Graduations

For my Flashback this week I’m posting my graduation photos from Junior High, High School, College (mine and my sister Kathy’s) and my youngest siblings’ Kindergarten graduation.

Junior HighA formal graduation ceremony from Montebello Junior High. My opinion these days is that this was a little over kill. New dresses for the girls and suits for the guys. I wonder how much money each family had to invest? The photo of me and my dad got a little chewed up. The other photos are me with my little maternal grandmother. Me, my mom and my cousin once removed. Here’s a photo of my junior high school that has since been demolished.

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High School scannedMontebello High School graduation in June of 1968. I think it’s appropriate to have a ceremony for this accomplishment. Again I have a photo with my little maternal grandmother. She really was a dear lady!

Junior High1The photo on the right was taken in the front yard of our home in Montebello. The Volkswagon in the driveway belonged to my brother.

 

img400My brother Fred and me at my sister Kathy’s graduation from Cal State L.A.

Pictures15These are photos from my graduation from Cal-State L.A. My brother Fred graduated the same time as I did. That’s him and me on the right. Dear and me on the left.

img397Aren’t they cute? They are twins, Leonard and Lana, our youngest siblings.

img398I decided to throw this next photo in, too, since it’s in the same time period as the others.

img399We went out to Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour to celebrate the twins. I’m guessing this is for their 6th birthday. So much fun for all of us. Did you ever eat at Farrell’s? We drove miles to go to the first Farrell’s in California.

Our snow is practically all washed away this morning. The rain has been falling hard and steady so it’s a slushy mess out there. I do hope it lightens up for tomorrow as I’ll be traveling up across the line to Abbotsford for a special time with most of the “girls”. How’s your Monday shaping up?

Happy Family Day to our Canadian neighbors to the North! Enjoy your day off!

Snow Trumps All…

When snow falls in our area it trumps everything. We were at a Memorial Service yesterday afternoon where it was so good to see so many loved ones we don’t see often. Forever friends are good to have. After the service we had dinner out with our kids. When we got home we started seeing that some of our Facebook friends south of us were seeing snow fall. At about 8 P.M. it started falling at our house in earnest.

Feb Snow 030When we woke up this morning we had a nice 2 to 3 inch covering. That probably makes some of you snow worthy people chuckle. Here in our area where snow is always a surprise 3 inches is enough to keep us at home and some events end up being cancelled.

feb snow day 034We didn’t watch any news yesterday so we did not hear any warnings about a possible snow fall which made it a delightful surprise.

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Snow is great around these parts only if it doesn’t hang around for too long. Remember we are an area with lots of steep hills. You cannot describe our part of Washington as flat. This old house is at the top of a hill so for us to get out and about we have to go downhill which can work okay but then we have to come uphill to get home and that is a bit tougher.

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feb snow day 004It will be interesting to see when this snow will melt off. I just told Dear he might have to make a run down the hill to buy some milk and try out his 4 x 4 Jeep in the snow. You think he’ll jump to my challenge? Time will tell. Well that didn’t take long. Dear did go down the hill and made it back with no problem but at the very bottom of our hill signs were up saying “Road Closed”. Dear made it through the barriers and up the hill with no problems but there were cars abandoned on the road that could not make it up…oops!

Are you watching the Olympics? It’s been fun for me to hear the Russian and understand some of it. I was able to sing along with the Moscow Nights number in the opening ceremonies. And we keep wanting to train the U.S. announcers on the pronunciation of Matryoshka (the Russian stacking dolls). Three syllables not four!! Maw-trosh-kah or Maw-trosh-key (plural) is the easiest way I can spell it phonetically. Love seeing these dolls at all the venues!

After shots 003Watching the Winter Olympics with snow on the ground outside seems quite appropriate. Hope you have a good week!

The Gate Ajar for Me ~ Hymn

The Gate Ajar for Me

There is a gate that stands ajar,
And through its portals gleaming
A radiance from the cross afar,
The Savior’s love revealing.

