Tag Archives: Family

I’ll Miss You…

In February of 2008 Willow and I met face to face for the first time and here’s what I wrote about that day…

God is so good to me. He gave me two desires of my heart today! I’ve said over and over again how sweet it would be to meet one of my bloggy friends and how I’d love to have a walking buddy in Southern California after I left my walking buddies in Seattle, Washington. Today Willow and I met and had a walk and plan to walk on a regular basis, keeping each other accountable. How sweet it is! We found each other through other blogs and realized we both live in the same city. We’re in the same stage of life and have a lot in common. Willow shared how she had been praying for someone to walk with. Check out her blog, she has very exciting news today! She became a grandmother!

That was 2 years ago and so that grandson just celebrated his 2nd birthday.

We’ve had lots of fun walking adventures and a some great tea adventures. I’m going to miss my walking, blogging, drinking tea, knitting friend!

I’m also going to miss Dear and my Saturday morning walks at Emma Wood. On many of those Saturdays we’d have breakfast at Allison’s in Ventura and I’m going to miss that place, too.

Another Saturday morning favorite with Dear is this hike off Sycamore Canyon up the Scenic Trail.

I’ll miss the great cooking days with my family here in Southern California and

our fun tea times…and

our breakfast rendezvous at Julienne in San Marino.

 

I’ll miss our bloggy adventures with Willow and Sara at the Getty Properties and…

another bloggy friend Cori G! We met for a quick cup of tea in Brea. We had plans to meet again hopefully before heaven! :0)

 

I’m going to miss our Saturdays with Tim and Letty…

 

I’ll miss being close to my parents…

I’ve been blessed both in Southern California and the Seattle area with good friends, loving family, great churches and wonderful adventures.

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away…Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

See What He Will Do…

 

About two years ago the Billy Graham Association was asking for email stories of how Billy Graham’s Evangelical Outreach had touched our lives. I sent in the story of my Pop’s conversion. Previously to this request, when our daughter was at Wheaton College in Illinois we were able to visit the Billy Graham Museum on campus. Emotions came to the surface when I saw the photos from the Los Angeles Crusade at the Coliseum in 1963. I knew my dad and I were somewhere in that photo of the stadium filled to overflowing.

 

I sent in my story hoping that Billy would hear and know that I thanked God for his devotion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how it impacted my family.

 

What a thrill to get this book in the mail this past month, skimming through and seeing my story about Pop published.

 

 

I can hardly wait to show my Mom and Pop the book…

My parents are soon turning 86 and 85.

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

FFF ~ Yes…It All Happened This Week!

 

Glory! Where do I begin…

Ground Hog Day was monumental in our lives… Why?

1. Dear put in for his retirement from his company and has 21 days left there…

2. We put our condo on the market.

3. My condo has never been cleaner ….ever…

Then on Wednesday…

4. We flew to Seattle to see our kids, especially to see Dan. Dear hadn’t seen him for 5-1/2 months, Katie and Laura  hadn’t seen him for 5 months and the last time Josh and I saw him was in November. We had a belated traditional Christmas Eve dinner Thursday night. Prime Rib, Yorkshire Pudding, Mashed potatoes and Creamed Corn. Good times together before Dan heads off again for several months. Friday night we’re having an Open House Party for friends and family to come and see Dan before he takes off on Saturday.

5. It’s good being home and knowing I’ll be a one home woman again soon. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Now to just figure out where to put 2 households worth of dishes!! Thankfully Dan will be setting up living quarters in Eastern Washington soon and he’ll be able to use lots of our condo goods!

There are people and things I’ll miss in Southern California and I’ve already had many a good cry in the shower over leaving certain people behind…more on that later.

6. Bonus! I’ll be posting soon about having one of my stories of my pop’s conversion published in a tribute to Billy Graham and his ministry…

Please visit Susanne at Living to Tell the Story to see more favorites or to join in… I probably will be late getting around to everyone because I’m cooking up a storm for an open house tonight.

The photo was taken at dawn on Thursday from my deck in Washington…

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

She’s Flying the Coop!

