Saturday, September 29, 2007

Mystery


It's a mystery! Do you see the broken limbs on this tree? There are two, but the one at the top you can barely see. What caused these limbs to break? Jerry tried to pull them down thinking they must be loose...wrong! They won't just pull off. So again, what caused these limbs to break? It's almost like something came straight down from above them and broke them or maybe something came shimmying down the tree and broke them. We have no other ideas. Heavenly Father, there are no mysteries with You. You are All Knowing, All Seeing, All Hearing and All Understanding! I praise You.

Friday, September 28, 2007

A Very Busy Life

Life goes on! I've been so busy lately I've not written on my blog for several days. I'm getting ready to go and visit my mother again. I'll be gone for only a week this time. This is my last time to visit her in Washington because she's moving to Colorado! This is a huge move for her. It's also a big move for Bill and Vel. They are moving from California to Colorado and she's moving in with them! I'll be visiting my sister too, and she's also moving! She's going back to Oregon. So lots of changes in my family...

Jerry built, for me, some new shelves for my big albums. It's perfect!

I've been working hard on the senior newsletter I've committed to writing every two weeks. I really enjoy doing it and this is the week for it to come out again. I've got it all finished and ready to print but I'm waiting until Saturday in case any last minute prayer requests or news items come in. Harold came over and helped me get set up so I can also send it by e-mail to some who prefer it on line. A young man in our church went bear hunting last week and actually shot a bear with his bow and arrow! So I featured Tony with a picture of him and his bear! There's never a dull moment around here!

Heavenly Father, I praise you because you are Holy, Sovereign, Love, the Creator. Please forgive me for neglecting my quiet time with You. I get so busy that sometimes I just forget. Thank you because You never forget me. You gave Your Son for me! Please help me to be more like Him in what I say and do. I love You, Father.


Monday, September 24, 2007

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, Max! Oh no, not another teenager! You grandkids are growing up too fast! You make our sixth teenage grandchild! I can't believe it! Well, I'm very proud of you and I wish we lived closer so we could watch you play football and do all the things that grandparents are supposed to do... Have a happy, happy birthday, Max! Thank you for Max, Lord, he's a wonderful grandson. He's growing up so quickly. Please keep Your Hand upon him. Watch over during these teenage years and draw him to Yourself.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Hymn Sing

We've just arrived back home after going to a community hymn sing. We enjoyed it so much. It was started out with a friend, Bob, singing Like A Deer Panteth For The Water... It was so beautiful and all the music after that was so inspiring. There was a lot of special music and a lot of congregational singing. All hymns. There was a group of six ladies called Sweet Spirit who sang kind of a medly of about 3 songs. Their voices really blend beautifully. Then there was a flute trio, very nice. A man played two songs on the clarinet accompanied by piano, another man played a saxaphone...accompanied by a man on the piano, both were excellent! Our friend, Roland, plays the accordian, I love it. There were a couple more solos by very talented people. It was a wonderful way to end Sunday.
(Now don't get me wrong...I love the choruses we sing on Sunday morning at church but I also love the old hymns and I do miss them. But some of the choruses are scripture put to music and I especially love those.)
Our friend, Pete, was the MC tonight at the sing and he said it right: we're not here to be entertained but to praise God with our singing and with instrumental music and with our praise. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. Psalm 145:3

Saskatchewan Mosquito


This is a Saskatchewan mosquito! He actually survived riding all the way back to Michigan in the cab of our pick-up truck! He also survived all the dragon flies in Saskatchewan which kept the mosquito population down all summer. He now lives in our back yard near the water falls. He was given to us by our new friend, Kathy. Thanks, Kathy, he's a great addition to our back yard. Thank you, Lord, for new friends! Friends are a gift from You. Good friends are a blessing from You!

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Dahlia Hill



Yesterday we were at Dahlia Hill and I took some pictures which I posted here. There was one picture I wasn't happy with so we went for a ride in the MG again today and stopped at Dahlia Hill again so I could take another picture of the yellow dahlia. I not only got the one I wanted but I got a bonus picture! I didn't just get a dahlia...I got a bee in a dahlia! A lot of landscaping work has been done on the Hill this year and so next year, especially, it's going to be fabulous! Thank you, Lord, for the beauty and variety and creativity of dahlia's. I love you, Lord.

