Sunday, September 30, 2007

Offering


The sun cannot compare to the glory of Your love.
There is no shadow in Your presence.
No mortal man would dare to stand before Your throne,
Before the Holy One of heaven.
It's only by Your blood
And it's only through Your mercy, Lord, I come.

I bring an offering of worship to my King.
No one on earth deserves the praises that I sing.
Jesus, may You receive the honor that You're due -
O Lord, I bring an offering to You.


Offering by Paul Baloche

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Weather Wonders And Small Blessings

Yesterday's rain brought such simple beauty. Beauty and wonders - nothing escaped its touch.The rainy morning was just the beginning of the weather display yesterday. In Oregon we say, "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes!" That was true of yesterday - many times over. The skies opened wide and poured what seemed like buckets full of water on everything below. Then there was calm - for a while. Cloud-covered skies soon resounded with loud claps of thunder followed immediately by bright sun peeking through to let us know all was well. This was repeated a few times before more rain arrived. Later as I drove home from Portland the most incredible double rainbow arched across the countryside nearby. A few miles and a short time later a brief but heavy hailstorm! Then more rainbows. I saw more rainbows yesterday than I have ever seen in a single day! (And I didn't have a camera with me! When will I learn to keep it with me?) By the time night arrived things had changed again and our world was quiet and still. Looking out across my backyard I saw the moon through the neighbor's trees - a sign that the clouds had parted a bit.
A few minutes later -
This morning we woke to clearer skies and a bit of occasional sunshine. The air was fresh and clean and once again signs of autumn were everywhere.High overhead, our big maple tree near the front door has begun to prepare for winter!A bit later a special treat! Mr. G. (grandson #3) arrived to visit me while his mommy and new baby brother were being honored at a baby shower. His daddy and older brother (Mr. R.) were helping a friend with a building project. My sweetheart (Grandpa) is deer hunting far away from home for a few days. Mr. G. was soon very busy. After playing with favorite toys he washed his hands and "sang a song at the piano" for me.
Followed by an encore -
When Mr. G. arrived he brought a project that needed my help. We carefully wrapped his gift to a special little friend whose birthday party he will attend this afternoon. Of course every gift needs a card so we quickly found the craft box and it wasn't long before a very wonderful, hand-made, custom-designed card was complete.Late this morning the doorbell rang. Mr. G. answered it and welcomed his dear great-grandmother, my dear little mother. She was our invited guest, invited to join us for lunch. Lots of hugs followed and soon we were enjoying such fun together. Our lunch menu was very special - two of us enjoyed ham sandwiches while one person savored the delights of peanut butter and jelly! Chocolate pudding was served in style at the conclusion of our 'dining experience'. Not long afterwards it was time to bid Mr. G. farewell. While wrapped in my arms he whispered, "This was my bestest ever time, Grandma!" Nothing can top that - ever!

Friday, September 28, 2007

Singin' In The Rain

Fall has arrived in Oregon and our cool, sunny days have given way to a few days (or so they tell us!) of rain. Wonderful, refreshing rain! Everywhere around me I see neighbors getting ready for winter days ahead. But for just a short time more there will be signs of autumn and the beauty it brings to our part of the world.

We woke to the sound of rain pouring down from the sky very early this morning. A click of the TV and we heard "rain is extremely heavy right now to the south, in the . . . area." We already knew that - that's right where we live and we could hear it pounding on the roof and the patio outside. A short time later it had lessened and we stepped outside. There is a certain 'smell' to the first rains of the season - rain stirring the scents of the deep, rich soil and beating on the fragrance of the flowers nearby. We love the feel and the scent of the early rains.


Back in the shelter of my warm house I remembered an old, familiar song.


I'm singing in the rain

Just singing in the rain

What a glorious feelin'

I'm happy again

I'm laughing at clouds

So dark up above

The sun's in my heart

And I am in love

Let the stormy clouds chase

Everyone from the place

Come on with the rain

I've a smile on my face

I walk down the lane

With a happy refrain

Just singin',

Singin' in the rain

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Living Water

For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
Isaiah 44:3

Ho! every one that is thirsty in spirit,
Ho! every one that is weary and sad;
Come to the fountain, there’s fullness in Jesus,
All that you’re longing for: come and be glad!

