I showed you our peeps. I showed you the birds. Here are the general views on the Colville Dominion Meadows Rotary Trail.
Is this our first moose sighting in Colville? It’s only a silhouette. I think I need one for my back acres. Or maybe a bear…
Just to prove I was on the walk here’s my shadow of me in my hat!
The last shot I took on our way back to our cars.
Now all I need to do is to drag Dear out early in the morning to walk this trail with me before he gets carried away with working on his shop!!
Here we go into another week. We are in a very rainy pattern in our neck of the woods. We head to Spokane this week for my follow-up appointment from my surgery last year. It was cancelled in March because of COVID-19 but now they are ready to have me come in. Dear will have to wait in the car instead of coming in with me.
A song of spring once more we sing
As winter flies away,
And changeful hours bring sun and showers
To weave a crown for May;
With heart and voice we all rejoice,
On this returning day.
For once again the promise-strain
Floats down from days of yore,
That fruits of earth shall wake to birth,
To bless the toiler’s store;
Each annual round with bounties crowned,
Till time shall be no more.
Thee, Lord, we praise for springtide days,
And life’s yet fairer spring;
These golden hours, these opening powers,
We in glad service bring,
Thine own to be, from sin set free,
Our Father, Savior, King.
On Mother’s Day weekend we met up at the Rotary Trail at the Golf course in Colville for a morning walk. Josh and Laura were part of the Virtual World Concern 5K to raise money to fight human trafficking, Free Them 5K.
It was a beautiful morning for a walk.
Addy walked most of the trail but she also was able to climb into “Bob” when she got a little weary.
Laura and Joshua’s Company were able to raise a good chunk of money for the cause.
Addy is telling Uncle Josh that this sign says, “no dog pooping here”.
Back to the car and it was time for a nap for this little guy. So nice to get snuggles! We all headed back to our house for Swedish Pancakes and Little Smokies, thanks Dear!
In future posts I’ll share the birds and other things we saw from the trail. We will definitely take advantage of this nice trail in the future.
Gramps and I got to babysit last week so that Addy and Jaymison’s mommy and daddy could have a much needed time away together. It was only 2 hours but I’m sure it was refreshing for them.
We were entertained by the two of them. Be forewarned this will be a photo overload!
They woke up from their naps and were not distressed that mommy and daddy were not home. That’s always a relief.
We stayed a little while after mommy and daddy came home and enjoyed some dinner together.
We figured out a short term solution to my uploading photo problem. I’m taking my computer to Dan and Jamie’s when we visit there and using their more efficient internet to get my photos onto my blog. I’m amazed at the ease of this process at their place compared to ours. They have line of sight internet whereas we are stuck with satellite for the time being. Hoping for a future tower with line of sight from our country bungalow.
Our county has moved to stage 2 guidelines and some restaurants are opening at 50% capacity, single use menus, disinfecting after each customer, etc. etc. Our family’s stage 3 status is a personal move not a statewide move. Our Eastside family even when our daughter-in-laws people gather with us is just nine of us, not counting Addy and Jaymison. For the most part we will just be getting together with the six of us, Dear, me, Dan, Jamie, Addy and Jaymison. We feel comfortable with this.
1. Ever played the game Farkle? Are you a risk taker? In games only or also in life?
When I asked Dear if we had ever played Farkle, he said no, he paused and then said, “Sounds like a fairy fart.” Chuckle, chuckle.
In games I’m not afraid of taking a risk but in real life I tend to cling to the sure thing. I do like an adventure but even with an adventure I need to have some control. I think that’s one of the reasons I’m not enamored with the idea of a cruise. Too much is out of my control…
2. What’s your favorite thing about your yard or whatever outdoor space you may have?
I like the fact that whatever window we look out of, we see yard, trees, plants, birds, bugs. One of my desires when we moved from our city home was to purchase a property where I wouldn’t be staring into someone’s carport when I was outside or when I was looking out a window. I wanted nice views and I’m thankful for those nice views.
3. Tell us about the most interesting building you’ve seen or been in.
Old cathedrals and churches fascinate me more than anything modern. We’ve been in several amazing Cathedrals in Great Britain. Today I’ll choose Gloucester Cathedral in England to share. Amazing architecture and details that I could take hundreds of photos of. The Cloisters in this building boggle the mind. Questions pop up like, “How did they do that?”, “How long did it take to build this?” “How has it survived all these years?” Here’s only six of those hundreds of photos!
