Celebration!

Gold Badge


Happy 50th Anniversary to:

Bob and Sharon Hardy - May
Al and Barb Anderson - June

Bud and Lleana Davison - July
I am sure I may be missing some others as several of our friends are now at that anniversary mark! (Ours will be next year!)



Ruby Slippers

Happy Anniversary to:

Nik and Lisa Matson - 9 years - July 4th

Steve and Karen Rader - 11 years - July 11th

Kevin and Rachel Self - 5 years - July 18th




Living Easy



Happy 62nd Anniversary to my cousin:


Shirley and Chet Thompson - July 12th

More anniversaries and birthdays will be coming up later in the summer!




Party Time

Happy Birthday to:

Granddaughter: Rebecca Rader - 5th

Sister-in-law : Janet Self - 75th

Peace



I also would like to acknowledge the passing of my mother's dear friend:

Elsie Stewart - June 17th. She was 95+ years. She is now with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

And my long time pen pal Anne Alexander who passed away June 29th. I shall miss her terribly.

May they rest in peace.

Happy Birthday Karen!

Happy Birthday to our Happy Homeschooler Mommy- Karen! Here DJ is eagerly having his hand at grinding oats for oatmeal while Rebecca, Stephanie and Naomi look on. This was DJ's first encounter with grinding grain and he was really into it. All the cousins had a great time.

Karen enjoys many things too numerous to list but she is an enthusiastic homeschool mom who enjoys her family and friends and the Lord Jesus as her Saviour.


Happy Birthday to You

Happy Birthday to You

Happy Birthday, Dear Karen

Happy Birthday to You!


Have a great day whatever you choose to do! What a beautiful sunny day to enjoy too!

Just don't let the rooster wake you up too early! : ) ---------->


Love and hugs,
From Mom

Sunday! Pray for our nation!

PRAY FOR AMERICA AND HER INDEPENDANCE AND MOST OF ALL FOR HER FREEDOMS! MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA!

MAY GOD GRANT US MERCY AND GRACE AND FORGIVE US AS A NATION FOR OUR COLLECTIVE SINS!

MAY WE FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER FOR OUR ANGER AND BITTERNESS TOWARD ONE ANOTHER FOR WE ARE ALL GOD'S CHILDREN. AND MAY WE LOOK TO GOD FOR OUR DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE.

AMEN

Feeling Sad For My Country

I have a heavy heart for my land of birth...The United States Of America. It is in crisis as never before and what saddens me even further is how so many of those I love just don't see what is really happening to our once great country. How we are being sold out and destroyed and soon there won't be a United States of America. I just don't get how they don't see it!!! How can they NOT see what is going on?

It is even hard for me to try to convey all the events that are, one by one, taking this country down the path of annihilation. I feel like one of the voices in the wilderness crying out the warnings, but so many won't listen. Until it is too late that is. I get so many overwhelming reports of things being done behind our backs, that I can't even keep up with all of them. And when I hear my dear friends and even some relatives who protest what I tell them because it isn't what they WANT to hear, I have to say it truely grieves me. Even some who would call themselves Christians don't get it.

I can only leave all this in the Lord's hands because people believe what they choose to believe and there is nothing I can do about that. I pray that they may be enlightened before it is too late, if it isn't already too late. We are fast becoming a socialist country. Mark my words, folks.

I don't enjoy being a "doomsdayer or sayer" but evidence is stacking up so fast that it boggles my mind completely and it grieves me deeply.

Jesus wasn't popular in his day either. People didn't want to believe him and even killed him because they thought he was too radical. Well I will lay my life down at Jesus feet. And I will fight for my country in the best ways I can and NOONE CAN EVER SAY THAT I LET MY COUNTRY DOWN when all goes down to destruction.

I hope some of you who are reading this will consider what is going on and be willing to consider the evidence of what I have been sharing (at the risk of being very unpopular with some of you I love and care about).


And may our country recover sufficently to continue to be the best place on earth to live.
Long live the United States of America, my home sweet home! Land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her through the night with a light from above. God Bless America!


With the Fourth of July coming up in a few day and for all it means to those of us who were born here or who came here (legally) to have a better life and for what that INDEPENDANCE has been to us... I pray that people will come to see the light before our independance is taken completely away from all of us.


IF I AM WRONG I WILL APPOLOGIZE!
IF I AM RIGHT GOD HELP US ALL!


(My thanks to my daughter Karen for the photo of the flag. It's beautiful!)

Is Anybody Listening?

Do you ever get the feeling that nobody is even listening to you? Me too! Don't cha hate it when that happens? Are people REALLY THAT busy these days? Or am I just so out of tune with the rest of the world? Frankly I am enjoying life where I am. I am content being where and who I am. When I get so busy that I don't even have time to think that is being TOO BUSY!


Why are we humans on the go so much these days and is all that busyness really all that necessary? We flit from this activity to that and fill our days with endless appointments, work, and more work and more activities until our social calendar gets so full we don't even have time to look at our calendars.


