Friday Fun- Aviation Museum

Today we went out to the Aviation Museum in McMinnville, we had a blast! We explored the space museum, experienced a simulated rocket launch, landed a jet, flew in a plane, touched (oops) a rocket- who knew you could have so much fun at a museum! It truly is a treasure here in the Willamette Valley. Ryan landing a jet.
Tyler and best friend Malachi in the cockpit.
Anna, Malachi, Esther, Tyler in flight seats watching a movie.
Ryan, Corban, and Caleb practicing their flying skills.
Tyler and Anna on the airplane ride, they are so cute!
Ryan and Malachi flying.
Anna flying her own plane the 2nd time around. You go girl!
Aiden and Tyler in the plane, maybe next year Taters.
Aiden, my sweet little kissy cheeks enjoying the playground outside of the aviation museum.

My personal favorite was the 'Black Bird' SR71, the fastest jet in the world. (that the American people know of) It can fly from the west coast to the east coast in 1 hour, pretty sweet! I was really excited to find out that they are also building a water park and lodge at the museum to open in the summer of 2011. Fun fun!

A wonderful end to the week: great friends, great kiddos, laughter, learning, and a small glimpse at the amazing work of our Creator. It doesn't get much better than that! Happy weekend, friends!

Bubbly Brewing

Check out this awesome website/blog: http://redhillsbrewery.com/
My husband (Aaron Brown) Dan Foster, Kent Moore and Matt Cummings are in the beginning stages of starting a brewery. Great group of guys and close friends. Living the dream!

"Red Hills Brewing Company is a collection of four close friends who love God, their wives and children and yes, beer. We are homebrewers with a passion for the taste of grain, smell of hops and time spent together creating malty happiness. Our brewing company grows a little every time we get together and brew. We make small changes and try to keep our costs low, brewing mostly in 10 gallon batches. Some time back we made the jump to All Grain brewing (brewing with grain only, no extract, just like the big dogs) and it hooked us all big time. Our goal is simple: Learn more about this marvelous craft and try our darnedest to make tasty beer. We dream of growing larger, to one day brew a barrel of beer (31 gallons) and then… who knows. You just might find yourself with a six-pack of Red Hills in your cart as you push up to the checkout stand."

Here is a recent video of their last brew day.

Slainte!

The Gift of Sight

About a week ago we took Tyler in to the eye Dr. after noticing he was having some trouble seeing from a distance. Sure enough, the Dr. found that Tyler has an astigmatism, and were told "his cornea are shaped like footballs."

Yesterday we picked up Tyler's glasses and our sweet boy can see! It has been absolutely precious watching Tyler see things for the first time. I had tears in my eyes the whole way home from getting his glasses as I listened to him say "I can see those tall trees!" "I can see the snowy mountains!" What a miracle it is to see the beauty around us, I am so thankful that this precious boy gets to experience it in a whole new way. Praise God!

I am also so thankful for the access to great Dr.'s!

Help For Haiti

My heart is absolutely breaking for the people of Haiti right now. I can't even fathom searching through ruble to find my children or to be stuck under a building screaming for help and no one can help me. Many of us can't relate to what the Haitian people are experiencing right now. What we can do, and are called to do is help. You may feel powerless or hopeless because you can't be there physically helping (I know I do) but we can help. Every little bit helps.

I urge you to help in any way. Find a charity that you trust and give whatever you can.
Here are just a few:

Compassion
Red Cross (donate money, donate blood, donate your time)
World Vision
Samaritan's Purse
Medical Teams International
Search for more
These photos are graphic, but real.

You can text "HAITI" to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross efforts in Haiti. Be aware that this $10 will show up on your mobile bill.

If you are unable to give financially at this time, prayer is equally as important. Please pray for the people of Haiti, for the families, for those that have died, for those alive and fighting to live, for the decisions and relief plan that the government will have to make,for the missionaries living and working there, for the relief that is there serving, for the people left behind...for it all.

Thank you, friends.