Thinking out loud, sorta

Summi

2012-02-02T13:40:00.000-08:00

That post title is suppose to say Summit. I get to going so quickly from one thing to the next my typing is atrocious!
Yes, it is the week before the Summit. That's the Prayer Summit. It's the biggest part of my little job. I love the Summit. It is a chance for pastors and ministry leaders to gather at the coast and let down a bit. There's no congregation around, no one wanting counseling, or help. No one ripping into them for the latest decision made that someone didn't like. Just a time to worship in song and prayer and reading and talking to God. It's a lot of work, but soooo worth it. Pastors are just some of the most appreciative people!
My typing should get better next week!

Jack

2012-01-25T10:20:00.000-08:00

Jack

See that guy in the picture. That is my husband. He's reading Scripture at "our" girl's wedding a couple years ago. When it comes to writing about him i am bias. No doubt about it, and with plenty of reason.

He helps keep me sane.
He doesn't worry about much, if anything.
He is funny.
He can laugh at himself.
He can carry a conversation.
He loves others easily.
He is so kind.
He is brave and strong.
He loves the Lord God Almighty with all his heart, and all his mind, and all his strength.

It's not his birthday, or our anniversary. It's just Wednesday. It's been a busy, tough couple of days. But you would never know it by talking to Jack. I am a most fortunate woman. I love you honey!

Definitely a case of thinking out loud

2012-01-22T13:34:00.000-08:00

A lot of people died in the past couple of days. I know this statistically speaking. I didn't personally know any of them. I knew of two of them by their reputations only. Very good reputations. They each made huge, positive contributions to this world in which we live. And this world needs all the positive influence it can get.

One was known by millions nationally. The other by a few hundred locally. They lived good, long lives and did a lot in those life times. And the world has lost a little brightness today.

Joe Paterno coached football at Penn State for, well, forever. No other coach in college athletics has the longevity he had. He contributed to that school, and to that community, and to the lives of the men that played for him. In the end he was abandoned by the administration at that school. He was fired in November. Not because of anything he did. More because many, including himself, thought he hadn't done enough. And when the focus should have been on the guilty party, instead it was turned on to Coach Paterno. Hopefully all that will be forgotten in the coming days as many will be asked to comment on his legend.

Mario Pastega owned the Pepsi distributorship here in Corvallis for 50 years. In that time he became the philanthropist of Corvallis. His main passions were health care and education. He probably gave away more money then i'll ever make! And he was humble about it. He sold the company a few years ago. Even into his 90's he was in the office every day. One of the many endeavors he helped fund was the Mario Pastega house. It is near the hospital, and is a place for people who come from out of town to be near family members in the hospital. He stopped in every day. He chatted with different ones there, never telling them who he was, just giving them someone to talk to. Corvallis is a better place because of Mr. Pastega, and is a little sadder place today because of his passing.

Both men lived long lives, 85 and 95 respectively. Both were married for many, many years to their first wife. The world is a better place because of the impact they had on it. And today just a little sadness here because they are gone.

Thanks for the indulgence. Like i said, definitely just thinking out loud today.

January is half over almost

2012-01-13T18:06:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year. And Martin Luther King day too. At this rate i'll be writing another Christmas post before long. OK, gotta get on to a better attitude about time passing by! Gads.

Not much excitement here. Just realize i need something new. So, here it is! Perhaps something better to report soon. What? Beats me. I'll come up with something.

2011-12-20T09:01:00.000-08:00

Last year's tree, only Christmas pic i have!

Merry Christmas one and all!

This year we got the Christmas Giving Tree wrapped up at church without a hitch! And we know that there are 10 families that will be blessed. Jack has been able to talk to a couple of the moms. They have called because they hadn't heard yet from the delivery people and they are a little anxious that the kids won't have anything. He has had the opportunity to listen to them, give a little encouragement and pray with them over the phone. It does feel good to help those that need a little help.

On the home front, i'm done shopping. Have been for a few days now. I get to bake!!! If i just get around to it. Christmas cards are still in the works. Sent a few yesterday though! That has been one part of the routine that has suffered the past few years. And i love getting them, and sending them. So, working on that next.

Hope you all have a very, very merry Christmas. Jesus was a baby. Not sure that He was actually born in December. Probably more like April. But it is right that we take time to mark the occasion. I heard the song about Mary knowing Who her baby was. One lyric says something about did she know that she was kissing the face of God? Wow. Makes me tear up just thinking about it. I love Jesus. And i want to celebrate His birthday.

Merry Christmas

Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T10:28:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Dedicated

2011-11-15T08:38:00.001-08:00

A couple weekends ago we made the trek to Bandon, spent the night and then went to church with Nate and Shilah in Coquille for Abigail's dedication. And looking at the pictures i realize i don't have any that are very good. But . . .

Abigail did very well. She is a pretty good baby. See what i mean about no good pics. I cut Nate's face in half, and chopped off most of Shilah's head. Oh, by the way, the outfit Abigail has on was made by her mom.

Toward the end of the pastor's prayer Abby was getting a little fussy. So Mom put her finger in her mouth. Ah, the comfort of a mother's touch!

More of Abigail

2011-10-07T10:26:00.000-07:00

Babies. You know, they are just so darn fascinating! And can't get enough of them. We are going back in early Nov. for Abigail's baby dedication at church. We're hoping to get better pictures then. In the meantime, since i really don't have much else to talk about, here are a few more of this precious little life...

This is Abigail and her mom, Shilah. Shilah is just mush in this little girl's presence.

Future cheerleader?

She makes him look pretty good!

She really is so cute.

Jack wanted a pic of the two of us with her. It was very windy, and Abigail was having none of that. This was the best we could do.

Can't wait to see her again.

OK, promise something else for the next post.

Abigail Anne

2011-09-27T08:15:00.000-07:00

This is Abigail Anne. Her mother, Shilah, is the closest i'll ever come to having a daughter. Shilah has been through a lot in life. Her folks divorced when she was young, and they don't get along. And they are not as dependable as some. She loves her parents, but she knows that they have a lot going on and haven't always been the most reliable. She has sort of adopted Jack and i as backup parents. So, her husband, Nate, got an extra set of in-laws, kind of. Like anyone needs that. Anyway . . .

Here she is! She is just over a month old. Tiny. She weighed in at 6 lbs. and some ounces. Can't remember. Her birth took some days. Water broke on Sat. and she didn't arrive until Tues. morning. And they had to go get her, c section. I guess she was comfortable where she was. Right now she sleeps and eats. But she is so cute doing those things!

Abigail has given me the experience of being a grandparents. Kind of. I want to go out and buy all the cute little pink clothes i can find! She doesn't need toys yet, and i'm not a big fan of too many of those anyway. But when she can read, books, books, books!!! She is a precious little life. One i'm very thankful for. Thought you'd like to meet her!

Gotta love that AC

2011-09-15T21:12:00.000-07:00

Once again i have been informed that it has been too long since my last post. What to write, what to write??? You'd think i'd do more about cooking. But i never think to take pictures while i cook. I took dinner over to the Inter Varsity leaders retreat. One of the guys in the group at church we are in works for IV. And he asks me each Sept. if i can bring dinner to them one night. Tonight it was a Moroccan inspired chicken dish. And chocolate cake. Not together though. But i digress. . .

I love Anderson Cooper. Not for his hard hitting journalism. Not for his charm as in interviewer. Not for his abilities as a talk show host. (I haven't watched the new show yet, but when i saw that Sarah Jessica Parker was to be his guest one day this week all i could think was, why does AC need a talk show?) No, i love Anderson Cooper for the Ridiculist. If i need a laugh i go to the site and watch the latest. I'm usually 3 or 4 behind. This guy is funny.

So, in order to put something on here worthy clicking on it, i give you Anderson Cooper and the Ridiculist!

p.s. In his defense, i've never seen AC giggle like that. And the next night, he put himself on the list, for giggling like a little girl. Now that is fair and balanced!

August 17th? Really!

2011-08-17T20:56:00.003-07:00

Hello all,

Just a quick note. I'm still here. Just seems like there's just been stuff. Good stuff, not so good stuff. Nothing horrible. Well, there's the economy, Congress, the heat in most of the country (not here, how lovely!!!), the war (don't get me started) and the many other big, ugly, worldly events. Those really shouldn't keep me from writing here. And they don't. Just stuff.

I don't even have any new pictures! Well, wait, let me go look . . . nope, nothing new. But, i'm going to give this a try. Did find this pretty cute little video i took while we were freezing out tookuses off in Bryce Canyon on our road trip. Let's see if i can include it . . . Hmmmm... not sure. I'll have to post it to see if it worked. Well, if not, i'll leave it so you can see my attempt.

Oh, i have been working on a new website for my job. Who knew, me, website builder. It's an easy program. And i've gotten help. When it's up and running i'll let you know.

See you in September!

Whew! again i think

2011-07-05T12:32:00.000-07:00

You know, i would so like to be creative. And more social. And have more energy. And i could be those things, if i really, really wanted to. Well, the more energy one might not be entirely up to me.

More then these things though i would like to be more content with who i am, doing as much as i do, and knowing that the God of the universe loves me. That should be enough. That IS enough.

Thoughts on why this is coming out today:
   It's summer, and i really don't enjoy summer that much
   I have a lot i need/want to accomplish today, and i know it's not going to happen
   Having trouble concentrating - not loving this part of menopause
   Perhaps i just need more chocolate!

Thanks for sharing in my rant. For your efforts here is a picture you might enjoy. Hoping for a healthier tomorrow!

Flowers

can't get too worked up over those!

Jack and Sully!

These are my nieces boys. This is the cutest picture of them! They do have a little sister now, so i'll have to find one of the 3 of them.

Hope your day is good.

Bryce

2011-06-04T09:27:00.000-07:00

The big discussion after getting to Zion was concerning getting to Bryce Canyon. I hear it's beautiful. That's what it looked like when we got there. Shawn was cute. She kept telling us, "Oh, you guys, there really isn't much out there beyond what you see right here. Really." Wink, wink.

It was cloudy, and cold. And you might notice the little white specks. Yep, it was snowing. And many of you know what a fan i am. Home, with a nice cup of tea and a blanket and a good book, no problem. At the top of some canyon in Utah and the prospect of having to put chains on the van? Nope. Not for me.

We checked out the lodge first. We had thought about having dinner there and then going home. That was before we headed out to the rim walk. That's where we got the picture above. For the record, we weren't the only ones out there.
There are no paved paths from the lodge to the rim. But we found one that Jack could use. We walked up a ways, and came upon a large parking lot and figured it was time to head back to the lodge. That's also about the time it really started to snow. Big.

The snow that started falling was like little tiny snowballs. And it was coming down fast. There are no pictures of it because once it started coming i just wanted to get the van and get out of there. I really don't like chaining up. Problem was we couldn't find a path Jack could use. And we couldn't see the lodge because of the clouds and the snow. We did get on a paved path, that landed us in a parking lot with a couple of buildings, both with porch covers. Parked Jack there and Shawn and i went off to find the van. Brave soul that she was, wearing her Chocos, or whatever they are called. No socks. Brrrr... she said she was fine. Found the van. Snow was dry enough that when we then found Jack he was able to just plow right through it to get into the van. Off we went. Ten minutes out of the park and we were in the clear. No chains!!! I did stop and snapped this of the van once we were in the clear for sure.

Jack says we have to go back to Bryce so we can see what it really looks like. Maybe later.

On to Zion!

2011-05-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

Wow, that almost sounds Biblical.

Anyway, Sunday after graduation everyone got outta Dodge. Christina flew out early afternoon, Chris and Cathy that evening. We were the first to leave, with Shawn, down to Zion National Park. Shawn worked at a resort there a couple years ago. We got a great tour guide, she got a little vacation.

Zion was great! Really big, pretty rocks everywhere. And i do mean BIG. And it seemed that every direction you turned there was a beautiful scene to shot a picture of. We have a lot of pics of really, really big rocks.

Shawn has hiked a lot of the trails in the park so she knew where Jack could go in the chair. Weren't many, but got to get close to nature on a couple.

Waterfalls came as a surprise to her. When she had been there it was summer and they had all dried up. So, whenever we would see one i took a picture. And of course, pointed it out to her. "Hey Shawn, look, a waterfall!"

This was cool. It's referred to as a natural bridge. It's kind of hard to see in the pic, but right in the middle there is a rock that is sort of like a bridge. The pic below shows an old shot of it with an explanation.

The old picture is pretty amazing because there is a guy standing on the bridge. And they don't explain how he got out there. Crazy but true.

Zion was great. Warm and sunny. Something we hadn't seen in a while. And then there was Bryce ...

Road trip to Utah, etc.

2011-05-26T09:30:00.000-07:00

This is why we went to Utah. Shawn graduated from college at Univ. of Utah. There were 2 ceremonies that day. The first was for all graduates. It started around 9:30. They suggested that is you wanted to attend you get there around 8 a.m. We would have loved to have been at both, but 8 a.m. is just crazy early for us. Especially when on the road.

So we opted for the 1:45 ceremony for her school. That's where they called her name and she got the case that the diploma will go in. Much better to see that anyway!

Here's the fam with the graduate. Oh, and the boyfriend, Landon. He is a good guy.

Although, not sure about the beard.

We had a great time seeing Salt Lake City. There is some nice architecture there. No really, besides the big building in the center of town. And mountains. The place is surrounded by mountains and that big lake.

Some of those mountains. Shawn took this picture. We forgot to show her how to zoom.

We also got to see some old friends. Cara was my best friend in high school, roommate in college and maid of honor at the wedding. She married Kendall a couple years after Jack and i got married. They moved to SLC 20 years ago, thinking they would only stay a couple of years and then move on. So much for that plan. Unfortunately, we were having such a good time chatting it up we took no pictures of them. Trust me, they look great!

Sunday we left SLC for Zion. Took Shawn with us since she worked down there a couple summers ago. We enjoyed having the "tour guide" and she got a much needed, although too short, vacation. But, this is getting long, so more on all that later!

I made this!