I had a very nice, but all too short, visit with a former classmate of mine on Tuesday. I am so grateful that she took the time to stop by to see me, even for only one hour. We gabbed so much that the time just flew by. She is going back to her home in So. California today. Her visit really meant a lot to me and she is so easy to chat with too. We never really palled around with each other in our school days, but it was at the 50th and 55th class reunions that we started to become friends. More so this time around. Email has helped to bridge the gap and making communication more frequent. Interestingly her name is Bev, too, only she spells hers differently than my sister did hers. No matter. God, in his time and graciousness, has planted a seed of friendship that is beginning to blossom. I am grateful because this Bev and I seem to have much to chat about. I look forward to see how this friendship develops as time goes on.


We always have a friend in Jesus however, no matter how life treats us. He is there for us. He never leaves us nor forsakes us in our times of trouble. He is not here today and gone tomorrow though at times it might seem that way. But it is we who pull away from him, not him pulling away from us. I liken this to knowing that the mountains are always there. But sometimes foggy weather closes in on the view and we can't see the mountains for a time. That doesn't mean that the mountains have moved or gone away. Just that we can't see them for the foggy weather.

Soon, however the fog lifts and we can once again see the mountains as before. That is why, I think, Jesus is like the mountain, the rock, because he never moves away from us. He is our fortress and anchor in times of sadness and trouble. Let's remember to keep on keeping on, smile and praise God even when we can't see him when bad times come upon us and he will bring us through and deliver us out of all our troubles. I know he has done this for me many times and I just praise him for all he has done on my behalf. You can see that if clouds start to come toward the mountain that it wouldn't take much for it to become obscured either by the clouds or some hillside or building to get in the way of the view of the mountain. (This is Mt. Baker by the way). Whatever obscures ones view of the mountain, the mountain is still there. Jesus is always there too. Maybe obscured by tragedy, disappointment or discouragement but THERE nonetheless.


Dear Heavenly Father,
Help those who may be discouraged or hurting today to see past the fog that obscures their view of you and help them to trust in you today. You are always steadfast and sure. We are weak and heavy laden but you promised to be with us and to sustain us through it all. You are all sufficient and all we really need. Thank you for being our strength when ours is weak and for being our light in the dark places of life. Lead us on to victory.
In Jesus precious Name, Amen and amen

Ah! Summer~~ At Last!

Well Spring wasn't too bad really. It started out with lots of rain but ended up with 29 days of dry sunny weather. So now that Summer is finally here, it started out cool and rainy but starting to warm up some again. It will be interesting to see if we get our "traditional" rain on the Fourth of July this year.

For us it will be a family get together for Rebecca's 5th birthday. Even though her birthday is in the middle of the month her mother decided to do her party on the Fourth. I think she has plans for all of us to watch the fireworks near their place and it was one way to get us all there. So we shall see how that works out. It is also Lisa and Nik's anniversary that day too. More about the Fourth of July at a later date.


Today I pulled some dandelion weeds out of an area that I thought I had made weed proof! HA! So much for putting down newspapers first, then the plastic and finally the bark over that to keep the weeds at bay. At the very least it makes them easier to pull out, but this ol' lady didn't want the chore of having to bend over to pull them suckers out in the first place. Ah, the best laid plans of mice and of men go astray every time!

Just like those weeds, we have sin that keeps popping up in our lives too. Just a little one here and a little one there until we suddenly have a whole "crop" of them that we need to deal with or they will take over our lives.

Lord Jesus, forgive us for the weeds of sin that seem to take root in our lives every day. Please help us to be diligent in weeding them out as they start to take root in us and to recognize them immediately so that we can live blameless lives before you. Help us to keep our eyes on you always so that those "weed sins" don't even have a chance to put down roots in the first place. We want to glorify you with our lives and thank you for the life you have allowed us to live on this earth until the day you choose to take us home to be with you forever!
In Jesus precious name, Amen

My Maid!

I put my maid to work for me this morning! "What maid?" you say? Well that is what my daughter, Karen calls it so I thought about that and thought "Hey! That's a great idea!" and besides a dishwasher saves me a lot of time and energy.

I had a sink full of dirty dishes to overflowing since I had Brian and Julie here for Father's Day for a late lunch...the rest were invited if they cared to come, but I wasn't being very formal about it. Cooking isn't one of my "things" to do these days. But I am grateful for that dishwasher nonetheless. After not having one for nine years it is a godsend. Before, I was the dishwasher and it was hard to keep that kitchen clean. There was virtually NO place to put one in that kitchen on 140th St. where we lived before moving here and not even a countertop one would fit on the counter (always off by a half inch or so). Not to mention how the pipe under the sink would on occasion slip down and leak water all over under the sink and onto the floor under my feet. (Not going to say what I was thinking about then!) Since I couldn't get the landlord nor my husband to fix it I had to keep pushing the pipe back up into place and it would hold for a while until the next surprise puddle around my feet.

