Adam's Water Polo Team

Lori & Bob have watched Adam begin his career in Water Polo. Now a Junior in High School, Adam is helping the Ashland Grizzly Polo team to a winning season! Recently, they won a big tournament in Redmond, Oregon and last week-end they won all 4 games against some of their toughest competition in Eugene. Adam and his best friend Forrest, combined for 9 goals to beat Cottage Grove. . .he then scored 10 more goals in 3 games to get wins over both Eugene teams and a Marist teams. Ashland won the state last year and this year their headed for another championship. They just returned from Rocklin, CA near Sacramento, where they met some of the toughest teams in the West. And as you can see, Adam always draws a crowd! Congratulations to Adam and his team!

Big Party in Texas

Holly & Joe Pair had a big party in Corsicana to celebrate Blake's 3rd birthday. They splashed and played and ate cake with Roly & Candy and Ashley and Zack. Blake certainly enjoyed the sandy beach at least for the camera. We all would have loved to be there to join in the celebration!

Jana & Paul Vacation in Belize

If you want a vacation outside of the U.S.A., Jana & Paul & kids would suggest Belize: a small country in Central America next to Guatemala on the Caribbean Sea. It's a simple country with simple prices and simple living. Seafood is plentiful if you catch it or find the right restaurant. The roads are even simple and sometimes hard to find which makes this vacation spot a grand family adventure! They swam with the turtles and fish, snorkeled and kayaked and got plenty of sun. Sometimes more than they wanted. They hiked narrow trails and found waterfalls and tarantula spiders as big as your hand, climbed coconut trees and even ate raw coconut! Derrick, Brady & Payton came home full of adventure stories and experiences in simple nature. . .and they all survived in good shape ready for another adventure to who knows where!

Ashland About 3 Weeks After

Nearly 3 weeks after the horrible fire, life goes on. Everyday the stark remains of our neighbors houses lie dormant and lifeless. Nothing has been done to remove any of these scares. Asbestos red tape and insurance haggling continue to hold up any signs of rebuilding. Several families have decided to abandon Oak Knoll and relocate. On our side of the street, burnt pages from Bibles and other books catch the wind and dot the street and our yards as daily reminders. We pick up the pages as if a heavenly sign and search for a sign of wisdom amid the paragraphs.

But, life goes on. . .I'm sure the hummingbirds that live here year round were frightened and wondered if they would have to build a new nest. Their home is next to the street in our big evergreen where the firetrucks parked for the day. They must have watched the fire from a safe place in the tops of other trees but they have returned and still enjoy the feeders. But now they must wait their turn as One Red Headed Woodpecker has learned to balance on the feeder rim and enjoy a sweet drink several times a day!!! We couldn't believe the sight. I finally got a photo without scaring her away, a delightful sight in the middle of rubble.