The 2023-24 school year begins! So grateful for this Mom and our Grands.
And she will start the school year with one less tooth. The first tooth to come out! A second one will probably be ready to pull soon. Praying for God to bless them with knowledge and love of learning and that the learning will draw them closer to God and all He has done for them. Also praying that they will be obedient for their teacher!!
No Wednesday Hodgepodge this week.
On Friday we attended the NE Washington State Fair here in our town.
Before we left the fair we enjoyed some ice cream cones.
On Saturday we met up on Main Street for the NE Washington Fair Parade.
The fire department starts the fair off and it is really loud. Our Grands have the best mom and she plans so well and remembered their ear muffs!
The participants in the parade are always stocked up with lots of candy to throw to the children along the parade route.
The short parade was over in no time and our Grands had a bag full of candy. We walked over to the Saturday Farmer’s market and bought veggies and fruit before heading home for the rest of the day!
Our annual Vacation Bible School was in the evenings the week of August 7th-11th. All the kids were divided into age groups with lessons appropriate to their age group.
The whole church was decorated to look like a medieval castle.
The lessons were all on The Armor of God from Ephesians 6.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
Our daughter-in-law was a helper each night along with over 125 other volunteers and 218 children throughout the 5 evenings. I was the t-shirt sales lady.
Everyone was exhausted after the five night 6:00 – 8:30 fun and games centered around the Word of God. We attended the closing program on Friday night and volunteers stuck around to take down all the VBS decorations. Hats off to all the volunteers! It was an amazing time for our church family to love and serve our community.
Then on Saturday night the 12th of August we met downtown at the Spaghetti factory for a birthday party for our Grands’ Granny.
It was a milestone birthday and we all enjoyed celebrating Linda.
JJ and Addy didn’t last long on the way home from Spokane and had a nice sleep as they were both exhausted from a busy week!
This week has been slow and quiet and uneventful which is a blessing.
Happy Friday everyone. The last couple days we have been socked in with smoke here in our area from fires mostly in Canada. Ash is even settling here. The air quality is not healthy and we have been staying in. Our Grands soccer and other outdoor activities were cancelled this week. We are hoping for improvement soon. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.
2. It’s been said “Ignorance is bliss”…is it?
In the short term maybe, but in the long term it is more devastating to find out too late than knowing the hard truth from the beginning.
3.Would you rather be stuck on a broken elevator or a broken ski lift? Explain.
Neither really, but since you are making me choose, I’ll say ski lift because you can see around you and what is going on.
Have you ever actually been stuck on either?
Yes, Greg and I were stuck on a ski-lift in Mammoth once. It was cold and scary. It didn’t last long enough for us to get totally desperate, though. The section we were stuck in was at a steep part of the mountain so no fluffy landing if we fell. 🙂
Of the common fears listed here what’s your #1-
heights-enclosed spaces-snakes-public speaking-the dark-flying
It’s a toss up between snakes and public speaking.
4. What’s something you like about the town or city where you live?
It’s a small town with four distinct seasons and only two stop lights in the whole town. Traffic is pretty much non-existent unless there is an accident of some kind or road work.
The best thing about Colville is that we have family here. Our grandchildren live here and we get to see them on a regular basis and enjoy watching them grow. We know we can depend on our Son and Daughter-in-love no matter what. We have a strong Bible centered church which affords us another ‘family’ to love and depend on.
Here are more facts about our little town…
Colville is a mountain town in America’s forested northwest, a clean looking town that serves recreational, timber, and farm interests.
Elevation: 1,635 feet; population 5,084
Colville (pronounced “Call-ville”) is the county seat of Stevens County and lies in the Colville River Valley about one-half mile east of the Colville River and 10 miles east of the Kettle River and Columbia River.
Colville is located at the junction of U.S. Highway 395 (north-south) which runs completely from Mexico to Canada through the center of Colville, forming the town’s main street, and State Highway 20 (east-west), which runs from the Idaho-Washington border to the Pacific coast and Washington’s San Juan Islands.
5. Life is too short to_____________________________.
withhold dessert, wear tight shoes, isolate at home, hold grudges. I’ll think of many more and enjoy your answers, too.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
We have so many small town pleasures to enjoy with our grands in Colville. The collage below is from the parade on Main street for rodeo weekend a year ago. We also have the best corn maze to enjoy in October. It’s always a thrill for this Baba to be shopping in a local store and hear my grands call out ‘BABA!” when they spot me.
