My Girls

L to R - Jamie, Nyssa, Olivia, Larissa
Sweet

Tuff

Just plain goofy

Nyssa and Larissa

Jamie

I've been teaching a Bible class on Sunday mornings for the 3rd-6th grade girls. Patty is going to be taking over the class after next week for a while. I made banana-nut muffins and took some Capri Sun for my girls to enjoy after we finished the lesson this morning. They're all great girls!

Juneuary

Looks like we have a new month up here in the Pacific Northwest...Juneuary. The calander says it's June...but it feels like January! I kid you not. There is freshly fallen snow on Snoqualmie Pass. Beautiful...true...but...not in June!! It's about 50 degrees this morning and rainy. John and I have cranked the heat up and are trying to stay warm.

Can you believe it??? Brrrrrrr.....

My Visit To Beaumont

I just returned home today after visiting with mom, my older brother Danny, and my sister-in-law Beverly in Beaumont, Texas. Mom is living with them as she is unable to live my herself. She is 84 years old, and has several physical health problems that prevent her from living alone. My dad died in 1990, but mom lived alone until approximately 1 1/2 years ago when she went to live with Danny and his family.

As heartbreaking as it is to see our parents get older and more feeble, I believe it is even more so when they begin to have problems with their memory. Mom knew who I was...most of the time. She did think I was her sister, but only briefly. I do resemble one of her sisters, so I can understand the confusion. Mom has rapidly begun to forget so many things. One day she can't remember something, and the next day she will. I can only imagine how frustrating that can be for her at times.

Patience is absolutely essential when you are dealing with someone who is forgetful. Mom would frequently ask me the same questions over and over again. I would answer as if it was the first time she had asked...because to her it was the first time! She is forgetful...but not so much yet that she doesn't realize what is happening to her. Sometimes she gets frustrated...sometimes sad because she will say that she "just can't remember anything anymore".

Her sister Faye had the best answer for her. When mom didn't remember who she was, and was distressed because of it, Faye said, "That's okay. We remember who you are...and we love you!"

Mom on Sunday morning...all dressed up for church!

Mom and Me

My sister-in-law Beverly with Mom. After church we went to the park and just got outside for a little while. Beverly is such a sweet person. She took care of her own mother for years who had Alzheimers Disease.

Mom and Beverly sitting in the shade at the park.

Mom and me sitting in the shade.

Mom

Beverly, Mom and Me


And...this one is my favorite! See that little twinkle in her eye? She's still got it! I think she was really happy. She got to go to church...which she absolutely loves.

Snow???

We were in for a little surprise this morning when we woke up. There was about 3" of freshly fallen snow on the ground...and it was still coming down! The snowflakes were those big, fluffy kind that you love to get out and play in. If only the temperature had been just a couple degrees colder...that beautiful snow would have lasted much longer than a few hours. I just loved it! I know...I know...it's supposed to be spring...it's really April 20th??? Here are a few of the pictures I took. (It was still early, so they didn't turn out all that well.) Enjoy them...this may be the last snow we have this spring! The only downside was that we didn't have as many people at church this morning because of it.

Oprah's Beliefs

Like so many people, I have watched Oprah for years now on t.v. I have found her to be a very intelligent woman that has made a huge success of her life. But now, I just wonder how successful she will feel when her life on earth is over? I was very surprised to hear in Oprah's own words that she does not believe that Jesus is the only way to God...and to heaven. She has definately bought in to the new-age idea that there are many different ways to get to God. Yet, the Bible says that there is only one way...and that way is through Jesus. In John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Oprah has many other beliefs that directly oppose what the Bible teaches.

Listen to Oprah's own words for yourself. It will shock you. It's very scary to think that she has so much influence on so many people.

Mayberry Goes To Hawaii

At church our youth group (and some of the 'older' members of our congregation as well) performed a play called "Mayberry Goes To Hawaii". We also provided a dinner so our guests could come and eat and then enjoy the performance. Everybody had a great time! They're even talking about having another one sometime soon!

The Need For Balance

In the Skagit Valley Herald today there was a big article on the front page of the Religion section about a preacher named Micah Armstrong. Basically, Micah travels around to different college campuses preaching (his version of) the Bible. In a nutshell, Micah is loud, obnoxious, and seems to take great pleasure in provoking the crowd to anger.

I believe in the great commission: to go into all the world preaching the gospel of Christ to everyone. We all need to do this whenever the opportunity arises. Everyone needs to know that Christ died for them...that He was the perfect sacrifice for us all. We need a savior, and if Christ hadn't died then we would have no hope. We are all sinners and in need of a savior.

I agree that we need to warn people who are not Christians of the reality of an eternity separation from God...of a hell that is very real...of their need to accept Christ and then to repent and live their lives the way He tells us to in the Bible. But...how does a person reason that going out and yelling at people will accomplish anything? Shouldn't we be trying to reach people with things like gentleness...and respect...and love?

To go out in public and say things like women with short hair, who wear pants, or who have jobs are going to hell; or "women have two places: in front of the sink and behind the vacuum." What kind of insane person is this anyway?

In my opinion, a person like Micah Armstrong, though he may have good intentions, is doing a great deal more harm to the kingdom of God than good. He makes those of us who are truly trying to obey the Bible and live our lives as Christians look like idiots as well. Because the world tends to lump all "religious" people into one big pot. I, for one, definitely do not want to be identified with such a person as Mr. Armstrong.

