Candie...she is as sweet as her name sounds

When the mention of chocolate doesn’t sound good you know you are really sick. I came home from my wonderful mother/son weekend sick. Nothing my husband Larry could fix for me or do for me helped. I coughed and sputtered, I mumbled and grumbled, I drank hot tea until I couldn’t take another sip of any flavor

Before I left on my weekend adventure we had a new mattress delivered with fifteen inches of snuggly, comforting, softness. But I can’t sleep lying down because the cough begins immediately so I have been sitting up on the sofa trying to sleep night after night. I know I’m whining, I’m sick; I’m allowed.

After four days of being sick my friend Candie arrived to relieve Larry of the cooking duties and cheer me up. She brought a wonderful beef and vegetable Gypsy soup she said would make me feel better--and it did, and there was enough for several days. In the many bags she arrived with were whole grain rolls, vegetables and chips with salsa dip, fresh fruit, strawberry shortcake, cereal bars, and blueberry muffins for breakfast. Candie had thought of everything. The best part was seeing her smiling face.

Candie never does anything small, plain, simple, or unadorned. Candie embellishes life as she does her scrapbook pages and art. In addition to the food, she came with a special treasure bag of goodies to cheer me up. First item in the bag was a horse bridle. How cool is that? I smiled and laughed for the first time in days. Next there were fabric samples, vintage beads in little glass vials with cork stoppers, ribbons, miniature books, wooden boxes, cowboy charms, vintage pearls in the original package, metal alphabet tiles, and retro inspired tissue paper.

The next day I did feel a little better and today better still. I’m going to need that Gypsy soup recipe, but the best medicine was a friend who not only took the time to make dinner but embellish it with the delivery of such thoughtful gifts.

I am lucky to have my life embellished with Candie as a friend.

Mothers Day Came Early

April 27th, 28th, 29th

On Friday evening I departed for the Keystone Ferry headed to Port Townsend with my son Michael. We were going to join his friends Kevin, Bret, and Cameron and their moms for the inaugural mother/son weekend.

Originally we were going to Leavenworth but the pass had been closed due to snow and wasn’t scheduled to be open for another two weeks so the boys changed plans. You know what they say about the best laid plans, there’s always room to change them again.

We had to wait for a second ferry crossing because the first was full. Time to stretch our legs and get into the peanut butter cookies I had packed in the trunk. We listened to music and talked.

We arrived at 8:30 PM about 15 miles out of Port Townsend on highway 101. Dinner was almost ready and I was so hungry. Kevin’s mom had a family emergency and Cameron’s mom had to work and Cameron couldn’t join us until Saturday morning. So it was Bret, his mom Mimi, Kevin, Michael, and me to laugh and talk around a table of good food, spaghetti with our choice of red sauce or Alfredo sauce, foccacia bread, salad, a glass of wine, and a wide assortment of goodies we all brought to share.

The Condo we were in could sleep 8 so we had more than enough room. Mimi cooked eggs and bacon for everyone in the morning and Bret brought Starbucks coffee to share and took charge of brewing the perfect pot. Cameron was going to arrive at 12:30 PM so we timed our trip into town to meet him. Well, we arrived early enough to buy more coffee.

Bret works for www.hearmusic.com which is part of Starbucks. He loves his job and I see him moving up in Starbucks management. He is passionate about music so he is in a job that provides a living, allows him access to more music than you can ever imagine, and loves living in Seattle.

Kevin works for a major cruise line. He trains personnel to drive the busses in Alaska that take passengers on the land tours. While he enjoys what he is doing and has great perks, he is trained in the arts and that is where his passion is. Expect him to take his management skills to the art world one day.

Cameron was one Michael’s first friends I met when we moved to Washington. He has worked in real estate, selling and leasing and now works for Wells Fargo. Cam is probably the one who will wind up the real estate mogul since he seems to understand the ins and outs of both worlds and likes to dabble in both. I will be able to say I knew him when.

Michael works at St. Joseph’s in a management position running the Lifeline Medic Alert program. He also has set up his massage practice and has resumed business in his free time. Michael is still exploring his options as to what he wants to do in the future but living life as fully as he can in the present. This weekend he is off to Boston for a conference.

We walked through the charming little town of old brick and cement buildings designed with ten and twelve foot ceilings and the little shops that now hold boutique gifts, toys, kitchen wares, wine, art, and ice cream. The rain was gone and even though there was a breeze that made us glad we had jackets on, the sun felt really wonderful. We found a wonderful little pub to have lunch and before checking out all the other shops and heading back to our motel in Port Townsend. Several of us took a nap and the rest found the hot tub. Mimi knew a Thai restaurant and the food was wonderful but not as wonderful as watching Michael and his friends laughing and having a great time.

We went back to the hotel and Mimi and the boys played games and I had to leave the group as I was a little under the weather. I was still quite sick the next morning and sent everyone off to breakfast to a little place that was serving stuffed French toast. Everyone split up and Michael picked me up at the motel and we headed home.

So I missed out of some of the activities and I really missed not meeting the other mothers. I’m already looking forward to next year and where we are going. Thanks to Bret, Cam, Kevin, and Michael for such a thoughtful way to honor your mothers.

Happy Birthday Mary

I won’t tell her age but today, April 27th, is my sister Mary’s birthday. I was born in 1951 and she is my older sister, but that is all I can say. Okay she graduated in the 60’s.

She didn’t want to celebrate her birthday, but her friends all reminded her that my mom is a great cook and makes wonderful cakes. So she changed her mind and will have a small celebration.

I thought about what to get her for a gift and found some vintage hand embroidered cotton napkins and a matching table cloth. Cute, but I felt I needed to do something more--more personal, something fun, something she wouldn’t expect. Mary loves the 50’s music so I decided to make a little art piece to celebrate poodle skirts, 50’s music, family, and her love of gardening. Framed and ready to send, I will put this little framed art piece in the mail on Monday as a belated gift.

Until then…Happy Birthday Mary

An Act of True Friendship

Everyone talks about friendship and love. We say call me if you need something. I'm always here for you. A lot of the time we know no one will actually ask and if they did we might have to examine what we would really be willing to do for someone else.

The picture is two young women both sophomores in high school, one named Michelle on the right and her friend Chelsey on the left. Chelsey is undergoing cancer treatment and her friends wanted to show her how much the care and love her so they also shaved their heads so she wouldn't feel so alone or different. Chelsey didn't ask her friends to shave their heads; her friends did this because they are real friends. Of the thirty kids who shaved their heads, only three were girls.

This isn't just another one of those internet stories you read about and then check out on snopes.com to see if it's really real, Michelle and Chelsey are Ferndale High students. I know Michelle and her parents and told them what an incredible act of love and support Michelle has shown.

Art Linkletter always said kids say and do the most amazing things and it's true because they act from their hearts.

Please remember Chelsey in your prayers as she undergoes eight months of cancer treatment and her friends who will need to be mentally strong to support her in the bad days and rough times.

Christmas again

My younger son Michael flew to California to get a used car after his was totaled in an accident. It was a quick turnaround but he did have time to see his brother Jim. Jim and his girlfriend Heather had a hard time getting their Christmas presents boxed and mailed and several didn’t make it into the mail system. Michael hand delivered the goodies and it was like Christmas allover again. We have DVD’s of the sopranos to watch and speaking of watches Larry has a new one on his wrist. There were two beautiful candle holders with bears on one and horses on the other that will be just perfect as we switch rooms around in the house and have a new lodge/western dinning room where the sunroom was.

