Shooting a favorite at our house!



If you know Ryan and I well at all you know one of our favorite things to do together is shoot! I find it so fun! A little surge of excitement when you put the bullet in the barrel and shoot! The sound afterwards and trying to see if you hit your target right on...and yes my saying is, there is nothing sexier than a man in uniform and a man with a gun! I'm a lucky girl I get both. My brother and his girlfriend came into town for some fun time out on the range. So if you are ever wanting to go shooting just call us up, we provide the guns and the ammo, we always like a good time! We had a little hiccup though towards the tail end of our afternoon of shooting that involved a good lesson on gun safety. Just a little hint...it involved a hefty bill from a plastic surgeon! Enjoy.

Ry and Garrett talking about gun safety and targets.



Getting the guns ready.

Love me a man with gun!

One of my favorite things to do.

Mommy and Addy chatting!

Ryan and Jim getting ready to zero in on the new scope.

Almost there!

Madi trying out uncle Jim's gun.

Yes kids, this is what happens when you play with guns!



9 stiches later.



13 + 1 =14

We had the privilege of adding one more sister to the Oster clan in July. I have to say one of the best parts of marrying into a family of all boy's is getting to finally have sister's! We are blessed to have April as part of the family now. She is a great addition with lot's of great talents, plus my baby brother in law has a sparkle in his eye every time he sees her! The wedding was beautiful and they had a wonderful honeymoon to Hawaii. Congrat's Jeff and April, we love you!

Dinner Rehearsal with all the Oster boy's and there wives!

Sister's!

The entire Oster Family.



A Journey with Jesus

I know it’s been awhile since I have updated anything on our family. With good reason, I think. I just recently hit my one year anniversary of doctors finding my tumor. As many as you know our family hit a little curve in the road, a trial, a growth spurt, a journey with Jesus. Wow, has this been an amazing time of reflection, growth, tears, scares and complete brokenness. I was asked recently by a friend, “What did you learn this year? What do you think this journey was about?” Honestly I couldn’t answer her without balling like a baby. So my response to her was, “I think I am still getting a glimpse and understanding and I am not sure if I will ever know.” I left it at that and went on with my day, though it had me racking my brain asking, “God what was this about?” As I hit my one year anniversary I had an hour of reflection, talking with God, reading letters, emails and cards. I came across another email from a friend that asked a very similar question, why does God continue to bring trials into our lives?


The picture they drew for us before my first surgery.

I had months to lie in bed and reflect on what God was and is continuing to do in our lives. I ponder the ten years of trials in our life and family. Crying out, why God, why did you take our baby girl Mackenzie, why did Ryan go to war having our family separated and now a tumor with so many complications that will forever change my life! Now after all that I have been through I am stuck in bed, sick, not being able to be the wife and mom I want to be. Why? I think God wanted me to be vulnerable and seek Him in a way I never had. I know in those darkest moments of thoughts and questions He remained constant and sovereign. God continues to whisper in my ear, speak to my spirit and touch my heart with the journey he has me on. Even though we go through heartache, he will never forsake us. He won’t leave me even when I feel my worst. 

My induced coma at OHSU after my 2nd surgery getting ready for the 3rd.

 I remember having a conversation with a dear friend shortly after we had Mackenzie. Many tears were shed with this friend and she shared with me God will use you; he will use you in a way you never thought he would. He will take the pain you have right now and he will use that pain to help someone else going through loss and sorrow. There is something more to this and His picture is so much bigger than you can imagine. Little did I know that our loss of our precious little girl, my husband going to war, would be preparing me for what would lay ahead.

This summer a very sweet gal was brought into my life for reasons similar to ours. She and her husband just recently lost their sweet baby boy. I did not know her personally. In fact when I was asked to chat with her, I had no idea what would lay ahead. I just happened to give a short version of our loss of Mackenzie and if she ever needed to talk I would be here. Well she did contact me and I, without a doubt, know God knew we needed to meet. Our stories and how we met is part of God’s plan. When having dinner with her this last week I had that moment where the light bulb went on, in awe of what God was doing right before my eyes. To see this come full circle and try and reason or make sense of something I thought I may be reading too much into you. The only thing that I got was a whisper a pounding at my heart from Jesus saying, “Molly, there is a reason for this, your heartache, your tumor, your bump in the road is going to be used for my purpose, to share and encourage another couple who has this same heartache.” We forever have a connection with this couple. We have both had stillborn babies. I have had the privilege of sharing with her what it was like for me and how God saw me through this incredibly hard time in our lives. I don’t know where she and her husband are exactly in their faith or how they feel about Jesus, but I know we are here to share with them how much Jesus loves them. How his desire is for an intimate relationship and for them to seek Him through this incredibly hard time in their lives.



