On the Road

We traveled some new roads this week and found some spots we want to explore more along highway 17 in Washington State between Coulee City and Soap Lake. Along highway 17 there are several lakes and deep gorges that look a little Grand Canyon-isk.

It was fun to see the pops of yellow from these wildflowers

We stopped at the entrance to this park at Sun Lakes. We are interested in seeing the Dry Lakes area and Lake Lenore Caves in the future.

The state of Washington has such an amazing variety of landscapes to enjoy.

We are enjoying a little break from our everyday routines. Hope all is well in your corner.

Happy Friday!

April Bible Verse Challenge ~ Jesus said…

We are at the 2nd Thursday of our 5 week challenge to share verses from the Bible that are  quotes that Jesus spoke. Thank you in advance for the verse/verses you choose to add in the comments. I will post them below.

Jesus appears to His Disciples after His resurrection.

Luke 24:44-48

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

From Vera:

“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:17-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

From Patsy:

Matthew 6:31-34 

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

From HappyOne:

Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

From Cheryl:

I am the Good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. John 10:14

Sunshine, Bubbles and Sticks

We’ve had some sunny days with temps getting up to the low 60’s. The ‘Grands’ enjoyed some new bubble guns in the sunshine.

This little guy loves sticks.

This stick turned on him and smacked him in the face leaving a couple scratches. When I was over last week and we went on a little walk down the drive he pointed at that stick and touched his wounds filling me in on that accident. He is still in the process of forming words and learning to communicate more with words but we have to fill in the blanks and he’ll nod yes or no if we have it right.

All these photos were taken by their mommy.

No Wednesday Hodgepodge this week as Jo is taking the week off from coming up with questions.

Easter Day 2021


It was a wonderful Easter Day because we were able to gather and worship our Risen Lord with our church family. We came home after a service filled with joy and a clear message of the Truth of the Gospel and God’s love for all.

When the rain ceased we went out to hide Easter eggs for the grands to hunt.

It was a very casual Easter table this year with paper plates for the first time in the history of our home.

Dear and I dressed up for Easter service and we had many in our church family taking a second look. We are generally very country casual.

The kids and grands arrived after naps and the first thing on the agenda was to let Addy and JJ hunt for the eggs we had hidden in the back area of our home.

Addy is a pro being 4 already and was off to the races. JJ found a good number, too. Next year he’ll give his big sister a lot more competition.

Finally JJ managed a slight smile for the camera.

Our kids on the ‘coast’ snapped this photo and sent it to us. They were able to gather at their church for Easter service, too.

It was a glorious day!

Easter Monday

I’m working on getting my photos from Easter day uploaded and will share them tomorrow. Last week our niece and her husband flew up from California and spent a couple days with our ‘Coast Kids’. Laura shared these wonderful photos from Tulip Town in Mount Vernon.

Our niece Debbee with her hubby Lenny.

Cousins…Laura, Debbee, Katie

Laura and Josh

Katie (Andrew is traveling for work)

Laura does a remarkable job taking photos with her phone.

Our son Dan flew to the ‘coast’ for a quick overnight trip to surprise his best friend for his 40trh birthday and arrived just in time to see his cousin Debbee and Lenny before they left to the airport on Friday afternoon. Now it was time to surprise Jamie D., Dan’s best friend since 2nd grade.

Surprise was a success and the celebrations were the best! Both our sons and Jamie have been the best of friends through the years and Jamie’s family is considered our family. Happy 40th birthday Jamie. Hi Beth :).

It’s a fun thing that Dan found his beautiful bride in Colville many years since meeting his best friend in 2nd grade and her name is Jamie, too. Jamie stayed home with Addy and Jaymison while Dan had his quick overnight trip.

Happy Easter Monday everyone. We’re recuperating from a wonderful day of celebrating our Risen Savior!

Resurrection Sunday! Christ is Risen Just Like He Said!

Christ Is Risen!

Truly He is Risen!