So when we moved here, much to my delight, there was a dishwasher! I could have kissed it I was so happy to see it. So now I proudly call it my MAID! It gives me time to just load it, pull the little lever and start and then I can go sit down and relax and do other things like writing my blog or writing a letter or doing my budget or read a book or put together a notebook with photos etc. I have no end to all the projects I can be doing.

It is so nice to come into the kitchen and find clean dishes. And it is also nice when our lives are also cleansed by our Lord Jesus Christ! How he washes away all our dirty sins. The things that we have said and done that has hurt others or put some distance between us and someone else. Let's think about the dishwasher when we think about the things we say or do that are unclean thoughts and deeds and mentally put them all into the dishwasher to be cleansed...but knowing that it is really Jesus blood that cleansed us from our sins. Washed by the blood of Jesus!

Lord Jesus, cleanse my thoughts and actions that displease you today and help me to shine, clean and bright for you! Amen

Happy Father's Day

Today is Father's Day and I am a bit late in putting up this greeting. We enjoyed time at church this a.m. and then Brian and Julie came over for dinner with us. We had a nice visit. Bob had calls from the other kids or at least most of them anyway.

Fatherhood is so important and I am so grateful for my own Dad. But for those who may not have been as fortunate as myself, we all have a loving Heavenly Father who loves us no matter what and He weeps with us and cares about our every concern.

One of my very favorite verses is Isaiah 40:11: (NIV)

"He tends his flock like a shepherd:

He gathers the lambs in his arms

and carries them close to his heart;

he gently leads those that have young."

What a picture of a tender loving Father! We are His lambs and that he tends to us like a Shepherd and gathers us in His arms and carries us close to HIS HEART!

This makes me feel so protected and loved. So cared for. And as a parent he gently leads those of us who have "young" or even not so young anymore or maybe even our grandchildren. To know that he guides us and is gentle is comforting as well.

I hope you all have a measure of comfort knowing Him as your Heavenly Father and find your joy in Him today.

HANDY LITTLE CHART - GOD HAS A POSITIVE ANSWER:

YOU SAY
GOD SAYS
BIBLE VERSES

You say: 'It's impossible'
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)

You say: 'I'm too tired'
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: 'Nobody really loves me'
God says: I love you
(John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )

You say: 'I can't go on'
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: 'I can't figure things out'
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5- 6)

You say: 'I can't do it'
God says: You can do all things
( Phil ippians 4:13)

You say: 'I'm not able'
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: 'It's not worth it'
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )

You say: 'I can't forgive my self'
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: 'I can't manage'
God says: I will supply all your needs
( Phil ippians 4:19)

You say: 'I'm afraid'
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)

You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated'
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)

You say: 'I'm not smart enough'
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: 'I feel all alone'
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)

A Day With Some Surprises!

It was raining in the morning and I was thinking why do they want to go for a ferry boat ride on a rainy day like today? But when we arrived in Mukilteo the weather was nice and even a bit bright. And I was pleasantly surprised! Sooo.....

Yesterday our son and daughter-in-law and little grandson and my husband and I started out to go to Ivar's in Mukilteo and as we drove past our other son's office I noticed that his car was there so I mentioned it to his brother. Kevin called Brian and told him we were at Ivar's getting some lunch and then were going to take the ferry across to Whidbey Island would he like to come with us? Brian was busy working but decided to come and join us. He walked down from his office and met us at the ferry ticket office and boarded the ferry with us. We walked on so it was nice to have Brian along to help his ol' mama walk onto the ferry and then to the elevator to go to the upper deck. We started eating our lunch but since the crossing only takes about 10 minutes we couldn't finish our lunch so packed it up and got off the ferry in Clinton. (Regulations now require roundtripers to get off and reboard the ferry for security reasons.) So Brian suggested we walk to a little park next to the loading area and just relax for awhile and catch another ferry back later. So again it was nice to have Brian's arm to lean on while walking to the little park. We finished our lunch at the park and then Kevin and Rachel and Isaac and Brian all went down to the beach where Isaac could play in the sand. This was only his second time experiencing the texture of sand on his little 10 month old hands and for him it was the most fun of all. He was mad when he had to leave because he was just getting used to this new medium and it was really interesting stuff with which to squish in his hands.

Boy Was This A Surprise!

The restrooms are automated and was that ever an experience! S-C-A-R-Y! Darned near had to change my clothes after that durn turlet flushed on it's own. I thought I was going to get suckered down into it myself. And it was LOUD too. I had been looking for the "flusher" when it just took off on it own and startled me. Good way to have a heart attack! Then I went to wash my hands and got the faucet on ok but then it wouldn't shut off and I tried and tried and finally said "to heck with it" and went on to dry my hands. I had no sooner put my hands under the dryer when it took off blasting my hands with warm dry air. How in the world did it know my hands were there??? Oh, and another lady started to open the door while I was (at least still decent) and I thought I had locked the door but apparently that didn't work like I though it should either! Needless to say I got out of that scary place as soon as possible. Now I know WHY I don't DO public restrooms. They just aren't safe for little ol' ladies anymore. It is like the spook house at Halloween! Ain't gonna go to places like that again and get the wits scared out of me! No siree bub!

