I started another thrift store puzzle and it’s a tough one.
I’m making slow but good progress.
Josh and Laura surprised me with this puzzle in the mail. They chose this one because our VBS theme this year was centered around Psalm 23. I’m looking forward to starting it soon. Thank you, Laura and Josh for your thoughtfulness!
On Thursday Addy and JJ were over in the afternoon so we made Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies with walnuts. They are at an age where all I have to do is watch while they mix and load the cookie sheets. They are experienced in the kitchen. We threw caution to the wind and enjoyed a little cookie dough, too.
The big news is that the skies were not smoky on Thursday because of our rain. That meant that soccer games were not cancelled and we could finally watch Addy and JJ play soccer. There games were on adjoining fields. It was a cool evening on the soccer fields.
The skies continue to be glorious and the air is good to breath. We are over the top grateful. It is exhilarating to say the least to have our clear skies again.
There is a coloring contest before the week begins and if you win a ribbon you get a free t-shirt.
Children from age 3 to 6th grade fill the church each evening this week. We have over 75 volunteers helping things run smoothly. Our kitchen crew even feeds the workers and their families each evening.
By the end of the week the truth of Psalm 23 will have been heard and hopefully many will know that the Lord is their Savior and they will travel on the right path all the days of their lives following the one true Shepherd.
On Saturday, August 1st, there was a Taekwondo tournament and JJ was awarded three first places making him the Tiny Tiger Grand Champion. It was fun to watch each event especially the sparring. Well done, JJ!
The 4th of July and the 250th Birthday of the U.S.A.
2. July 29th is International Day of the Tiger. Besides the wild animal itself, when you hear the word tiger what’s the first person-place-thing-whatever that comes to mind?
I think of Tigger the Tiger. If there was a Tiger in my life I wouldn’t want to expose the fact here because they might just come after me! (Seriously) I’m happy to avoid tigers.
Our niece Hope and Grand Nephew Jackson with Tigger at Disneyland in 2009! Hope is headed to college in August and Jack is done with college and getting married in October.
3. The expression ‘eye of the tiger’ describes someone with intense focus, determination, and the drive to succeed. What area of your life are you currently bringing that kind of energy to?
These are the lazy days of summer and I’m not bringing that kind of energy to anything. I am considering a special quiet project that is going to take all my quiet energy, digging and sorting and putting it together. When it materializes, I’ll share.
4. What was the last meal you cooked?
I’ve been following Drew Cooks on Facebook lately and he shared a recipe that I made and my company really enjoyed. If you haven’t seen this guy cook a meal yet you might be entertained…or not. Go ahead…click on the link. 🙂
5. Describe your July using exactly five words.
World Cup Soccer Ole Ole!
Soccer camp started up on the hottest week of the summer and next week soccer season will start. My evenings will be full. Time to put the folding chairs in the back of our vehicle!
6. Insert your own random thought here.
More lazy day achievements at our country bungalow.
I completed this jigsaw puzzle on Monday. Another thrift store puzzle that had all the pieces! Woohoo!
Vacation Bible School starts on this coming Monday. I’ll be selling the t-shirts and other accessories each evening. We are hoping for cooler days and for more progress on our area fires so our air is not smoky. Praying for that end.
Happy Birthday to my youngest brother and sister, twins! We love you dearly.
This will be the last post of our travel journal for our time in Cambridge from March 8th-March 14th, 2026. This post will cover Friday late afternoon and evening into Saturday March 14th.
On Friday afternoon as we made our way back to The Wilde, we noticed the Round Church was open to visitors.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, universally known as the Round Church, is one of only four surviving medieval round churches in England. Built around 1130 by the Fraternity of the Holy Sepulchre, its iconic circular design was directly modeled on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. It is currently managed by the educational charity, Christian Heritage.
This panel was such a great presentation of Christianity.
I missed seeing the images in the tiles.
The historical panels were extensive and so well done. You could spend a lot of time reading the history through the centuries.
This brings me to the wrap up of our Cambridge travel journal.
I loved walking in a town with Jesus Lane, All Saints Passage, Jesus Green, Trinity Lane, Trinity College, Christ College, Emmanuel College, Jesus College.
Such rich history and foundation of Christianity in the past. In the present day you wonder how many students have an inkling of all of this.
As is always the case, we came, we wandered, and in no way did we see all there is to see or learn all there is to learn. We are grateful for what we did see and what we did learn. Time will tell if we will ever return.
Our bus ticket was for 9:20 on Saturday March 14th. We were up early and had our showers and were all packed up and ready to go. I went down to the lobby to see what pastries were available to purchase to have with our coffee. The almond croissants were huge. (One would have been good to split) March 14th happens to be my birthday so the hotel manager of the morning gave us two on the house!
Our taxi got us to the National bus stop on Parkside and we were off for our 2-1/2 hour bus ride to Heathrow Airport.