Refrain

O depth of mercy! Can it be
That gate was left ajar for me?
For me! For me!
Was left ajar for me!

That gate ajar stands free for all
Who seek through it salvation;
The rich and poor, the great and small,
Of every tribe and nation.

Refrain

Press onward, then, though foes may frown,
While mercy’s gate is open;
Accept the cross, and win the crown,
Love’s everlasting token.

Refrain

Beyond the river’s brink we’ll lay
The cross that here is given,
And bear the crown of life away,
And love Him more in Heaven.

Refrain

Words: Lydia O. Baxter, circa 1872.

An Electric Week!

What a week we’ve had in Seattle. Here are my favorites in no particular order.

February 0041. Enjoying our home team winning the Super Bowl! There’s something so rich about unbridled joy.

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2. Being able to replace our older dishwasher with a new one installed without a hitch.

 

3. Some clear skies albeit quite chilly for us here in Western Washington. We were in the teens today and we never made it over freezing on our hill. It’s so dry and cold that my first touch on light switches and my computer buttons sends a little shock through my fingers…”electric”.

 

4. Hearing some good news from Andrew in Afghanistan is always a favorite.

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5. Talking to my pop and hearing hope in his voice. We bought him a recliner that he is really enjoying and I found this photo from the late 1960’s of him in a recliner that makes me smile. This photo was taken on Christmas day in the afternoon after our lunch and before we headed back to Sunday night services…

What are your favorites this week?

You can join us at Living to Tell the Story for this weekly event that Susanne hosts.

Valentine Party…

Laurie is hosting a Valentine Party and I’m joining in. Thank you Laurie!

Valentines from the present and past will be represented here.

Hope you feel the love as you scroll through…

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A little Valentine refreshment will be ready for you.

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Pink or Red?2014-02-05 February

While attending primary and elementary school my favorite day of the year was Valentine’s Day. I loved receiving each little card placed in a decorated bag on my chair. Did you exchange cards at your school?

These days I like to enjoy a nice meal at home and not fight with the crowds at restaurants. I have no flower or card expectations but if they show up I’m grateful. Some years I send cards and some years I don’t. What are your Valentine Day traditions?

Out with the Old…

February 006Our dishwasher was over 10 years old and it started making noises and wasn’t pumping out all the water so we knew it was time to investigate something new. We ordered a new dishwasher and the service man came on Tuesday to take the old one out and replace it with our new one.

February 007Out with the Maytag and in with the Miele.

February 008I think we’ll be happy with our choice.

So much excitement around our town. Katie and I did not make it down to Seattle on Wednesday because my throat was acting up and it was cold. Traffic was gridlocked and they are saying that over 700,000 fans gathered downtown to welcome home the Seattle Seahawks and their Lombardy trophy. Here’s what our outdoor thermometer registered…

February 009That’s cold for the Seattle area! We sat and watched all the T.V. coverage of the parade and the welcome home rally at Century Link Field in our warm family room. Dear went into Seattle before the sun was up and came home with his work computer before the parade road closures started. That was a smart move as he made it home smoothly instead of being stuck in a traffic nightmare with 700,000 people trying to get out of Seattle after the parade.

I found a few more fun photos from our Super Bowl Sunday celebration.

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February 003February 001So much fun!

Needless to say my Wednesday was a wash. I did manage to feed the three of us two meals. I also used my time sitting in front of the T.V. scanning more old photos. I’m glad I have something to show for Wednesday. How did your Wednesday go?

D is for Duomo!

It’s time for ABC Wednesday and our letter this week is D.

Thank you Denise, Roger, Leslie and the rest of the crew for keeping this meme going!

In March of 2013 I had the privilege to travel with my husband on his business trip to Milan, Italy.

The Duomo, Milan Cathedral, is the cathedral church of Milan, Italy. Dedicated to Santa Maria Nascente, it is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan, currently Cardinal Angelo Scola. The Gothic cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete.

This is one of the Duomo’s doors.