We got back on the ferry and came back to Mukilteo, where once again, Brian helped me off the ferry and to where we could go to the car to head home. Brian walked back up to his office and we had had a nice time all together unexpectedly. Kevin, Rachel and Isaac leave today to go back home to Arizona. We enjoyed this week with them and wish they lived closer so we could spend more time with them. I am glad that I made the effort to go along with them even though there was more walking involved than I could normally do. My ol hips and lower back give me trouble and my knees aren't what they used to be after falling on them a few times, but I'm not complaining...it just IS what it IS. And I am going to live life to the fullest and enjoy my family as much as I can. Life is full of risks and not being much of a risk taker I am learning to take some within reason and just be careful to watch my step and go a little slower but to GO nonetheless. I still resist using walkers, scooters, and canes and don't want to give in to thinking I am OLD, but I admit I do lean on grocery carts while shopping and can walk all over the store without too much trouble on my own. It is like leaning on the everlasting arms of Jesus to get around and if only somebody would invent a walker that one can lean on like the grocery cart only not be a grocery cart that would work. Leaning on the cart relieves the stress on my lower back and helps me to get around easier. Any inventors out there?? Most walkers are too low and don't help me. Surely there is a greater need than just me for such a walker. Grocery carts are a good height for leaning on. Maybe it is the balance of the cart in front that makes it safe to do that. But one can't be going everywhere with a grocery cart! That just doesn't cut the mustard for the general use of such a device. Short of having my skeletal parts reworked in order to walk better on my own (thanks to lack of health care other than medicare) I am at the mercy of grocery carts and somebodys arm when walking a long distance. But I won't let it sour my disposition.
I can still have fun and enjoy life and I plan to as long as I live.

I hope you all have a happy day today and that God will be with you in all that you do.

It's Raining Today

Much needed rain has finally come to our area. My potted plants out on the patio are enjoying the rain as I haven't had much time to water them of late. But the weeds are still coming up in spite of rain or shine. So I will have to get out there and pull them buggers.

Rain comes into our lives as well as the sunshine and there are reasons for both. Without both we wouldn't have the crops we need to survive and without them we wouldn't appreciate the beauty around us.

When bad times come such as the current economic downturn, it is a time to pull back and consider how out of control our spending habits may have gotten or just to consider our priorities in life. When good times come do we really appreciate what we have? Or do we just take them forgranted? As I have gotten older I just thank God for each new day of life. I no longer take life forgranted. When we are young we just think we are going to live forever and we don't plan our days wisely. We don't even consider what God would have us do with our lives because we are just living for the NOW. For ourselves and what the world has to offer us.

We get so into the lull of TV, video games, the lastest fad, that we forget what these things are doing to our minds much less our family life. Over time it robs us of the productiveness that would keep us strong and healthy and truely happy. We bury our real or imagined disappointments or hurts in OTHER THINGS that distract us from the "pain" of life. But living each day to the fullest only happens when we can learn to be grateful for each day and take advantage of that day. We may not get another for many reasons...accidents that we never expected, health reasons that we never suspected, even being in the wrong place at the right time....anyone of which could take us completely out of the picture.

The only time we have is NOW. How will you spend your day today? How will you choose to behave? How will you treat your loved ones today? We can't take back "stupid" once we commit it. So it pays to choose wisely what we will say, how we will say it and consider what the consequences our actions may have on the future of ours and other peoples lives.


Yesterday I chose to go with a couple of my daughters and my daughter-in-law and a couple of my grandchildren to the Snohomish Farmers Market and encountered several women who were spinning yarn. Each woman had a different style of spinning wheel. It was very facinating to learn how yarn is spun.

I would have missed that experience had I chosen to either stay home or just go sit at my daughter's apartment while the rest went to the market. True, I had to watch my step for the unevenness of the street as I don't see as well as I used to nor am I as steady on my feet as I once was either. But I was glad that I took the challenge and went anyway because I was blessed and the "girls" could learn something about how yarn is made and what Grandma does to crochet those afghans they are enjoying.

"Only one life, twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last." This little saying has been around for decades but it is so true. It really makes one think about what is important.

I hope today is the first day of the rest of your life to make a new beginning. Make it count for good and for God.

Life is a GIFT! God breathed his breath of life into each one of us at birth. We are God breathed to put it another way. That should be a sobering thought. With that in mind I wish you a very sunny day today in spite of the rain!

Happy Birthday Sis!

In Memorium:

Beverley Dawn Grace ~

June 18, 1938 to February 26, 2008

Happy Birthday Bev! I hope you are

dancing and having a wonderful time

on your birthday in Heaven today!

I miss you and your family misses

you terribly! I am at peace knowing

that you are with Jesus though!

