Tag Archives: personal

A Mist…

This is not a complaining post but an observing post. It’s been interesting for me to observe things that happen when my house is upside down and everything is in a different place. When you add the reality that my mom is living out her last days on this earth to the upside down house I can see why I’ve lost my daily rhythm. Things that were such simple tasks that I didn’t even need to think about have to be written down on a list of things that I need to do. At the end of each day I have a nagging feeling that I forgot something.  I know that things will fall back to a comfortable everyday new normal again in the future. I know I will enjoy the results of all our hard work and looking at my new fresh floors. I know what the future holds for my mom even though the timing on earth is well out of my hands. “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able, to keep that which I’ve committed, unto Him against that day”. One of the things that doesn’t change is my slipping into speaking in song lyrics, and I’m glad about that because I enjoy it.

Do you ever find yourself speaking or answering someone with a phrase from a song?

Across the Line…

…our Canadian friends are celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend.

They have a long weekend lasting into Monday.

A question for my Canadian friends. Do you wait till Monday to celebrate or do you choose a different day on the weekend?

I know for us with married children and children scattered here and there we go with the flow and share with our kids’ in laws on which day we claim for the turkey.

It was so nice having Dear home all day today. He doesn’t like to just sit around so we moved some furniture around which then meant he had to raise some art work. We are making the living room roomier because our small group has grown to 12 people and we need to fit everyone in there.
Hope you all have a very nice weekend.

Restraint…

Doesn’t this look good? If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time you know I love pretty things on a plate and pretty plates, too. This dessert could be just fine shared with 3 other people. In my studies in Home Economics during a nutrition course I read that there is no such thing as a fattening food. Hear me out on this. It’s the sum of all the food you eat in a day or week or month that can put weight on you or help you to lose weight. One item isn’t going to make or break you, unless of course you are allergic to nuts or shellfish and just one of those could kill you. There’s the whole other subject of what’s healthy but a lot of times what’s healthy for me might not be healthy for you. So why am I waxing on here? I am in a period of restraint in my life until I see a number a lot less than I have on the pesky little flat thing that lives on the floor of my bathroom and is the bearer of bad news. Eventually it could deliver some good news. This will be the last you hear of my restraint until I have that good news down the road…

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Summer Fullness…

I love this time of summer when everything is still lush and green and full.

Soon enough things will dry out and wither.

Tonight we’re having a party on the deck. Our Bible Study small group is getting together since we haven’t met since May. The weather sounds like it will cooperate for us.

Dear’s vacation starts tomorrow. We have some fun things planned before just like an American he has some work on the house planned. Why is it we Americans use our vacations for work? Europeans really know how to take a holiday. I think I’ll dub 2013 early as our holiday year! I declare that 2013’s vacations will be vacations. Now Lord willing we’ll be granted that desire…

Have a great day everyone!

Equal Time…

…for the Groom.  All photographs were taken by Jeremy Leffel our wedding photographer.

Waiting to see Katie for the first time in her wedding gown…

The first look…I think he was pleased.

Now we are getting ready to see the next groom in our family, Levi.

What an emotional day Thursday was around here. We got an early morning call that my dad had called 9-1-1 and that my mom was rushed to the hospital. They are keeping her for observation and are trying to determine if she had a heart attack. Most of my family is and will be in Southern California soon for our nephew’s wedding on Saturday. My mom is real sad that she’ll have to miss her grandson’s wedding. She is in a lot of pain and doesn’t walk well these days because of the pain. We’ll hear today more on what’s going on. I’m at Seatac airport as I’m typing this getting ready to board my flight for Ontario Airport in Southern California. Hope things are quiet where you are…

What to do with your Bounty…

When trying to lose some extra pounds put on over the last year for different reasons what is the best approach to using produce from your own fruit trees? We have an apple tree, a pear tree, and blueberry bushes on our property. Property sounds big but truth be told we only have 1/3rd of an acre. I froze much of our blueberry harvest and made applesause that is frozen from our apples but now I’m working on the pears. Everything that sounds good for pears is sweet and yummy and loaded with calories. I saw this great recipe at LazyonLoblolly and it helped me to use up some of my pears. To make your frosting look more like the Southern Living magazine photo you will need to add more powdered sugar than the recipe asks for. The frosting is delicious so I would not exhange it for caramel sauce.

