Early Christmas Gift

I have incredible friends! And, as much as I hate surprises, they still blindfolded me and drove me around in circles for a bit, just so that I wouldn't guess where we were going for my Christmas present. Finally, after Hanna almost blew it, we arrived - and I pulled off the blindfold to find we were at the Oregon Zoo!

The Zoo? Yes, the zoo. Which meant one thing. We were going to get to see Rama the elephant paint.

You heard me correctly - paint. He is Oregon's largest artist. And he is fabulous! He sprayed paint from his trunk, used a paint brush, pushed his trunk around the canvas - all to reveal that he is truly an artist.

Just look:

There are more pictures on my myspace. Feel free to peruse!

New Uses for Vacuums

I must blog about this before the season of Christmas is past. I guarantee that my sister, Dusty, does not want me to blog about this - but I must.

So - the family had just finished celebrating Rian's 3rd birthday. I was getting my things together - thinking about heading back across town to my place, when I decided that I would look to see what my sisters were doing out in the garage.

When what to my wondering ears did I hear, but the hum of my sister's vacuum so near!

The vacuum? In the garage? WHY???

Following the hose which led to the garage door, I could not believe my eyes - there they were...my sisters - vacuuming the Christmas tree! What in the world? But Dusty insisted - vacuum the tree and it will not drop as many pine needles on the floor - and you might just vacuum up some of the spiders that tend to come in with the tree sometimes.

And there they vacuumed. First - with it lying down, each branch was dutifully vacuumed - then turning and repeating the process. Then? Stand it up and vacuum it off again. It was quite a process.

I'm not sure how any needles were left on that dear Noble Fir.

It was quite a sight to behold - so I quickly documented with my trusty camera so that you could all see!

Use of humor

Many who know my mother believe that she is a laid-back, quiet woman of great, Godly strength. I would disagree with the former, but agree heartily with the later! What only a few know (mostly family) is that she can be loud, opinionated, determined, and stubborn. All of these characteristics lead to her great patience and faithfulness in God during this time of struggle against cancer.

That is why so frequently I am thrown off by her use of humor to diffuse some of my family's concern regarding her health problems. Oh the stories I could share - but they are better told in person. I will leave you with just a little hint of her style. The following excerpts are from a recent update she sent out via e-mail to family and friends regarding her latest tests and chemo

She first says:

"All in all I feel pretty good and try to see every good result as great. I praise and thank God for every good one."

Then the humor:

" I also tell Him thank you for letting me have hair for Christmas."

That's my mom!

Camp Yamhill as You've Never Seen It

Remember all of that rain we had here in the northwest last week? I'd been paying attention to the areas like Vernonia and the Oregon Coast - which all got hammered with floods. What I hadn't thought about was Camp Yamhill - I hadn't even considered the flooding there. Well here are a couple of photos...Do you recognize these areas of camp?

Campfire:

The three crosses:

Pretty amazing huh? Take a look at the website - there are more! I'm thinking there's going to be some work to do out there!

Prayer Request

I wanted to keep this story to myself (or a very limited number of people) - but only because it is easier for me. I just didn't want to deal with all of the people who will make a quick decision that my trip to Uganda should be postponed or cancelled. I am of the belief that this trip has been placed in God's hands and that He should determine the path for this mission trip and our team.

As I continue to read updates about this situation, I have realized how selfish it is for me not to tell others so that their prayers can be added to those already be placed in front of our God.

I share it now with you.

Below is an edited e-mail our Faith Quest Uganda 2008 team received yesterday from Greg Woods (our fearless leader) :

"There has been an Ebola outbreak in the Bundibugio District of Uganda, in the hill country near Karagutu. The US Center for Disease Control is already on scene. Jeff Cash has said that this should be well under control by the time we arrive. The only effect on ourFaith Quest Uganda team froom the U.S. will be a change in itinerary. Whereas the team has traveled through Karagutu in the past; we will avoid this area altogether and work with small bush churches in other areas. This disease is spread by bodily fluids like AIDS. Jeff said a person would generally have to sneeze or cough right in your face for you to contract it. A person should wear layered clothing, mask and goggles in the affected areas. Jeff is suggesting that in the next few weeks, Americans not use public transportation in Uganda as a precaution. Jeff and Cheryl's good friend Dr. Myhre, a medical missionary with World Harvest is working directly with those affected. Jeff has asked for prayers of protection for the Myhre's and those that are serving with them. Jeff feels that it does not pose any eminent danger for the work and areas we will be in, but that he will keep us posted as to any changes. He also said that if you want to learn more about Ebola you can go to the CDC website and type in Ebola."


The story regarding the ebola outbreak in this area has been posted on just a few news websites - and overall there hasn't been a lot of coverage in the U.S. I direct you to the Mhery's blog if you would like more information about the front-line work being done in this area by the Mhery's and others:

Mhery Blog

There are some very touching and personal stories on this blog, as well as pictures.

