We’re spending a few days with this happy girl and her parents.
She’s got skills! She gets in and out of things all by herself. I’m tuckered out chasing her!
Hope you all have a great day and weekend ahead. If you don’t see me around you’ll know why.
In less then two weeks our little grandgirlie turns 1 year old! She loves her veggies and whole grain noodles.
Growing up is tiring.
It’s time to make the trip over the mountains to see all her new skills in person.
My answers to my random questions from yesterday…
1. God has decided to send you on a Mission trip, where are you going and why?
Russia because that’s where both my parents were born which makes me 100% Russian. I understand a little Russian and can speak some…not much intelligently. Everyone including Russians need Jesus as their Savior.
2. You have a free afternoon to read uninterrupted. Where would you choose to read?
I would choose to read in a comfy corner by a fireplace with a window view close by.
3. If you were stuck in an elevator for over an hour what music would you want playing while you were stuck?
I think I’d want the comfort of some good Worship music playing.
4. You have to travel from the west coast to the east coast of your country, what 5 cities would you want to spend time in?
I’ll take the northern tier of our states and choose:
Missoula, Montana
Grand Marais, Minnesota
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Newport, Rhode Island
Rockport, Maine
1. Are you currently operating at 100% capacity? If not, what % are you? What’s keeping you there?
At this stage of life I have spurts of working at different capacities. I’ve been working on one project at 100% which means my other daily operations are working at a lower capacity. I am learning more and more to appreciate the days and hours that my output is 100%.
2. Have you done your taxes? Planned/booked a summer holiday? Thought about or started your ‘spring cleaning’? Besides what’s listed here, tell us one task that needs doing before spring rolls around.
We have an appointment with a bookkeeper to do our taxes on Thursday. Spring cleaning is definitely on the schedule as we are putting our home on the market in May. Spring cleaning will probably start in April, with the most daunting project being the cleaning of our mini blinds. No Summer holiday this year as we will be using all our energy to move and adapt into our new environs. We do have a fall road trip planned in October to attend my 50 year high school reunion in Montebello, California.
3. What’s a favorite food from your part of the country?
Fish and shellfish stand out as the favorites for the Greater Seattle area. A favorite cooked in a variety of ways or smoked is Salmon. I did not grow up with much fish and it is not my favorite thing. A good barbecued Salmon is something I like. I also enjoy Penn Cove Mussels in a great sauce on occasion with a thick slice of bread that I can dip in the sauce. This next weekend the Penn Cove Musselfest in Coupeville is happening on Whidbey Island. I have to mention Dungeness Crab, too. We have Dungeness Bay, Spit and Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge in Washington State.
I’m amazed with myself that I’ve grown to enjoy a good oyster in a great sauce which would have made me gag years ago. A good piece of halibut, swordfish, or some good ole fish and chips cooked to perfection are dishes that I enjoy once in a while.
4. This isn’t a leap year, but let’s run with it anyway…look before you leap, a leap of faith, grow by leaps and bounds, leap to conclusions, leap at the opportunity…which phrase might best be applied to your life currently (or recently)? Explain.
We will be leaping at the opportunity to sell our home in a very hot market in the Seattle area and move to an area of Washington that is more affordable.
Special Side note about Leap Year: My sister Vera was born on leap year and only has her real birthday once every 4 years! We celebrate her on the 28th the other three years. Happy Birthday Vera! You are a dear sister and I appreciate you!
5. As the month draws to a close list five fun and/or fabulous things (large or small) you noticed or experienced in February.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I’m looking forward to March. Our little granddaughter is turning one year old! Wow how fast the year has gone. She is just marching forward to her milestone! Walking, signing, lots of new teeth, eating some solids, standing up from a sitting position, climbing and learning some consequences from over reaching her limits and safety boundaries. Her Baba (me) will be enjoying a birthday in the month of March, too.
Thank you Jo, for the questions you ask for Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thank you, too, for those of you who swing by and read the answers. I appreciate you.
