Sunday, October 25, 2009

Quiet and Waiting

Stillness

Let all that I am
wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in Him.
Psalm 62:5

We are in the way both of duty and comfort, when our souls wait upon God; when we cheerfully give up ourselves, and all our affairs, to his will and wisdom; when we leave ourselves to all the ways of his providence, and patiently expect the event, with full satisfaction in his goodness. – Matthew Henry


artwork: ‘Stillness’
artist: Erin Clark

Saturday, October 24, 2009

The Rest Of The Story

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Recently I shared here about our trip to Eastern Oregon for my sweetheart’s annual deer hunting excursion with some of his family and friends who hunt together each year. Yesterday a dear family member reminded me that I left you high.and.dry! I promised to tell you the results of the hunt and share more of the beauty of that part of my home state. I said I would share it soon and I got side-tracked by life. So today I will return and finish the story.

My sweetheart hunted all weekend to no avail! While he was in the woods I prayed that he would be safe and get a big deer. On the last day of our trip – the day we were to return home – I stayed at camp and got our little cabin-on-wheels ready for the trip home. As I put things away and secured them for travel I asked the Lord if He would honor my sweetheart with a deer – any deer. Forget asking for a big one! My sweetheart and two family members were hunting together on the mountain and he had a certain time he planned to return to camp so we could begin the long trip home. When he didn't return at the appointed time I had several thoughts - either he had a deer ‘down’ and was preparing it for return to camp, he had lost track of time or, he was lost in the woods! I chose to believe the first thought. Awhile later he returned with a nice deer. Success! At last. Not a large deer but not a real small one, either.

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Soon we had everything packed, said our goodbyes to family and we drove away from camp. You could say we were happy campers! But we were beginning to look forward to returning to all the comforts of home. Not far down the road from our campsite we left the forest area and drove through farmland. My sweetheart stopped to let me capture some of the sights with my camera.

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He and Joey patiently waited in the truck.

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I think I could have stayed right there for hours – there was so much to see. Just ahead, the Strawberry Mountains stood tall with a dusting of snow that gave a hint that winter wasn’t far away.

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The old barbed-wire fence intrigued me and beyond the fence the sight of green fields refreshed my spirit after a few days spent in the snow.

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Across the road, an abandoned outbuilding caught my eye. The textures and colors captivated my imagination. I wondered who had been there through years past and what animals had taken shelter there.

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After a brief stop in the nearby small town to empty the trailer tanks (less weight in the trailer is easier on the truck’s motor as we climb the mountains), we were on our way once again. Soon Joey decided to snuggle down on the seat beside us and catch up on his sleep!

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It wasn’t long before we began the drive along the John Day River as it wound its way through the desert canyon.

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High above, volcanic rock formations constantly changed in the sunshine and shadows.

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There was a beauty that is hard to describe and my heart longed to stay and explore and discover more about this land.

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The late afternoon shadows danced on the rocks - they seemed to change with each minute that passed.

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Meanwhile, back in the truck - Joey slept on!

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A ways farther to the west The Ochoco Mountains came into view. As we climbed toward higher elevation we found that we were once again in snow. Just a bit.

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Just when I thought we had seen the last of the big rocks towering overhead, suddenly another one would appear.

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We continued to climb the mountain pass - higher and higher and around one corner after another.

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We drove on until we reached the summit and then began our descent down the other side.

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And then – once we had crossed the mountains and began to cross the plateau - there she was. In the distance. My favorite mountain. Mount Hood! Signs of home yet so far away.

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I know I must have smiled as we continued to drive across the plateau. The desert gave way to green pasture lands and the familiar sight of the Cascade Mountains – and ‘my’ mountain – meant that it wouldn’t be long before we would cross the last mountain range and be on the other side. Home. At last!

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The evening shadows soon disappeared and darkness began to fill the countryside. Finally we reached the place where we planned to stop for dinner. We had talked and planned and waited to eat here before we continued on across the last mountains toward home. My sweetheart had told me all about the Black Bear Diner in the central Oregon town of Madras. He bragged about the food and we had saved this experience and waited in anticipation for our last meal of this trip together.

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After a delicious dinner, as we walked to the truck, there it was! The harvest moon – just over the town to the east.