Cheryl Cash posted a request for prayer covering over this situation on her blog as well. I join her in asking for your prayers for all of those who are affected by this horrible disease.

Join me in seeking the healing power of the Great Physician.

Positive Things

Ask any high school girl who has been in my small group at church to name the FIRST thing we share each week in group. Their answer will be "positive things." This blog is dedicated to them. You see - some of them frequently find it difficult to find even one small positive thing that happened during the previous week - but eventually they find something - even if it is a something very simple or small. I write this to show that it is possible to find something positive even when the outlook over the last few days has been bleak.

Rain. It is one of my least favorite weather conditions. This thought is not new to those of you who know me. I love sunshine, snow, and even wind - but not rain. I don't necessarily think I disklike the idea of water falling from the sky - it is the gray that comes along with a rainy day.

If you have ever lived in Oregon you know that we have almost perfect summers - 3 months of beautiful moderate weather with lots of sunny days. It's the other nine months of the year where you can have frequent long stretches of a gray ceiling of clouds. You begin to wonder sometimes whether the sun will ever make a reappearance.

That's how it has felt around here the last few days. The continual days of rain have not only caused flooding but shut down virtually every route to the Oregon Coast. Here's a link to some video of the flooding and damage: Oregon Flooding. And not only that - Oregon's largest living thing, the Seaside Sitka, a giant Sitka Spruce tree was damaged and it certain to die after being on this earth for some 700 years. And - it's just been gray, gray, gray - with lots of rain - and not the nice slow kind.

I know at this point you're asking - what's positive about all of this? Let me share how I found the positive.

Last night I was meeting some friends to go see Beowulf in 3-D IMAX. We were going to meet at the Bridgeport Regal Cinemas for the 7:30 p.m. showing. Traffic was almost as bad as the weather, so I left directly from work. When I arrived at Bridgeport early enough to grab some food before the movie, I was immediately struck by how empty the shopping area seemed. I did not even have a problem finding a place to park. Then, I entered my restaurant of choice for lettuce wraps (California Pizza Kitchen) and found that there was absolutely no wait for a table! I think if you would have seen me you would have noticed when the little lightbulb went off in my brain...it was an immediate understanding of a "positive thing" about rain. Because of the rain, shoppers and eaters had all stayed away from Bridgeport - one of our local "California-style" outdoor shopping areas. I've always wondered who the genius was that thought an outdoor shopping center in Oregon was a good idea...

But last night it made for a change of brain processes - moving me from depressed and negative thinking about the rain into a slew of positive things. In the hour that I sat eating dinner, a myriad of positive things ran through my head, such as: How green everything is right now; That there are some great big puddles to drive through; That it might be raining hard enough to clean the top layer of dirt off of my truck. But it was the last thought that caught my attention the most. As I headedinto the movie theater, I had this thought: "Time to start building my own personal ark." I moved into remembering the story of Noah and the flood. And then - this scripture popped into my head:

"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledgeof a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him." I Peter 3:18 - 22

That's it. THE positive thing.

The sign.

Photo (c)2006 by Andrew Hall, PortlandBridges.com

So - it's that time of year! What time of year you ask? Time to celebrate the joys of the Christmas season. How do I know? Just look at the picture! What do you see? You see it too? The red nose? Yeah!!!

I cannot completely put into words the feeling of utter joy which soared through me a few nights ago when I was exiting I-84 West and headed onto I-5 South....and what to my wondering eyes did appear? They've changed the sign! The 'whit stag' on the Made in Oregon sign has become Rudolph! It's one of the designations that I can officially begin playing Christmas music whenever I want; that I can go shopping and no one will complain; that I can help my mom decorate her tree; that once again I can look forward to opening gifts with family.

I love Christmas.

But what I love most of all is the fact that even though the world tries to take the "Christ" out of the holiday, it's one of the few times a year that people may actually listen to the story of the Savior.

Don't argue with me that he wasn't born on December 25th...because I read a story in the Harding newspaper one time that explained it this way: If someone didn't know when my exact birthday was - I wouldn't care if they just picked a day!

That's it. They picked a day. Let's take the opportunity provided.

And even though there are so many more things I love about the Christmas season - my favorite thing will always be that I may have the chance to explain the story of 'the Christ' to someone - and they may actually take a second to listen - just because it's Christmas.

Inspired

I have many friends, and a few family members, who believe in the "blogosphere." It has become my morning habit (right before I start work) to check in on a select number of those blogs. They entertain me, they update me, and they encourage me.

So, I guess it is time to add to the world of blogs. You all needed one more to check, right? It does not bother me that no one may read it, or more likely, no one may ever comment. I just need a place to put my thoughts down sometimes.

Don't expect Pulitzer Prize literature here. It's just me -- and what Arly calls "random confusion."