Waiting…

A season of waiting makes for introspection. Some is good and some is not so good. In the world of blogging right now I’m not so good at getting around to many participants in my favorite weekly memes. I will cut down on some so I can do better with others. It doesn’t sit well with my brain and my comfort to be a “hit and run participant”.

I use feedly to keep track of the blogs I don’t want to miss any new posts from. I hope to add more blogs to this site as I search out more faithful bloggers out there.

We are in the season of Lent and Dear and I have set aside something together that we enjoy on a regular basis for this season. So maybe this is a kind of Spring cleaning time in my life.

We are on the alert for the arrival of our little Addy. God knows the timing on this and we will be hitting the road post haste when we get that phone call.

If you don’t see anything new here for a stretch of days don’t get the wrong idea. Blogging and bloggers are near and dear to me. I’m not giving up. Here are some verses from God’s Word on waiting in the English Standard Version.

Isaiah 40:31:

but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.

Psalm 27: 13-14

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living!
Wait for the Lord;
    be strong, and let your heart take courage;
    wait for the Lord!

Psalm 33: 20-22

Our soul waits for the Lord;
    he is our help and our shield.
For our heart is glad in him,
    because we trust in his holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
    even as we hope in you.

Psalm 130: 5-6

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
    and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
    more than watchmen for the morning,
    more than watchmen for the morning.

Isaiah 64: 4

From of old no one has heard
or perceived by the ear,
no eye has seen a God besides you,
who acts for those who wait for him.

1 Kings 2: 3

and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn,

Far from Perfect Hodgepodge…

1. What is one area of your life where you’re a perfectionist? Is that a good thing?

Cleaning. Now, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea with this answer. My house is NOT that house that is always spic and span and where you can see vacuum trails and everything sparkles and you can smell cleaning solutions and you are afraid to sit down for fear of messing something up. But…when I do finally decide to clean an area of my home I go for every corner and nook and cranny and behind and under. That’s when I can announce that it’s clean! This is a photo of me getting ready to wash the floors on my hands and knees. Perfection??

Knee pads. Three pocket apron where I like to keep glass cleaning rags in one side and on the opposite side non glass cleaning rags. Never mix chlorine and ammonia as in bleach cleaners and window cleaners! Middle pocket I use for trash and other things I pick up along the way.

The hard side of what I define as clean is when we rent a place to stay and someone says it’s clean and I can see dust bunnies and all other kinds of things that are not clean. I get miffed especially when they add in a $200 cleaning deposit!

Last but not least I want to say I enjoy a cozy home, it does not have to be perfectly cleaned, unless I’m paying for it to be clean.

2. What’s something you find perfectly ridiculous?

Older women in leggings without their bum covered with a long top.

3. What’s a skill you’ve developed by way of that old fashioned saying, ‘practice makes perfect?

Being able to put a meal together that’s edible in a flash or over the course of a day with whatever is in the pantry or refrigerator or with all the special ingredients shopped for ahead of time. In other words, we can eat like common folk or like kings and queens at this old house because of much trial and error and success in the kitchen. There’s very little fear in my kitchen today except for my latest conquests that involve waiting for yeast to rise!

Growing up and into my adulthood before I was married my mother made every meal including school lunches for her 8 children. Her love language was putting food in front of us. Kids in our Russian culture stayed home until they got married. I did not cook or bake or do anything (maybe I made cookies) in my mother’s kitchen growing up. When I got married is when it was all on me. This wasn’t as bad as it sounds because I did learn from watching my mother that many great things are possible in the kitchen with limited resources. I should mention my major in college was Home Economics and I learned a lot in those school years.

4. What’s your idea of a perfect breakfast?

Something savory with a little something sweet, too.

5. What’s a trip, holiday, vacation, or day outing you’ve taken that you’d rate a perfect 10? Tell us why.

Any trip we’ve taken to Great Britain ranks a perfect 10 in my book. Why? The history, the architecture, the pubs, the Full English Breakfasts, the scenery, the museums, the cathedrals, the Bed and Breakfast establishments, the villages, cobblestones, castles, Austen, Tolkien, Sayers, Lewis. Should I go on? Long live the Queen!

6. What quote or saying perfectly sums up your life right now? If you can’t do perfect, how about one that comes close?

“Practically Perfect in Every Way” I think this quote can cover most anything because of the practically part! I don’t expect perfection on this earth. I’m looking forward to perfection when I see Jesus face to face.

