Intelligence, patriotism, Christianity,And a firm reliance on Him,
Who has never yet forsaken this favored land,
are still competent to adjust,
In the best way,
All our present difficulty.
– Abraham Lincoln
photo compliments of art.com
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
The Rest Of The Story, Part 1
A few days ago I shared little bits of my trip to California and I gave you a sneak peek at some photos so you could see just a tiny part of the things I enjoyed while I was away. Now I want to share the rest of the story – a piece at a time because there’s too much to share all at once!
On Sunday morning my Best Friend Forever and her hubby took my sweetheart and I out to a wonderful breakfast at a favorite restaurant near their home. Shortly afterwards we took my sweetheart to the airport so he could fly home and return to work on Monday. A bit later my dear friend took me to the Alamitos Bay Marina, home to several yacht clubs, and with 1991 slips located throughout the Alamitos Bay area. It was an impressive sight to see – boats nearly everywhere we looked. I told her of my fascination with sailboats – and of my desire since childhood to have a sailboat of my own. It didn’t take long before I was enraptured by the sailing vessels that were out for the afternoon.
A lot of boats were out that day. Soon we were completely enthralled by the sight of boats of all kinds - big boats, little boats, sailboats, motor boats and jet skis.
Fancy boats. . .
Strolling along the sidewalk beside the channel, we could see many sailboats near the entrance into the marina.
As we watched they were all headed back into the channel. It seemed they were on their way home. A beautiful sight to see!
We watched. And they kept coming.
A few minutes later I stood inside a breezeway and where a quick look through a doorway reminded me of my longing for a sailboat. (Note to my sweetheart - if you are reading this: I don’t want the little one. I want the BIG one!)
It was an afternoon to remember. Together with my Best Friend Forever. In the sun - along the water - dreaming of sailboats and sailing away to places unknown. There is more to be shared at another time. Until then my sweetheart and I have gone away for another extended weekend at the lake we love on Mt. Hood. We are enjoying our trailer and our little boat - not the sailboat my heart longs for but the little boat my sweetheart enjoys for now.
If you are going away for this holiday weekend, be safe. If you are staying at home with family and friends, treasure every minute you have together!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Home Again!
After a few days away I have returned home again. Relaxed. Refreshed. Reflecting on my days away and the time spent making new memories with dear friends. Time spent with recent friends and long-ago friends - friends who are special and add so much to my life.
Recent friends who moved from here. . .
To here a few days ago.
And rocky crags.
And then there were cherished days together with my Best Friend Forever from college days long ago. She took me to places that made my heart sing. Peaceful time spent together. To share and reminisce. To care and shed a tear or two. To laugh and dream. To enjoy the world around us and plan more times like this in the future.
Time that goes too quickly but stays in my heart forever. Time that I will never forget and will always hold dear and treasure. Nothing can take it away.
There's a miracle called Friendship
That dwells within the heart,
And you don't know how it happened
Or when it got its start.
But the happiness it brings you
Always gives a special lift.
And you realize that friendship
Is God's precious gift.
-Author unknown-
Friday, June 26, 2009
My, How Time Flies!
Wow – this week has just flown by and I’ve not had a chance to share pictures of our trip to the zoo with our grandchildren and our daughter. The photos are wonderful and I can’t wait to share them with you. Here's a sneek peek at the fun we had together. This was a week of remembering dear ones who are no longer with us. Of course Father’s Day was a bittersweet day. Our children honored my sweetheart and I remembered, with a few tears, the dear father who blessed my life. And it was a day that nearly overwhelmed our three grandkids who lost their daddy just months ago. But we all, in different ways, celebrated the dads we have loved so much.
As I shared in my last post, Monday would have been our son-in-law’s thirty-fifth birthday and we wanted to do something special with his children and our daughter. So – we went to the zoo. There is so much to tell you. Like the fun we had and the animals who seemed to know we had come to visit them. Tuesday marked six months since our son-in-law died. It was the third day in a row of emotions and memories for the children and our daughter. But they made it through and are committed to doing things that he would want them to do to move forward.