It started snowing a little on Wednesday night and into the very early morning. No new snow the rest of the day. We don’t get snow very often in the Seattle Area but when it falls it has an interesting effect on me. I go right into hibernation mode. I did manage to do some indoor things like a load of wash and made a couple of meals for the two of us. I’m going to have to change my ways when we move to Northeastern Washington and experience more snow.
Someone recommended this book but I can’t remember who. Was it you? I started it and I was engaged from the beginning.
Look who is 11 months already! Yikes I was warned grand babies grow fast and now I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Today her mommy shared that she stood up from a sitting position with no help. Nothing to lift her up but her own strength and balance.
Just like we hoped we are beginning to see some dimples to match her mommy and daddy’s.
I’ve enjoyed reading so many great remembrances, tributes and personal stories from people all over the world whose lives were impacted by God through the evangelist Billy Graham.
The photo above is from the Los Angeles Billy Graham Crusade in 1963. My father took us to the crusade every night. My father started his life of following Christ at this crusade. My life as a follower of Christ started in 1963, too. The song, Just As I Am always reminds me of the Billy Graham Crusades and our time at the crusades and what this time meant for the future of myself and my family.
Just as I am – without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
– O Lamb of God, I come!
My mother was home with my newborn siblings, twins, a boy and a girl born on July 29th. I like the illustration above since it has the dates of the crusade. Now I’m wondering how my poor mother managed at home alone with twins!
Here’s a quote from Billy Graham…
“By the time you read this, I will be in heaven, and as I write this I’m looking forward with great anticipation to the day when I will be in God’s presence forever.
I’m convinced that heaven is far more glorious than anything we can possibly imagine right now, and I look forward not only to its wonder and peace, but also to the joy of being reunited with those who have gone there before me, especially my dear wife, Ruth. The Bible says, “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face” (1 Corinthians 13:12).
But I won’t be in heaven because I’ve preached to large crowds or because I’ve tried to live a good life. I’ll be in heaven for one reason: Many years ago I put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to make our forgiveness possible and rose again from the dead to give us eternal life. Do you know you will go to heaven when you die? You can, by committing your life to Jesus Christ today.”
Billy Graham 1918-2018
1. Where do you go when you need some inspiration?
It all depends…
For Life: It’s man’s chief end to glorify God… for the inspiration I need for living a life that does that, I go to a good Bible Gospel preaching church and I listen to good teachers and read books from authors who believe in the inerrancy of the Bible, God’s truth.
For Cooking: I glean from the other gals from the MGCC Blog. When I have to post a new recipe I look to magazines and cooking shows for inspiration.
For decorating: Fixer Upper, magazines, Instagram and blogs.
2. What’s under your bed?
I went and looked and at this time there is nothing under my bed except for most likely dust. The guestroom beds are another story. The guestrooms have those bins that fit under beds. A ribbon bin, a gift bag and tissue bin for packaging gifts, a Christmas bin with bags etc., linens in those space saver bags, and Katie and Andrew’s collection of swords. (I also found a stack of Chinese take-out boxes) I use those to send home leftovers with our kids and company when I cook too much food.
3. Thursday, February 22nd is National Chili Day, National Margarita Day, and National Cook a Sweet Potato Day. Of the three which would you most like to celebrate? Is that likely?
Hmm…who comes up with these days? Most likely we would be celebrating having a good pot of chili. It’s really cold this week in the Seattle area and chili is always a good choice in freezing weather. What kind of chili to enjoy? We enjoy chicken, turkey or beef. Our Margarita day is Tuesday…every Tuesday. In fact, our favorite waitress at the local Mexican restaurant sees us drive up and she heads to the bar to make our Margaritas. It’s telling on my state of healthy that I’m ignoring the sweet potato.
4. What are you ‘snowed under’ with right now?
I’m snowed under with stuff. Stuff, stuff and more stuff. Many years of accumulated stuff. We’ve been in this old house since 1998 and we moved a lot of stuff to this old house. Because we are moving and contemplating the wisdom of paying too much to move all that stuff we need to serious about what we can live without.