^{Philippians 3:12-14}I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.

7. How would you spend $300 today?

On baby equipment that a granny/baba would find useful to have in her home. If you have any suggestions let me know. What have you found useful? I’m thinking of looking at garage sales for some of this kind of stuff.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

March is an exciting month for our family. Our little Addy will be making her debut before the month is over. Our son and daughter-in-law will be a daddy and mommy for the first time. Our daughter and son-in-law celebrate 6 years of marriage. I’ll be a year older very soon and I intend to celebrate all month long. Spring arrives in March! Can I hear an amen!? Spring flowers will be popping up all over.

Thank you Joyce From This Side of the Pond for asking the questions for Wednesday Hodgepodge. Click over to join in the fun.

Barn Mosaics

We spent the last 7 days of February with our kids in Northeastern Washington. We saw many great scenes like these from the road. The photo above is of a barn that you will probably see in many different seasons as it happens to be one we have to pass to get to our kid’s home.

This mosaic above is on our road trip to Dan and Jamie’s along Highway 395 after getting off I-90 and heading north of Spokane.

This series in the mosaic above are on the road on our way back home just off Highway 395.

This last barn with the quilt was taken off Interstate 90 in Cle Elum. We are just on the East side of Snoqualmie Pass and the area that can be the most troublesome in our journey about an hour and a half from home. Thankfully on this day we didn’t encounter anything that hindered our journey. We are always thankful to God for traveling mercies.

Some of my family favorites from our time in Eastern Washington. History being made with family.

Linking up to The Barn Collective with Tom the Backroads Traveller and

Mosaic Monday with Maggie at Normandy Life.

Our end of the week and weekend was not ordinary at all and we were called upon to care and support someone we love. I won’t share the story because it’s not mine to share on social media. We spent some time in an emergency hospital waiting room where we were exposed to a lot of drama from other people waiting to be cared for and a couple others who were just there to cause trouble. We got to see one of those people escorted out and into a police car. Most of all we experienced caring and kind nurses and doctors and public safety officers who were as thorough as they could be to give help. I was struck with how challenged police officers, fire fighters, doctors, nurses and other staff people are in the whole public service areas of our communities.

Hope you all had a good weekend whether it was ordinary or crazy!

This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24 (ESV)

Forty Days and Forty Nights ~Hymn

Forty Days and Forty Nights

Forty days and forty nights
Thou wast fasting in the wild;
Forty days and forty nights
Tempted, and yet undefiled.

Sunbeams scorching all the day;
Chilly dew-drops nightly shed;
Prowling beasts about Thy way;
Stones Thy pillow; earth Thy bed.

Should not we Thy sorrow share
And from worldly joys abstain,
Fasting with unceasing prayer,
Strong with Thee to suffer pain?

Then if Satan on us press,
Jesus, Savior, hear our call!
Victor in the wilderness,
Grant we may not faint nor fall!

So shall we have peace divine:
Holier gladness ours shall be;
Round us, too, shall angels shine,
Such as ministered to Thee.

Keep, O keep us, Savior dear,
Ever constant by Thy side;
That with Thee we may appear
At the eternal Eastertide.

Words: George H. Smyttan, March 1856.

I’m linking this post to InSPIREd Sunday. The Angel statue was on a tomb in Italy at the Monumentale Cemetery in Milan.

February Feathered Friends

Ducks at Bothell Landing taken February 10th.

Red Winged Blackbird at Juanita Bay Park in Kirkland, Washington.

I believe this is a Wood Duck. We spotted it on Juanita Bay February 11th.

This last photo is from northeastern Washington. A couple of these Grouse would come to this tree outside our son and daughter in law’s in the low light of evening and early morning. They were really enjoying the buds on the tree. It was hard to get a great shot from the window. This was taken on Tuesday morning February 28th.

Linking to Saturday’s Critters at Viewing Nature with Eileen.

We have been on a slow return to whatever might be called normal at this old house. We need to get out and have a good walk again soon. We arrived home from Eastern Washington on Wednesday. We are observing Lent which began on Wednesday. Our weekend should be relatively quiet. Hope your March is starting well.

Baby + House = Love

We were happy to help Dan and Jamie celebrate their growing family and their new home with their family and friends.

This winter their area is experiencing more snow than usual. The above photos were taken from the front porch. When I visit sometime without snow on the ground I’ll be able to take more extensive photos of their property.