We had time at the airport to enjoy a bite to eat before boarding our plane for our 11+ hour flight home. One weird thing about our boarding was that we were bused to the plane and had to climb up the stairs to board. Thinking back on that, we should have asked for assistance with our carry-ons! (Being over 70)
Woohoo! We had a window row to ourselves so we were able to stretch out our legs over the course of the flight. The attendants found out (I told them) that it was my birthday so champagne arrived almost immediately and then when we got off the plane in Seattle, a Happy Birthday announcement was made over the speakers. Arriving in Seattle, we went through customs and then waited for our short hop flight to Spokane.
In Spokane, our son was waiting to drive us home with our car decorated and stuffed with balloons to wish me a Happy Birthday. Our Grands included these sweet cards.
And that my friends, is the end of this travel story.
Life goes on and the ordinary continues and we thank God for that, too.
1. Do your goals and dreams energize or exhaust you? Elaborate.
If I had unrealistic goals or dreams, I would probably be exhausted. These days I have simple goals and dreams and they energize me. I like to plan and I love a good plan. Truthfully, I get a little melancholy if I don’t have anything to plan.
2. July 23rd is national lemon day. Are you a fan of this flavor?
I am a fan of lemon flavor.
What’s a favorite dish or beverage you enjoy that calls for lemons?
I really enjoy this salad dressing that calls for fresh lemon juice.
Lemon curd is a favorite to enjoy on scones or in pastries.
3. “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade“…is this something you’re pretty good at managing? Have you had to do this recently? If so tell us about it.
Yes, I’d say I do pretty good at managing but that is because of knowing who holds the world together and who is the author of life. I’m in His hands.
Recently when our heat pump stopped pumping out cold air we managed with other tricks of the trade by cooling our house down overnight into the morning. We also bought a tower fan that moved the air for us quietly.
4. Something you love that is lemon yellow in color?
I like the lemony border on these plates. We don’t have a lot of lemony things in our home. I love the lemon colored day lilies that pop up in early summer in our yard.
5. How would you describe your attention to detail?
When it comes to planning a trip, planning a meal for company, planning how to set the table or planning holiday decor, I’m all about the details.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Speaking of Lemons, this memory of our Grands with a Lemonade stand at their Granny’s birthday party was so sweet to revisit.
Hope your summer days are filled with refreshing treats like lemonade.
It is the sweetest experience to be doing my regular shopping in town and having these two find me in the store with a big hug! Simple but a very special joy for me.
It is also so sweet to enjoy flowers that pop up year after year that I had no hand in planting!
We had a wild thunderstorm come through on Friday morning! We had lightning and thunder and a good soaking of our planters. I’m happy when God does the watering for me!
During our heat wave which is continuing this week it was a good exercise to finish this summertime puzzle.
On Saturday afternoon, JJ had a Taekwondo exhibition at Yep Kanum Park.
It was time for the Yep Kanum Park Celebration in Colville, the celebration will bring neighbors and visitors together from July 17-19, 2026, for a vibrant weekend of activities. Attendees can enjoy live music performances, local artisan markets, food vendors, and family-friendly events. This year’s celebration promises to be a wonderful celebration including performances by musicians, local artists, a classic car show, a youth baseball tournament, a pickleball tournament, and plenty of entertainment for all ages.
JJ gave a demonstration of his kick that split the wood in two. I have a video of that but I’m not able to share it here.
On Sunday after church we enjoyed the finale of the World Cup with Spain defeating Argentina. I’m one who has enjoyed every World Cup soccer game despite the teams I was cheering for coming up short. We were rooting for Spain in the end and were happy for their accomplishment.
I’ve been following ‘Drew Cooks‘ on Facebook and we enjoyed two of his recipes on Sunday.
Blueberry biscuits were very good. We also enjoyed chicken thighs in the crockpot with a soy sauce, brown sugar, green onion, garlic, and ginger. Delicious!
Our area is experiencing wild fires with smoke making our outdoor spaces unhealthy. We can identify with those of you on the east coast experiencing smoky skies and hard to breathe air. Praying for our firefighters!
Last and least, it is always fun to spot these frogs in our yard, as long as they stay in the yard!
How was your weekend and what does this new week hold for you?
Right now, this minute, I’m enjoying hearing all the good things that World Cup Soccer visitors have to say about this great country of ours. They have said over and over that they were lied to by their home country media on how awful the United States is. They are soaking up the amazing variety of landscape and food and convenience and largeness from coast to coast. We are a melting pot of culture and we are unique in how we display our patriotism and celebrate our country, especially on the 4th of July.
On the flipside we are enjoying their songs, their chants, their dress, their celebrations, their loyalty to their teams!
My parents fled communism (Russia) and spent their teen years and young adult years in Iran. They applied and immigrated lawfully to the USA shortly after World War II. In the nineties when they had an opportunity to re-visit the village our pop was from in Russia they saw first hand what they were delivered from. When they came back to the US and got off their plane in the USA, they kissed the ground! They knew and appreciated the freedom and the country they were providentially citizens of. They embraced the USA, learned the language and were good citizens.
2. Your favorite patriotic song?
God Bless America
“While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free.
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer:
God bless America, land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans white with foam,
God bless America,
My home sweet home.”
3. Red, white, or blue? Stars or stripes? Something you own besides a US flag with some combination of those colors or decorations as part of its design?
Blue as in blue jeans or the color of our home.