2011-04-25T13:25:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago someone from a local non-profit here in town, Friends of the Family, asked if i would make a cheesecake for their annual fundraising auction. I've done this in the past for our church's High School Mexico mission trip. I said sure, but that instead of having a cheesecake there i'd make a flyer. That way the person could order what they wanted, when they wanted it.

Got an email the next morning after the auction saying who had won the cake and how much, $35. Not bad. Have to admit, was hoping in the back of my mind that whoever these folks were they would forget all about that cheesecake. I like making them. I like sharing them with people i know. I like eating them. Baking one for strangers means i don't get to enjoy 2 of those 3 things i like.

Anyway, she called last Tuesday. She was having friends over on Friday. I could say no, she told me, but was there any way she could have it that day? I said sure. What was i thinking? I asked what kind she wanted. She wanted one just like the picture of the one with the strawberries on top that was on the flyer. Great. I just grabbed that off the bing.com site. That's it over there. And when i clicked on it to see if i could get the recipe it took me to the website of the bakery that makes that particular cake. Could order it. For $35, plus shipping. Nope.

OK, so the cheesecake part is not that tough. Got that hammered out Thrs. evening. No sweat. The topping part, well, that was going to be a challenge. I've never done anything like that before. YIKES.

Well, i surprised myself. I got it done. And here is what it looked like . . .

Not too shabby. And the strawberries were not bad. I was happy.

So, if you want one just ask. It's only $35!

Fruit

2011-04-15T11:04:00.000-07:00

This morning i was reading the passage in Scripture that we will be looking at this coming Tues. night at Bible study. It is John 15:1-17, focusing on bearing fruit. Whenever i read "fruit" in the NT i always want to know specifically what that means. I have lots of ideas. I guess i'm always looking for confirmation that my ideas are the same as Jesus' ideas of fruit.

The easy one is in Gal. 5:22. There Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit. But i think there has to be more. So is it just all the good stuff that we can do? The nice things that we do, say? Or is it more then that.

So i went to a Bible study site that i use every once in a while. May not be the best site for this, but it works pretty well for me. I searched "What is fruit?" They gave me several articles by a bunch of different folks. Read a couple of those. Realized that one answer for what fruit is comes in the form of my learning more, and sharing more. I think a lot can come from discovery and then telling others what you've found.

Here's the deal then. I'm going to start telling you what i've found. OK, i right off what to let you know i realize i am no, i mean NO Bible scholar. Let's just make that clear up front. But i am a believer in the Holy Spirit leading. He sees our desire to grow and He will help with that. I have the desire, now i just have to do something with it.

Today's lesson on fruit: it needs to be more evident in my life in order for me to know Jesus more, and others to see Jesus more. When you read the list of the fruit of the Spirit (notice it is not plural) it goes like this: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self control. Whew. Tall order. But God does not ask anything of us He doesn't already know we can do. So, in order for me to grow i need that fruit that i already have within me to be more visible. And i need to rely on the Spirit for that. I can do nothing on my own. He instructs, i listen and do. That's how it's suppose to go anyway. I'm working on that.

My prayer is that, rather then me keeping a running total in my head of these traits every time i interact with someone and making sure i'm covering all the bases, i allow the Spirit to let me know how to go with the flow. Ooo, i like that. Because truth be known, i want folks to see Jesus more, me less. And i need help with that. Holy Spirit help. Glad it's there!

And now, just to let you all be a part of this, you have my permission to ask me how it's going. Any time, any where. Then i'll know too if anyone reads this. So, thanks ahead of time!

The end of a relationship

2011-04-05T09:19:00.000-07:00

It's been a bit traumatic for me the past few days. I'm having to say goodbye to a long time companion. It's not easy, but i told Jack last night i would be an adult and move on.

I have had the same cell phone for 6 years. It's tiny. Comparatively speaking. See ...

It fit well in any pocket which was a good thing. I could never hear it ring. So when i was out if i wanted to hear it in case anyone called i needed it to fit in my pocket. It has no camera. Can't play music. And doesn't even know what the internet is. As cell phones come this one i could get along with. I felt i knew more then it.

Alas though, it met an untimely injury. In December it took a tumble off the love seat in the den, right into a cup of tea. Tell me how this happened? Big floor, lots of space for it to fall. Really, right into the mug of tea? How???? Well, i guess because it was time for me to get a new phone, for whatever reason, and God knew there was no way i was giving it up on my own. It worked pretty well once i dried it out. But the screen would get goofy every once in a while, and it would just shut itself off randomly, all on its own. So, new phone.

Got a free one. Not paying for something i don't really like. Has a camera. Can play music, if i ever get around to putting some on there. Does not have the ringtone i had, darn. And i'm not sure if it knows about the internet, but i'm not anxious to find out.

I will miss my little phone. Despite my rejection of technology i can't get away with not having one. It's the phone for my job. Although hardly anyone ever calls it for that. I am keeping it though. Just in case i can't get along with the new one.

The last day of March

2011-03-31T09:14:00.000-07:00

It was bound to get here. And tomorrow the month will be over. You didn't really think i was going to come up with something every day did you? I got older this month. I can't be expected to write that much. I know, who expected anything.

The past couple of weeks have been slow. Jack got a bad cold. He is past it now, mostly, but when he is sick then things slow down. He needs to rest, and i need to stick around. And for some reason (nothing new) the bad days are very bad right now. I'm thinking it might be the weather. Because when in doubt i blame a lot of things on the weather.

We do have our trip planned. Utah, Grand Canyon, Zion Nat. Park, Grand Tetons. Sounds like a lot but it's really not. Couple of weeks in May.

One of the many babies we know came already, 5 weeks early. She is fine. Erin Elizabeth, 6 pounds. All are well. Jenny is next, around May 20. Then Jen, Nicole, Suzanne, Grace, Shilah. The list goes on it seems. Good thing there are no weddings this year. Going to go into debt on baby gifts!

March is almost over. The rain is suppose to slow down. Spring did just get here. But before we know it summer will show up.

Jonie! Part 2

2011-03-09T10:18:00.000-08:00

As i reported yesterday, Jonie Snow turned 76 yesterday. This is a good thing! Jonie is a dear friend, who has kind of been a second mom for me. She and her husband Don have known us a long time. And my life is a little brighter because of them.

Don was career military. He did 2 tours in Viet Nam. Jonie stayed home with their 2 kids while he was off in the jungle. When he returned they moved around several times, as military families do. His final post was at OSU as PMS, Prof. of Military Science. Here they retired. Well, if you can call it that. Don has been plenty busy ever since, as has Jonie.

You always know where you stand with her. She will not sugar coat anything for you. She will love on you when you need it, and even when you don't. She can't be phony. Nor self-centered.

She has gone through bouts with cancer twice. Both were difficult. But as much as she could she smiled and laughed and got through. She now has been on oxygen 24/7 for the past couple of years due to emphysema. She has good days and bad days. Something Jack and i can sort of relate to. I love my friend very much.

I realize i don't have a picture of her. Shoot. She has the best smile! I'll have to work on getting one for you all to see.

On a completely different note, Facebook is driving me nuts. The non-profit i work for has a page that i am suppose to take care of. I cannot for the life of me get the thing to do what i want it to do!!! But, this is for others to wrestle with on my behalf. I am not a fan of FB. (OK, observation here - when i type Facebook blogger underscores it as being misspelled, but when i just type FB it accepts that - hmmmm, weird.) Setting up the page was not my idea. And now i have to fix it. Wish me luck!

Jonie!

2011-03-08T22:07:00.000-08:00

My friend Jonie Snow had her birthday today. She turned 76. I got to go spend a couple hours with her. Delivered her annual birthday flowers and chocolate. When you are 76 you need flowers and chocolate. Not much of anything else.

Jonie is an amazing lady.

But more on that tomorrow. It's after 10 and i know my fingers are not going to last much longer.

Nitey night!

Came up short

2011-03-07T21:31:00.000-08:00

It is March 7th. What happen to those days between now and that last post? Not sure. We were busy most of the weekend. So i'm going with that.

Tonight was my every other month or so Costco run. There are a few items that i get there. I have a list, and i know where the items are. I am very disciplined when it comes to Costco.

It is about a 13 mile drive from our house to Costco. And it wasn't until i pulled into their parking lot that i realized i did not bring my checkbook. Left it in the other purse. But wait! ATM at the Albany branch of our bank. Cash. Costco will take cash. Drive over there, get the cash, get back in the car. Wait! Left the Costco card in the other purse too. Shoot.

The trip was redeemed though. There is a Burgerville in Albany. And a Target. Was home before 9! Will try again later in the week.

While eating the Portobello Mushroom sandwich (yum by the way) i was reading one of the car books. I've been working on Henry Nouwen's journal of the year he was on sabbatical. When i bought the book i didn't realize that it was the last thing he wrote. In the back of the book is the story of what happened to Henry at the end of the year off. He was home, getting settled back into his job. Two weeks after getting back he would fly to Europe to work with a film crew doing a documentary on a famous painting, "The Prodigal Son". Henry based one of his books on the story according to what he saw in this painting. Anyway, he would visit his father first, then head off with the film crew. He got to Europe, to his hotel, and asked for a doctor because he was feeling ill. He was rushed to a hospital. He had had a heart attack. He recovered from that one. They kept him for a week. The morning before he was to be released he suffered another. This one would send Henry home.

Henry Nouwen was a wonderful Christian writer. He loved people! He loved God. And he understood that none of us are perfect. I love Henry. If i don't get to meet anyone else in Heaven i so want to meet Henry.

Gotta get off of here. I'm tired. OK, lets hope for tomorrow!

Grocery Outlet

2011-03-03T19:33:00.000-08:00

There were too many people at Grocery Outlet today. I went there because i love going there. Some unique items can be found at Grocery Outlet. And there are usually a few folks in there. But today, the place was crowded! So i couldn't concentrate.

Why does this make for a blog post? Good question. Let me review. As i was driving to the store it was raining and cold and miserable. And i had the fleeting thought that there probably wouldn't be anyone there because the weather was so bad everyone would have stayed home. Goes to show what i know.

Is that enough reason to make a blog post? Random thoughts? Shoot, some guy, Jack Handy, if that was his real name, made a living out of it, at least for a while. Years ago someone gave Jack (my Jack) a booklet of post cards that had random, very random, sayings by Jack Handy. So, random can get you something.

But still, a blog post? OK, i confess. It's 7:30 on day 3 of the month that was going to be a post a day. And nothing all that exciting happened today. Except that there were too many people at Grocery Outlet. I can run out at day 3.

Here's hoping that something more exciting either happens or comes to mind tomorrow.

That picture

2011-03-02T09:54:00.000-08:00

Since spring is coming i changed the blog background to something a bit sunnier. And i changed the picture that was there. Although the snow falling isn't all that far off. I won't be surprised if it does it again.

That chair is hanging on a wall at Mall of America. Mall of America is built on the site of an old stadium. And that seat was in the stadium. It's famous for something, just can't remember what.

We were in Minnesota for Christina's graduation 2 years ago. On our way home we went through Minneapolis to see my niece Carolyn and her husband Kim. Met them at the Mall. They told us about the chair. That's them in the picture, along with Laurie. She came to help me drive home. Laurie is a very good friend!

Oh, and this is Christina, just after getting the paper!

We will be getting new pictures for this year's road trip. Shawn will be graduating in early May from Univ. of Utah. Driving to Salt Lake City for that then on the the Grand Canyon. And then who knows. We really need to get this trip planned. Eventually there will be Grand Canyon pictures to share.

In the mean time, March 2nd down. Nothing too profound. It's early.

The First of March

2011-03-01T12:58:00.000-08:00

Recently a friend informed me that i was coming up on a month since my last post. It's been a busy month. But yesterday i pretty much finished up the last project with a deadline. Well, i just cleaned up my desk and went through things, and there are still a few things to do. So today's post will be simple. Because there are errands to run and emails to send and things to wrap up.

The hope is to write something every day. This morning i was checking the CNN site. Came across a headline that interested me so went to it. From there saw a link to another site, went to that one. A few sites later i was on Philip Yancey's site. The name may look familiar because it's over there on the side of this blog. I love his books. Unfortunately, being a fan does not mean that i keeping up on the author. Found out that 4 years ago he was in a serious car accident. Life threatening at the time. But he did not suffer debilitating injuries. He did have a break at the C3 vertebra. But it broke the outer bone, not the part next to the spinal column. Reading his blog post from back then, explaining the accident and the time in the hospital brought up some emotions. Old, thought to have been forgotten things. Not nearly has strong as they used to be, but still kickin'. Kinda like me.

Anyway, before reading this, i have been thinking the last few days just how much there is to be grateful for. And to Whom i am grateful. I am fully aware that i am not capable of doing any of this life on my own. And for those that don't believe in God, or like God, or think absurd things about God, they just don't know what they are missing.

OK, enough thinking and emoting for now. I have work to do. More tomorrow, hopefully!

Social Security

2011-01-27T16:57:00.000-08:00

As a part of my job i am to fill out the W-2 forms for the employee. That would be me. So i fill out my own form. There is also a W-3 form the employer fills out at the same time. For 2 years i have done this electronically, making the fine folks at SSA happy, i assume. So, this year, i go to do the same.

First it starts that i can't use any of the passwords that i have written down. They all must have gone bad over the past year. So i click on several different options on their website, to no avail. So i start the calling.

Last week i called a couple of different days in a row before i realized that 7p.m. here is 4p.m. there. The office is in Maryland. So this week a couple of days i just didn't get to it. All on me, i accept that. So yesterday, at 12:01p.m. my time, i call them up. They closed at 3p.m., their time, just for that day. OK, i can take it. I'm down a bit, but not out by any means. We'll just try again tomorrow.

Today is tomorrow. Apparently the weather is really bad in Maryland today. Because they closed the office all day due to inclement weather. Gads. Must be bad. Because people on the east coast know bad weather, and how to get to work in bad weather. Or at least i thought.

So, tomorrow, again, i'll try, again, tomorrow. And perhaps someone will be there to answer the phone. I'll check weatherunderground first though.

