Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Hope it was Merry & Happy New Year!


Since this momma didn't get a letter printed out for the Christmas card...here's a cyber note of the Totten family highlights of 2008.

Scott and Kimberlyn

Scott has had several highlights in this past year. Last January he performed his first wedding. It was a special day for our entire family as Makayla was a flower girl and Kim the photographer. In June Scott was overjoyed to baptized 5 teens during a mission trip to Cibecue, Arizona. In August we had a great family vacation with the Meyer's and McKee's on the Oregon coast. In September Scott began running again (after a year off since back surgery). He is thrilled to be running up to 25-30 miles a week. He has lost 35 pounds and is feeling great. We are all very proud and inspired by Scott's commitment to exercise and good health. Scott has been led by the Lord in totally revamping the youth ministry at Dallas Alliance Church. It has been a year of powerful testimony that God has us right where He needs us at this season of our lives. Working with youth is often difficult and Scott faithfully continues to serve where God has planted us.

Scott and Kim celebrated Lucky #13 in September!

Kimberlyn also committed to exercise and better eating habits. Kim loves taking long walks with her dog, Jake with her i-pod tunes jammin! This simple routine has resulted in a 25 pound weight loss and has helped ease chronic back pain tremendously. Kim continues to enjoy being a full time mom and part time photographer. She is growing in skill and passion in both professions. Her heart is filled with much gratitude for all the Lord has taught her through her family, friends, clients, church and her quite time spent in the study of Gods word and consistent attendance to Bible Study Fellowship. The most recent blessing of 2008 is being asked to partner in a local ministry to families in need. Bambinos is a witness of Gods goodness and mercy as He has brought so much full circle in our lives since our move to Oregon almost 2 years ago.


Makayla and Luke

Our lovely Makayla is in the first grade and just turned 7 on December 16th. She is full of life and has a flare for fashion. Makayla is blessed with many friends at church, BSF, school and within our neighborhood. She enjoys time just hanging out with her girlfriends and goofing around. Makayla is a very active young lady and has enjoyed a year full of riding bikes, making forts, bowling, climbing trees, walking to the creek, swimming, horse back riding and cooking. Her top favorite things to these days are to do a dance and singing routine for the family in the evenings after homework is done - of course! Makayla is also in her second year of Girl Scouts. She is a very loving and attentive big sister, we are so pleased to see a heart of gratitude and joy starting to appear more and more in her life each and every day!

Precious Luke turned 3 last May and is in his first year of preschool, three days a week. He is in a stage of sunshine or heavy rain, meaning that we always know when he is happy and we defiantly know when his is sad, mad, frustrated, hungry or just plain tired..(You get the picture!) Luke enjoys anything that goes fast and is noisy. Besides his sister, Luke’s blue blanket is his very best friend! This little man was a quick potty trainee and is now geared up for big boy undies at night. Such basic yet monumental successes at age three and we are sure to celebrate everyone with great enthusiasm. His favorite things are to hug, love, cuddle and kiss us and our two dogs and bunny. He is also quite the little singer...We are serenaded daily to the tunes of ABC's, Twinkle Twinkle Christmas Tree and of course our favorite "Jesus Loves me." Luke also loves to walk to the creek and spend lazy afternoons catching craw fish or throwing rocks.

Other 2008 Totten Adventures

Besides spending time at the creek as a family, we have had the pleasure of going to the Oregon coast on several occasions to play in the surf, sand and sun. It is wonderful to live within driving distance of coastal fun. We are greatful for many Wahington friends that have come to visit over the last year. We also took a few trips north to the San Juan Islands/Puyallup/Kent/ Duvall. Our highlight travels where to Sun River, Oregon for Thanksgiving to be with Grandma Jeri and Papa Doug and also a trip north to be with friends and the Totten clan for Christmas.

We have much to be grateful for and Praise the Lord for his great goodness and love!
We thank God for each and every one of you and lift prayers up to our King-

"May your life be blessed and be a blessing in 2009!"


Happy New Year!


Thursday, December 18, 2008

Christmas in Thier Eyes

The true meaning of Christmas is seen in a child's eyes.
Just look at the wonderment...

I can only imagine what these two dream of when they see all the lights,

glitter, packages and treats.


My prayer for all children is they would find the blessed meaning of Christmas to be the most Glorious of all!

To Celebrate the birth of our King!

Merry Christmas Nelson Family..thank you for the opportunity you have given me to document the growth of your precious children throughout this past year.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Happy 7th Birthday Makayla!

Makayla requested a baking party this year

We went with a Christmas Cookie Decorating

and Tea Party

It was a fun day had by all...

Happy Birthday Makayla...We Love you!

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Bambinos Fundraiser

The First Annual Fundraiser for Bambinos was a Blessed Success!
There were over 30 items to bid on...
Delicious desserts to indulge in...

Incredible Music ...

