Monthly Archives: November 2012

Downtown Seattle

On Wednesday afternoon we met Terry and Lovella at Boka in downtown Seattle for Happy Hour.

The food was all delicious but the company was better.

If you find yourself in downtown Seattle to shop let us know and we’ll meet you for Happy Hour.

Today Dear and I are headed north across the line to meet up with 6 of the MGCC girls and their husbands for dinner at Bev and Harv’s. Looking forward to this get-together. We’ll head north after Dear gets home from work. We will spend Saturday to recoup! What are your plans this weekend before U.S. Thanksgiving?

People Of Grace

Yesterday my brother shared a post about People of Grace in his life and it inspired me to do the same. He also noted these were “People God has deliberately put in your life”. The first people I thought of were my birth family and extended family.

Dear’s side of our family. (Photo by Jeremy Leffel)

My side or our family. (Photo by Jeremy Leffel)

Over the years different siblings have played a more significant role in extending me grace. For my “Washington” years my youngest siblings have been the most consistent grace givers in my life with lots of phone calls and touches in my life.

The next obvious grace giver in my life is my Dear.

I’m very thankful to God that my children have extended me grace over the years for my failures in parenting. They are a huge encouragement to me. (Photo by Jeremy Leffel)

Now I start looking outside my family circle and consider others along the way that God has used in my life and blessed my life with. Maybe they also were those who God used to sharpen me. Those who challenged me to become more Christ like by words and example. Of course these friendships only remain if that grace is extended both ways.

Some of my earliest good friendships started in junior high with Nanc and Judy. Just before Dear and I moved back to Washington I was able to reconnect with Nanc through Facebook and we got together a few times. I’m happy that God brought Nanc back into my life and we were able to fill in the gaps of what had happened to us over the last 40 years.

Heidi my best buddy from Bethany Baptist Church and Jeanie my best buddy from Cal-State L.A. Jeanie ended up marrying my cousin Jim. I love how God brought the 3 of us and our hubbies to a close friendship with each other.

When we moved to Washington away from both Dear and my families my dear friends and walking buddies Jan and Jody were the grace givers in my life. They became family to me.  We all attended the same church and we went on a few great vacations together. We supported each other through thick and thin and through a lot of suffering.

Our son Dan became best friends with this young man, Jamie, in grade school and through Dan and Jamie’s friendship a grace giving friendship was formed between Jamie’s parents and us.  Beth and Dave along with Jamie’s family will be joining us for our Thanksgiving celebration next week. Grace friendships are enduring friendships.

Most of my early and mid life friendships and encounters with Grace givers in my life came from junior high, high school, college, church friends, and neighbors. Now God has used another means to deliberately put people in my life. I’m still amazed at the friendships and grace givers God has given me through the internet.

My dear friend and walking buddy from Camarillo, Willow. We met through our mutual blogs and then were brave enough to meet over coffee in person. God had this friendship in mind for us and after that coffee meeting we walked regularly every week for the years Dear and I lived in Camarillo.  I miss my walking buddy and grace giver, Willow.

Another internet miracle of grace God has given me are the Mennonite Girls. God deliberately plopped me in the middle of this group of ladies. I’m thankful to God for these girls that have filled in the gaps of friendship for me. They are true grace givers and sharpeners in my life.

I have so many other bloggy friends that are gracious to me and encourage me. I’m thankful to God for using their words on their blogs to sharpen me and inspire me to be more Christlike. Pam, Cori, Karin, Rosemary, Pondside, Kathie, Sandy, Kathleen, Miss Debbie, Rosella, LaDonna, Karen, Elle, Lisa, Vee, Sara, Ann, Wendy, Jill, Pat, Gumbo Lily and more…thank you so much for sharing God’s grace in your lives and extending that grace to me.

A Bright Fall Table…

I used 2 different cameras for these table scape shots and you’ll be able to see the difference.

I bought the tablecloth at Target and set the table around it.

Josh and Laura were going to come over to help eat my latest test recipe for our new Mennonite Girls Can Cook book coming out next May.

A lot goes in to creating a cookbook. I’m glad I have 9 “sisters” to go through this process with.

It would be daunting to do a project like this on your own.

It was fun to put together things I’ve collected here and there to finish off the table setting.

Stemware, dishes, flatware and linens from antique malls, thrift stores, discount stores and on huge markdowns from major department stores rounded out the table.

We enjoyed a wonderful meal at this table with Josh and Laura. Everyone gave my recipe a thumbs up and I’ll be sharing the recipe in our new cookbook.

The day was cold, clear and sunny and it was fun to see how the sun added it’s brightness to the setting.

I’m looking forward to enjoying many more meals with family and friends in November and December. I find enjoying fellowship around food to be so satisfying. It feeds me physically and spiritually.

Yesterday I went shopping for a new pair of jeans and some boots. I forgot about Monday being a holiday and didn’t anticipate the crowds at the stores. Thankfully I had success. I find it difficult to find jeans that fit right and was happy to find some that will work and at a good discount. What did you do on our Monday Remembrance Day /Veteran’s Day holiday?

Our First Frosty Mornings…

We have had a cold spell in the Seattle area. It’s fun to see the frosty leaves in the morning.

Clear nights have meant colder days. I love the fact that the leaves are even falling on top of the full yard waste bin. The sun crowns the yard waste bin with a lovely glow…

This is going to be a full week filled with fun gatherings. Tuesday is my Women’s Bible Study morning.  We are meeting one of the Mennonite Girls and her husband in downtown Seattle on Wednesday. Thursday we have our small group here. On Friday we are heading across the line to another of the Mennonite Girls for a dinner party.  Hope you all have some fun gatherings to look forward to.

