Beauty

Terran took both these photos

The Wilderness

On a hike we saw a gorgeous herd of Elk. It had several bulls and a couple of calves with their moms. I like this one the best. It shows how cute the calf is.

Dogs are like toddlers and are very difficult to capture in good photos together, because they are always moving. We got several great dog photos this trip. I am thrilled! Here's a very cute one.

The hills are alive with the Sound of Music

King and Queen of the Mountain. Kojo and Kaia are obsessed with climbing any rock formation and standing at the top. I think Terran and I are to blame, because we are always hiking and taking them with us, even when we have to lift them up little cliffs and such to make the summit.

Home Sweet Home

Finally, a really good smore made with the toaster oven. The ones roasted over the fire didn't turn out to well.

There's no place like home to get a good sleep

Kaitlyn

THE TWO DAD'S

Happy Father's Day !!!!!!!

Washington

Finally, here they are, pictures from Olympia of the World Class Hansen Family and One Goodwin. I am proud of myself, because I figured out how to retrieve the pictures myself. I am quite dense about the computer and any step forward is reason to celebrate. Though when Picasa decides to boycott a couple of adorable pictures by not letting me post them the celebration wanes slightly.

Enjoy,
Naomi

We spent a day at the beach having a blast and
freezing.

Auntie Naomi and Kaitlyn

I love this picture of Salome and Kaitlyn

My brother Tim and Kaitlyn feeding the birds.

My Mom Spoiled me rotten by taking me to dinner at the
Space Needle in Seattle. We had the most beautiful day with
nary a cloud in the sky and good company.

The Space Needle. We are dinner
at the very top. The elevator has windows
all around it making the ride up
is a little nerve racking

My Mom put together a lovely tea party for just the Girls. It
was quite fun to dress up, eat little sandwiches, and drink tea
together.

Nisqually, a beautiful wet lands area that I have walked since
I was a little girl. While walking with my brothers Mt. Rainier
showed us her face.

STILL ALIVE AND KICKING

A month!!! Has it really been a month since I last wrote? I can't really claim the little up date about me visiting my fam was REAL post either, so I will be harsh on myself and admit to longer than a month. Oh, the shame, oh the shame. I have had such high hopes about staying on top of blogging of being a once a weeker or at least a twice a monther. The latter is a little more realistic. Especially for this time of year. :) But that does not seem to be happening. Today I am claiming as a new begining, a clean slate and from this moment forward I will blog (Hmm....we'll see). I love high hopes for the future.

I took many wonderful pictures in Washington that I am longing to share, but can't find where my darling husband put them on the computer. So, I'm afraid that you (if there are any readers left) will have to wait a little longer.

This again is going to be short. I need to head to bed soon and want to have time to read everyones blogs. :)

Catching up in cyber world,

Naomi

Great Northwest

Just a short note to let everyone know that I am enjoying the cool spring weather of Olympia, WA with my wonderful family. I am here to spend a week with my parents, siblings, and niece. Lucky me! Can't wait to share pictures and stories.

Naomi

WEEKEND DOINGS

WALKED THE DOGS SUNDAY AFTER CHURCH

HAD TO DELAY WORKING ON OUR FENCE, BECAUSE OF TEMPERAMENTAL WEATHER

HAD A DELIGHTFUL COFFEE DATE WITH TERRAN'S SISTER TAMARA AND HER HUSBAND MARK

CLIMBED AT THE CLIMBING GYM WITH TRINITY TILL OUR ARMS WOULDN'T HOLD US ANY MORE.

TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE V-TECH SHOOTING

PICKED BURRS OUT OF KAIA'S HAIR FROM OUR WALK

WENT GROCERY SHOPPING, WE HAD NO MILK AND NO CEREAL

ATE A GREAT HAM AND POTATO CASSEROLE SUNDAY

HAD LUNCH WITH AN OLD FRIEND

ATE A YUMMY ICECREAM CONE FROM A LOCAL DAIRY AND DRANK A PINT FROM A LOCAL BREWERY (NOT AT THE SAME TIME)

Naomi

Spring Bursting Forth

My flower garden has erupted in color and beauty

Off Those Sweets

Last Wednesday while at work eating lunch Micah and I were talking about what kind of cake I would make and she would help decorate for her Mom’s birthday this week. Micah, being 3, loves secret surprises and to help in the kitchen, especially decorating. We decided on chocolate ,it being her favorite and thankfully her Mom’s favorite. I off-handedly asked if her Dad also liked chocolate.

While finishing her macaroni Micah answered, "Well, he's off sweets." I looked up at her thinking I must have misunderstood, "He's off sweets?" I asked.Micah, with a little shrug, "Uh-huh, he's playing Lent."

I laughed all the way home over her answer and her understanding of her dad fasting sweets for Lent.