5. Tell us three to five things that make you feel balanced?
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Speaking of snow or snowed under here are some photos of our kids in the snow from President’s weekend.
Linking up to Hodgepodge Wednesday with Jo From This Side of the Pond. She asks the questions and we answer them.
Twenty seven-ish more days until Spring and little Miss Addy’s first birthday. She’s the sweet gift of Spring to our family!
Update: I woke up to hear that Billy Graham has been ushered into heaven today. I’ll be posting a tribute to him later this week. Finally this great evangelist is in the arms of Jesus.
…enjoyment through photos. These are photos our kids took (Laura) while spending time together in snowy Colville. I loved seeing the fun in the snow and happy faces from this side of the mountains where rain persists with no snow.
I think she likes her ride.
Hey mom, why can’t I move my legs?!
Our first born with his love.
Our second born with his favorite girls.
Our youngest with her love.
All of our favorites in one photo! Thankful for each one of them.
Awesome mama and our little delightful granddaughter.
The snow angel!
The early morning snow warriors.
I’m a grateful mom and baba for this time our kids had together. Addy got re-acquainted with her aunts and uncles. Now I’m praying for safe journeys home for Josh, Laura, Andrew and Katie.
Meanwhile back at the ranch (this old house) and at Mennonite Girls Can Cook I posted a One-skillet steak meal for two. Enjoy.
Happy President’s Day!
Hope this makes you smile.
Enjoy your President’s weekend. I’m still a little sad that we don’t celebrate Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthday separately like we did when I was in school so many years ago. Are you doing anything special this weekend? Our Western Washington kids are heading east to spend the weekend with our Eastern Washington kids. This makes me happy.
We are going to try and find a good spot for Happy Hour today.
On the Monday after Super Bowl Sunday we traveled inland from Huntington Beach to see my pop. This would be the first time Pop would meet Addy, his youngest great granddaughter. Addy was very concerned about our pop who is not looking well. She had quite a grip on her daddy’s t-shirt.
She loosened up that grip to accept the cash her Great Grandfather pulled out of his wallet for her. Too funny.
She even had a slight smile for him when he handed her the second bill.
After the meeting she enjoyed multi-tasking, walking and holding the ball.
Pop had to spend 20 minutes on his Nebulizer. Addy was very interested in what was going on and her concern showed in her facial expressions. All my sisters were together for this visit, too, which was nice. We enjoyed some Borsch together and Addy liked her first taste of it, too.
My Pop thanked me again for this chair Dear and I bought him. The power control to move the chair to the recline and other positions has really come in handy for him. Before we left each of us daughters prayed for him and then we all sang Great is Thy Faithfulness and God be With You Till We Meet Again. That made me choke up but I’m glad to sing it to him while he’s still alive instead of just at his funeral.
From our time in La Habra with our pop/grandfather (dzeda), Great Grandfather, we headed back to Huntington Beach and met up with Debbee and Lenny for dinner at Ola’s. The next morning we flew home to Washington. Our trip to Southern California was full from beginning to end and little Addy adjusted well to everything thrown at her. Speaking of driving in Southern California, I’m happy to report that we had smooth sailing for each of our comings and goings. That’s a praise for sure!
The four of us sat together going to California and coming home and I was happy to enjoy more time with Addy and giving her parents some breaks in the journey. We parted in Seattle and their trip continued on to Spokane where they would have another hour drive to get all the way home again.
We have had some sunshine which has been great the last couple of days. Some much needed planter clean out has happened and I’m grateful to have been able to accomplish those tasks in that sunshine!
As I type away I’m enjoying the Winter Olympics in the background. Are you watching?
Dan, Jamie, Addy and I arrived at the Orange County airport on Saturday evening, February 3rd. It was going to be a weekend filled with new people for Addy to meet.
D, J, and A stayed with our niece Debbee and husband Lenny in Huntington Beach. Debbee and her brother David lived around the corner from us when Josh and Dan were little and they enjoyed lots of time being together. We missed seeing David and his wife Kristin this time since they were enjoying Maui.
I stayed with my sister Vera, Addy’s Great Aunt Vera. Vera is Debbee and David’s mom.