Having said that...this religious extreme can swing too far the other way as well. There are groups within the church that I would not (in any way) wish to be identified with either. Those who are so adamant that they are right and...if you disagree even one degree from the way they do...then you are branded to be disfellowshipped. And anyone who dares to even talk to you should be disfellowshipped as well. The people who fall within this group are doing just as much harm to the kingdom of God as the other extreme (such as Micah Armstrong). Are these people showing gentleness...or respect...or love? I don't think do.

So...I continue to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12), and continue to strive to be the way God wants me to be. As I study the Bible, I learn how I need to change and how I need to live my life. Look to Jesus as your example...not the men who make up these two extremes of the swinging pendulum!

I just had to add this from the article about Micah Armstrong: On one of the campuses where he was preaching a student from the crowd asked:"Brother Micah, can God microwave a burrito so hot he can't eat it?"
"Chuck Norris can!" someone screeched, prompting a roar.

For Mom

This post is sort of a follow-up of my last one...I have always been very close to my mom and we are physically very far apart right now. I found this and it reminded me of her:

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my drawing on the icebox and I immediately wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and learned that little things can be the special things in life.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who do not.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I felt you kiss me good night and I felt loved and safe.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grew up.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt but it is all right to cry.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I would need to know to be a good and productive person when I grew up.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, "Thank you for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking!"

Author unknown

I love and miss you mom.

Happy 84th Birthday Mom!

Yes...another birthday. Today my mom is 84. I can't be with her because she lives in Texas now and I live in Washington state. (the picture above was taken a couple of years ago...I think it was her 82nd birthday?) Every year I would ask mom what she wanted for her birthday...and every year she said she wanted me to bake her a carrot cake! In honor of mom, here is the recipe I use. It is the BEST carrot cake I have ever tasted (a huge thank you to Ruby McCaleb, the lovely lady I got this recipe from!)

Carrot Cake
2 cups sugar
2 cups sifted plain flour
1 1/2 cups salad oil
4 eggs
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup chopped pecans (I usually use walnuts because I don't have pecans!)
3 cups grated carrots
1 teaspoon vanilla

Sift together sugar, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Add oil, eggs, and vanilla. Beat well. Add carrots and pecans. Bake in 3 greased and floured cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes.

Icing
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1 box powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
small amount milk
1/2 stick margarine
Cream all ingredients together and spread on layers. Stack and ice completely.

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Gary

Gary narrowly escapes the neighborhood "bully"! Whew...that was close!!

The four of us - Merlea, Danny, Gary, and me. Love those cowboy threads...and check out the cinderella dress I'm wearing!

Merlea, Gary, and me.

Today is my brother's birthday. He's 54...and it's so hard to think of him being that old! I'm 52, and that's a bit hard to fathom as well. I remember when we were wee ones, running around. And growing up in the 60's...going through our early 20's in the 70's. Raising our families in the 80's. I don't know what happened to the 90's! And...suddenly...we find ourselves in the elder population. Not old, mind you...but definately closer to being "old" than "young".

Anyway...Happy birthday Gary. Hope you had a wonderful day!

You little sister

Fidalgo Bay Coffee Tour/Part 3

So...here's the warehouse that holds coffee beans from all over the world. It also holds all the equipment needed to get those green-ish beans to the great tasting coffee we end up drinking!

When you order your Fidalgo Bay Coffee, it comes right off of this shelf and is shipped out daily. They are mostly wholesale right now and sell their coffee to restaurants, hotels, casinos...etc...But you can order it online or just stop by the place here in Burlington to buy some.

It looks simple from the outside, but the quality is excellent! It's a small company, but is growing and expanding quickly!
You think they would give me a job??? ha!

And...here's one of their ads on YouTube

Fidalgo Bay Coffee Tour/Part 2

This is a big roaster. They put the coffee beans in this barrel and roast them at a high temperature for about 15 (?) minutes. As you can imagine, it smells really good...Just like being in a Starbucks. Uhh...no...from now on I will say 'It smells like Fidalgo Bay Coffee'!

After the beans are roasted, they empty out into this place. There they spin around and are sorted as they cool. Usually by this time, the beans are all sorted out. But...occasionally they find a rock or something interesting like that. There's a tray beneath this area that the rock falls into and is then discarded.

This jar shows some of the interesting things that are found (though rarely) in the coffee beans. They are almost always sorted out prior to roasting!

This machine packages the coffee beans or coffee grounds into the bags for distribution. It is programed to put a pre-determined measure into the bag.

Each bag has a little valve inside the bag. This allows any gases that build up to be released. Otherwise, the bag would explode! I sure didn't know that....did you?

Fidalgo Bay Coffee Tour/Part 1

This is the Fidalgo Bay Coffee company's logo. Looks really nice, doesn't it? Our "Daytimers" group at church took a tour here in Burlington to learn a little bit more about what happens before that good coffee gets to our breakfast tables.

There were 9 of us that went on the tour. It was really interesting. Though I'm drinking more coffee lately, I haven't been a big coffee drinker in the past.

Those huge bags in the background are about 150 lbs each. They come from all over the world, and are full of coffee beans.

This is what the beans look like when they get them...kind of a green color. They have to be processed so that green-ish shell is removed. It's really light, like what is around a peanut when you open it up, but a little heavier.

A Nice Weekend

Because of the long weekend, I got to spend a little time with Angie, Aminah, Gabe, and Zoe. Elyjah stayed home with daddy (I don't have more room in my car!) We all had a good time.My grandchildren are growing up so fast!