Scott took this picture while standing on the top of a mountain a few weeks ago. This is about ten minutes from our house. 

Fun at home, and a welcome kiss...

Tonight was one of those nights that just felt good to be alive. We barbecued, and had hot dogs and hamburgers, and played. It was fun to enjoy those moments as a family with everyone. The kids are just so much fun! Grace says the funniest things. She said to her daddy tonight, "I am so cute, because mommy cut my hair!" No doubt about it, she just knows.
Bailey and Ryan played with their bubble machine that blows like a thousand bubbles a minute, with Shay enjoying it as well! They were all in the backyard chasing bubbles, and laughing, and I just have to ask...."Does life get any better?" This is how God feels about us I am sure. Watching us, his children, enjoy life with no worries. We are told to have a more "child-like" attitude. This is probably because he wants us to relax and have fun, and just know that he has our next meal, and all the other details of our lives under control. Like watching the kids tonight. They don't stress about anything, because they know that they are taken care of. Someone will make their meals, and help clean it up, and bathe them, and put them to bed with a story and a prayer. Their house will be the perfect temperature, or at least close, and they will sleep in a soft bed. They don't stress because there is no reason too in their world! We should feel this way. We have someone who does the same for us, right?
Scott works so much and comes home so tired...and so happy. He is really enjoying working so hard. Can you believe that? The man wants to get dirty, and sweaty, and make his muscles ache, do I get any more blessed as a woman? I could never be him! I am just happy to be his wife, and take care of him when his day is through. That's my favorite part. :) I like his welcome home hug when he comes in, even if he is all dirty and sweaty, I just like being the one he comes home to hug! It still feels so nice. I heard at Bible study on Friday, that we should always go out of our way to greet our husband with a kiss. It makes them feel so welcome when they come home, but I think I enjoy it just as much! Just a word of encouragement to the ladies, I think it matters so much to stop what you are doing and welcome your man home from a long day at work with a big smooch! (Don't leave your baby if you are diapering him/her on the table to do this, or that could cause big trouble, but other than that, there can't be anything so pressing that can't be put off for a few seconds, right:)
Blessings on you and your families!

The river rocks, and the water flowing over them, make me think of how God's blessings flow abundantly all the time... 

The kids on one of our adventures.  

Scott took this beautiful picture of these pansies at the amphitheater at our church. 

Blooming Pansies and a glimpse of God's plans...

So here we are approaching the end of the week, and Scott started his first day at his new job today. He called and said that he was enjoying his day, and sounded full of life. He was offered a job as a millwright on Saturday, and was very excited about it. This isn't in the aviaition field, like we thought we would be getting a job in, but this is obviously God's plan for us right now. Funny, how God's ways are not ours, and how we always think we have it figured out!
I am glad that Scott is settled. He was very ready to go to work after having a month off. He loves to work, and provide for us, and I know that I am a blessed woman to have such a wonderful husband that takes such good care of me and our children. But I am missing him, and have gotten quite comfortable having him with me all the time. We really enjoy being with each other, and exploring and being silly together. As a matter of fact, during our exploring, Scott fell into a new talent. Photogtaphy. He loves to take pictures of everything. He mostly takes pics of God's creations and landscapes. We can't go anywhere wtihout the camera just in case we might see something worthy of having it's picture taken.
I took the kids for a long bike ride today, and while I was riding, I was thinking, "This is a time in our lives, I don't ever want to forget. The little ones smiling, and laughing, enjoying the ride, and Bailey and I racing. (She beat me of course!) Later after lunch, we were cleaning up, and Bailey said, "Mommy wouldn't it be cool if we could go on the mission field together when I grow up?" I stopped in surprise and looked at her, and said, "Do you want to do that too?" She said, "yes" and I was excited to think of her and I doing that together. I told her she would be so good on the mission field, because she could teach, and she is so good with children. But, I had no idea that God had planted a desire in her to do that until today. My spirit was happy to think that we could do God's work together one day.
Something I heard last night was this: If hindsight is 20/20, then looking back, I notice that God has always been faithful to me, and he has not let me down, not even once. So, I have nothing to fear about the future, right? And neither do you! His track record lets us know that he is worthy of our adoration, and we should not worry, because he has it all in control.

