Author Archives: Ellen

Sophie Wozniuk ~ December 25, 1913-July 9, 2009

 

What a wonderful celebration of Sophie’s life we had at her funeral on Wednesday. Sophie is my oldest sister Kathy’s MIL. Kathy and her husband Len cared for her for several years right up to her death last Thursday night. Sophie was a spunky hard working lady. She has 3 daughters Lil, Laureen, Ruth and one son, my BIL Len. Len charged us from the beginning of the memorial service that we were going to rejoice with his mom who was finally in heaven. Sophie loved her Savior Jesus Christ.  Heaven was her theme and desire for the last 20 years. This last year it became her daily prayer to God, for Him to please take her home.

 

Len and my sister sang a duet in Russian and English. Len’s sisters Ruth and Laureen, 2 of my sisters Kathy and Lana G, my niece Michelle, and an lifetime friend Diane sang a sextet of Psalm 121 put to music. My father gave a word from Micah. My nieces shared some stories about their Baba. The oldest grandson Phil (Lil’s Son) read her Eulogy. Another Grandson Greg (Laureen’s son) spoke of remembrances of her and read her favorite Psalm 121. My brother Steve spoke and wove a wonderful message about Sophie’s Song using some great old hymns and referencing the songs of women in the Bible.

 

 

Len was our choir director at Bethany Baptist Church in L.A. (A Russian Baptist Church) many years ago and we were led in song again by him at the funeral. It was a great reunion of so many of our Russian friends and relatives who have all gone their separate ways. Fun times looking at a face we recognized but forgetting the name attached to it. Wozniuks, Semenchuks, Leonovich, Katkovs,  Menns, Bagdanovs, Titovs, Shvetzovs, Kudraves, Kaluzny, Goncharenko, Rudametkin, Kowalski, Wlasiuk, Poulsons, Kuzichev, Moure, Philipchuk and more.  We sang at the service, we sang at the graveside and we kept singing at the dinner reception afterwards.

 

My nieces are trying to sneak a photo of me taking photos but I caught them!

 

All Sophie’s grandchildren that were at the funeral released a balloon for her…

 

My niece Michelle with her husband Ryan and their son Jackson. Doesn’t she look so cute pregnant. They are expecting a little baby girl in September. I got my sister Lana G! to pause a moment to get a photo taken with Michelle. The case that this bouquet of flowers are in belonged to Sophie’s husband Tony.

 

My cousin Jim and his wife my friend Jeaneen and my friend Heidi and her husband Ken. Heidi and I met and became friends at the Russian Baptist church. I met Jeaneen in college and introduced her to my cousin Jim.

 

Shirley, Bobbi and their mom Nura Menn. Shirley is another one of my buddies from the Baptist church. Her mom Nura is my Aunt Nina’s sister. Phil Semenchuk (Phil’s mom is one of Sophie’s daughters) with his fiance Anna. Milla and Susie. Milla’s father was our aunt Nina’s brother. Milla’s parents were friends with my parents in Iran and remained close when they both immigrated to the U.S.A. Milla’s sister Tamera was at the funeral, too, but I didn’t get a good photo of her. We always called their parents aunt and uncle.

 

My brothers Steve and Fred with my sister Lana G!  This is the very first current photo you’ve seen on my blog of my brother Fred. I was happy to see him at the funeral.

 

My brother Fred and my cousin Jim with my nieces, nephews and SIL Kelly in the background.

 

My partner in travel and crime in my early college years…

 

 

My cousin Jim, sister Kathy, brother Fred, sister Vera, our Aunt’s niece Milla, ellen b, my sister Lana G!, and my brother Steve.

 

Kathy, Vera, Fred, Ellen, Lana, and Steve. (Tim and Leonard are the two siblings missing in this photo)

I have found that people are so loving and attentive at funerals. It’s as if our mortality sinks in for a time and we take care to let each other know that we love them and care for them. It truly was a great time of reunion for me. We ended our time by singing  “God be with you till we meet again”

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

ABC’s of the Word ~ W

9 You rule over the surging sea;
    when its waves mount up, you still them. Psalm 89:9 (NIV)

Jesus Calms the Storm

23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

I pulled this out of my archives for W today because my brain is on overload and it needs a little rest before I can come up with anything new. We had a glorious celebration and reunion yesterday at Sophie Wozniuk’s funeral and I’ll post more about it when my brain revives. Blessings on all of you.

To see more ABC’s of the Word visit Pam at Grey Like Snuffie!

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Window Views ~ Cranberry Cottage

Last week my niece and I stopped at the Cranberry Cottage in Bothell. This shop is in an old rickety farmhouse and has so much charm. There is a combination of new and old merchandise to purchase.

 

 

This fun vintage trailer was in the front yard of the Cottage. The rest of my window views are from inside of this little trailer.

 

 

For more Window Views please visit the Window Views Blog.

Note: Some of you have asked so I just wanted to add that I didn’t buy anything here on this day…

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Portal to Hogwarts?

I think we’ve found a way to reach Hogwarts from the Northwest. I love this mile marker on the Sammamish River Trail. I rushed towards it but nothing happened… but I think I’m way too old for Hogwarts.

So at 12:01 a.m. July 15th  you can go see the latest Harry Potter Movie to hit the big screen. I’ll be in bed. I choose to go to theaters when I am awake. My daughter and a few of my nieces, nephews, and SIL will be in the theater tonight in Washington and California. Only one more book that is being made into two films after this one…(thanks for correcting me, Sara) :0)

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Moroccan Shower and Tablescape

I’m posting my photos from our Moroccan Bridal Shower now and will link these up for Tablescape Thursday later in the week on Susan’s Between Naps on the Porch Blog. I’m traveling back to L.A. from Seattle tomorrow for a funeral on Wednesday and won’t be around the computer much. I’m staying at my condo in Camarillo until Monday the 20th when I fly back to Seattle and finish off my scheduled time here.