More fall flowers






None of these particular flowers are in my yard...I'm sorry to say. Some I took in Rob's yard and the dahlias I took at Dahlia Hill. I guess anyone can tell I love flowers, birds, animals, people. Oh, maybe I could say...I love life! Thank you, Lord, for the variety of Your creation!

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Lesson




One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Isaiah 40:31. I decided to put it in the next senior newsletter that I've been writing. Well, it starts out with "But..." Now don't ask me why, but I've never read the previous verses to find out why it starts out with 'but'...until today! Oh! Let's just start with verse 28 "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youth grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31 Then in the next chapter is another favorite verse: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 This is all from the NIV Bible except for Isaiah 40:31--the verse in purple--is from the King James Bible. That's how I memorized it years ago and I just like it better. So there you have it...my Bible lesson for today! I praise you, Heavenly Father, because Your Word is truth.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Fall flowers

I don't know the name of either flower here. It's just nice to still have flowers blooming. The pink ones are in my yard. The bluish purple I took in Ted's yard! He didn't even know it!
Thank you, Lord, for the beautiful fall flowers. And, thank you, for the leaves that are just beginning to turn color.

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary, Christy and Sean! Boy, how the years roll by! I think this is 14, am I right? If only we lived closer...we could stay with your kids, our grandchildren, so you could go out and celebrate. Well, maybe someone else will stay with them. Anyway, have a great day and a happy, happy anniversary! Thank you, Lord, for Christy and Sean. Bless their lives together and give them wisdom and joy as parents.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

More fun with granddaughters!

This gate is at the side of the yard going into the back yard. I found these two girls peeking over the gate!


A nice closeup of the two gate peekers!


Just look how much these two girls have grown! Aren't they pretty?!

Friday afternoon we picked up Haleigh from school, 1 1/2 hour early, to go to visit Sydney and Bella. They knew Grandpa and I were coming. When they saw Haleigh there was much screaming and hollering and laughter and hugs! What a nice surprise! We stayed until Saturday afternoon. As we were getting ready to leave, Haleigh and Sydney came up with an idea...how about if Sydney and Isabella go home with us and Uncle Ted can pick them up on Sunday! Please?! Please?! Well, okay. The picture at the bottom is Sydney and Bella ready for church again! They really love our church and feel right at home there. Pastor Scott is so extra special good with kids. This morning before church even started he sat down with Syd and Bella and had a nice visit with them. No wonder they are happy there. Dear Lord, I praise you because in Your Word it says: "Before you were formed in your mother's womb I knew you!", Jeremiah 1:5a and Your Word is truth. Please keep your Hand upon Sydney, Isabella, and Haleigh, help them to grow up to love and serve you.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Dinner On The House!

Today we went to Logans Road House for supper and both our meals, plus dessert, were on the house!!! On Mondays and Tuesdays there is a special of two meals for $12.95! We ordered our usual 6 oz steaks, mine was medium and Jerry's medium well. Tossed salad/ranch dressing on the side for both, baked sweet potato with butter/cinnamon for me, veggies on a skewer for Jerry. Delicious hot rolls come with the dinner. When the waitress brought our steaks she asked us to cut into them so we could see if they were cooked to our satisfaction. Mine was a little pink, just the way I like it. Jerry's was even more rare than mine! So the waitress took it back to put on the grill. We waited and waited. I ate about half of my food and Jerry ate a few bites of his and then we waited some more. Finally his steak was returned to him, very well done, but he didn't complain. A manager came to make sure we were now satisfied and Jerry mentioned the steak was very well done, not medium well and that his vegetables were now cold. He apologized and said he would take care of us. We were finishing eating when another man came, I think a higher up manager! He asked several questions of us and then said it's their policy to take the vegetables back with the steak to warm them again. He apologized again and asked if we like chocolate and peanut butter! He said he'd order dessert for us. Then he said because we had ordered the special of 2 meals for $12.95 they would pay for half of it and give us the desserts. We thanked him and he said he hoped we'd come back again. When the waitress came to give us the bill she said there'd be no bill, it was all on them. So we explained to her what the manager had told us. She went to check and came back saying No bill! So we thanked her and left our tip! By the way, the desserts came in little pails, like the ones the peanuts are in only very small! We brought ours home. I only ate a few bites of mine, it's very rich!!! So that was our latest experience at Logans Road House! We will go back again!!! Thank you, Lord, for a resturant that is trying to please their customers. Help us to always be Christ-like in our reactions to mistakes made affecting us. I think we were in this situation but let it be a reminder to us in the future as well.

