Holiday Snippets and Snapshots

A picture is truly better than a thousand words...

I just LOVE being on the ocean!!!

My brother loves it too....in the water, on the water...

We indulged and began to bulge but it was deliciously FUN!!

Not only were the meals in the dining room outrageously extravagant, but I discovered the joys of room service in the morning!!!

Sitting around in Sitka!! (Vic was off adventuring of course - no sitting for him!)

This little fellow was demonstrating certain bags that were handy near the elevators, just in case the rocking and rolling of the ship caused some trouble following the meals...

You never knew who you'd find on your bed when you came to your room at night!!

GLACIER

I am publishing this little missive "after the fact" as my time at the computer elapsed before I had a chance to push "publish". That sounds frightfully official, but there you have it. My little life experiences are shared here in my privately public world.

Day 4

We stopped off in Juneau yesterday – I was guided down long ramps to land and we promptly found the library where we had free internet access. It was slow and I wasn’t able to get onto my blog or do e-mail but of course, FACEBOOK was working. Thank goodness for that! I was able to read and write messages and communicate with the dear daughter. She’s busy working working working at that cherry business. And thankfully she is keeping the dogs company when she is home. Apparently they are besides themselves with excitement when she arrives in their rather bleak and lonely day. I think Dad is also showing up once a day to give them a break.

Juneau was also fun for shopping and I quickly purchased a few souvenirs for my people. I think the other ports we will arrive at will only be accessed by little boats and that isn’t really my style unfortunately. I am hoping to view some whales and animals at some point so I guess that means I will have to spend time looking at the shorelines and waves!

We are presently cruising up to the glacier and here I am tucked into my bed. Everyone else is roving the ship looking for a good view but I’m waiting for 2:00 when we actually arrive and then I will go and risk the elements and take a peek and a picture.

The weather is a little bleak – rainy and cloudy but we are able to see the snowy mountain peaks and the glacier. I’ve already seen it twice so it’s not imperative that I am up there for all of these hours. Elsie and I have devised a sling for my leg to help me drain my fat ankle!! Hahaha! We are so inventive and she is unbelievably kind and helpful. I have forgotten what it was like to have such a great helper in my life! A seriously great helper. She is having her own struggles with health and emotions but she overcomes quite diligently and I am so proud of her. Her kindness and devotion to me is astounding. Yesterday she was ridiculously worried that I had been kidnapped or something when I didn’t come back to the ship right away but went shopping on my own instead. I must learn to communicate better!

This morning I sat and made cards for my Sunday school girls at the pool deck. It was fun being creative and visiting with people as they came by. I’ve had this on on my to=do list for awhile and now there’s time and the grace to do it! I’ve also started working my way through my chronological bible. It’s easier here for some reason.

Yesterday we attended a church service which I loved. I love hearing the word of God read out loud and I love hymns. So it was a good combination with a great little teaching on Abraham asking God for mercy on Sodom and on the passage about asking and receiving. Vic was annoyed by what he perceived the guy was saying and I missed that part – ha!

THE BIG SHIP!

Day 2 of the cruise

The adventure has truly begun. With ups and downs and adjustments and luxury. So much ocean and sky and FOOD! So many things to do = people to see and places to go. Well, you can only go so far or you will land in the water, but there are plenty of places to investigate on the ship. It is a smaller one than last time – including our room and bathroom. The bathroom was proving absolutely disastrous and most dangerous until this afternoon when Elsie came up with an ingenious idea to become part of the solution to my lack of reachable safety bars. She sits in a chair facing the sink and I am able to use the back of that chair to hoist myself onto the potty. She sits and brushes her teeth and we have cute little conversations as business is attended to. I see the back of her head and she sees the front of her face. And all is well.

We were vaulted out of the depths of near despair with this new arrangement and she is more than happy to accompany me whenever the need arises – even in the middle of the night. Hard to believe I'm even sharing this information in this not completely private place but it is life as it happens. My dear sister possesses a very great servants heart and I am reminded of the fun that we are able to share as we do life together. It is a blessing to be reunited with her in this way and Vic and Mom are paired off on the complete opposite end of the ship. We meet at meals and other events.

