The Great Exchange #4

We are calling the long weekend of July 17th-20th, The Great Exchange. Dan flew west and Laura flew East, exchanging planes.

After the celebration at Yep Kanum Park in Colville we gathered at our country bungalow for some water fun and for dinner.

After cooling off in the water, we enjoyed an Asian noodle dish with chicken that was easy to throw together and a salad. We had a blueberry lemon loaf for dessert with a dollop of ice cream.

Sunday morning we gathered at church filling a row and then came back to our place for Greg’s famous Swedish Pancakes with little smokies and fresh fruit.

Addy and JJ have moved on to enjoying Legos.

There was some epic tug of war battles under the dining room table! They left our bungalow with more events planned before Auntie left for the airport.

Time with Auntie was coming to a close.

Meanwhile on the other side of the mountains.

Saturday morning started early with a game of golf for our boys and Jamie D. These three have been friends since elementary school.

The brothers weekend was a relaxing hit!

We are so thankful to the LORD for our two beautiful daughters in law.

It was time to say goodbye. Auntie LOLO drove Dan and Jamie’s truck to the airport, parking it for Dan to pick up when he arrived on his flight. He had driven LOLO’s car to Seatac for her to be able to drive it home when she arrived. That was the plan anyway but there was a huge glitch to this great plan.

Both of their flights were part of the huge Alaska Airlines Snafu on Sunday night. All flights were grounded with no hope of them traveling this night. LOLO found a hotel next to the airport to spend the night in and Dan drove back to Josh and Laura’s for the night. They decided the best thing for the two of them to do on Monday morning was for each of them to drive and meet up halfway, exchange cars and continue to their homes. That worked great and they were both back at their own homes in the early afternoon.

Sometimes you just have to go with the flow and find a new plan. Thankful it worked out in a good way for both of them to get home safely. Thank you, LORD!

Today, a week later we are heading to the airport to pick up my brother and his son for a 4 day visit here. We have some events planned and are looking forward to extended time together. I will be scarce on the internet for several days. Enjoy the last days of July, everyone!

The Great Exchange #3

Saturday of our Great Exchange weekend was a full day. Our town was having a community celebration at the city park, Yep Kanum. JJ’s Taekwondo group were set to take the stage at 11:30am.

I did a video of him breaking the boards with his high kick and I’m unable to share the video here but he did a great job.

After the exhibition we walked about the classic car show and the artisan tents as we tracked down some lemonade to drink. It was a great celebration in the park.

The rest of the Great Exchange Weekend will wait for another day.

Truth for Today #154

Thursday July 24th

On Thursdays my posts will include verses that stood out in my readings from the Bible during week. One, two, three or maybe more. If you have a verse/verses that you read during the week and would like to share, leave it/them in the comments and I will add it/them to the post. Let’s dig deep in God’s Truth again this year!

The verses that you share are appreciated and so encouraging, I’m thankful for them and for each of you!

Psalm 25:4-5

Make me know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

Psalm 56:8-11

You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?

From Dianna:

Psalm 112:5

It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.

From Vera:

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”
‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬-‭26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

From Karen:

John 8:36

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

From Cheryl:

“It is the Lord. Let him do what seems good to him.” ~ I Samuel 3:18

Just Beachy Hodgepodge

Three generations at the beach in Southern California in the early 70’s.

It’s time for another summertime Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thank you, Joyce!

1. When does time pass slowly for you?

When waiting on news from a loved one. When flying from Seattle to the U.K.

When does time pass quickly for you?

When spending time with loved ones and watching how fast our grandchildren grow from stage to stage.

2. Do you have a favorite beach? What’s your favorite ‘beach’ activity? Tell us what we’d find in your beach bag.

Laguna Beach in the early 70’s.

Over the years favorite beaches included, Newport, Huntington, Laguna, Emma Wood (Ventura), San Clemente, and Refugio (campground on the beach above Santa Barbara).

In my 74 years of life, over half of those years were lived close enough to a beach to spend a day there or just a few miles from a beach. Our sons were born while we lived in Huntington Beach and our daughter was born in Ventura which is also a ‘beach’ town. In my younger years I loved to be in the waves or do a little body surfing. In high school, I enjoyed playing ‘Hearts’ on a beach towel with friends slathering on the cocoa butter to get a tan (I know…dumb). With small children, I didn’t like the beach because of all the sand I had to clean off everyone, the sand in the food and the panic I’d feel about them being swept away in the waves. In my older days we lived temporarily in Camarillo a short distance to the beach. I loved to have a walk on the beach before dawn and watch the waves and the sea birds. Currently, I’m not a fan of being on the beach on a hot day. If I’m going to spend any amount of time on the beach it will be in the Winter, at sunrise or sunset.

My bag is most likely in the car and I would be hands free except for my camera or my cell phone. I would be taking photos of the birds and the surfers and the waves. I’d have sunblock on and a hat. I would be walking along the shore and not sitting. 🙂

Cousins camping at Refugio State Beach in California, 1984.

3. Your favorite book or movie with a beach setting?

Flipper and Voyage of the Dawn Treader

4. What’s a food you love, but find it’s a pain to eat? Is it worth it?

Love is a strong word. I enjoy mussels and they aren’t the easiest to eat. Caramels are delicious but they might pull out a crown. Peanut brittle is another thing that can be dangerous for teeth but is delicious.

5. Do you like roller coasters? What’s the best (or worst) roller coaster you’ve been on?

Big Thunder Mountain January of 2023.

I enjoy the Disney rides that are roller coasterish like, Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, or Space Mountain. I’m not a fan of carnival rides.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Addy and JJ below the Huntington Beach Pier in the town where their Dad and Uncle were born.