We were standing outside admiring Michael’s new car with the trunk open while this gift unwrapping was going on. I was told to close my eyes for the last gift. I couldn’t imagine what it was. I love surprises and secretly want to know what they are, but don’t tell me or it would ruin the surprise. The drum roll please…a saddle. How cool was this, a real full size saddle with stirrups. This was one of Heather’s old saddles and she was giving it to me. This is a gift that I will always treasure as one of my most prized possessions.

Now I need a saddle rack so I have been searching for plans to build one. I’ve got an old canteen I can hang off the saddle horn and maybe I can find some chaps. I have buffalo horns that Larry bought for me a couple of years ago and bobbed wire made into a wreath.

When my kids were little it seemed that one present always got misplaced and not found until several hours after all the other presents had been opened. It was always a great joy for that child to have one more gift when they thought everything had already been opened.

Well maybe this should be a regular Christmas tradition. To get a gift after all the tissue and colorful papers have been discarded and the boxes put away.

My heart can’t find enough words to say thank you for all the gifts and thoughts behind the gifts. These were gifts given in thoughtfulness and love and with glee.

Kelly's 22nd birthday

Our daughter Kelly is going to turn twenty-two this week. I was in Las Vegas last year for her 21st birthday and this year Larry and I will both be with her.

She’s grown up but she will always be my baby.

22 reasons why I love you:

You are a gift from God
I love you just because you are you
You are not just my daughter you are my friend
I love you even though you said your grandmother is your best friend
Your beauty is not just skin deep
You are kind to others
You love your family
You take care of your friends
You are funny
You are honest
I love your laugh
I love you when you sing
I love you when you dance

You are stronger than you think
You are smart
You are not afraid of a challenge
You love to cook like your grandmother
You stand up for what you believe in
You love me even when I’m not being a good mom
I love that you like to watch chick flicks with me
I love you for giving me a hug in the grocery store and not caring that your friends might see you
I love your smile and your love of life

Jim's new puppy

Lean On Me

Dorothea Christine Breshears June 30, 1924 - March 6, 2007

Lean on Me. Those words seem so simple and easy. Who do you lean on when everyone around you is also hurting? My uncle Jack passed away six months ago. My dad his brother died a month ago and now my aunt Dot passed away this morning from heart failure.

My cousins have lost both their parents in six months. I can’t even imagine their pain. I worry about my mother being the eldest member of both sides of the family. My mom has a sister Elma and sister-in-law Juanita but both have Alzheimer’s so my mom has no one else from her generation to lean on.

I haven’t even begun to heal from the loss of my dad. I feel broken and when people say “God doesn’t give you any more than you can handle,” I hope this is it, no more, I’m done, I can’t take another problem or hurt.

Our church has a once a month refuge service on Wednesday night. It is an evening to worship, rejoice, reflect, and take communion. So tonight I will lay it all before God in his house and take comfort again within his embrace.

I know my tears like the rain will still fall tomorrow, and gray skies like my soul will not fade quickly but hope like spring blossoms will fill my heart with memories.


Lean On Me – Bill Withers

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain

We all have sorrow

But if we are wise

We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me, when you're not strong

And I'll be your friend

I'll help you carry on

For it won't be long

'Til I'm gonna need

Somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride

If I have things you need to borrow

For no one can fill those of your needs

That you don't let show

Lean on me, when you're not strong

And I'll be your friend

I'll help you carry on

For it won't be long

'Til I'm gonna need

Somebody to lean on

If there is a load you have to bear

That you can't carry

I'm right up the road

I'll share your load

If you just call me

So just call on me brother, when you need a hand

We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you'd understand

We all need somebody to lean on

Lean on me when you're not strong

And I'll be your friend

I'll help you carry on

For it won't be long

Till I'm gonna need

Somebody to lean on

Lean on me...

Candie

My friend Candie is artistic, creative, full of energy, funny, and a wonderful friend with a true heart. She loves to scrapbook and loves to play with paper and embellishments. She works at Treasury of Memories enough to support her scrapbook habit with enough free time to play in her studio and have family time.

She taught scrapbooking for a MOPS program through church for four years and I convinced her (it didn’t take much) to teach scrapbooking to the girls at GRADS.

Candie came in the first day and introduced herself to the girls and told them a little bit about herself. In addition to their monthly scrapbook pages she brought bonus pages they could take home on work on. The girls previously had paid $3.00 a month for supplies to do their pages and while that may seem like peanuts to a lot of people who think nothing of buying the best paper and embellishments, these girls struggle with budgets that do not include frivolous expenditures when they are teenage mothers raising babies. Candie is supplying the paper and embellishments with a little help from her friends at Treasury of Memories and other scrapbookers who donate supplies. The Ladies of Harley which we both belong to have also agreed to a small budget for supplies.

Candie is teaching the girls to journal and try new techniques. Tearing paper, using sandpaper, and ink pads might seem second hand to most scrapbookers, but these girls are just learning. The world of scrapbook and altered art is crossing over and techniques are interchangeable for either art form. So with Candie’s patient coaxing, and my pushing the limits with altered art projects, I am sure the girls will grow in their art. Hopefully, some of them will continue after they leave school to record their lives and their baby’s life in pictures and words.

Shopping for scrapbooking or mixed media art projects finds us both wandering the aisles of Value Village, Goodwill, Salvation Army, and an array of local thrift stores. I’m introducing Candie to the hardware store and I’m sure her husband, Sky, will soon have to hide his toolbox or Candie will wipe it out. Dollar bins, holiday closeouts, everything has possibilities.

We sort of look for things we can surprise the other with as little gifts to use in our art. I gave her oversized fake money and Candie is determined to teach me to scrapbook so she gave me a Harley scrapbook.

Candie taught an altered paint can class to a group of women at her church last Saturday. What she really taught them was that there are no rules and then she put mounds of supplies in front of them, showed them the can she was working on, and then they all played. Candie told them, “I’m not trying to stretch the boundaries; I’m trying to kick the fence over.”

Valentine - Making Memories

The very first Valentines Day that Larry and I knew each other was spent emailing. Larry and I had just become email friends through my sister Mary and his sister-in-law Jeannie. He had a date and I was at church doing childcare so parents could have an evening out. Fast forward a year and our first valentines as a married couple was spent at the Majestic Inn in Anacortes. Larry booked a room, I had a long red satin dress to surprise him, he escorted me down a sweeping stairway that curved from the second floor to the lobby and we had a magnificent five course dinner.

Year two as a married couple was memorable because Larry brought home red roses, chocolates, flowers, and Kentucky Fried Chicken for dinner. Our daughter Kelly laughed and thought it was great for her but knew it wasn’t what I was expecting. Quiet dinners at home or dinner out, it really doesn’t matter as long as we are happy.

This year Larry gave me an option for dinner at the country club or poker at the Harley shop. I chose poker, even though I don’t actually play, I knew some our friends would be there, and it would be a fun memory. Dinner was pizza, poppers, and beef taquitos. There was wine and roses for the ladies. We watched our friends play poker and cheered them on. We did a little shopping and lots of laughing.

Rick surprised Angie when they arrived with a bear dressed in Harley leathers and holding a balloon. Dave and Rita stopped at Costco for their annual valentine’s hotdog before arriving for poker night. Others celebrated with chocolates, presents, or dinner before arriving. It was definitely a different valentines and I enjoyed it.

I sent the kids little mini teddy bear finger puppets and candy canes. They know mom always has to do something a little different. My brother Jerry and my sister-in-law Laura celebrated their thirty-second wedding anniversary. I am sure he whipped up a gourmet dinner complimented with the perfect wine. My oldest son Jim took his dinner break when his girlfriend Heather had a break in classes so they could have time together.

My two dozen long stemmed roses arrived a day early and I had two really sweet romantic cards from my husband. I surprised Larry with a card and dark chocolate covered dried cherries which are now his favorite.

