Memorial Day Camp Out 2009

We joined about 30 of Dustin's family members this weekend out on Grandpa and Grandma Johnson's property for a fun weekend of camping. We had such a good turnout of family and had a blast doing everything from a water balloon fight to riding horses, roasting marshmellows to throwing horse shoes. Thank you Grandpa and Grandma for hosting all of us. Thank you to everyone who did all the wonderful cooking - it was delicious. These are a few of the photos that we snapped during the weekend. Thanks for coming out and being so much fun!

Hiking "The Loop"

The two newest "newlywed couples"

Dustin was teaching the kiddos how to golf - they LOVED it!

The Johnson Family Bus - this thing is awesome! It has seats, beds, a bathtub.... it has everything they need for their family vacations. They brought it over for the campout, too.

Cuddling by the campfire with my hubby! =)

The Lillie Family - Justin, Tawana, Jakyla, and Moses

Horseshoe Tournament - Dustin and Kyle were victorious over Jim and Mike! Way to go boys.

Gabriela was feeding the dogs with the potato chips. We started watching her and she would let the dogs lick her fingers and then she would lick the rest....the doggie slobber and the chip crumbs! The life of a little girl!!!!!

These are for Dustin

Things Life Has Taught Me

My cousin sent me this email forward this morning and I just loved some of these little life lessons that were listed, so I've decided to post for you all to see. Enjoy!

45 Lessons Life Has Taught Me
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...
4. Your job won’t take care of you when you’re sick. Your friend and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It is OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It is OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It is never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, and then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words “In five years, will this matter?”
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Can you girls believe it's been more than 4 years since we graduated? Becca texted me today and reminded me of our "golf cart outing" at the Seward Country Club...so I wanted to find a picture that reminded me of our fun times. Wow, what great memories with the 3 of you. Love and miss you girlies!

JT is heading to STATE

We are so proud of my little brother (well he's not so little anymore) JT. He qualified as an individual for the 4A Oregon State Golf Tournament. He got some good publicity in the paper as well. Here is a little write up from the Register Guard, the Eugene Newspaper...

...The Outlaws shot 668 to finish well in front of third-place Junction City (707), which will be represented at state by individual qualifiers JT DeGroot and Brandon Nash. Travis Knight of La Pine was the third individual qualifier to state.
Pennington didn’t use the soggy weather Tuesday as an excuse, after shooting 71 in similar conditions on the same course during last week’s Marist Invitational. His efforts to finish under par were undone early when Pennington went bogey-bogey on Nos. 4 and 5.
“It was early in the round, so I figured I could get some back,” said Pennington, who had birdies on holes 14 and 16 but bogeys on 15 and 18. “And then I ran out of holes. … It wasn’t a round I was real happy with, but we won, which is good.”
Elio Keller of Sisters finished second overall at 76-81—157, followed by three Marist players: Brent Pollock at 77-83—160, Joey Souza at 82-80—162 and Marcus Wymer at 84-78—162.
Wymer’s 78 was the only other score in the 70s on Tuesday, along with Pennington’s round, and a six-shot improvement over Wymer’s first round.
The dramatic difference in conditions from one round to the next was illustrated best by Junction City’s DeGroot, who said he got a sunburn Monday before enduring Tuesday’s downpour. DeGroot finished at 174 overall as the top individual qualifier to state.
DeGroot started the day by hitting his tee shot on No. 1 into deep rough, finishing the hole with a 7.
“It was pretty tough,” DeGroot said. “I didn’t really get it going until the back nine.”
A pitching wedge into the 10th green from about 130 yards out got DeGroot refocused, and he finished well enough to join the party in Banks next week.

Weekend in Seattle!

We were up in Seattle this past weekend for a wedding - congratulations to the newlyweds, David & Taryn Lund!!!!! David and Dustin grew up together in Junction City, OR and have known each other since grade school. David met Taryn when he moved up to Seattle a few years ago...and it's been "happily ever after." We love you guys and are so excited for you.

It was gorgeous on Saturday and the wedding was over by early afternoon, so we drove down to one of my/our favorite spots in Seattle - Pike Place Market! We grabbed some iced coffee from the orginal Starbucks and then walked through the flower vendor stands to buy a beautiful bouquet of fresh cut flowers! They are the best....we got some for Peggy for Mother's Day and I got some as well.
At the original Starbucks store at Pike Place in Seattle. My favorite - fresh flowers from Pike Place!

After the wedding...Dustin was one of the ushers.

The 4 ushers "with" the bride and groom - how funny is this! They had a photo booth set up and provided props to be used for the photo op. Thought it was a cute and creative idea!

Dustin with the newlyweds the night before at the rehearsal!

Happy Mother's Day

The Lord has blessed Dustin and I both with AMAZING mothers. Thank you Peggy and Deb for the mother's that you have been to us over the last 28 and 27 years....your patience, love, care, belief, encouragement, support, prayer, praise...and even your worrying, nagging, punishments, and discipline! You have helped shape us to be the people that we are today!

We love you both so much!

(our internet was acting up yesterday, therefore, the post comes today!)

My little Sara is all GROWN up!

On Saturday, my little sister SARA will graduate from Concordia University at Texas! (I am posting today because we will be traveling to Seattle tomorrow and Saturday and I won't be by a computer). This is the first of her4 graduations that I have ever missed - kindergarten, 8th grade, high school, and now college. I am so sad that I have to miss this BIG DAY!

Sara, I am so proud of the woman that you've become! You have been so successful during your 4 years down in Austin, athletically and academically. You've totally kicked mine and Josh's butts when it comes to recognition and awards....you're right up there with Kari though! You have represented yourself and our family proudly and honorably. You have grown individually, spiritually, socially, and emotionally. I am so excited to see what the Lord has in store for you next. Best of luck with massage therapy school - whenever you need hours, I am always willing to be your "dummy!" Enjoy your time off before you start taking classes again. Most of all, enjoy your next few months with your friends and roommates before you pack up your bags and move "home" to Colorado. And once you're there, you'll discover new things, renew old friendships, start down new paths....and be an auntie to the best neice ever - Avery!!!! Just always remember - The Lord has a very good and perfect plan for your life, even when you don't see how it will ever turn out that way.

We can't wait to see you in September. Love you, miss you, and we are so very very very proud of you!!!!

PS - Somewhere I have a picture of you, me, and Josh at your kindergarten graduation. If I can find it, I'll scan it and post it someday!

8th Grade Graduation - Trinity Lutheran School - Klein, TX (May 2001)High School Graduation - Doherty High School - Colorado Springs, CO (May 2005)

High School Graduation - Doherty High School - Colorado Springs, CO (May 2005)

Happy 27th Birthday to My Wife...

Have a great day!