4. In this current season of social distancing, what’s something you’ve come to realize you take for granted in more ordinary times? Do you think you’ll make a conscious effort to appreciate whatever that ‘it’ is once normal life resumes?
There is so much that we take for granted. That’s a lesson all in itself. What a carefree life we’ve been afforded for so many years! I could list many things that I hope to take a conscious effort to appreciate. Going to church and worshiping with others is one for sure. Making traveling plans with ease instead of wondering about restrictions is another. Jumping in the car and heading to a restaurant to enjoy a meal out is another.
5. Share a favorite song with a springtime flower in the lyrics somewhere.
Drew a blank with any springtime flower in the lyrics but here is Springtime from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons!
And then I came across this one which will work, too.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Our little family here in the northeastern corner of Washington State where we’ve had very few cases of COVID-19 felt that we could be together again.
This right here is the best feeling in the world. A sweet hug and cuddle!
This is a photo and tribute our niece Melissa wrote about her Dzeda, our Pop, Moisi, on May 7, 2014.
“My Deda….he loves his Bible. Tonight he told me that he doesn’t rush when he reads. ‘I meditate on it,’ he says. His goal from now on is to start memorizing more of it. He’ll be 91 at the end of the month and questioning his purpose on this earth without Baba is a daily struggle. Yet despite his broken heart, he has never lost sight of what is truly important. He presses on, striving to live for Christ every single day. The man never ceases to amaze me. He is a true inspiration.”
This photo was taken of our Pop in his bedroom when he was still living in the senior apartment in Brea, California. He would soon move in with our oldest sister and her family, Melissa’s mom.
My prayer for you is that if you are meditating that you would only meditate on the Word of God, something from the Bible.
“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
“For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness.” Psalm 18:28
“My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:20-23
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me -practice these things and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4: 8-9
Our little Eastside family went to Phase Three for gathering and hugging on May 2nd, 2020. We had Dan, Jamie, Addy and Jaymison over for dinner on that Saturday. First things first…we got a good hug from Addy after she was out of her car seat and up the two steps to Gramps and Baba’s house.
Jaymison came in with his mommy and I wondered if he’d be willing to come to me after the many times we had seen him without responding to his little arms lifted up for me to pick him up. I was overjoyed (to tears) when he came right to me and then laid his sweet head against my shoulder and stayed there until it was time to sit down for dinner.
We had a nice dinner and then it was time to get re-acquainted with fun in the playroom. Jaymison is getting the “lay of the land” at our country bungalow.
Addy is a pro about all things here already.
Such a relief and joy to be together.
Thinking about this separation time and distancing time we are all having this morning and wondering about how special, amazing, glorious it will be when we finally see Jesus face to face? To behold His glory in person. Will we hug? Will we hold back and be in awe or will we run up and give Him a bear hug. Maybe both? The longer I live the more I’m looking forward to His appearing.
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” Titus 2:11-14 (ESV)
Some of our Canadian friends can still cross the border without any issues. Here’s hoping our border to the North can open again soon.
Colossians 3:1-4 ~ “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
Mother’s Day has been lovely already and we have one more small gathering to enjoy. Our children all have honored me more than I deserve and it was good to see two thirds of them in person. Our two sons made breakfast for us. Tonight we’ll have dinner together with Jamie’s family. Our gathering will be under 10 people.
Hope you who are mothers had some lovely greetings today.
Like a compass on the sea,
Like a star on azure deep,
Is the Bible unto me,
For my course it safely keeps;
Tells me how I strayed and fell,
How in sin I lay as dead,
But I live its power to tell,
Blessèd book my mother read.
Refrain
Precious book! O wondrous book!
Who can tell its power divine?
Bearing news of grace so free,
Book of books, I claim it mine.
Like a lamp in darkest night,
Shining on my pathway lone,
Now and then upon my sight,
Shows a vision of my home;
So this book my spirit cheers,
When all other hopes are fled,
Balm and comfort for my fears,
Is the book my mother read.
Refrain
Like a guest from realms above,
Soothing all one’s pain and pang,
How it thrills with Jesus’ love,
Like some song the angels sang;
Tells me how my Savior came,
How for me His blood was shed;
I will read it o’er again—
Blessèd book my mother read.
Refrain
Words: Edward S. Ufford, 1916.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers who come by here today! God bless you and keep you!
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 