It's beginning to look alot like...

Christmas!! We have gotten blasted with snow here in the Northwest over the last week or so. Here are some pictures of us attempting to enjoy the white stuff! Does Montana's red snowsuit remind you of anyone??? Perhaps Randy from "The Christmas Story"??! She couldn't move by herself either! It was pretty funny and she was a good sport in the snow suit that was too small! We are headed for Colorado tomorrow to spend Christmas with our families. Here's to a Happy Christmas!!!

Spreading some Christmas Cheer

I LOVE IT!!

Never say...

When I first moved to town I noticed a hair salon named Dumb Blonde Salon. I swore that I would NEVER go to a hair salon with that name. Then I saw the 50% off coupon in the paper for first visits. Yeah, today I went and got my haircut at the Dumb Blonde Salon.

Montana turns 1

Somewhere between family visiting, Aaron getting ordained, and Thanksgiving, our little girl turned one! She didn't do too bad for her very first birthday - 3 celebrations in all. The first party was with both sets of Grandparents and my cousin Kristin. She got new toys, a few new clothes and her aunt Emily sent her a bike of all things! The 2nd party was her actual birthday which was Thanksgiving. She had turkey with all the fixings and devoured a piece of pumpkin pie before our eyes. Our good friends Jared & Stacy and their boys and Aime were there to commemerate . Just when we thought it was all over, we joined in with Montana's friends, Ruby and Will, who were celebrating their first birthdays too. So more cake and more partying. It's exhausting turning one.

She did a great job of tearing into the multiple gifts from grandparents and aunties.

Riding (well kind of) her new bike. She loves it!!

Pumpkin Pie - YUM!

3 one-year-olds hard at play

That's reverend to you

It's official. My husband is now Reverend Aaron Walters. It sounds so formal, so grown-up. How can I possibly be married to a reverend? I never saw it coming. I thought I was marrying a history teacher. Well I guess this is the time to return to my wedding vows and remember "for better or for worse!!"
Aaron was ordained last week in a wonderful service at Bethel. Both Aaron's folks and my folks flew out for the occasion. It was so special to have them there. At the service I was reminded of the seriousness of the task before us. Aaron is now a "minister of the word." What an honor and privilege, but also a huge responsibility. He is accountable for the spiritual lives of those he ministers to. This is nothing to take lightly or take for granted. At one point my dad leaned over, and said, "This is your last chance...head for the door before it's too late!" I have to admit, I was tempted, but I stayed. I'll stand by my reverend!
There was one moment that I wish I would've taken a picture. All of the elders and pastors representing the different churches were asked to come forward and lay hands on Aaron and it was so powerful to see Aaron surrounded by so many people. This definitely symbolizes the support that we have felt particularly over the last few months. It was a powerful image and I wish I could share it with you, but we'll all have to use our imaginations.
Also, Aaron has started his own blog about his church planting journey. Check it out.

This is Aaron giving his first blessing as Reverend!

Grandma, we got a POUNDING

A few months ago my mom told me that Grandma's church used to give their pastors "poundings." This refers to large amounts of food that the congregation would leave for the pastor at the pastor's door. So my mom started joking about us getting "pounded". I didn't think this really happened anymore, but last night...we got a "pounding"!! The youth group stopped by with bags and bags of groceries - over 20 in all. Aaron was at a meeting, but I was home and boy was I surprised when I opened my door to about 12 high schoolers with a ton of food. It is from the whole church, and I am blown away. Not only was there food, but cash and a Safeway gift card (and toilet paper and kleenex which is not pictured!). I won't have to go to the store for months. Again I feel so blessed and welcomed by this community. Moral of the story: "poundings" do still happen! And if anyone needs any green beans, corn, or pasta...just stop by!

freely receive, freely give

Last Saturday Aaron and I were looking forward to an afternoon and evening of wine tasting and delicious food in Seattle with special friends who are celebrating their 30th year. We found willing friends across the border in Canada to dump Montana for the day. So we dropped her off and headed south...oh but first we had to wait at the border just to get back into the US (where we had just come from 30 minutes prior) for over 1.5 hours. By the time we crossed back into Lynden, we were starved, so we stopped to grab a coffee and sandwich. We got 2 minutes down the road and noticed that the temperature gauge in our car was past the "H" - we were definitely overheating. We turned right around and drove straight to the mechanic where our car was a few days earlier and caught them just as they had closed. The mechanic took a quick peak and suggested that we don't drive far. First reaction...huge disappointment on missing the big event in Seattle (I was so excited for an adult outing!). Second thought...well at least we didn't get far and we can leave the car at the mechanic and walk home. Third thought... HOLY CRAP - how are we going to get our daughter back into the US without our car?? Aaron thought it would be best not to drive the car and potentially damage our only car even greater and so we started thinking of people to call for help. The people that we know the best in Lynden were out of the country (like overseas - not just in Canada). So we called a local pastor here in town that we have spent some time with and asked him if we could borrow a car to pick up our daughter in Canada. He was at the mechanic's in less than 10 minutes, and we were on our way to Canada to pick up Montana. We got home that evening and ate bean quesadillas and watched a movie. I didn't want to think about the delicious wine and food our friends were partaking of in Seattle. But my final thought of the evening...we are surrounded by good people. To have a family let us borrow their car so willingly was such a blessing to us. Eventually we would have figured out a way to get Montana, but this family made it so much easier for us. They didn't hesitate to help us when we were in need. This is what it means to be a Christian - to hold our "things" loosely, to give up our time, to be available for those in need. This is the kind of Christian...the kind of human...I want to be. To freely give. Yeah, it might not seem like that "big of a deal" but to 2 people who are new to the community, who don't know who to call, and a daughter stranded in another country...it was a big deal. Thanks Jim and Nadine.