More Art Work....At the Drawing Pad

If your interested...check out my latest download of this year's student art work.  At the Drawing Pad.

Something New

Here is a link to a new blog I am starting on behalf of my art students, At The Drawing Pad . I teach drawing 101 to about 60 plus students at a local homeschooling organization called Echo. They meet once a week to give their children some extra curricula activities. I finished my last class of the year last Friday just as I was taking off for Seattle. It has been quite a whirlwind of a week. Keeping busy was a good thing. It kept me from focusing to much on Jenna Dear leaving home. Here is a peek at her room we set up on Saturday.

I was pretty disappointed in my shopping day. Things didn't work out as planned. Surprise, surprise the sun wasn't out on Monday, and the shops were closed in downtown Kirkland in the morning. So no fun goodies to show and tell. Here are a few shots in the rain of the water front and a cute sweet shop....love the aprons, and the shop where I found my candle.
It was so much more charming with the sunshine. Jenna texted yesterday and said we forgot to buy her an umbrella. lol

Off the radar...for a moment

Yikes I have been busy...I know I have gone completely off the radar here in blogland. I know you my good blogging friends understand. Life sometimes just has a way of overtaking your normal schedule.

Well I am sure you all know what I have been up too. Busy moving my daughter Jenna Dear to Seattle for college. I will catch you all up sometime by mid week. But for tonight here are a few of the things that have been going on.

Before we left town with Jenna's stuff, we had a visit from my son. We all met for lunch minus Jenna who had left on Thursday morning for a conference going on at her soon to be home church. At lunch as we were leaving Josh was determined to impress his little niece. He purchased one of those stick on tattoo's from a machine in the pizza shop and took P.T. into the restroom to apply it. Here they both are admiring his gift. He showed her his tattoo to convince her it was cool ;)

On our way to Seattle we made it over Snoqualmie Pass just in the nick of time on Saturday at about noon. By early Saturday night they had closed the pass due to avalanche warnings, and by Sunday morning they had accumulated 12 fresh new inches of snow. Not what you expect in late March. Here are some pictures of the pass as we went through.

I was pretty glad the snow wasn't sticking while we were on the road.

We spent the rest of the day on Saturday moving Jenna in. Sunday morning we attended church with her. Pastor Judah Smith ended a great message with one of my favorite scriptures out of The Message:

Mat 11:28-29 "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.

I have blogged on these verses a few times myself. It was reassuring for my mama's heart to hear this man on the same page.

One of Jenna's new roommates came up to us and gave us a lunch suggestion at a restaurant called Cactus. It had won awards for the best casual restaurant in Seattle. The food, the atmosphere and the pricing were great. As we headed to the restaurant in downtown Kirkland right on the waterfront the sun was out and nothing can be finer than a sunny day in the Seattle area with water and sunshine. It was all very charming. I had just a minute after lunch to slip into a shop while Dan was paying the bill. As I walked into the Paisley Cupboard this scent hit me and I knew I had to find out what it was. So of course I inquired and then I immediately bought this wonderful candle. If you knew me well you would know I am not an easy sell especially with a somewhat hefty price tag. I had to have this candle. The gal told me they burned it for an hour once a day. I finally figured out why this scent had arrested my attention when I learned the name of the candle...Bob's Flower Shop. Ahh ha said my soul. The whole shop smelled like The Seattle Flower & Garden Show, which I unfortunately did not get to attend this year. This is what heaven would smell like to me :) I do hope it performs well in my home. Supposedly this little candle has fifty hours of burn time. We will see, but even if I get 25 hours I would be thrilled. This should keep me very content till the real things start blooming in my garden.

Needless to say we are heading back downtown to Kirkland tomorrow morning (I saw this really cute baby shop) for some serious shopping. I'll be back...

Say what...I'm a little Rock Star

P.T. walked in the house the other day with these sunglasses on, just like this was her normal routine. She had Jenna Dear and I cracking up...lol

The house is silent this morning, Dan went to work for a Retirement Party for one of his employees. Jenna is at school handing in her final paper. The silence hits me... and I burst into tears for just a second. I have been so happy for Jenna Dear and all that is going on in her life, that my emotions of her leaving have been apparently hiding just under the surface. They just revealed themselves in an unexpected flash. Wow...I hope this will not be a sad season for me. She has left before, I can do this. Good things are happening and I have so much to be thankful for.

Looks like I will be camping in Philippians 4 for a bit :]

Php 4:11 Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances.
Php 4:12 I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty.
Php 4:13 Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.

Even with my hands feeling empty Lord, let me find my contentment in You!

What has been collecting in my bedroom?

