All Saints Day

I was thinking this morning about the love for my husband of almost 38 years!  Which led me to think of the blessings of God.  Which led me to the people God has put in my life through the years.  The Saints in my life, some who have gone on and those who continually walk with me in daily life.  From the faithfulness of my grandparents...at an early age, packed us in the car (actually my uncles car, old Chevy, blue-ish if I remember correctly) and drove us to the little Baptist church on the side of the hill to my friend Susan, to my CAMPP's friends, to those I have attended church together and home Bible Studies, I think of the Bishops and the Chenots, the Schmolls, all who did not or have not led perfect lives, but by their life and words continually pointed me towards God.  To these, to numerous to mention by name, I thank my God for you and your input in my life.  The chuch of God being the hands and feet in small unknown ways living their lives in obedience to God.

Birthdays!

It was my mother in laws birthday.  79th birthday at that.  she had never had a pedicure! The girls (Jill and Lorie) and myself had discussed it several times over the spring and summer, but her birthday seemed like the perfect day to treat her!  The callous removal!  she was grossed out!  and time for waxing!  She kept telling the man it was hot, and he kept telling her it was warm!!  Needless to say the salon was full of our excitement and laughter! 

This is the men celebrating her birthday...Scott was somewhere juggling two little men...drinking DP!

when are they coming for me?

Play ball

Henry has a natural ability to throw the ball and hit a golf ball.  Who taught him to use his legs to throw the ball??

 
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1061753883898&saved

God's way

I am truly amazed once again by God's way.  Reading Luke 1 this morning, what appears to be hardship and hurt from man's perspective, God indeed blesses. Elizabeth was barren, yet she continued to be faithful.  God says she and Zachariah were blameless, not sinless, but blameless.  In their day to day life, the mundaneness of life, they had their hurts, and longings and wants and desires, but in all that they remained faithful and 'blameless'.  And our God comes, comes into their midst and blesses.  And not just with a baby, but the cousin of Jesus, the son of God, His son!  Makes me ask, am I being faithful, 'blameless' in the mundaneness of my life? and as I write this, I am reminded how my God has come, come into my midst to bless, blessing too numerous to list and I am amazed by His ways.        I Cor 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him?

More than a weekend

Inspired by the 'do it in a weekend' magazines, I documented our 'weekend'.
We've been accused of not being tree friendly in our home, seeing we've removed' several trees from our yard. This corner had two large California redwoods.  With the pool it keeps us from planting things which shed! The dilemma what to do with this corner. Enter, conversation with yourself,'going green, grow your own vegetables, farmer roots, past garden experiences,the taste of homegrown tomatoes and vegetables out my back door! One of those thots lead to planter boxes...which means Duane gets to build them!

We had the empty corner...




add at least one trip to the local Lowe's store for wood and supplies




a little hammering



more hammering


a lot more hammering, bags of planting mixture, oh and some plants...my favorite part



add zucchini plants and an already started tomato plant since we waited so late in the year



can't forget the sprinklers, how many trips to the hardware store did that take?




a few stepping stones...


lots of California sunshine and heat, and thanks to the early started tomato plant, not too long for some homegrown tomatoes! yum!!!


and zucchini...on its way


perfect



watch out...it's taking over!!!


last week, well the zucchini plant is done...zucchinied out! We are still holding out for a few more tomatoes, but its time is short...

'our' weekend project, which stretched into several weekends and actually we still haven't finished the corner,  the stepping stones don't have any gravel in between them, and planting a few more plants...but we are almost done. As the fall weather begins to cool, it really does, doesn't it? we will finally finish our weekend project. One of the benefits? Duane learned to make killer zucchini bread this summer. And we've enjoyed some tomatoes, our weekend project has been fun all summer.

Making Bread

Yep, that's right I'm making bread! With my/our new mixer! Kitchen Aid that is! finally have a kitchen aid, it only took a trip to Arizona to our friend chef Micheal to convince Duane to purchase a Kitchen Aid!Hmmmm...and only a few days before I made bread....many more loaves to come! Yum...can you just smell it baking...and taste it with a little real butter....are you drooling yet!

Henry and bubbles

Had some fun time with Henry boy this weekend. Playing cars, opening a new puzzle for him. And bubbles...soap bubbles.

June, July

Wow how time flies. Since I last posted, so much has transpired. Our son got married! Yeah! and then they moved away...not yeah :( But very excited about their new life and opportunities.

