Lord, Whom Winds and Waves Obey ~ Hymn

Lord, Whom Winds and Waves Obey

Lord, whom winds and waves obey,
Guide us through the watery way;
In the hollow of Thy hand
Hide, and bring us safe to land.

Jesus, let our faithful mind
Rest, on Thee alone reclined;
Every anxious thought repress,
Keep our souls in perfect peace.

Keep the souls whom now we leave,
Bid them to each other cleave;
Bid them walk on life’s rough sea;
Bid them come by faith to Thee.

Save, till all these tempests end,
All who on Thy love depend;
Waft our happy spirits o’er;
Land us on the heavenly shore.

Words: Charles Wesley, 1782.

Fleeting Five…

Fleeting: Lasting for a very short time. We had a snow event in the Seattle area that lasted a couple days. It arrived on Monday and by Thursday morning was all washed away by steady rain. Thursday morning all three passes across the Cascade mountain range were closed to traffic due to ice storms. Our friends in the Frasier Valley in British Columbia are still covered in snow and now ice and snow.

Many of you deal with harsh winters. For us in the Seattle area harsh winters are not a given. Some years we don’t get any snow. Wind storms can cause a lot of damage with downed trees on power lines or on roofs. We have big trees in the Pacific Northwest. We also might get flooding because of the quick melt off of snow that make our rivers rise.

If during one of our rare storms we manage to keep power it’s more like a party. We usually don’t experience cabin fever because of snow and not being able to go out and about. If the snow turns to ice it’s very hard to get around the Seattle area because of all of our hills. It is very scary driving down a hill with no control because of ice. There have been those years in our past where it was freezing and we had no power for up to 5 days. Those times we put our refrigerator contents out on our deck to keep it cold. During these times we do suffer from cabin fever.

Our kids in northeastern Washington are very tired of the snow and especially since they have to plow themselves out off their hill to the road below them.

1. In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter, long ago.

2. Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

(Christina G. Rossetti)

Thankful for fleeting things and the everlasting: 1. Our brief interlude of snow. 2. Bare roads again after the snow. 3. Digital cameras that can capture some of the beauty. 4. Power, light, heat and running water. 5. Our God of heaven who came down to earth to a stable so that we could be saved from death in our sins to life in Him because of his sacrifice on the cross and His gift of righteousness to us.

Linking up with Amy for Five on Friday and with Susanne for Friday’s Fave Five

Super Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What’s the last thing you did that someone else thought was super?

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Dear and I drove some important papers that needed to be north about 80 miles from us on Tuesday morning. The roads were fine on the interstate but when we arrived in Bellingham the side streets were compact snow and ice. A little tricky to drive on. We were happy to make it there and back again in record time and safely. Our son thought we were super to do this for him and his firm.

2. The last thing you ate that tasted superb?

While in California we had many superb meals with family and friends. One day my sister and I picked up our dear old pop and took him to his favorite Armenian restaurant in Montebello, Golden Skewers. The food is superb and we all enjoyed our choices.

3. Supersensitive, superstitious, superwoman, superambitious, supercilious, supervisor, superficial…pick a super word from the list and tell us how it relates to your life in some way recently or currently.

When I am in a large group of people I’m superficial. I find it hard to engage with anyone in particular and I buzz about without landing anywhere for any meaningful exchanges.

4. Do you love easily? If you’re comfortable doing so, explain why you think that is.

I think I’m cautious when it comes to love. Once I love you I’ll love you forever. I might not like you at times but my love will continue.

5. Valentine’s Day lands on a Tuesday this year. Will you mark the day in some way? If you’re celebrating with a dinner out somewhere will it be on Tuesday or will you celebrate over the weekend?

This day is hit and miss at this old house. Some years we celebrate big and I pull out the Valentine bin and decorate and some years we do not. Nothing is planned for Tuesday except typically on Tuesdays we go to our local Mexican restaurant for lunch or dinner. We call it Tequila Tuesday.

6. What’s something you are loving right now?

The anticipation of the arrival of our first granddaughter who will be our very first grandchild. Today we got a message from our DIL with a photo attached of her in the womb and she’s hanging on to her foot with her hand. They say she’s chubby and hairy!

7. Write a three word (or less) phrase you’d like to see on a Valentine candy heart.

I’m For You

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Linking up with From This Side of the Pond for Wednesday Hodgepodge.

E is for Ellen’s Winter Wonderland…

We don’t get snow every year and this was an exciting surprise for us when we woke up early on Monday morning.

It won’t last long but the exhilaration causes an excessive amount of photos every couple of minutes on social media. I like how this old house looks in the snow.

Dear and ellen b. went for a walk in the snow. Dear is home because he is not employed and hasn’t been employed since June of last year. We are still not sure if this is unemployment or retirement.

Our pear tree that we just finished pruning last week.

Our privacy fence that encloses our deck from eavesdropping neighbors.

An enchanting view on our walk east of our home. There were ducks in that pond.

On our early morning walk we encountered neighborhood children enjoying this steep hill sledding.

We ended our snowy walk with a selfie of Dear and ellen b. Our house is behind Dear’s head.

Linking up with ABC Wednesday which was going to end but has been revived with a new leader.

Morning Surprise…

Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow.
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

The blessing by faith, I receive from above;
O glory! my soul is made perfect in love;
My prayer has prevailed, and this moment I know,
The blood is applied, I am whiter than snow.

Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow.
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Snow is always a surprise in the Puget Sound area of Washington state. We only had about 4 inches, other areas got more. Some trees are down, some power is out and there are delays at the airport. Many schools are closed today. Our kids in Northeastern Washington got a foot of snow overnight. Our son is busy plowing his drive which is a long one to the main road below their home. We are not a region that is guaranteed snow and we are not good drivers in snow. One of the really scary things is that our area is very hilly with many steep roadways. Consider San Francisco if it got snow and you get the scary picture.

Headed out for a walk about the neighborhood. Happy Monday everyone.

Super Sunday Mosaics

Today Sunday the 5th of February is Super Bowl Sunday and our church joins in the fun of the day with a different kind of Sunday. We arrive for tailgating with grilled sausages and other treats as we walk into church. There are photo ops inside. Do I look like a natural with that football?

Things are flashier than usual and noisier, too. Two of our pastors represent each team that is playing in the Super Bowl. They go back and forth with sermon points. If they communicate it well they get a touchdown. Pastor Wolfgang covered Free Agent vs. Team Player, and Karma vs. Grace. Pastor Alexander covered Worry vs. Trust, and Death vs. Life. There are penalties and challenges. The game was tied at the end of 4 quarters so the two pastors had a memory verse challenge in overtime for extra points. The truth and the gospel is communicated. Pastor Alexander won on a challenge that is still being disputed after the game. Does that sound familiar?

We came home from church ready to tackle these creations in our kitchen in honor of the two Super Bowl Football teams. I do love a theme for cooking and setting tables. No table set this year since it’s just Dear and me today. Truth be told we aren’t big football fans but we join in the fun for Super Bowl Sunday. We always hope to see a good new commercial. It was a treat to see our 41st President George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara on the field while President Bush tossed the coin. The President hasn’t been home from the hospital long after a struggle with pneumonia. He is the oldest living president in the U.S.A. currently. God bless him.

I’m publishing this before we know who wins but if it goes like church did this morning the Atlanta Falcons will win but New England are the come back kings so…

I’m linking up with Maggie from Normandy Life for Mosaic Monday.

Our friends to the north are experiencing more snow than usual and so much so that many church services were cancelled because of treacherous roads. They are predicting snow for us, too, later today and tomorrow. Hope whatever the weather you are comfy cozy in your corner of the world.

Count Your Blessings ~ Hymn

Count Your Blessings

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Refrain

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

Refrain

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Refrain

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Refrain

Words: Johnson Oatman, Jr., 1897.

InSPIREd Sunday

Community Church Congregational United Church of Christ in Corona Del Mar, California. That’s quite a mouthful for a name. Lots of C’s for sure.

On January 21st while I was in California my sister and I spent the morning at Crystal Cove and on our way home I spotted this church on a side street off of PCH (Pacific Coast Hwy) and my sister humored me and turned down the street so I could take some photos.

We took full advantage of the sunny days in between the rain storms that Southern California experienced while I was there.

Linking up to InSPIREd Sunday with Beth and Sally. It’s been a few months since I’ve linked up.

We are still planning what we will be doing for Super Bowl Sunday and if anyone will be joining us. Maybe some New England Clam Chowder and a Georgia Peach Cobbler if I go with a game theme to represent each team. It will definitely be a fly by the seat of our pants kind of day! What are you planning?

Reflective Five on Friday

Last Friday after I picked up my sister Vera from the airport we headed to Chihuly Garden and Glass in the shadow of the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington.

Here is the Space Needle in the background of a Chihuly Glass art piece in the outdoor garden. Now I’ll leave it to you to spot the reflections of the Space Needle in Chihuly’s glass balls that are in that garden.

I shared some photos of the Chihuly Glass Museum earlier this week here.

Thank you to Amy at Love Made My Home and to Susanne for Friday’s Fave Five for hosting these Friday parties.

After I took my sister to the airport on Monday for her to flight back home we’ve been getting our winter pruning done at this old house. The Pear tree is done and the apple tree is half done. I finally trimmed the lavender way back the way I was told to do and my hydrangeas are trimmed, too. A local garden store is having a Hellebore event this Saturday with a discount on them and I’m thinking of adding another variety to my current plant. We have a quiet weekend except for the Super Bowl game on Sunday.

Our church has a great Super Bowl themed Sunday with 2 pastors going head to head in a sermon battle. Don’t know yet if we’ll have guests here to watch the game yet. Hope you all have a great Friday and weekend ahead!

My Friday thankfuls #1 thankful for sister time. #2 thankful for talented artists. #3 thankful for accomplishing yearly chores. #4 thankful for quiet weekends. #5 thankful for my church family.

Thursday a Fortnight ago…

…I stepped out on my own in Huntington Beach, California, for a walk along the shore and out to the end of the pier.

I enjoy California beaches in the winter.

The day I was walking on the pier was Josh’s birthday. He and Laura were still in California and opted to visit Disneyland on this day with their cousins. My two sister’s who I was staying with were both at work. My walk on the beach alone was good for me.

The storms that were rolling through Southern California made for some dramatic waves.

Before I headed home on the following Tuesday my sister Vera and I had a walk on a beach together south of this one and I’ll share about that later.

Fast forward to today…daughter and I were able to shop at the Navy Exchange. Our son-in-law is a non-active Marine so he and our daughter can shop at the exchange with proper I.D. I’m allowed in as a guest. One of the advantages of shopping at the Exchange is that you do not have any added tax. The price you see posted is the final price. After our shopping we had lunch together and she dropped me off home. I then headed to our local Goodwill and was happy to find these French Onion Soup bowls. Wednesday is Senior discount day so there is an 20% discount. I bought all 4 for just over $9.00. Lion’s head soup bowls.

I’m looking forward to making my French Onion soup again in these lovelies.

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage

Lord, Whom Winds and Waves Obey ~ Hymn