It’s not all about spending lots of money or fancy restaurants to savor memories of special days. It’s the time spent together making the memories.

Love at First Sight

Preparing for my fathers funeral, my mother finally revealed the story of how she met my dad and when asked why she hadn’t told us before she said “you never asked.”

Growing up in rural Missouri there wasn’t much teenagers and young adults could do or places to go to meet friends other than church Mom said there was one little place where you could visit with friends and listen to music, but no alcohol.

My mom went with a date that night who introduced her to another couple he knew. Mom said that she knew when she met the other young man that this was the person meant for her. It seems the other young man felt the same way about my mom and the two couple’s switched partners and my parents were always together from that night on. They were married about eight months later on December 24th, 1938.

The longest my parents were ever apart was when my dad took a carpenters job in California for several months and then he returned and moved our whole family to California to live. Mom occasionally took me to Missouri with her to visit family but that was only for a few weeks but most of the time we drove non stop with mom and dad trading off with the driving duties.

They never spoke an angry word to each other, never argued in front of us; they never cussed or called anyone names, setting an example to live by. They were perfect partners with mom taking care of the home and day to day family life and dad working to provide a home. They fished on the banks of lakes and rivers together, camping and cooking over an open fire and traveling in their fifth-wheel trailer. Mom quilted and dad built the quilt frames. Dad would work on a project and need help and call out ma and mom was right there to provide another hand.

It was love at first sight and they loved each other with all their hearts.

My father and grandfather with me and Mr. Daisy May the cat

My Dad

My Dad

I wrote this poem for my dad in 2005 for his birthday.  On November 16th, 2006 my dad, Harry O’Neal turned ninety years old and on December 24th 2006, he celebrated sixty-eight years of marriage to my mother, Clella Jewel and on January 18th, 2007 my father passed away.

My dad is the best dad in the whole world
Yes he is, because he’s my dad
He taught me how to fish and roller skate
How to use a hammer and power tools
He loved me enough to let me learn for myself
Then picked me up when I stumbled or fell
He led by example day in and day out
He knew the impact of his actions
Even when I couldn’t see or didn’t want to see
He loved me when I made a wrong choice
The same as when I made the right decision
When I called and said daddy I need help
He always knew just what to do
Never hesitated said I’ll see what I can do
My dad could fix the car, the dishwasher,
Leaky sprinklers, electric cords,
Read Bruce’s loose tooth all over again
And again and again
If the grandchildren said please grandpa
He was a carpenter by trade
Following in his saviors steps
He doesn’t just talk the talk
He walks the walk
Everyday, seven days a week, 365 days a year
My dad, my example

Happy trails to you until we meet again

January 23rd

It wouldn’t matter what the weather was today, it just isn’t a good day.  As long as I keep busy greeting those who have come for the service or comforting family members I am okay.  It keeps me from thinking and crying.

My oldest son arrived and he had a chance to spend a few moments before they closed the casket and the service began.  My aunt Dot arrived very shaken having only lost her husband, my fathers brother months before.  

The service was a celebration of my fathers love for my mother, family, and his belief in God, Jesus Christ, and the word of God.  

All nine of the grandchildren participated in honoring their grandfather with six acting as pallbearers and three escorting the casket.  I watched these grown men and women with hearts breaking lay their gloves and boutonnieres on the casket and say their final farewell.  

My brother led my mother away and my sister and I laid a flower on the casket at the graveside.

My dad was a true fan of western novels and cowboy movies.  I grew up with Roy Rodgers and Gene Autry as my heroes.  Saturday night my parents took us to the drive-in movies with popcorn from home and candy from Woolworth’s to watch the latest western.  

Happy trails daddy.

Some trails are happy ones, Others are blue. It's the way you ride the trail that counts, Here's a happy one for you. Happy trails to you until we meet again. Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then. Who cares about the clouds when we're together? Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather. Happy trails to you 'till we meet again.

Goodnight daddy

January 22nd

My husband, son, daughter and my nieces and nephews have all arrived.  The arrangements have been made and tomorrow we will bury my father.  The viewing made us face the reality of our loss.  

My daughter kept telling me that granddad needed his glasses.  They forgot to put his glasses on him and she knew he needed them.

The family left that evening with some resting a hand on the coffin and spending a quiet moment saying good-bye while others placed a farewell kiss on my fathers forehead.  

My father would playfully tease the grandkids and sometimes give them a noogie and occasionally they would give him one back.  My daughter gave her grandfather one last noogie and a kiss goodbye as she left.  

Goodnight daddy.

Harry O'Neal (H.O.) November 16, 1916 - January 18th, 2007

January 18th, 2007

My father hasn’t eaten in two days or had anything to drink.  It is only a matter of hours that we have left with him.  My brother Jerry and sister-in-law Laura are on their way from Arkansas, but I am afraid there isn’t enough time.

Pastor Ken came to pray with my parents and read passages from from my fathers well worn bible.  

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green [1] pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest [2] my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Psalm 19
To the leader. A Psalm of David.1The heavens are telling the glory of God;   and the firmament* proclaims his handiwork. 2Day to day pours forth speech,   and night to night declares knowledge. 3There is no speech, nor are there words;   their voice is not heard; 4yet their voice* goes out through all the earth,   and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens* he has set a tent for the sun, 5which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,   and like a strong man runs its course with joy. 6Its rising is from the end of the heavens,   and its circuit to the end of them;   and nothing is hidden from its heat.
7The law of the Lord is perfect,   reviving the soul;the decrees of the Lord are sure,   making wise the simple; 8the precepts of the Lord are right,   rejoicing the heart;the commandment of the Lord is clear,   enlightening the eyes; 9the fear of the Lord is pure,   enduring for ever;the ordinances of the Lord are true   and righteous altogether. 10More to be desired are they than gold,   even much fine gold;sweeter also than honey,   and drippings of the honeycomb.
11Moreover by them is your servant warned;   in keeping them there is great reward. 12But who can detect their errors?   Clear me from hidden faults. 13Keep back your servant also from the insolent;*   do not let them have dominion over me.Then I shall be blameless,   and innocent of great transgression.
14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart   be acceptable to you,   O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
When the last word was read from psalm 19 my father took two small breaths at 6:26 PM and left this world and his pain behind.

"Oh Lord, please don't let me do this anymore"

January 17th, 2007

Tonight two of the pastors both named Ray from Bethel Baptist Church came to visit my parents and offer their support and prayers.  The worship pastor sang the following songs to my father:  Precious Memories, Where He Leads Me I Will go, I come to the Garden, and Amazing Grace.  He said this was one of the hardest things he had ever done.  My father made a few noises and we knew that he heard the sweet sounds of the hymns.

My dad cries out in his sleep and it is almost too much to for me to bear listening to his pain and being unable to do anything for him and yet my dad endures day after day finding strength in God.  Last night he cried out in his sleep “oh Lord, please don’t let me do this anymore.”  

I cry out to God please don’t let him hurt any more.

Keeping Watch

January 15th

I arrived in Oakland and my sister picked me up at the airport and took me to my parent’s home. My dad looks worse than I thought he would. My mom has been trying to prepare me for this moment but how do you really prepare someone to see their parent dying.

I put on a smile and tried to sound happy and went in to give my dad a hug and kiss. He knew who I was and tried to talk me into getting him out of his hospital bed. They man who could do anything while I was growing up was now confined to a bed and could barely move.

He sleeps most of the time so visiting with him is done minutes at a time. I kiss him on the forehead and smooth his hair back then slip quietly out of the room so that he can rest. A tear slips down my face as reality finally sinks in.

