Carrie's Favorites of 2007

When looking back at our calendar for 2007, it was really hard to pick what my favorite things were but I think I have narrowed it down to...

Disneyland: Chris and I went to Disneyland for 3 days in January. It was so pretty because it was still decorated for Christmas and the weather was warm. We had a great time! I even went on a loopty-loop roller coaster. Although if the 8-year-old in front of us in line hadn't said it was "so fun" I probably wouldn't have gone.

Homeschool Co-op: We had another great year of co-op this year. In the spring I co-taught a Lewis and Clark/Oregon trail class with a friend, and also a class called "Growing Up Where Jesus Lived". In the fall I taught the same classes as last fall (Medieval history and Science for Fun) and enjoyed it just as much the second time around.The boys like it as well and we especially enjoy all the friends we have made there!

Newfoundlands came to visit our Lewis and Clark class

field trip to Fort Clatsop

Growing Up Where Jesus Lived display

Medieval feast

Mom's Craft Day: Last fall, my friend Deborah decided to host a monthly gathering for homeschooling moms to come and work on craft projects. We have it on the first Saturday of each month at our church. I love it and look forward to it every month. I have been able to finish a lot of projects thanks to having a day that I can work uninterrupted (well, except for all the chatting). :o)

Crafts: Speaking of craft day... this year I have made some of my favorite quilts and started a new hobby as well. My friend Emily Davis inspired me to try making purses and I love it! I still get to use some of those fabrics that I really like and it takes a lot less time than a quilt.

I also had fun teaching my friend Susie to quilt this year, too. Now that she got a new sewing machine, we will have lots of projects we can try together!

my favorite quilt

JD's Noah's Ark quilt

my first purse

trying out beads

Annual Convention: I loved going to convention this year because I got to go, but wasn't a delegate. That meant I got to spend more time visiting with friends. It was so fun just to catch up with people that I hadn't seen in so long! I was also excited because they had a last-minute session just for us pastors' wives that was really great, too! The fellowship was AWESOME and I know that God used it to help me get through the summer craziness that was about to begin...

Block Party and VBS: This summer was our second annual Community Block Party followed by a week of VBS. I was especially blessed this summer because I had a wonderful team to work with and Renee took over as VBS director. Yeah! It is amazing how much smoother things go when you have done them before. We had much better turn outs and saw lots of new faces at both our Block Party and at VBS. We were also very blessed by a team of youth from Marysville who came and helped out again this year with all the canvassing and at the Block Party.

my 4th-6th grade class of SonForce Kids agents

despite the forecast, it didn't rain on our Block Party (PTL)

New windows: We got our new windows in this summer! Now I can sit on the living room couch without feeling like I am actually sitting outdoors! Thanks so much to Chris, Zack and Walt for all the work they did!

Olympic Penninsula: I have never been to the rainforest before so when we thought about where to go on our vacation this summer we chose the Olympic National Park. We picked up Chris' mom, rented a cabin and spend a lovely weekend (but not long enough) exploring the park. I can't wait to go back again!

swimming in the Sol Duc river near our cabin - it was SO COLD!!!

Women's Retreat: This fall our church helped, along with the church in Portland, to put on the PNW district's Women's Retreat. It was lots of work but God answered our prayers in ways we couldn't have imagined. It was very powerful and God really spoke to us all through our speakers and through our fellowship. It really helped me to see what kind of woman God is shaping me to be.

Harvest Party: We also had our 2nd annual Harvest Party this fall. We had lots of games, candy, food, a Bible lesson, a pumpkin carving contest, trunk-r-treating and fun! Lots of families from the neighborhood came this year, which was a real encouragment for us. We even had one of the families come to worship service on Sunday! Pray that God would use this contact as a way to reach out to families in our community.


JD's baptism: Being asked to be our friends' son's godparents was a real honor and highlight of my year. It is such a privilege to be part of JD's spiritual growth. We look forward to what God will have for him in the future.

Family and friends: This year I have been especially blessed by being close to family and friends. It is so fun to be able to watch Maggie and Charlie (my niece and nephew) grow up, have family parties and get-togethers, have supper after soccer with the McMurrys, having coffee or crafting with girlfriends. But most of all, it has been a pleasure watching to see what the Lord has been doing in the lives of Zack, Andy and Will. They are growing into wonderful young men!

I thank God for all the people He has brought around me to bring such joy into our lives.

Psalm 37:3-7a: This verse was the theme of our Women's Retreat and it has been very meaningful for me in 2007.

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him...