Good Bye Pebbles!!!

We recently had to say goodbye to our 20 year old cat, Pebbles (she has been in my life since I was 9 years old). I "Googled" cat age conversion to human years and she would have been 96 years old if she were a human. Not a bad run at life for only seeing a veterinarian 3 times (once for a broken leg when she was a kitten, and twice in the last year). She will be dearly missed. I included some photos of Pebbles at Christmas 2007. The first is of Holly and Pebbles enjoying a glass of wine together. The second photo is of Pebbles with her catnip cat toy she got for Christmas. She chased that little fish around the house like she was a kitten. The last is of Pebbles stairing off into space (as she became accustomed to doing in her old age). Goodbye Pebbles, we love you and miss you. - RB

Memories of Our Chickens

It was about one year ago that we found an abandoned mama and baby chick by the Old Mill District and decided to take them home. Although we only had them for about 2 weeks (before we gave them to someone better-prepared for chicken children), we had many fun experiences with them. Here's Mama and Baby Bird bathing in the dirt, and a little clip of Baby Bird following me around in the backyard.

Jodi's Baby Shower

Jodi and Thomas (and the cake!)

The ladies working on their pages

Our scrapbooking efforts

Our friends Todd and Jodi from church had a little baby boy two weeks ago. Although a lot of couples find out what they're having ahead of time, Todd and Jodi wanted to be surprised, and now have little Thomas Ryan. We decided to have a baby shower for Jodi after she had her baby so we'd know if we should buy all-things-pink or all-things-blue:) So we all went to Amber's house today for the shower and had such a fun time! We had a delicious lunch, played a very fun baby-themed version of Catch Phrase, Jodi opened her gifts, and each of us designed a scrapbook page to make a little album for pictures of Thomas.

My Step-Family

Mirabai

Hope and Russ

Me and Mirabai

My step-brother Russ, my step-sister Hope and her daughter (my niece) Mirabai came up to Bend for Christmas. I hadn't seen them for a very long time, and it was great to get to spend some time with them. The last time I saw my niece, Mira, was before Robert and I got married! And in the past few years she has turned into a very lovely young lady. I remember holding her as a baby, driving her to ballet lessons when she was a toddler, and this year she's going to be a teenager - she's the same age I was when she was born!

Girl's Night

Catherine and Dana on pizza duty

Jodi (8 months pregnant with baby #2) and me

Bethany (experienced mom of 3) holding baby Chase

Chase's lovely mom, Amber

Catherine and me entertaining Chase

The women in our Tuesday night Bible Study decided to spend Friday night sans husbands while some of the men went night-skiing at Hoodoo. We baked Papa Murphy's pizzas, sat around visiting, and played a very fun game of Catch Phrase. Amber brought baby Chase (6 months) who is just about to start crawling, and we all enjoyed watching him laugh and giggle as he rolled across the floor. Robert and I continue to be amazed at what a wonderful church we have here in Bend. We are so thankful for the teaching and fellowship we've found at Grace OPC, and the friendships I have made with these women are an incredible blessing to me.