The small quiet town of Boring, Oregon, near the base of Mt. Hood, is home to DeVere and Cynthia Crawford who have been adopted by Betty the Chicken.

The poems began in 2003 when God gave Marcia the idea of writing a short poem, putting it on a postcard, and then mailing the postcards to each of the church members who were housebound and unable to attend church in person. “Even if I couldn’t visit everyone,” Marcia thought, “at least they would all have a note of encouragement.”

A local friend, an experienced photographer with an uncanny sense of direction, promised me, “You can’t miss the perfect little muddy trail that leads down to Secret Beach on the Southern Oregon coast.” Three tries later I had proved him wrong. I could follow his good, detailed directions and still miss it.

Thanksgiving weekend, November 28, the Coos Bay Adventist Church suffered a fire in the church's community service building. Now the community is coming together to restock and help the church begin again.

I want to tell you a story about my friend Pat.

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