My wonderful trip to Oregon!!!

What can I say? Spending 4 days with this sweetheart was such a wonderful blessing!!! Isn't she precious!!! Thank you to Tim and Heidi for sharing her with me!!!

Let's see, let me start at the beginning. Friday morning I finished making sure I had all the things I needed and we headed to the airport around 2pm. Kids were excited and sad at the same time. I was too. I have never done that and with circumstances being as they were, I was a little nervous. My flight left on time and I arrived in Phoenix 20 minutes early. It was 93 degrees when I arrived. I called Heidi to let her know I was there and checked in with my family. They had gone mini golfing and ate at Cici's to kick start the weekend with Dad.

I left Phoenix and arrived in Portland about 20 minutes early as well. Tim met me outside the airport and we headed back to his house. We were excited to see one another and he was glad not to get yelled at anymore by the mean old airport traffic director!! I was wide awake when we got there, so I visited with Heidi a little before we all headed to bed. I got the official tour and got to see little Kairis sleepin.I went to bed and found myself with a new bed partner, Emma.

I woke up Saturday at 6:15 Portland time because to my body, I had slept in enough. Got dressed and called the family, since I didn't detect that anyone was awake upstairs. They were on their way to Uncle Brent's. Tim and Heidi and Kairis came downstairs, unaware I had been up for over an hour, which was ok. We got ready to head to the beach and I got to see little girly get all dressed. She had such good smiles for her Aunt Angel.

We headed to the beach around 9:30. Tim and Heidi were trying to decide the whole way where to begin our beach adventure. We opted to go to Gearhardt to their favorite bakery, Pacific way. By the time we got there, Kairis would be ready for her bottle and we could have some brunch as well. And, by doing that, I wouldn't get to see the ocean quite yet. I had a marionberry scone, Tim had a raisin snail and Heidi had a lemon danish. We visited with some locals and had a nice time enjoying breakfast. Then we drove up the way to see the beach. We turned around and headed to Seaside, which is another beach town where my parents have a time share. We parked the car and decided we would walk the boardwalk. The beach there was neat because it was really kid friendly. Swing sets and such on the beach. I thought that was really cool. We walked around the town and stopped in at a local thrift shop and found some souvienir items for my family. We then decided to head to Canon beach to get our feet wet. This was the location for Haystack rock. When the tide is out, you can see sea life in the tide pools. However, we got there at tide in. Thats ok. We got our feet wet and took some picts before deciding the cold wind probably wasn't good for little girl. But, since our feet were dirty, they decided we would go back to Gearhardt to pick up some seashells before heading to one of their favorite restaurants, Mo's. At Gearhardt beach, Heidi stayed in the car with Kairis while Tim and I went to get sand and shells. It was so much fun!! We walked and talked and scared seagulls!! Heidi called us and wondered when we were coming back because she was getting hungry. :-) We went to Mo's to eat some real seafood and so I got to try clams, halibut, scallops and clam chowder. It was really good food!! We got Kairis ready for bed and then headed back to Portland. It was a really good day. The ocean was neat. A little overwhelming for someone who has never seen it. I didn't really know how to react. A whole new experience of one of God's amazing creations. Oh, meant to say too, we were at Mo's for sunset, which was gorgeous!!

Sunday, Tim and I had our morning coffee, so I could share with Hannah. We got ready and we went to second service so that we could go to church with Tim and Heidi's best friends, Joel and Lani. It was neat to be at their church. The pastor's sermon was from Romans 12 and 13, which was good to re-read. I read it to Chris when I got home. We went out to lunch with Joel and Lani after church. Tim and Heidi are so blessed to have such great friends. From all we talked about, they can be so open and honest and fun with each other and that is a blessing that doesn't happen to most people. We probably visited for a few hours before Joel had to go home to do some school work. Lani came back to Tim and Heidi's with us to just visit some more. We spent the rest of the afternoon just hanging out in their living room. I called the kids and they got to visit with Tim and Heidi as well. I got to feed Kairis and hang out with her that morning while they got their bags ready for church. We decided to go to evening church, which was called the "gathering". It was a lot more modern and the music was a little more "funk" than I am used to, but the message was awesome. About the adulterous woman and how many of us are the people with the rocks, ready to stone people; or some of us are the adulterous woman, whom Jesus is asking to "stop and sin no more." Tim and I talked about how the last time we were together in a similar setting, he was the one dropping something off at the foot of the cross. We stayed and ate some soup there as well as visited with people. We didn't get back to their house until close to 10/10:30. Kairis had been awake the whole time, so her schedule was a little bit off. Oh, and I forgot to tell that her new best friend is her thumb. It is so adorable!!!

