My Favorite Valentines

I bought these cute felt envelopes a year ago at the after Valentine’s Day sales. They are about 9 x 12. Addy got some leggings, long sleeve tees and a book plus a little stuffed Valentine bear.

Jaymison got some clothes and a stuffed Valentine doggy.

I got to babysit early this morning while Dan and Jamie went out for breakfast.

JJ was asleep and woke up after his parents were gone and I was relieved he didn’t seem to mind that they were gone and that I was on morning duty. He ate all his breakfast for Baba.

Addy came out to the living area after waking up and before her folks headed out the door. She was fine staying with Baba, too. We read her new book and waited for JJ to wake up. The photos I have of her are from yesterday when we did some baking together with her mommy and while JJ had a nap.

Baba, take a picture of the chocolate!

And I cannot forget my Dear who has been my very favorite Valentine since 1972!

We are eating in today having steak, baked potatoes, butternut squash and something green. A Strawberry Boston White Creme cake/pie for dessert that called out to me at Safeway Grocery Store. It was only $5.00 today. Speaking of calling out when I was shopping in the aisles I heard a familiar little voice say, “there’s Baba!” What fun it is to live in a small country town and be able to bump into our loved ones at the stores!! Addy and I had some unexpected extra time for hugs and a kiss. Hope you have a day and weekend filled with lovely things.

Valentine’s Day Antique Postcards

Dear’s Great Great Aunt Emma received these postcards over the years. The postmarks are from 1901 to 1909. She had quite a collection of postcards for every holiday and birthdays and from around the world.

We have some special things planned around Valentine’s Day. Baking cookies with grands tomorrow. We will be eating in not out on Friday. Are you doing anything special?

Memorization

Over the last several years the habit of memorizing scripture has eluded me. It was something that I put on the back burner with excuses. I let my self talk tell me that it is too hard since I’ve gotten older. Well that is a lie and I’m leaving that and other excuses behind. Dear and I decided to memorize Psalm 19: 7-9 together and that has gone well. I’ve challenged our kids to memorize Romans 12:1-2 as part of their “getting healthy” goals for the year. In the midst of this renewed effort to train my brain a dear friend suggested a group of us memorize Psalm 1 together. Can you feel the congruence of all of this?

These days I’ve shifted to the ESV (English Standard Version) Bible. In my early years of Sunday School I memorized verses in the KJV (King James Version). During the early 70’s my Bible of choice was the NASB (New American Standard Bible). It was in this version that I first memorized Psalm 1 so I had to go back to this version for this latest exercise of re-memorizing it.

The photo I posted is from the Bible that Dear gifted me as a wedding gift in December of 1974.

So onward and upward, I’m putting my brain to the test and I’m sure the results will only do me good.

Hebrews 4:12

12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Update: Some of you have asked for tips in memorizing. Our brains work differently but here are some things that work for me and some things I’ve learned from others.

Be careful what version of the Bible you choose to memorize from. The King James Version and The English Standard Version are more poetic over all. Don’t choose The Message as it is more prose and it’s hard to grasp. Some versions have more rhythm and that’s easier for the brain to grasp. I don’t recommend the NIV version either for memorization. (Thank you Julie)

I use 3×5 or 4×6 cards to write the portion of scripture I want to memorize.

Start small. Choose one verse. Think about the verse. Dissect the verse. Write it out several times on notebook paper. Take your 3×5 card with you in the car and when you have to wait anywhere pull it out and go over it.

Try writing it out from memory.

Hand the 3×5 card to somebody (friend or spouse) and then try to recite it out loud while they check to see that you’ve got it right.

When you wake up in the middle of the night go over it in your head. It’s amazing how much more clarity you have when you are awake in the night with nothing else to do.

Now you are ready to go on to a larger portion of scripture. I hope these tips help. Here’s another truth, the process is good even if it takes a long time to get it perfect.

Tuesdays With Moisi

Today I’m posting photos from our Mom and Pop’s 60th Wedding Anniversary Celebration we held in our brother Leonard’s backyard in Downey, California. September 13th, 2003.

