On My Walk Today

On my walk today, I brought along my camera. Cherry trees and Magnolia trees have some gorgeous blossoms. It is beautiful for walking right now. The only blossoms in my yard, so far, are these camellias.

My Friend Alexandra

Alex stopped by to see me the other day......she is a high school freshman who recently had her 15th birthday and she is adorable. I love being around Alex because she is full of energy and fun to hang out with. A "River Park" experience with Alex includes stopping off to have our eyebrows waxed, shopping at Nordstrom's Rack (window shopping that is!), a visit to the Apple store, checking out the latest cell phones at AT&T and inevitably a visit to Starbucks.

And then, sometimes our visits are on the serious side. Being a teenage girl has both highs and lows and there are those days when" nothing seems to make sense" and I love that Alex shares those experiences with me too. I thank God for this beautiful teenage girl who enriches my life.

Thirty Nine Years Later.......

The year of yesterday's pic was 1971.

We no longer hang out on the beach in New Hampshire, except for Jayme, and her favorite ocean front is Old Orchard Beach in Maine.

We all three live in different states. California, Utah and Minnesota.
Beth--Jayme--Uncle David

The year was...............????

Do you remember........

What year this was?
Who is in the picture?
Where was it taken?

And....

Where are they now?

(Answers tomorrow)

My Friend Sandy Smedstad Nagorski

Proud grandparents! Phil and Sandy with their beautiful new granddaughter. Isn't she adorable!

Sandy is my life long friend........we go back to High School days in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. I treasure those memories............and the phone conversations we continue to have Sandy!

I love these pictures! and I thank God for these Forever Friends!!

My Friend Vivian

My study partner.....my prayer partner.....my retreat partner............my "full of fun", dear friend, Vivian! Today we worked on lessons together.........and I so appreciate this lovable friend of mine! And she brought Pizza! Homemade, no less........and it was delicious!! .
Vivian is another one of these incredible cooks! And today she gave me her pizza crust and sauce recipe............her grandmother's recipe from Italy! (Now that's a friend!) I have never in my life made pizza from scratch...it's always been Round Table! She keeps saying "so easy, so easy" ....ha! she doesn't know me in the kitchen! But this will be fun.
I thank God for this precious friend of mine. She is a godly woman who enriches my life.

My Valentine!

Happy Valentine's Day to the man of my dreams!!
Twenty-eight years ago today, we had dinner with a group of friends at the "Big Yellow House" and it was that evening he asked me to marry him.
My answer today would still be........."Yes!"

Back to Work!

Back to work! Delighted to be back at work..............just struggling with the 5:00 a.m. mornings! So I asked my granddaughter Shannon, who is very disciplined in her morning schedule....no one ever has to get her up....... how do you do it? On her advice, I am setting two alarm clocks, half an hour apart. Shannon says that by the time the 2nd alarm goes off, it is easier to get up. Mind you, she says "it is easier to get up", but she never said it was easy!

My Friend Luz

My friend Luz.........an incredible lady. She has been over a couple of times this week to study with me and I so enjoy her company. We are learning together as we study the Book of Luke.
Luz is a wife, a mother, a full time employee working all night long....and goes to school by day, soon to be a nurse! Wow! She is an amazing lady with lots of energy. She is my good friend and I thank God for her!

The Japanese Maple outside Shannon's bedroom is glistening with the raindrops this morning.
(Yes...we still call it Shannon's room. And closet is still full of her books, some clothes and shoes. The room is always ready for her visits!)
Cold today. Windy. And some much needed rain.

More than knowing about God..........

"And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You." Psalm 9:14

Knowing God's name.....His ways & character....will help me trust. I want more than knowing about God.
I want to know Him, experience Him in my life and fellowship with Him!

He is "my hiding place" Psalm 32:7,
He is "Faithful and True" Revelation 19:11,
He is "my guide" Psalm 48:14,
He is "my hope" Psalm 71:5,
He is "my peace" Ephesians 2:14,
He is "my glory and the One who lifts up my head" (the lifter of my head when I am down) Psalm 3:3.

And....He is so much more.

"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will trust in the name of the Lord our God." Psalm 20:7

Happy Birthday Charlene!

Happy Birthday to the best sister anywhere!!!!

The Perfect Granddaughter!

This lovely 16 year old is our perfect granddaughter, Shannon! Her next visit is still a few months away and we miss her terribly. Come visit soon Shannon!!! We miss your bright smile and clowning around.

Poem by Shannon (Aug. 2007)

I walk by the mess without a care
This mess I barely see
that my parents cannot bear......
Colorful clothes all over the floor,
cleaning it up sounds like such a bore
Trash laying there,
not been thrown away.......
.....old food starts to decay.
Sheets and Pillows not neatly on the bed
Which now my parents
REALLY start to dread.
I walk by this every day
without a stress
Because I don't care about the mess!

My Friend Pamela

Today I had coffee with my friend Pamela. I call her "my friend who can do anything!" When it comes to cooking, baking, entertaining, designing, ceramics, painting, music, creativity galore and the list just goes on and on, Pam gives Martha Stewart a run for her money. No kidding!
And to top it all off, Pam is one of those people you just love being around.....a woman of faith who is full of kindness and fun!! I thank God for my wonderful friend Pamela!