We just got back from a visit with our Arizona friends! Great memories! Sitting on the deck as lightning dances all around as Carole reads from Isaiah 40! Rainbows in the sky!
Good food! Chef Michael wowed us with his good cooking...
Laughter and talking!! Walks, golf and of course more eating...and who can forget watching 'You think you can dance'!

Friendship is an amazing gift from God. As Pastor spoke this morning about not forsaking gathering together, I reflected on our time with Mike and Carole. We have gathered together through the years, and at each stage of our life, because we have known each other before we had children, our gathering together always comes back to our God. We laugh and talk and play games, but we do 'spur one another unto love and good deeds.' And I come away from our times refreshed and renewed to keep on keeping on. I would pray each of you has at least one friend, a soul mate, a bosom friend, to spur you on, to challenge you to press toward the goal, to win the prize for which God has called us.

Summer of '69

Thought you might need a picture of the era!! note: my one store bought dress I wore everywhere!







note to daughter...I made the red short outfit...so, I really can sew....

Time is a funny thing. Seems like yesterday and yet it has been 40 years ago. I remember my grandma telling me the hard thing about old age, is your mind pictures you young and yet your body reminds you, you are not! I was jogged to 40 years ago yesterday.

I have become a recent FB person, like the rest of the world! (yes Jilly you were right) And yes, I have found someone from my childhood, actually my preadolesent and early high school years.

I have thought of her many times through my adulthood, because she was my neighborhood friend. We hung out at each others house, many sleep overs, raiding the refrigerator, sat on the street corner making fun of the people that drove by, we rode horses together. Many a summer morning we would wake before the sun and walk the dark streets, several miles to feed the horses and then ride. Though I never had my own horse, I rode everyone elses! (and who would let their daughters in this day and age walk in the early morning hours to hang with a couple old men and kids all day!!) We went camping in Yosemite together. Her mother's family having homesteaded in the Park, so we had the privilege of having our own park within the Park! Her mother told us stories of herself as she had played in the cabins that are now in the museum! We were friends...And so, as life is, we ended up finishing in different high schools, I got married and moved away and she got married and moved away. I knew what her married name was and through the years wondered where and what she was doing. One time, while visiting Santa Barbara I saw what I thought was her name on the wall for some bakery and shared the story with my teenage daughter. Confession, I've internet stalked her to see if I could find her....which leads me to FB. Though my son and his wife are moving, and they FB, and I would like to sort of keep in the know of their lives, I also, in the back of my mind thought I might be able to find her. And it happened last nite. Wow is all I can say. Which led me to the realization this morning that it has been 40 years....the year America went to the moon! and the year my friend and I sat on my bedroom floor playing solitaire, when I read to her the letter from my sort of boyfriend who had gone to Tennessee for the summer, explaining how he was going to marry me!!! LOL!!! We laughed!!!! and continued to play our card game....40 years...how it goes by and yet is another life time ago...

Disneyland!

Could it finally be?? Mickey was welcoming Jill and me to Disneyland for our birthdays!! (you too, I guess Brad!) What a great day!! A family event (minus Curtis)! The happiest place on earth!!! (Just don't ask Henry!!)

Summer time

ahhh.....the first days of summer, when a good book (gotta read before the movie comes out) and not too hot days invite a poolside lounge day....hmmmm perfect 2nd beginning to Mother's Day,(last nite my kids celebrated MD!!) MY birthday and Disneyland!!! Looks inviting....one problem...the planter boxes might be calling my attention some too!!!

Tagged Oh MY!

My daughter tagged me? I've never been tagged before...what do I do, HOW do I do this...what if I don't have 8 things....I KNOW I don't have 8 blogger friends to tag...hmmm, okay...I'll give this a try: 8 things I'm looking forward to (bad english!)

1. my massage today....I can hardly wait


2. my son's wedding next month


3. I'm going to Disneyland!!! not that it is my birthday or anybody elses


4. swimming in my pool...the water is almost warm enough


5. vacation time this summer, though I'm not sure what or where it will be


6. having only two people in our house?!!! sorry kids :)


7. planting our new planter boxes and finish planting the corner! flowers and veggies here I come!


8. the next time I get to play with my Henry boy!!

Wow I did 8! now let's see 8 things I did yesterday....hmmm, the day before was more fun, I might have to roll both of them into 'yesterday!'

1. My usual coffee in the morning, in bed, brought to me by my husband of 37 years!


2. Work....


3. while at work, encouraged, egged on, took pictures of 'The Race' (see blog below) (envision The Office and you will be close!)


