Shutterfly Holiday Cards!!!

The holidays are just around the corner, and I have been looking forward to designing our photo Christmas cards on Shutterfly this year! Shutterfly is a wonderful place to order prints of your photos. I have used them to order prints and a fabulous photo book for our anniversary. I also loved receiving baby announcements, wedding invitations, and gifts from Shutterly. They are so personal and meaningful! Shutterfly also has tons of great gift ideas for the holidays! Here are some of the products I like:

I could add several of our new fall pictures and it says Merry Christmas! You can find this card here.

I also love this card. It is folded, so you can write a personal message inside. You can find this care here.

This is a great card to capture one great photo of the family. You can find this card here.

Shutterfly also offers more than Christmas cards. You can also find wonderful calendars, photo books, and wall art.

If you are a Blogger, you can get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly!!! Just follow this link to find out how...http://bit.ly/sfly2010 .

OK, OK....It's Been Forever, But I'm Making New Posts!!!

I know it has been WAY TOO LONG, but I want to catch everyone up on our lives the past six months. Bear with me, I promise posts to come!!!

Time For A Change

Those of you who have visited our home in the past three years have read, loved-on, and contributed to our trusty chalkboard hanging in our entry way. Although it looks like a middle school student's notebook, I have never come around to erasing it! You see, there have been several events and special memories that have taken place over the last three years, and this chalkboard stands as a representation of them. I know I am sounding SO cheesy, but it's true! Everything from Blazer victories, family visits, inside jokes, and graduating college is documented on this board! With all of this said, I think it is time I use the chalkboard for practical purposes again. Even though the records will be wiped clean from the slate, I will forever have them in my memory (or a picture for that matter)! :)

Gorgeous Day For A Hike!

Oregon boasted in its first, official "best day of the year" on Saturday! Yes, that's right, a welcoming 85ºF! My dear friend Amy and I already had plans to get together on Saturday, but once we heard of the delightful forecast, we packed a picnic, filled our CamelBaks, and set out for a hike to the top of Multnomah Falls. This gorgeous waterfall overlooks the Columbia River and is the 4th tallest waterfall in the U.S. Even though Multnomah Falls is so close to our home, I never cease to bask in its beauty!


You can't tell in the picture below, but we were being drenched with spray from the falls! Usually this would be a nuisance, but it felt so good on this sunny day!


Amy and I veered off the noted trail a bit and found this beautiful sight right before the drop-off!




Here we are at the top of Multnomah Falls! Look at that view of the Columbia River! What a beautiful day in a beautiful state with a beautiful friend...all knit together by a beautiful God!

The Oregon Zoo

My parents gifted Ivan and me with a zoo membership for our anniversary, and we were ecstatic!!! We both love to visit the zoo, and it is a perfect free date!:) Thanks, Mom and Dad! Evan, Cori, and Brody were also gifted a zoo membership for their anniversary, so we picked a date, packed a picnic, and headed to the zoo on a sun-filled day! This visit to the zoo was extra special, because it was Brody's first time seeing so many animals. However, I don't know if he had more fun looking at the exotic animals, or all the lovely individuals spending the day there! :)

I am having so much fun at the zoo!!! Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa!

What a great family picture! Brody was having lots of fun with Mama's hair too! :)

What a day! I loved the zoo! Can we come back, please?!

Great Mexican Food...In Oregon?

Ivan and I have been trying to find a great Mexican restaurant since moving to Oregon three years ago. We were sure spoiled with delicious food while living in New Mexico and West Texas, so we have learned to enjoy some local Oregonian cuisine. However, we ever-so-often crave some Mexican food that pleases our palette. We were so excited to find that a new Mexican restaurant opened up about five minutes from our home!! We were a little apprehensive to try it due to previous experiences, but we decided to give it a go. Boy, are we glad we did! :) Although the food is not necessarily authentic, it is more of an artistic and fresh Mexican approach. If you live in the area, you really should try Agave Grill!!! You will leave very pleased!!!

I Love My Husband!