Well here she goes again........sigh. I really am excited, happy, and sad. Have you ever had all those emotions at once? Jenna dear is taking off again almost exactly one year to the date from her first flight from the nest. This is my last little chickadee to leave. As many of you know she had a wonderful life changing experience six months ago on a mission trip (which you could read all about here) with an organization called Y.W.A.M. (Youth With a Mission) I am just now getting caught up on some of the details of her amazing adventures. Coming home last fall and signing up for classes was a bit of a let down. Never mind trying to adjust back to our American culture. It had left her a little isolated from her normal friendships and of coarse many of her friends themselves have been taking off in different directions. God can do amazing things in our backside of the desert seasons. Jenna has been learning contentment in what ever circumstance she is in. It always seems once you really hit that sweet spot, God comes along and says here is what's next. I kid you not with in a week and a half opportunities came flying at my daughter that just screamed the hand of God. We were all thinking next fall she could start somewhere fresh for school. But it seems God had His own timing. Jenna is still in a bit of shock over it all. She is also extremely excited. She will be rooming with five lovely Christian gals a few blocks from The City Church in Kirkland WA. where our former youth pastor is now serving. She in fact will be living in his old house. He and his family will be living in some church housing while they participate in a foster care and adoption church sponsored program. This church is quite large and has a great impact on the community. She already has a job lined up with the Boys and Girls Club for after school employment. She is registered for spring quarter at Bellevue Community College. We will be moving her over spring break just in time for her new schedule. Seattle is only a three hour drive. Quite do able compared to Australia. She will be immersed in a great church with tons of young people her age, and living on her own just as she turns 20 years old.

Thank goodness for that new grand baby coming in May or I would be quite the puddle.

So here is what my bedroom is looking like. We are collecting bedding, furniture, and some decorations for her new little home away from home. It has been fun and exciting getting her ready for this big new adventure to launch her once again. Oh my heart be still...and let the children go!!!!!! She started with this one gold rose styled pillow from Burlington. She just had to buy it. The espresso down comforter came next via Target (it is chilly in Seattle) then we found more pillows Tuesday Mornings, a lamp from Big Lots, and a chair on deep discount at Pier One. I do love getting great deals and bargain shopping!

It will get a little quiet around here again, but Avey Rose is on her way and that should keep this Nana pretty well occupied for the summer months anyway giving Meg all the help she could ever want :]

Retread

 "Things That are Caught Not Taught" May 12th 2007

Retread                                                                                                           

Well with all the intensity of the last few months with Dan’s hip situation I have completely missed my 200^th post . By the way Dan is now taking a daily walk to the mail box with a cane down our driveway hill and all. He is doing fabulous! Anyways I thought I would go back and look at my first attempts at blogging, and pick out a post that most of you probably haven’t read as a retread post in honor of my 200th post. The interesting thing about this post is that some of the very same subject matter is now a focal point in my life once again.  I have another little grand on the way in May...Avey Rose.   And my youngest daughter Jenna Dear is leaving in two weeks to go to school and live in Seattle.  All I can think about is how is she going to survive on her own with out her dear mamma…right? What is really bugging me is how am I going to survive with out her…;(                                                                                      

Below is a tribute to my own mom and all things mothers and daughters…sigh!

Years ago I was asking a new friend of mine who was known to have a gift in intersession and prayer to teach me how to really pray and intercede. She said something’s are better caught than taught. She explained to me that I would learn better by spending time with her in prayer, learning by experience and example, much more than she would ever be able to teach or explain with words. She was right, after going to the throne room with her just a few times, I gain great insight and experience that mere words could never have conveyed. I have noticed over the years that in life many things are better "caught than taught". When the Bible tells us our lives are like a living epistle, it is so true. I think parenting and the best kind of teaching come through observation. My beloved Italian momma who died of cancer 18 years ago this spring still impacts my life in many ways by the life she led as my mom. As a teenager, the last thing I wanted to do back in the day was be like my mom. She drove me crazy in so many ways. For instance she was this super obsessive clean freak. Actually I must have driven her crazy. I was one major slob. To this day the only reason I keep a fairly clean house is not because of her nagging. That never made a single dent on my conscious, oops! What got me finally was living on my own, after only a few weeks of glorious slobville, I found I couldn't stand it. I couldn't enjoy my messiness because after having lived in her home I couldn’t stand living in filth. Those were her words ;>) I couldn’t believe myself when I began to get all bothered about a clean house. And so the saga continued. My daughters too are messy and I drove them nuts trying to teach them how to keep a fairly neat bedroom. It did not work. But I knew one day if I just kept up my end of the deal by example they to would catch the clean thing. Sure enough my daughter Megan’s first quarter away at collage my diligent example paid off. She found herself one day scrubbing down her apartment going on this major cleaning binge , when she realized in the middle of her obsession, she had become her mother!!!!!!!!! We both had a good laugh over that. I was outwardly sympathetic, but inwardly my heart was shouting hallelujah!!! Well 18 years after my mother’s death, I still live a life impacted by her example. As I enter this new stage of grandmother hood, I think of her often and find myself mimicking her ways with my own daughter. Enjoying all the love and support I can lavish on her without overwhelming her. Letting her find her way, but when she asks, I am there with hands wide open. I felt the need this Mother's Day to pay a tribute to my mom. I am still very much gleaning from all her examples that were caught not taught by the life she led and the love she gave so freely. Thanks Mom!