Flying north to spend some time with my mijas and mijos! I’ll be here, there, and everywhere so I don’t know how much time I’ll have to be on the computer. We’re having an Open House/Party for our son Dan on Friday night that I’ll be spending time preparing for. Dan departs on Saturday and then we’re having an out of town guest arrive on Saturday for a few days. We might have a Superbowl party at our house on Sunday. I’m looking forward to seeing that controversial commercial. Just be assured I haven’t disappeared off the face of the blogisphere. I’ll be back soon with lots of news to share.

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

FFF ~ Lots of Good News!

Susanne at Living to Tell the Story is the hostess of this great weekly carnival that encourages us to look back over the last week and list our 5 favorites.

 

There was lots of good news coming to us this week via the telephone and email.

1. Our dear little niece, Miss Hope, turned 2 on Monday. She called me (well her dad actually called me) on Monday to thank me for our present and card and to fill me in on the highlights of her party. She said “Expedition”, “cake”, “thank you” , “love you”. She and all her little guests got to go on an expedition to search for stickers with little flashlights. She had a Winnie the Pooh/Heffalump Party.

2. We heard of the engagement of my cousin Jim’s son Ben to Kristin. The photo of Jim and Jeanie was taken at their son Jeff’s wedding this last June. Hopefully we’ll be able to attend Ben’s wedding, too.

3. We got a phone call from our son Dan with the good news that he passed his Spanish course and will be headed to Seattle to spend a week at home in Washington before he’s gone for 10 months. Dear and I are flying home next Wednesday so we can spend some time with him. We are so looking forward to having the whole family all together for a meal or two.

4. We also got the news on Thursday that Dan’s best friend Jamie and his wife Sarly had a sweet baby girl at 8:00 P.M.  Jamie is in the picture with Laura, Josh, and Dan. It is really great that Dan will be home at just the right time to be able to see her. We have so appreciated God bringing Jamie’s family and our family together when Dan and Jamie became friends in 2nd grade. Congratulations to Jamie and Sarly and to the grandparents Beth and Dave!! We love you guys!

5. Dear and I had lunch at my mom and dad’s last Sunday along with my brother Tim and his wife Letty. We are so blessed to have parents that are faithful to God, to each other, and to all their children. My parents are 86 and 85. My father said that he has no regrets and is ready to die whenever God chooses to take them. Every time we talked about their funeral that afternoon my Father made it singular. I know this is probably weird for some of you to read but we’ve always been able to talk about death and funerals, etc. in my family. Anyway, I’ve always pictured my parents “going home” together. I think my Father does, too. They have been married for 66 years. He and my mother took care of their parents before they died and have cared for many widows and spinsters over the years who had no one to care for them. They have extended hospitality far and wide. They were missionaries to Russia in their old age. They have “run the race well”.

 

Psalm 40:5 (English Standard Version)

You have multiplied, O LORD my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told.

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

FFF ~ Light In the Midst of Storms…

Time for a look back over the last week to choose some favorites. Click over to Susanne’s at Living to Tell the Story to join in.

What a weird week here in Southern California. It always throws things off a bit when you start the week off with a holiday and then throw in rain and everything goes amuck. On Monday the U.S. celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day…but I’m getting ahead of myself.

 

1. On Sunday I traveled across L.A. with storm clouds looming and threatening to spend some family time at my sister Kathy’s house. This is her Son-in-law Ryan with his new little daughter Avery, my grand niece. It was a fun time seeing family and meeting Ryan’s parents who were here from Michigan. My drive home was very slow due to rains and spin outs on the freeway. It was good to get home safe and sound.

2. Dear was away over the weekend and wasn’t arriving back home till Monday night. I decided to give myself a rare treat of an In-N-Out Burger. Yes it was yummy!

3. Knowing that Dear was in Seattle having some great Father-Daughter time over the weekend was a big favorite. He also was able to spend some time with Josh and Laura and deliver Josh’s birthday present. Both our son’s celebrated birthdays this past week…

4. Being able to stay at home during most of the storms and nursing my nasty cough that just wanted to hang on forever. Lots of tea with honey and lemon…

 

5. There was some light at the end of the day today, promising that the storms will soon pass. My cough has also diminished enough that I can sense healthier days ahead. It’s good to know that there is good in the midst of our struggles and hope at the end of the day, especially on that final day…

Hope all is well in your corner of the world…

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Family Blues…

 

On Sunday I drove across Los Angeles to my sister’s house for a family gathering in honor of Avery and Jackson’s  grandparent’s from Michigan. Avery is my sister Kathy’s granddaughter and Jackson is Avery’s big brother. Jackson and Avery’s grandparents flew out to meet Avery and spend some time with both of them.

