Lord, Speak to Me ~ Hymn

 

Lord, Speak to Me

Lord, speak to me that I may speak
In living echoes of Thy tone;
As Thou has sought, so let me seek
Thine erring children lost and lone.

O lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wandering and the wavering feet;
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Thy hungering ones with manna sweet.

O strengthen me, that while I stand
Firm on the rock, and strong in Thee,
I may stretch out a loving hand
To wrestlers with the troubled sea.

O teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious things Thou dost impart;
And wing my words, that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.

O give Thine own sweet rest to me,
That I may speak with soothing power
A word in season, as from Thee,
To weary ones in needful hour.

O fill me with Thy fullness, Lord,
Until my very heart overflow
In kindling thought and glowing word,
Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show.

O use me, Lord, use even me,
Just as Thou wilt, and when, and where,
Until Thy blessèd face I see,
Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glory share.

Words: Frances R. Havergal, 1872.

The lectern stands as the location from which Christian Biblical lessons are given. Lecterns hold the Bible in place as the church leader reads various passages from it. Lecterns in the shape of an eagle hold special value within churches.

Eagle lecterns date back to early church history. Some of the earliest examples of church lecterns that are still in existence date back to the 13th century, such as the lectern located within All Saints’ Parish Church in Bedfordshire, England.

The eagle is the symbol used to depict John the Apostle, whose writing is said to most clearly witness the light and divinity of Christ.

Another reason for eagle-shaped lecterns lies in its symbolizing the word of God being read from the lectern and soaring its way to the ears of the churchgoers.

We Crossed the Line…

Since Dear is retired now and soon he’ll be all wrapped up in building his shop we decided to take advantage of “free time” before the shop materials arrive to enjoy a day across the line. (that was a long sentence w/o punctuation) We crossed the border into Canada at a new to us crossing, Paterson, just north of the town of Northport in Washington state. We crossed the line at about 7am and we were the only ones crossing at this time in the morning.

British Columbia welcomed us with a few rules and cautions. Now we would have to think in kilometers.

Rossland is a city in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. Tucked high in the Monashee Mountains, Rossland is at an elevation of 3356′. Its population is 3729, though it fluctuates from season to season. The population is at its peak during the winter.

You have entered the center of an ancient volcano rich in minerals…

Rossland was our first stop in Canada with intentions of having breakfast at a restaurant called Fuel. It was housed in a refurbished gas station. I didn’t take a photo of the building but I did take a photo of our Eggs Benedict.

It was very good. We arrived in town at 7:30am and the restaurant didn’t open until 8am so we drove around the picturesque/quaint town.

The main road through town.

Born a Norwegian, Olaus Jeldness left his home country as a teenager for greener pastures in first the U.S., then Canada, then again in the U.S. Along with him, he brought his love for and adeptness at downhill skiing.

Play not for gain, but for sport.
Leap not for gold, but glee.
Oh! Youth, play well thy part
Whatever life’s gain may be.

You can read more about Olaus Jeldness here.

Nelson artist Cedar Mueller constructed Rusty, a nearly life-size sculpture of a horse, in classic pose from scavenged steel…

The Rossland Council for Arts and Culture also commissioned the installation of “The Storytellers”, a sculpture of ravens in trees, created by Andrew Raney from Salmo, outside Rossland’s public library.

This one is called the Sphere of Influence. By Carl Schlichting (Slocan Valley, BC, 2013) The Sphere was leased for 2015. A perfect Sphere, constructed out of almost 200 old steel bicycle rims…

There were several other sculptures that we missed on this trip.

I enjoyed this little town and it’s close enough that we might take another trip in the future.

On our way back to the USA after visiting Nelson which I’ll share photos of in a future post we stopped in Rossland again and did some deli shopping at their local grocer, Ferraro Foods. They make their own delicious salamis. I took another photo of the main drag in the afternoon light.

Sorry to those of you who because of WordPress  are having issues commenting.  I don’t know what to do to change that. 😦

Hope you all have a good weekend.

Early July

Documenting the state of the yard in early July. Starting in the back acreage.

Isaiah 55: 10-11
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and return not thither but water the earth
making it bring forth and sprout, giving it seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

The last of the Clematis vines to bloom. This one is the most delicate of the three. A light purple.

This is the largest of the Clematis’ with the deepest color.

These two photos are the front planters.

I’ll have to take some closeups on some new blooms popping up and hope some bloggers might be able to identify them for me.

Hope things are blooming nicely in your corner of the world.

Our little grandson is blooming nicely, too.

JJ turned 3 months yesterday and he has discovered his thumb. Sometimes it takes a lot of effort to get it into his mouth and he gets very frustrated. He survives the noises his older sister creates and can sleep through those.

The greenhouse is on it’s way to our son and daughter-in-law’s. Now we have a hole in the yard to deal with. I’ll show the before and after photos in a later post.

Hide and Seek

Who knew Gramps and Baba’s hallway would afford so much fun. Addy is hiding here for hide and seek.