My mother sits in a rocking chair keeping watch; ready to jump up at any little sound my dad makes to care for him.

Only Days Left

January 14th, 2007

My aunt and uncles have all passed away except two aunts who both have Alzheimer’s.  My parents are both the eldest in their families.  My father has been fighting prostate cancer for sixteen years.  Now it appears the cancer is winning and we are in the final weeks and days.

I don’t want to lose my dad and I know he will always be with me in my heart but I don’t want my dad to suffer any more.  He has endured more pain from his back and shoulder injuries, kidneys, frostbite as a child, and prostate cancer than most people could tolerate.  To listen to him moan in his sleep from the pain and it is almost more than I can bear and yet my mom says he hums or sings in his sleep the Old Rugged Cross.  Even in the worst of times and pain, God brings him comfort.

It’s a long dark night waiting for a phone call telling me to come home.  Wondering how I am going to tell my children that their grandfather only has hours to live.  How will I comfort my niece and nephews in their grief?  How will my mother live without my dad?  How will I comfort my brother and sister?

When my sister died I was married but had no one for support to lean on or share my grief.  I had no church family to share my sorrow with.  I have a loving husband now and in those first few hours when I laid down in our bed, he held me and let me cling to him for support.  I have a church now and my small group will pray for my family.  My friends will also pray for my family and offer kind words because that is who they are.

I believe in God and have since I was seven years old and accepted Jesus Christ as my savior.  But believing and practicing are different.  God watched over me and held me when my sister Suzie died but I didn’t understand it.  God held me when I walked through the valley of death after a car accident, but again I didn’t understand.  Now I know and find comfort that God will hold me, surround me, carry me, heal my hurt, and make me stronger in my faith as I struggle with my breaking heart in these last days with my father.

I keep remembering the words to a beautiful song by Natalie Grant, Held and it brings me comfort, if only for a short time before the tears come again.

Two months is too little. They let him go. They had no sudden healing. To think that providence would Take a child from his mother while she prays Is appalling. Who told us we'd be rescued? What has changed and why should we be saved from nightmares? We're asking why this happens To us who have died to live? It's unfair. Chorus: This is what it means to be held. How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life And you survive. This is what it is to be loved. And to know that the promise was When everything fell we'd be held. This hand is bitterness. We want to taste it, let the hatred know our sorrow. The wise hands opens slowly to lilies of the valley and tomorrow. (Chorus) This is what it means to be held. How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life And you survive. This is what it is to be loved. And to know that the promise was When everything fell we'd be held. Bridge: If hope is born of suffering. If this is only the beginning. Can we not wait for one hour watching for our Savior? (Chorus) This is what it means to be held. How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life And you survive. This is what it is to be loved.

A Gift to Give

My husband Larry gave me a truly wonderful and thoughtful gift for Christmas. He took twelve pictures of my various art projects and had calendars and cards made so that I could then give them as gifts to family and friends.

I am giving each of the ladies in my small group a box of cards as a gift and attached to the top of each box is a tag to be used as a bookmark. I selected the photos, papers, and embellishments for each tag/bookmark to represent something special about that person and a poem on the back side of the tag.

So to Kim, Pam, Sandy, Doreen, and Fran I thank you for a wonderful year and the new friendships we have made. May we all continue to grow in our faith, fellowship, and bible study.

Doreen

He will yet
fill your
mouth with
laughter and
your lips
with
shouting.

Job 8:21

Kim

Your heart is
full of fertile
seeds, waiting
to sprout.
Morihei Ueshiba

Pam

The butterfly
counts not
months but
moments, and
has time
enough.”

Rabindranath Tagore

Sandy

Alone we
can do so
little;
together
we
can do so
much.

Helen Keller

Fran

You really
can change
the world if
you care
enough.

Marion Wright Edelman

Mini Family Quilts

Skidboot the Dog

A heart-warming segment from Texas Country Reporter, with Bob Phillips. For more information visit www.TexasCountryReporter.com or www.skidboot.com

Altered: Father, How Wonderful You Are

I returned Friday night from a trip to California to visit my parents.  My father is ninety years old and has prostate cancer that he has been battling for fifteen years.  He sleeps more than he is awake and part of this is due to the pain medications he takes.  My mom has always laughed about my dad singing in his sleep but she told me now he only sings or hums a few bars of his favorite hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross.” One afternoon I was curled up reading a book in the living room and he was asleep in his recliner chair when he began to hum.  This was the first time I had ever heard my dad do this and I found it comforting to listen to him.  His faith in God has never wavered even in his failing health.

On Sunday morning I attended church with my mother.  Dr. Fermin Whittaker who is the Executive Director CA Southern Baptist Convention was the guest speaker.  He told us we are not a burden to God.  We are imperfect, we must confess, we must believe in Jesus as God’s son, and we will be saved and we will find peace.  He said sometimes we are so busy being Christians, for us to be a Christian.  During the sermon I became annoyed because someone behind me kept whispering and I was having a hard time concentrating on the message.  I turned around but the whispers continued.  Then I listened to what they were saying behind me.  Someone was translating the sermon from English to Spanish so the other person could hear the message.  I realized I was that Christian--too busy listening to the message and being annoyed to be a good Christian to others in the same service.  I asked God to forgive me and just let me concentrate harder to hear a message that obviously I was meant to hear.  Dr. Whittaker had a way of lacing personal stories into his message and at one point asked us all to say, “Amen.”  We did.  He said we sounded like a group of Episcopalians and asked us to say Amen again like Southern Baptists.  We did much better the second time.  I called my husband Larry after church to tell him about our Amen’s and he laughed because he was raised in the Episcopal Church.  At the end of the service they asked everyone to join hands and sing Better Together.  

I was telling my dad about an issue I have on forgiveness that I am working on; one God requires of me in order to be fully forgiven myself.  My dad listened and gave me some advice.  Then my dad smiled at me and said, “you’ll be in mine.”  My dad is dying from cancer and he is praying for me.  I can’t explain how this made me feel.  When my sister Sharron was dying she also prayed for me to return to God and church.  The power of knowing someone is praying for you is almost overwhelming and comforting at the same time.

My mom is my best friend and using her as a role model my daughter has begun calling me her best friend.  My mother is my father’s caregiver.  Anything he needs or wants, she takes care of.  She also does all the small things around the house to keep it running--fixing a leaky sprinkler head, tightening a lose pipe, and for bigger things she calls my nephew and he takes care of it or he finds one of his friends who can do it.  Her outlet is gardening since she can no longer quilt do to arthritis.  One afternoon my dad was sitting in his wheelchair and I watched my mom lovingly stroke the back of his head, running her fingers through his hair.   This is the kind of love everyone looks for and longs to find.  After almost sixty-eight years my mom and dad are still in love.  

My dad likes to tell us family stories.  He was living in California, working and saving enough money to return to Oklahoma and move us all out west to the Promised Land with warmer weather and a better life for his family.  At night my dad would stop by the side of the road and read his bible from the light of his truck headlights before going to sleep.  His road map for life came from the bible.  


The Old Rugged Cross

On a hill far away, stood an old rugged cross, The emblem of suff'ring and shame; And I love that old cross where the dearest and best For a world of lost sinners was slain. (Chorus) So I'll cherish the rugged cross, Till my trophies at last I lay down' I will cling to the old rugged cross, And exchange it some day for a crown. Oh, that old rugged cross so despised by the world Has a wondrous attraction for me; For the dear Lamb of God left his glory above, To bear it to dark Calvary. (Chorus) In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, A wondrous beauty I see; For 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died, To pardon and sanctify me. (Chorus) To the old rugged cross I will ever be true, Its shame and reproach gladly bear; Then he'll call me some day to my home far away, Where his glory forever I'll share.
Chorus)

Altered: Blank Canvas

My husband Larry has been on a sabbatical for the last year.  During this time we slept in late in the mornings, read the paper and discussed the news at our leisure, alternated between watching the today show and CCN, shared a pot of coffee, and just spent time together.  With no children in the house, this was the first time it has just been the two of us in eight years of marriage.  Well, if you don’t count the cat child, better known as Ally the queen, and Deuce the dog we are all alone.