 

Is there any doubt that this is Avery’s father… Look at the shape of their eyes…

 

 

 

The great grandparents (my parents) were also there to enjoy the festivities.

 

 

My sister Kathy with Avery(Jackson and Avery’s nana), my sister Vera, MLou (Avery and Jackson’s grandmother from Michigan), and Ellen b.

It was so much fun to finally meet MLou in person. We have interacted with each other for a long time via my blog and Facebook.

Please visit Sally at Smiling Sally for more Blue Monday posts…

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

January is Very Significant…

…in our family! Both of our sons were born in January. Katie’s due date was in January, too, but she decided to come at the end of December. All three of our kids were born on a Friday.

 

Josh was born on January 19, 1979 at 7:34 a.m. weighing in at a solid 10 pounds!

 

Daniel was born on January 16, 1981 at 12:30 P.M. weighing in at 8 pounds 1-1/2 ounces.

 

Daniel loved to have a Choo Choo Train cake. I even made him one for an adult birthday of his. :0)

 

Our boys have always been good friends to each other and I thank God for that. Happy Birthday Josh and Dan. We’ll celebrate when we can all be together!

Other family birthdays in January include my brother Tim on the 22nd and our sweet niece Hope on the 25th!

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Looking Back at 2009…

Ellen b.’s highlights for the year 2009! It’s all about Family, Friends, Food, and Walking! God has blessed us richly!

This will be my First Fave Five post for 2010. I apologize up front for the way over 5 photo overload!! Please visit Susanne at Living to Tell the Story to join in with Friday’s Fave Five…

 

Weekend getaway to the Central Coast in California over Martin Luther King weekend.

 

Walking throughout the year is always a highlight! Early Saturday morning walks with Dear at Emma Wood. Walks in Willow’s neighborhood or an occasional beach walk or a walk at the Blueberry Farm with Joy always provides good fellowship and encouragement. Walks in the Seattle area on the Burke Gilman trail with my Saturday morning walking buddies Jan and Jody (we have been doing this for 10 years now). An occasional walk on the Burke Gilman during the week with my friend Beth. I love to walk with people not alone…and if there’s a donut shop at the end of the walk that’s icing on the cake! :0)

 

My birthday celebration in March at the Tam O’ Shanter.

 

The tragic tea in April where my mother fell and had to spend her tea time at the hospital.

 

Easter is my favorite holiday of the year because of what Christ accomplished for us. This was the first year we made Kulich (Russian Easter Bread) on our own, too!

 

In May my brother’s family arrived just in time for Mother’s Day, a couple birthday parties and then we had a family outing at Disneyland!

 

Memorial Weekend in Seattle.

 

June ~ The Sounders were in L.A. and we had a quick visit with Josh…

 

End of June my cousin’s son got married and we stopped in for the fabulous event on our roadtrip to Seattle.

 

Fourth of July in Seattle…

 

Later in July my niece visited and we did some fun touristy things including a Mariner’s game.

 

August we made a quick ferry trip to Vancouver Island to see Butchart Gardens and Victoria!

 

 

Later in August brought another visit from Brother and his family to Southern California. We again enjoyed meals, a baby shower, and Disneyland!

 

 

September we celebrated Dear’s birthday at Five Crowns in Corona Del Mar.

 

On Labor Day our son headed out for his new vocation and Dear and I made another trip to the Central Coast.

 

September 29th Katie and I made a day trip to Vancouver, B.C. and visited Stanley Park and the Aquarium.

 

In October we re-did the tragic tea but this time there were no tragedies. The newest member of the family was in attendance.

 

November was filled with great family events. New Mexico to attend Daniel’s graduation.

 

Our Annual Black Friday Tea after shopping at Goodwill.

 

Fun times with our Thanksgiving Company.

 

Thanksgiving Day…

 

December brought a fun celebration of Katie’s completion of her degree.

 

Christmas 2009!

 

Our last big celebration of the year is Katie’s birthday which falls on December 27th!

If you managed to make it through all of this, congratulations! Hoping for a year of acknowledging daily God’s blessings in our lives…

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.