Bales & Tales

May 31, 2006

My Buddy & Me...

This is my buddy Dylan.

He loves to play with me.

We like to explore together.

Thanks for being my buddy!
Love, Mason

May 30, 2006

... has to be one of my favorite things to do.
I love the sounds & smells...
people putting up a tent and trying to figure out which pole goes where and what side the door should be on…
the camp fire crackling and songs being sung…
the bell on a child’s bike as they "parade" by…
the “clank” of the horseshoe hitting the pit…
the campfire smell in your hair...
the hotdogs roasting on sticks...
to me... the sounds and smells are everything!!

I grew up camping every summer and looked forward to my family’s adventures in the great outdoors. I think my dad always wanted to be a park ranger… so no matter where we were or who was with us... we got the “full effect”.

Well, I’ve started the tradition with Mason and I can tell you that after our first camping trip - he’s already loving every second of it. We had an awesome time this weekend with our friends the Ledfords at Emigrant Springs near Meacham. It is a fabulous campground, has warm showers (free), lots of great trails to walk on, and it’s not too far from home. The sights and sounds were thrilling for Mason and he loved being able to “stomp” through the mud puddles (it poured down buckets and buckets of rain the first day). We also had our first “mushroom hunting” experience – so amazing to hike through acres of forest and see the beauty God has created...in all directions – not much luck with the mushrooms… oh well, the hike was worth every second.
My little explorer/camper loved the great outdoors and I’m so glad he’s excited to carry on with my camping “traditions” my parents started with me– whether he knows it or not, he’s in for some Awesome Adventures!

Here are a few photos... wish I could share them all...

May 26, 2006

Thoughts

Journaling is something that I’ve always loved to do, but to be honest with you I haven’t had nearly as much time to sit and reflect since marrying my wonderful farmer/cattleman. I don’t really know why I haven’t been as good about it because there is sooooo much more to journal about and I’m sure that our “stories” would be best-sellers in a publication about the “funny farm.” When I considered starting this blog, I thought it would be a great way to journal about Mason with family and friends and to keep them updated on Ian (since he never leaves this place – and yes he is alive and well). Not everything that happens is what I would call blog material, but then again… what is blog material?? Some days I definitely feel like there isn’t much to share, and other days I feel like I have to post 2 or 3 times to tell about everything. This has been an awesome tool for me to share my heart and our lives. I have no idea who actually reads my “journaling” and I wish there was a way to know that I’m not the only one who reads it at least 3 times a day…(pathetic)!
I think I finally came to grips with the reasoning behind this journal/blogging last night as I was reading my just give me a little piece of quiet book. It was talking about photo-happy moms (which I am one of… even with other people’s kids) and how you almost look for crazy things/situations for the “perfect picture” opportunity. I laughed to myself because just a short while ago Mason was running around and fell, and instead of rushing to him, I grabbed the camera because of how “great” the picture would be for his scrapbook. Ian couldn’t believe how “cruel” I was… I wasn’t thinking it was cruel at all – just a memory captured on film!
As I thought about my “picture taking” and how much I love my new camera (happy birthday to me … just a little early – from family and friends) because I can capture those moments even faster, I was challenged with thinking of photographing and journaling in a whole new way. I take pictures and write to show what great things the Lord is doing in our lives. He is always present and at work… at all times! I try to capture the moments that I feel Him at work… and even the times when I wonder where in the world He is…for me, it’s sharing my testimony… it’s capturing the sweetness of the moments my life is made of!
I know that I won’t be able to capture all the encounters my family will have with God in a picture, but when I don’t capture the scene, the smile, the tear, the beauty… LIFE… I can still write about it.
The purpose of this blog… well, it’s to record the stories of our life in picture and word… so that whoever “stumbles” upon it can be blessed and uplifted. The quote I loved in the book… “If acid free scrapbook pages stand the test of time, our scrapbooks will stand as alters, testimonies to God’s faithfulness in meeting our needs – and meeting us.”
For me… this spoke in huge volumes that my blog is a testimony, it’s sharing my faith, it’s living and knowing that God is present and with me at all times, and it’s capturing each moment for future generations!

Deuteronomy 11:18, 20
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds…Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

So, read on friends… and comment if you want – but most importantly enjoy life and live it!

** Karen… the magazine I was talking about the other day is called Lily **

** Brenna - I love that you started a blog!**

pictures from the park!

May 24, 2006

Sick

Went to the park yesterday with Bess & Jacob - so much fun! (forgot my memory card with the pictures - will post later)
Stopped by school - he loves the "big" kids and all the books in mommy's library!
Got home and realized that Mason was burning up... what kind of mom am I??... needless to say we spent the afternoon sitting & reading, sleeping and drinking lots of water & juice.
I think once he "threw-up" everything I had tried to shove down yesterday, he finally felt better... today he is with Mimzy-Grandma Murdock, hopefully feeling 100% by the time I get home.
Thanks Mimzy - hope you survived and want to come back soon!

May 22, 2006

Lily

So I found this awesome magazine as I was checking out of Bi-Mart a few weeks ago... read through it as soon as I got home and then forgot about it. Mason found it under the couch (wonder how it got there) the other day and I decided to read through it again. It is a new publication with an emphasis on "beautiful living through faith" - love that! It has great pictures, fantastic scriptures, meaningful quotes and easy, yet creative ideas for every-day living - love that even more! Just want to share a few things I liked:

"The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation."

- Corrie ten Boom

"I can complain because rosebushes have thorns...

or rejoice because the thornbush has a rose."

- anonymous

Visit an elderly friend. Share flowers from your garden.

"It's only forgetting yourself that you draw near to God."

- Henry David Thoreau

there was a great section on "blessings" that I really liked...

TIME TO NURTURE

Turn off the telephones, televisions,

computers, video games, and radios,

and connect with the people who are

most important in your life.

Use this time to listen and to offer

comfort, encouragement, wisdom,

and direction.

"Find value in unhurried living, simple acts of kindness, and the little things in life that show God's love for you."

This is my new life motto - maybe it has been for some time... all I know is that right NOW I really want it to be what people see in me... unhurried, simple & showing God's love! (the unhurried part may be hard... but I'm going to try)

so... if you get a chance, check out this awesome magazine!

Learn to enjoy every minute of your life.

Be happy now. Don't wait for something

outside of yourself to make you happy in the future.

Think how really precious is the time you have to spend,

whether it's at work or with your family.

Every minute should be enjoyed and savored.

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

- I Corinthians 10:31

Pole, Pedal, Paddle

Spent the weekend in Central Oregon - love it there and so blessed to have spent my childhood there - such a great place to grow up!

My dad and some of the people who work/teach with him at Metolius Elementary participated in the HUGE Pole-Pedal-Paddle event this weekend - what fun it was to watch!

I don't really see myself as a participant any time soon - but I definitely think I have the competitive nature in me (like my dad) and would love the RUSH of the race... not so sure which piece of the treck I would do best at.... definitely not the downhill skiing, or the running...but, maybe the biking.
Here are a few photos I captured down by the river...