Wednesday would have been my parents’ sixty-fourth wedding anniversary. Each year since Dad has been gone I have spent this special day with my dear little mother. Just the two of us. We go somewhere a bit different than usual and we do something she enjoys. And I treat her to lunch. This year we had such a good day. A day to celebrate the love my dear mother and father had for each other and the blessings of God through the years they had together. We took a beautiful bouquet of flowers to the cemetery. Flowers from my dear mother's garden, artistically arranged by her hands - just for him. If Dad could see us, he would have laughed and enjoyed my antics as I dodged the sprinklers that were watering the grass at the cemetery. I retrieved the flowers I had put there on Father's Day and the vase we needed for my dear mother's arrangement. After filling the vase with fresh water and the new flowers I waited until the sprinklers were in that certain spot again before I ran (like crazy!) across the grass and successfully placed the vase in its holder before the water came my direction again! It would have made a great video! Then we thrifted and shopped and we found a wonderful place for lunch where the food was good and the staff treated her like she was the queen of the universe. They honored (and surprised) her by upsizing her steak and then they gave her a free dessert. And they asked her to come back again.
Yesterday was a busy day of care center chaplain ministry. It was one of those days that had such special moments that remind me why I love doing what I’m doing. And make me realize again how important my visits are to the dear folks who mean so much to me.
So, what am I doing today? Putting the last things in my suitcase and heading south. To California. With my sweetheart. It’s a long story and an unexpected, happy surprise. From God’s hand to ours. We are driving a car down to our former Worship Pastor. He and his wife became good friends while they were here but he recently resigned to return to school. He is pursuing his Doctor of Theology, with hopes to teach in a Bible college or university. Maybe overseas! Tomorrow we will deliver their car - their second car they couldn’t drive down when they moved last week – and tomorrow evening we will go to a community not far from there to visit my best friend forever from college days. She and I remain very close friends. We keep our computers humming with emails back and forth. We never dreamed that this visit would happen. Sunday morning she and her husband and my sweetheart and I will go out for breakfast together before my sweetheart gets on a plane to fly home. Without me!! I am staying for a few more days to visit my dear friend. And walk on the beach. And talk. And laugh. And maybe shed a few tears together. But most of all, just enjoy being together again. An unexpected blessing. It still doesn’t seem real. When I return I’ll tell you all about it. For sure!
Monday, June 22, 2009
A Special Birthday Celebration
Today is a very special birthday – one we certainly would celebrate in a very different way if we had the chance. Our son-in-law would have been thirty-five years old today! While it will not be an easy day for our daughter and her three young children, my sweetheart and I are going to join them on an excursion of celebration. A celebration of the fun times they had with their dad and of the life he lived and enjoyed so much. We are off to the zoo today! Not just any zoo – the Oregon Zoo in Portland. Just about the time most commuters arrive at work we will board a brand new commuter train just a few miles from our daughter’s home and have the ride of our lives as we see the world around us from the comfort of the train. After a transfer to another commuter train we will arrive at the zoo not long after the animals have had their breakfast. We don’t know how long we will stay but each of us has hopes to see something special and we will try to see it all!
Our zoo is famous for its elephant breeding program. When I was still very young world-famous Packy was born and captured the hearts of us all. He will be there today and many of his children, too. We hope to see the newest baby and his mother.
I always enjoy the penguins and I know the children can’t wait to see the monkeys.
Photos courtesy of Oregon Zoo
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Psalm 27
So, with him on my side I'm fearless,
afraid of no one and nothing.
When vandal hordes ride down
ready to eat me alive,
Those bullies and toughs
fall flat on their faces.
When besieged,
I'm calm as a baby.
When all hell breaks loose,
I'm collected and cool.
I'm asking God for one thing,
only one thing:
To live with him in his house
my whole life long.
I'll contemplate his beauty;
I'll study at his feet.
That's the only quiet, secure place
in a noisy world,
The perfect getaway,
far from the buzz of traffic.
God holds me head and shoulders
above all who try to pull me down.
I'm headed for his place to offer anthems
that will raise the roof!
Already I'm singing God-songs;
I'm making music to God.
Listen, God, I'm calling at the top of my lungs:
"Be good to me! Answer me!"
When my heart whispered, "Seek God,"
my whole being replied,
"I'm seeking him!"
Don't hide from me now!
You've always been right there for me;
don't turn your back on me now.
Don't throw me out, don't abandon me;
you've always kept the door open.
My father and mother walked out and left me,
but God took me in.
Point me down your highway, God;
direct me along a well-lighted street;
show my enemies whose side you're on.
Don't throw me to the dogs,
those liars who are out to get me,
filling the air with their threats.
I'm sure now I'll see God's goodness
in the exuberant earth.
Stay with God!
Take heart. Don't quit.
I'll say it again:
Stay with God.
from The Message
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