Jesus loves all the children...they are precious in His sight

We received news this week that we are going to be Grandparents. Our daughter Abi is due in January. May God bless this little one. May God guide and direct Dillon and Abi during this phase of their life.

Grandma Betty

Grandma Betty entered into Heaven this week. Long life and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Additional photos on our Facebook page: Matt & Lori

The Kids

Chicago Weekend

Eating a Chicago Dog

Chicago Dog

Abi's first "outside" meal for 9 weeks

Lori, Uncle Mike, and Aunt Barb Sullivan

Sunset Cruise of Chicago

Chicago Street Light

Reflections in Skyscraper

Standing in Skyview of Sears (Willis) Tower

Sears Tower

"The Bean" Millenium Park, Chicago

Clipper in Lake Michigan

Chicago Skyline from Chicago River

Chicago Skyline from Lake Michigan

Matt Traveling the Alcan...

Matt took about 600 pictures during his road trip from Oregon to Homer, Alaska. Most all pictures were taken in Canada and Alaska--and many of them from the windshield, as pulling over was not always an option. He encountered wildlife along the way, check out the pictures to find out what he saw! We narrowed down the pictures to 74, which are posted on our facebook page:

follow this link: click here

The Move...

Matt, with the help of Frank, Dan, and Norm & Cathy, packed up the truck and 16 foot utility trailer with the only possessions to be moved to Kodiak, Alaska. Other household items were given away to the kids, family and garage sale.

These pictures were taken by Lori's dad, Frank. Yes, that's a surf board! Before meeting Lori, Matt surfed on the Oregon Coast with his best friend, Doug--back in the day.

Matt left Newberg on July 21st, and headed north to Alaska. Cell service with AT&T is considered international calling once crossing the border, so communication was spotty and expensive. So pictures along the route are still on Matt's camera. Will post soon as possible. He had encountered Moose, black bear, buffalo, and ice glaciers.

The trip is still not over, Matt will board the Homer, AK ferry on Thursday evening and head toward Kodiak at 10:30pm for a 10 hour trip. ETA into Kodiak is noon Friday.

It has so far been an exhausting long drive, with less than desirable road conditions. At one point after 1800 miles from home, Matt said he wanted to turn around and go back to Newberg, as the trip was so long, he was tired, and the road in Canada is in such bad shape. Little did he know that the worst was to come between Tok and Anchorage. Multiple huge frost heaves line the roadway. Frost heaves are areas of buckled road from the extreme temperature changes. They never are fixed, they just get worse--especially when towing a trailer!

At the time of this post, Matt is finally at a hotel in Anchorage near the airport. The past two nights he has been sleeping on the side of the road inside the truck. He is in need of a comfortable bed and to sleep in. His traveling companion is Dozer, a 2 year old Chocolate Lab, that Lori's dad offered up the opportunity for this active pup to enjoy the great outdoors of Alaska. In the process of mourning two of our dogs this year, this is a blessing for us.

Tiger

We adopted Tiger from Family Dogs New Life Shelter in SE Portland December 2008. We found him on an internet search for poodles. His shelter name was Steve. His internet picture was not flattering at all, he looked like a wreck, which made Lori want him even more. It was a snowy day in December, and the shelter said they would stay open.

We drove all the way to Portland and when we were handed this skinny, weak, underweight dog, we just knew we had to take him home and give him love. To be quite honest, we thought he was probably a week from dying. His hip bones and spine were deathly visiable, and he was so weak. He walked with a hunch to his back like a cat. He had only 4 teeth, many were pulled out by a previous veterinarian clinic in Yakima. He had failed attempts for adoption, one quote for reason of giving him back to a shelter from a previous owner in the veterinary notes was "he's just too much work". It was heartbreaking.

At first he had difficulty eating, being that he already had missing teeth and two fisutulas that opened from his mouth to his nose where infected teeth used to be. Our vet prescribed some medicine to help him develop an appetite. It helped.

Over the course of the two and a half years we had Tiger, we gave him all the love an attention we could. He gained weight, developed a healthy coat, and his back was no longer hunched. He slept on our bed, sat on our laps, followed us around the house, and enjoyed car rides the most.

He eventually became blind in one eye, and also would suffer a pelvis fracture from getting hit by a car after leaving from a open gate. Matt had learned of the accident on his way to eastern Oregon for a week long hunting trip. He packed up and came home to be with Tiger. With the help of our vet, Barbara Wynne, we nursed him back to health in about 6 weeks. He was doing great.

Over the past few weeks, he had reinjured his pelvis from jumping off a couch, and had increasingly been having problems with backside weakness and bladder control. His quality of life was diminishing and we made the very difficult decision.

He was always a trooper. He was tender-hearted, content, and loved.

He is now buried next to Checkers in our backyard in Newberg.

Dogs are a gift from God. Loyal, loving companions.

First visit to Dr. Wynn with Bear and Abi

Oregon Coast Trip

Dan, Tiger and Bear, before haircuts that day

Visiting Grandma & Cindy Lu in Arizona

Aviator jacket

Loves the car rides

December 2008, snug as a bug in a rug

Keeping warm on Matt's lap

Tiger and his Daddy

First haircut :)

Happy as a clam!

Fresh air is his favorite!

This was the day we adopted him, taken at the shelter December 2008

In Arizona

Nicole

We will miss his classic two-toned bark. We love you Tiger!

Additional pictures on facebook:
Tiger-roo

Frank, May have Lost His Marbles!

Kudos to Lori's Dad, Frank, for his expert garage sale knowledge. He has been a blessing and a real motivator in this transition from Oregon to Alaska. Managing the garage sale and rallying the troops is no small task! In fact, it takes a real "special" person....

"Ain't that special?"

Our Daughter Abi Takes the Oath to Serve Our Country

(to hear the video better, scroll down to the bottom of our blog and 'pause' the music)

We are proud of Abi's decision to serve our country in the US NAVY. Following in Grandpa Frank's footsteps, a Naval veteran.

This is the video of her swearing in this morning, June 28. This happens to be Grandma-ma Dixie's birthday. Coincidentally, Abi got on a commercial jet to Chicago--where Grandma-ma Dixie was born. Her basic training will be held in Great Lakes, IL. Following basic training, she will go to A school in Pensacola, FL to be a Navy Air Traffic controller.

As you watch the video, know that her momma didn't dress her, as she is 18. And, yes, she is thin..about 100 lbs. Rest assured the Navy will put some weight on her bones. As proud parents, we look forward to seeing her graduate from basic training :)

Visiting Family

While Lori was in Oregon for the first week of June, she was able to visit with her parents and grandmothers. We also had many family and friends Abi's high school graduation party that week. Matt's mom, Cathy, Nicole, Abi and Lori had noon tea at Sleighbells in Sherwood, the day of Abi's graduation.
Nicole and Grandma Cathy

Lori and her Grandmother, Eve (she lived through the Great Depression while living in Chicago)

Lori and her sister Kellie (3 years younger)

Grandma Eve, chatting away about politics and the economy

Miss Abigail

Lori and her Daddy, Frank

Frank, Lori and Grandma Betty (Elizabeth)

Graduation night for Abi

Matt and Nicole to pick Lori up at Portland Airport

Lori and her Mom, Dixie

Matt and Grandma Eve

Mr. Man--don't mess with him!