March 26, 2004 Mackenzie Faith's pretty little feet.

 I have been sharing with Ryan over the last year and more recently I have had this continued pounding at my heart, lump in my throat, that God is trying to tell me more. Every message, every song, every conversation is pointing me back to this same thing. All of these trials, none bigger than the other, was to grow me, to take God at his word and to choose to believe that He is good even when we’re suffering. The truth is He is the only thing that is constant, our rock, He is the only one that will never change and no matter what we’re walking through we can rest assured that He will never forsake us, not for one moment.
I know there is more to this story, this journey. I know God is gently knocking at my heart to share my story. I have lots to share. I am not sure how that looks or how I am to do this. I just know my love for Jesus and my desire to seek Him is even bigger now. I am patiently waiting for His timing as to how the rest of His story for me and our family will be.  Thank you to all of you who supported us and prayed for our family during our trials. God knew we would need the body of Christ to help and encourage us through these tough times.



“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Soccer

Fall=Soccer! It was so fun watching Garrett play a second season of soccer. He is so good at it. He handled the ball so well and was awesome at making goals! Ryan and I are seeing a very competitive side to Garrett. He is very determined and is a great about encouraging his other teammates. I see so much of Ryan in him! Super competitive!! We find ourselves encouraging him to keep it on the field and to remember to encourage the other team, be a good sportsman. Since this year he wasn't tackeling anyone we thought we were doing good. He is such a sweet, cuddly little boy and I love that he wants to do well at what he is doing. He loves soccer and said he can't wait for soccer again! Good Season, way to go Puma's!

Swimming

This summer and fall many hours have been spent at the Juniper Swim Center. Madi is planning on going out for swim team this summer and is brushing up on her technique. Garrett is moving up in his swimming and Addyson and I took a parent/tot class. Our family loves the water and have enjoyed swimming together and watching the kids improve on there skills. Madi enjoys doing laps and has a beautiful back stroke! We are enjoying attending sporting events and look forward to next summer watching them compete. I can't believe it but I don't have one photo of Addyson's lesson. Go figure with the third child!

Summer Nights

Wow! Where does time go? We have been non-stop busy since we moved to Bend. Between us having people in town visiting, traveling to Portland for Ryan's Reserve weekend, school starting, sports or being sick I haven't had time to update our blog. Well I finally have some extra time. Be prepared for some "overload" on the pictures and entry's. These are some fun pictures of our family enjoying some summer nights in our new home. Enjoy!

Bend or Bust!

Deschutes River not far from our house.
Broken Top Mountain one of five mountians.

Mt. Bachelor

Mountain range from afar at Sunset.

Our home.

I know it has been so long since I have posted any news or pictures. I do have an excuse though. We have moved! We are so excited to have moved to one of the most gorgeous places on the planet and a very special place Bend, Oregon. Ever since Ryan and I have been together (were going on 16 1/2 years) our desire was to raise a family in a place where people still new your names and wasn't over populated. Where football games on friday nights were still important and we were active outdoors. We love the sun and we love the snow! So what better place then Bend. We had spent many weekends visiting friends, family vacations and ski trips to know Bend was where our heart was. God did not see fit to put us in Bend right away. We have been waiting for a perfect job (if there is such a thing) and time for our family to move. God made that happen June 6, 2010 (my birthday) for Ryan to be offered a job as a City Engineer for the City of Bend! Woohoo!! Thank you Lord was how we responded. It was an awesome offer and we took it, knowing the path the last three years had been tough with Ryan's current job and how God made this very evident to us this was his timing. I'm still amazed as I look at this Journey he has taken our family on how in the end his timing is more than perfect. What a great blessing we have to know he has it all worked out and he knows the desires of our heart. Though Ryan and I both have had desires and prayer requests not turn out the way we wanted them, we still hold fast to his plan being perfect! Our house we are living in now is a rental and we will call home for the next year or two until we find the right lot, property or home for us. We are happy and feel very fortunate to live in such a great home and great neighborhood. We feel so fortunate to have friends already here so our transition has been very smooth for the kiddos. So to sum up we love, love, love Bend! We feel so grateful that we are here. Also, we love visitors. So if East Coasters ever want to experience the west in the mountains with some Cowboys this is your spot! For all you West Coasters who love Bend come stop by we would love to see you!