Peace like a river in my soul...

We were able to spend some time tonight down at the river. It was a good family time. Kids and Dad all got wet and even Shay took a swim. Her first swim ever in her life! She did very well! It always amazes me as I look around at the things that God has created and marvel that he put them here for us. I love to enjoy all the things that God has for us to see and do while we are here. What a freedom comes when we begin to see that everything is in his hands, and all of our worries don't change our circumstances. Just prayer, and time with our Father, changes not our circumstances neccessrily, but our outlook on them. When we truly know that He has it under control, and he loves us, and wants what's best for our lives, then we can relax, and let him take over the reins. And this brings us sweet Peace. Doesn't it?
I have been in prayer for our job here since before we left, and I kind of thought I had it all figured out, only to find, that I didn't. :) We are still in the midst of what God is doing, but I can rest assured that he knows better than me, what my family needs. We know that we have a purpose here. We know that God is always on the increase. We also know that His will is better than ours could ever be. So, I am encouraged, and excited to report what God is doing...once he shows me...which I think should be very soon!

The switzler kids at swingin together on a beautiful day in Oregon! 

Moving West

Well, it has been some time, hasn't it? We have been a busy family! We arrived in Oregon almost 1 month ago, and we are very happy God brought us here. We are enjoying a wonderful time with Grandma and Papa! We also found the most awesome Church ever! It is on the side of a mountain and just feels like home to us. We left Maryland because we knew God was calling us here. We left a very nice job to come here, and we are standing in Faith that God will bless us here with a new job. We are so enjoying all the bountiful blessings that come with being kids of the King! The children are blessed and happy as are we watching them grow in all ways! Ryan and I are actually sick today, but on the road to recovery! We were up all night, and I have that feeling of lovely fatigue that comes with being up all night with one of your beloved little ones. We have a few updates:

Bailey-is homeschooling and is loving it a lot! She is actually asking to do it again next year, so we will see what God has in store for us there. She loves riding her bike, playing with Ryan and Grace, and playing like she owns a store! She is also learning to knit, and is better than mommy at it! She baked the yummiest chocolate cake ever last week. All by herself for the first time! She is also reading Little Women, and we are both enjoying that. And she has made a good friend at church named Jasmine.

Ryan--got his first bike a week ago. He bombs around everywhere on it! He loves to ride with sissy, and pretends they are driving cars through the drive thru. He still loves to build things with his blocks, and line up all the matchbox cars he owns in lines on the floor. He has been fishing with daddy at the pond, and has been thoroughly enjoying catching bass and brim with his fishing pole! He has a wonderful amount of energy, which I am sure God gave him for a reason!

Grace--is such a character! WoW! She loves to make you laugh by saying funny things, and making funny faces, and doing somersalts! She has an imaginary friend, Mary, who lives in the Lincoln log box! So Cute! She loves the cows in the pastures on the side of the road, and she says, "ohhhh, there's my cows." And she says, "ohhhh, there's my sheep." She just loves the animals. She also loves to learn new things, and learns everything as quickly as Ryan does. She is such fun to teach. She has a favorite book, "David Gets in Trouble." She wants to read it all the time. She likes the fact that David is always doing funny things, and I wonder why she likes that....:) She also loves going to church, and can't wait to play with her friends in her class!

As for me, I am really enjoying being in God's will. I love being here with my husband and children. I am enjoying his goodness! I am doing a bible study on Friday mornings with a book called, Love and Respect by Emmerson Eggerichs. It's a book about Respecting husbands, and it is so good! I am sure Scott is happy I am taking the class! What husband wouldn't want his wife to learn about that! We are both being blessed by all that I am learning. God is good all the time and all the time God is good, right? I have started my first book, which I am very excited about! I will share it with everyone when I am done. My father blessed me so much and bought me a notebook (what I call a laptop) and it has made it so easy to work on my book anywhere! Thanks, Dad! Please be in prayer for me as I venture to write this! Thanks to all who prayed for our move, it went so well. We appreciate your prayers!