Now Larry has gone back to work and I am all alone.  I began thinking about what I would do with this blank canvas of time several months ago.  When I am painting or working on a collage I cover up my canvas or blank page with paint or glue colored papers just to get rid of the plain white unimaginative and boring starting point.  I guess I could cover myself with paint; get a little messy with the glue, paper, and embellishments but it would be a little hard to explain when I needed to leave the house.  The artistic part of my brain has taken a break making this transition time even harder for me.  

Patience.  I keep telling myself this over and over.  Maybe I just need a short rest from everything to regroup and recharge.  I can’t sleep at night but I can’t work.  I watch a favorite craft show on television during the morning but it doesn’t inspire me.  I wander into and out of craft and scrapbook stores but, again, I am not inspired.

Three weeks after starting this blog entry I finally have an idea:  I am making mini memory quilts for my sister Sharron’s four children, Bryon, Chuck, David, and Kim.  They are all grown with babies of their own and one with a grandchild.  I have old photos of my parents and each of my siblings when we were small children that I have transferred to fabric.  I am using luxurious textured upholstery fabrics in reds, dark gray wool, ribbons, netting, embellishments, eyelets, and twisted wire to hang them.  I will machine quilt them since I didn’t inherit my mothers ability to quilt by hand.  I just wanted my nephews and niece to have a special handmade memento just for them.  

Altered - making a difference in a child's life and your own

My friend Art is the Whatcom County, WA, Toys for Tots coordinator. He is a former marine, a husband, father, grandfather, a Christian, a community leader, a business man, property owner, and drives a big four wheel drive truck when he is not on his Harley Davidson Softail motorcycle.  He wears many different hats but is always looking for ways to help others in need

There is just over two months until Christmas day.  Some of you may have been shopping for bargains since the day after Christmas last year and some of you haven’t even thought about it, waiting until the day after Thanksgiving this year for those 5:00 AM sales.

I shopped for months when my children were little to fulfill their most wanted items on pages of written notes and bent pages in the toy catalogs.  I never gave them everything they wanted but tried to select what I thought would bring them the most joy on Christmas morning along with some more practical items like the surprise “Christmas Eve pajamas” they didn’t know they were going to get, new shirts, pants, and books.

I taught my children early that not everyone was as fortunate as they were.  That some children would wake up on Christmas not even to find a decorated tree, much less presents, or a turkey to feast on for dinner.  We collected and bought stuffed animals and toys to donate to local charities knowing we were making a small difference in someone’s life.  

The first Christmas after I filed for divorce I worried about how I would buy presents for my children when I didn’t own a car and barely had enough money to get by.  I was fortunate because my family stood by me.  My sister filled my pantry and freezer with food, bought enough wood to burn in my woodstove all winter, my brother gave me money to buy gifts and extras, and my parents provided food, the loan of their car, and all of them supported and loved me.  My children and I were lucky.

When we give to others we are making a difference in their lives and the lives of everyone they know.  Helping a young family or a single parent provide a toy for their child will affect their outlook on life.  Someone cared about them.  Someday maybe they will be in a position to help someone else in need.  The child that is to young to understand and only has tears on Christmas day because they didn’t experience the joy they have seen and heard on television, school, and even church, will be changed by a simple toy.  The child that is old enough to understand all the advertising understands that their friends will have a Christmas they can only imagine, will be changed with a small gift.  A child without hope is a world without joy..

I cannot image being a mother and not having the means to buy even a small gift for my child at Christmas.  I have seen written letters by young mothers giving thanks for clothing and toys at Christmas because without the generosity of others they would have had nothing under their tree.  I have then seen the same young mothers earn money to help support other charities in their community because they have learned the value of kindness.  

Art recently told a group of friends that Toys for Tots is rated #65 out of all charities in the USA.  They give back $ .98 for every dollar that they take in to provide toys to children in need.  The money and toys collected in each county stays in that county.  Please make a toy donation, a cash donation, encourage your family and friends to make a donation, contact your local Toys for Tots and ask how you can help make a difference.  You can also make a donation by mailing a check to Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, P.O. Box 1947, Quantico, VA 22134, or go online to make a donation:  www.toysfortots.org with a credit card, e-check, PayPal, or sell on line EBay as a mission fish and mark Toys for Tots to benefit as the nonprofit.

When we give to others we make a difference in our own lives.  The joy of knowing that a child will wake up Christmas morning with a smile on his or her face.  A mother or father won’t have a tear in their eyes of feeling like they failed their child.  

Please don’t stop at Christmas to help in your community.  You can donate good clean clothing, good coats you have out-grown or don’t use, knit a sweater or hat, make a baby blanket, visit your local volunteer center to ask how you can make a difference all year long.

As part of the season of giving our Mt. Baker Chapter Harley Owners Group had their 15th annual toy run to Stafholt in Blaine to deliver toys to the Blaine Chamber of Commerce Giving Tree Program.  We had a sheriff’s escort throughout the back roads of the county with Santa and Mrs. Claus leading thirty-one bikes and one toy wagon loaded with presents.  The residents were happy to see Santa as he personally greeted each one and gave them a small stuffed animal.  There was hot soup, coffee, and cookies for our group when we arrived and each one of us was presented a t-shirt for our generosity.  

Our church began the “Better Together” 40 days of community by Rick Warren this weekend.  I can’t think of a better choice to study as a church to bring us together and remind us as Christians to reach out to our community, especially with the holiday season just ahead of us and so many people in need.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

SHE HAD THE FAITH OF A MUSTARD SEED
AND SHE WALKED THE VALLEY OF DEATH
BUT SHE DID NOT GO ALONE
WHEN SHE WAS WEAK AND STUMBLED
SHE WAS CARRIED WITH LOVING ARMS
NOW SHE WILL CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN
FREE FROM THE SICKNESS AND PAIN
HAND IN HAND WITH HER SAVIOR
TO MEET HER FATHER

SHARRON
SUE
(Suzie Q)
BRESHEARS
HILL
08-21-1942 / 04-28-1993
Inflammatory breast cancer

Commitment: 60 months

My daughter Kelly has grown up and matured so much in the last year since she went away to finish her college education.  She researched and found an apartment.  Found a roommate, lost a roommate, found a new one.  She transferred jobs, found a second job, found a boyfriend, lost a boyfriend, found a new job, quit an old job.  She hit all the highs and all the lows and she survived, wiser, stronger, and smarter.

Today she bought her first new car, a 2007 black Mazda 3 iTouring model.  Her car that she drove all through high school, and Larry and I gave to her after she completed community college, has developed a chronic wallet problem.  One fix after another, so it was time to make a change.  She loves her little white car and will feel sad when she finally sells it, but the excitement she feels right now driving her new baby will overshadow any loss she feels in letting go of her old set of wheels.

She researched, planned, shopped, test drove, and researched some more to make sure she knew all about every car and the options within her price range before she made a decision.  

With school expenses, rent, food, gasoline prices that are ever climbing, and insurance she will really have to budget now.  But she is driven to prove to everyone that she can be successful in school, in her job, in her life--and Larry and I know she will succeed.

This isn’t just another step in her life, it’s a giant leap.  