She woke up late Monday. Tim had gone to work, so it was girls day out. Since Kairis had slept in, our morning went pretty quick. I got dressed while Heidi fed her and then I played with Kairis while Heidi got ready to go to IKEA. The 30-45 minutes we spent together was so precious to me. We played golden sun on her play mat and then just chatted on the couch and she reclined on my knees. We made it to IKEA about noon. Heidi and I walked around admiring the creativity of the rooms and just talking heart to heart. It was so nice!! We ate lunch there and had swedish meatballs with raspberry sauce. It was really good!!! We went home to let Kairis have a really good nap and I wanted to finish the onesies I was working on for her. Heidi started a college class this week, so she needed to look at her syllabus. We just hung out at the house. She warmed up some chicken tortilla soup and made spaghetti for supper. Tim got home and we spent my last full evening there just visiting and reminisced of the past. We laughed so hard I think we all might have thought we were going to wet ourselves and stayed up way to late!! It was such an awesome time.

We woke up about 5:30 to head to the airport and for Tim to go to work. Hugs and thank yous were said and then it was off to a short day, thankfully for me. I left Portland around 7:30 and arrived in Salt Lake at 10am, mountain time. I arrived at Denver at noon, mountain time. I had a 2 hour layover which was nice. To just sit back and rest. We actually boarded the plane a little early, as a storm was on the way. However, we were stalled a half hour due to a wind burst that preceeded the storm. I made it home a little after 5 central time. We went home and I

gave the kids their sand and shells and souveniers.
Oh, and to all of you who have been there, in all the time I was there, I did not see Mt. Hood. I laugh that I will save that for next time. It was either night time, or it was covered up with clouds. Isn't that amusing?

They went to bed with the promise we would hang out after school the next day. Chris and I stayed up and talked heart to heart, which was good. The time apart on this one was good for both of us.

Wednesday, I took the kids to school and then headed to tri-city to print off my brag book!! I saw a sign for someone needing childcare help mon, wed, and fridays from 9am-noon. I applied and should hear something next week. It seems like perfect timing. I sub tomorrow, Monday and tuesday for 1st grade, so that works out great. I had intended to get a lot done around here before tomorrow, but today the jet lag caught up with me and I slept from 9:30 this morning to 1:40. I surprized myself. That's about it. Chris hasn't been answering the phone, as the issues at the Lowes continue to escalate. The corporate ethics line contacted him today asking for more statements. He just wants to keep his nose clean. He is doing good. Has panic attacks every once in a while. Just wants God to be glorified in all this and to be a good example to the kids as to what happens when Satan tries to get you down.

This weekend is our Sunday school classes harvest party and we are really looking forward to that. It was cool. Yesterday Bruce, our minister, called. I answered the phone and he quickly asked if we were all ok. He said we had been on his mind the last few days and he thought he would call. I told him about what was going on and he wanted to speak to Chris. It was neat that God had prompted his heart to reach out. I am just so thankful for our church and the people there!!

And there you have it. My updated life story with picts to enjoy. I hope you all are keeping warm and dry!! We love you all and appreciate your prayers, as this last week wouldn't have been as great as it was without them. Chris was distracted by it all and throughly enjoyed caring for the kids. It made him feel valuable, where as if I had been here, he might have had time to mope. They encouraged him in so many ways, he said, and I am so thankful for answered prayers!! So thank you!!

Please pray!!

I write with many different feelings in my heart. One, excitement, because I am heading tomorrow to Oregon to see my new niece and my brother and sister!! Two, shock, as Chris has been let go from Lowes due to some very unfair circumstances, which have crushed him personally. Three, fear, that Satan will attack him while I am gone; as he will have ample time alone. Four, sorrow and worry, as I am uncertain what the next chapter for our lives will hold. We thought that we had finally reached a happy ending to the chaos of our lives.
Five, confidence, because whatever God allows will always lead to His glorification.

Just seems like on the week when I am reveling in all the blessings; a son making a decision for Christ, a husband who is succeeding in his job and being allowed to perform amazing memories on behalf of the kingdom, a home that is a place where we can invite others over and actually have room for them; that we get the blow of insecurity, stress, grief.
If you would please just be lifting Chris up in prayer. That in this time of grief and loss, God will show himself faithful to Chris and that he will be strong enough to draw close to God in his weakness. That I will be able to enjoy my trip and that worry for my spouse won't ruin the time I was looking forward to. That the kids will be able to bless him as he spends this time with them and that they will be blessed in return.
That is all I can think of to update on. Our week other than this has been good. Monday i went to get groceries for my trip. Who knew the cracker aisle would be such a nightmare. tuesday I cleaned house and went to ladies bible study. Wednesday, I went on the 2nd grade field trip. It was wednesday afternoon when Chris was let go. He called, deeply hurt, and we went to bridge creeks fall break home game tonight to just do something that felt good. They won, 34-20.
Anyways, please pray. Thank you!!

Its official!!

I know many of you would want to see picts of the baptism and it went really well. Everything turned out so good and thanks to my sister, Karen, I have some photos of it. Of course, I LOVE our church and the people in it and they had been praying all week about issues that had come up from Satan to distract us from this big day.

Chris' parents, my parents, my grandma and my sister Karen were all here. It was such a good thing. Words can't say how it was to see Chris get to speak before the congregation and then baptize Nathaniel. We are truly blessed!!

