R is for…

For April I’m challenging myself to an A-Z photo a day excluding Sundays and in addition to any regular posts that come to be.

Today is Monday April 21st and we are on the letter R.

R is for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ our Redeemer, our Risen Savior!

Our greater family and friends were celebrating Easter from Washington State, California, Texas, Utah, New York and North Carolina. We had such joyous, meaningful, epic celebrations in our church gatherings and in our homes.

There will be a ridiculous amount of photos to document Easter 2025.

I’m starting with First Baptist Colville and our Colville Kids. Our Pastor’s Easter sermon was exceptional, focusing on why the Resurrection is the keystone of Christianity. God is good. The whole service was wonderful.

We were in charge of our continental breakfast between the first and second service on Easter Day.

Canyon Hills in Bothell, Josh and Laura’s church, had an epic service renting Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett so their very large congregation would be able to worship together instead of having many services.

Laura’s family gathered at Josh and Laura’s for their Easter Meal.

We gathered at Dan and Jamie’s after our church services for our meal and for the Easter Egg Hunt!

JJ and Addy posed as bunnies.

We were able to dodge the rain showers for the hunt.

Our Texas Family attended services at Watermark Church and had their Easter meal of Shashlik (Lamb Shish-kebab) and other goodies at our sister’s home.

Lana got creative and formed her Kulich/Paska (Easter Bread) into a tomb with the stone rolled away.

One of the California gatherings with the more traditional Kulich/Paska (Russian Easter Bread) and the Seernaya Paska (sweet cheese spread).

I stole borrowed some of these photos off of the family texts. It was a full day of Rejoicing!

Today, Easter Monday, will be a rest and recuperation day for me.

 

Six!

For JJ’s sixth birthday party the theme of Batman was chosen.

Today is his actual birthday but the family celebration was on this past Saturday, the 12th of April.

Thank you, Lord, for our grandson, JJ. He is such a delight. We love how you created him and how his mind works. He has a kind heart towards his sister. He is observant and curious. We pray that you will save him and lead and direct his life to always follow You. Thank you for all the loving and caring people he is surrounded by! 

The pizza party lunch was at noon and all the festivities began with a prayer.

Besides pizza, we had veggies and Super Batman Fruit!

We had some indoor games and outdoor games along with some Batman rescues!

Batman to the rescue! He rescued Aunt Katie and had to turn around and rescue Addy, too!

After all the rescuing it was time for presents and cake!

The Six and Thirty-Six year old birthday boys!

The Batman party came to a happy conclusion.

We changed venues and enjoyed a steak dinner and birthday pie in honor of Andrew!

Our long weekend family time was bookended with playing SkyJoe at both homes!

On Sunday we met at church for our Palm Sunday service before our ‘Westside’ crew drove home.

Thank you, Lord, for all your goodness to our family, for safe travels, joy in being together, loving support of one another and continued growth in You. We love you, Lord.

J is for…

For April I’m challenging myself to an A-Z photo a day excluding Sundays and in addition to any regular posts that come to be.

J is for Jaymison Joshua!

April of 2019

Jaymison and Joshua in 2025.

Tomorrow, Saturday the 12th of April, we will be having a Batman birthday party for JJ at noon. Then Saturday evening we will celebrate Uncle Andrew’s birthday. Photos galore coming next week.

The Wheels on the Bus

Our ‘Grands’ had a fun mini fieldtrip last Wednesday arranged by their awesome mom. She thought it would be fun for them and the other children in their Homeschool Coop to have a school bus experience. She arranged for our church bus and a CDL driver from our church to pick up a group of children at our church and then travel to our ‘Grands’ driveway to pick them up for a little bus ride.

Besides Addy and JJ being picked up at their driveway, neighbors who are part of the coop gathered for the pick-up, too.

Moms were able to ride along, also.

I’m pretty sure the song ‘The Wheels on the Bus’ was sung somewhere along the journey. Jamie also had the bus driver make a couple stops and had the kids all switch seats so they could sit with different friends along the way.