4. Left work and opted for a quick pedicure...the only thing missing was the cup of coffee my girls usually bring with me ( that will teach me to go by myself!)


5. gingerly went to the store, still with tp stuck between my toes, if you see any tp in the Von's shopping center it could be mine, to pick up some chips and cheese for burgers! yum, thanks Jilly!


6. enjoyed an evening outside of burgers and conversation with my roomies!!


7. oh, dugged in the dirt (that could have been the day before, but digging in the dirt and planting flowers can be added to any things you do, whenever!)


8. laundry, 2 loads, folded and put away, washed face, jammies (sort of) turned back the sheets, surfed the tv, not a thing worth watching...even HGTV was boring...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Wow, I only cheated 1 time in that list!

8 things I wish....just begs the reply'.....world peace....'

wish upon a star...oh, yeah that is next week...dland here we come

I would lose 10 pounds

I was a better communicator

I knew how to play to piano or sing, but since, changing my voice aint gonna happen and I do have a piano...seems the likely choice...

I would spend more time w/my God who loves me and is always there for me...(why don't I?????)

I wish the weather would be like today all summer long....but then I probably wouldn't swim unless my pool was heated..

to spend a summer holiday in an English cottage (2-3 months should do!) must be read/spoken in an English accent

I wish I would write a novel or short story or memoir....

Okay, so I beat that to death, depending on if you count 'world peace' as a wish!

So, next to the last...shows I watch...how 'bout things I enjoy?!!!

1. House is a fav tv show


2. Life...so good....


3. The Mentalist along w/something else I watch that is like it...can't remember


4. HGTV/Food network...Ace of Cakes...Bobby Flay...Iron Chef...House Hunters...DIVINE DESIGN, can you believe her....but definitely don't watch Rachael Ray..ick!


5. Love a good book...anything Rosamond Pilcher wrote....except September, not good, Francine Rivers, always a good read and my latest, supsense thriller Daniel Silva
6. Chick flicks, mostly all of them...and good suspense movies in the genre of Borne....
7. I go on vacation by looking at maps...and I don't even care if they get folded correctly....I usually bend them to fit where I'm looking
8. I love old hymns, not necessarily sung by old people, but the deep meaning of life experience hymns, and good classical guitar, piano, and I love when I have the opportunity to hear my niece Sarah play her violin...(she is not your average violinist, but currently working on her PHD! she strums a nice tune!)

Wow! I managed eight! (8) Alas, my time is way gone and all that is left is to tag 8 friends...hard to do, since my friends don't blog...sooooo....

Olly Olly Oxen Free (I have no idea how you spell that!)

The Office Episode I The Race

A bet and a dare? Who should be declared the winner of this contest? Team B?!! (the front of the shirt is only permissible on the blogsite) or Team A?!!! The gauntlet was thrown, or was it a throw down w/Brandon Flay challenging the Legend??!!(Guy Fieri!) The warm-up

begins the props are set, the timer is set and they are off!!!

In the meantime, Pam I mean Bekah is enjoying her lunch!
Bob the timer is pacing keeping an ever watchful eye on the timer!

But wait...who is that on yonder hill??? Is it Team A? or Team B?!!!!



The winner is!!!! Team B!!! and what time did he run his mile? 6:17 according to the official timer! Way to go! Congrats and Cheers...to both of you!!

Way to go Team A!! Coming in second isn't so bad, unless second is last!

Cousin Visit

Texas cousins in California! Lorie and Henry and myself met up with her cousins for a short but sweet visit! A little shopping, eating and indulgence of chocolate and of course a photog session was the order of the day! What fun memories we made...love you girls!!!



What will you spend your points on!!!

what time is it anyway

the time change irritates me twice a year!! each fall and spring it takes me a week to make all my clocks show the same time!!! ugh!!

"Say your good-byes'

The saying brings a laugh at our house, but today, we say good bye to our faithful friend. The dog who would not die!! She has had a good life...eating whatever she could find, digging out of the yard and blaming the other dog, sleeping on the bed, in her younger days, laying on the hammock!! oh how she loved to stretch out beside you, checking to see if it was worth her while to come downstairs, peeking between the spindles, '...is there a cookie in it for me...' She hasn't been well for sometime and we knew this was coming. Instead of being sad, I'm thinking of all the fun we had! She was the dog with her own mind!!! The dog who did not like to get wet and use the 'dog walk' (mow curb for those of you who might not know) to walk around the yard, veer off to do her business and then back to the dog walk! Yet the snow we had in '99, she loved!!! Running back and forth, looking up into the sky, being surprised by the snow falling on her back as she scooted under the bushes! Scott sharing his cereal with her Fun memories!!! She was a dog well loved (yes, even Duane loved her!) and will sorely be missed! The Black Dog, the Stink Dog, the Stink Beast! Abbster...thanks for being our family dog!!!

