal and kingdom mindset. I used to hear about people whose adult children were their closest friends.. We are blessed enough to be experiencing that. It is one of the greatest joys of our lives. We love you Ashley and Amanda!!!!!

The girls and Nana

Papa Ben makes a scrumptious meal!

Fried chicken, cassava fries and baked garlic delicata squash!

Grant's 11th Birthday!

 

Grant had a very special 11th birthday! Grandma Bonnie (Grady's mother) came down from Seattle to take him shopping and out to ice cream. Later in the day, Nana and Papa Ben joined us in a celebration dinner in honor of the birthday boy!

Mmm...

One of Grant's favorite gifts was a card from a friend of Papa Ben's whom Grant had never even met!

(Thank you so much for your kindness Kerry!)

The birthday party!

 

 

Grant, showing the girls his gifts

One of the flying whirly thingys flew as high as the skylight!

Grant's choice of birthday menu: hamburgers, mashed potatoes and carrot salad

(thank you for not complaining about the burned potatoes Grant! :) )

 

 

Happy Birthday to our special boy! May you grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus more and more in the coming year! We love you so much precious son.