Monday, September 10, 2007

A New Week

Today is a rainy day but that's okay. Yesterday was a beautiful, sun shiny day. We went for a ride in the MG in the afternoon. We're looking for a different car, we've worn the old Buick right out! Our mechanic told us so! So we drove through several used car lots and we also stopped in to visit Penn and Joan. Penn had surgery last week and we wanted to see how he is doing.

We went to church earlier than usual yesterday so I could hand out the new newsletter to senior folks after the first service and also so I could copy off a letter of questions about the newsletter. Most folks didn't know anything about the newsletter and were very pleasantly surprised as they read it over. The questions, I asked, in the letter were: 1) Do you like what you see? 2) Would you like it continued? 3) Do you have suggestions for a better name? 4) Are you willing to call Anita with prayer requests/news items? 5) Is once a month often enough or every two weeks? 6) Would you help with cost? 7) Would you prefer receiving it on-line? They are to answer the questions, sign the letter, and get it back to me. I've only gotten one back so far and it was very positive. I've already begun the next issue.

We seem to have had a visitor on our deck last night! Jerry left the starter fluid and a bag of
charcoals out and this morning the bag is open and the can of fluid is tipped over! Hmmm! I wonder who??? I have seen a possum around a few times, maybe... I think I'm right about someone shooting the raccoon because he hasn't been back! Jerry said he actually misses the challenge of outsmarting him!

Heavenly Father, I praise You because You are Sovereign and You are Love and You are our Healer. Forgive me for ever doubting You. Thank you for another week to serve You. Thank you for touching Joshua after he fell from the top bunk and was rushed by helicopter to the hospital in Anchorage. Please be with us, be with Pam, Ted, Tim, Christy, and Rob and their spouses and our grandchildren. Watch over my mom, Richard, Lorraine, and Bill and their families. Continue to touch Penn & Vicki after their surgeries.

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Grandparents

Happy Grandparents Day! I'm not sure what that means but according to my calendar today's the day! So happy, happy grandparents day to all you grandparents out there, myself included! Lord, thank you for the privilege of being a grandma! It's the best part of life! Please watch over Andrew, Matthew, Kaleb, Tyler, Annie, Max, Megan, Haleigh, Miller, Sydney, Isabella, Mason, and Madelyn. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Saturday, September 08, 2007

Tomatoes

I was making grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch when someone knocked on our door. I heard Jerry say, "Well, hi!" Instead of inviting the person in, Jerry went out! Curiosity got the best of me so I went to look. There was our good neighbor and friend, Jack, giving Jerry a bag of fresh tomatoes from the back of his truck! He said he'd just picked them and his wife said not to bring any more tomatoes inside their house! They must have had a bumper crop! Anyway, I finished the sandwiches I was making and inserted fresh tomato slices in the middle of the melted cheese! Mmmmmm! God is great, God is good, and we thank Him for our food...and thank you for our good, generous friends!

Friday, September 07, 2007

Random Thoughts

I was given a new challenge last Saturday and I went at it full blast! Would you believe a newsletter for the seniors at our church? I love doing this type of work and I worked at it for one night and five days! The one night was the first night and it was all night! I showed it to Jerry the second day and he liked it. But I kept getting new and better ideas and changing it. I showed it to him again and again. He finally exploded! "I liked the first one you showed me, why do you keep changing it?" I explained to him that that was just the first draft and you never go with the first draft! You keep changing it until you like it and are satisfied with it. He says, "But I did like it." Well, I like it a whole lot better now! I'm ready to print off copies to hand out on Sunday. On the front page I featured the pig roast of last Sat. and two special folks who are having birthdays this month, Jim-94 yrs. and Fran-93yrs. On the back page I listed prayer requests, Sept. birthdays/anniversaries, and other important dates, and other items of interest. There are lots of pictures. I just hope the seniors will like it and approve of it. For now it will be a once a month paper, but I already know of some who want it more often. We'll see what the majority want. So that's what's kept me busy this week!