And now for a new year

2011-01-09T08:41:00.000-08:00

Happy January everyone. Not that 2010 was horrible. There were wonderful things that happened last year. But for some reason i'm just feeling somewhat relieved to be past it. We'll see what this one brings.

Already we know of about a dozen babies to be born. OK, more then a dozen babies will be born this year, but i will only meet about a dozen.

And we hope to travel to Utah for Shawn's graduation. Then go see the Grand Canyon, and any thing else we can pack into the trip.

So far, that's about all that is on the schedule. I'll keep you posted.

"And now, Lord, for what do i wait? My hope is in You." Ps. 39:7

Merry Christmas!!!

2010-12-25T11:30:00.000-08:00

"... 'Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.' So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. The shepherds then went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them." Luke 2:15, 16 & 20

December 24th and counting

2010-12-24T22:22:00.000-08:00

And behold, born to you on this day, in the city of David, is Christ the Lord . . .

The wisdom of the Dove

2010-12-16T11:04:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas and for some reason i seem to think that chocolate is an essential part of Christmas. OK, so Jesus did not have chocolate around when He was here. Since He and God made everything i know He knows just how wonderful chocolate is. Anyway, chocolate is a must this time of year. (Yes, i know, chocolate is a must every time of year.)

The candy dish in the bedroom is full of different kinds of chocolates right now. And included in there are some little Dove peanut butter chocolates. Yum. The fine folks at Dove like to give you a little more with your chocolate. So they put little sayings on the inside of each wrapper. There's usually half a dozen different ones in each bag. Here are just a few:
"A smile is the perfect gift, personal and encouraging." (and easy to shop for)
"What if the season to be jolly lasted all year long?" (that would be nice)
"If old acquaintances be forgot, give them a call and remember."
"Holiday magic starts from within." (great, more personal responsibility!)
"Warmth on the inside can melt cold on the outside." (sure, but some hot chocolate helps too)

Then there are these two from their fall collection. I know, crazy that candy has to be fashioned for the seasons.
"Don't go where the road leads, rather, go where there is no road and make a trail." (When i have more time maybe)

And my personal favorite, which i have taped to my computer base, as a reminder:

"Remind yourself that it's okay not be to perfect."

Just some little gems from my candy dish.

December again already?

2010-12-01T12:42:00.000-08:00

For the past few days i kept thinking that Dec. sure got here quick. And i'm already behind. Not on Christmas, just all the stuff that i need to do at the end of the year. Then i realized, it was only Nov. December hadn't actually shown up yet. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing.

OK, back to all that stuff i gotta do. . .

Confusion

2010-11-12T21:52:00.001-08:00

OK, just fiddled around with this thing for too long. I have no idea why some of that post i just posted is in black. But it is. I can live with this. Hope you can too. Thanks.

Curtains, and . . .

2010-11-12T21:29:00.000-08:00

Hello there. My goodness. October 8th was the last time i did this. Well, i know a lot of stuff has gone on in the past month. I just couldn't tell you what it all has been. So probably nothing too exciting. Which is good. Too much excitement can just be draining. Heck, just life on a daily basis can be draining.

Like putting up curtains. You would not believe how un-handy i am. The hanging of these curtains came with a little weeping and whaling and nashing of teeth. I'm just not good with tools. Kitchen tools yes, those kind that come out of the tool box in the garage, no. But, once they were up i was pleased. The shades that were there were broken, again. So we made a little change.And now we gear up for the holidays. I'll try to remember to post a picture of something from Christmas. It will be a bit different this year. But i'll adjust. I can do change. (Thanks Chris for the T.giving invite, that helps!) And before you know it January will be here!

Busy

2010-10-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

Gads. That last post was Sept. 18. Where did those weeks go? It's October. Seems lately this thing is about how time seems to keep slipping through my life. Well, i guess that's what it does.

We have been busy. Nothing new there. Perhaps a different kind of busy. We never go to movies any more. Can't remember the last one we went to. Didn't even go to one this summer because it just wasn't hot enough often enough. Which was fine with me. We are getting to about one a year, so we still have time. Suggestions?

A few weeks ago i took on the task of hanging curtains. Was suppose to be an easy job. The rod was already there. Just had to move the brackets over about an inch. Oh my word. Thought it would be my undoing. Took 3 hours. Had to had a hook on either side of the windows also. To hold the cords when i draw them open. I'm not good with power tools.

And, three home games down, three to go. And the Ducks are #3 in the nation. I really don't care that much on how well they do, except for Jack's sake. I'm just glad they have home games so he can go. And i can have a few hours to go play.

Oh, and i hate to be the one to bring it up, but Christmas is not that far off. Gads.

I'll take a pic of the curtains. I'm very proud. Well, more pleased that i got them up then proud. They are lovely though!

Not any more . . .

2010-09-18T22:10:00.001-07:00

Looking at blogs tonight i realized that mine still said something about it being summer. Well, it's no longer summer. OK, technically on the calendar it's summer. But have you looked outside? It's really pretty nice to me. I love the rain.

So, just a quick update on the blog for now. Football season is underway. The Ducks had a game at home. 69 to 0 over Portland State. Jack is happy! And fall is here. I don't care what the calendar says!

Summer, really?

2010-08-26T14:55:00.000-07:00

It's August. Late August. The best month in Corvallis. ALL the college students are gone because summer classes are over. All the folks that forgot to take vacation earlier, or couldn't because they had to work at OSU, are gone. It's quiet here. It will all end soon, but for now it's quiet.
But where the heck did summer go? Looking back over my desk calendar i see that we didn't do much in June. Made up for that in July sort of.

Pre Classic, long jump

First it was the Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field in Eugene. Jack got tickets for my birthday. I love watching track. I don't follow it, so i don't know much about it. I just love watching it.

Shot put winner

This guy was probably the most impressive. He put that shot way, way out there. Broke a record. And really was happy in the end with how he did. The folks that they get to come to this meet are world record holders, Olympic medalists. The best. It was a great time!

Must have been a sports day, because then . . .

Corvallis Knights

we went to a baseball game. There is a minor league team in Corvallis that is pretty good, so i've been told. Well, Jack was feeling good, the weather was great, we had the time, and there would be . . .

Knights post game

fireworks!! Pretty good show too. This was all on July 3rd. We went to the Knights fireworks in case the Corvallis fireworks the next night ended up being like last year. We sat at our usual spot downtown for probably a good 45 minutes. The "display" lasted less then 10. But, this year was better. So two good fireworks shows in one weekend!

There is more to summer. We got to see our friends Fred and Erica have their little girl Claire dedicated at church. Christina Soward was home for a week, and she brought friends. One of her roommates, Sara, and her folks were in Oregon for a week. The Sowards took them around the state. We kept the homefront ready for their return. And we had my boss and his wife over for a lovely evening. Don't get to hang out with Tom and Terri much. So this was special. We had dinner with Nate and Jodi and Bekah. Again, don't get to spend enough time with friends, despite living in the same town. Life just gets too busy. Speaking of, need to go get to some other form or busy. I'll post August in a couple days. There's a wedding!

The "neighbors"

2010-07-24T14:03:00.000-07:00

We recently had some work done on the yard. Actually, a lot of work. It looks great, thanks roomies. With all the work came new barkdust. A lot of it. And our friendly neighborhood deer really have taken a liking to it.

This guy was there for a few hours today. "He" i'm guessing on that, is a relative newcomer to the lounging in the bark dust thing. A bit camera shy, but seems to be enjoying himself.

Mom and baby here, under the trampoline, moved in
there about a week ago. She spends all afternoon under there. The baby is up and down. Just so much to do!
It is a little bit warmer today, so it's understandable. Poor things. We're glad they have found a cool place to kick back and relax.

I Win!

2010-07-19T21:29:00.000-07:00

OK, here's a new post. CC, i win! Ha ha ha!!!

A new post w/o being told!

2010-07-09T20:41:00.000-07:00

First, i need to amend the last post. Here is Miri, Jack and Sully's little sister. This is not the best pic, but it's the best one i have. She is so sweet. Now, i don't know what her parents would say. She is almost 15 months. When she arrived at PDX with her parents and her grandma her extended family was there to greet her. Lots of family. She was so calm! We watched a video, since we couldn't make it. She got past around from one person to the next and she never batted an eye. Could have been the jet lag. But then the next family gathering, a tea in her honor, same thing, lots of family, past around, took it like a trooper. I am impressed with this little girl.
She is currently living in Alabama. Dad got a job there, so off they went. So we won't get to see her too much for a while. Can't wait for the next time though. She and i got along very nicely. I think she liked me.

Jack and Sully are pretty fond of her too. Jack was thrilled with the idea from the get go. Sully took a while. It's a blow to suddenly not be the youngest any more. But he has come around and you should see the three of them. Just the best!

OK, not now, because it's getting on in the evening and i'm done, but soon, i actually have a bunch of pictures from our July 3rd. Yep, the day before the holiday. A track meet, a baseball game, fireworks! And i remembered to take the camera, actually take the pictures and download them! This is an accomplishment for me to be sure. So, coming to this blog soon . . .

Time for a new post, or so i've been told

2010-06-21T18:46:00.000-07:00

CC, this one is for you.

New posts can be stressful. What if there is nothing to write about? Well, there really isn't. Nothing fascinating or exciting or even the least bit interesting.

I don't even have any new pictures to post. So here's an old one . . .

Well, not that old. These are my grand nephews. Is this the cutest pic or what! I love these little guys. They just moved to Alabama though. Dang. But, a new adventure is a good thing. Sully is the youngest, in the striped shirt. That is his personality all over his face in this. Jack is the oldest. Yes, partly for his mom's uncle Jack, partly for his dad's uncle Jack. How handy! And that s him in a nutshell. Pretty reserved. Always there for his little bro.

Oh, and for dinner tonight i fixed one of Guy Fieri's recipes from the Food Network website. Saw him cook this today on Guy's Big Bite. It's chili on spaghetti. Thought that was a little too weird (title of the recipe is Weird Spaghetti) for us so planned to bake cornbread thinner than usual and serve it on that. Mixed everything in the pan, then read the reviews. I had not tasted it yet. (Yes Chef M., i know that is a no no in the kitchen.) There were 7 reviews and all but one hated it. So i tasted it. Not horrible, but not that great. Well, couldn't just throw it out. It's dinner! So i doctored it up. I made half the recipe. To it i added about a half cup of ketchup, about a T. of molasses and some chili powder. Realized that it didn't call for any. Seemed odd. Anyway, tasted that and it was much better. Whew! Gave Jack a little sample and he said it was a go.

Hmmmm . . . well, that's about it. When something exciting or interesting happens i'll post. Or when CC sends me an email telling me it's time. Either way, til then!

Last week was crazy

2010-05-31T13:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Memorial Day everyone! How's your long weekend been? Ours was pretty quiet. We stayed home. Jack spent Sat. helping his dad begin to get settled into his new digs. He moved to Corvallis, to a retirement apartment, Stoneybrook. He has been having some memory issues and thought that paring life down a bit might be good. We still have a lot to do at his place. Pack up all the stuff he didn't take, move it somewhere, sell what we can, then get the house sold. Whew!
Jack got himself a pretty serious infection last week. The great news is he has felt pretty much fine through this whole process. But it has been a process. First it was pills. That only last a day and a half. Then it was all day Wed. with phone calls from various folks in the health care profession, with various ideas on how to get the medicine in him. The first two doses had to be professionally administered because i just didn't think i was up to the task. It required mixing the dry vial with the wet vial, venting it, drawing it into 4 syringes with very long thin needles and sticking them in Jack. Nope, not up to that. We have a friend, Jenny, who is a great nurse. Bless Jenny!!! She is so good. On Thrs. Jack's doctor was back in the office and came up with a better solution. So the PIC line went in that afternoon and the home health nurse came the next day to teach me how to hook up the i.v. meds. All done quickly and here at home. We like this plan much better.

It's been a quiet Memorial Day, which is just what we needed. Hope yours was good!

Promises

2010-05-25T09:38:00.000-07:00

Last night i got to have dinner with my friend Laurie. I have known Laurie a long time. Several years ago she, Paula and i started doing dinner the 4th Monday of every month. That Monday has become almost sacred to me. Laurie makes me laugh like no other! And think. And sometimes cry. We did all that last night.
She attends a very small church in a very small town here in the Valley. On Sunday the congregation learned that Tim, a 49 year old dad of 3 teenagers, husband of Linda, died on the previous Friday. It was sudden and totally unexpected. Shocking to say the least.
As we talked about this, and how people respond to difficult, heart wrenching circumstances in life we talked about what our lives are like before these times come along. How much do we live believing that we owe everything to God and He really owes us nothing. And that it is by the grace that He gives us that makes getting through those rough times possible. He promises to always be with us, to never allow anything that He knows we cannot handle. He promises us peace.
So this morning i'm reading Genesis. Abram has just learned from God that he will be blessed, his generations will be blessed. He is special to God and God Himself tells him. And he listens when God then tells him to go to Canaan. Great! Except at some point Abram decides that God probably forgot that his wife, Sarai, was drop dead gorgeous, and he did not want to be dropped dead by the Egyptians because of her beauty. So he tells her to lie. And she does. And then bad stuff happens. (This was before Abram and Sarai became Abraham and Sarah.)
God promised Abram that he would be the father of many blessed generations. God promised. When God promises something i want to remember it, always, and act accordingly. Tough to do, but i still want to strive for that. It's the least i can do!
Just some thoughts for your Tuesday!

To the Moms, a few days late

2010-05-12T18:05:00.000-07:00

On Sunday past, Mother's Day, in the evening, i found myself thinking about all the Moms i know. And there are a lot of them. Women that i admire and love, that happen to have brought forth young ones into this world and are raising, or have raised, some very fine human beings. OK, less formally speaking, friends that have done a great job raising their kids. And i have had the joy of watching, either closely or far away. I admire these women. A lot. And as i was thinking of each one i wanted to let me know that they are pretty special people to someone other then their kids.
Chris, my sis, thanks for the 3 kids i got to be Aunt Mel to, who i love like they were my own. You have been such a good example to them and i know they love you greatly.

