Brad & Stepanie's Wedding

Kelly's brother Brad got married on October 1, 2010. The girls and Kelly made dresses for the ladies in our family. That was a fun experience! :) We made matching dresses for the little girls, a nursing dress for Mom and nice dresses for Ashley and Amanda. It was very special to see Brad marry his high school sweetheart <3>

The Bride and Groom!

Cousin Dana and Gracie

Kelly's Dad Mark and Aunt MaryLou

Ryan and Grant with Grandpa

Mandy and Gracie

The wedding was set in a gorgeous vineyard near McMinnville OR


The sun was setting as the bride and groom exchanged their vows

~ Provisions from the Lord~

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 ESV

After finding out the change of plans regarding Belize, we had about 2 weeks to find somewhere else to live. It was tempting to be a bit overwhelmed with the seemingly impossible task but we just started packing and praying. Our very kind friends had already offered their 30 foot travel trailer until we found a rental. So the first week of our displacement was spent in the trailer.. then the Lord provided a month long housesitting job! The couple was leaving for a month and needed someone to watch their poodles and home while they were gone. We offered and they graciously accepted! We were so blessed to have their beautiful home to live in for 4 weeks. They live on 2 beautifully landscaped acres.. and a huge tree swing and hammock for the children to enjoy.





Grant having fun on the swing!





Our darling Gracie~


Mandy with the girls


Sleeping in the hammock






Little Laura and Mama


Ashley and Grace

Laura at 3 months

Penny Park

While Nana was still here we enjoyed visiting Penny Park in Chehalis. Grace always asks to go to the 'slider place' and was so excited~ After visiting the 'slider', we headed over to the local farmer's market and purchased some delicious produce for dinner makings.


Grace, Ashley, Grant, Ryan, Laura and Amanda


Grace with Nana


Amanda and Nana


Ashley with Nana


Grace and Ashley


Ryan


Grant


Gracie

Mama pushing Laura

River Fun with Nana

Nana came for a visit and the children talked her into braving the rapids with them! They trekked down to the river for some fun and cooling off. Mama and Laura stayed at home, enjoying the a/c and the quiet house! :)

♥ Introducing Miss Laura Jean ♥

1 Day Old

She was born on July 10, 2010 at 5 pounds, 13 oz and 19 inches long with blue eyes and BLONDE hair! A first for the McDonald family~ :) Her Mama is still convinced she just came to us as a towhead since she will eventually be a Belize baby, Lord willing!

1 Week

3 Weeks~

1 Month

5 Weeks

August 2010

A Sad Week~

It has been months since I have blogged.. I wonder if I will even remember how to do it! :) This past week we have have found out that our business plans for Belize have all but fallen apart. We were waiting for our precious Laura to be born, receive her passport and then we were scheduled to be gone. Rental in Belize already in place, most of our belongings sold.. warm winter clothes donated to thrift stores.. Then comes the news that we are not moving. At least not yet. So much seems so up in the air. And yet there is peace.


The house which we have been renting in Belize.. our dearest friends, the Banmans and the Friesians have been caring for it for a few months now..



Now our family has to make some decisions.. can Grady support us down there without the income from the business? Does the Lord want us down there and if so, for what reason? We only want to be used of him. To be his servants in whatever capacity he has. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to pray and seek his will for our family. ♥


Our sweet friends~

A Hard Day's Work

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Psalms 127:3 KJV

My industrious boys decided that once and for all they were going to figure out why we have a stream running down the driveway, filling up the back yard with mud and standing water. They had heard what sounded like running water while up behind the outbuildings on the east end of the property. After some investigating they found a natural spring had sprung up under one of the buildings. The entire underside of the building was flooded and gurgling with a literal spring which flowed straight from there, down toward the house. Dad and I had a prior engagement and so left the boys with Ashley and Amanda and their new discovery. Three hours later upon our return we saw two exhausted and muddy boys dragging in as we were pulling in. They had trenched a 1 foot deep and 100 foot long ditch all the way from the building to the road where it could dump out in the storm drain. They had successfully diverted the spring away from the house! No more river running down our driveway! Thank you boys.. what hard workers.. We are blessed with such wonderful children.



The Spring originated under this building

Part of their trench

It has been diverted all the way down the fenceline to the storm drain

Grant shows us their work

Our big helpers!

The dry 'river bed'