Stars are a favorite…
Red, White and Blue stars are outside and inside our home, especially this time of year!
4. What’s one thing you want more of this summer: fun, rest, adventure, connection, quiet, or confidence? Elaborate.
I’ve already had more fun than I deserve this year and there is more fun planned for October of this year. I’m going with connection. I’d like more connection in the everyday moments with my God and Savior. I’d like more connection in that regard with other believers, too. Good conversations and prompts that cast my eyes on how gracious God is and all that He is doing to make me more like his Son and my Savior.
Without God’s grace I’d have no hope. Here are parts of Spurgeon’s June 29th evening devotional;
“If the grace of God were to leave the best Christian, there is enough sin in his heart to make him the worst of transgressors. If left to yourselves, you who are warmest for Christ would cool down like Laodicea into sickening lukewarmness:
…Therefore let us cry to God to never leave us. Do not withdraw from us your indwelling grace!
Lord, keep us everywhere. Keep us when we’re in the valley so that we do not grumble against Your humbling hand; keep us when we’re on the mountain, so we do not lose our balance by being lifted up; keep us in our youth, when our passions are strong; keep us in old age, when becoming conceited in our wisdom, we may therefore prove greater fools than those who are young and silly; keep us when we come to die, in case at the very end we should deny You! Keep us living, keep us dying, keep us working, keep us suffering, keep us fighting, keep us resting, keep us everywhere, for everywhere we need You, O our God!”
5. What was your ultimate, go-to summer activity when you were a kid? Do you still do any version of that today? If you answered yes, does participating in this activity as an adult make you feel like a kid?
Going to the beach or going to the ‘plunge’, the pool at Montebello high school, was a favorite childhood activity. Did you ever call a pool, a plunge?
As kids, we would walk from our neighborhood in Montebello Gardens (called the Jardines in Spanish) to the high school pool in Montebello where for 10 cents we could enjoy the pools. We would spend a good amount of time in the pools and then have to walk back home. I remember being very thirsty and very tired on that walk back home.
Google maps shows that it was a 2.3 mile walk there and 2.3 mile walk back home!
Our mom never got a license so she never drove a car and our pop worked hard and long hours and always had the family car for his work so as kids we were on our own if we wanted to go to the pool or to the library.
As an adult I enjoy a nice walk on the beach in the cool morning hours and that is something we were able to do just last week!
Cannon Beach, Oregon with Haystack Rock in the distance.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Speaking of stars, here’s a flashback to 2021 and these two stars are my favorites!
If you are from the USA, I hope you are able to celebrate the 4th of July as the 250th year deserves!
If you aren’t from the USA, happy July to you and don’t be afraid to visit the USA!
June 7th through the 9th was filled with family activities and gatherings.
Josh and Laura started the drive across the mountains early on the 7th to make it to JJ’s Taekwondo exhibition at Town and Country days in Kettle Falls.
The sun heated up those mats and they had to make the presentations fast so the soles of their feet wouldn’t burn!
Yep the mats were hot. I’m pretty sure there will be discussions for next year to have the presentations from our group and the gymnastics group for performing on the stage instead of in front of the stage!
A snow cone and ice cream made things better.
From Town and Country Days we all gathered at our country bungalow for a Taco Salad meal. After dinner we all made our way back to the Woodland Theater in Kettle Falls for The Haran Dancers recital.
Addy performed beautifully.
On Sunday after church Josh and Laura traveled back home.
They won’t be back for Father’s Day so Laura took an early Father’s Day photo.
On Father’s day weekend I’ll share the very thoughtful gift our kids and grands gave their dad/gramps.
Very early on this same Sunday morning (2:00 am) our Niece, her hubby and our grand niece found their way to our home from Boise, Idaho where they had attended a wedding. They let themselves in and found their guest rooms without waking us up. They slept in on Sunday and we managed to get ready for church and leave without waking them up. We left them at Bedside Baptist and returned from church in time to make them fresh coffee.
Sunday afternoon we were at the Woodland Theater again with this new crew who wanted to see Addy perform with the Irish Dance group.
It was a great matinee performance and once again we all headed to our country bungalow for a meal.
Pulled pork sandwiches with homemade coleslaw and not home made beans. There were homemade desserts.
Fun and goofy times.
The fun continued on Monday at Bayles Mountain.
Cousins once removed making memories.
The California crew left about noon on Tuesday June 9th after enjoying Uncle Greg’s famous Swedish pancakes. They headed for Josh and Laura’s home for another week in the Pacific Northwest.
And while the westside crew were on the Olympic Peninsula we were back in Kettle Falls at JJ’s Taekwondo Promotion.
We also participated in a community garage sale on Thursday and Friday. We were happy to get rid of some large items that were getting in the way around here. So thrilled we didn’t have to haul them back home.
I’m watching World Cup Soccer games while I work on posts and visiting blogs. It’s no secret that I’m a soccer fan. It’s been an exciting start in the group stage. It’s been fun following fans that have traveled from around the world and who are soaking up the food and experiences unique to the USA!
Thankfully we have a relatively quiet week ahead of us. We need that. Have a good week y’all.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 