Lavender Wands

On Monday morning I had the chance to participate at the GRADS teen parent classroom with the students, not as an art instructor but as a student just like them. My friend Cathy came to teach a class in making lavender wands.

Cathy and Ron arrived with two huge bundles of lavender and ribbons. Cathy is an accomplished watercolorist, potter, and a number of other arts and crafts. She taught in the Seattle schools and has the patience and understanding that make her such a wonderful teacher.

The girls were excited to begin selecting their pieces of lavender and learn how to weave the ribbon. We laughed and talked and some of us, including me, realized we cannot talk and weave without making mistakes. We had to unwind our ribbons and start over if we miscounted; but that was part of the learning experience. A few of the girls were finished before others like me had even gotten started.

The lavender scent became so strong from handling it at one point we had to turn on the fan to blow the air inside the classroom outside. By the end of the class I think the scent had quieted and calmed us. It was a fun way to spend a morning and a new experience

Cathy let me take home the extra lavender because once cut it must be used right away because it starts to dry out. That night I wove several more wands to give to my family members as gifts.

Jim...on his own

My son Jim graduated from the police academy in December.  Since that time he has been with training officers on the street learning about each division, north and south.
About every four weeks he was assigned a new training officer who would impart their wisdom and knowledge to my son for his benefit to make him the best police officer he can be and an example to his community.

It’s been a journey and he has loved every minute of it.  My mother remembers Jim at about age four changing his mind from wanting to drive a big garbage truck to being a police officer.  He wrote an email to family and friends several months ago, saying that even on his worst day it was still a good day because he is doing what he loves, what he always wanted to do.

Several weeks ago when “on his own” sunk in, I realized it hadn’t seemed so scary to have a son as a police officer because I knew he was always with a trained officer.  I took a deep breath, asked God to watch over him, and did what I always do, told him that I was proud of him and that he would pass the test like all the other testing in the academy and since.

Well the time has come.  Four hours of an oral exam and four days of being shadowed on the job by another officer and now he is on his own.

Jim is working graveyard on his beat so I knew he wouldn’t call until the four days were over and he had some sleep.  At 10:00 AM Saturday September 9th, 2006 he called.  He is now a full fledged officer.  Someday maybe he will be one of those training officers helping a rookie.

As a mom I would like to thank the following:  the officers who selected my son for the police academy, the staff at the academy who made sure he completed his schooling, the training officers who worked with him on the street, his friends he met in the academy who have become a part of his life, and anyone else who has helped him fulfill his dream job.

Sacramento, CA is lucky to have a dedicated officer who is there to serve and protect.  

altered trading card - Stop in the name of love

Michael's graduation

Today our son Michael graduated today from the Human Services Program at Western Washington University with his Bachelor of Arts degree.

He wasn’t sure he wanted to walk down the aisle in a cap and gown but the look on my face, a little pleading, and he gave in.  He did admit several weeks ago that he was glad I had pushed him to go through the ceremony but told me I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone or remind him that he said this.  Shhh……  When he arrived today and found all his classmates from his department and his professors his smile became wider as he greeted and hugged everyone he knew.

My husband Larry is the former Dean of Education at WWU and after serving in another capacity as an administrator for WWU he has returned as a full professor.  So to surprise Michael he arranged to walk in his cap and gown with the other professors to honor Michael and his achievements.  Michael and Larry have a special bond.  Michael was saying two and three syllable words almost as soon as he got past the basic momma and no words as a toddler.  So Michael and Larry have these great discussions using the English language to its fullest.   Written class papers and term papers were always interesting when Michael asked Larry to read his work, give his opinion, and then the discussions began.  

Michael worked part time like a lot of students while going to school.  He worried about what life would be like after school was over, or least until he goes back to work on his masters.  He thinks about what life will bring him and what he can give back to others.  The impact he makes on others is the friendship he offers to all he meets, his commitment to helping others in need, and his need to reach out and make the world a better place.

As the proud mom I took lots of pictures to send to family and friends who could not be with us as we celebrated another milestone in Michael’s life journey.  

Vegas...the three day buffet

I know the slogan is “what goes on in Vegas stays in Vegas,” but it was so much fun I can’t not write about it.

We went on our short vacation with Cis and Mike who made all the plans and were going to be our personal tour guides.

Flying in to Vegas at night with all the twinkling lights looks a little like Disney World for adults x 1000.  We picked up our rental car and were off to New York New York the hotel.  Kelly arrived straight from her job at Dan Marino’s Restaurant inside Hooters Hotel and Casino with four larger servings of tomato bisque soup.  The last meal we had was a drive through McDonalds and the peanuts you get on the airplane, although Mike talked his way into several airplane rows worth of peanuts.

Tuesday we had breakfast in the NY NY then strolled through the MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay sightseeing and marveling at the opulence of the hotels and casinos.  Kelly joined us for a buffet lunch at the Paris hotel and casino which had too many choices and not enough time to sample all the wonderful food.  Nap time for the boys and pool side lounging for Cis and me in the warm summer sun.  Rested, sunned, and a change of clothes found us heading off to the Fremont Street Experience with overhead graphics and sound system to enhance the show.  We arrived just in time to watch the first show and then wandered off to the Golden Gate for their famous shrimp cocktails and a drink where Bob the piano man played favorites from the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s.  When he found out we were actually listening to him play he took our request for Jerry Lee Lewis’s Great Balls of Fire and made that baby grand piano work for him and by the time we left the crowd was taking notice of the music. We walked out just in time to see a second overhead light show with an entirely different theme.  We drove back to Hooters Hotel and Casino where Kelly’s friend Tony and his band were playing in the martini bar.  We had a nightcap listening to the music and were off to our rooms for sleep.  

Wednesday morning Cis and Mike delivered hot coffee and my favorite mocha to our room with pastries for breakfast.  The phrase of the day was “not so much” but of course that didn’t hold true.  Cis had found a really fun adventure called “The Drive” for Mike and Larry to try out.  For the cost of $10.00 each person you can drive your choice of several cars including corvettes and Hummers.  Larry and Mike both decided to drive a Hummer once around the track and a corvette for two laps.  Mike, Cis and I sat in the back of the Hummer with Larry driving and an instructor up front to give directions on what not to do.  What looked like a small little mound standing there while we were waiting to get into the vehicle didn’t look quite the same in the vehicle on a 60% slope hanging by your seatbelt.  To look out the Hummer window you were sure we were going to tip over and the instructor just kept saying, “You’re doing fine,” to Larry.  Up a small incline that threw you back against your seat, a stop at the top that left you wondering if we were floating in air, and then we went down, this time hanging forward in our seatbelts that kept us from falling forward.  A quick fast trip around the off road lap and then it was Mike’s turn at the wheel and we got to experience it all over again.  The guys then drove their choice of corvettes for two laps around the race course style speedway.  This has to be the best $10.00 spent in Vegas and all because Cis had found this wonderful little excursion behind the Sahara Hotel.  We drove to Caesars Palace and wandered through the casino shops and watched the Forum Shops pool show before heading off to meet Kelly at the Bellagio Hotel for their buffet lunch.  I thought yesterday’s feast was more than I could image but today’s banquet was even better;  Remember that phrase of the day “not so much?” Well it flew out the door.  Cis and Mike have friends in Henderson and we were invited for drinks and hors dourves.   We finished off the evening watching the Les Follies Bergere at the Tropicana Hotel.  

