Author Archives: Ellen

Sunset

On Sunday night of our birthday weekend together our family walked down our kids driveway to catch the sunset after dinner.

Psalm 19:1-6

The heavens declare the glory of God,
    and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Day to day pours out speech,
    and night to night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there words,
    whose voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out through all the earth,
    and their words to the end of the world.

In them he has set a tent for the sun,
    which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
    and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
    and its circuit to the end of them,
    and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

A wonderful finale for us as we began our farewells to our ‘Coast’ kids.

This is My Father’s World ~ Hymn

This is My Father’s World

This is my Father’s world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world,
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world.
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong
Seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
The battle is not done:
Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and Heav’n be one.

This is my Father’s world,
Dreaming, I see His face.
I ope my eyes, and in glad surprise
Cry, The Lord is in this place.
This is my Father’s world,
From the shining courts above,
The Beloved One, His Only Son,
Came—a pledge of deathless love.

This is my Father’s world,
Should my heart be ever sad?
The lord is King—let the heavens ring.
God reigns—let the earth be glad.
This is my Father’s world.
Now closer to Heaven bound,
For dear to God is the earth Christ trod.
No place but is holy ground.

This is my Father’s world.
I walk a desert lone.
In a bush ablaze to my wondering gaze
God makes His glory known.
This is my Father’s world,
A wanderer I may roam;
Whate’er my lot, it matters not,
My heart is still at home.

Let the Parties Begin!

We are all together again and enjoyed Dear’s famous Tomato Rice Soup with some fresh bread for dinner and then we watched the Seattle Sounders Soccer opener. JJ was a little shocked when we all cheered mightily at the first goal. By the third goal Addy and JJ joined in with the celebration clapping and cheering and were ready for the excitement of the fourth goal. We won’t apologize for soccer indoctrination at our house.

Today (Saturday) we are off to have a Fishing themed party for JJ and then later this evening we’ll enjoy a meal to celebrate Andrew.

And speaking of weather we are heading into the 70’s today! Happy day to you all.

Before and After

I took on a new to me ministry at our church this year and one of my responsibilities is the church kitchen. I’ve been slowly going through every drawer and cupboard and tossing stuff and organizing other stuff. This silverware drawer was out of control. While walking through Walmart I found these wooden drawer dividers that are on springs that stay tight where you put them.

I’m so pleased with the new look of this drawer!

Today this little guy is officially two years old. We’ll all be celebrating tomorrow and the theme of his party is fishing. Our Coast kids arrive today and we’ll enjoy Dear’s Famous Tomato Rice Soup together for dinner. Tomorrow we party all day long! Jaymison first in the morning and then a special birthday dinner for our son-in-law Andrew with an extra celebration on his new job.

April Bible Verse Challenge ~ Jesus said…

Three more Thursdays in this challenge counting today. Add your verse/verses in the comments and I’ll add them below.

John 10:27-30

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

From Patricia:

Luke 4:23-27 (KJV)

And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. 24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. 25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; 26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.

From Vera:

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15:12-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

From HappyOne:

John 6:35 –

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

From Maristella:

” When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12

Not So Taxing Hodgepodge

Wednesday Hodgepodge is back this week thanks to Jo From This Side of the Pond.

1. What is something you currently find ‘taxing’? 

Getting my brain to stop organizing an event that I’m in charge of the kitchen for when I’m trying to fall asleep.

2. I’ve seen this question asked in various forms on several social media sites…you can only keep three-

coffee, jewelry, tacos, wine, books, dogs, chocolate, Netflix, make-up, leggings, cheese, cats

Which three do you keep and how easy or hard was it for you to decide? 

This was not hard for me. My three would be coffee, books, and chocolate.

3. Tell us something you know or have learned about forgiveness? 

If you are a believer in and a follower of Jesus, we are commanded to forgive. It is not an option. Sometimes it is hard but forgiveness brings peace. We have to grasp the fact that without forgiveness we would be lost in our sins and damned to hell. But thanks be to God that we can be forgiven and because we’ve been forgiven from so much we need to extend forgiveness. When we forgive we acknowledge that God is in control and we are not.

4. What’s something you’d recommend that is often overlooked and under appreciated? 

Reading the Bible everyday not just a devotional.

I heard this yesterday and will quote it here.

“Sloppy sentimental devotionalizing of all the scriptures just doesn’t get at the issues. Teach with exactness.” from a sermon in Acts by John MacArthur

I’ll add, go to the exact source and read for yourself what it says.

Here’s another quote:

“Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.” ~ Charles Spurgeon

5. Give us a favorite word that starts with letter K and tell us why this is the one you chose. 

Our daughter’s name starts with a K and I thought of her first but since you want a word not a person I’m going with Kindred Spirit, (okay it’s two words but one of them starts with a k) a person whose interests or attitudes are similar to one’s own.  In this day and age it is so comforting to find those with whom you can express yourself and not be silenced by or condemned. I get weary of social police…but I will forgive.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We have a busy weekend coming up and next week that event that my brain is not shutting off for will demand all of my attention from Wednesday through Friday so I’ll be absent from my blog and from visiting other blogs.

In the meantime I’m posting this photo again that our DIL sent along to make you smile. He’s turning two on Friday!

The Birds

I was driving with our daughter-in-law and noticed all these Canadian Geese on this grassy field. I grabbed my phone and tried to get the photos before they all took off.

We had a nice little road trip and are home again. Time with loved ones and lots of good food and shopping was on the agenda. We tracked down our favorite waitress at a different Mexican restaurant from where she formerly worked and enjoyed a couple meals at her new location. She wasn’t able to work during most of the restaurant restrictions but has found a place that has given her some hours. It’s a nice Mexican restaurant with good salsa. That’s a plus for us.

Today is our son-in-law’s birthday. Happy Birthday Andrew. We will celebrate Andrew and JJ this coming weekend.

We are in for a very nice week weather wise here in our corner of Washington state. Weather in the 60’s to begin the week and then climbing up to the 70’s by the end of the week. We are looking forward to JJ’s 2nd birthday and party this coming weekend so those temps will be nice for any outdoor activities. His party theme is Fishing.

As Some Tall Rock Amidst the Waves ~ Hymn

As Some Tall Rock Amidst the Waves

As some tall rock amidst the waves,
The fury of the tempest braves;
While fierce the billows, toiling high,
Break at its foot and murmuring die:

Thus they, who in the Lord confide,
Though foes assault on every side;
Cannot be moved or overthrown,
For Jesus makes their cause His own.

So faithful Stephen, undismayed,
The malice of the Jews surveyed;
The holy joy which filled his breast
A luster on his face impressed.

Behold! he said, the world of light
Is opened to my strengthened sight;
My glorious Lord appears in view,
That Jesus, whom ye lately slew.

With such a friend and witness near,
No form of death could make him fear;
Calm, midst the shower of stones, he kneels,
And only for his murderers feels.

May we, by faith, perceive Thee thus,
Dear Savior, ever near to us!
This fight, through life, our peace shall keep,
And death be feared no more than sleep.

Words: John Newton (The Death of Stephen)