So, yesterday I came home from work to vacuumed floors, washed clothes, a cleaned out closet, and washed sheets and linens. What?! Thank you, Ivan!!!! Then, to make it better, I came home from work today to find sparkly clean dishes! :) I truly have the best husband in the world...not just because he cleans, but because he is a modern-day knight!

My dear father-in-law used a program titled Raising A Modern-Day Knight as he guided his three boys through their journeys to becoming a man. Not only was this one of the greatest gifts he could give as a father, but I am forever thankful that I now have the privilege to be married to a knight. The author of this program (Robert Lewis) states that each man should be grounded in four principles: 1. Reject passivity 2. Accept responsibility 3. Lead courageously 4. Expect the greater reward. Throughout the past eight years that I have known Ivan, these principles have only continued to become more apparent. I love the way he challenges me spiritually and leads our lives to glorify the Lord under any circumstance!

In addition to the principles, a knight accepts the code of conduct: 1. A will to obey 2. A work to do 3. A woman to love. I am so abundantly blessed to be his woman to love! I cannot even describe the life experiences, challenges, leaps of faith, and moments of bliss I have encountered the last four years of being married to my knight! Each day is so exciting, because I am not certain what the next may hold. The only thing I am certain of is that it will include my husband and our will to obey! Ivan, thank you for never ceasing to trust our Lord and Savior with EVERY aspect of life. Thank you for continuing to lead our family by accepting your code of conduct and being grounded in your manhood principles. Thank you for being my best friend, partner in Christ, and my KNIGHT! I love you so much!!! Four years already...I can't wait for 44!!! :)

Cowgirl Cookies

My friend Erica just celebrated her 24th birthday, and I had been trying to think of a creative gift for her to enjoy. Well, if you know me at all, you know that I LOVE to bake...probably too much! :) I always loved it when people gave me gifts that had to do with baking, so I thought of making a cookie mix jar. One of my favorite cookies that my mother-in-law Kris liked to make were Cowboy Cookies. Because they are soooo good, I decided to use this recipe in the cookie jar. Also, knowing I was giving the jar to a girl, I named them Cowgirl Cookies. :) I really wanted to add pink (breast cancer awareness) M&Ms to the jar to make it more girly, but I could not find them anywhere! This gift was not only fun to make, but relatively easy as well! I think it would be a great gift for several people around events and holidays as well!

Here is the recipe and instructions for creating a Cowgirl/Cowboy Cookie Jar:

Cowgirl Cookies

1 1/3 cup all purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup & leveled
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup cooking oats
3/4 cup m&ms
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 – 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Add

1 slightly beaten egg
1/2 cup butter (melted slightly in the microwave)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Use the back of a large spoon to work it all together. You may even need to use your hands to get everything incorporated.

Layer the ingredients in like this:

*You will want to start with a 1 quart smooth ball jar.

First: flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt
Second: oats
Third: m&ms
Fourth: chocolate chips
Fifth: brown sugar
Sixth: white sugar
Seventh: chopped pecans

*Be sure to pack in each layer VERY TIGHTLY! If you don't, it will be hard to fit all of the ingredients in. Also, you can add fewer M&Ms, chocolate chips, or nuts if needed.

To Finish

Add a 6"X6" piece of fabric on top of the jar and tie with leather lace. Then add a "Cowgirl Cookies" label on the front. Be sure to also add the mixing and baking instructions. Enjoy!

Lately

OK, it has been way too long since I updated you on the Godwin happenings, so here is a condensed post of about the past three months of our lives.

The picture above was taken at the beautiful Cannon Beach!!! Ivan and I both had a Monday off in April, and we had been anxious to take a small getaway. Well, living in Oregon makes it extremely possible to take a day-long getaway, so we jumped in our car and headed for the beach. However, Cannon Beach is very sentimental to us, because we enjoyed several days here on our honeymoon! :) Every time we come back for a visit, we are reminded of the beginning of our journey as a married couple!