Brooke, Chris' oldest, not only did you give us all 2 of the greatest little boys around, but you took on being a Mom to a little girl who's birth Mom did not believe she could do the job. Kudos to you and her.

Cathy, thanks for letting us be a part of the lives of the lovely young women you raised. Nicely done.

Jonie, my second Mom. I love you because you love me just because!

Chama, you were born to be a Mom! Keep up the great work!

Esther, i admire you so much. I don't know your kids, but i know of them. They wouldn't have turned out so great if you had not guided so well, and most of that time on your own. I know they missed their dad, but i know you trusted the Lord to fill that space.

Debbi, you love your kids so much! They don't know how blessed they are.

Terri, one word comes to mind - devotion.

Lisa, i wish we got to see you and yours more often. I love your boys! Such men they will be, thanks to a Mom who loved them well.

Michelle, you are raising 4 boys. That says it all. Love you!

Melinda, i think you are better at this Mom business then you give yourself credit for. Your kids are who they are, and strong as they are, because they have been raised by a Mom that doesn't compromise. Thumbs up.

Cindy Penn, i just love watching you be a Mom! You're just so happy at it!

Jodi, i'm just so glad you are a Mom! The Little Miss is beyond words, as are you my dear.

Joani, thanks for letting me share in the day that you became a Mom. Alli is going to learn so much. Most importantly she will learn that she can do just about anything she puts her mind, and effort, into!

Sam, you get to be a Mom to more soon. What a joy you are. It's so obvious that you love this "job"!

Dani, brave and fun all at the same time. Your little guys are going to get to experience so much, because you are not afraid. I love you dear!

Erica, i miss you! And i wish i could watch you more closely as you raise up Claire. But i know she will be so loved and blessed! You are the best!

Thank you all so much. I know that you all have help from the father of your little ones. And they are all pretty great fathers! Lucky kids. Great Dads, great Moms. I love you all very much. And am blessed to know you all.

Odd day at Albie's

2010-04-29T16:56:00.001-07:00

This is our friend Tiff. She works at Albertsons. She is in the group at church that we work with. In this pic she is showing off the pumpkin she has just carved last October. Tiff has some challenges in life but for the most part takes things in a pretty easy going manner. I could have used her smile and easy going manner today at Albertson's. She wasn't there though because she is sick. She called me this morning to give me the latest update on her laryngitis. It's gotten worse and her dad was coming to take her to the doctor.

Why could i have used her smile? Well, this woman at the store today just went ballistic on me. I got to the checkout and there was a cart off to the side, stuff in it but no one near it. I thought someone must have forgotten something and left it there. There usually aren't a lot of rules to standing in line at the grocery store. Apparently though there are for this woman. I had about 4 items. Had set them on the counter. OK, i had not put the little plastic stick thing used to distinguish between my stuff and the stuff coming up behind my stuff. Guilty on that rule violation. This woman comes up behind me and starts mumbling about losing her place. I'm still not really noticing her and what she might be talking about. Then she shoves my 4 little items up the counter, grabs the plastic thing and gets all worked up because i took her place in line and i'm rude and i could at least get my stuff out of her way. My goodness. I asked her if she was having a bad day. No, she assured me, she just didn't like rude people. And that i was ignoring her when i took her spot. Wow. So i picked up my 4 items, told her i certainly didn't want to ruin her day and went to the next line. I doubt it made her happy but at least i didn't have to have her breathing down my neck for the next few minutes.

As i was leaving the store i came up with all kinds of snappy come backs. I'll save you the sarcasm. Because i realized she probably was having a bad day. Perhaps a bad life. Or at least it seems that way. But i thought it just can't be that bad. She was buying lots of groceries, so she must have finances coming in. And she was doing her shopping at a store where they bag them for you and will help you out with them. Again, finances must not be a problem. She looked healthy. Angry, but healthy. So why so mean?

Well, not for me to figure out. She assured me that i would not even be a faint memory once she had left the store. Wow again. So i prayed for her. I know, that sounds so pious. But i wasn't trying to be pious. I truly want her to know God's peace. Because getting so worked up about losing your place in line at the grocery store will keep her from staying healthy.

She could learn a thing or two from Tiff. Smile and take life a lot easier. There are much bigger fish to fry. I'm praying for Tiff too. Hope to hear from her later on how she is. I'll keep you posted.

I finished a book

2010-04-22T20:55:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling rather pleased with myself. I've finished a book! I love to read. I just can't seem to fit it in often enough. Seems like if i sit down in the evening to read, 10 minutes in and i'm asleep. But, today i finished the latest Anne Tyler, Noah's Compass.

If you aren't familiar with her she writes fiction, mostly about a rather dysfunctional family of some kind. And if you like books with neatly wrapped up endings don't read hers. They just end. Because the lives of the characters go on. But i love her stuff. Been reading them for years.

One confession. The title. After reading the book i have no idea what it is referring to. So i guess i'll have to go read it again and try to figure it out.

Oh, i also finished reading John Piper's Don't Waste Your Life. Do you love that title! Talk about getting right to the point! I love John Piper by the way. Read it with Rachelle. Since we both have another Piper book, Desiring God, we'll do that one next.

Now i need to go to a movie. Haven't been to one of those in months! Any suggestions?

Favorite things

2010-04-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

The other day i was perusing the "Next Blog" option here. I like to see who comes after me on Blogger. Can be interesting to say the least. Lately no foreign language ones though. Anyway, came across one belonging to a young woman, Ashley. She's in Tennessee somewhere. She just seems like a good kid. She listed her favorite things and asked those that read hers to do the same on ours. So, here i go. Follow along if you'd like. Let me know if you do on yours!

Favorite food - chocolate, which is a vegetable (grows on trees), and a legume and health food!

Favorite composer - Samuel Barber (although i still admit to loving John Denver. Yes, i know)

Favorite author, fiction - Anne Tyler

Favorite author, non fiction - John Piper (actually, God, but no one can really compete)

Favorite time of day - just before i nod off to sleep

Favorite day - today

Favorite flower - rose (classical, elegant, all the things i wish i were!)

Favorite shoes - still looking!

Favorite season - Fall (winter is a close second though)

Favorite person - JACK!

There, i feel better!

Getting Creative!

2010-04-07T10:34:00.001-07:00

I've grown weary of the selection that blogger gives for backgrounds. So i went to the site that many of you use and i just took the time to figure it out. Took all of about 2 minutes. Sometimes i need to just do something to find out just how EASY it will be. Silly me.

Today!

2010-04-04T08:35:00.000-07:00

Between Good Friday and Resurrection day is the Sabbath. Jewish tradition kept the Sabbath a day of rest. No work. That meant no going to the tomb where the body of Jesus had been laid and preparing it properly for burial. There had not been time on Friday, Sabbath being from sundown to sundown. Saturday was a day of waiting.

But very early that next day . . .

"When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him. Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. They were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" Looking up they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large.

Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him." Mark 16:1-6

That's what today is about. The bunnies and the eggs have nothing to do with today. Today is about the Son of God rising from His tomb. God's greatest gift to us. God's greatest miracle! It does not make sense. But that's the beauty of a miracle. I don't understand it i simply enjoy.

Happy Resurrection Day!

Good Friday

2010-04-02T13:12:00.000-07:00

The Friday before Easter is good because despite the pain associated with what happened that day to Jesus, so much good came from it. That comes on Sunday. Have to go through Friday to get to Sunday though. So . . .

"The soldiers took Him away into the palace, and they called together the whole Roman cohort. They dressed Him up in purple, and after twisting a crown of thorns, they put it on Him; and they began to acclaim Him, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

They kept beating His head with a reed, and spitting on Him, and kneeling and bowing before Him. After they had mocked Him, they took the purple robe off Him and put His own garments on Him. And they led Him out to crucify Him." Mark 15:16-20

"When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.

"It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, the sun being obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit." Having said this, He breathed His last.

"And a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man (he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God; this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain. " Luke 23:33 & 44-46 & 50-53

Jesus had done nothing on this earth to warrant crucifixion. What He had done with agree with God, His Father, that something had to be done for man. Mankind was just not going to get it. They were not going to get back into relationship with God on their own. He agreed to take care of it.

Does it make sense? No. And most people just don't believe it. I do. And that's why tonight i'm going to Good Friday service. To be reminded that Jesus did this for me so that i could know God. I have to go through Friday to get to Sunday.

Random post, random pic

2010-03-29T21:24:00.000-07:00

Just spent way too much time clicking on the "Next blog" button at the top of most blog pages. It's been a slow day. Should have done more with the day, but didn't. Anyway, so i'm perusing random blogs and realize i should get better at this. Seems like there should be things i could write about. And take pics and post them.

One blog had pictures of food this woman makes. Kind of yummy. Most of them have their kids. Well, that's a bit beyond my reach.

Anyway, so here's what's been going on lately:

Jack had pneumonia. After 2 weeks of a "bad cold" and just getting worse he decided that going to the doctor would be a good thing. Many new medications later he is better. Let's hear it for drugs!

Been to Dallas a lot. Jack's dad needs a little help maneuvering through life. Nothing too tremendous, thankfully. But more to come.

Work is slow. Got through the Summit, through my boss's annual board meeting and my b-day and now i need to get going again. We went to the beach for a few days. I have no good reason to not be motivated.

Sorry, this should be more informative. Or uplifting. Or something. Random. That's what it seems to have turned out to be. Well, at least it's new!

One of my jobs

2010-02-06T09:50:00.000-08:00

We leave soon to head to the COV Prayer Summit. COV is Church of the Valley, one of my employers. It's actually the biggest part of this job all year. We have 111 pastors, ministry leaders and prayers from our Valley going over to the coast for 3 days of praying mostly. I love this part of the job. I get to meet, or remeet, all these folks. And they are all so nice. They think i am amazing because of what they think takes so much work. There are a couple hectic days, but it really isn't that much.

Jack gets to attend since he is volunteer staff at our church. He gets to the sessions that he can. If the pain is high he still gets up and goes. Sitting, praying doesn't take that much out of him he says.

So if you think of us this week pray for the leaders that are there. That they will refresh, connect, enjoy and leave blessed. Oh, and if you prayed for a little sunshine i wouldn't mind. Thanks!

Facebook

2010-01-12T13:21:00.000-08:00

Much to my UNdelight i sort of have a Facebook page. It's for my job, COV admin. So it isn't mine. But i do have to tend to it. And i have 109 friends so far, most of who i do not know. I consider Facebook the "black hole" of the internet. A lot of time gets sucked into that hole. I can't afford to go there! IF anyone is interested in becoming a friend of Church of the Valley, it's at, hmmmm... i'm not even sure how you get there. It's something to do with corvalliscov. Perhaps corvalliscov@facebook.com? I'm not wild about this, but it makes my boss happy.

It's 2010 already?

2010-01-05T09:11:00.000-08:00

Goodness. I thought the summer went by fast. Is that the way it's going to be from now on? Let's hope winter is slower. I can't believe i let Nov. and Dec. get by without posting a thing. And there's so much to post! Although, so few who care. But for those that do, here goes!

November was Jack's birthday and Thanksgiving at the beach. Both wonderful occasions. Can't really remember what we did for his birthday.

There was a Duck game, so i know some of it was spent in front of the t.v. The beach was great. Peaceful and relaxing. The weather was rainy and windy the first 2 days and beau

tiful the last 2 days.

December was, well, December. Too busy. I attempted to be less commercial and more thoughtful in the gifts. So i baked some. Which is enjoyable but still time and money consuming. The Advent Conspiracy is a great idea. Get Christmas back to being about the birth of Jesus, get away from Christmas being about spending money on a lot of stuff that really isn't necessary. A really good idea. One that takes practice. So i will keep at it.

I baked yeast bread for the first time ever. The rumor that this is a relaxing activity is just not true though.

Now, some of that could be from my getting way too worked up over doing it perfectly. Which i did not accomplish. But it actually turned out pretty good. I'll keep at it.

The greatest gift this Christmas came from far away. My niece Brooke and her husband Eric left with my sister (Brooke's mom) on Dec. 23 for Ethiopia. They brought back Mirette. She is 8 months old. And beautiful! That's her with my sister and her big brother Jack. He LOVES his new sister! Sully, the now middle child, is working on getting used to the idea. She needs to eat a bit and bulk up some. She is tiny, but so sweet and easy going. Just looking at the picture of her makes me get all teary eyed. God blesses in countless, unexpected ways!

This has been a year of babies. Joani and Mark brought Allison into the world in June. Erica and Fred gave us Claire in November. Dani and Joey were in Ireland for the birth of William. I am remembering just how wonderful babies are. And how much fun it will be watching them grow up. Like i said, God blesses in the best ways!

OK, now it's back to reality. There's a lot to catch up on. Work. The Prayer Summit is in a month. And it's time for all those end of the year tax things to be taken care of. And the usual routine. And people to meet and places to go. Busy, busy, busy. And very blessed. Happy 2010 everyone. Thanks for reading!

Troubling with blogging

2009-10-20T13:57:00.000-07:00

You see, I would love to have something new to tell you all (that would be about 4 of you) but unfortunately life is pretty much the same day in and day out. Now don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for life. Routine is good. I've experienced enough of non-routine life. It's just that writing about it is boring. Yep, you can say. My life is boring.

OK, not boring. God provides so much that makes my life anything but boring. For example:

- Cooking today! Making chicken stock. Throwing lots of things into a pot and having something wonderful come out is great. I love experimenting. And the outcome. Usually. Once in a while though, not so good. But we eat it anyway! And after the stock I'm making soup for tomorrow night. After that mac and cheese for tonight with banana bread. Chocolate banana bread. Hey, it's a vegetable. It's a cooking day which may not sound exciting but I love it.