You know if you cover your eyes no one can see you.

I bought 3 beanies from Walmart for clearance at 50 cents each and they were donned all weekend with the tags still on them.

Baba has a basket of slippers for guests and Addy chose these hedgehog slippers to wear. Just a bit too big.

A sweet sleeping grandson while the rest of the gang played cards. Baba got to sit close by and guard him.

Auntie Katie and Addy running “super fast” at the park.

Beside our human visitors we had a Doe, a deer, a female deer, pop in for a visit.

The Greenhouse has been dismantled and our kids in Colville are going to add it to their garden. So happy to find a good home for it where we know it will be well used. Our daughter in law is a fabulous gardener.

We captured this sunset as we left our kids home on Saturday night. We later learned that the dramatic layers were because of a wildfire on the Colville Reservation. Smoke has a way of adding drama to a sunset.

We’ve had an interesting summer so far with thunder storms and cooler temps. We are not complaining. I was able to mow the lawns today before the thunder storms rolled through. We are talking about doing some day trips into the part of Canada just North of us and investigating our area of Northeastern Washington before Dear receives the materials to build his new shop. Once the shop project starts it will be hard for me to divert him. No big trips planned for this summer.

Do you have summer plans that involve travels?

U.S.A. Soccer

Congratulations to the U.S. Women’s National Soccer team on their Gold medal victory in France. Such a fun soccer week for me. I’m a huge soccer fan. Besides FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019, CONCACAF Gold Cup is finishing up today.

The 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup is the 15th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the biennial international men’s football championship of the North, Central American, and Caribbean region organized by CONCACAF. The U.S.A. Men’s National Team is competing and they are in the finals against Mexico tonight. More soccer for me to watch.

Maybe in the future we will be able to see Addy play soccer.

Uncle Andrew was a good trainer.

 

Time for a water break.

We had an action packed few days enjoying time with Andrew, Katie, Dan, Jamie, Addy and Jaymison. Katie and Andrew are home on the Coast again safely and we are thankful for safe journeys.

Overheard these last few days:

Addy was a little confused when Katie called me momma. Addy looked at her and said, “that’s baba.”

When Katie was pushing Addy on the swing Addy said, “sing Katie.” Katie started singing and Addy then said, “louder!”

Okay is Otay right now. Gramps is Damps.

Hope you all had a good weekend.

In Heavenly Love Abiding ~ Hymn

In Heavenly Love Abiding

In heavenly love abiding, no change my heart shall fear.
And safe in such confiding, for nothing changes here.
The storm may roar without me, my heart may low be laid,
But God is round about me, and can I be dismayed?

Wherever He may guide me, no want shall turn me back.
My shepherd is beside me, and nothing can I lack.
His wisdom ever waking, His sight is never dim.
He knows the way He’s taking, and I will walk with Him.

Green pastures are before me, which yet I have not seen.
Bright skies will soon be over me, where darkest clouds have been.
My hope I cannot measure, my path to life is free.
My Savior has my treasure, and He will walk with me.

Words: Anna Laetitia Waring, 1850.

Grand Sparklers

A first and a third Fourth of July for these two.

At a certain point in trying to get the perfect shot Addy says, “I’m done”.

We had a small and quiet gathering giving our travelers who were on the road for 6 hours time to recuperate from the drive over the mountains and up the river. We enjoyed ribs, pulled pork, beans and broccoli salad for our meal. Addy played with Auntie Katie and with Gramps and Baba and it was fun to hear her giggles of delight. It doesn’t get dark here in the northeast end of Washington until 10:00pm. Shortly after 8 the group headed out back to light some sparklers. Baba held JJ and watched from inside.

Things got a bit smoky.

Concentration is important so you don’t get burned.

Addy shared her sparklers with Auntie Katie.

It was a safe and sane 4th of July.

We all hit the sack early and soon heard the fun that other revilers were having in the area. Because we live in very close proximity to Reservations it’s easy to buy illegal fireworks that have blasts that will shake the ground.

Today we are starting off slow and planning on enjoying Gramps’ Swedish Pancakes for brunch and then see what the day holds.

Hope your celebrations were good.

Independence Day 2019

Hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July celebrating our country and all we can enjoy in freedom. Our celebration will be small and quiet this year. No fireworks since we are in a high fire danger time right now. I’m sharing my greetings for the fourth early. We’ll be all caught up in getting ready for Katie and Andrew to arrive tomorrow for a few days and we will be preparing our barbecue meal for them and Dan, Jamie, Addy and JJ. As usual with all the fun happening I’ll be behind in visiting and posting.

Oh dear, I’m really behind these days. 🙂

I’ll leave you with some fun photos gathered this past week. “Fearless” granddaughter jumping in a rain puddle. Her mommy captured her in mid-air.

And this was the wind-up! She’s generally fearless in physical activity but there are “noises” that concern her.