Today the chef did a live cooking show where we learned to make Steak Dianne and Thai Chicken Soup. In the afternoon Elsie and I attended a watercolor class where I had to instruct the instructor how to teach.

He was a very sweet old gentleman who was a much better painter than teacher but Elsie and I thoroughly enjoyed painting little masterpieces as the ship rocked and plunged through the waves. Mom has to hold onto Vic tightly when they walk so she doesn’t rock and plunge straight off the deck!! We are trusting God to keep her upright and to keep me in my chair.

Unfortunately I have not been able to connect to the internet to communicate with the dear daughter without paying exorbitant fees so we are waiting to dock at Juneau tomorrow where this will be done.

FaMily HOlidaY

There was a woman in this little GPS with an Australian accent who helped us get around Seattle. She was endlessly patient and got us to the Space Needle, Pike's Market and even to a hotel at long last.

Do we look confused? At least we are together!! Going on a cruise!!!

I have got about the best family I could have asked for. With all of us and our varied and sundry challenges we sometimes look like the gong show - deafness, blindness, paralysis, depression... but we are overcomers!!

Overcomers extraordinaire!!!!!!

Yesterday my brother, mom, sister and I all packed our bags and headed to Seattle. Beautiful scenery, fun conversations, First Ladies Detective Agency, and lots of laughs. We drove right into the center of the city and enjoyed the festive atmosphere and amazing architecture. Vic and I shot up the space needle and got a birds eye view of the city and ocean - little sail boats, city skyline and pretty much everything else that you see when you are halfway into the sky so close to the clouds!

After a yummy dinner at a Sports Pub we walked along behind a huge marching band that filled the atmosphere with joyous rhythm, songs and oompahpah!! We were behind the Tubas section!! A very fun place to be on a warm summer night.

We are a remarkably cheerful little bunch - even when the beautiful scenery turns into several hours of hotel hunting for the verrrrrrry elusive handicap washroom. The reservation I had made didn't work out so our hunt began. It is hard on me when I have to drag a bunch of people into my personal challenges when everyone is exhausted and it is nearing midnight. But laughter and good cheer prevailed - songs were sung, prayers were prayed and after countless stops and hours of driving we hit the jackpot and happily settled into a room with one bed and a massive bathroom.

In a city called Fife.

That has a restaurant called "Poodle Dog: Good Food" with a lit up giant poodle.

Mom and Vic were raising their arms in praise and we were doing the happy praise you Jesus dance in our hearts as our bodies relaxed into that rather glorious horizontal position. Us three ladies shared the one King Bed quite easily, and Vic happily crashed on a mattress on the floor. He has been a King among men. Loving, Patient, Cheerful, Helpful and King beyond measure.

We slept soundly and are getting ready for the next leg of this already memorable adventure. I've gotta say, traveling with this bunch is most gratifying in the sense that I see the treasures that God has put so close to me for this life journey. We are family. We are in it for the long haul and they won't leave me because my life is hard not only on me but on everyone who comes very close to me.

When I was lamenting the fact that my problem was causing them all hours of hardship at the end of a very long exhausting day, my mom firmly and lovingly let me know that she was glad that we could be together in my difficulties and that they could experience it with me.

We are family.

God with skin on.

I think they all passed a test right along with me last night.

To God be the Glory.

My prayer for this journey is for protection, of course, but that we could be a blessing wherever we go and spread the sweet fragrance of Jesus who is everything we need.

Homemade Holidays

This week two of my closest friends went off on a holiday without me to Bellingham with someone else. It was a mission of mercy, but I felt rather abandoned nonetheless in my already rather fragile lonely state. However, I decided quickly that I'd just better make the best of things and adopt two of their sons and have my own holiday with them!

A rather marvelous time was enjoyed by all three of us and it just goes to show me that if I'll move in the right direction of a good attitude, God will overcompensate for whatever ways I have messed up and bring redemption. No pity parties for this young lady!!

Carpe Diem!