Chorus
“I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While ye are seeking Me, I will be found.”

Child of the world, are you tired of your bondage?
Weary of earth joys, so false, so untrue?
Thirsting for God and His fullness of blessing?
List to the promise, a message for you!

Child of the kingdom, be filled with the Spirit!
Nothing but “fullness” thy longing can meet
’Tis the enduement for life and for service;
Thine is the promise, so certain, so sweet.

If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me. And let him drink. . . As Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. John 7:38


Hymn by Lucy J. Meyer - 1884

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Around The Mountain Once Again

In my last post I shared about our dear family member who visited us last week. While she was here we wanted to show her some of the beauty of God's creation nearby so my sweetheart, my dear little mother and I took her on an all-day tour of a favorite part of our state. We had such fun together - so relaxing and refreshing. Most of all we just enjoyed being together as a family. Last month we shared this same tour with some of my sweetheart's out-of-state family. Here's just a bit of what we saw this time beside the river and around the mountain.

A stop at Chanticleer Point high above the floor of the Columbia River Gorge gave us a fabulous view of Crown Point and the Gorge to the east. Our weather had been clear and sunny for many days and we were a bit dismayed to wake that morning to a cloudy day. But that didn't stop us from enjoying every minute of our trip.
A short drive farther along the old, scenic highway took us to one of the many breathtaking waterfalls along the way. The sound of the water rushing down the mountain was very loud and amazing. I wish I could have captured it so you can hear it, too. The falls comes from the top of the rocky bluff, overhead. . .and passes under a stone bridge (about a third of the way up from the bottom of the picture) where a hiking trail crosses over, and. . .
continues down past the main viewing area. . . and under another footbridge near the highway below.
Driving a bit farther east on the old highway we arrived at Multnomah Falls. The beauty and magnificence of this incredible waterfall never gets old!My dear little mother and I stayed on the plaza below while my sweetheart and our dear cousin hiked the trail to the Benson Bridge above. We waited and watched for them to appear and wave to us from far above where we sat. After a short drive on the freeway east to Cascade Locks we found a beautiful park beside the Columbia River. A table not far from the water's edge was the perfect place to eat our carefully prepared picnic lunch. While we ate we were thrilled to see a tugboat pushing a barge upriver. River traffic on the Columbia River transports many different products to various destinations for shipment to local markets and to others around the world. Wheat from Eastern Oregon and Washington is often seen as it is moved to the ports of Portland and Astoria.The Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler was docked not far from our picnic site. After lunch I wandered over, with camera in hand, to take a closer look at the bow. . .the stern (and the wheel!). . .
and I wished - oh.how.I.wished - I could join this line of people who were boarding the vessel for a cruise on The Mighty Columbia!
Not long after we rejoined travellers on the freeway headed east we turned south at Hood River for the drive around Mount Hood. We were amazed to see how much she had changed since our visit a month ago. There was much less snow and the meadows and trees have begun to change in preparation for the winter snows to come. We wanted our cousin to visit Timberline Lodge and enjoy the history and beauty there. Since my dear little mother cannot tolerate the effects of the very high altitude on her heart she and my sweetheart stayed in the little village below while I drove our cousin up the mountain to the lodge. While we girls were away they enjoyed a visit to a new cultural and historical museum.
The Lodge is amazing and I always see something I haven't noticed before. The dining room was being prepared for the dinner hour and the aromas from the kitchen were almost more than I could bear! The darling little chairs at each table were handmade by the craftsmen who built and furnished the Lodge during The Great Depression.An old, weathered fire hydrant near the walkway behind the Lodge captured my attention. I wonder how long it has been there. Does it still work? While we were at the Lodge the clouds began to roll into the valley below. On a clear day, from the second story observation deck, you can see some of the Cascade Mountains to the south of Mount Hood. By the time we climbed the stairs and walked outside onto the stone deck this is what we saw. I loved our cousin's positive attitude when she decided to take a picture to show how high we were above the trees!We love the beauty of the world around us and we enjoy sharing it with our dear family and friends. My sweetheart and I will make this trip again, probably many times. We hope to go again soon - just the two of us - to see the changes autumn brings to the gorge and the mountain. What a sweet day that will be!