- The women I know! They are all very different and very wonderful. Some i don't get to see as often as i'd like (Joani, Erica, Jodi, Melinda, Dani, CC, Sam! and who knows how many others i have forgotten. forgive me please) which i would love to change but don't know how. Jodi, Joani and i have been trying to arrange a tea time. There's a place in Philomath. We are now looking into November because the entire month of October was out. Where does the time go? Anyway, i am so blessed by the women with which God has graced my life.

- Family! Weekend before last got to see many members of my fam as we gathered to watch my sister and brother-in-law dance in a competition. Ballroom dancing. They did a rumba. How brave! They got third place! The winners weren't that good though so technically they should have gotten second. The second place couple were better. I love my family! They are just so fun. Again, not enough time to see them as often as i would like.

- Jack! What more can i say. There is never a dull moment. He is funny and sweet. He is the one person i make sure i spend enough time with! He loves me.

OK, life is pretty good. Not boring. So i should get on here more often and just blather away. If you enjoy what you read great! If not, well, just don't tell me. Let me think that i have you all just thoroughly entertained!

I'll add a picture. It really doesn't have anything to do with anything. It's Jack, last fall, "golfing" with some friends over in central Oregon. Because pictures are more entertaining!

Quickly . . .

2009-09-16T10:13:00.000-07:00

The cake thing was a disappointment. Did not score very high. And the ugliest cake there got the same score. Ouch. But hey, it's cake. And one judge. A very nice man from what i can tell, but who is to say that he is the last word on good chocolate cake. So now i am saying no more. But it's only Sept. and I have about 10 months to rethink that.

The woman that did win was very excited. No, i mean VERY, VERY excited. So i was glad for her. And the prize had changed. A $250 gift card to Macy's. Been to Macy's lately? $250 won't go far.

Rationalization. Gotta love it!

Chocolate cake time

2009-08-14T14:44:00.000-07:00

Once again it is August. The month of the chocolate cake. There's this contest at the State Fair each year, on the last Sunday of the fair. I've entered a few years in a row now. Last year came in 4th. The picture over there of the cake is THAT cake. I'm trying again this year. I'd like to do better of course, but i want to do something other than 4th because the ribbon i got for 4th is pink. Those who know me know how I feel about pink. Anyway, so yesterday and today has been chocolate cake experimentation days. I've had 6 taste testers as of this evening. And the consensus is good so far. One even said they would pay for it! No pictures yet. Not unless I win, or do better at least.

I'll keep you posted. Oh, and while I'm at it, if you have suggestions for making cake perfect let me know! Thanks.

Stage in life

2009-08-06T09:44:00.000-07:00

Tuesday I was leaving a church here in town where I had just attended the memorial service for a friend. He was 67 and had finally lost a very long battle with cancer. The disease first showed when he was 50. That's a long fight. And Lee is now done fighting and is enjoying the glory that comes to those who fight the good fight. Still, for those left here, there is a great deal of sadness. He had 2 grown sons, and grandkids, and a wife who loved him very much.

So, as I'm driving to BBB to run an errand before going home I realize what an odd stage this is in life. After the memorial service I was headed to pick up not one but two bridal shower gifts. Which then reminded me that just a couple months ago I had the joy of being with dear friends as they brought their baby girl into the world.

Life, death, good stuff, bad stuff, all happening at the same time, can cause one to ponder. So ponder I have been for the past few days. So much joy and sorrow all coming so close can really keep a person hopping emotionally. Up and down, up and down. I do have anchors though.

Jack is my anchor here on earth. He rides his storms so smoothly. You can't even tell if there is a storm in his life. Actually, I doubt that he sees any. Clear skies. His outlook on all things in life is such that it anchors us here. And he is able to do this because of his greatest Anchor. We share this, but he is better at holding on to both of us and our heavenly Anchor when I'm riding the storm.

How do folks go through the ups and downs without God? I know, there are many that think they do just fine without Him. It's not that I can't I suppose. I just won't. I need the sanity He provides, and the perspective He gives me.

We have 2 weddings this month, 2 weddings next month. Another baby due in November! And my niece brings home a precious, beautiful new addition to the family sometime this fall, whenever the adoption goes through! There are just so many changes in life! Some great, some not so. But . . .

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels,

nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

AMEN!

Shrimp salad

2009-07-18T08:20:00.000-07:00

Last night we got to take our friend Laurie to dinner for her very special happy Friday. Her birthday is today, but we were not there to celebrate her birthday. According to her. So we went along. There are some of us that for some reason our birthdays are not nearly as enjoyable for us as everyone else's birthdays. Anyway, I had a salad. I was describing to her the salad I had made the other night for Jack and I. She said I should post that on the blog. Did I mention Laurie is a genius? So, here goes . . .

On a bed of greens, whatever is in the fridge, I put the following:

2 lg. mushrooms chopped and sauted in olive oil and a tiny bit of butter with the white part of the the green onion

while that was cooking cut in half 6 cherry tomatoes, chopped a few basil leaves (chiffonade for Mandy!) and some parsley

put a dozen small shrimp (peeled) in the pan and turned the heat up

added a squirt of lemon juice, a little more o.oil and a splash of white wine

let the shrimp cook, which doesn't take long, stirred it around a every little while

just as they were finishing cooking i threw in the tomatoes, basil and parsley and gave it a toss or two

turned the heat off and let it sit for a few minutes (less than 5) then put on top of the greens, using the liquid as the dressing

topped that with some parmesan cheese

add a nice crusty bread to soak up the liquid as you eat and you have yourself one tasty dinner my friend! Don't forget to say grace first though!

Simplify

2009-06-24T11:46:00.000-07:00

This is a curious term for me. I didn't even spell it correctly the first two attempts. That says something right there. I was checking Joani's blog and noticed a couple of blogs she links to. I checked them out. Young moms with good ideas on how to simplify life. Sounds like it makes their life easier and gives their kids a good direction to start heading into.

Simplify. Could I do that? Should I do that? What part of my life is complicated to the point where I could simplify? This many questions does not make this an easy concept.

Would God want me to cut back anywhere? If so Lord, please let me know. I'd be up for that.

OK, too much thinking. How about a few more pics from the trip . . .

This is the Corn Guy, outside the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. I think it was S. Dakota. Anyway, we needed a break in the driving so we took the bait. It was interesting. Been around since 1892 or something like that. They decorate the outside every year with corn, mostly. Different theme every year. Crazy but true!

A new poll

2009-06-22T17:41:00.001-07:00

Jack checked my new post the other night and commented that there was no new post. Well, can't have that. Want to always have something to challenge the boy. Although, living with me should be challenge enough for him. He's brave. So, what shall I poll you all on?

Oh, for those that weighed in on the last poll, here's the results. I did get the hair cut shorter, but not real short. The background of this picture is much more interesting then us. It was a beautiful at Mt. Rushmore when we were there!

OK, gotta think of a poll . . . how about this? Vacation plans! Let me know what you have planned for yours this summer.

We're Home!

2009-06-15T19:57:00.000-07:00

Yes, we are home. Of course, we have been home 2 weeks. It takes a while to catch up. Many things to do, mail, work, laundry, more laundry, unpack and then hide the luggage, be with friends when they have their first baby!!! So much going on.

Mark and Joani asked me to be with them when their little girl was born. What an honor! And what fun! OK, Joani wasn't having loads of fun before the epidural. But after she was doing great. Mark called at 10:15 that morning. I knew I had a couple hours per my conversation with Joani about what I was going to be doing. Got Jack up and settled for the day and off I went.

And at 3:45 that afternoon Allison Marie made her first "out-of-body" appearance! She is beautiful! And precious. She hardly cried. I held her a bunch. The Mom and the Dad did great!

Oh, yea, and we took a road trip. Brooke and Eric and Jack and Sully in Lewiston, Yellowstone, driving across several states, Christina's graduation in Iowa from Luther College, Kim and Carolyn in Minneapolis and Mall of America, our wonderful friend Laurie to help me drive, Mt. Rushmore, the Corn Palace, driving back through several states and home! Whew. I'm tired. Here's some pics!

Old Faithful, bison, the road through Wyoming, the Corn Palace, Christina and pals.

Just as soon as I figure out how to spread the pics out and put the caption under each I will post some more. Hey Melinda, up for a little blog lesson?

A little help

2009-04-24T16:07:00.000-07:00

A new post, a new poll. I realize that some of you may not have an opinion about my hair. No problem. I probably don't have one about yours. But i'm at that point (again) where I'm tired of it. This of course could be the worst time to make a change. Attitude can cloud thinking. Well, tell me what you think. I appreciate your vote!

Oh, and I am going against my better judgement (rather, wishes) and including a pic of me, with Jack. It's from Christmas, but the hair looks pretty much the same. Give you something to look at when you vote.

New post

2009-04-03T09:55:00.001-07:00

Well, weak as this is, this is the new post I have recently been admonished to do. There really is nothing new to write. Which just feeds the belief about blogging: never has so much been written by so many for so few to read.

We are headed to the GnC retreat this weekend. It's up in the foothills of the coast range. It's so pretty up there. And quiet. I am all about the quiet. And we have a wedding to attend on Sunday evening. Never been to a Sunday evening wedding before.

And I'm suppose to come up with a new poll. Hardly anyone voted on the last one. If I was an American Idol fan, or Dancing w/the Stars I could do that. I do love Amazing Race though. So, let's do that. If you haven't seen it try it. Sunday nights at 8:00 on CBS.

OK, there you go cc. New post, just for you!!!

Keeping up

2009-03-20T13:23:00.000-07:00

Jack wants me to show him how to add pics to the blog. He says THEN he will write a new one. So, if you've read his you know he said he would have a new post by the 22nd of this month. So I imagine if he doesn't have a new post by then he will blame me, at least in part. So, I need to make sure I can remember how (I am getting older you know, brain cells are dying off) to add pics. So, let's see . . .

Well, it seems like I can. Only, I'm not sure how to move them around. At least, I'm not sure the best way to move them around. I do it, but . . . well, never mind.

By the way, this was our yard last week. Crazy Oregon weather. At the moment, the trees are being blown around. Let's hope none of them decide to blow over. YIKES!

OK Jack, tag, you're it!

New poll, new pic

2009-03-06T11:13:00.001-08:00

This is Jack. I'm guessing that everyone reading this (all 3 or 4 of you) know Jack. One cool lookin' dude in those shades. This post is mostly about him. I was inspired by a suggestion from a friend (thanks cc, I'll let him know it was you!) for a new poll. That is coming up later. I also wanted to practice the new talent of adding pics.

This is from this fall. We had been in Central Oregon with a few friends. They left Sunday, we left Monday. On our way home, since it was so nice out, we made a couple stops. This was at Camp Sherman. That's Jack's new van behind him. It now works! Another story.

This is Jack at the State Fair, hanging out with the soon to be new pres. We do the fair every year. There is a horse arena where we always go

to eat dinner. We find the best fair food we can, go park in the arena and eat and wait for

whatever horse show is coming up. Never disappointed in the food or the show.

And for some reason, Jack wanted his picture taken with a cowboy. So, this is Jack with a cowboy.

When Jack had his accident he was Jr. High Pastor at our church. He loves Jr. High kids. Middle School kids. Whatever. So when the Middle School intern at our church asked him about speaking to a group of kids that were going to be spending much of their summer helping out at a camp for disabled kids, he was thrilled.

The kids from our church went up to Camp Attitude, just outside of Sweet Home, for a week in late June to work at the camp. The place is great, but there are a lot of projects to complete. They would be helping pour cement walkways around the cabins at the camp. The next time they went up was to help out at the camp with the kids that were there for the week, doing pretty much whatever was asked of them. Jack spoke to them a couple times before they went up, while there were there the first time, and this is him up at the camp with our kids and the camp kids after dinner, the night he spoke for everyone. He was in his groove!

And finally, taking a little break from the computer, sipping mocha from his favorite cup, the one Christina gave him from Luther College.

As you can see Jack is a busy guy. So, here comes the new poll. When will Jack find time to change his blog? No pressure Honey. Just thought I'd give folks the opportunity to weigh in.

In case you couldn't tell, I'm very much in love with Jack.

Lesson 1

2009-02-28T17:20:00.000-08:00

Today I learned something new! This is a picture on my blog, taken by me. We saw this guy outside our bedroom window a few weeks back. He was headed across the street where he laid down in the neighbors yard for a bit. Not that there is any significance to this pic. I mean, it's not even very good. But I learned how to add pictures to my posts. I know, you are all very unimpressed. Well, at least I know that I am still capable of learning!

Thanks CC. I know you are impressed. I haven't shown Jack this yet. His new post is forthcoming.

Just for you!

2009-02-24T08:28:00.001-08:00

New entry, just for you who asked! No pictures yet, but we'll work on that soon. New poll. Money issues. Fun. Not.

Is it still February? Gads. This has been one long month. And it's suppose to be the shortest. Come on.

Nothing new though. Well, nothing worth writing about. Nothing random even coming to mind. So, there you have it.

Thanks for voting!

Randomness

2009-02-04T08:44:00.000-08:00

Randomness sounds bad. Too many things that don't make sense to many, or don't mean much of anything. According to Webster's first definition, it means haphazard, no specific pattern or purpose. I like the second definition though: selected in such a way that each member of a set has an equal chance of being chosen. So, of the many things swimming around in my head this morning, each one has an equal chance of being chosen to end up on the blog. And the way my head is feeling this morning, it's all random. Take for instance, tea.

That's the new poll's topic. I drink a lot of tea. And I've read a lot about tea over the years and know way more then anyone who is not in the tea business needs to know. But, when making tea it is nice to know. I drink mostly black tea. Really good jasmine is probably my favorite, but don't drink it as often. Tetley is the brand I buy most often. It's good, not great, but better then the other stuff at Winco. Tazo's stuff is good, as is Stash's. Lipton is not so much. And herbal is not tea. Herbal is nasty.

Had a cup of some very good English breakfast the other night. Joani told me about a cooking demo. at the Albany Senior Center. The chef owns a couple of very, very good restaurants in Albany (of all places) and he was doing a proper English breakfast. I now know how to make breakfast sausage and I can't wait to try. He also prepared lamb kidney. Tasted like liver. The sauce was really good though. Sort of covered up the taste. And he had this huge slab of bacon that was sooooo good. He cooked and talked and then we ate.