We decided to eat at a famous pizzeria, Pizza a' fetta! The pizza was AMAZING, and it is ranked one of the top 50 pizza joints in the nation! If you ever travel this way, this is a place you must visit for sure! After lunch, we took a nice, long stroll on the beach. I am taken back by the Lord's beauty every time I set foot on sand and hear waves!! After our stroll, we of course had to head to Bella's Cafe to warm up with a latte...even though it was April, the beach was still somewhat cold! We then walked through the charming town, struck up conversations with strangers, and headed home. Overall, a great day to spend together! :)


Ivan surprised me by taking me to see Michael Buble in concert!!! We both enjoy Jazz music, especially Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Michael Buble!!! We had a great time...great seats too! :) Thanks, Ivan!

I was able to travel to Lubbock for Spring Break, and it was the first time I was able to see Isaac awake since the accident! First of all, what a miracle it was witnessing the hand of God! We are forever thankful for HIS faithfulness and glory! During my visit, I saw Isaac and Kristi (Isaac's beautiful girlfriend) interact together for the first time! That was a blessing in itself. You see, Kristi has been by Isaac's side since the accident, and we all waited for the day we could see them talk, pray, and love each other together. In the Lord's perfect time, we did! Praise the Lord! Kristi's mother and sister, Megan were also visiting during Spring Break, so I was able to meet them as well. What a beautiful family the Dormaier's are! Thank you for your love, prayers, and support! Here are a few photos from the trip:

Isaac and Kristi!

Isaac and my dear mother-in-law, Kris! :)

One of my favorite photos...Hannah Banana and Isaac

Niece Elizabeth, Hannah, and Isaac

The Godwin Gals! :)

Isn't Elizabeth precious?! She just keeps getting cuter by the minute!

As told in a earlier post, my Grandma June passed away in February. This was extremely hard on our family, but we were so thankful that most of us could be together to attend the celebration of her life. My Great Aunt Vera was also celebrating her 92nd birthday that week, so we were able to stay for that celebration as well! Here are some photos of that trip:

Mom and Vera!

Me, Vera, and my sister, Paige!

Brody was happy to see Aunt Vera too! :)

Paige and Vera! Isn't she tiny!

Most of you know I graduated in December with my Teaching License. For now, I am subbing in the Tigard-Tualatin School District and loving it. However, I am praying that I can find full-time work this coming fall!!! My dear friend, Amy recently graduated as well, so we spend our time preparing our resumes and cover letters for job fairs and applications. Here are some photos of us working away at Coffee Cottage! This is a local favorite, where their scones may be just as good as their coffee! :)

Amy Jo Widmer (Cho)

We are so excited to be teachers!!!!

Lastly, here is a picture of Ivan and me from Grandma June's funeral. The sun was out, friends and family came to celebrate, and the Lord was gracious. Thank you, Jesus, for you never-ending love, forgiveness, and truth!

GUESS WHAT...

I am working on a new blog post...if anyone is even still checking. Yep, it's about time I update this thing!!!

SO LONG...

Okay, first of all, I realize it has been a CENTURY since I last updated my blog!!!! However, I feel that I have a few valid reasons to excuse the lack of life-sharing with you.

First off, my grandmother passed away at the end of January. Although she has been battling Alzheimer's for over five years, her death brought much sorrow and hardship on the family. As our family gathered together in Roseburg, OR, we marveled in the monumental memories we shared in that town...and even in my grandmother's home. She was a spectacular homemaker! Every room in the house was spotless, and she was usually brewing something yummy in kitchen. I specifically remember her making me a Barbie birthday cake for my 12th birthday - what a special memory! The morning of her funeral was filled with sunshine and warmth (unusual for a February day in Oregon), and we were reminded of the Lord's faithfulness and blessing over her celebration of life. We will miss you dearly, Grandma June!