A day to pick oranges

Another beautiful day.......70 degrees......we have the windows open and the Dutchman is harvesting some oranges. I am content to sit outdoors and read.

WEATHER CONTRAST

BLOGDE leads a protest against the cold, as today was the 33rd straight day with temperatures below 32 degrees. Posted on Friday, January 30th, 2009.


My brother's experience living in Minneapolis is in sharp contrast to my weather in California!

The sun is out!

The sun is out and I feel so alive again! No more bronchitis! What a difference good health can make! (Physically and emotionally!) I just want to be outside while the sun is shining. Right now there are six birds at the bird feeder. There are scores of birds throughout the yard. They are singing loudly and as I step outside I hear a full orchestra, all in surround sound. It is magnificent. In addition, there are families of Quail, walking around the yard eating.......so cute!
The grapefruit are ripe and sweet this year.
No flowers yet, most of the leaves gone, and things are a bit drab......but definitely....this time of year has it's own beauty.

There is such joy in God's creation!

Missing my sister...

I am looking forward to feeling good again so I can spend some time with my sister!!! Bronchitis has had me down........but I am on my way to full recovery.

First you see Charlene with a couple of suspicious looking fellows.....

and next, she and I are posing in front of Quinceanera dresses in a store window.

Inauguration Day

Transition of Power.










www.presidentialprayerteam.org




An Historical Day.

Because I Love Her.......

I made her…she is different. She’s unique.
With love I formed her in her mother’s womb.
I fashioned her with great joy.
I remember with great pleasure the day I created her.
(Psalm 139:13-16)

I love her smile. I love her ways. I love to hear her laugh.
And the silly things she says and does.
She brings me great pleasure.
This is how I made her.
(Psalm 139:17)

I made her pretty and not beautiful.
Because I knew her heart.
And how she would be vain….
I wanted her to search her heart
and learn that it would be Me in her
that would make her beautiful…
because I knew her heart
and that it would be Me in her
that would draw friends to her
(1 Peter 3:3-5)

I made her in such a way…
that she would need me.
I made her a little more lonesome
than she would like to be….
only because I need for her to lean and depend on me…
I know her heart.
I know if I had not made her like this
she would go her own chosen way
And forget Me…her Creator.
(Psalm 62:5-8)

I have given her many good and happy things…
Because I love her.
because I love her I have seen her broken heart…
and the tears she cried alone, I have cried with her.
and had a broken heart too.
(Psalm 56:8)

Many times she has stumbled and fallen alone,
only because she would not hold My hand.
So many lessons she’s learned the hard way.
because she would not listen to My voice.
(Isaiah 53:6)

I have to reshape and remold her…
To renew her to what I had planned for her to be.
It has not been easy for her or for Me.
(Jeremiah 29:11)

I want her to be conformed to My image…
This high goal I have set for her,
Because I love her.
(Ephesians 4:23*24)

Prayer Partners....Barb, Vivian, Debbie

These are some of my prayer partners.......women who cover the Tuesday Night Bible Study in prayer. These women I love and appreciate!!! Jennifer Kennedy Dean says: "Prayer is the most aggressive, pro-active, offensive, invasive action one can take in any situation. Prayer reaches into the spiritual realm and accesses all the power of heaven for the circumstances of earth." Check out Jennifer's Website www.prayinglife.org
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:4-5).

Some of the Tuesday Night Women...Anita, Barbara, Cindy, Beth and DeeDee. Next week, Lesson 11..."The Spirit Filled Life", Week 12.."The Personal Devotional Life" and then a wrap-up and an intro of our new study "A Woman of Purpose"..which will begin on February 10th. If you have missed any sessions..........not too late to join us, you can jump back in any time! Bring a friend! There is always something good to eat.....a time of Worship.....a time in the Word and Discussion and Prayer. A home Bible Study where you will be loved and where you may experience personal revival! Come and grow with us!!! "One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple." Psalm 27:4

There he is....that gorgeous man of mine!!! He is such a great guy.....besides being so adorable, he is a man of faith, a man of integrity and character, a man with a servant's heart, so full of fun, likeable as well as lovable, hard working and generous......a very good family man! In my opinion, a prince of a guy! I may be biased, but it wouldn't be hard to find others who agree with me!!!! Sure do love that guy!

So hard to say good bye............after a wonderful time with James, Jayme, Shannon and Christa!!! I wanted to say..."Don't leave! Don't leave!" But the time came.....and car was packed to the max.... and they readied to take off. It was a trip full of memory making for them......after Christmas in Fresno. off to Cloverdale to be with James' family....then on to Nevada with more family.......and finally home to Ogden, Utah after their long journey! Thank you Lord for our time with them.........and their safety home!!

MANHATTAN EXPRESS ROLLER COASTER
New York - New York Hotel & Casino’s Manhattan Express™
4,777 feet of track
Maximum height of 230 feet
Drops of 144 feet
Speeds up to 67 mph

Here are Shannon & Christa experiencing the thrilling force of negative g’s! Simulating a barrel-roll in a fighter, it rolls 180 degrees, hangs 86 feet in the air, then dives back under itself - promising dizzying excitement and white knuckle thrills!!!!

On their way to Fresno for Christmas, the kids spent two nights in Las Vegas....Shannon & Christa had a blast at New York New York on the Roller Coaster!!! First question after ride ended..."may we go again?"