Joani and I stood outside in the cold and chatted for a bit afterwards. She and Mark are thinking on names for their daughter. She is due the end of May, first of June. Naming a baby has to be one of the hardest things to do. There are just way too many choices. And what if you pick the wrong one? Poor kid. Hey Joani, how about Matilda? She would be very popular in Australia!

Australia is a country where they drink a lot of tea. Yes, and a lot of other beverages. And they probably don't drink much of that herbal stuff. Which brings me back to the poll. Black? Green/white? Herbal? Coffee? Yes, I know it's not tea, but it's what many of you probably do drink.

Later!

Winter? Sping?

2009-01-27T15:58:00.000-08:00

New poll! So, will spring be just a short shot from now? Or is winter going to out stay its welcome? Don't ask me why I came up with Groundhog's Day for a poll. Perhaps it's the cold. I don't mind the wet, the grey, the endless days without sunshine. I can take all that. It's this cold. This invades-through-your-clothes-no-matter-what-you're-wearing cold that is getting to me. So my vote is for spring to get here.

We leave for the Prayer Summit in a couple weeks. It's at Cannon Beach each year. A couple years in a row the weather was incredible! Could not believe the warm, windless, cloudless days we had. Then last year made up for it. Rained all day, every day, except the day we went home. Again, I'm not one to mind the wind and the rain. But a little break would be nice. Just cannot pray for weather though. God has way, WAY too much stuff to take care of. Weather is what it is. He has it under control and knows what's best. Can't pray weather requests.

OK, let me know what you think!

Something new

2009-01-06T09:45:00.000-08:00

New year, new post. Short though. Playing around with the blog, checking out what I can add. Saw that I can take a poll. It's simple. And about one of my favorite topics! Thanks for your answers.

December 25th

2008-12-27T09:53:00.000-08:00

We had a great Christmas day. Which led me to realize that my favorite part about Christmas is the actual day. We stay home, and this year we had friends over for dinner. The Snows made it home from their extended Florida stay. The cruise they were on got into Miami, where they learned at the airport they would not be flying into Portland for a couple of days. So they cooled their heels in Ft. Lauderdale, waiting out the snow and ice in Portland. They got in late Wed. night and drove to Corvallis Thursday. They brought their son David with them. Tom and Terri White also joined us. Josh was suppose to be home with them for Christmas but got called off to some exotic land to do some exotic thing. So they had dinner with us too. We had a great time. Just talked and laughed and ate and talked some more.

Friday we took the day off and watched the first season of The West Wing. We needed to just do nothing for a few hours. So we did. We love that show! And watching the first season again we remember why we love it. The dialogue is so quick, snappy, fun to listen to. Yes, I know people don't really talk that way. But it would be so cool if just once in a while I could have a conversation like that!

Saturday has turned out to be not much of a getting anything done day. Which is fine. By Monday I should be getting back to a routine. Hey Melinda, perhaps Tues. or Wed. we can work on that adding pictures thing! A week from Monday life should be back to normal. Whatever that means.

Happy New Year everyone. I don't really think that the changing from one calendar to another signifies much. But if you are looking forward to 2009 then I hope it will be all you are looking forward to. I know some have really good stuff to look forward to; weddings, babies, new jobs. I imagine that we all have surprises of one kind or another coming our way in the new year. May God give you whatever it is you will need to get through whatever surprise comes your way. Blessings on you!

Winter, almost

2008-12-16T16:23:00.000-08:00

As those of you in Oregon know, all too well, it's cold, and white. Cold I can take. If it would just stay dry. Yes, it's pretty to look at. For about a day. Then it's just a nuisance.

I know, I know, more grumbling. It's December. I know, I know. I'm suppose to be thinking on the good stuff.

OK, let's see, good stuff. I have a house to live in. A nice house. With heat. And I was able to drive my car, a few days ago, and go stock up. So there is lots of food in the house. And I've spent much of today wrapping presents. Which I was also able to go out and get before the snow came. How can I grumble so much? Maybe I just need more chocolate. Which I also have.

OK, no more grumbling. At least not on the blog. For the rest of December. I promise.

Merry Christmas.

Whew, took everything I had to not add that last grumbly bit . . .

Good night!

December

2008-12-09T14:15:00.000-08:00

OK, I know, way too long. Is anyone out there still checking this blog??? Wouldn't blame you if not. I want to add pictures. But haven't figured that out yet. Haven't tried to figure it out. It's December, too much other stuff to do. So, Jodi and Joani, I'm posting for now without pictures. Enough with the excuses.

In the past few days I have admitted to a few people that January is fast becoming my favorite month. OK, not FAVORITE, but I'm growing to appreciate it. January means the end of December. Yes, I find that I am becoming weary of December. Is it the weather? No, I'm a native Oregonian, remember. We like rain. It's all the stuff that comes along this month, good and bad.

There's been some big doses of bad in December. Let's not get into those. Every December does bring good stuff. It's just all the stuff that it takes to get to the good. I don't want to be Scrooge. I don't want Bah Humbug to become my motto for the month. But I find it creeping in. Taking over. Becoming the focal point of my day. Ugh.

So what do I do??? Well, here's a start: "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is ANY excellence and if ANYthing worthy of praise, DWELL ON THESE THINGS." Phil 4:8

Perhaps I'm more like Charlie Brown. Well, part of me is Charlie Brown, wondering what the heck it's all about. The other part is Linus. When he reads from Luke, the story of Jesus' birth, I don't know that Charlie Brown gets it, but I do. All the stuff is just that, stuff. Distractions. And it's my responsibility to remain above the stuff. Concentrate on what matters, ignore the distractions.

Good stuff: full moon on a clear, cold night; baking all manner of treats for all manner of loved ones; Jack!!!; a Cmas. tree grown my friends, cut and delivered for free; Don and Jonie here for Christmas dinner; all of you that share your life with me over tea, dinner, the Bible, etc, and you know who you are; shopping almost done; chocolate (this one applies all year round); email; movies that make me cry; movies that make me laugh; the girls being home soon; all that God has blessed me with.

The BEST good thing: Jesus. Couldn't do what I do if He had not agreed to come and do what He did. To Him be the glory and honor forever and ever!

OK, new post! I'll figure out pictures for the next one!

Tagged, I'm it!

2008-10-31T10:58:00.000-07:00

Doug E. (not Dougie, Doug E.) tagged me. Never been tagged before! So I write 7 random things about myself. That seems a bit too self centered. Why in the world would you all want to know 7 random things about me? OK, I'll give it a try. Then I'm suppose to tag 7 others. Well, as much as I would like to do that, I don't know 7 folks, with blogs, that have not been tagged before. So, I'll just give you mine for now. Tell you what. If you haven't been tagged and would like to do this, please do and let me know. If you've been tagged, but would like to add a couple, leave a comment! I do love the blogging!!!

1. I have a lousy memory. Long term, short term, in-between term. Can't remember many things. It used to bother me that I could remember unpleasant things. Then I heard that when bad things happen you get that shot of adrenaline. Well, come to find out, adrenaline helps preserve memory. Go figure!

2. I love to read, but I rarely get the chance. And when I do get the chance I usually end up falling asleep!

3. Cooking is relaxing. And the reason I cook is because my dad decided long ago that his daughters would know how to cook. He had Mom teach us. Which actually wasn't so much teaching as just letting us have at it. We (my sis, Chris and I) did a pretty good job, if I may say so. Although, she was messier than me. (Yes, you were!)

4. Even before he asked me, as a matter of fact, we weren't even dating at the time, I knew Jack was going to marry me. It was destiny! Oh, and I found the ring long before he asked.

5. Despite being shorter than average (5'1", on a good day) I have average size feet (7, 71/2). That's just not fair. Can never find pants or dresses that aren't way too long, and all the shoes have been picked over by all those other average foot size people.

6. I'm not a big fan of change. I can DO change, handle it and all that, just really don't like it and will try to avoid it whenever possible. I think my mind has wrapped itself around enough change for one lifetime, it just doesn't want to do any more of it.

7. Every day I hear God, see God, know Him a little better. There is a lot of conversation going on between us throughout the day. I trust Him with everything, although I do hold on to some things too long. This comes only after a lot of time looking for Him, figuring out how to hear Him, and wanting more of Him in my life, and a whole lot less of me. This is not random, but it is good to know about me!

Thanks for indulging me and reading all this. There will not be a test!

Check Jack's blog!

2008-10-11T11:28:00.001-07:00

Not much new to report here, but Jack did change his blog, FINALLY. I gave him a hard time the other day, so he took a few minutes and pounded one out! So check it out, especially you Jodi!

Alas, still here

2008-10-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

Yes, I've been busy. But I didn't think I'd been that busy. If last post date is any indication though . . . well, I guess I have been.

Taking a cake decorating class with Joani and Jodi. Taking it mostly so I can spend time with those 2 wonderful women. Amanda, I need your frosting recipe! I'll post a pic as soon as I can figure out getting the pictures from the camera to the computer, and from the computer to the blog. I know, pathetic!

In the meantime, I have a deposit to get done, Jenny's coming in about an hour, tea to drink, dinner to fix, well, plan first. We have study tonight. Well, maybe I do have stuff going on.

Good, busy weekend!

2008-09-02T09:59:00.001-07:00

Whew! Sure got a lot accomplished in the past few days. Holiday weekends don't really mean much change for us. This one was busy, but mostly because it was Labor Day weekend and stuff just happens to happen around now!

The Oregon State Fair wrapped up this weekend, so we went twice! First we renewed our tradition with our great friends Don and Jonie Snow. We used to go every year with them, but last year we missed. Don called early in the week and wanted to know if we were up for joining them and starting up the tradition again. Friday was the only day we figured would work and it did. Jack did get a bit more sleep that morning, but woke up feeling great so off we went. The Snows had tickets for the Willie Nelson concert, so we checked out the animal barns and FFA stuff while they listened to Willie. Oh, we checked out the ice cream too! Yum. We closed down the fair, heading out just around 11 p.m. The traffic jam leaving was a bit long. Gave us time to unwind before the drive!

Saturday was the first Duck game of the season. A night game, which worked out well so we could sleep in a bit. It was a good day for the Ducks, beating the Huskies 44 to 10. I baked a cake to take to the fair on Sunday. And got to go out to eat with Cathy, my housemate. We don't usually do that. When you eat dinner at home with a friend several nights a week you don't often get the opportunity to go out together! We did Elmer's. We were going to go to the new pasta place in town, but, just because a place has a beautiful, cool new sign up doesn't mean they are open for business . . . Cathy had never been to Elmer's here. It was close so off we went. And to her surprise we were not the youngest people there.

Sunday we went to church and then back to the Fair. I entered a cake in Gerry Frank's annual chocolate cake contest. There were 50 entries this year. This poor man is the only judge. He takes 2 bites from each cake. Do the math. Yikes. Then he usually has to try 3 or 4 more because he has given the same score to more than one cake. He keeps a bottle of Pepto close by. There are ribbons for the best 7 cakes. Low and behold I got 4th this year. I've done this 6 times, so Jack tells me (I forget!) and have never done anything. And the best part was, Don and Jonie surprised us and showed up to cheer me on! We checked out a few of the things we had missed on Friday then headed home early.

Monday was the annual potluck in the street for our neighborhood. Our street is a dead end, with just 5 houses on it. Closing it off doesn't take an act of congress, or the city council. We just set the tables in the street and leave room if anyone needs to get out. Jack was having a bad day so we didn't make it outside. I did go out long enough to greet some of the neighbors and get dinner. Got a special treat later in the evening when friends Nate and Jodi stopped by with their little miss, Bekah. She is so cute and sweet and funny. She is turning 2 soon. Many of you know what a special blessing Bekah is. We don't get to see her often enough. They live here in town, but schedules don't work out enough to get together as often as we would like. Seeing her capped off in a perfect way a great weekend!

Now, back to work!

I forgot!

2008-08-14T19:49:00.000-07:00

Along with the other things we have done lately I forgot to mention one of the best. We went to a Powwow at Aldersgate camp in Turner. My friend Laurie invited us. This one was going to be special because they were going to be honoring her mother, who is turning 80 this year.

What is a powwow? you may be asking. It is a gathering of Native Americans, all kinds of tribes represented. They dance, drum, sing, laugh, connect, eat, dance, sing, drum, you get the idea. Laurie goes to a couple a month around the state each summer. She is Lakota Sioux, and a beautiful, dear friend. It was such an honor to meet her family. If we can figure out how to get the few pictures I took on Jack's phone from it to the computer, and I can then figure out how to get them on here . . . yea, don't hold your breath.

I have some native blood, although we don't know how much or what tribe. Jack's "tribe" is definitely eastern European. He was about the whitest guy there. He is just from a more northern tribe. But he met a brother of sorts. Frank, Laurie's third cousin she found out that weekend, was in full regalia of white, yellow and green. He is employed by the UofO to recruit native students to the university. Jack felt right at home! Frank will look him up at the first game of the season, Aug. 30.

We had a great time and hope to go next year!

Not much

2008-08-12T09:05:00.000-07:00

Nope, didn't fall off the planet. I actually just looked over my calendar to see what has been going on since July 13 and really, nothing much. Well, I mean, there's been stuff going on. I meet with a few people each week. And I work for a couple different organizations. And then there's Jack. We haven't been to any exotic locations, no globe trotting.

Wait, we did trot up to Bellevue for Jack's nephew's wedding. Jesse and Lindsey were married July 26. Driving in the greater Seattle metropolitan area is for the birds. Big, brave birds! Gads. How do they do it. Crazy. I know it can be very pretty up there. It's just not for me. Whew!