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Family Ties


I have not posted much through the past week. We have had a wonderful 'guest' - a dear family member I did not know until my dear little mother and I met her at the airport nearly a week ago. Tomorrow morning we will make the journey back to the airport for her departure but our hearts will struggle with the goodbyes we must say after a week full of getting acquainted and catching up with the many lost years of our lives. The story does not need to be repeated here. It is enough to say that a family was torn apart many years ago and the effect on those who remain has been great. Our dear one was a very small child when she attended the wedding of my dear parents over 62 years ago. Contact was re-established many years later and she and her sweet family had a brief visit with my mother and father more than 20 years ago. I lived quite far away and did not get to meet them.


We have had a wonderful time together this week. Our dear one has begun to research and piece together our family history - as I started to do a few years ago. Now we have joined together to complete the project. We have learned much and reminisced a lot about the little tid-bits we remember and things learned from family members long gone. Oh, how we wish we had asked more questions and paid more attention when our dear ones were still with us. We want to learn all we can about the family that remains and spend as much time as we can together, appreciating the ties that bind us together while we still have the chance.

Family ties are precious things
woven through the years,
of laughter, love and tears.
Family ties are cherished things
forged in childhood days,
by love of parents deep and true,
by tradition, by family ways.
Family ties are treasured things
and far though we may roam,
the tender bond with those we love
still pulls our hearts toward home.

Author Unknown
Picture and poem compliments of my.homewithgod.com

Sunday, September 16, 2007

How Deep The Father's Love

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished.
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom.

Written by Stuart Townsend (1995)

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

A Light In The Dark

Lighthouses and the stories of the keepers of the light from years long past fascinate me! I would love to visit every lighthouse on the west coast of the U.S. - perhaps I will! On our recent trip to the Oregon Coast my sweetheart and I took a short drive to visit a lighthouse nearby.

Cape Meares, near Tillamook, Oregon, named after Captain John Meares who first charted it in 1788, was 'deemed' an ideal sight for a lighthouse. Easily seen from the sea, the outer point is below fog line, making the light visible during conditions when it is most needed. The lighthouse served from 1890 until it was replaced by an automated beacon in 1963. (See the brass hand-holds between each pane of glass? The lightkeeper held on to them when it was necessary to work from the outside walk during storms. A passing seagull is reflected in glass.)

Cape Meares lighthouse was tended by three keepers: an appointed keeper and a first and second assistant. The main tasks were to keep the light burning from sunset to sunrise and to maintain the equipment. Among the main daily tasks done by the keeper and his first assistant were: 1) clean and polish the lenses to prevent pitting from salt spray; 2) trim or replace the large wicks; 3) filter the kerosene; and 4) fill the lamp. Kerosene was strained many times, using fine silk for the final filtering. The second assistant swept, dusted and cleaned the inside of the building. Keepers wore linen aprons to keep from scratching the lens with their coarse clothing.

The French hand-ground Fresnel lens at Cape Meares is one of only two eight-sided lights in the United States - the other is in Hawaii. Keepers were given detailed instructions for maintaining the masterpiece.Shaped like a giant beehive, the outer surface of the lens is made of prisms that bend the light into a narrow beam. The beam then passes through a magnifying lens at the center of each side that intensifies it, producing a brilliant sheet of light visible for 21 miles. The original light was a heavy bronze five-wick kerosene lantern that was turned by weights and pulleys. Four sides of this eight-sided lens were covered with red glass which produced an alternating red and white beam as the light turned. The Cape Meares light, weighing one ton, is of the "first order," the largest of seven lens sizes.This little window looking seaward is the only one in the lighthouse. It intrigued me - I wondered what was on the inside. Who sat beside it and watched the sea beyond the edge of the bluff and the rocks below? What was their life really like? Were they ever afraid? What incredible stories would they tell? I'll never know the answers to my questions but I will remember the small lighthouse with the big lens that warned captains and sailors of the perils nearby.

