So grateful to God...

My Child,

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27
In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28
For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28
I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6
I have been misrepresented
by those who don't know me.
John 8:41-44
I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1
Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41
And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4
For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4
And I'll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26
He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7
I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13
I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32
Love, God

This and that...

A few recent images from the Dorr Compound. On February 24 (also Jake's birthday), we had more snow, which necessitated a snow day (YAY)! Above is Mark's tool shed, and below his pick-up truck.

In addition to leaving our newspaper that morning, our carrier, who also happens to be one of Mark's 8th-grade students, made and left this little snowman on our front porch. Very fun!

Then, last Saturday, we invited Ben and Christine over for dinner. Yes, they came (earlier than scheduled), and along with them came Sarah and Chris (SURPRISE!!!). When they came around the corner into the kitchen, I actually screamed in my surprise at seeing them. About gave me a heart attack. Of course, we LOVED having them join us (after I recovered from my shock)!

Hannah came home that night, too, which only added to the special-ness (new word) of the weekend. Always good when the baby comes home. On Sunday evening Mark and I went to Jake and Beka's house to watch Ayeresam, and Hannah came over as well on her way back to Portland. She read her sweet little nephew some books, which he always likes.

That's about it from our end!

Happy Birthday, Jake!

Our oldest son, Jake, turns 31 today. How can it be? It seems like just yesterday that he was the same size as his sweet son. Yet somehow the years have slipped by, and now Jake is an amazing husband and father. This is one of my favorite pictures from the day we spent with Jake, Beka, and Ayeresam at the pumpkin patch last fall, when Jake and Ayeresam were having a blast on the hay slide. We love you, Jake. Hope you have a wonderful birthday, full of fun and surprises, and overflowing with God's richest blessings.

More special times in Aspen...

Our visit to Aspen continues, and we are so grateful for the time we've had to enjoy visiting our granddaughter, our son David and daughter-in-law Nikki, as well as two of my (Jo's) brothers and one of my sisters and all their kids.
But what we have been soaking up is time with Adelaide. What a sweetie pie!

Mark and I gave her a bath yesterday, and had such fun watching her play with her tub toys, munch on her wash cloth, and splash to her heart's content.

This afternoon, we took her for a walk in the stroller. We went to a small nearby park, where she enjoyed the swing and the sunshine.

How will we ever leave tomorrow?

A few pictures from Aspen

We are in Basalt, Colorado (near Aspen) for a few precious days, visiting David, Nikki, and our sweet granddaughter Adelaide. Hope to connect with more family in the area as well, but reconnecting with this dear baby is the primary focus of this visit. It took Adelaide a full day to get used to us again, but all is well now.
As you can see, Basalt is still in the grip of winter. It's so beautiful out, and more snow is expected tonight. In fact, when we flew from Portland to Denver on Thursday, we couldn't fly on to Aspen, as the snow storm had necessitated the closure of the Aspen airport. We had to take a bus from Denver to reach our destination - a four-hour jaunt. Adventure time!

I was riding in the back seat with Adelaide - no better seat in the car than that!

Yesterday we went to the Basalt Library, where Adelaide crawled through the tunnel and played with other tiny friends who were also there.

After her morning bath today. Our sweet little flower baby!

Outside the library. We will be here until Tuesday evening, and will soak up every precious minute we can with this little cutie pie!

Happy Birthday, Chris

Today marks the 39th birthday of a very special young man,
our son-in-law Chris.
Happy birthday!
♥ We love you SO much! ♥
"May the Lord bless you... all the days of your life."
Psalm 128:5

My Valentine

Driving home from church yesterday, I casually asked Mark if perhaps we could take a walk in the afternoon, even if it was raining. He said,"Yes, but it won't be around here." Surprise! He had planned an early Valentine's Day outing to the coast for the afternoon, to my very favorite spot: Cape Perpetua. So off we went. The weather got progressively worse as we journeyed west, but we were undeterred. We donned our rain gear at the Cape, and hiked to the lookout point. Bliss!
This little fellow (gal?) didn't let a little rain ruin his day, either!
We enjoyed dinner at Mo's in Florence, concluding our lovely day.
I love, love, love you, Mark. So thankful to God for bringing you into my life, and into my heart. I am so blessed!
Happy Valentines Day. ♥♥