Our homemade holiday started with an outing to the movie theatre for 3D Toy Story which was FUNNY and OH SO GOOD!!! I just love a happy ending and I especially love popcorn and both were enjoyed on that rainy afternoon. We came home for a late supper that I had prepared earlier - mmmm delicious casserole!! This bolstered our strength for the playing of an intense round of the farming game. Of course I took the more conservative route and lost but we had many good laughs about cows bursting. tractors falling over cliffs and other ridiculous farming antics.

We had our weekly beach day even though we were greatly diminished in number. It turned out to be one of the best beach days yet!!

So much sunshine, a perfect little beach with grass for me and sand for the boys, a delicious lunch of fresh peas from the beautiful daughter's garden, watermelon and chubby sandwiches washed down with water.

There were lots of small children to watch, a friend to visit and all sorts of rivers and pools created in the sand.

That morning involved a little detour doing important banking to make sure the daughter gets to Bible School this fall and the purchase of a new washer and dryer as ours has been sounding like a machine gun. It finally stopped working with a full load of soapy clothes and towels that never got rinsed or spun. It is still sitting there full of dirty water. Ha!! But this too shall pass and my new purchases will be installed on Saturday. I will be exceedingly excited to get rid of the piles of dirty laundry that are oozing out of the cupboard and piling up on the laundry sink. How blessed am I to have a washing machine!?! Incredibly blessed indeed.

Back to holidays - enough of errands pushing in on the fun stuff!! Another delicious meal (salmon rice and peas) was enjoyed in the evening followed by the movie LIFE about monkeys and such beasties. I've gotta insert here that these young men really know how to enjoy food and let you know that they just LOVE what you've prepared. It actually makes cooking almost fun when it is received with such fanfare and enthusiasm. I went to bed with a sunburn and I even looked and felt like I had been somewhere exotic with my bright red nose. Should have applied coconut handcream and it would have transported me to Hawaii!

Today was a fun home day involving card creations, desert building (my second trifle in a week - looked so pretty and tasted exquisite with the irish cream I soaked the cookies in =)

We drank iced tea out on the patio, read our bibles, had a water fight, my young hero planted a raspberry bush for me, I played with my flowers and the boys went wild with the small pruned apples.

Jumping on the trampoline at dusk and smacking small apples with tennis racquets much to the delight of Moose who was in "ball heaven" with all these small round apples flying in all directions.

For supper company arrived - from ages one to eighty four - and a delicious backyard BBQ was enjoyed under the big umbrella. The littlest one amused us all eating his huge chunks of watermelon with great gusto. Those big gummy smiles just melted our hearts!

So glad I chose a play party instead of a pity party.

Now I lay me down to sleep... and I pray that I truly will, because last night's sleep didn't start till 5 am! Catch up time...

More Bright

In the midst of...

I've been experiencing God with skin on!

I asked for that on Saturday morning and He's been showing up in a glorious parade of incredible people (with skin on).

After that musical weekend of love and so many friend connections there's been more.

There's been sunshine and a Monday of watercolor painting with fantastic friends - a mom and daughter team with me and my bean.

Smoothies were sipped while poppies and pansies were painted

Laughter and learning, such sweet reunion.

Carrot ginger soup created and supper on the patio.

The daughter whipping up perogies and sausages while gingerale juice was sipped through straws.

Woke to another sunshiney day - it's summertime - for real!

Phonecall from a far away favorite - someone's getting married!!

The littles have grown up and are venturing into new worlds.

Finding life partners and moving on and out.

Sigh. In a very good way.

An afternoon rendevous with another lovely

Getting healthy while catching up on so many stories.

God getting bigger and getting all the glory.

Where would we be without He?

This dear lovely surprising me again with unbelievable gifts of generosity.

That's my God loving me through His earthly Body.

Reminding me of His extravagant goodness.

And this is just the beginning of a glorious summer.

He told me to be expectant and I am.

Micah 7:7-8

Not just for me, but I'm taking it for the beautiful daughter too.

If she's too weak to hold onto hope, I'll hold on for her.

There's a great light coming for her too.

Just down the road

Sometimes the bright spots on the journey just exceed expectation...

Today I hit some of those bright spots - the dark place was illuminated and I was surrounded by love AND even joy.

Quite a bit of it really.

I'm not as forgotten as I believed I was and there is still so much life to touch and experience.