The Duomo is decorated with an amazing number of beautifully sculpted statues and spires. There are more statues on this building than any other in the world, 3159 in total. 2245 Of these are on the exterior together with 96 gargoyles and 135 spires.

I have extensive posts on the Duomo that you can find here (Duomo) here (Within the Duomo) and here (On Top of Old Duomo).

On Wednesday February 5th my daughter and I are going to brave the crowds and head to downtown Seattle to view the Super Bowl Parade. They are predicting quite the crowds to cheer on and congratulate the Seattle Seahawks in their first ever Super Bowl victory. The city of Seattle has been excited for 2 solid weeks and it will be a fun atmosphere to be a part of tomorrow. If I’m a little late getting around to your posts for the letter D you’ll know why…

Flashback to the Late Sixties…

These next photos from my high school years might show one of the reasons for my interest in sports. These were taken from 1966 to 1968 at my home and at Montebello High School in Montebello, California. Montebello is  just East of East L.A.

img339I was on the Song leader squad in my junior and senior years. The first few photos are from my junior year.

img341Every Friday before game time we would have a Pepster Squad Dinner at one of the Pepsters’ homes. When the squads came to my house my mother would prepare a Russian meal. We enjoyed this time together before game time. It was easy to lose 5 pounds in one night of cheerleading.

img345This was my best friend and she was a flag twirler our Junior year. In our senior year we were both Song leaders.

img343Some more of my friends Judy, Shelly and Bet. The hanging of Dumbo is a long story.

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img347It was crazy hat night at our Basketball game. Looks like we were playing the Whittier Cards? Shuffle the Cards was our motto for the night.

img356Our uniforms changed every year but they were always some combination of blue and gold our school colors. This was my senior year.

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img364It was crazy hat night again.

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img369We’d always go out for fast food after the game to try to gain back some of the weight we’d lose in the course of cheering during the games.

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img361The Pep squad would have their own Physical Education hour together to practice our routines and to learn all the rules connected with the different sports we would cheer on the sidelines for. I remember studying the rules for football and learning all the referee signs. It has come in handy in understanding what’s going on when I watch sports now. These were the days when you had to have your P.E. uniform washed each weekend at home and brought back on Monday pressed and ready for the week. After class you were also required to take a shower in those group shower stalls and get your name checked off. I don’t think kids use uniforms anymore for Physical Education. Did you have uniforms in high school for P.E.?

We had a very quiet Monday here. After all the excitement yesterday with the Super Bowl it was nice to have a quiet day. Katie and I are talking about going to the Super Bowl parade in Seattle on Wednesday.

Tomorrow, Tuesday,  our new dishwasher is coming to be installed. I’ll have to learn a different technique in filling the new one.

How’s the first week of February in your world?

Super Sunday!

Super Sunday 011We had our photo op picked up our skittles and headed home to get ready for the big game.

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2014-02-02 super bowl treats

We’ve got the 12th man drinks going and the 12th man chair all ready.

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This is what we are eating during the commercials! Football is not our life but we are having fun today enjoying all the hype and cheering loud for our team.

Are you watching or are you happily avoiding the game?

Update: We are so glad that our Seahawks will bring their first Super Bowl trophy home!

2014-02-02 Gameday!

His Words Are True ~ Hymn

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His Words Are True

What wonderful words in the Gospel of grace
Our loving Redeemer has giv’n!
How happy are they who in spirit are pure,
For theirs is the kingdom of Heav’n!

Refrain

Tho’ all that is earthly will fade,
And vanish away from our view,
We know that as sure as the Savior lives,
The words He has spoken are true.

He maketh the lilies to bloom in the field,
And shelters the bird in its nest;
He calleth the weary to come unto Him,
And find the sweet blessing of rest.

Refrain

To those that are thirsting and longing for Him,
The water of life He will give;
And they that with patience endure to the end,
Forever in glory shall live.

Refrain

Then why are we fearful, and where is our faith?
His own He will never forsake;
And tho’ He may lead them where waters are deep,
His promise He never will break.

Refrain

Words: Fanny Crosby, 1905.