...."Though much is taken, much abides" Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Wow, what a week. Not only do we have a murder trial going on (Both sides are pretty wacked people) over 2 cows, but our office has been like walking on egg shells. I feel so bad for my co-worker, Anne. This week I have been the favored one while she has been treated horribly. Anne is such a tender hearted sweet person. And who knows, next week she might be the favored one and it will be my turn to take the heat.
My hot water heater broke down and we had a couple of days with freezing water while I debated calling an electrician. So I was at my computer googling "Hot water heater doesn't heat the water" and I layed my head down on the keyboard and said "Oh Lord, heal my hot water heater!" Then I went out to the breaker box and once again flipped the breaker. It worked this time!! Woo hoo! Thank ya Lord!
Last weekend I took Bethany and Ashley to Lagrande to get new hair do's. Ashley was driving on the way and I was in the passenger seat. So off we go up the Minam hill and there is a rock, a HUGE rock on our side of the road. So I say "Ashley, don't hit that rock." And there was silence on the other side of the car. And I know at that moment this was not going to be good. I looked over and she was concentrating so I knew she was going to try to straddle the rock rather than go around it. Silence.................Then crash, bounce crash, bounce, and she says "Do you think I hit it?"
I said "why yes, (trying to stay calm) Ashley, I think you did." and she says "What happens now?" And I reply (Still calm) "Well within 15 seconds that tire is going to go flat so prepare yourself to pull over" And it is silent again in the car as we wait...............and all we can hear is Ashley saying "I'm sorry, I'm sorry" in this little squeeky voice. Sure enough the noise of a flat comes loud and clear and we pull over, get the spare on (while Ashley is crying her eyes out) and head for LaGrande and good ole Les Schwab. All the way I am trying to reassure Ashley that this happens, it has happened to me, it is no big deal, etc. and I can't figure out why she keeps crying. So we get to Les Schwab and they put on a different tire (they had a used studded tire just my size!) and so as we wait I keep telling Ashley it is ok. What I didn't realize is that Bethany, who is the biggest tease and prankster in the world, had sort of told Ashley that a new tire would be over $1,000.00 while we were on the hill changing the tire to a spare!
Well the tire was free (gotta love those little cutie patooties at Les Scwab!) and I re-assured Ashley that it still would not have been over $1,000 even if I would have bought a new tire, and she felt better. And gave Bethany a look that would kill. Then the girls went off to get their new haircuts!
Well, then I got to worrying about my car. The rock made quite a clatter under there, in fact I originally thought the back tire went over the rock too. So two good friends took my car yesterday to a heated shop and put it up on the racks and checked it over really good to make sure there was no more damage under it. And it was fine! So woo hoo! I was so thankful for that! They also took it to Les Schwab and got air put in the other three tires. Checked my oil, said it was good for another thousand miles. So I am so thankful for good friends! These two guys are my dad's age and they are loving having a "daughter" to take care of.
So even with disasters, blessings have come along and everything is fine. Oh! but Jerry did tell me something interesting...so Wallowa County!
While he was at Les Schwab getting my tires filled with air there was a girl there that had just bought a used car from Milligan's. She was there to get winter tires put on. The boys from Les Schwab opened her trunk and there was a bomb inside it! So they call the police and they come down, the lady insists she needs her car, so the police take out the bomb and take it to the back of Les Schwab and call the bomb squad from Pendleton. Well, as it turns out, it was a practical joke. It was a cylinder looking part that was replaced and someone in the shop wrote on it "ACME Dynamite" as a joke. Good thing our police have a sense of humor.......................

AND YES, Eric does have a serious girlfriend.............................

Ashley's Band: Wake Up Jane

These are photos of Ashley band, Wake Up Jane. Ashley is the lead singer, Elliott plays that guitar looking thing, Leanna on drums, and Joella on keyboard......

Praying in a new Pastor

Justin and Davi........A pastor and his wife.....

Another Scripture Slam

The other night my brother became very sick. It was a very scary thing and I am still not sure what the whole story is. I only talked to my mom and her story was quite confusing. So I went on my Myspace and Facebook and asked for prayer. People from all over the USA were praying. I posted on my message boards. Total strangers prayed and are still praying according to their messages for continued healing. I love my brother and it was a difficult, sleepless night. I just had to wait for phone calls. But I still felt a peace when Tammy was driving him tp Tri-Cities that God was with them and that everything would be ok. God is so good, he is so faithful. So here are scriptures I am holding onto and reading these days....

Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him...Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.

But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
~ Psalm 13:5, NLT

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
~ Hebrews 4:16, NLT

The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.
~ Psalm 103:13, NLT

Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.
~ 1 Peter 5:7, NLT

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.
~ John 14:1, NLT

Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.
~ Jeremiah 33:3, NLT

I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to Him, and He answered my prayer.
~ Psalm 120:1, NLT

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
~ Proverbs 4:23, NLT

O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.
~ Psalm 62:8, NLT

"No, O people, the Lord has already told you what is good, and this is what He requires: to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
~ Micah 6:8, NLT

"Whoever pursues godliness and unfailing love will find life, godliness and honor."
~ Proverbs 21:21, NLT

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.
~ Proverbs 13:12, NLT

Voice of Democracy contest

Ashley and her classmates at the Voice of Democracy contest. Anna took first place and Ashley took 2nd for the whole county!

Silly Siblings

Such a tough week

It has been a very difficult week. Starting with church on Sunday. I went because Ashley was going to be singing a song that she wrote. But it was just so hard to have Linda F. sitting in the chair right in front of me. Yes, I admit, I did give her a look that shot arrows through her torso and heart when she looked at me. Might not be so nice of me, but trust me, that lady behaves like a whore in church and she best leave my daughter alone. using Ashley to get to Pat just makes me.......well.....the English temper does fly................
Then mom and dad came over and that was nice...settled me down a bit.
Monday started a week from hell at work. Meetings with the commissioners, an investigation, the union, oh man. It has been awful. I am not allowed to talk about any of it to anyone..(I do talk to my co-worker since she is also involved). But if it continues, my life on the job will be worse than it is now. So stomach in knots all week, lots of tantrums from the boss and lies, meetings with the upper ups, worries about my job and Annes..............
And dealing with the disasters that upset a small town. Deaths of people who have been here forever. Reports of those we love who have been diagnosed with terminal illnesses. Accidents that have claimed the lives of those who we love. Shock. Lack of Understanding. Why so much heartache in so little time? in a months time we have lost not just the old people but so many young ones. So many. And then the divorces and affairs.
So this week I have had some pretty stressful times, where I just have to take a deep breath and remember God is in control, but he won't always control. He will allow disasters and consequenses of our choices. But he is still IN control. He allows as he sees fit. He allows because He sees the bigger picture. So I just hold on for the ride and take a deep breath. Ok, sometimes I do have a screaming tantrum..........But God is good. He might be covering his ears................but he is faithful.