Author Archives: Chayli

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The plan was simple: drive ten or eleven hours north, see the Great Barrier Reef, spend a couple nights at Oaklea Bed and Breakfast, and then come home.

Enter Cyclone Debbie. I can’t complain—all we suffered from her was a little upheaval of our plans, which turned the trip all the more into an adventure. There are others who suffered far worse from her turbulent waves and awe-inspiring winds. She left behind a lot of wreckage, and for some, a heartful of grief. So before you keep reading, stop and say a prayer for those affected the most. Next time it could be any of us. ...continue reading →

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After three amazing days in Sydney, you’d think this post would be chock-full of pictures of the Opera House, the Sydney Harbor Bridge, and Manly Beach . . . don’t worry, those pictures are coming, but for this post at least, they’ll have to wait.

Because there’s something I’ve been even more impressed with lately. Or rather, someone.

I’ve been impressed with this someone long before this trip was even a dream, but something about this trip has shown me all over again just how capable and kind and encouraging this someone is . . . ...continue reading →

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There's airplane roar in my ears, a little duffel at my feet, and a Canadian customs form on my lap, and we are setting out on the adventure of a lifetime. . . but something about the lights of Portland drifting slowly away below us makes me nostalgic, and I can't wait to come home.

In the meantime though, our visas are Australian, and we have high hopes of beautiful, quiet beaches and a steady warmth that Oregon's been missing for too long.

It's not every day that your husband calls you on his way home from work and offhandedly mentions that the guy he's working for said he could use him in Australia. It's not every day that you reply to his "that'd be crazy" with "it wouldn't be that crazy." And it's certainly not every day that you suddenly find yourself ironing out tickets and visas and hotel stays.

We've been incredibly blessed. And what God gives He gives for a reason, so we are looking for His reasons along the way.

If the wifi is good, this blog will turn into a travelogue, so if you're apt to get jealous, feel free to stay away for two months. 🙂

Yeah, two months. Work and holiday in Australia for almost seven weeks, then a stop in New Zealand on the way home. I still can't believe it. I've quite wanted to go to Australia for a long time, but I've even more wanted to go to New Zealand.

All the same, two months is so long, so say a prayer for us as you think of it, and enjoy our Oregon if you happen to be in it because I'm sure there will be times when we'll be jealous of you while you're jealous of us.

But life is life, no matter where you are, so live it fully. It's beautiful, whether you're in Gervais, OR, or Armidale, NSW.

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James Christian Roth.

To some, his was a name well-known in Mennonite circles.
To some, he was the friendly owner of a little secondhand store in Woodburn.
To some, he was a dedicated pastor and a wise mentor.
To some, he was a well-beloved missionary and brother in Christ.
To some, he was a faithful friend.
To many, he was a kind and gentle man, one who took time for others, one who gave selflessly, one who was wise and understanding. A man who knew and loved God.

But to me, he was my grandpa. And I miss him. ...continue reading →

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One year and one day ago, my dress was white, my feet were bare, and my lips were saying "I do" to the man who stole my heart. Eric and Chayli Baer, for a forever that lasts as long as earthly life does.

That was such a beautiful day. It didn't matter that it rained or that my dress was slightly stained. It didn't matter that the punch ran out or that we forgot to sign our marriage license and had to get reluctantly roped back inside after we'd already made our escape. We made the best of everything, and it wasn't hard at all.

How is it that time sometimes seems to steal that ability? You fall in love, and you tell yourself that you're never going to get used to loving him. You tell yourself you'll do everything you can to keep that brand-new swirl of exhilaration that is so unbelievable and so uncontainable. Every day you choose to see the best in him, and for a while you can't even believe you'll ever see the worst. ...continue reading →