Great Exchange Weekend #2

This great weekend actually started on a Thursday. I posted photos yesterday from all the Thursday happenings. Today I’ll share some Friday photos, mostly from Bayles Mountain.

This little guy looking down the hall, “Is she awake, yet?” Both Addy and JJ love to have Auntie Lolo around.

Indoor Crafts…

Time for some outdoor exercise…

First the Kung Fu kind of exercise…

Come join us, Auntie Lolo!

She is such a good sport!

And now for the cooling off kind of exercise…

Off the mountain for dinner in town on Friday evening…

…past the old barn. How long will she last?

The quintessential driveway evening view looking towards town and our great layering of mountains.

Friday was in the books and we still had two more days of interesting, delicious, fun, inspiring and challenging experiences to come.

Great Exchange Weekend Recap #1

Our family had a full fun weekend on both sides of the mountains. I’ll call it the ‘Great Exchange Weekend of July 2025’. Our Son flew West and our Daughter-in-law flew East passing each other at the Spokane airport.

Auntie LoLo arrived to spend the weekend on our side of the mountains and our son Dan took off to spend the weekend with his brother on the west side.

Jamie and the kids waited for Auntie after dropping Dan off for his flight to SeaTac. The kids were so thrilled to have Auntie here for the weekend.

Our westside kids got together after Dan arrived for a meal together. Although it was a ‘brother’ weekend, Katie got to see her brothers. too.

Here in Colville there was hours filled enjoying Auntie Lolo. First up, time spent in the garden unveiling all the incredible produce.

Some of the crop goes right into the mouth.

Checking how tall the vines have grown. “How does your garden grow?”

Speaking of growth our Grands are growing into more independence in their leisure time. They still like to have the company of the adults they love but they can play on their own knowing the adults are close by.

There were many more ‘events’ over the weekend that I’ll need to save for another day.

I’m ever so thankful to Auntie Lolo for all the photos she shares!

Adding the latest from the Hope Fire:

7/21/2025 Hope Fire Quick Facts

Size: 7,891 Acres

Personnel: 1,027

Containment: 45%

Happy Monday to you all.

Chosen Not for Good in Me ~ Hymn

Chosen Not for Good in Me

Chosen not for good in me,
Waked from coming wrath to flee,
Hidden in the Savior’s side,
By the Spirit sanctified—
Teach me, Lord, on earth to show
By my love, how much I owe.

Oft I walk beneath the cloud,
Dark as midnight’s gloomy shroud:
But, when fear is at the height,
Jesus comes, and all is light;
Blessèd Jesus! bid me show
Doubting saints how much I owe.

Oft the nights of sorrow reign—
Weeping, sickness, sighing, pain;
But a night Thine anger burns—
Morning comes, and joy returns:
God of comforts! bid me show
To Thy poor how much I owe.

When in flowery paths I tread,
Oft by sin I’m captive led;
Oft I fall, but still arise—
Jesus comes—the tempter flies;
Blessèd Jesus! bid me show
Weary sinners all I owe.

Words: Robert M. McCheyne, (1813-1843)

Tea ~ Queen Mary Katie’s Birthday

Welcome to Tea Time 2025. These posts will be about Tea Rooms we’ve been to, Teas we’ve given for friends and family, Church Tea events, and High Tea in restaurants from 2008 to the present. Tea in the U.S.A., Tea in England and Tea in Canada. Many of the Tea Rooms are no longer in business, which is sad.

This post was from a day long celebration of our daughter’s birthday in 2013. Her birthday is December 27th but the post didn’t go live until December 28th.

Our first stop for our Celebrating Katie day was at the Queen Mary Tea Room in Seattle which is located close to the University of Washington.

The waiter popped by our table and asked if we were celebrating anything special and we said, “Why yes, today is Katie’s birthday”. He asked if she’d like to wear a crown…

We said yes!

A long time friend of ours lives in the neighborhood and was able to join us for breakfast.

Queen Katie and Bridget

Bridget’s sister Jamie was Katie’s Maid of Honor. Jamie has been gone for over a year now on a trip around the world. We talked about Jamie and wondered if she’d be back home by next Christmas. Bridget is going to meet Jamie in New Zealand for several days in February before Jamie heads to South America.

Back to the Queen Mary…

The traditional tea sipping shot!

We said farewell to Santa and our breakfast buddy and headed to Destination #2. I’ll share that next week.

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Bucks and Berries

A couple of mighty fine looking bucks came to visit our back acres a week or so ago. We were hoping this one wasn’t going to hop onto the deck.

Tom’s comment got me hunting info on this velvet antler stage of life on the buck.

When antlers are in velvet, they are very vulnerable to being injured. Bucks seem to be very aware that they have this fragile treasure on their head and are very careful in their actions throughout antler genesis. Bruises, cuts, or tears to the velvet can all have an impact on the formation of the antler.

The velvet nourishes the growing antler for about five months. During development, antlers are delicate and extremely sensitive to the touch.

Velvet antler is covered in a hairy, velvet-like “skin” known as velvet and its tines are rounded, because the antler has not calcified or finished developing.

Check out the muscles on that Buck! This tree/bush is filled with berries for the first time since we moved in. We think it is a Saskatoon berry. Whatever it is these Bucks were enjoying the berries.

This week I’m still recovering and I’m off my game, as they say.

The fire I wrote about was at 20% containment as of yesterday. It’s a tough terrain to deal with. Hope all is well in your corner.

Truth for Today #153

Thursday July 17th

The verses that you share are appreciated and so encouraging, I’m thankful for them and for each of you!

2 Timothy 4:1-8

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

From Vera:

“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭63‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

From Dianna:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16 ESV