They live on their own mountain and traffic noises are few and far between. When she visits Baba and Gramps on their very busy road we’ve had to reassure her and point out the big trucks that are making those noises. “What’s that?” is a common question when she’s at our house.

Addy came to play yesterday at Baba and Gramps’. We were outside at her water toy when thunder clapped in the distance. She ran to me in a panic and said “what’s that?” I told her it was thunder and she started walking to the door into the house and said, “let’s play inside Baba.”

We are happy to report our little JJ is finally getting more regular and we are most thankful to God for that.

Baba is so thankful she lives close to Addy and JJ.

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.”

We have much to be thankful for…starting with our troops, veterans, law enforcement officers and emergency first responders. God bless America and all who do so much to keep our country safe and free.

From years past our celebrations on the 4th!

George Washington’s Prayer Journal

“O eternal and everlasting God, I presume to present myself this morning before thy Divine majesty, beseeching thee to accept of my humble and hearty thanks, that it hath pleased thy great goodness to keep and preserve me the night past from all the dangers poor mortals are subject to, and has given me sweet and pleasant sleep, whereby I find my body refreshed and comforted for performing the duties of this day, in which I beseech thee to defend me from all perils of body and soul.

Direct my thoughts, words and work. Wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the lamb, and purge my heart by thy Holy Spirit, from the dross of my natural corruption, that I may with more freedom of mind and liberty of will serve thee, the ever lasting God, in righteousness and holiness this day, and all the days of my life.

Increase my faith in the sweet promises of the Gospel. Give me repentance from dead works. Pardon my wanderings, & direct my thoughts unto thyself, the God of my salvation. Teach me how to live in thy fear, labor in thy service, and ever to run in the ways of thy commandments. Make me always watchful over my heart, that neither the terrors of conscience, the loathing of holy duties, the love of sin, nor an unwillingness to depart this life, may cast me into a spiritual slumber. But daily frame me more and more into the likeness of thy son Jesus Christ, that living in thy fear, and dying in thy favor, I may in thy appointed time attain the resurrection of the just unto eternal life. Bless my family, friends & kindred unite us all in praising & glorifying thee in all our works begun, continued, and ended, when we shall come to make our last account before thee blessed Saviour, who hath taught us thus to pray, our Father.”

I’m humbled by this prayer from the first president of the United States. I pray along with it as I ready this post.

The stained glass window with the sun streaming through casting it’s light and color onto the statue of George Washington was taken at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. in May of 2011. Dear had a conference in D.C. and I was able to tag along. The National Cathedral is a must see if you ever travel to D.C.

It is folly to say our nation was not founded on Christian principles. Some would like to blot out this part of our history and remove all evidence of our Founding Father’s faith in the one true God.

Have you ever seen or read the third verse of “The Star Spangled Banner”, our National Anthem?

 O thus be it ever when free men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Pow’r that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto, “In God is our trust.”
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Praising God this morning for preserving our nation to this point in history.

Give me this day almighty God the Spirit filled mind to serve thee in the righteousness of your dear Son, Jesus my Lord, who’s sacrifice covers my sin repented of and gives me the strength to live in your holiness.  God bless America and keep our land free to worship you in righteousness and truth.

Goodbye June!

Before we welcome July we have some major events that we celebrated at the end of June. Dan and Jamie celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary on Thursday (6-27-2019) and Gramps and I babysat while they enjoyed a quiet meal together. Before they left for their date I captured photos of JJ who only had eyes for his mommy. He cooed and baby talked and smiled at his mommy.

The next day on Friday the 28th of June we celebrated Dear’s retirement from his contracting job he’s had since last August. Our kids sent this great bouquet to congratulate their dad on a well earned retirement from many years of work well done and being a shining example of integrity in the workplace. This is the second time Dear has tried to retire. We are thinking this time will stick.

After we packed up and dropped off his computer/monitors/work cellphone and other bits and pieces at Fedex to ship back to the company we stopped at Colville Pour House for a celebratory pint. Cheers to Dear!

This sign arrived on Thursday. Our niece sent the sign with the farewell message our dear old Pop would always give us when we were ready to leave from a visit with him or end a phone call. Three times sets things in stone you see. “I love you, I love you, I love you”. Thank you dear Miss for having these signs made for us in memory of your Dzeda, our Pop. We love you, we love you, we love you!

A great finish to June included a meal out at El Ranchito on Saturday to celebrate Dan and Jamie’s 4 year anniversary. Dear and I gathered with Jamie’s family for lunch. The next photo is from the drive home from Chewelah to Colville after our lunch.

On Sunday we had our last service in our sanctuary at church which is being extended and remodeled to include room for 100 more seats and a baptistry. We will be meeting at the community college on Sundays until the sanctuary is done the end of August. We had a picnic in the park after our service and it was nice to meet some more folks and have conversations. After the picnic some of us headed back to the church to completely empty out the sanctuary so that it can be gutted this week.

And that’s a wrap for the month of June!

Happy Canada Day to our good friends to the North of the U.S.A.!