Here is some "Sister's at Heart"

roses with which to honor your

day !

Today would have been my little sister's 71st birthday. I am dedicating todays blog to her memory!

Following Jesus

"Enter in at the strait gate; for it is the wide gate, and broad way that leadeth to destruction; and many there be that go in thereat. Because the gate is strait, and the way narrow that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits..." --Matthew 7:13-16a. (Geneva Bible)

There is much talk these days against Christianity and the Bible and how "antiquated", "archaic" it is. But don't believe it. These are lost, unbelivers or deceivers (wolfs in sheeps clothing) that will do anything to discredit God's Word. There is so much animosity toward the authority of the God's Word because of man's rebellion. They deny the cross and God's authority so they can do what they ought not do.

They will eventually pay the ultimate price even if they don't believe there is a hell and many don't. I hear it all over the place and it is very sad and disconserting. But God will not be mocked.
"For there on one God and one mediator between God and man, which is the man Christ Jesus." --I Timothy 2:5

If anyone thinks there is any other way to be saved other than through Jesus Christ, they are sadly mistaken.
The scriptures tells us that: "All have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God. And are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Whom God has set forth to be a reconciliation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness, by the forgiveness of sins that are passed." -- Romans 3:23-25

We all have been sinned against by somebody. We all have been offended. So where then, OTHER THAN Jesus is there any forgiveness or justification for those offenses? Taking revenge into our own hands still dosn't make up for the wrongs that have already been committed. All that does is compound the problem, thus it never ends.

"Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. " Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
For Christ died once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body, but made alive in the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the Ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. "
--I Peter 3: 13-22 - 4:1-5,8

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." --Romans 12: 1-21

These are hard lessons for all of us. But IF we can learn to live as God tells us to live we will overcome evil with good. These are difficult times for all of us and it is easy to just toss aside what God tells us because it is too hard to follow his instructions. It is painful. Like I said in part of my poem "The Call" at the beginning of this blog:

Oh yes, my Lord, I’ll gladly come—
The cost? – What cost?
It’s going to cost me pain?
I didn’t count on this—my Lord!
Is there any other way?

No, my child, but I’ll be there—
To walk you through the strife—
And the joy of life will come to you
For I AM THE WAY,
THE TRUTH,
THE LIFE

By Lynn Self - 12/18/96

I hope that this day you will consider what it truely means to be a Christian and be willing to obey Him no matter what the cost. I would like to recommend a wonderful book to you that illustrates what it means to FOLLOW JESUS no matter what the cost and that is "Evidence Not Seen" by Darlene Deibler Rose, a dear friend and mentor of mine who has since passed on. I considered her to be my spiritual mother and she graciously prayed with me, laughed and cried with me, sat with me, shared with me through a very difficult time in my life. Her story was featured on Focus on the Family for several years in a row and was considered one of the top 10 in their 25 years of broadcasting. Both Darlene and Jerry have now passed on as has one of their sons, Bruce.

(The photo on the left was one of the last photos taken of them before before they both died in the same year. The photo on the right was take of Darlene and I on June 15, 1996, the last time I saw Darlene before they left for Australia.)

I guarentee you won't be the same after reading her story. I know I wasn't after I heard it, as the Lord himself confronted me and told me to park all my excuses at the gate that they were no longer valid, but to "Come, Follow Me" he said. And I knew I didn't have a leg to stand on and I said "Yes, Lord, I will follow you!" It wasn't easy but I have since found my peace and joy in Him and I am grateful for every day God lets me live. Each day is a gift.

If you wish to listen to Darlene's story click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9k5WuqIuSQ It will take about an hour and 17 minutes so be prepared. It is an awesome story.

I pray that each one who took the time to read this today will be blessed and will choose to FOLLOW JESUS with your life.
God Bless!

Good Morning!

I am having a nice cup of tea (Ganotea, what else?) and anticipating the arrival of Kevin & Rachel today sometime. We won't see them until tomorrow, but we had a fun time with them in Salem this past weekend. We attended Rachel's brother's wedding and I even danced with Kevin at the reception. (He pulled me into it, so typical Kevin!) (Kev & Rachel in dance mode ...he with his arm up and she in purple dress with arm up).



"May our homes be filled with dancing
may our streets be filled with joy.
May injustice bow to Jesus
as the people turn to pray."
(From: Hear Our Praises)


It was a really fun time and we enjoyed seeing our little grandson as well. Here is Daddy Kevin with son Isaac in a moment of contemplation! Kevin, being the youngest of six, didn't have the experience of caring for younger siblings while growing up so now that he has a little one of his own he is learning what all is entailed with caring for a little one. He has taken to being Daddy to this little boy of his like a duck to water. He takes him for strolls in the stroller and plays with him, feeds and changes his diapers too. Makes me so proud of him and reminds me of my own sweet and caring Daddy.