Back to the present: We are in the middle of a 4 day heat advisory here with a cool down happening come Friday. Pretty much we are staying indoors and enjoying our air conditioning. I’ve been working on a jigsaw puzzle while listening to some podcasts.
Hope all is well in your town or city!
Summer has been full of sunshine and some usual events and unusual events, too.
Fishing on the shore and throwing rocks is always fun.
Soccer camp is over but soccer teams have now formed and continue through August.
Our son Josh signed up for his first ever triathlon and his goal was to ‘not drown and to finish’. He achieved both and finished well. Laura was there to see it in person and document this epic achievement.
He was being cheered on from near and far!
We were all so impressed and happy that he could accomplish this goal. I was particularly happy he didn’t drown!
After all that excitement we were ready for a week of Vacation Bible School and that will be a separate post.
We are already at the middle of August and so many have started back to school already. It’s always hard for me to get my mind wrapped around that since I’m such a traditional school year kind of gal. Start up after Labor Day and end by or shortly after Father’s day! Happy days of summer to all of you.
Swim lessons this week. Mom said, “JJ, look at me.” and JJ said, “I am”.
If it’s Wednesday it must be Hodgepodge. Thank you Joyce!
1. August 8th is National Cat Day. Do you own a cat? Are you a ‘cat person’? Your favorite ‘famous’ cat?
Never owned a cat and although I’m intrigued with cats and their antics I’m not a ‘cat person’. Our daughter and her hubby just got their second cat. The photo is of Willow and Ash. Willow is taking her time in accepting the ‘new cat’ into her territory. She does not look pleased that Ash is up on her perch!
I really don’t have a favorite famous cat. Garfield and the Cheshire Cat come to mind but they aren’t favorites. Katie reminded me of Crookshanks, Hermione’s cat in the Harry Potter series. I was just reminded of Felix the Cat, too.
2. Cat nap-copycat-scaredy cat-curiosity killed the cat-cat got your tongue-like herding cats…which cat phrase applies to your life in some way currently? Explain.
Herding Cats! I’m herding myself these days with a different schedule this week because of Vacation Bible School at our church. Our VBS is in the evenings. This throws my usual schedule out the window. The older I get the harder it is to change courses. 🙂
3. What’s your favorite or most- often-made one pot meal?
Chili of any kind using ground beef, turkey or chicken. So easy peasy.
4. What do you wish you’d placed in a time capsule fifteen years ago?
My first little flip-phone.
5. Your favorite hour of the day? Tell us why.
Early morning with my Bible and a little Spurgeon or Alistair Begg, or John MacArthur, or John Piper or Martin Lloyd-Jones. God wrote the Bible and these men who followed (in Heaven now) and are following Him closely (on earth) have great insight to the world we are living in. God’s Word and my coffee early in the morning…divine. I’m amazed that Spurgeon writing over a hundred years ago is so relevant for today. His Biblical perspective is truth for today. It’s because God’s Word stands forever as truth and is relevant.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Speaking of Vacation Bible School. Our theme this year is Keepers of the Kingdom. Our church is all decked out like a medieval castle and The Armor of God is the theme, standing strong in today’s battle for truth.
Love this photo taken last week of our guys. The three who carry on Dear’s family name.
We are busy around here for a few days and you might not see new posts pop up for a few days. I do have a recipe lined up and a Sunday Hymn.
Hope y’all have a great weekend.
It’s time to go around again with Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thank you Jo From This Side of the Pond!
1. July 25th is National Merry-Go-Round Day. Do you call it a merry-go-round or a carousel?
I’ve called them both. The collage above was from a family trip to Arizona a couple years back.
When was the last time you rode one? Did you enjoy that?
We enjoyed riding on one with the Grands at Disneyland back in January of this year.
Metaphorically speaking, what’s something in your life right now that feels like a merry go round?
Ugh, hate to even bring it up but the whole losing pounds and then gaining them back.