Khristos voskrese!    Voistinu voskrese!

Христос воскрес!
воистину воскрес!

Blessings to all on this Glorious Easter Day!

One of my favorite Easter hymns growing up was Low in the Grave He lay. You just have to hear it sung in a church full of Russian Baptists! (In Russian of course) This song is sung with emotion and joy that can’t be missed.

Low in the Grave He Lay

Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior,
Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!

Refrain

Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Vainly they watch His bed, Jesus my Savior;
Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!

Refrain

Death cannot keep its Prey, Jesus my Savior;
He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!

Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Words & Music:  Ro­bert Low­ry, 1874.

Finally!

We were able to finish this puzzle this past Wednesday. I’ve already talked about how difficult this one was. It was very satisfying every time I could get a string of pieces to fit.

This is the day in between. In between Good Friday and Easter. We are looking forward to Easter Sunday and all the joy that celebrating the Resurrection brings!

Good Friday 2021

Today we remember Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified on a cross and when he breathed His last and was laid in a tomb.

Were the angels looking down from heaven to see all that would transpire?

Growing up there were Good Fridays when we would fast until our church service in the evening with Communion breaking our fast and then having a meal together.

We are so fortunate to be able to attend a Good Friday service this year.

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
From Matthew 27:

The Death of Jesus

45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

55 There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, 56 among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Jesus Is Buried

57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb

62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

Jesus Said, April Bible Verse Challenge

For the month of April the challenge each Thursday is to share verses from the Bible that are a direct quote from our Lord Jesus. Since this is Easter week and today we think about the Last Supper, I’m choosing verses from the Lord’s last words to the Disciples before he was arrested and crucified. Feel free to share a portion of scripture to keep things in context. Share in the comments or on your blog and I’ll add your verses below.

Because our challenge is beginning on Maundy Thursday I’m switching my selections to these verses from John 13

GOTW-practice035

Excerpts from John chapter 13…

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;  so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.  After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.  “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

From Vera:

“Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:16-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

From HappyOne:

Jesus speaking to the thief on the cross.

Luke 23:43 KJV

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shall thou be with me in paradise.

Get Ready Hodgepodge

If it’s Wednesday it must be time for the Hodgepodge! Thank you Jo From This Side of the Pond for the questions!

1. The Hodgepodge lands on the last day of March…in ten words or less bid the month adieu. 

March ushered a new decade with joyous celebrations and love.

2. March 31st is National Tater Day…your favorite way to have a potato?

Baked and loaded

Given a choice would you opt for sweet, white, or red?

Depends on what they are a side to. I like them all.

How often are potatoes on your menu in one form or another?

Maybe once a week.

Ever been to Idaho?

Yes, we were just there to celebrate my 70th birthday. It’s our next door neighbor state and only a short drive away.

3. Last time someone or something ‘rained on your parade’? Explain. 

The obvious ever present culprit is the virus. I miss the ease of traveling and just being out in the world. Not a fan of masks and fear and mixed messages.

4. Put all your eggs in one basket, get cracking, nest egg, bad egg, good egg, egg on, have egg on your face, or walk on eggshells…choose a phrase from the list that applies to something in your life currently and tell us how or why.

‘Get Cracking’ With Easter coming this Sunday the song “People Get Ready” is on my mind. If you haven’t made peace with God through Jesus Christ it’s time to ‘get cracking’ people!

5. If I visited your home would I find a lot of baskets there? Something you like to keep in a basket? 

Not a lot but a few. We keep comfy socks/slippers for company in a basket under our entry bench. Hats and gloves, too.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Tomorrow we remember the Last Supper and the time that Jesus spent with His disciples preparing them for his coming death and resurrection. This photo is a life sized artist’s depiction of that night that I took at the Monumentale Cemetery in Milan Italy in 2013. “Do this in remembrance of me”

This next photo I took at Wells Cathedral in England.

Hope you have a meaningful and joyful Easter Weekend!