My parents had just returned from their last long term mission in Russia and moved in with our brother in Downey.

The photo above is of most of their children, grandchildren, and spouses. Some of the grandchildren aren’t in this photo and some aren’t born yet. No great grandchildren have been born as of 2003. Vera and Lana’s husbands aren’t in this photo. Our brother Leonard was not married at this time. Our daughter Katie, sitting on the far left, was the youngest granddaughter at this point. Sitting on the far right is grandson Joseph, who was the youngest grandson.

It was fun to capture the photographers, our cousins and their kids.

Our folks were worn out from their responsibilities in Russia and we were happy to have this time for them to relax and enjoy being served.

In this photo above Moisi is at the head of the table with his sister Anna next to him. Next to Aunt Anna is our Uncle Alex and his wife Aunt Ouiliana. Next to her is her brother Mikhail Samaduroff and then our cousin Alex. Next to Moisi is his oldest brother John and his wife Katie.

In this photo our cousin Alex’s wife Vera got in the shot with our sister Kathy’s Mother-in-law Sophie. Our mom is at the head of the table in this shot, too. Today in 2020 our cousin Alex is the only one who is alive in this row.

In this photo next to our Aunt Anna is Mr. Petakoff and his wife Genia, friends of the family.

Our Aunt Anna (and brother Leonard in the background) are the only ones alive today in this photo and Aunt Anna will be celebrating her 95th birthday in April.

Moisi’s sons (my brothers) not in order of birth, Fred, Steve, Leonard and Tim.

Once I scan more photos from this event I’ll add them to this post. Many grandchildren and nieces and nephews were at the party, too.

Grandsons and grand nephews.

Many of Moisi and Nadia’s grandchildren.

My parents lived in our brother’s home until he relocated full time to Dallas, Texas and sold his home in 1996. At that point we found our folks a senior apartment that they moved into in the town of Brea, California.

Big Girl Weekend

This was a big weekend for our Addy May. Her daddy converted her crib to a toddler bed on Saturday. She was climbing out of her crib which made the crib unsafe for her. Now what will she do with all this freedom?

Here’s what she did until she finally fell asleep for her nap. That’s a lot of books to read! It will be fun for us to hear the stories of her getting used to this new nap and bedtime system. Her parents probably won’t be as entertained.

While the toddler bed was being constructed Dear and I were in Spokane to  do some shopping. It was a spur of the moment decision on Saturday morning to drive down. We hit Trader Joe’s, Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, Lowes, Home Depot, Total Wine and Costco. Costco was the busiest we’ve ever seen since we’ve lived here.

On our way back home it was a visual treat to drive down into Chewelah.

It was a beautiful day for the drive and shopping. Since we were driving right by our favorite Mexican restaurant at our normal linner time we stopped for a meal.

The special on Saturdays is Chile Colorado and that’s what we decided to enjoy.

Today, Sunday, we were happy to be in Sunday School and then the main service where we continue in the book of Hebrews. Wonderful words in the songs we sang and a sermon that was full of the Truth. Came home and I worked on a meal. A strange but good combination of Pizza and Split Pea Soup. I didn’t realize that it was National Pizza Day.

We bought the dough, pizza sauce, and pepperoni at Trader Joe’s. We added bell peppers, jalapeno, onions and mozzarella cheese. This was one of the best results we’ve had with the dough being baked well and without a soggy bottom!

Dear is moving along with the new doorway in the laundry room. The walls are ready for a few more brushes of dry wall mud, some sanding, and lastly paint. The refrigerator is moved to it’s new home and I’m getting excited. The floor only needs one transition piece in the doorway.

We are happy with each step we take to make this bungalow our own. Happy new week to you.

Sweetly the Holy Hymn

Sweetly the Holy Hymn

Sweetly the holy hymn
Breaks on the morning air;
Before the world with smoke is dim
We meet to offer prayer.