Dad's are really important in a childs life and I would encourage more, who become fathers, to really take the role seriously. Be involved. Be a mentor, but for the right reasons. Little people imitate all that we, as parents, do so we need to be careful what we do so as not to cause them to stumble. With Father's Day coming up next Sunday it is a good reminder to encourage all Dads and to support them as much as possible. Happy Father's Day to all the Dads in our family...Bob, my hubby, Kevin, Nik & Steve and their Dad's for raising great son's to be great Dad's too. And a Happy Father's Day to Naomi's Daddy too.

May Jesus be each Dad's mentor and example.

"Train up a child in the way he should go and he will not depart from it." (Psalms 22:6)

Dare To Be Different

This rose WAS a Mr. Lincoln rose, but it seemed to die and then suddenly I found some new growth from underneath and now the bush is more prolific than it was before. The blossoms are a bit smaller than the original however maybe THIS IS the original rose that is now coming up. It is still very pretty so whatever Mr. Lincoln was it is now different than it was. Which brings me to this neat poem ...

Dare To Be Different

Dare to be different; life is so full
Of people who follow the same push – pull,
Poor plodding people who, other than name
Try to pretend they’re exactly the same,
God made man different; there never will be
A replica soul made of you or of me.
The charm, the glory of all creation
Rests on this very deviation.

Your charms-- your own glory too
Lies in being uniquely you—
Lies in being true to your best
That part of you, different from all the rest.

By Helen Lowrie Marshall

Be the best of who you are and be WHO you are! Be real and true to yourself.

As a kid I never followed the crowd. I was too cussedly independant for that. I liked being me and sometimes when I saw other kids doing stupid stuff I would look at them and think..."Why are they doing that? That's dumb. I wouldn't want to put MY life in such danger as that!" (I won't go into what they were doing but it was really DUMB. They could have lost their lives or damaged themselves forever.) I think being different probably saved my life in many ways. I am happy to be me and it has kept me from falling into many pit falls over my lifetime.

Hope you have a great life whatever you do with it. Make the Lord your focus and follow Him and you will be both blessed and a blessing to those around you.

The Town Of Don’t You Worry

There’s a town called “Don’t You Worry”
On the banks of River Smile,
Where the Cheer-Up and Be Happy
Blossom sweetly all the while.
Where the never grumble flowers
Bloom beside the fragrant Try
And the Ne’er Give-Up and Patience
Point their faces to the sky.

In the Valley of Contentment,
In the province of I Will.
You will find this lovely City
At the foot of No-Fret Hill.
There are thoroughfares delightful
In this very charming town,
And on every hand are shade trees,
Named the “Very Seldom Frown.”

Rustic benches quite enticing
You’ll find scattered here and there,
And to each a Vine is clinging
Called the Frequent Earnest Prayer.
Everybody will be happy
And are Singing all the while
In the town of “Don’t You Worry.”
On the banks of River Smile.


This little poem has always amused me and makes me smile. I don't know who wrote it but it has been a long time favorite of mine. It is a great poem to share with children and gives them a fun way to imagine this place. Starting the day out with this can make your day go much happier too. I hope you have a happy day today! And if you want to start your day out with a tasty and healthy cup of coffee or tea or hot chocolate...check out my new website at https://www.myganocafe.com/selfstarters and see what we have to offer you. There is a couple of videos there too. Let me know what you think. I am anxious to hear your comments.

Say It Now

If you have a friend worth loving,
Love him. Yes, and let him know
That you love him, ere life's evening
Tinge his brow with sunset glow.
Why should good works ne'er be said
Of a friend –‘ til he is dead?

If you hear a song that thrills you,
Sung by any child of song,
Praise it. Do not let the singer
Wait deserved praises long.
Why should one who thrills your heart
Lack the joy you may impart?

If you hear a prayer that moves you
By its humble, pleading tone,
Join it. Do not let the seeker
Bow before his God alone.
Why should not your brother share
The strength of 'two or three' in prayer?

If you see the hot tears falling
From a brother's weeping eyes,
Share them. And by kindly sharing
Own our kinship in the skies.
Why should anyone be glad
When a brother's heart is sad?

If a silvery laugh goes rippling
Through the sunshine on his face,
Share it. 'Tis the wise man's saying--
For both grief and joy a place.
There's health and goodness in the mirth
In which our honest laugh has birth.

If your work is made more easy
By a friendly, helping hand,
Say so. Speak out brave and truely
Ere the darkness veil the land.
Should a brother workman dear
Falter for a word of cheer?

Scatter thus your seeds of kindness
All enriching as you go--
Leave them. Trust the Harvest Giver,
He will make each seed to grow.
So until the happy end
Your life shall never lack a friend.

_ Unknown


This poem has also become a philosophy of life for me. I just have to pass it along because it is so timely. We need this encouragement to think of others instead of what we can get for ourselves.