Cis and Mike delivered coffee and goodies again Thursday morning and the news that our country was on a terror alert.  We repacked our bags to eliminate all those things we might normally carry in a bag but now were restricted, like lotion, over the counter medicines, etc.  The back up plan if we couldn’t make our plane tonight was to stay with Kelly, or Cis and Mike’s friends, or get a room at Hooters if they had any available.  Since our plane didn’t leave until 10:30 PM, we headed off to lunch.  You guessed it:  A buffet feast at the Rio which was good but after the Bellagio any place would have a hard time measuring up.   We strolled through the Wynn and then watched the dolphins at the Mirage where we also toured the secret gardens and pulled up chairs to relax in the shade and warmth with a cold drink.  We stopped for an appetizer before heading off to the airport and the unknown wait.  Surprisingly we spent no more time than usual getting our tickets but were told we had an hour wait to get through security.  A nice gentleman at security who was trying to hurry the lines along put us in the first class line and we bypassed the wait.  I also beep when I go through security because I won’t take off my jewelry and the rivets on my jeans always set it off.  No problem.  Then I saw my carry on bag was going to be searched.  I had a magazine, a protein bar, and Larry’s medicine in the bag; what could be wrong?  Well seems like I forget to look under my magazine and I would have tossed the travel size bottle of hand sanitizer that has been in the bag for a year.  I apologized as they dumped the bottle and we were on our way.

Buffet (buh-FAY) .  This is the word of the trip.  Las Vegas itself is a buffet where tourists help themselves to food and fun.   And the motto seems to be, “more is better.”

We won....2007 WA State HOG Rally

In 2001 my husband Larry and I attended Daytona Bike Week in Florida.  I had never seen so many motorcycles in one place before and wished out loud that someday Bellingham would have an event that would fill the town with Harleys.  I knew our little town would never host 500,000 bikes but I still dreamed of how to make it all come true.

In 2005 we had a couple of hundred bikes registered for the inaugural Fred Pazaski ride and the museum motorcycle show called “the good, the bad, and the custom.”  It was fun but I felt it was just a warm up.

Mike and Dick plotted, planned, and made a bid in 2005 for the 2006 state rally. We didn’t get it, but were encouraged to return this year and put in a proposal for the 2007 state rally.  

Mike our director and Larry representing Harley-Davidson of Bellingham gave their best shot at this years rally planning session.

The drum roll……

Mt. Baker Chapter will proudly host the 2007 WA State HOG rally.  The date and details will follow.  It’s going to be a busy year for our members and so much fun.  Everyone has ideas and enthusiasm.  It’s going to be a party to remember.

Inside thoughts

Who is in my life?
By choice
By design
By circumstance
What can I live with?
And who can I live without
Family and friends
Those who hang on
Those who tempt me
I will remove
Those who cause me pain
I will forget
Those who hate me
I must forgive



Life is short
To be angry and sad
To worry and fret
To cry and wonder why



I want to love those
I hold in my heart
To nurture and care for
Savor the moments
In between visits
To remember the laughter
Until we meet again
Happy Trails to you


The babies are grown
The memories remain
The laugh and they joke
Some more than others
Some still fitting in
Some squeezing in
Some hanging on
Watching my babies
Grown with children of their own
The 5th generation has arrived
It seems like yesterday
The 1st in my doll cradle
My 1st baby playing mommy
With the same doll cradle


We watched those faded photos
Black and white, sepia tone
Kodachrome
A video slide show
Still shots from our past
Some shocked by photos
A baby they never knew
Tears for the daughter, sister, mother
Taken from us
Like to many other relatives
Laughter at our hairdos
The clothes we thought were cool
We strolled through our family history
Our hearts breaking
Our hearts singing
All together we watched

Altered card for www.anysoldier.com

Altered card for www.anysoldier.com

Altered card for www.anysoldier.com

Altered card for www.anysoldier.com

Altered card for www.anysoldier.com

Altered card for www.anysoldier.com

89 snowballs and 90 cupcakes

July 5th the journey begins at 4:00 AM for my trip to CA.  Early by my usual standard of an 8:30 AM wake-up.  No coffee this morning until I get to SeaTac for a three hour layover.  I walked the airport terminals, each one of them until about twenty minutes before time to board, knowing I would be tired and ready to sleep on the flight.

My brother Jerry arrived in CA just yesterday and here he was at the Oakland airport to pick me up and take me home.  Now I have several places I call home, Concord Ca where my parents live, Missouri where I was born, and Ferndale where I live with my husband Larry.  Home is where the heart is and that is where my loved ones live.  So I hit the ground running and ready to help with the final preparations for my dad’s 90th birthday party and a surprise 89th birthday celebration for my mom, and a sort of mini reunion with family that hadn’t been together for too long a time.  

Friday we were on the road to buy art supplies, food, drinks, and paper products, pick up the snow cone machine, popcorn popper machine, and the cotton candy machine.  I love to shop, so away we went to Home Goods, Michael’s, Wal-Mart, the produce stand, Costco, Wal-Mart again, and Joann’s.  Lack of water and too much warm weather left me napping during dinner and missing southern fried chicken, homemade rolls, baked beans, garden fresh cucumbers, and not one but two homemade desserts.  I did however wake up in time to visit with the first of the relatives who had arrived, Jerry, Sue, Bryon, Debbie, Justin, and Kim.  

8:30 AM, and all is quiet, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse would dare come into Mary’s domain and ruin this party.  Mary left at 6:30 AM to buy everything for the party that we didn’t get yesterday leaving me alone with the Miele coffee maker.  My husband Larry yearns for one of these machines for his very own and I thought about him every minute as I sat sipping my white chocolate, peppermint, mocha.  Everyone else began to arrive and we set up tables, chairs, peeled, sliced, minced, and chopped vegetables wondering where the veggie matic was.  We took a Fuze break in the afternoon laughing at the sayings under our bottle caps.  I think “Fuze it up” was the favorite of the day. Chuck, Jack, and David arrived today.

Let the party begin.  Everyone worked hard so that mom and dad would have a day to remember.  Kim and I painted everyone’s hand and had them press their palm print onto cardstock for an art project that I will finish at home and bring back in the fall.  Chuck, Bryon, David, Jerry, and Jerry all helped out with the barbeque and food stations, plus anything that needed doing.  Sue and Laura help with the food and Mary went non stop.  Debbie was manning the snow cone machine, the popcorn machine, and the cotton candy machine with volunteers to help in the rush.  We served two cakes made with 89 Snowballs for mom and 90 chocolate cupcakes for dad.  Jerry and Laura made it possible for Mary to have a video made for mom and dad.  It was an  emotional rollercoaster watching pictures of loved ones no longer with us and then laugh at the clothes and the hairdos we once thought were cool.  We each took home our own copy of the video and as a special surprise, Mary had cd’s made featuring the music on the video.  After everyone left we finished the evening off with mochas and bocce ball.  The new big kids, Jim, Dave, Kim, Chuck, Bryon, and Debbie went out for a few more laughs.  I don’t know how they could have had any more fun except they left the old folks home.  

Sunday was a day of honor and respect for my parents as we all showed up for church. Next was a photo shoot on the front porch with what must have been eight or nine cameras and two video cameras all taking basically the same pictures just to make sure we got the best shot.  Just as we were finishing up, Kelly arrived to surprise her grandparents.  Mom just kept looking at Kelly not quite believing it was her and then they just hugged each other and didn’t let go.   Mary had a special surprise for breakfast:  Zip Lock Omelets:  Have guests write their name on a quart size freezer bag with permanent marker.  Crack 2 eggs (large or extra-large) into the bag (not more than 2) and shake to combine them.  Put out a variety of ingredients such as:  cheese, hams, onion, green pepper, tomato, hash browns, salsa, etc.  Each guest adds prepared ingredients of their choice to their bag and shakes.  Make sure to get the air out of the bag and zip it up.  Place the bag in rolling, boiling water for exactly 13 minutes.  You can usually cook 6 to 8 omelets in a large pot.  For more, make another pot of boiling water.  Open the bags and the omelets will roll out easily. Be prepared for everyone to be amazed.  Of course there were left over cupcakes and snowballs to complement the omelets and fruit.  What better way to end the evening than with mochas and bocce ball.  By now some of the players are getting very competitive and have formed teams, named themselves, and had hats so that everyone knew who they were.  Mary had those glow stick necklaces and bracelets for those who wanted a little bling in the night.  