Jack wrapped up his adventure with middler schoolers this past week. He did a couple hours with the kids on the Sunday before they went up to help at Camp Attitude. Just clued them in on some wheelchair etiquette, and let them do some wheelchair relays. Those kids did great. I am so impressed. Sure, middle schoolers are squirrelly, and there's no way I could spend more then about 2 hours with them. But these kids did something this summer that you just don't imagine kids that age doing. They spent time giving of themselves, they worked hard, they put someone else before them and they paid to do this! They chose this over a week at a camp where every day would be about them. BIG kudos to Freddie Woekel for putting this together. Freddie, those kids got experiences that will be with them for a long time. You did a really good thing.

And this camp. There were about 35 disabled kids. Various levels of disability. Some severely disabled. And the stuff they got to do! Zipline! Gads. The guy that puts this camp together is an amazing guy. Louis owns a dairy farm in Rickreall. He spends most of the year getting things pulled together for this camp. There are kids that come to be a "Buddy" to one of the campers so there is at least one person there just for each kid. Gives their care givers a bit of a break. There are a host of folks that come up to cook. Miss Nevada came up for a day to have tea with the girls and their moms. I have no idea how they got her there. Louie does an amazing thing through this camp. And he's been doing it for 10 years.

This weekend we are at Florence for the GnC campout. We will be "camping" at the Best Western about 10 minutes away. Even before the accident I told him I don't camp. But I will take him to a campground and let him hang out in the woods, sit around a campfire and smell like smoke at the end of the day. From there it's off to Newport for a few days for our anniversary. 31 years. Am I really that old?

God is good. I know that sounds simple and maybe even trite. But He is. We get to do so much stuff. We get to be involved in so many lives. Why? We don't do anything special to deserve such great treatment. It's because God is good!

Blessings!!

2008-07-13T18:22:00.000-07:00

Finally, something new on the blog!

It's hot today. Grossly hot. Not the kind of day that brings out the best in me. But today I have been enormously blessed! Here's the rundown:

TWO Sundays in a row at church even thought Jack didn't sleep well!

Who was on the platform playing guitar but the marvelous James Emerson! Well, that's who Jack said it was anyway. I thought it was Ben. No matter. Go James!

And better still, on drums, DougE. Good to see you back my friend.

Got to have a lengthy chat with Gretchen, the coolest bass player I know. Keep it up!

A hug to Heather G. who needs more than hugs but that's all I had this morning for her.

AIR CONDITIONING IN THE CAR!

French toast!

A goofy movie with AIR CONDITIONING! And got to see Jenny and Tiff.

The house is only 78 degrees. I'll live.

It's days like this I don't just feel God's love. I see His love, experience His love, TASTE His love, know His love. I have been blessed!

Now for the cooking part. Well, as much cooking as I do in this kind of weather. Yesterday, I made bbq sauce. It turned out really pretty good, if I may say. Try this:

about 1/2 C. finely chopped onions, in a small sauce pan, with the olive oil, just for a few minutes, til they get soft. 2 cloves of garlic pressed and thrown in when the onions are almost done. Add 1 8oz. can tom. sauce, about 1/2 C. ketchup, 1/3 C. marionberry syrup. I know, you may not have that. Use any kind. Maple, fake maple, any other fruit. It is good. The spices i used were cumin, seasoned salt, pepper, a little chili powder, pepper and herbs de provence. Cooked it for about 10 minutes on low, no more. Put it in a jar, let it cool, put in the fridge! It's good on all kinds of things. When I cook again I have a couple of turkey sausage kielbasas that I'm going to heat on the grill and put some sauce on toward the end. YUM. (In case you're reading Jake, the recipe is here for you!)

Turkey!

2008-07-02T08:47:00.000-07:00

Running around our neighborhood right now are 4 baby turkeys. As many of you know we have wild turkeys up here. And they are not very popular. If nothing else they are messy. Everywhere. Small dogs don't leave mess that big. Anyway, the big turkeys are a pain, but the babies are cute. Fun to watch run around, oblivious to the rest of the world. Ah, what a life.

So, in their honor (not really) tried something new last night. Instead of cooking pork shoulder chunks in the crock pot I did turkey breast chunks. Just poured, well, a bit less than a cup of bbq sauce in the bottom of the pot. Salt and peppered the meat. I also put a little herbs de provence on there too. Cook on low for about 7/9 hours or on high for 4 or so. I know, wouldn't it be nice if Mel got a bit more accurate with her instructions. Sorry.

When they are done the meat just falls apart. The sauce that's left in the pot needs work though. I doctored it up some to get the flavor back up. Then mixed some of it with the meat, just to kind of coat it. Served it on hamburger buns, pour more bbq sauce on top. Yum!

I understand that coleslaw on bbq is good. Never tried it. If someone has, let me know.

A special day

2008-06-26T08:57:00.000-07:00

Today, June 26th, is special. It is Chris Soward's birthday. If you see him greet him. And tell him he doesn't look his age, because he doesn't. The man runs marathons for crying out loud. He plans to run 12 miles tomorrow morning, before it gets too hot. Amazing.

It's also a "special" day for Jack and me. 26 years ago today life took a turn. One we never expected. But then who does. He was 26 at the time. Half his life now. The last few years this day has gotten much easier to get through. God has done so many amazing things through Jack and his circumstances. It just took us, well actually, me, a while to appreciate the good stuff.

If you have a chance, send Jack a greeting today, if you think of it. His blog site is listed on here. Or if you have his email. He means a lot to a lot of folks. He loves a lot of folks. And I love him more then words can do justice to convey. Thanks!

True Servants

2008-06-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

Jack and I had a unique opportunity this weekend to see some ordinary kids do a little something out of the ordinary. And they did a great job!

Freddie Woekel works with the Middle Schoolers at our church. He is a great guy. Married and has a couple little ones of his own. He is a laid back sort of guy and seems to take things as they come very well. He contacted Jack a couple months ago about coming up and speaking to this group of kids that he was taking up to work at a camp for disabled folks. It's called Camp Attitude, is a few miles east of Sweet Home. The place has such great potential. There has been a lot of stuff built in the 10 or so years since it began, but backers have pulled out and the current board of directors continue to carry out the original concept; a place where people in wheelchairs, kids in particular, could get out into nature.

Anyway, Freddie had arranged to take some kids up there and lay a concrete path around the cabins. And if possible, pour the concrete pad for what will one day be a fishing platform. This was a LOT of work. And Freddie had about 15 kids, a couple of dads and a college guy to help. Oh, and the weekend before, he broke his collarbone in 4 places while mountain biking. Ouch, to say the least.

The plan was the kids would get to the camp Thrs. night, unload everything, get settled in the cabins and have a time around the campfire. Jack would be there to do about a 15 minute talk on why they were there. A friend of ours, Jason, drove Jack up so that I wouldn't have to make the trip 3 nights in a row. Thanks Jason!

Jack had a great time. He said those kids sat absolutely silent while he shared with them the story of the Good Samaritan. He got to hang out with them for the evening, and he got to go back to those days when he was the guy herding Jr. Highers. He loved it!

We went up Sat. night. The work was pretty much done. And everyone was tired. But good tired. Freddie is draggin' a bit. He is on meds for the pain, but doesn't like to take too much. The kids are great. They did a ton of work. Had just a couple hours of free time in the afternoon, and had more work to do in the morning. I didn't hear a word of complaint. Not a whimper. Those kids are there to do something for people that, for the most part, they will never meet. They are there to serve. And they had to pay to go. I'm sorry, but I have to say it, so Jesus like!

The kids go back up in August and will help out at a camp with a group of wheelchair-bound kids. Jack is going to go back up and do a couple more nights. I'm actually looking forward to it. And I can honestly say I never thought I would look forward to spending a few evenings with middle school kids at a camp again.

Those kids served. Didn't ask for anything in return. Didn't expect anything either. Freddie asked them to serve and they did. Of all the things they accomplished this past weekend I doubt they figured that impressing the wife of a former Middle School pastor was even in the mix. But they did. I want to serve like that.

Change!

2008-06-16T08:49:00.002-07:00

Perhaps not as dramatic as we have been hearing about for months, on end, from Sen. Obama, but with the sun coming out and the days getting brighter and warmer, I thought the blog should look a little sunnier!

Tamale Pie, sorta

2008-06-08T16:49:00.000-07:00

Made this the other night for the fam. Was such a hit, Cathy said she could eat it the next night. So, since I had made enough for 2, her wish was my command. I don't think it's much like a tamale pie, but I don't know what else to call it.

Brown 1 lb. hamburger in a little olive oil. Season it with salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder. Add some chopped onion, however much you like. Once the onion has cooked some add a bit of broth, or wine, whichever you have handy, to scrape up the brown stuff on the bottom of the pan. Then add, oh, say, about 3/4 cup ketchup. Stir that up, add a bit more cumin and chili powder, along with a can of rinsed black beans and about 1/2 cup of frozen corn. Let that cook on low, covered, for a few minutes. So accurate, aren't I!

Now, if you happen to have some polenta in the fridge from the night before like I did, put that in the bottom and about an inch up the sides of the casserole dish, 2 qt. will work if you're making 2 of these, 3 qt. if you are using it for one. If you don't have polenta, boil 1 1/2 cups chicken broth, stir in 1 cup corn meal that has been mixed with 1 cup water. Lower the temp and stir till it's mixed well, lumps gone and leave till it's thick. Add to it a couple tablespoons butter, salt, pepper and you can grate a bit of any kind of cheese you'd like into it. For a creamy texture, add about 1/4 cup cream. Yum.

Ok, the dish is lined with the polenta, add the meat mix. Leave the polenta as a "crust", so you can see it. Crush up some tortilla chips, put on top. Top that with grated cheese. Bake at 350 with the lid on for about 20 minutes, remove the lid and bake for another 5 or 10 minutes.

That's it! Eat up! Hope you like!

Good friends, sad times

2008-06-04T19:22:00.000-07:00

Ecclesiastes 3 begins with words that are familiar to many: "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven -- " Different versions put it a bit differently, the meaning is the same. These verses are followed by a list of opposing events that happen throughout the journey. There are the ones that we have heard before: love/hate; war/peace. A couple of them I don't think about when I recall this passage: search/give up as lost; keep/throw away; be silent/speak.

This list begins where we all begin - give birth. We all have 2 things in common, we are birthed and we die. Makes us all equal. It's what we do with the in between time that makes us all different.

My friends Doug and Jane have done a lot with their in between time. Jane's time finished yesterday. She is Home now. Her time here was not long enough, but she was able to impact so many is a deep way. I didn't spend a lot of time with Jane. We probably didn't really have that much in common. Except for Jesus. Really didn't need anything else. I will miss her and the times we talked. Her steady, sweet smile. Her wonderment with life. And her love and devotion to Jesus and our Heavenly Father.

Doug will someday, God willing, be a nurse. A mighty fine one too. On the list in Ecclesiastes is "A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance." For a while we will weep and mourn with Doug and the kids. It's what we do as a family. But God is faithful. I know there will be laughter and dancing again someday. Jane is currently doing both!

Thanks Doug for sharing so much of the final days of the journey you and Janey took. For those of you who have not seen his blog check it out. It's in my list of links.

Bye Jane. See ya!

Still nothing

2008-05-27T11:06:00.000-07:00

Well, nothing new yet, but I was encouraged "More recipes!" So, here, banana muffins. Super easy. Of course you have to have nearly brown bananas. But once you have those . . .

Mash 3 large ripe bananas in a large bowl

Add 3/4 cup white sugar and 1 egg, stir together

Add 1/3 cup melted butter

Mix in a small bowl: 1 tsp. ea. baking soda and baking powder, 1/2/ tsp. salt, 1 1/2 cups flour. Add about 1 cup milk choc. chips, stir.

Add the dry ingredients to the banana mix. Stir till just combined.

Bake at 375 for about 20 mins.

Hope you like them!

Not much

2008-05-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

Well, not much has happened around here. Well, actually, nothing has happened around here. Nothing worth spending time writing about or for you to read about. The weather was hot for a few days, but now is back to being springtime in Oregon. Jack's been up some, down some. We did make family game night. That was fun. Got the flower pots planted, finally. The purchased flowers only sat in the garage for a week and a half. Or so. Shawn got home from school. That's nice! But she is leaving for a summer mission with Campus Crusade in about a week or two.

I haven't even cooked much lately. Banana muffins, with chocolate chips of course. Those were tasty. Oh, and creamy chicken curry soup. There's still some of that in the fridge. Lunch!

Mostly I'm posting because it's been 20 days and I give others such a bad time for not posting more often (Hi Mandy!!), I figured I best get something on here. Wish there was more to report.

If something big happens I'll let you know. But for now, we're doing good, just bored.

Really, just thinking out loud

2008-05-08T21:05:00.000-07:00

The other night for dinner I made up a recipe pretty much on my own. There happen to be orange marmalade in the fridge and chicken stock, mushrooms and carrots. In the cupboard there is some white wine and a box of orzo, and I had pulled some chicken breast tenders out of the freezer earlier today. With these few things dinner was pulled together, and it wasn't half bad if I may say so. Oh, and romaine salad with blue cheese and proscuitto. Tasty.

I love to cook. And bake. I noted the difference for you Mandy. When I'm doing these things I can just think about nothing but what I'm doing. It's my way of being creative. Some paint, play an instrument, dance, sing. Me, I cook.

Cooking is serving. Which is what I do best. I would love to be a Mary, but I know I function best as a Martha. That's not entirely a bad thing. Without Martha there would have been no meal! And I KNOW Jesus was hungry. Feeding people just makes me feel good. I would do it for a living if i needed to.

There is a show on the FoodNetwork, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. The places Guy goes to (the host of the show) are little places that mostly locals go to. The food is usually fried. There is a lot of meat involved. Very few vegetables. And frying. And more frying. But the people that are running these places just love working so hard because they are making the people so very happy.

Cooking to make people happy is a good thing to do.

The club

2008-05-03T10:45:00.000-07:00

There's been a fair amount of stuff going on lately. Serious, life and death stuff, in our church family. There was a memorial service this past Monday for a man that finally succumb to cancer after a fierce fight. His wife and 4 kids were blessed I'm sure by the 700+ folks that came for the service.