Only a week and a half after my grandmother's funeral, Ivan received a call informing us that Hannah and Isaac had been in a serious car accident in Clovis, NM. As Ivan and I anxiously waited by the pone to receive updates of their conditions, we learned that Isaac was in critical condition and was being airlifted to Lubbock, TX. The minute we heard the news, we jumped on the internet and began searching for flights. My parents blessed us by paying for our tickets to travel to Texas, and we left the next morning. Thanks Mom and Dad! :) Ivan and I were flying on Valentine's Day, so there were several couples in the airport leaving for a special getaway. However, Ivan and I only had two things on our minds...prayer and Isaac. We finally arrived in Lubbock that evening and were welcomed by familiar friends and family with open arms. I don't think anything could have prepared us for that night, but at the same time, I have never seen the Body of Christ come together in such a touching and gratifying way. Ivan and I were able to be with the family for a week and a half praising Jesus for Hannah's recovery, as well as Isaac's small steps towards recovery. The whole family definitely experienced overwhelming roller-coasters of emotion, but we held our hope in the Lord and continued to rely on his steadfast love!

We returned to Oregon the end of February and found out March 1st that Isaac woke up from his coma!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!! Since that time, we have been experiencing God's never-ending love through the tremendous amounts of progress and strength the Lord has granted Isaac! Not only have Isaac's music abilities been restored, but his faith continues to prevail. I am very excited to visit him again next week, and I will be sure to continue updating his progress. For current updates and praises, you can visit: www.isaacgodwin.com.

For now, Ivan and I have been busy working and loving married life with NO SCHOOL! Ivan continues to work for Providence Health Systems in the Data Center while he searches for a career that better utilizes his degree. I have been subbing for the Tigard-Tualatin School District, and I absolutely love it! Sure, subbing is not my ideal career, but I still get to teach children and experience their immense learning everyday! :) I have made more connections with Principals throughout the district and things are looking up for finding a full-time job in the fall! Sorry about the very delayed and quite lengthy post...I will do my best to update the blog more frequently!

A Day with B-R-O-D-Y

Ivan and I had the pleasure of spending the entire day on Sunday hanging out with our nephew, Brody...hard, right? :) Cori worked Saturday night, and Evan was studying hard for a physics and chemistry exam, so we took the little babe with us! Ivan decided to surprise me by taking me to Noah's Bagels (the best bagel store!!!) for a yummy lunch. Then, we had a free coupon for coffee at Starbucks, so we took a little walk to redeem our freshly brewed coffee. We still feel awkward being able to attend church and Life Group on Sundays with NO HOMEWORK!!! We are definitely enjoying this time while we can!


While at Starbucks, a lady was admiring Brody and said, "What a beautiful baby you have there. Good job you two!" As we were explaining to her that he is our nephew, we started laughing and the lady just continued to walk out the door. Well, good job Evan and Cori!!!! We think he is beautiful as well! :)

After coming home, we were able to play with Brody some! He is starting to smile and coo so much, and it makes my heart smile! He also discovered hair yesterday, which was fun but somewhat painful at the same time! I love watching him grow and learn everyday! The picture below is his reaction to me singing the B-R-O-D-Y song to him (the same as the B-I-N-G-O song, but with his name). Cori taught me that song last month, so I sing it to him every time I see him!

Brody loves to talk and stare at his light toys as well!

Ivan looks great holding his first nephew, don't you think?! We had so much fun yesterday, and we were truly reminded of how blessed we are! We became and aunt and uncle to our first niece and nephew all within one month! What a blessing!!! We look forward to more special moments with our nieces and nephews in the future!

A Taste of the South

Every now-and-then Ivan and I have a craving for a southern treat. When we lived in Lubbock, we loved to go to Sonic during happy hour for a quick and cheap drink. We loved that you could add any flavor to your drink and customize it to your personal liking. However, we quickly realized that Sonic is unique to the Southern states...most people in Oregon have never heard of it! You can imagine how excited Ivan and I were when we heard the rumor that a Sonic was being built 5 miles from our home!!! Now when we feel the craving, we can take a little drive and indulge in a Vanilla Cream Dr. Pepper!

The funny part is that the people working here have no idea what a Vanilla Cream Dr. Pepper is! They always ask us if we want coffee creamer to add to our drinks. HA! Now we just ask for a Vanilla Dr. Pepper with coffee cream...we get some confused remarks and looks, but it tastes good! There is still nothing like a New Mexico or Texas Sonic, but we reminisce our fun memories of dating and first being married while there!

Go ahead, get one today...a Vanilla Cream Dr. Pepper!!!