Mary, Laura, Jerry, Chuck, Jack, and I did a little shopping in Walnut Creek.  My favorite store was Moonstuck Chocolates and Andronico's Market.  Mary ordered Mexican food for everyone for dinner and then we hit the bocce ball court again.  This was the last night for some to play, and they were out to win.  The winners not only got the title, but a plate of snowballs or cupcakes of their choice.  

Mary, Laura, and I lunched at Mimi’s in Fairfield and did a little shopping in Vacaville.  Jerry bought steaks and everyone had dinner at Mary’s.  

Mary, Kelly, and I had princess cake for breakfast at Le Gateau Elegant in Martinez.  Jerry drove Kelly to the airport in Sacramento for her return flight to Las Vegas.  Everyone had dinner at mom and dads.  

Can a girl have too many shoes?  I don’t know if this is a secret or not but Mary told me she has 100 pairs of summer shoes and 100 pairs of winter shoes.  So Kim went home on Tuesday with shoes and I went home with my suitcase a little fuller.  I collected a couple of plants from mom’s garden to add to my own garden when I get home.  It is special to look at flowers in my garden and know that it came from my mom's garden.  In the fall I will collect a few from Mary’s garden.  I kissed my dad good bye and gave him instructions to behave and he laughed like he always does and said, “We’ll see.”  I hugged my mom and kissed her cheek and headed out the door to Jerry’s SUV.  I looked back at my mom’s watery eyes and had to give her another hug and kiss and remind her I would be back in the fall, the tickets are already bought.  

Gate 8 and a wait
Take a breath
C2E and then it is home
A glass of wine
A huge kiss hello
A bark
A purr
Home sweet home

Friends, Food, and Fireworks on the 4th of July

We have been listening to the sound of fireworks for several weeks.  The Indian reservations can sell fireworks all year long but right now is when they are the busiest.  Deuce the dog doesn’t even flinch because he is an English Springer Spaniel and to him it must sound like the hunting fields.  Ally the cat however prefers the windows closed so she can sleep in peace and quiet.

The biggest fireworks display in our area is the annual Bellingham Bay display.  People crowd the waterfront parks and restaurants to get the best place to view the fireworks and then wait for hours to maneuver through traffic to get home after the fireworks.

Last year we were invited to spend a wonderful evening watching the fireworks at the home of Cis and Mike.  Their home is perched on a bluff overlooking the bay with unobstructed views.  On slightly more than two acres they can fit a lot of friends in the backyard and off street parking for all who attend.

This year Cis and Mike invited the whole Mt. Baker Chapter Harley Owners Group, along with all their friends, family, and co-workers.  The party began at 5:00 PM and guests were instructed to bring a salad or a dessert with Cis and Mike providing hotdogs, hamburgers, and cold drinks.  Larry and I took the traditional potato salad jazzed up with cilantro, spicy brown mustard, and green onions along with a red, white, and blue frosted cake.

What better way to spend the 4th of July than with friends, good old American picnic food, a little rock and roll music, and a fireworks display to end the evening with everyone oohing and aahing and exclaiming, “THAT’S MY FAVORITE ONE,” at each new dazzling sparkler in the night sky.  The perfect nightcap to a perfect evening.

Happy 230th birthday America.

Deception Pass

A stop on the Journey

My brother Jerry and my sister-in-law Laura live in Arkansas and are on a cross country journey to see the sights and attend an early 90th birthday celebration for our dad, and a mini family reunion.

Jerry and Laura left on the 16th of June visiting friends, national monuments, unique shops, wineries, and trying to find the ultimate halibut dinner.  Laura could eat halibut every night if it was prepared correctly.  I think this could be the basis for a good travel book.

And speaking of books, they don’t leave on a trip without planning.  Now most people think they plan well with reservations for hotels and what to do when you arrive at your destination.   My brother has a three ring binder that puts AAA to shame in planning.  He not only knows where they will be staying each night, he has reservations for the restaurant which usually is a fine dining establishment, knows all the sights along the way, where each gas stop is, how many miles between each stop, and he has maps and guides for every detail of the trip.  And, if this isn’t enough he also a GPS navigation system in his new SUV that tries to keep him on track.  Laura says he doesn’t always listen to the GPS system but they always get to their destination.

Larry and I were quiet impressed with the book and the amount of detail it took in the planning, only to find out that my brother doesn’t keep these books after he returns home.  So while we are talking about where they have been and where they are going after they leave California, he is already telling us details of their trip to CA next year.  Waiting for him at home is another travel book waiting for the finishing details.

I used the AAA trip guide when Larry and I went down the Oregon coast several years ago, wandering through all the little towns and browsing the stores looking for treasures and exploring art galleries.  My whole trip itinerary would have fit in his first day slot with room to spare.

Laura had wanted to see where Barlean’s was located.  She uses their flax seed products and was surprised to find out several months ago that they were located right here in Ferndale and only a couple of miles from our house.  To our surprise Dave Barlean gave us a tour of the operation, explaining how he got into the business, the research he has done, how the business has expanded and will continue to grow, and the new products they are selling.  We saw where the flax seed is delivered to the plant, the bottling process, and the packing and shipping department.  To our surprise he even gave us free samples of several products.  Not those little plastic one serving size samples you get in stores.  Mr. Barlean handed us full size bottles of products to take home.  What stuck me most about Mr. Barlean is that he doesn’t just market a product, he truly believes in his product.  To meet him on the street you never know that he runs a multi million dollar business.  He is just the guy next door and in this case the guy down the road from where I live.

Larry barbequed steaks the first night Jerry and Laura were here after serving us freshly cooked Dungeness crab and French bread for appetizers.  None of us are big morning eaters so after a light breakfast we hit the road to La Conner for shopping and lunch.  We drove down Chuckanut Drive and across the flat farmland in Skagit County to our destination.  We found a parking spot, had our walking shoes on, hats for some of us and we wove our way down one side of the street going in and out of the shops and back up the other side.  We had lunch at the Calico Cupboard Cafe and Bakery where the desserts in the glass display almost made us forget about soup and sandwiches.  We drove to Deception Pass after we left La Conner to enjoy the magnificent views of the Puget Sound and Mt. Baker.

We drove back to Bellingham and gave Jerry and Laura the driving tour of WWU and the city downtown.  We had dinner at the country club because Larry had just been told by a friend that they had a great halibut on the menu and Laura later confirmed it was good.  Larry had his usual prime rib and Jerry and I opted for the strawberry salad with mascarpone cheese with vinaigrette, and crab cakes--without all the fillers--topped with a corn relish and which is now my new favorite dinner selection.  

Saturday morning came too soon.  Jerry and Laura were off on their adventure to Pike Street Market enroute to Beaverton, Oregon to visit friends and wineries before traveling on to CA.  I’ll see them again in a few days but it was wonderful having them here.

I have been put in charge of planning a trip to Arkansas next year to visit with them and see the sights.  Jerry and Laura even promised a lunch in Springfield with the cousins.  Since Missouri is where I am from, I have lots of cousins that I don’t see often and it has been eight years since the last trip. Springfield, to Larry, means Bass Pro Shop!<br/>