So back to losing weight. If you are going to continue to use the bounty available to you from your property/garden the best remedy to gaining lots of weight is to give some away to your neighbors. I have a neighbor who is a younger widow and she would never bake a whole cake, pie, etc. for herself anymore. She gladly accepts a  piece of cake, or a piece of pie or a couple muffins from me. It’s a win win situation. I took 3 pieces of this cake to another neighbor who works full time and probably doesn’t have the same time I have to bake. Her husband and daughter would enjoy something homemade.  My sister and BIL were the other recipients of a couple pieces of this cake. My sister travels back and forth from California and even though she stills enjoys baking she also appreciates a treat from her big sister.  If you have creative ideas that need to be brought to fruition don’t abandon them. Think of ways you can share your bounty with those in your neighborhood.

Maybe this started out as an all about me and losing weight post but I hope it was warped into a better love your nieghbor as yourself post instead…

Thank you for your get well wishes! I’m feeling a lot better and happy to say I didn’t get the full on ick my husband endured…

 

Northern Flicker Red Shafted ~

At least I think this bird is…

I much prefer him in the yard instead of pecking on our chimney or roof.

I spent Tuesday recuperating from all the 4th of July Party fun on Monday. I did not make it out of the house. I watched some Women’s World Cup Soccer. Made an appointment for a mani/pedi later in July which is a gift from my brother’s family. Washed one load of laundry. It was and is another beautiful day in the Northwest. Enjoyed the lovely fragrance coming from the rose bouquet Jody brought to the party.

I hope your Wednesday is more productive than my Tuesday!

Photobucket replaced all my photos with blurred out versions and photobucket stamped versions. They are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.

FFF ~ Filled, Full, & Flowing

A time to remember some good things that have happened in the last week. What are your favorites. Visit Susanne at Living to Tell the Story to join in this worthwhile activity.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17 (ESV).

On Thursday morning I had one of those times of overwhelming thankfulness to God for what He has done and continues to do in my life and the lives of those around me.

 

1. I was given the gift of appreciation of old friends who have been in our lives for years. Several of these friends came to our house on Sunday to celebrate our daughter Katie’s engagement to Andrew. Then on Tuesday night some young long time friends and I sat together at the U.S. Open Cup Final and enjoyed the excitement of winning the game with high fives all around and hilarious stories during our ride to the game and back home.

2. Our son Dan is really close to completing his time of training and will return to Washington State to his own space and regular work environment next month. God has been gracious to him and given him a gift of a job that he is really cut out for. During his time away he has been protected and safe and I am so thankful to God for that.

 

3. On Sunday morning as I was preparing for the open house we were having for Katie and Andrew’s engagement I listened to my daughter singing praises to God in the shower. I walked into the guest room and said to Andrew “Thank you Andrew for rescuing my daughter from her old boyfriend” My daughter had lost her joy in that past relationship and her personality was altered from her usual bright and positive self. I am so thankful to God for sending Andrew into Katie’s life and for the fact that they bring out the best in each other.

 

4. Our son Josh started a new job this week. He was pursued by a company that recognized his skills and work ethic. I thank God for the gift of this new job for Josh. I also thank God for Josh and Laura’s relationship and how they support each other. This was a bonus week for me because I got to enjoy two winning Sounders games with Josh and Laura! Whoohoo!

5. I’m thankful for my “Dear” who gives me the freedom to pursue and enjoy adventures in life. Many of the adventures we enjoy together but he’s man enough to let me go off on adventures without him, too. I’m more of a sports fan then he is and our relationship can manage that reality. He is a great provider and works hard so that I can spend his money. He is faithful to me and our family and I do not take that for granted. God has been good to us in giving us a trusting relationship. Greg is a man of integrity and our children recognize that and have been positively effected by that.

Yes my cup is full to overflowing this week.

And on a “lighter” note I sure wish I weighed what I weighed in that last photo taken with Dear in Edinburgh almost 5 years ago. :0)

Photobucket replaced all my photos with ugly black and grey boxes and they are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.

Still on the Move…

 

We’ve filled our days and nights with activity and relaxation, both. This is actually the calm before the storm before we add 8 more participants into our fun activities. We’ve headed downtown to see golden pigs and flying fish. Easy trek with adults in tow. We’ve been to soccer games and the guys went to a Mariner’s game. The girls stayed home and watched Cranford. Lots of eating and some exercise thrown in the mix.

Today Dear and I board a plane for Sacramento to attend his uncle’s funeral. He will be buried with Military Honors having served and retired from the Air Force.

We will leave our company in charge at home. You have to love company you can leave behind to fend for themselves.