Everyone had a great time on their mini field trip on the big bus!

Who’s Fool Are You?

We were at Trader Joe’s in Spokane on Sunday and they had 20 stem bunches of daffodils on sale for just $2.99. We bought 2 bunches! They are such a happy Spring flower. The trumpets announcing that Easter is coming.

Thank you to Joyce From This Side of the Pond for our Hodgepodge questions this week.

1. No foolin’! April is here. What’s one fun thing on your April calendar? 

Our grandson’s birthday is in April and we will enjoy his Batman party with family. JJ’s  party is scheduled on our Son-in-law’s birthday so we will have another double party weekend soon.

2. It’s often said, ‘A fool and his money are soon parted’…what’s the last thing you wasted money on? 

Sometimes my impulses get the best of me. I buy before I totally investigate. A dish rack is going into the garage sale pile. Instead of having a tilt and easy flow of water into the sink, it pools the water in the pan under the rack.

3.  April 2nd is National DIY day. Are you a do-it yourself kind of person or maybe you’re married to one?

I am married to a DIY master. When it comes to major projects, I like to leave and come home when they are all done.

We have a fun mini DIY project happening this week. Our old bird bath bit the dust and we found this lovely solid one on Sunday from a store called ‘At Home’. We are choosing the right spot for it and will set it into place soon.

If so, what’s the last thing you DIY-ed. (I’m going with the ‘Royal We’)

Replacing our water heater was probably the last DIY job around here.

If you’re not a DIY-er what’s the most recent job you had to hire someone to complete? 

I hire out the window washing of our home. They come and complete that job in about an hour!

This year we will probably have our Septic serviced…which is a major job. Definitely a hiring out job with a company that have all the necessary equipment.

Our water hydrants both need replacing and that will be a labor intensive job. Digging is the intensive part. This job will be done by Greg and our son.

4. Do you eat lamb? If so do you have a favorite dish that calls for lamb? 

Yes! I was raised eating lamb and Greg enjoys lamb. Greg did not eat lamb growing up but when we married he was introduced to lamb and is happy to eat it. Lamb was the main course for my family’s Easter meal growing up.

Shashlik is a favorite. You can see what that is by clicking here.

Lambsickles (Rack of Lamb) is another favorite and I enjoyed these recently in Dallas.

Butterflied Leg of Lamb is another way we serve lamb on Easter and other occasions.

A properly cooked lamb shank is very good. I ordered this lamb shank at a Mexican restaurant.

5. Do you fit a stereotype in some way? Explain. 

I used to be a stereotypical soccer mom but now I’m more of the benevolent grandmother. This Baba loves her grandchildren and will do all she can for them.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Here is a sampling of Bible verses about the fool and the foolish and the wise.

Psalm 14:1 ~ The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

Proverbs: 10:1 ~ A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.

Proverbs 12:15-16 ~ The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.

Ephesians 5:15-17 ~ Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Titus 3:3 ~ For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others, and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Goodbye to March

A month to climb and hide in trees.

A month where birds return and greet the morning with song.

A month to wrap up homeschool projects.

A month to try new things…

Sweet Tamarind was a thumbs up. Don’t swallow the seeds.

Red cactus pear was a thumbs down.

Trees are blossoming at Josh and Laura’s.

We are still waiting here on the northeastern edge of Washington State to see blossoms and blooms. The daffodils are just shooting up out of the ground. No yellow blooms quite yet.

What’s blooming in your neck of the woods?

It’s No Mystery…

…we love her to pieces!

On Saturday we gathered to celebrate Addy turning eight. She requested a Hardy Boys Mystery Themed party. We were each given a character from the books to be on this day. Wigs, scarves, and other costume choices were made.

Mr. Hardy, Mrs. Hardy, Frank, Joe, Iola, Calli, Belinda, Biff, Ethel, Chief Collig, were all present and accounted for. A few more characters were due to arrive.