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Soon we caught one more glimpse of the moon shining through the trees as we began to climb the last mountain range on the final part of our journey home.

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And then, finally, after a long, happy day together we were home! With meat for the winter, tales to tell and memories to cherish. And now you know the rest of the story!

Friday, October 23, 2009

A Little Girl’s Dream Come True!

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Once upon a time there was a little brown-eyed, brown-haired girl named Adrienne. She had a wonderful daddy and he loved her very much. One day, when she was only three, he and her dear, little mother took Adrienne to the zoo. They had a lovely day together and when they went home she slept peacefully that night as she dreamed of all the animals she had seen. But there was one that was special – she thought of him over and over and over again. Not long afterwards her daddy told her that she was getting big enough to have a pet. Thinking she would like a dog or a cat, or perhaps a fish or a bird, he asked her what kind of pet she would like. She quickly answered, ‘I would like a giraffe!’ Now her daddy had not anticipated this answer but, being a very wise and loving father, he quickly said, ‘Well, Adrienne, I do see a problem if you have a pet giraffe. You might want your pet to sleep with you and a giraffe would never be able to fit in your bed!’ Giving a moment of careful thought to this information she quickly agreed and chose a dog. But in her little heart she truly wanted a giraffe and as she grew to be a lady her heart never lost the fascination for these tall, beautiful creatures.

As she grew up, one day Adrienne suggested to her father that she felt he really, truly ‘owed’ her a giraffe because that was her first choice for a pet. It quickly became a joke between the two of them and he told her that one day he would get her a giraffe. Through the years of their lives together she often reminded him that he owed her a giraffe! And they always laughed at the thought – oh, how they laughed. One Christmas morning not many years ago when her kind father and dear mother arrived at Adrienne’s home to celebrate with her and her family, her father placed a small package under the tree. As the morning passed and gifts were exchanged it wasn’t long before her daddy gave the little package to her. When she opened it, inside was a small giraffe with a note that said, ‘Here’s your giraffe – now you can’t ever say I owe you one!’ And they laughed again. That little giraffe has been treasured much, especially since he went away a few years ago. And every time Adrienne saw a giraffe – real or otherwise – she always thought of her dear daddy and the joy and laughter they shared together.

Yesterday, while passing through a neighborhood, Adrienne came upon a garage sale. A wonderful garage sale! Before her car had even come to a stop she spied a slightly-loved giraffe sitting in the drive. When she got out she could hardly believe her eyes – five dollars. A thirty-inch tall concrete giraffe with the sweetest face!

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She knew he was meant for her. And somehow she knew her sweet father was looking down and smiling as she took him home with her! That evening she showed him to her dear, little mother and the first thing her mother said was, ‘You’re father would laugh! He would be SO happy!’ And somehow she really thinks he is. She’s sure he is!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

What To Do?

Cell Phone

A question is plaguing me. I often wonder what you would do with my dilemma. It’s not an earthshaking situation but I keep asking myself, “What do my bloggy friends do”?

How do you carry your cell phone? Where do you keep it, so it is always close to you and you can hear it ring or feel it when it is on vibrate? Do you keep your phone with you - ‘on’ you most of the time? My phone is becoming more important all the time. Right now I am ‘on call’ for one of the care centers where I serve as chaplain. A situation is pending and I may be needed. Again. My phone must stay with me.

I have been keeping my phone in my purse but my purse isn’t always close to me. When I am at home my purse is usually in a different room than I. If I leave my phone in a central place in my home it’s too easy to leave home without it. So, I am curious – do you have a way to have yours close by? A way that isn’t the usual over-the-counter, basic, everyone-has-it case? Some of you are so creative – and I wonder what you do. Have you made something that works well for you? Do you know of a vendor who has come up with a wonderful product to solve my problem? Something truly useable? Something that works for you, especially if you don’t have a pocket? Something attractive?

Please let me hear your ideas. If you have photos, I'd love to see them. If you have shared something on your blog, or sell a creation to help me out, or if you have a suggestion for something I can make, I hope you will help me answer this question. I’ll let you know what I come up with. Promise.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

God Is Your Home

Home PhotoGod is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
John 4:24

Don’t think you are separated from God, he at the top end of a great ladder, you at the other. Dismiss any thought that God is on Venus while you are on earth. Since God is Spirit (John 4:23), he is next to you: God himself is our roof. God himself is our wall. And God himself is our foundation.