Naomi

Fun In The Snow

This is Bubble Eyes, the Dinosaur. We took Trinity for a last sled trip this weekend and ended up snow sculping. It was quite fun and a great thing to do together.

The sculptures. We were quite proud of our creatation when finished.

The dino got Trinity. Poor Guy!

Terran and Trinity, my brave protectors

Not only is the dinosaur cool to look at, it also makes a good cover for throwing snowballs.

Scenes from our hike this weekend. The cabin
was really cool; it had an old castiron stove in
it and a book for people to sign. We've never seen
Kojo lay in the water before to cool off. He was hot,
hot, hot.

His Faithful Answer

Do you ever wonder when to move or when to stay put? I do, especially when it comes to the things of the Lord.
I don't want to look back on life and say that I missed many things that were from God, whether they be good deeds or experiences that He desired to give me. I know in reality that I will miss things, but I don't want to miss the majority of things, the bulk that is offered throughout the years.

What makes me worry about missing them is that I am a sitter, a waiter until a feeling deep down says that the time is right, that now is the moment; even then I question, testing the waters. That trait good or bad goes against a lot of the world today that pushes, even in the church, for constant movement, full involment, always on to the next thing. The thought of that just wears me out, makes me want to run and hide.

Yesterday a conversation with Anne, the mom of the kids I care for, got me wondering if Terran and I should be moving in some different areas of our life instead of staying where we are at. I started asking the Lord are we missing your timing, are we where you want us, or should we be on the go, pushing forward. God is so faithful to give us exactly what we need when we seek Him. This morning during my devotional time, I read a few little entries of a book by Amy Carmichael , a missionary to India during the 1900's, that I have been reading along with my Bible.

16. Knowing Only to Follow
His thoughts said, "How can I know that it is the time to move?"
His Father said, "And it shall be when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle. Thou shalt certainly hear that sound. There will be a quiet sense of sureness and a sense of peace."
The son said, "If another also heard that sound it would be easier."
His Father said, "That may not always be. The sound of going is like the voice of the shepherd that the sheep know, but how they know they could not tell, knowing only to follow."

17. The Token
The son said, "But how can I be sure?"
His Father said, " When He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him; for they know His Voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers. Therein lies the token. Thou wilt recognize the Voice of the Shepherd. The voice of the stranger will be nothing to thee."

19. Not of Double Heart
But the son still wondered what he should do if he did not hear a Voice directing him, till he came to understand that, as he waited, his Father would work and would so shape the events of common life that they would become indications of His will. He was shown also that they would be in accord with some word of Scripture which would be laid upon his heart.This scripture in the light of these events, and these events in light of that scripture, would work together under the hand of his Father, and point in the direction. And as he followed step by step, the way would open before him. Only he was warned to be careful that his eye be single. He must be like David's soldiers, who were not of double heart.

His Thoughts Said... His Father Said...
Amy Carmichael, 1941

These writings spoke directly to me right where I'm at, giving peace and answers. Letting me know that it is okay to wait till the push in the spirit comes and questions aren't bad, to keep asking till the answer and direction are before me. I also am thankful that this is one of those times when the Lord spoke clearly, not leaving any room for questions.

In His Faithfulness,

Naomi

Yummy!!

PHENOMENAL CHICKEN SOUP

A friend of mine has raved about this chicken soup recipe that we recieved at a Taste of Home conference we went to about a year ago. She calls a lot of recipes "phenomenal", so I put it on the back burner and didn't try it out till recently. It is phenomenal!!!! It's the perfect meal for Spring I think, because it's warm and filling while giving you a taste of all the yummy fresh produce around the corner.

Hearty Chicken Tortilla Soup

4 corn tortillas (6 inches)
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut in to 1-inch strips
2 cans (14 oz each) chicken broth
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 cup uncooked long grain rice
1 can (11oz) while kernel corn with red and green peppers, drained
1 cup chuncky salsa
1 tablespoon chopped frest cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Cut corn tortillas into thin strips can palce on baking sheet. pary with nonstick cooking spray. Bake at 425 for 10 minutes or until golden.
Meanwhile, coat saucepan with cooking pray and heat over medium-high heat 1 minute. Add chicken and cook until no longer pink, stirrling often. Add broth, cumin, and rice. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook over low heat 20 minutes. Stir in corn, salsa, cilantro, and lime juice, heat through. Top with tortilla strips.
YIELD 6 serving

We only get 4 servings out of the soup. We like it a lot and eat a lot. :) I change a couple things when making the soup. I use a regular can of corn and add fresh chopped peppers with the rice to cook them. I also double the amount of lime juice. Both Terran and I like lime flavor. I've also been playing with the idea of adding some black beans next time I make it. It's a yummy, yummy soup with lots of room for your own tastes.

Have fun,

Naomi