Information courtesy of State of Oregon Parks Department

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Jesus Loves The Little Children

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

Jesus calls the children dear,
“Come to me and never fear,
For I love the little children of the world;
I will take you by the hand,
Lead you to the better land,
For I love the little children of the world.”

Chorus
Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in His sight,
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Jesus is the Shepherd true,
And He’ll always stand by you,
For He loves the little children of the world;
He’s a Savior great and strong,
And He’ll shield you from the wrong,
For He loves the little children of the world.

Chorus
Jesus died for all the children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white
All are precious in His sight,
Jesus died for all the children of the world.

I am coming, Lord, to Thee,
And Your soldier I will be,
For You love the little children of the world;
And Your cross I’ll always bear,
And for You I’ll do and dare,
For You love the little children of the world.

Chorus
Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in His sight,
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

You can hear the melody and read about the men who wrote the words and composed the music for this song here.


Song: "Jesus Loves The Little Children"
Words by: C. Herbert Woolston
Music by: George F. Root
Pictures courtesy of myhomewithgod.com

Friday, September 7, 2007

A Gift From The Father Above

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
James 1:17
Hudson Cole
Born at 5:29 p.m. on September 7, 2007
8 lbs., 20 1/2 inches long
Today our family received a good and perfect gift from the Heavenly Father. We have been blessed by the birth of our new grandson. He is a precious little boy who we have prayed for much over the last few months. There were many concerns and risk factors involved - but God heard and answered our prayers for a safe and healthy delivery for our daughter-in-law, Mrs. K. and little Mr. H. After his birth we learned that God had guarded him from a situation that could not be detected before his arrival. The doctor discovered a very large knot in the cord that was his lifeline until birth. She said it was a good thing they had induced labor and brought him into the world today - additional time and weight gain would have led to certain disaster! When we heard this news we thanked God for His mercy and the way He gave the doctor wisdom to sense the need to intervene today.

Father and son

Big brother, Mr. R.

Big brother, Mr. G.

Mr. H.'s two big brothers were very proud to introduce us to him when we arrived at the hospital. It wasn't long before they joined the two grandmas who were very busy with their cameras.

Just before they left for home and bedtime, Mr. R. and Mr. G. spent a few minutes near their mom while she shared the news with a good friend by phone.Our hearts are full of praise and gratitude for the precious gift of life that has come from God above. Little Hudson has come into a home and a family who will dearly love him, enjoy him, teach him and help him grow to be the man God created him to be. I am filled with awe that we should be so blessed! And I am truly happy to be part of this little boy's life. I am a grateful grandma.

He's Here!

I am SO proud to announce the arrival of our little grandson Hudson Cole into the world and into our arms. He was born at approximately 5:30 this evening. Mrs. K. is doing fine and Mr. S. is ecstatic! Mr. H. has not been weighed yet but the doctor estimates that he is around 8 lbs. He is healthy and doing well. At last report he was snuggled up in his mother's arms and she was smiling!

We are leaving in a few minutes to drive to the hospital to meet him and enjoy this wonderful, little answer to our prayers. Pictures and more details will follow!

With a grateful heart,
Gramma Adrienne

A Great Day For A Birthday!

Today seems to be the day for the birth of our sixth grandchild - our fourth grandson! We can't wait to meet him and hold him and snuggle him in our arms and kiss his little neck. This is the day we have been waiting and praying for.
Our son and daughter-in-law, Mr. J. and Mrs. K., will soon check into the hospital to begin the process that will start labor and bring their precious little boy into the world. These months of waiting have been filled with stress and, at times, much concern. Mrs. K. has to be on blood-thinning medication during her pregnancies because of a blood factor that can cause blood clots during pregnancy. About two months ago she contracted a virus that can cause serious problems or fatality for the unborn baby. A year and a half ago they experienced the unexplained death of another little son during the sixth month of her pregnancy. The doctors assure us that everything looks good with Mrs. K. and the baby. Through the past weeks she has seen her obstetrician every week and had weekly ultrasounds and appointments with a specialist. I know she will be glad to be finished with all the medical appointments and begin a more normal life at home with Mr. J. and their three sweet boys. There has been a lot of prayer for them through these months, especially during the past few weeks. We have seen some amazing answers to prayer during these long months of waiting. Our hearts are full of joy and peace as we wait today.