"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (Luke 6:31)

Wild Rose Update

Here is a picture of the 140th St. wild rose (for lack of technical or correct name). It is now in bloom. Thought you might like to see it too. The blossoms on this one seem to curl under somewhat and is between the size of the 75th St. wild rose and the Roberts Creek wild rose.These roses are very fragrant and hardy and I look forward to their blossoms each summer. Not real showy over all but the scent is worth their weight in gold. Plus for a non green thumber like me they survive in spite of me. Of course if they weren't growing in a planter pot they probably would do much better. But I have had the 75th St. one in a planter pot now for 20 years and it is still blooming. So I guess the message is "Bloom where you are planted!"


"He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields it's fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:3

Whatever you do in life, do it as unto the Lord and you will prosper!

Going Down Memory Lane

This is one of those times when a day is worth remembering and today is one of those days!



June 8th was my parents anniversary...Milt & Jean Henkle (1935)
June 8th was the anniversary of my paternal Grandfather's passing... Ira M. Henkle (1959)
June 8th is my cousin Lleana's daughter, Katie's birthday....Katie Petrovitch (and I won't spill how old Katie is today! : ) But Happy Birthday Katie!


Daddy was my hero~ I was always his shadow and Daddy's little girl! I learned so much from him... honesty, integrity, kindness, caring, gentleness, doing things right...he had the patience of Job and was a wonderful mentor. I remember one time when I was learning to drive the car and he went with me while I practiced. I turned the corner ok but didn't get the wheel straightened out after the turn and you guessed it...I ran into the ditch! Sooo I looked up at Dad and asked him "What do we do now?" (He was the wise one). He said "Well, I guess we'll call a wrecker!" but help came out of the woodwork as neighbors came with chains and their car ready to help. In the meantime I am standing on the street laughing my head off (probably a case of hysteria) trying to tell the people, who had gathered, what happened while Daddy got in the car and just drove it right back out of the ditch!

So we got home and Al Gourley, our next door neighbor, was leaning over the fence and seeing what happened, he was giving me a hard time. Meanwhile Daddy just drove the car into the garage and started pounding out the dented fender while I went inside to tell Mom what had happened, laughing as I was telling her too. You know what was so amazing about them both? Neither one of them yelled at me or scolded me. They didn't say anything at all. (I'm sure they were thinking it, but I am glad they didn't yell at me.) I had learned my lesson. And I have never in my life ever gotten a ticket for anything since that day. If it were me I would of probably been furious and said a few choice things...but I learned what grace and mercy were that day!

And my Grandpa Henkle was also a patient guy. I remember when we were little we would gather around Grandpa and pull his hair up into a "castle" on top of his head. And it fascinated us that it would actually stand straight up. We called it "Grandpas Castle".

He and his brother decided one day that they could make violins better than what the Sears catalog had, so he started making violins from a Stradivarious pattern he got somewhere. He even carved his own pegs for them. He must have made about 15 or 20 violins and gave them to whoever would learn to play them. Oh, and Grandma had to stop him from taking wood from the back of the old pump organ for the inlay on his violins. He used curly maple for the backs of them and they were beautiful. I have one of his violins which is another story. . .

We had moved to Cupertino, California and I had taken Grandpas violin with me. I had seen at Frederick & Nelson department store, a picture with a real violin tilted one way with the bow tilted the opposite direction. I really wanted that picture, but I couldn't afford to buy it. So I took the idea with me to California. I had drawn up a paper plan of what I wanted it to look like.

One day Grandpas' brother, Ernest and his wife Ruth, came by to visit us and I told him what I wanted to do. He looked it over and then said "I think I can make one for you!" So I gave him my plans and off they went. (Grandpa had passed away by then.) Well it was 5 years before Uncle Ernest drove up to our house, (and by now we had moved to Campbell, California) and presented me with the finished frame. So I then proceeded to gild the frame in gold leaf and I had some rosette cones from a Duodor cedar tree that had grown in our front yard on Fremont Ave. while I was growing up and I used those in each of the corners of the frame. I took some of my agates that I had found on the beaches around here and glued them among the rosettes in each corner. I also used some of the agates like Lawrence Welk's Champagne Bubbles on the black velvet background I had glued in. And here is a picture of the finished project with a few more embellishments such as angels on it.

I only played the violin for a short time in elementary school. Sadly an old German teacher kept tapping me on my fingers when I had my fingering wrong and it hurt so I got discouraged and quit. I later played the Hawaiian Steel Guitar and after the tube in the amplifier blew up in blue smoke and scared Brian half to death when he was a little guy I quit that too. I took piano lessons for awhile in Jr. College and privately and we carted that poor piano with us every where we moved from Seattle to California and back. I think it has been moved 12 times over the years and never once been tuned. It is still in good shape, but now it sort of serves as a mantle for my knick knacks. I haven't played for a long time. Every once in while I will play it though just for the fun of it.

Life goes on and memories are what we have as we get older. I am enjoying mine. How about you?

This Is The Day That The Lord Has Made!