On Sunday at our Super Bowl gathering, Addy met a few more of her people. Great Aunt Kelly had interesting earrings.
Cousin Melissa once removed and great Auntie (Nan) Kathy.
Cousins once and twice removed. Our niece Michelle’s family. Michelle and Melissa are my sister Kathy’s girls. Our Josh, Dan, and Katie spent lots of time growing up with Michelle, Melissa, Debbee and David.
This is Great Uncle Terry, Dear’s only brother, and Auntie Christina.
Being social is very tiring.
On Monday the meetings continued with Great Aunt Lana and our dear old pop and Great Uncle Len. I’ll have a post of it’s own on Addy’s meeting with her Great Dzeda (grandfather). The evidence is in that Addy is comfortable around people and is very social. She is especially willing to go to you if you have some jewelry on.
Monday evening Addy got to test out the sand on her toes, too.
It was so good to have many hours with Addy May and to spend time with Dan, Jamie and the members of our family that could come out to Huntington Beach for the Super Bowl party. We packed in a lot of extended family time and Addy adjusted well to everything new to her. All of my sisters were together on Monday with our dear old pop and that was good. Didn’t see any of my brothers this trip. I didn’t get a chance to walk the Huntington Beach Pier this time around, either. Next time…
So thankful to God for safe travels, seeing loved ones, cuddle time with Addy, being able to pray with our dear old Pop and that Pop could meet Addy and pray a blessing over her, Dan and Jamie.
Back here at home we are waiting for a promise of weather that is dryer and brighter next week. Hoping for a dry morning on Friday for a walk with Katie and Laura. Other than that we are having a quiet weekend. Hope you all have a good weekend.
1. February can be a little bit tricky given the weather and the winter and the whatnot. I read a list (here) of things you can do to make your February brighter which included-start planning your next trip, take more baths, make your own chocolate covered strawberries, and exercise in preparation for swimsuit season. Anything on the list you might try? Which suggestion on the list appeals to you most? Tell us something not on the list that helps make your February brighter.
The suggestion that appeals to me most is to plan a trip!
I just flew to Southern California and enjoyed lots of extended family time along with sweet Addy time and sunshine, so February is having a good bright start.
While Addy’s mommy ran in the Surf City Half Marathon in Huntington Beach with our niece Debbee, and her daddy rode a bike along the route with our nephew-in-law, Baba watched and mostly sat with Addy asleep and cuddled on her with Great Aunt Vera preparing brunch for the marathoners in the background. Addy slept for 3-1/2 hours and woke up just in time for mommy and daddy to arrive for brunch.
2. Tell us about something you’ve seen or done recently that you’d say was ‘super’?
Umm, spending Super Sunday with my extended family in Southern California. Am I sounding like a broken record?
3. Best thing you ate in a ‘bowl’ last week?
Just one? We enjoyed some Ground Chicken Chili in a bowl last week. Recipe coming soon to the Mennonite Girls Can Cook Blog. Yesterday we had some fabulous guacamole in a bowl at Ola’s in Huntington Beach.
4. Something you’re ‘cheering’ for right now?
Cheering for my daughter-in-law and niece who completed a half marathon with flying colors in Huntington Beach on Sunday.
5. The Winter Olympics begin Friday, February 9th in Pyeong Chang, South Korea. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being all in and 1 being no interest whatsoever) how interested are you in the games? Which event do you most want to see (you’ll find a list here).
I’ll give it a 9! I enjoy watching many events and will never forget the Ice Hockey final in 1980 in Lake Placid. I’m pretty sure we were late or missed church that day. We could not tear ourselves from that “miracle on ice” moment for the USA.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Addy met my dear old pop on Monday. He was able to have enough breath to pray a blessing over her and over Dan and Jamie as they raise her. So grateful for this moment. Otherwise, he is ready to go be with his Savior, Jesus.
More about my time in Southern California coming soon.
Linking up with Joyce From This Side of the Pond for Wednesday Hodgepodge. She asks the questions and we answer them.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 