Good Thing it Snowed…

…cuz I’ve got nothing else for you.

I’m in a blogging slump of sorts. Moving on…

One look outside this morning and I knew where I would be.

I’m holed up inside away from the slush, hibernating in my den.

We are waiting on a part for our fireplace insert that died which makes this weather seem even colder. We have been congregating in our family room where our little stove is working and keeping that room warm.

These photos were taken before the sun was up.

Dear did make it out early this morning and reports he only had one trouble spot on the way to work. Later in the morning Katie braved the roads to go into work to train some people to do her job. She gets points for overcoming her snow driving fears. I still might get brave enough to make a trip to the post office and library. Time will tell. For more weighty matters…

Today marks the 1 year anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Our DIL works at World Concern and if you want a trustworthy place to donate money for the work in Haiti check them out. They have been working there for years and were there when the earthquake struck and are still there helping to rebuild homes and lives. World Concern in Haiti.

 

Got Thorns?

“They gave our Master a crown of thorns. Why do we hope for a crown of roses?”
~ Martin Luther ~

The New Testament does not paint a rosy picture for the Christian life on this Earth. Instead it assures us that if we follow Christ we will face trials and persecutions. Because we are identified with Christ we will receive much of the same bad treatment and rejection He received.

II Timothy 3:12 ~  Indeed, all who desire to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

I Peter 4:12 ~ Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

In our Women’s Bible Study today we talked about suffering, trials, persecution. We’re studying Philippians and Joy in everything seems to be the  theme so Joy in suffering was discussed.

James 1:2-4 ~ Count it all joy my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have it full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

The trials are inevitable. How will I react?  How should I behave in the midst of these trials? Will I choose joy trusting in Almighty God and His plans and purposes? I hope so. I want to experience steadfastness. I want to rejoice and be glad when Christ’s glory is revealed. I choose to trust that God will teach me in and during my trials to react and behave in a way that let’s steadfastness have its full effect bringing me homeward towards perfection and completeness, lacking nothing. I don’t want a crown of roses now, I want a crown of life so when I get to heaven I can cast it at Jesus’ feet…

Missing…

…my mom and pop.

This is a photo of them at the family Thanksgiving get together in California. We were in Washington. It’s been a while since I’ve seen my parents in person. I hope to be able to see them soon. Aren’t they the cutest!?

 

 

Love is in the Air…

…and already stocked in some of the aisles in the local stores. I thought it was a good time to share about a fun party coming up just before Valentine’s Day.

Laurie is hosting this again this year. It’s a fun time to let the red, pink, and love flow freely. And speaking of love…

Here’s my sweet niece that I love dearly at Huntington Beach in California. I missed seeing her and the rest of my extended family this Christmas and New Year but at least I have photos to enjoy…

 

A Mind at Perfect Peace With God ~ Hymn

 

 

A Mind at Perfect Peace With God

A mind at perfect peace with God;
O what a word is this!
A sinner reconciled through blood;
This, this indeed is peace.

By nature and by practice far,
How very far from God;
Yet now by grace brought nigh to Him,
Through faith in Jesus’ blood.

So nigh, so very nigh to God,
I cannot nearer be;
For in the person of His Son
I am as near as He.

So dear, so very dear to God,
More dear I cannot be;
The love wherewith He loves the Son,
Such is His love to me.

Why should I ever anxious be,
Since such a God is mine?
He watches o’er me night and day,
And tells me “Mine is thine.”

FFF ~ Back to It…

I’ve missed a few weeks of Friday’s Fave Five because of Christmas and all but I’m getting back to it now. Thank you to Susanne at Living to tell the Story for hosting this event each Friday. Click on the logo above to join in…

1. Fresh flowers in the winter are such a treat. Our winters can be pretty dark so it’s so nice when the sun shines and brightens things up.

2. Our very cold and clear weather has afforded us some beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Sunrises are easier to see from inside my warm house then sunsets. This is a Sunrise…

3. Lots of good food has been cooked and eaten around here. These were the lamb chops we had on New Year’s Eve with a pepper cream sauce.

4. Dear’s new smoker is becoming a favorite around here.  Dear has smoked ribs, a Prime Rib Roast, and Pork Roasts in it already.

5. This last one is therapy I purchased for myself for $1.60. When I was little I always wished I’d get a package of Life Savers like this for Christmas. I saw them at the store and then saw kids at church who were flaunting them on Christmas morning. I never got one. When I was at the store this week there they were…a whole table of them for half-price. I stood there looking, then I picked one up and opened it to check the flavors of the rolls inside. I almost walked away and then I decided it was time to lay the wanting to rest and I threw one in the cart with a smile on my face and walked away. Ahhh…I’m free from that deprivation in my childhood!

6. This is an extra. Our daughter Katie was feeling ill at the beginning of the week and we were afraid it was appendicitis but it ended up being a kidney infection that could be treated with antibiotics and she’s feeling a whole lot better.  Yesterday a bag of groceries tore and a large bottle of juice landed on my big toe. Boy was I in a lot of pain and I thought it was broken but it’s feeling so much better today.