Chris presented Nathaniel with a sword after the baptism, explaining that he had now entered the service of the Lord and he was a knight for God. He explained what Jedi knights stood for and what knights of old stood for. That a knight was, "an elite warrir sworn to uphold the values of faith, loyalty, courage and honor." Then he gave him the brown marble sword. He really liked it.

Mom and Dad gave him a BNSF hat, saying that since it was his favorite, it now could stand for something new. "Born new, saved forever." A full BNSF train is coming at a later date so that when he plays with it, he will remember that he is saved forever and is being renewed through Christ everyday. Noel and Lorna presented him with a new bible. One for when he gets older, but it has his baptism date in it, so that is really neat.

We came home after a great church day and had mashed potatoes and chicken noodles and a special chocolate cake in celebration of Nathaniel . It was such a good day.

I now get to prepare for my upcoming trip to Oregon to see my niece. I am so excited. The kids will get the weekend with their daddy, which they are thrilled about.

Chris is still having issues at work, so continue to pray for him. Other than that, just counting a lot of blessings in my life right now!!!

Thats about it. I am going to eat supper now, but I wanted to get picts up for those of you who would be looking for them. :-) All our love!!

What a week!!

Well, it has been a good week! I'll start with where I left off. Monday we went to the dentist and Nathaniel had good report. He was in the chair for less than 10 minutes, it seems. As for Hannah, she has had this one front tooth that was chipped and developed a little bump in front of it. It never bothered her, but the dentist said it was an infection that might affect her new tooth, so they removed it. She didn't cry or anything and now she has this cute little lisp. I will post pictures when I get our computer a little more under control. Apparently I have so many pictures on here that the memory is full. :-) So I will be burning cd's like a maniac this month along with the other things going on!!
Tuesday I went into town to get kids their winter clothes and groceries. I found all kind of good deals and came home with a whole lot of great warm shirts and pants for the kids. I even got winter coats for everyone and came in under $100!!! Wednesday my friend Megan came over and we studying the integrity of God's word. It was nice to visit with her. Then Awana was that night and that was a blast too!!! Thursday and Friday I subbed for 3rd grade. Wow!! It was so much fun. Made me seriously think about finishing off my degree and becoming a teacher. :-)Friday night we went to the Bridge creek home football game. What an awesome game!! I LOVE FOOTBALL!! It was one of those games where one team was up, and then the other team was up. Lots of interceptions and fumbles and 80 yard runs and 40 yard field goal kicks. In the end, in the last 2 minutes, we won!!! We played washington, which is the number 1 team in our district, so.....:-)
Saturday the kids and I went into town to go by the bank and drop off my sub check and we played at the park all afternoon!! We came home with a papa murphys pizza and watched a movie!!
Then to finish off with yesterday. Our church had a ministry fair and so sunday school classes were cancelled so that everyone could go and look at the booths. the kids came with us to church and it was an interesting service. Hannah was sitting by me and making me NUTS!!!! She was continually rubbing on me like a cat and she even spilled grape juice on me during communion. Everytime I tried to sing out to the Lord, she did something to distract me and I was getting pretty annoyed!! Meanwhile, on the other end of the Crosswhite family, God was moving in Nathaniel and Chris' heart. Chris said he couldn't sing because the sound of Nathaniel truly raising his voice in praise to God made him cry. Nathaniel was asking him, when can I go down. God wants me to go down. So, at the end of the service, he and Chris went forward, saying that he wants to get baptized. We are planning that for this coming Sunday.
I didn't really fully get to hear what happened till I was tucking him in last night and I apologized for my attitude and Hannah's rudeness. He said, "well, thats ok mom. it was wierd coming home because usually home feels like home, but today, I just wanted to go back to church and feel that again. do you know what I mean? that feeling in church was the goodest feeling i have ever felt. wouldn't it be cool mom, if we could have church every day, not just on sundays.". I smiled. He knows what it was like to be at the feet of God. Yesterday for the first time, he was in the throne room of God and understood. I replied, "buddy, that is what every christian thinks. It is hard to go back to the real world, but God wants us to go out and let people know that the best feeling you will ever have is being in his family and experiencing his presence. It is your job to show that to the other 2nd graders. it is daddy's job to show that to people in norman at lowes. But the great thing we can look forward to is that heaven will be a big great church service that will never end. " He smiled and was really glad about that and said, "well, then I want a really springy pair of shoes so I can go their now. " We smiled and I tucked him in and thanked God that Chris was able to experience that with Nathaniel. All the other things that God has done in his heart, Chris has been at work.
So, next sunday, at 10:45ish, Chris will baptize Nathaniel. The church records special events like that, so we will have a copy, if anyone wants one.!!
Anyways, this week is looking to be that I will clean up the house for whoever is coming this weekend for our big event. Nathaniel wants to play Upward basketball, so that signup is tonight at first baptist church. Tomorrow my friend Megan will be back. Wednesday is Awana. Thursday Chris is off so we are headed in to visit with Bruce and help out at the church. Friday is Hannah's field trip and sunday is the baptism.
I am so thankful that God moves. And in the life of my son is a true blessing. He is special and for him to be going through this is just really amazing!!