Just 2 days until we board a plane for our homeland, the beatiful state of cornfields, Dairy Queens and small towns. I feel like I have about 100 things on my To-Do list before I leave, so I'm hoping that I don't have a mental breakdown. More than that, I'm hoping that I can truly enjoy our vacation and not worry about the million things going on when I get back. Tomorrow, I am interviewing for our Receptionist position. I have interviews every 30 minutes from 10am-3pm. Last week during our interviews for a Children & Youth Pastor, I almost feel asleep during the last one. Oops!

The weather is beautiful here in Portland today. I spent all day at a Grant Writing Workshop through the Foundation Center. I learned a lot and am super pumped to research grants now. I always feel like that after a day spent on one thing. Unfortunately, I won't be able to do anything with it until I return from vacation and after National Salvation Army Week (May 14-20). Everyone who's reading this needs to look up their local Salvation Army and see what their needs are and then try to help out, especially during National Salvation Army Week. Ok? Promise?

We've been studying the book of James in church and I'm really enjoying it. I'm finding it very relevant to what's going on in my life in a variety of areas right now. Two weeks ago, we discussed the first part of chapter 1. It says, "..when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy." It's such a hard verse to live out. Our pastor made a great point when he said, "When life doesn't go the way we want, we question God himself rather than our assumptions about Him. Hard times should make us question God but not the way we normally do. Instead of asking 'Why God?' we should ask 'What God? What can you do with this God?" Wow. I'm still thinking about this and how I can do it every day. I haven't had a difficult life compared to most and I am very thankful for that. But even the small struggles count as an opportunity for either great joy or bitterness and resentment toward God. I am trying to remember as I think about our financial situation and how overwhelmingly hopeless it appears, I am trying to remember as I wait patiently for a home and child, I am trying to remember to Pray, to ask God to use my present situation and not to let this present suffering be wasted in my life. I am trying to remember that although the perfect life by the world's standards is tempting, I have chosen the way of Jesus, therefore my life probably won't look like the world's perfect life. Sometimes I hate that and sometimes I fully embrace it. Either way, my heart is set. I pray God reminds me of it every day.

I turned 28 on Saturday and it was a good birthday. I was joined by friends at Benihana's Japanese Steakhouse and had a great time. This was the first time we had been to Benihana's and we are a little disappointed, mainly because our "asian" chef was named Raphael and didn't even throw knives! What's the deal Beni? The food was totally delictable, you just can't beat Japanese Steakhouse cuisine. Thank you to Mike, Katie, Chris, Karli, Jason and Kim for sharing my special day with me.

Dustin and the birthday girl (check out my cool balloon birthday hat. Dustin said it looked like DNA.)


















Mike and Katie Alpert




















Chris and Karli Leonardo


















Jason and Kim Seimer


















This is the awesome picture that Jason was tring to take of us. He's no photographer but let's not tell him that!

This is our front yard and the view from our new, big window. I love to look out the window. Dustin laughs at me because every time he comes out of the shower, I'm just sitting and looking out of our window. I can't tell you how nice it is to be able to look outside. The weather in Portland has been gorgeous and I just can't get enough of the blue skies and beautiful flowers.



This is our bedroom and office area. I've used my screen to hide our closet because the sloping ceiling doesn't allow the closet to have a door, and closets are very ugly without a door, so the screen is nice. This is Dustin busy on the computer. I'd like to say that he's doing homework, but let's be real, he's probably blogging. =)































This is our one big window and our living room area. We love our big window! Although we have to remind ourselves that people can see in. Oops!




































This is our dining area and kitchen. I don't know why they chose a purple wall and blue cabinets, but we make due. Notice again the sloping ceiling (which have caused many decorating challenges!) Now that everything is put in its place, we absolutely love our new home. It's still very small and challenging at times, but we are extremely thankful for it. God has been so good to us.