Their new home has more open space and larger views. One great feature is their Russian Fireplace. You can see the fire glowing on the front of the fireplace. On the right side you see another glass door that can be used for baking or proofing or slow cooking. One of their open house gifts from friends was a cord of wood! Slapping my hand because I did not take a picture of the pantry which is amazing.

Of course I had to show some photos of the nursery again.

Morning views out the windows at the rear of their home.

Sunset views.

Their new place can fit at least 45 people milling about. I got some not so great photos of the crowd while Jamie opened presents.

Jamie with her mom and granny.

There’s a story behind that chicken that has been passed around the family as one of “those gifts”. We think we know who is getting it next.

Josh and Laura were able to fly over to make it to the party on Saturday and we enjoyed part of Sunday together before they flew back to Seattle. I’m glad Laura thought to have a picture taken of the four of them.

When we return we hope the path through the garden to the chicken coop will be easier to navigate.

We are home getting things organized at this old house so that we are ready for another quick trip across the mountains to welcome Addy in person. Hope all is well in your corner of the world.

Safely Home

A funny thing happened while we were in Colville. We weren’t able to drive home on Tuesday as planned because of the conditions on the pass. On Tuesday while doing errands with our daughter in law we stopped at the Toyota dealer and bought a used Rav4(2014). It was a local trade in and well maintained. Our daughter in law even knew the people who traded it in and gave us a thumbs up. We drove home today and are pleased with it’s performance. Since our kids and soon to arrive granddaughter live across a mountain range from us we thought this was a good purchase for future trips. I was even able to drive it up our kids snowy road to their house on the way home from the dealership.

On Wednesday morning we felt confident in our new ride to make the trek west and over the pass and on to home. One last look at the snowy view on our way down to the road from our kids home.

The last stretch before reaching the county road that is plowed. We made it home without any problems at three in the afternoon. Our return trip for the birth of Addy will be in just a couple short weeks.

Goodbye to February and hello to March and hello to the days leading up to Easter (Lent). Hope to do some visiting to your blogs the rest of this week.

Nesting

The nursery for Addy is taking shape. Dear painted the wall in three colors that will match the bedding for the crib. Our son painted the grey trim on the white crib. The mattress arrives soon. There will be an elephant decal to the left of the crib blowing pink bubbles over the crib on the brown part of the wall. Should be real cute.

These fabrics above are going to be the bedding for the crib.

If you haven’t guessed already there is an elephant theme for the nursery. The little car used to be red and blue and Dan’s Dzeda built it for him for Dan’s first Christmas. All the grandsons got one that year. Dan and Jamie decided to use the nursery colors to repaint it. I like the teal hubcaps.

Dear also painted the dresser drawer fronts grey. They were brown. The rustic bookcase needs completing with a few more shelves.

While we’ve been here we were able to enjoy a Baby Shower/ House Warming party at their new home with about 45 friends and family. I’ll share some photos from the event later.

We are busy helpers over here and helping to get some projects done before Addy arrives. Today Dear and Dan put garage door openers up and installed a new toilet. They also put in a new outlet for charging devices. We hope to be able to drive over the pass tomorrow for home. It all depends on the weather and the restrictions posted. We don’t have 4 wheel drive or traction tires so we have to catch a good travel window. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.

Barns in Snow

We are spending some time in Northeastern Washington with some significant snow still on the ground. We are helping our kids get more settled in their new home before their baby, our first grandchild arrives in March. Many things look great with a snow backdrop.

Linking up to the Barn Collective with Tom The Backroads Traveler. Just want to show Tom what he’s missing while he’s basking in the sun in Hawaii!

May the Mind of Christ, My Savior ~ Hymn

May the Mind of Christ, My Savior

May the mind of Christ, my Savior,
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and power controlling
All I do and say.

May the Word of God dwell richly
In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph
Only through His power.

May the peace of God my Father
Rule my life in everything,
That I may be calm to comfort
Sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me
As the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing,
This is victory.

May I run the race before me,
Strong and brave to face the foe,
Looking only unto Jesus
As I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me,
As I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel,
Seeing only Him.

Words: Kate B. Wilkinson, before 1913.

I’m a little late in posting my Sunday Hymn this week. We are busy busy at our son’s home. A friend shared this hymn in an email this morning and it’s a good prayer for me today.

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage

Author Archives: Ellen