Two of our good friends had surgery this week. Penn-carotid artery and Vicki-breast cancer.

Yesterday I went from a very good mood to a very confused, mixed up, negative mood in a matter of minutes! It was not a good feeling. I had just had a very good heart-to-heart visit with a trusted friend and within an hour my warm fuzzy feelings plummeted. This is a lesson to me: be careful what I say to a person, because I never know how it's going to be received. The persons (not my trusted friend) who left me feeling down probably didn't know how they made me feel. I wasn't hurt but I was very frustrated and by two different people on two different subjects! Lord, help me to rely on you for my strength. "The joy of the Lord is my strength." Neh. 8:10. Today is a new day. "This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it."

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, Richard! Another year gone by makes us all another year older! You continue to amaze me with your writing abilities! A chip off the old block! Have a great day today and do whatever you want to do! Have a happy, happy birthday! Heavenly Father, thank you for family, for brothers and sisters, for Richard. Bless him today.

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Hibiscus





My Hibiscus has five flowers on it at the moment with 14 more buds getting ready to bloom! I can't believe it! Did you know this is the National flower of Malaysia? Shauna told me it is, no wonder I love it so! Thank you, Lord, for the beauty of flowers and for the variety of flowers that we enjoy.

Monday, September 03, 2007

Class of 2020!

Bella outside playing. Well, it's her last day of freedom! Tomorrow school starts and she'll be in full day kindergarten! She's ready!
Here she is: the Class of 2020! LOOK OUT, WORLD! Dear Lord, please guide Bella's path in life. Keep your hands upon her. Thank you for her.

PT Cruiser


Hello there! We love our new car!!!Ted & Sydney giving the PT Cruiser some TLC!
Bella wants in on the act too!
Heads keep poping up!

Sydney & Isabella

Here they are!
Sorry, the sun kind of wiped the girls out. This PT Cruiser is Ted's new car! Well...new to him.
Thank you, Lord, for guidence.

The End of the Pig Roast Photos

Ruth, Larry & wife

Dave & Naomi
Doreen & Paul
Judy & Bob. Thank you, Lord, for a good day of fellowship with good friends.

Saturday, September 01, 2007

More fun at the pig roast.

David, Thaddeus, & Theo


Jessica, ?, Theo, & Olivia.


This little smiling face belongs to Leah.



Crystal, Mary & Harold.

Pig Roast cont.

Wilma, Bob, Maxine, & Lin enjoy a visit.


Emmy & Bob enjoying their food.


Jerry & Lin, buddies from way back.Joy, Brian, & Olivia here for the day.


Carol and her family have just moved back from Minneapolis. Welcome home!

Annual Pig Roast

Every year for the past 23 years Richard & Marilyn have had a pig roast at the lake on the Saturday before Labor Day. This year was no exception. There were folks of all ages. We had lots & lots of good food, good fun, good fellowship & good laughter.
# 2 Olivia, Jessica, & Cassandra.

# 3 Val & Fran
# 4 Seth, Michael, & Camie.




# 5 Alyssa, Johnathan, Steven, Thaddeus, & David. # 6 Tom, Angel, & Allissa.

Raccoon

Yesterday Jerry filled the bird feeder and then drilled a hole and put the bungee cord hook through the hole, the same as on the other side. So last night I decided I was going to sit in my lazy boy chair beside the open window of the loft until after the raccoon had done his damage. I don't know why I just did. I was wondering what was keeping him when I suddenly heard shots! Two and then a third, about an hour later I heard one more. I don't know if a neighbor was out to get him or if it was something else but he never showed up here all night. The shots sounded off to the southeast (for those of you who know the area) so maybe our problems are over. Of course he's not the only raccoon around. Dear Lord, what can I say? If that was the raccoon being shot, it's kind of a bitter-sweet ending. You know I love nature but he was such a pest. I praise You because You are Sovereign.