Mrs. K's doctors feel it is wise to induce labor and bring our precious little grandson a bit more than a week early. In the past she has gone beyond her due date and her babies have been big. It seems to be in the best interest of Mrs. K. and this little one to convince him to come a bit early, so today is the chosen day! His little lungs are well developed, he is in the correct position and it seems he's just waiting for the signal that it's time to come out and meet his family. His mom and dad are more than ready to hold him in their arms. And his two big brothers can hardly contain their excitement. He will be welcomed into a family that is just waiting for him to join them.
So, today is a waiting day - waiting for a 'birth day' celebration. Mr. J. plans to stay in contact with me by phone and keep us informed of the events of the day. We live about 40 minutes from the hospital where they will be and you can be sure we will be there as soon as possible after this precious little boy makes his entrance into the world.

We would appreciate your prayers for Mrs. K. and her baby boy today. You will be among the first to hear the news and see pictures of our wee grandson.

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Tagged!

One of the things I enjoy about blogging is the chance to make new friends. There are some wonderful people who have become part of my life and I love learning more about each one of them and sharing my life with them. One way to learn more about each other is through games that give us a chance to tell something about ourselves that we may not share otherwise. That's the way it is with the Name Game. Cherry of Cherry's Jubilee tagged me for this one. In this game the players must list one fact that is relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name (if you don't have a middle name you get to pick the name you wish you had). Then at the end of the post you are supposed to pick one person per letter to tag next. And so it goes on and on and on.

My middle name is Lynn. It was nearly my first name but when I arrived a month ahead of schedule (32 hours after my mother's appendectomy in her 8th month of pregnancy) I decided I didn't want to wait to see what was going on in the world. Shortly after my arrival - very late on Saturday night - my father asked my groggy, sedated mother, "Shall we name her Adrienne Lynn?" (That was one of two names they had discussed.) She replied, "That's nice!" My father was a young minister so he proudly announced to the church the following morning that there was a new member of the church - me! - and it was too late to consider whether or not my name should have been Lynn Eileen. They have always loved my name and I'm happy with it, too. So, without further adieu, here are some relevant (?) facts about me.

Library - I love libraries. My mother was a librarian before she met my father and I began learning to appreciate the world of books and libraries when I was very young. I would love to have my own library room someday - the kind with books from floor to ceiling and a wonderful wooden ladder on rollers so I could get any book my heart desired no matter how high the shelves are.
Yard Sales - You probably know by now that I love yard sales. They are part of my summer schedule now that I'm not working in a Monday-Friday office. It's something my dear mother and I do together nearly every week. She is known as "The Yard Sale Queen" around here so I come by it naturally.

Nectarines - One of my most favorite fruits. The season here is short and I try to enjoy as many as I can while they are available. But I have to be careful that I don't eat too many at once because I break out with Hives if I do - big, itchy, miserable Hives! It's been a long time since I've overindulged so maybe I've learned some self-control.

Nancy Drew - I loved the Nancy Drew mysteries when I was a young girl. I still have every one of mine. They are on a wonderful bookshelf next to my fireplace. Someday I'll show you where they are! I have some very old copies and there are a few of the older ones that I don't have. I constantly keep watch for the missing volumes. I usually see them in someone else's hands at yard sales or thrift stores!
Now I tag Kathy at Kathy's Cottage, Sherrie at Lula's Hardt, Dawn at 4:53 a.m. and Penny at Lavender Hill Studio.

If you have not been tagged or would like to participate in this one, consider yourself tagged and join the fun. Be sure to let the person you tag know that they have been tagged. Let me know if you do - I want to know your middle name!
Photo - Rose: "Singin' In The Rain"
International Rose Test Garden,
Portland, Oregon