In view of God's Mercy

I've been reminded this week, again, about God's incredible Mercy. This post has been rolling around trying to refine itself in my head, but this is all it has come down to, reiterated again by Pastor Eric in church this morning:

In VIEW of God's MERCY...

Love must be sincere
Cling to what is good
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
honor one another ABOVE yourselves
keep your spiritual fervor
serve the Lord
be joyful, patient, faithful, in hope, in affliction in prayer
share with God's people who are in need
practice hospitality.

How I desperately need to remind myself. I think that is why I so love Rom 12. Because, Therefore, in view of God's mercy.....the doctrine in the previous chapters are so important for foundation, but Therefore, gives me renewed gumption. It is like taking a deep pause, a refreshing breath, a motivation to press on, move ahead, keep going....not a list to keep...but a 'why wouldn't I...in view of His great Mercy,' 'you see, at the right time, when I was/am still helpless, Christ died for me...because God has poured out his love into my heart by the Holy Spirit. so I am urged to live a life worthy of the calling I have received, completely humble, and gentle, how difficult that is for me!!! so.....in view of God's mercy!!!

'Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!! How unsearchable his judgements, and his paths beyond tracing out!!! Who has know the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To HIM be the glory forever!!!

Bravery!

I have had a million thoughts rambling around my brain. We went to see my sister, Jini, who had a heart transplant last week. It was tough! Seeing her was surreal, attached to monitors and tubes, conscience and yet hard for her to communicate. But seeing her was great! We did talk some what, her muffled soft words, mostly I talked, or our mom. One thing is I remembered as girls growing up, sharing a room together and Jini reciting poems/prose to me. Mostly in the dark, trying to go to sleep. She struggled to mouth the words to ' Little Orphan Annie' and I couldn't even remember anything but the first line and the catch phrase, 'and the goblins will get you...if you don't watch out.' ....so, I came home and dug them out of the desk, from where I had put copies she made me 10 years ago!
So, Jini, this is for you and me, cuz I don't remember the words!!

Little Orphan Annie's come to our house to stay
To wash the cups and saucers, and sweep the crumbs away.
To shew the chickens off the porch, an' dust the hearth and sweep,
To make the fire and bake the bread; to earn her board and keep.

And all us other chillens, when the supper things is done.
We sit around the kitchen fire and has the mostest fun
A listenen to the witch tales that Annie tells about.

And the goblins will get you...if you don't watch out.

An' once there was a little girl, who'd always laugh and grin;
And make fun of everyone and all her blood and kin.
And once when there was company and old folks was there,
She mocked them and she shocked them
And said she didn't care.

An' just as she kicked up her heels and turned to run and hide,
There were TWO GREAT BIG BLACK THINGS a 'standin by her side.
An' they snatched her through the ceilin' for she know'd what she's about.

And the goblins will get you...if you don't watch out.

An' once there was a little boy who wouldn't say his prayers.
An' when he went to bed one night, away up stairs,
His mammy heard him holler and his daddy heard him bawl...
And when they turned the kivers down, he wasn't there at all.

The seek'd him in the rafters roof, cubby hole and press.
They seek'd him up the chimney flue and everywhere I guess.
But all they ever found was just his pants and round about.

And the goblins will get you...if you don't watch out.

And Little Orphan Annie says, when the blaze is blue,
An' the lamp wicks sputter and the wind goes 'OOOOOOOO...'
Youd' better mind your parents and your teachers fond and dear'
And cherish them's that loves you and dry the orphans tear
And help the poor and needy ones that clusters all about

Or the goblins will get YOU if you don't watch out...

Guitar Hero!

I really like this silly video game!! Goes to show you can teach this old dog a thing or two!!! Well, ooppps, how'd I miss that note...ugh!! wait, wait, WAIT!! but it sure was fun! thanks kids for hanging tuff with this old lady!!!

one might even hear some new/old familar tunes on Pandora if you pan attention...'I recognize the bass in that song...'