In this month of the Grace Challenge I’m thankful to God for friends and gatherings that encourage and bless us. Don’t miss today’s Grace Challenge post one of our Mennonite Girls is mentioned in it!

Remembrance Day ~ Veteren’s Day

O God, the Strength of Those Who War

O God, the strength of those who war,
The hope of those who wait,
Be with our sons gone forth to fight,
And those who keep the gate.

Give to our hosts in battle’s hour
Firm hearts and courage high,
Thy comfort give to those who fall,
Thy peace to those who die.

Breathe on our land the spirit calm
Which faith in right bestows,
And in the hours of dark suspense
A faith which stronger grows.

In Thee alone we place our hope,
Thou Keeper of the just,
And Thou, through fight and fire and fears
Wilt justify our trust.

Thy ways are wonderful, O God,
Who makest wars to cease:
O let this be the final war
That ushers in Thy peace.

Every year, on 11 November at 11 am – the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month – we pause to remember those men and women who have died or suffered in all wars, conflicts and peace operations.

Veteren’s Day Weekend

 

We are dry and cold for a few days here in the Seattle area.

 

We’ve had some significant frost the last couple mornings. The heat has been on all day.

 

Today I’m working on one of my two remaining recipes that need to be completed for our new cookbook. Josh and Laura will help us partake in the finished product. It’s going to be a very fancy Saturday lunch! Here’s hoping the photos are right the first time around.

I tried to find a red poppy to be able to wear for Remembrance Day and didn’t have any luck. I guess I should have started looking earlier on line.

Today is the 10th day of November. Here are 10 specific things that I haven’t mentioned before that I am thankful to God for this month.

1. My husband who works hard and lets me spend the money he makes without complaining.

2. Being able to buy ingredients for meals and sharing those meals.

3. Fall crisp clear beautiful mornings that make me praise God.

4. My parents who are still alive and thriving with gratitude to God.

5. Girlfriends who pray for me.

6. Northshore Baptist Church and all they do for our community.

7. Our small group with 13 very unique individuals who care for each other.

8. Electricity and gas that powers everything we need for our comfort.

9. Grocery stores with their shelves stocked to the brim with everything we need.

10. My bloggy friends who share creative and encouraging things for me to see and read.

Hope your weekend is a thankful one! Blessings…

Don’t miss these fun treats over at MGCC today!

AND…HAPPY 237th BIRTHDAY TO THE MARINE CORPS!

Grace Challenge Continues

The Grace Challenge continues and I am thankful to God that I can enjoy soccer with our son and daughter in law!

The Seattle Sounders won their game tonight which means they’ll be going to the Western Conference Finals against L.A. Galaxy. We are so excited here in Seattle.

On Thursday I was able to mow the lawn because we’ve had a couple dry days. It really was mostly mowing leaves and I filled every bin we have. We are going to have to buy those yard waste bags that Home Depot sells to pick up the rest of the leaves.  Friday is going to be cold around here with the high in the 40’s. It’s clear and cold and beautiful. Hows the end of your week going?

Speaking of the Grace Challenge this guest post was really good to read today!

Looking Back at Fall Scapes…

I’m busy thinking about the last few recipes I need to complete for our new cookbook. I’m also beginning to make plans for our Thanksgiving celebration.

‘

Our son Dan will be making the trek across the mountains over Snoqualmie Pass to join us for Thanksgiving.

We decided to invite mutual friends of Dan’s and ours for our time together. With our friends and with my sister and husband there will be 10 of us.

Josh and Laura will be celebrating with Laura’s family this year. Those of you with married kids will understand the every other year concept for holidays.

Katie and Andrew can’t travel far so they will be joining Andrew’s father and step-mom in Florida for Thanksgiving.

We have a fun get together to look forward to next week in downtown Seattle with some Canadian friends I’ll share more next week.

I made Osso Buco for the first time on Wednesday night and boy was it good. Did I just pat myself on the back? I love to order it when it’s on the menu when we eat out and decided to try it in my own kitchen. I’ll have to share the recipe on MGCC blog soon. I also bought Katie a fun little apparel item for the Marine Ball that she finally gets to attend this year. I’m mailing it tomorrow and I’ll let you know if she decides to wear it instead of returning it. I always include the receipt with my impulsive buys and have no problem if they are returned…

I’m thankful for people who understand me and my griefs and joys and my humor which needs some explanation at times. What are you thankful for and what are your Fall plans?

I’m linking with Cuisine Kathleen for Let’s Dish and hoping her power stays on in Long Island and that the Nor’easter doesn’t add any more damage where damage has been done! Praying for you Kathleen and others on the East coast!!

Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave…

The Star Spangled Banner

~ Francis Scott Key, 1814.

Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

I don’t think I’ve ever read the 3 other stanzas to the The Star Spangled Banner.

Protect us Lord and keep us free. Guard my heart and mind in you and let me trust and rest in you alone.

Laying to Rest…

I’m looking forward to all the Election brouhaha being laid to rest by tomorrow. In the spirit of that hope I decided to share some more from the Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia. I hope you’ll enjoy the peaceful, restful images…

I’m grateful that whoever wins in our nation’s election that God is still on the throne and He is the one that holds our world together. I’m thankful that my hope is in Him and Him alone for my future. Judging from all the polls half of our country is going to be disappointed once the numbers are all in.

Blessings on all who come by here and God bless America…