My daughter and I decorated our deck gazebo on Sunday for a Bridal shower for her friend Kristen. Katie is in the wedding in August. We decided on this theme because Kristen has enjoyed this culture and has taken Belly Dancing courses. It took Katie and I a couple hours to decorate the gazebo.

Here’s what we started with. The pile of stuff in the top photo are things I’ve accumulated from Goodwill and other thrift stores with this theme in mind. Yards of fabric and window scarfs are inexpensive second hand for the amount of fabric you get. We also used large tablecloths we had on hand that worked in with the colors.

This is the final result. The Bride to be was so pleased and “blown away” at what we created in honor of her.

 

We could have used a lot more safety pins then we had but ties really came in handy as did the good ole stapler.

 

 

 

 

 

I prepared Rack of Lamb with Ina Garten’s recipe from her Barefoot Contessa Parties book. The mustard mixture that coats the racks seasons the lamb so well. I’ll share the recipe later. I also made basmati rice with almonds and raisens.  The salad we served was with persian cucumbers and a persian salad dressing.

 

Because Kristen is gluten intolerant we found a gluten free brownie mix and prepared the brownies and served them with rasberries and a chocolate sauce.

 

As dessert was served the winds whipped up and the rains came down followed with thunder and lightning. The girls evacuated to the family room for opening presents and some nice hot tea.

Thank you for visiting. I hope to get around bloggyland on Thursday after my travels and the funeral. Blessings!

On Thursday you can see more scapes at Between Naps on the Porch.

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Our Moroccan Shower ~

My daughter hosted a bridal shower for her friend Kristen today. We went with a Moroccan theme and transformed our patio gazebo. I’ll show before and after photos later but right now I’m headed to bed to recuperate!!

 

Have a great week everyone!

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Mosaic Blue Monday~ Hydrangeas

 

It’s time for Mosaic Monday and Blue Monday. My hydrangea bush in Washington is giving us a variety of purple, green and blue this year.  To see more Blue visit Sally at Smiling Sally and to see more Mosaics visit Mary at Little Red House.

Right now my daughter is having a bridal shower at our home so I’m sneaking out of view to post. I’ll be showing photos from our patio gazebo transformation for the Morracon themed party. Blessings on your week.

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Have You Not Known, Have You Not Heard ~ Hymn

Have You Not Known, Have You Not Heard

Have you not known, have you not heard
That firm remains on high
The everlasting throne of Him
Who formed the earth and sky?

Are you afraid His power shall fail
When comes your evil day?
And can an all creating arm
Grow weary or decay?

Supreme in wisdom as in power
The Rock of Ages stands,
Though Him you cannot see, nor trace
The working of His hands.

He gives the conquest to the weak,
Supports the fainting heart;
And courage in the evil hour
His heavenly aids impart.

Mere human power shall fast decay,
And youthful vigor cease;
But they who wait upon the Lord
In strength shall still increase.

They with unwearied feet shall tread
The path of life divine;
With growing ardor onward move,
With growing brightness shine.

On eagles’ wings they mount, they soar,
Their wings are faith and love;
Till, past the cloudy regions here,
They rise to Heav’n above.

Words: Isaac Watts, 1707; alt. in Scot­tish Par­a­phras­es, 1781.

Round Robin Photo Challenge ~ Silence…

Greetings Robins! Time for your next photo challenge. This challenge was suggested by Monica and it’s more of a concept than a subject. Take a photo that depicts:

Silence

 

A quiet place, a sign, something lonely, a subject that evokes silence. Lots of possibilities to capture silence in a photo. Look about and listen, you will see silence.

This last week I’ve had some early morning quiet walks along the Sammamish River/Burke Gilman Trail north east of Seattle. My photos are from the trail and of the reading room in Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington where it is silent.

 

Scenes along the Sammamish River Trail

 

Suzzallo Library Reading Room at the University of Washington

For more Silent Photo themed entries visit the Round Robin Photo Challenge blog.

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Sophie is Finally Home…

Welcome Home Sophie…Your Hope has been realized! Glory!!

 

My sister’s MIL passed away on Thursday night. She was 95 last Christmas Day. She really would get put out that the Lord didn’t take her sooner. It got to be where my sister wouldn’t want to tell her about someone else dying because Sophie would get upset that they died and she hadn’t yet. She wanted to be with her Savior and was tired of this earth. We are rejoicing with her now that she is in the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My sister and BIL have been caring for her and living with her for a few years now and she was privileged to be able to die in her home and in her own bed without being hooked up to anything. Sophie’s been a widow for several years. She has 3 daughters and one son (my sister’s husband) Her 3 daughters (2 of which are widowed) live in Canada, Michigan, and Colorado. The daughter that lives in Colorado has been on a mission trip in Russia and had to have an emergency appendectomy in Russia this last week. She is recovering in Russia and will not be able to attend the funeral. Please pray for the family to be at peace with all the circumstances that they had no control over…

I’ll be flying back down to LA on Tuesday night for the funeral at Rose Hills on Wednesday. I’ll stay at home in Camarillo until Monday the 20th and fly back to Seattle then. It will be nice to have this unexpected time with Dear and make the time shorter for us to be apart.

ht: photo of Sophie taken Christmas day 2005 from my niece Michelle. Sophie is her Baba…

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.