P.S. I have been bugging Jenna about her messy room lately and warning her about living with room mates and all...we will see how this one does...lol!

P.S.S. I tried this new widget thing below that is whacking out on this post...I might have to ditch it, but it was what made me think of a retread post. 

Dan The Man

Well I must tell you, one week and one day later He thinketh He can Walketh.... Dan had as most of you know a hip replacement surgery a week ago Monday. Can you believe it? I can't. Let's just say he is a bad patient and I am terrible nurse. Oh my! He has been trying to enhance his healing process by pushing every limit, every hour of every day. We had this ridiculous doctor that has no idea what a stubborn independent Scottish man I am married too. He told us that Dan could do anything he felt he could do, and there were no restrictions on his post opt surgery. That is because this doctor is use to dealing with people that have normal reactions to pain. What he did not take into account was that my husbands high pain tolerance levels are what got him into this surgery in the first place. The man was literally going into shock 3-4 times a day last week, because he was pushing his body so much.

Any ways I know I am whining...but you would be too if it happened to you... =>

I had to leave Dan home yesterday for 3 hours. He had visitors. So I thought the man would be on his good behavior. I get home and start his lunch and he calls me from the den. Hey I have a surprise for you, come see. Back tracking a bit here, he has been out of bed most of the weekend. Ya think the 5 days he spent in bed was gonna kill him. So he has been scooching around a bit with a walker, with somebody spotting him. Yesterday he wanted to go for a walk to the mail box !@#$#% NO! You cannot go for a long walk down our drive way which by the way is a hill. So I go in to see what his surprise is. He is using two canes and wobbling like a weeble. NO you cannot use the canes. (I guess I could get him some crutches, that would at least be stable) Now mind you he has been doing foolish things like this from the first hour he got home and decided to use the restroom by himself...........................it was not a good idea.

Last night though oh last night, we were watching a show and Puddin Toes was over and she got to the receiver and pushed some buttons...the look on her face was priceless. But what happened next shocked me so much. Dan with out thinking gets up off the coach and starts walking full speed to get the controller and fix the receiver. The man took three steps before I could get his attention. (that would be me screaming) Did I mention he just had surgery a week ago Monday. My nerves, his stubbornness...I hope you are laughing by now. It is all a bit hysterical. How we are going to survive the next few weeks I do not know? He is suppose to be on disability for six weeks. That was the doctors orders. I don't see how it is going to be possible. Maybe I just need to give him more drugs or something! Kidding...LOL

Afternoon Update: Some have asked how I am doing. Just great really. Dan requested an outing today. It was so gorgeous out. Drive through burgers eaten river side in our car with the windows down, and a few hours at a local coffee shop. When reading to him my post this morning we both had a good laugh, I'd say we are doing great :D

Evening Update: I am not making this stuff up...Jenna and I were sitting in the den while Dan was getting ready for bed.  All of a sudden he comes walking down the hall with only a cane for support.  Even Jenna started scolding him.  He thought he was so smart coming out to give me a good night kiss with a big old grin on his face.  There is no keeping this man down now...

A word in season...

The earth shown in it's truest colors

Part I

(Following is some insight I was receiving from my January devotions.)

I must admit that Jame 1:2 has not been my all time favorite scripture. Over the years God and I have had quite a few conversations about this one being in the Bible. I am now finding this whole passage to be speaking a timely word...considering the times we are now facing.

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believing, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open. When down-and-outers get a break, cheer! And when the arrogant rich are brought down to size, cheer! Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don't ever count on it. You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that's a picture of the "prosperous life." At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing.

Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life. James 1:2-12 The Message

That is certainly the cry of my heart, and my prayers for all of us. To be able to meet the challenges and tests ahead with the love of God, and the reward of life, and more life.


Part II

Following are some scriptures that have been speaking to me this week on what appears to me to be the same subject. I believe what we are facing as a nation, and many of us in our own personal lives can look very intimidating at times. But God is continually reminding me He's got it. He is in control. He will work it all out for good. I know many of us are dealing with trusting God right now, for immediate and future needs. I believe the journey He is taking us on is for our benefit and for the personal and corporate victory we so need as a Nation Under God...


Rev 3:13-19 "Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches." Write to Laodicea, to the Angel of the church. God's Yes, the Faithful and Accurate Witness, the First of God's creation, says: "I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot--far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit.

You brag, 'I'm rich, I've got it made, I need nothing from anyone,' oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless. "Here's what I want you to do: Buy your gold from me, gold that's been through the refiner's fire. Then you'll be rich. Buy your clothes from me, clothes designed in Heaven. You've gone around half-naked long enough. And buy medicine for your eyes from me so you can see, really see.

The people I love, I call to account--prod and correct and guide so that they'll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God!

God doesn't want us to put our hope in anything but Him. Sometimes it is the very strength of our own abilities and talents that take our trust and faith away from God and into a false sense of security.

The scripture that keeps standing out to me for this season is in James 1

You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.