2. What word do you have a hard time pronouncing?
Fentanyl. It’s not fentanol it is fentanil. Dear is a retired pharmacist and he always corrects news people, etc., when they pronounce a drug wrong. Not only is it hard to pronounce correctly it is causing so many deaths and problems in our nation.
What word do you have a hard time spelling?
I used to have a problem spelling conscience but then I started pronouncing it con-science and it solved my problem with spelling. 🙂 License is another one that I have to always think about when writing it out.
What’s your favorite word in another language?
Right now I’m practicing saying, Sláinte. Sláinte means “health” in both Irish and Scottish Gaelic. It is commonly used as a drinking toast in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man.
I’m looking forward to using that word in September.
3. What’s a phrase or cliche you use pretty often and find to be true?
Lord willing is one that is always true. I know our plans are always subject to change because of what God wills in our lives.
4. When it comes to grocery shopping what is your most dreaded chore-menu planning, the actual shopping and paying, or the unloading/putting away?
These days it is the actual menu planning that hasn’t come easily. When the meal is planned and agreed upon the rest of the tasks are pretty seamless. Might sound weird but sometimes an inspiration for a meal will pop into my head while I’m in the store and I find that fun to gather the ingredients and go for it.
How often do you shop? Do you use any of the pick up and/or delivery services?
Whenever I’m in town for other reasons I pop into the stores and do some shopping. I do not have a set day or times in the week to shop. I do not use pick up or delivery services.
5. Something you need or want to do before July comes to a close?
Pack for our trip to Dallas. We will be celebrating our youngest siblings turning 60!
6. Insert your own random thought here.
These two were a wonderful caboose to our family. We are looking forward to celebrating them as they turn 60. I was 12 when they were born and what a surprise they were to our whole family including our Pop because our Mom did not tell him or the rest of us that she was having twins.
Thursday last, one of the Mennonite Girls Can Cook and her hubby arrived for an overnight stay on our property. Judy and her hubby were at the beginning of a road trip from B.C. to Manitoba via a highway in the U.S.A. We had dinner together and enjoyed dessert, too.
Blintzes with huckleberries ( a new taste treat for Judy and Elmer) and strawberries and raspberry syrup.
After dinner we braved the heat and mosquitoes for some conversation on the deck.
Friday morning we had some coffee together before it was time for them to hit the road to their next overnight destination in Idaho.
Till next time happy trails!
During this same time our kids were all together on the other side of the mountains enjoying some special time with each other.
Summer at it’s best.
Jo is back this week with some new questions for us to ponder for Hodgepodge Wednesday.
1. Is your life simple? Elaborate.
For the most part my life is simple since I am retired and do not have every day responsibilities. The only set in stone activities in a given week are prayer meeting on Wednesday mornings and church services on Sunday. The rest of our schedule is free for us to fill in the blanks with weekly keep up of our home and property and any church activities that involve the church kitchen. We typically have our Colville kids over for an evening with dinner once a week. We will throw in a card night with two other couples maybe once a month. We always welcome overnight company that happen to travel our way. We just started up walking on the Rotary trail again with a 3x a week goal. We want to add in 3 days of strength training for our arms/shoulders.
2. What simple pleasure are you are currently enjoying?
I enjoy summer fruit, especially nectarines.
3. Travel by…
Plane or go on a cruise? Plane
Walk or ride a bike? Walk
Swim or ski? Swim, although I’m not a fan of putting on a bathing suit these days.
Ocean or mountains? This is a tough one. I like to walk along the ocean and drive through the mountains.
4. What’s the last thing you bought online that you really loved?
The latest is this ‘Sing’ Cd by Keith and Kristyn Getty which I’m enjoying but recently we ordered our new internet service totally online and installed everything to get it up and running. We are so happy with the purchase of Starlink and the improved quality of everything to do with the internet.
5. What’s your ‘back in my day we__________’ story?
Back in my day girls had to wear a dress or skirt and blouse to school. Those dresses or skirts could not be shorter than knee length. If our girls vice principal thought a skirt or dress might be too short, she’d have us kneel and if the skirt or dress did not hit the floor we’d be in trouble! Photo is of some of my high school friends. I’m taking the photo.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
These two have super powers! Love the slippers they find when they come over for dinner with their parents! Super Heroes love slippers! It makes me smile and thank our Lord when I find those slippers under the dinner table.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 