Many children and families will be helped due to over

$2,000 Raised

I would like to introduce you to Beth Jones. She is the founder of Bambinos. Beth has been praying for a partner for over a year and asked me to partner with her in Ministry. I have prayerfully and officially become partners with Beth. I look forward to a growing friendship with Beth, her husband and two beautiful children as we seek to comfort those in need in the Dallas community.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Full Circle!

This is more of a personal post today. I always get a bit sappy, reflective and sentimental around this time of year...so bare with me. Plus- I've been sick for over a week and have had allot of time on my hands to watch the world scurry by as I observed and took time to appreciated all that I often am to busy to give thanks for.


Good health, wonderful family, friends and neighbors, food to eat, a place to call home, a car to drive, a bed to rest my head, a God who loves me!!! The list is endless!

Being sick really stinks, but the blessing is that it forced me to slow down and stop flat in my tracks and step off the merry go round for a bit. Man I needed that! Life just gets so dang hectic with all the little things...going here, going there...it adds up even when we try to ward against it. There are things to do , people to see, places to go!

It was so good for my spirit, my body, my mind and yes my mouth to rest. I could barely talk for a week and it was a good measure of humility not to be able to have my say or input! I learned so much more about those around me by being a better listener. I know my kids, my husbands and the Lords Heart better because I was quiet!

Remembrance: I want to share a bit about what it is I am thankful for and the journey or remembrance I've been on recently. I was reflecting on where we've been and where we are now. Life sure has it's twists and turns and for us the ride has never been boring. In fact it has at times been like a roller coaster that seemed to have no end. It's had it's drops and turns where I felt like I had to hold on for dear life with every ounce of strength that I had. Our last real roller coaster ride began prior to moving to Oregon a year and a half ago. We made our transition from all that and whom we hold dear in Washington to move to Oregon. God has met us here in many ways and leads us on in Life and Ministry by trial and error and often bumps, bruises sometimes tears and utter frustration!

Brokenness: We are grateful God provided our needs when we where in desperate need two years ago, facing lose of income, change of career, health troubles and financial despair. We are grateful God had a plan and grew us though that difficult season. We are grateful for friends, family and even strangers that prayed for us, provided food for our table, diapers, milk and clothes for the kids. We are grateful that we had the support of a core group of people that loved us, supported us and walked through the storm with us. We are grateful that in our Brokenness and pure Humility God was and continues to be Glorified in spite of our frailty and failings. God alone knows the bigger picture and with time, he unveils His plan and lets you in on what it is He is preparing you for...He is the only one who can make sense of Life and give it meaning and purpose! God is a God of Order... He knows what He's doing and He brings things full Circle!


Healing: Much healing and strength has come to our family as time has past and our hearts have been broken more and more for the lost and hurting people in our community and in this world. At times the needs seem so overwhelming, disturbing, depressing that it is a battle not to get pulled under the waves into despair and hopelessness. I am so grateful our God is a God who SAVES! He loves all his children and needs us to be His hands and feet to love those who need a touch directly from the hand of God!

Blessing: About 6 months ago, the Lord put a burden on my heart for young mothers...I was not sure where this was coming from or why? Was he calling me to start a MOPS group? I started to pray and confided in Scott, a few close friends, church members and my BSF study group to be praying too! Well the power of Prayer is AWESOME and now onto what God is letting me in on! I am so excited about it!



It's called Bambinos...
Bambinos is a local ministry here where we live in Dallas, Oregon. Bambinos serves at-risk pregnant women and families ( including teenagers, those in drug recovery, single parents and the impoverished) It aims to reduce stress in homes by providing basic needs such as: diapers, clothing, cribs, medicine, etc… Items have been donated and stored in a local storage unit.


Women are referred to Bambinos by the local Resource Center, police department and by word of mouth. The gal who founded Bambinos is driven and compassionate. The two of us have just clicked and it just feels like a God Thing! I am so excited to get connected with Beth and see what the Lord wants to do through this ministry. I have already been blessed to have had the opportunity to deliver items to two different families in need. My heart breaks and longs to encourage those who need a hand up in life...sometimes it is just the little things that make a big difference and give someone Hope. More than anything this ministry is an avenue of Grace to show families that people care and God's compassion has no boundaries. I am humbled and so grateful for Gods provision and Love.

Wishing you a day of Thanks and Giving...

Blessed Thanksgiving!

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Our Little Bat Kids

We had a bat invasion at our house this week

Daddy was in charge of all the fun...

I think he did a good job thoroughly wearing them out, overloading them on candy and keeping them up way past bedtime!

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Master Carvers

Makayla was totally into the pumpkin guts this year....
Luke on the other hand....

Just screamed a lot!

Monday, October 20, 2008

Just Precious!


Can't you just see her thinking...

"Who me...Precious? I don't know what your talking about!"

Tender Touches

There's Mamma and me....

Then there's just Beautiful me!