Moses knew this, “Lord,” he prayed, “you have been our home since the beginning (Psalm 90:1). What a powerful thought: God as your home. Your home is the place where you can kick off your shoes and eat pickles and crackers and not worry about what people think when they see you in your bathrobe.

Your home is familiar to you. No one has to tell you how to locate your bedroom. . .God can be equally familiar to you. With time you can learn where to go for nourishment, where to hide for protection, where to turn for guidance. Just as your earthly house is a place of refuge, so God’s house is a place of peace. God’s house has never been plundered, his walls have never been breached.

from ‘The Great House of God’
written by Max Lucado
artwork: ‘Victorian Spring ‘
artist: Susan Tolle Mcclure
available through art.com

Friday, October 16, 2009

What Color Is Autumn?

PA164166What color is Autumn?
I really can’t tell -
Sometimes it is golden,
I know it so well,
And then very suddenly
To my surprise,
It changes to auburn
In front of my eyes.
What color is nature
This late Autumn day?
There’s a whirlwind of orange
In the leaves as they play,
But no – some are brown
Or a crimson would seem,
But there in the valley,
A trace still of green.
What color October?
My dear, can’t you tell,
’Tis a rainbow of beauty
Where Autumn doth dwell.
The green and the golden,
The crimson and brown. . .
You’ll find Autumn's colors
In leaves falling down.

- Garnett Ann Schultz -

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Where Joy And Sorrow Meet

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There’s a place of quiet stillness
‘Tween the light and shadows reach
Where the hurting and the hopeless
Seek everlasting peace
Words of men and songs of angels
Whisper comfort bittersweet
Mending grief and life eternal
Where joy and sorrow meet

There is a place where hope remains
In crowns of thorns and crimson stains
And tears that fall on Jesus’ feet
Where joy and sorrow meet

There’s a place the lost surrender
And the weary will retreat
Full of grace and mercy tender
In times of unbelief
For the wounded there is healing
Strength is given to the weak
Broken hearts find love redeeming
Where joy and sorrow meet

There is a place where hope remains
In crowns of thorns and crimson stains
And tears that fall on Jesus’ feet
Where joy and sorrow meet

There’s a place of thirst and hunger
Where the roots of faith grow deep
And there is rain and rolling thunder
When the road is rough and steep
There is hope in desperation
There is victory in defeat
At the cross of restoration
Where joy and sorrow meet

There is a place where hope remains
In crowns of thorns and crimson stains
And tears that fall on Jesus’ feet
Where joy and sorrow meet


(Sung yesterday at the memorial service for a dear friend – I will miss you much, Mrs. N. – you fought hard and long and, in the end, you WON – our loss, your gain! I will see you in that place where joy and sorrow meet.)

Song: ‘Where Joy and Sorrow Meet’
Written and recorded by: Avalon

Friday, October 9, 2009

The Enchanted Forest

If you live near my home in Oregon you may think I’m going to tell you a tale of fun and children's’ play at The Enchanted Forest amusement park. I’d love to tell you all about it but that would mean I need to visit there again to see all the fun things they’ve done there since my last visit with one of my grandchildren. No, I’m going to tell you about the amazing, enchanting long weekend we spent in the forest of Eastern Oregon! There were unexpected adventures and the hoped-for prize at the end of the hunt!

My sweetheart and I, along with Joey (my puppy) headed east from our home, across the Cascade Mountain Range and farther east to the place where we met some of his family and friends who always hunt together. This spot in the eastern forest is a cherished, much-loved hunting area that has been part of his family’s life for many years. Anticipation grew as we approached the turn-off and headed up onto the mountainside. Not long afterwards we were face-to-face with family who had reserved just the perfect place for our little cabin-on-wheels. We were at the back of the camping spot, surrounded by trees and an open area that was the perfect place for Joey and I to walk. After we had settled in and eaten a simple supper we joined family around a big campfire and, oh, did we enjoy our time together. Tales were told and plans were made for the hunting expedition the next morning on opening day of hunting season. Everyone ‘turned in’ to their beds fairly early because the hunters were planning a very early start – before daybreak they planned to drive up the mountain to be at the appointed spot at first light, the time hunting season officially began.