It was about friendship and time together.

In the midst of hardship remembering, out loud, the goodness of God.

Delighting in truth together.

Sitting outside, eating pancakes in a carport, laughing and praying.

Pulling out the rarely used oil and anointing, in faith.

Whatever remnants that could be gathered together in these shadowlands.

The already here and the not yet.

The "not yet" has been feeling bigger than the "already here" so courage must be summoned.

The bright spot turned into a beautiful sunny day.

A music fest, just down the road. For real - up here in my neck of the woods.

Full of friends both new and old.

Sitting under the blue sky on a mountainside, surrounded by pines and people and music.

Glory be!

I was surprised by joy.

And hugs.

And laughter.

Friends on one side, my kids on the other.

Tucked into love with music swirling around.

Overhead the pines swayed and the leaves spun in the breezes

While the people danced and the children played.

While the known around me shakes and changes, the Father in His great kindness knows how to minister comfort.

So the passage given earlier, written below, played out in my day.

I lay down and kiss the Son.

Ammunition

When the roller coaster heads into a long dark stretch I grab the Word, and look at the gem that popped out at me this morning!!

But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord;

I will wait for the God of my salvation.

My God WILL hear me.

Do not rejoice over me O my enemy.

Though I fall I will rise;

Though I dwell in darkness,

THE LORD IS A LIGHT FOR ME.

Micah 7:7-8

I need to write this one down and meditate until it's memorized!! Ammunition against the dark thoughts. "...the Lord is a light for me!"

Fireworks in Tiny Pajamas

Kinda funny.

After saying to my friends tonight that I didn't care about seeing the fireworks, what did I do?

I went outside IN MY TINY PAJAMAS to watch the fireworks!

All by myself.

The dogs were freaked out and both hid out in my bedroom while I ventured out.

Good thing I wasn't relying on them for my protection. It appears they both want me to protect them tonight so I'm not making Moose sleep in the living room by himself quite yet.

I am a merciful master.

I didn't think I cared about the fireworks - been there, done that... but when I heard the booming sound echoing up the valley I couldn't resist and I went out into the windy dark night with little drops of rain trickling spattering on me and caught the brightest and the best of the colors and lights.

What a lovely thing - to celebrate the birthdate of this marvelous country with a day off to enjoy our freedom in any way we please.

I continue to pray that God will truly keep our land "glorious and free".

I had a lovely little BBQ with some of the family. The son's girlfriend moved into town so we're already seeing less of them. Many fun activities in town to entertain so I must graciously release. Grateful for the ones I can gather around the table!! We had to eat inside AGAIN due to the strangely cool and unpredictable weather we've had all spring and now into summer. Oma and Opa seem to be extremely willing and able to come up for BBQ's. Their life has become so skinny as so many of their friends have passed on, their energy is waning and Oma has lost so much of her freedom without being able to drive and read. So, I'm trying to provide occasions for togetherness and entertainment. In my own season of loneliness I am able to minister to someone else's!

I've been struggling again on that roller coaster - feeling so isolated and lonely even though I know my friends are only a phone call away. My thoughts are my worst enemy and I must consciously grab a hold of them and redirect them if I am to prevent an emotional crash.

Too much time alone and too much time to think.

It seems my friends are all so busy at a time of life when I have entered what feels like a void.

Interesting, descriptive term - void.

It was brought to my attention last night when I attended a little contemplative prayer evening at someone's home. There were just four of us there and the meditation was very powerful.

Ending with communion. The meditation was from a book written by Richard Rohr called

"Everything Belongs" and here are some excerpts:

" Grace will lead us into fears and voids, and grace will fill us, if we are willing to stay in the void. We mustn't engineer an answer too quickly. To stay in God's hands, to trust, means that to a certain degree I have to stop taking a hold of things myself . I have to hold instead to a certain degree of uncertainty, fear and tension. This takes patience and grace."

and this quote is absolutely lovely and reassuring:

"God looks at the places in us that are trying to say 'yes'."

So I will keep trying to say yes to God - yes to the void, if that is what will help me to love Him more and a resounding yes to the grace that will come and fill me!