While flowers are wet with dews,
Dew of our souls, descend:
Ere yet the sun the day renews,
O Lord, Thy Spirit send.

Upon the battlefield,
Before the fight begins,
We seek, O Lord, Thy sheltering shield,
To guard us from our sins.

Ere yet our vessel sails
Upon the stream of day
We plead, O Lord, for heavenly gales
To speed us on our way!

On the lone mountain side,
Before the morning’s light,
The Man of sorrows wept and cried,
And rose refreshed with might.

Oh, hear us then, for we
Are very weak and frail,
We make the Savior’s name our plea,
And surely must prevail.

Words: Charles Spurgeon, 1849.

Flashback Friday

For Flashback Friday, since we are again covered in snow (4-5 inches yesterday) I’m choosing these photos from July of 2003 when our youngest brother and sister turned forty and hosted a luau in our brother’s backyard. The party was in Downey, California.

Sisters, oldest to youngest.

Photos from a camera with film not digital or I would have taken some of these over.

Ellen b.’s siblings in order of birth. I’m number four and the twins were seven and eight. Kathy, Vera, Fred, Ellen, Tim, Steve, Lana and Leonard. About a seventeen year span for our births. Our oldest sister, Kathy, died in Persia when she was two before Kathy, the second, was born.

The luau was a fun event with good food and hula dancers, too.

Some of the nephews. Many other nieces and nephews were at the party but I did not get good photos of them or all the other guests. I’ll blame that on the fact that we hadn’t entered the digital age yet.

My siblings with our spouses, minus Lana and Steve. Our brother Leonard was not married until 2006. This photo was taken at another family event sometime around the Luau, maybe while we set up for the party.

Our parents, Moisi and Nadia, were still in Russia for this event. They would return from Russia in time for their 60th wedding anniversary party that we had in this same backyard in September. I’ll share those photos on Tuesdays with Moisi.

Can you feel those island breezes? Our kids on “the Coast” are wanting a break from the constant rain on that side of the Cascades. It’s been relentless. We aren’t going stir crazy from our snow…yet. Spring will come…

Heart to Heart

Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)

Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. (1Peter 3: 3-4)

As in water face reflects face,
so the heart of man reflects the man. (Proverbs 27:19)

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

Thinking about my heart condition while preparing my Valentine decor post.

We had light snow throughout Wednesday. We expected an inch and a half and it looks like we got about 4 inches instead. Just when the driveway was clear.

Dear is shifting from the kitchen painting project to our laundry room instead for a few days. He’s been painting non stop for over a week and needs a bit of a break from painting before he starts up again. He will be moving the door into the laundry room 6 inches. This project will involve some dry walling and framing of a new doorway.

With 6 more inches on the washer/dryer side of the room we’ll be able to move the over sized refrigerator to that side of the room and get it plugged into the appropriate type of outlet. The refrigerator is so deep we needed the extra 6 inches so we could open and close the door. We are looking forward to better use of our laundry room space.

Have a good Thursday and remember to guard your heart!

Sunshine in February

Our grands have a mommy that lets them enjoy the great outdoors in all the seasons. I am grateful for that. These babes are hardy with lots of thanks to their mommy! Yesterday we got some sunshine instead of fog and we enjoyed these photos from text messages to us of the fun in the sun. It was sunny but very cold for this walk down the driveway.

Addy walking back up the driveway.

Time for swinging while the sun was still shining. What a sweet older sister to give her brother some pushes on the swing.

He had a smiley good time. So cute to see his toothy smile!

We got a dusting of snow on Tuesday and we’ll see if we get more overnight.

Happy Wednesday to all of you.

Tuesdays With Moisi

September 13th, 2003 was our mom and pop’s 60th Wedding Anniversary. My parents had recently returned from their last trip to Russia and moved in with our youngest brother in Downey, California. The dinner celebration was enjoyed in Leonard’s backyard. I am in the process of copying photos from this wonderful celebration to share soon. This is most of the family at the time of this event which even includes our brother Fred’s family. Our son Dan is missing from this photo. No great grandchildren yet.