There is another couple in our church who found out recently that his cancer is in remission. His is the same kind that took the father of 4.

And yet another member of our church family is in the final battle of her war, with cancer. Jane is a dear friend. She is strong and honest and easy to talk to. She loves everyone with the love of Christ. Doug, her husband, will make a terrific nurse when he gets to return to school and get finished up. I told him when I learned he was in school to become a nurse that he would be such a good nurse because when he walks into a room he just exudes confidence.

When you've been through stuff, serious, not-sure-you-will-make-it stuff, or the one you love has, you become a member of the unofficial club. I don't know the name of the club. And if there's a secret handshake, I haven't seen it. You are recognized as a club member though by that look you now have. Can't really explain it. And when you meet a new club member you have an understanding of what they are going through that non-members don't have. Even though your experience was different, and the outcome may have been different, there are shared emotions. And for me, there is a deep well of desire for the new member to not have to go through this thing. I just don't want anyone to have to hurt that much or be that afraid of what comes next.

We don't have to be close. I can get very attached to people I see in the news that are in an accident. Football players that go down during a game and they stay down, and they don't move. I stop and watch, and pray, until he gives the thumbs up. Sometimes they don't. Even now, writing this, I feel that lump in the throat. I hate that feeling.

I love my fellow club members, the ones I know and the ones I don't. I pray for the ones I know, or see on TV, or read about in the paper. I really don't want any new members. Life just isn't like that though. Things happen. Serious, life and death stuff sometimes happens. God made us a promise though: "No temptation (serious, life and death stuff) has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." I Cor. 10:13

I believe that promise with all my heart. I've lived that promise more times than I care to remember. I know that no matter what, that promise is true and real. If you are a member of this no-name club claim that promise. It's yours. I'm praying for you.

Actually cooking!

2008-05-01T19:47:00.000-07:00

Because this should be about cooking at least once in a while here's a new one to try. I call it Quesadilla Casserole. Not the most original name, but it's a work in progress.

Flour tortillas, 3 per dish

Cooked meat, whatever is handy, ground beef, chicken . . .

Salsa

Shredded cheese

One tortilla in the bottom of the pie dish

On top of that either salsa, shredded cheese, or tonight I used some salsa cheese dip, mixed with a little sour cream

On top of that the meat

Another tortilla

Salsa, cheese, whatever

More meat

Final tortilla

Salsa on top

Shredded cheese

Bake for about 20 mins. in a 325 oven

Tasty!

Fund Raiser for the Eastons

2008-04-27T17:53:00.000-07:00

Good friends of ours, Doug and Jane Easton, could use your support in many ways right now. Jane has been battling cancer for many months. The prognosis is not good. Doug is taking time off of work to be with her, now that hospice has been called in. Prayer is definitely called for.

If you are inclined to want to do a bit more there is a fund raiser being organized. On May 5th, at Woodstocks Pizza, no matter what time, dine in or take out, 50 percent of the money spent on your entire order will go to the fund for the Eastons. Just tell them when you order it is for the Eastons and Woodstocks will take care of it! If you live in Corvallis, or nearby, and like pizza, I know your contribution would be appreciated! Thanks!

Panini and prayer

2008-04-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

The last post, which was a while ago, mentioned panini. My sister wrote and asked if I have a panini machine. Nope. I makeshift one on the stove top from a cast iron grill, a cheap aluminum grill and a very heavy cookie sheet. The cookie sheet is one of the Pampered Chef stone ones. Weighs a ton. Works great for pressing down on the paninis. If my cast iron skillet is handy I put that on top. More weight can't hurt!

For the panini: I use English Muffin bread from Winco. Ciabatta bread is what is usually called for, but it can be hard to bite into. I drizzle a little evoo on the outside of the bread. Inside, well, usually it's whatever is in the fridge. Pesto is the best! Provolone cheese, white cheddar, swiss, jack cheese, parm. cheese, all work. I usually use 2 or 3. Provolone, white cheddar and parm. are a good combo. Cook up a few slices of pancetta. Just a bit of tomato. And if you have some sliced turkey that works in it too. The hardest part is turning them. You will have to do some heavy lifting. Unless you have the panini machine. But that takes all the fun out of it.

Let me know how yours come out, and any tasty combos you come up with. Always looking for something new for dinner!

Prayer. Been doing a lot of it lately. Mostly because there is a lot to pray about. There usually is though. Right now 2 friends are battling cancer. One in the hospital. That battle is nearly over. The other is trying to figure out how much longer the battle will go on. I of course, want them both to be healed, so I pray for that. I do realize though that my definition of healing and God's are not always the same. So I also pray for strength, wisdom, peace, rest. In James (my favorite book of the Bible by the way) we are told, admonished if you will, to pray with faith. If we don't then sorta don't bother. I have to remember this.

This week I've prayed a lot for Jack too. The good days have been good, the bad days have been pretty bad. This happens. No explanation. We just ride them out. But I do pray for all those same things; strength, wisdom, peace, rest. He does this life of his so well. He never gets angry. He never lashes out. He doesn't get depressed. I am married to an amazing man.

OK, go whip up yourself a tasty sandwich. And when you're done, say a little prayer for someone you know needs it.

2008-04-07T16:13:00.000-07:00

It's been a while. Yes, I know. Here finally. And first things first . . .

I have been remiss. I wrote about the trip to the beach for the birthday, forgot to mention the lovely gift my husband purchased for me. At dinner on Wed. night he asked if I wanted to know what the present was. He hadn't been able to make the actual purchase before we left. Well, of course I wanted to know. I may not be wild about birthdays but I LOVE presents!! We had been to Sam's Station the previous Sunday after church. There were several paintings hanging up there on display. A local artist trying to do some business. There were 2 that I really liked. One was large, of boats, looked like an Italian fishing village. The other was small, bright, of poppies. Jack said when we got home we would go over and pick one and it would be mine. Or, if I saw something while we were at the coast that I liked better he would get that for me. I'm really very easy to buy for. Not.

We were at Salishan Village on, I think it was Friday. We always check out the Lawrence Gallery when we are there. We were the only ones there for most of the time. Although, this guy came in with his rather large Rottweiler. Why he felt the need to bring the dog in I'll never know. The dog did not care for the wheelchair. So man and beast left. Anyway, one of the last paintings I saw was a small oil painting. It's in a gold frame with a large gold mat, made to look old. The painting is a representation of the Columbia Gorge. I looked at it for the longest time. I was mesmerized. It is now mine. Hanging in the bedroom. If you come by sometime ask and I'll show it to you. I love it. He is too good to me.

Anyway . . . where was I? Oh, was going to give instructions on panini but this has gone on long enough. Next time!

From Life's Lessons

2008-03-22T15:33:00.000-07:00

We got home safe and sound from the beach last Sunday. And here it is, the following Saturday! Where did the week go??? We had a lovely time away. Dinner at April's in Nye Beach on my birthday. Dinner at Georgie's. And again. A walk to Nye Beach and stocked up on cards. There's a great shop there. And on Sunday, since Jack was good to go, we did the Oregon Coast Aquamarine. Got back, unpacked and relaxed. Good thing, because the week was busy.

Because of events that I can't go into, I have learned a lot this week. About myself, others, our God. It all boils down to this: we have to look out for one another, encourage one another and go the extra mile sometimes for one another. It's a very Biblical principle, but one I think works well for everyone. I was surprised this week by the needs of some folks. And I want to always be aware of those around me enough to know when they need a shoulder, a listening ear, whatever.

So, my encouragement to you is - 1) if you have a burden, a problem, just want to talk, feel lonely, depressed, hopeless, etc., talk to someone, you know lots of people and it only takes one. Call me, email me, those of you that have my number. I'm here for ya! 2) be there for someone, keep a watchful eye, ear, out for those that are sending out signals whether they intend to or not. Sometimes all it takes is the right person asking if they are OK. Be that right person. If you aren't, don't worry, they'll tell you they are fine. But it never hurts to check.

This world is a crazy place. The news is depressing, the weather hasn't become Spring like yet, taxes are due soon, there's a lot out there to make US crazy. But don't go there. Find someone. It's both good to need and be needed. Really.

Gettin' Out of Dodge

2008-03-12T08:40:00.000-07:00

We are headed to the beach for a few days. Some of you know what the occasion is. As one fellow blogger wrote she is becoming less scrooge like on her day. I wish I could say the same, but alas, not I. Really wish I knew why this day is just so not as pleasant as it should be. It's just a celebration of my existence. And that people who love me, or even just like me, simply want to express that. And yet, I get all nervous and jumpy and just want the limelight to glare in the opposite direction!!! Ok, calm down Melanie.

Anyway, so nothing new here for a few days. Hope you all have joyful mid-weeks, lovely relaxing weekends, and know that you are greatly appreciate by this little scrooge!

Daily

2008-03-06T21:32:00.000-08:00

Seems like this period of time in life right now is pretty darn good. Uneventful, which for us is good. Eventful has in the past meant either hospitals/illness or remodeling. Or, on a much darker note, death in my family. But none of that right now.

Today I went for a walk and spent a great deal of the time thanking my Father for this time. It has freed me up to spend time with others, walking through their ups and downs, and trying to shed a little of the light that I can, thanks to the One that provides that light. I love the opportunities that God is giving me right now to input. It's not about me, or us, it's mostly about Him, and what He can do in a life. I know what He can do first hand. I'm thrilled to be allowed to share a bit of that with whomever.

So, despite that life may look a bit boring right now, at least from a blogger's point of view, it is anything but. It is something new daily!

Just for good measure, since this should have some cooking stuff now and then, here is a simple dinner idea that we had tonight. For 4 people slice up half a med. sized onion. Peel 2 red delicious apples and slice those. Drizzle olive oil in a warm frying pan, add both and salt a bit. Cook over med. heat, stirring every now and then, for about 20 minutes or so. They will get a lovely amber color, and some will get a little darker. Take them out, put in 4, 6, 8, apple chicken sausages and heat, covered, over med. low heat. Turn after about 5/7 minutes. Heat through and let these get a little brown. Put the apples/onions on top and let sit for a couple more minutes to warm back up. We had jasmine rice with a little parsley and toasted sesame seeds thrown in. And salad. Romaine with a little blue cheese crumbled in. Simple but yummy!

All this to say, enjoy the simple stuff. Won't always be simple, so when it is take advantage of it!

Muffins

2008-02-27T17:57:00.000-08:00

Ok, since the address to this blog is cooking with Mel, some of you may be wondering when the actual cooking part is going to come out. Here you go. Made these muffins last night. Yummy. Very. If I may say so. Have to have the chocolate granola from Winco. Well, you don't have to, but I bet it makes the world of difference. Give 'em a try, you won't be sorry.

Mix together in a large bowl:

1 1/4 C. flour

2 tsp. baking pwdr.

2 C. Granola

1/4 C. brown sugar

1 tsp. salt

Combine and add to dry ingredients:

1/3 C. oil

1 C. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

1/3 C. molasses

Mix til just combined. I also threw in a handful of raisins and I had about 3 oz. of dark choc. that I chopped up and threw in too. Not necessary, but very tasty.

Pour into the muffin tin, bake at 375 for about 15-18 minutes, or til done, of course. Let them sit for about 5, take them out and eat one right away! They are super yummy warm. Melted chocolate is the best!

Little bits of life

2008-02-26T14:28:00.000-08:00

In just the past few minutes I have seen so many little bits of life. I have been trying to figure out which book to start reading. (The problem with bookstores is that there are so many books. I go in, I buy, I bring home, where to begin!!) Anyway, so I sat down with Philip Yancey's book on prayer. I'm only to chpt. 2. He begins by telling about climbing up a mountain. How the terrain changes as he got higher. And at one point he stops, looks down and sees little spots that move. He realizes they are hikers, coming up the same trail he is on. And how just 3 hours earlier he was a little spot.

Then, chpt. 2 completed, as was lunch, I moved on to the computer. Checked the blogs. Read Jodi's latest. Bekah went snowshoeing. Ok, her dad did the shoeing part, she was literally just along for the ride! Checked Joani's, nothing new there. Then hit Amanda's. Oh my gosh, FUNNY!!! You are so talented. It was all about while watching the Oscars imagining if she were to win one. If you are going to dream about receiving an Oscar, great choice in your presenter!

Then I checked the blog of a friend battling cancer. Bad cancer. They think he may not have long. The cancer is winning the battle. There was a gathering for he and his family at church this past Sunday. Lots of people. A good time had by all I hear. And there was a little video from the event, of a couple of friends leading everyone in a song about being the moon. Most seemed to know it. I got to watch a little bit of the time they all had. Amazing.

In just a few minutes I got to "see" little bits of the life of so many people. I got amazed. And appreciative. God seems so huge. No, make that HUGE!! And yet, He sees us and is interested in our little bits of life. And He wants us to share them with others, and Him. I want my little bits to matter. I want them to make Him smile. I'll keep at it.

Faithfulness

2008-02-16T14:29:00.000-08:00

It's Saturday, the sun is out, which even I am enjoying, from inside. Jack is down, not horrible but not good either. He had a late night out with the Grad and Career group from church. The went to a Toby Mac concert in Salem. I did not go. I know my limitations. He told me when he got home I made the right decision. Loud. At times even too loud for him. Old guitar players never die, they just become more sensitive!

Had a great time of prayer this morning. Many of you that may be reading this were brought to mind. As I was reading before I started praying, I told God that I wanted to know more of Him, not just read the words in the Word, but know Him. Then as I began to pray and many names and faces came to mind, I knew a little more about my Heavenly Father. He loves me so much! He has blessed me with an abundance of lives to love and pray for! I may not know what each one of you is going through, but I know that He knows. And I trust that He will provide to each one exactly what each needs. The trick comes in us putting to good use what He gives. That's where I miss out so often. It's there, I just forget to use it. I'm working on that.

The rest of the day is going to be devoted to cleaning. Well, at least some of the rest of the day. I can only clean for so long. Hope whatever you are doing you are enjoying. If there is ever something you like me to be praying for just let me know.