Eight is Great!

Mysteries were solved and clues were followed. Which shoe made what print?

I’m sorry I didn’t take a photo of the 3×5 treasure hunt clues we found all over the house that Addy’s dad wrote out for us to follow to find the treasure!

When all the characters arrived, we enjoyed baked potatoes with many toppings for lunch.

Orange Creme soda and root beer right out of a bottle will be a fun memory.

After lunch it was time for presents before we enjoyed the cake.

It’s getting easier each year for Addy to read the cards on her own.

The last present to open was her new scooter and she was thrilled! Uncle Andrew, the aeronautical engineer, was given the task to put it together!

Time for Cake!

 

The cake was another masterpiece by Addy’s mom. It was a delicious S’mores cake!

When you are eight, you get to light the candle on the cake!

 

Another great birthday celebration in the books.

And for the record this wasn’t the only celebration on this day. After Addy’s party was done, we gathered again at Gramps and Baba’s for a Chinese themed dinner of Hot and Sour Soup (homemade). Our kids put this meal together while Baba watched a movie with Addy and JJ. We gather the moments when our kids from the Westside are in town! After dinner we introduced SKYJO to everyone.

Our family highly recommends this game and it can entertain a wide range of ages! Tested at our home for 8 year olds and up!

On Sunday we all gathered at church for the early service and we were surprised with a special number by Addy on the piano. Our country church includes from time to time special numbers that anyone from the congregation can share with the church. Addy chose to play It is Well with My Soul as a special gift for me. Yes, there were tears.

Thank you, Addy. Baba loves you and is so happy that you love Jesus. Baba and Gramps pray that you will grow closer and closer to Our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ each new year of your life.

Because of Jesus, It is Well With My Soul.

A Grand Birthday

Both Addy and JJ created happy birthday greetings for me with a candy cane treat attached. JJ also included a finger knitting bracelet and necklace. Addy got creative with a musical greeting, ‘It is well with my soul’.

A very lovely birthday celebration with our Colville Kids and Grands. Addy nailed it, It is well with my soul. Thank you, LORD!

On Friday, my actual birthday, I received these greetings from near and far.

Thank you to all my friends and family for your sweet birthday greetings, yesterday.

Puzzles

While in Texas my sister and I enjoyed puzzle time. This was the first puzzle we completed and it was the first puzzle with letter codes on the back of the pieces to determine what section of the puzzle the pieces belonged in. We found it very helpful especially with the black areas.

I always appreciate a puzzle company that includes a poster.

The second puzzle we started and didn’t finish before I left Texas was a very tough one without codes and with so many similar color themes. It caused quite a lot of grumbling but still nice to find those pieces that fit together. My sister sent a photo of the almost finished puzzle she’s progressed on since I left.

It was fun to work on these puzzles with Lana.

Meanwhile here in Colville we are in mud season.

JJ enjoyed that mud.

Addy had an Irish Dance performance while we were gone and we were sent a photo of her before her performance.

On Friday the weather was good enough to do some work outside. I finally got to a couple planters, only about 5 more planters to go.

Have a great Saturday everyone!

Sunday in Dallas

After meeting up at Watermark church in Dallas for the 11:15 church service we gathered at Leonard and Mandy’s for lunch. We enjoyed chicken fajitas with all the trimmings. We had some good conversation around the table with a good recap of the sermon.

My brother Leonard and his dear wife, Mandy.

Our hostess and host and chauffeur for our days in Dallas, Lana and Steve.

Our niece, Hope. (Leonard and Mandy’s daughter)

Our nephew, Andrew. (Leonard and Mandy’s son)

We finished off the day with a stop at Half-Price Books. It was the largest Half-Price bookstore we had ever been in but we were in Texas after all, where everything is bigger!

More from Texas coming soon.

While we were traveling we had Spring weather back in our corner of the world and our grands were happy to get the bicycles out of storage.

Is Spring coming early in your corner?