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My sweetheart was up and out very early and Joey and I decided to snuggle down in the warm covers and sleep a bit more. Some time later I woke and peeked out the window – and what to my wondering eyes should appear? SNOW!! It was snowing!

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I was so excited that I jumped out of bed, grabbed my warm clothes and my camera and scooted outside to take photos. If the snow stopped, I wanted to have photos to show the beauty that was happening all around us.

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I didn’t need to worry that the snow would stop and melt too soon – it kept coming down.

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It snowed. . .

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And snowed. . .

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And snowed some more!

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The hunters returned and gathered around the campfire to share tales of their adventures on the mountain.

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Nearby, our nephew’s young son began to make a snowman!

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Over the next two days the snow melted a bit at times and then began again.

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I found myself singing ‘Winter Wonderland’ and ‘Let It Snow’ - ‘Oh, the weather outside is frightful but the fire is trailer’s so delightful. . .’

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Joey had never seen snow before and I wondered what he would think when he first stepped outside. He didn’t seem to be upset – in fact, he was a bit curious.

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He found that he could walk and find his way in spite of the silly stuff that tickled his tummy!

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High overhead a gorgeous mountain rock formation towered above our campsite.

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It caught my imagination and I often walked up the road to catch a different view and to capture the colors and textures and shadows with my camera.

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The snow didn’t dampen our spirits, nor did it take away the enjoyment of time together with our family and friends. It did remind us of the incredible beauty of the world around us – the world we often take for granted until we slow down a bit and really see what is right in front of us.

(Soon I will tell you the results of the hunt and share more Oregon beauty seen as we traveled home.)

Sunday, October 4, 2009

The Path Of Life

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You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Psalm 16:11

Friday, October 2, 2009

Going Away!!

Going Camping

I will be away for a few days, but I’ll be back soon! My sweetheart and I are leaving town this morning – going hunting. Well, he is going hunting. I’m going along to rest, relax, read, do a project or two and kept the stewpot stirred and ready when my hungry hunter returns from the woods each day. I haven’t gone hunting with my sweetheart since our now-grown children were very young. I didn’t plan to go this year because our son and oldest grandson were going to go and share our little cabin-on-wheels with my sweetie! A few days ago our son called to say he would not be able to go this year – and then my sweetheart asked if I would go with him. After some thought – and rearranging some plans – I decided that my little dog, Joey, and I would be able to join my sweetheart, some of his family and friends who hunt together each year. I’m excited about the chance to get away but most of all, I’m looking forward to some unplanned quiet time with a good book or two, a couple of projects that may or may not get done, my camera – but most of all with my sweetheart, the man-of-my-dreams! Oh, yes, we hope he gets a BIG deer this year!

Big Buck

Thursday, October 1, 2009

A Faire To Remember – Part 1

As promised, I have so much to share about the recent Antique Faire at Deepwood Estate. More photos than there is room to show – and more to tell than time allows. But I just don’t want to miss the chance for you to see what a wonderful group of people I met that day and the incredible things they offered for sale. Today I’ll share a few more scenes and the many treasures found that day. In a few days I will share the talents and artistry of vendors you may recognize from the world of blog.

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Remember this little darling? She belongs to the gal who had a wonderful booth filled with lovelies that were hard to leave there. I think I easily could have filled my car with her wares!

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Such sweet things displayed so well.

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And an old, iron crib that really wanted to come home with me, but didn't!

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Would you believe she made the most delicious, delightful, delectable, rich chocolate cupcakes you can imagine? And they were free!

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Nearby, a booth of vintage clothing captured my heart. There was a wedding gown with a tiny waist and a train attached to the over-jacket.

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And a mourning hat and veil from Victorian days.

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My favorites – vintage children's clothing! A precious little coat and bonnet and sweet little dresses nearby.

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There were booths filled with old linens and furniture. . .

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Kitchen gadgets of all kinds. . .

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Old Silver and china. . .

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Petticoats. . .

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And treasures galore.

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There was more – so much more! Please come back soon and meet some vendors whose work you may recognize. I can’t wait to share some special people whose artistry and talent often graces our lives in the wonderful world of blog. Oh-oh, I see something in the photos that I didn’t see up close. Wonder if the vendor still has it! Now, wouldn’t it be fun to find her and see?