I’m looking forward to catching up with all of you this week…

Snowflake Tablescape

Our daughter Katie turned 25 last week and on the morning of a little dinner party planned for her it snowed here! A theme is born…the snowflake table.

Her snowflake taco party was a success!

The cake was a spice cake with snow on top. Yes of course that’s snow in the form of powdered sugar! The only problem with snow on top of a birthday cake is when you go to blow out the candles you also get a snow flurry!

I’m linking to the lovely Susan at Between Naps on the Porch please click on over to see some very nice tables set for our enjoyment!

Plates: Nikko – Vintage Lace Platinum from Marshalls  ~ Snowflake tablecloth, centerpiece, napkins and napkin rings are from Martha Stewart K-Mart collection  ~ Candle holders are from a garage sale ~ Goblets, cut glass dessert plates, cake plate and scarf I used as a runner are from thrift stores ~

 

60 in 2011!

 

This won’t be the last time you hear about this but I’m turning 60 this year. 60! I saw this great idea when I was visiting Pink Purl, Tracy’s Blog in Norway. She had a list of 40 things she was going to do before her 40th birthday in 2 years. I really liked the idea but I don’t have 2 years until I’m 60 so I’m trying to come up with 60 things to do this year. If you have any suggestions leave me a comment. Some good ideas I’ve gotten so far are:

~ Take $60 in dollar bills and hand them out randomly.

~ Send your parents 60 cards thanking them for having you and the way they raised you.

~Take a cross country road trip with your daughter.

~Do a book signing in a local book store and invite some friends to join you!

~Each month drive 60 miles on a different route……

~ Do 60 posts about one memory for each of your years – granted you may need some help for the earlier years!!

I’ll be coming up with some of my own and then honing the list down to 60 things soon. Or maybe I should start on some and keep adding others till I get to 60. Time will tell.

This weather we’ve been having has given us some real nice sunrises. I took this one at the top of the post on New Year’s Eve morning.

Hope your week is going well. I’m getting back in the regular groove around here.

 

In Retrospect…

…2010 was a very eventful year for our family!

January~

A job interview for Dear in Seattle.

Dan completes the first stage of his training and flies home to Seattle for a week before he leaves again for a 10 month training period in Yuma, Arizona.

February ~

Dear and I fly to Seattle to spend some time with Dan before he leaves again.

Katie’s boyfriend Andrew flies to Seattle for us to meet him and spends a week with us.

Dear receives a job offer and gives notice at his current job.

We put our condo in California on the market.

Sad goodbyes to good friends and family in Southern California.

Dear’s last day at his California job and we pack up and leave on a 3 day roadtrip with our vehicles packed to the gills.

March ~

Arrive home in Seattle for good for now…

Seattle Sounders opening game for the season.

Celebrate my birthday in LaConner and get the amazing experience of seeing Snow Geese.

April ~

Easter Sunday meal at our house with Kulich that Lana and I made for the 2nd year in a row.

La Conner to meet up with 5 of the Mennonite girls for the first time!

Return to California to supervise the condo being packed up and our stuff moved to Seattle.

Katie joins me in California and we enjoy 2 days packed with family gatherings.

May ~

Andrew comes for another visit with Katie.

June ~

CONDO SELLS and escrow closes!

Andrew arrives for another visit before his Bootcamp begins.

World Cup begins

Family kayaking trip

Katie walks in her graduation from the University of Washington.

July ~

Uncle Ray dies ~ we attend funeral in Yuba City, Ca.

Lavender Festival

Family visits

August ~

Trip to Eastern Washington

Mennonite Girls Can Cook Summit in British Columbia to sign contract for our new cookbook.

September ~

2 days of nonstop fun with the Mennonite Girls in Abbotsford and Chiliwack.

South Carolina with Katie to attend Andrew’s graduation from Marine boot camp Parris Island.

Andrew asks Katie to marry him.

October ~

Tendonitis

Wedding Dress Shopping

Trip to Dallas with Dear to visit Leonard, Mandy and Miss Hope.

November ~

Dan is back in Washington after completing all his hands on training.

Early Thanksgiving celebration before Dan heads to his new home and work in North Eastern Washington.

Tim and Letty are here for Thanksgiving and the girls continue our Tea tradition.

Katie flies to Florida to spend Thanksgiving with Andrew and part of his family.

December ~

We celebrate our 36th wedding anniversary on Whidbey Island.

Dan arrives for a couple days for our Christmas celebration.

Andrew arrives for 10 day leave from the Marines for Christmas.

Wonderful Christmas with all our kids and future kid Andrew…

Celebrations continue with Katie’s birthday and New Years Eve…

God is faithful and his goodness to us is always good to consider and reflect on. That’s what I’m doing with this post.

The Lord knows what 2011 holds for us and we trust Him to get us through…

 

The Solid Rock ~ Hymn

My Hope is Built

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain

Words: Edward Mote, circa 1834.

Click here for the story behind this hymn.

Matthew 7:24-28 (ESV)

Build Your House on the Rock

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”