This is the day, (echo) This is the day,
That the Lord has made, (echo) That the Lord has made.
We will rejoice (echo) We will rejoice,
And be glad in it (echo) And be glad in it!
This is the day that the Lord has made,
We will rejoice and be glad in it!
This is the day (echo) This is the day,
That the Lord has made.

©Public Domain Words and Music by Unverified



This song just fills my heart when I sing it. Praising God for each new day is something that I do every day! Rain or shine. Of course sometimes it can get old if it lasts tooo long! Still I am grateful for what each day brings. Sometimes it brings a gorgeous sunrise (if I am up early enough to see it) and sometimes a beautiful sunset, (which is more likely be be seen) and sometimes just interesting clouds, but looking up into the heavens can be full of interesting things. Birds flying toward their nests at evening (going south east) and flying to their daily habitats (going north west) for the day. Sometimes it is a hot air balloon or different kinds of airplanes, or cloud formations. Whatever it is, it is always a moving show.

Then just praising God for the little things, the unexpected things
--like a letter from someone we haven't heard from for a while, or an old photo of a remembered childhood experience that we didn't know existed that is sent to us from a loved one. I am sharing one that my cousin Poppe sent me that her dad had. It was of me looking at my Gram's big pink roses next to their white garage. (They never owned a car but that didn't keep them from having a garage nonetheless.) I thought those big pink roses were as big as dinner plates and to a small child they were BIG! Big as my face anyway. Since then I have always loved pink roses. The one below is called "Our Lady Of Guadalupe". Unfortunately it didn't winter over. but it was a gorgeous rose and I enjoyed it while it lasted.

Roses became a symbol of love between my Gram and me and we always wrote little notes to each other. I still have many of those notes she wrote to me as I was growing up. She would often tuck in a (Canadian) dollar or a devotional from her devotional book or a poem. One of the poems she sent me became my own philosophy for life.

It is called:

By Love Serve (Gal. 8:13)

Just scatter seeds of kindness
As you pass along lifes way,
And the sweet flowers of grace and beauty,
Will spring up day by day.
Just give a sunny smile and
speak a cheery word
And the joy of helping others
Will bring it’s own reward.
By Fanny Hope

I hope this will encourage you to do the same and thus make this world a better place!

Have a great day!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Observing how much Kevin had grown as he approched his 5th birthday I asked him: “How come you’re growing so much? He answered matter of factly, “Because God’s inside me!”


A real “pearl” of childlike understanding of faith.

Who’s Job Is It?

When I had some chore to be done I
would ask in general "Will somebody
let the cats out?" or "Will somebody
go get the mail?" and invariably
Kevin was that "SOMEBODY" so
when I saw this little story in the school
newsletter one day I had to save it
because it was so perfect.

This is a story about 4 people named
EVERYBODY, SOMEBODY, ANYBODY and NOBODY.

There was an important job to be done
and EVERYBODY was asked to do it.
EVERYBODY was sure SOMEBODY would do it.
ANYBODY could have done it, but NOBODY did it.
SOMEBODY got angry about that, because it was EVERBODY’S job. EVERBODY thought ANYBODY could do it but NOBODY realized that EVERYBODY wouldn’t do it. It ended up that EVERYBODY blamed SOMEBODY when NOBODY did what ANYBODY could have done.

Kevin - You're "SOMEBODY"!!

His Hands

By Lynn Self

His hands are so beautiful—
So strong, and yet so gentle—
When He holds my hand in His
I feel safe – and sure—
When He wipes away my tears—
I see tears in His eyes too.

When I feel discouraged
His hand reaches out to me—
He says: “Come—I’ll show you
The way, just follow me”
How could they kill Him—
How could they do all these
Horrible things to Him?

All He ever did was love me—
Love everyone too much --
His hands were so beautiful!
I touch His hand—just to hold it
Close to my cheek—
I don’t even notice the scars
From the nails –His hands are so gentle,
Strong and ever so beautiful!

Jesus---My LORD!
I love you!

Oh What a Beautiful Morning!!

I used to sing to my kids each morning "Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day, I have a beautiful feeling, eveything's going my way!" I don't know if it will go MY way or not, but I certainly hope it goes God's way! I am just grateful for another day! And to start the morning out right ....

Here is a new coffee we were just introduced to:

Ganocafé Mocha
"Indulge yourself in a frothy, rich mocha without the coffeehouse guilt..."

There's a whole new kind of coffee out in the marketplace - nutritious gourmet coffee that's actually good for you! It's called Ganocafé Mocha, from Gano Excel. Imagine a perfect blend of fully rounded rich coffee, sumptuous Swiss cocoa and the remarkable Red Mushroom (also known as the “Miraculous King of Herbs") fresh from Gano Excel's own Malaysian plantations. And you have it! Ganocafé Mocha - a true marquee coffeehouse taste, plus optimum nutrition that only comes from Ganoderma Lucidum - the ultimate muscle mushroom with a history of health-promoting ingredients that have been the celebration of Asian Apothecaries for centuries.

It's simply the best combination of rich coffee and potent natural nutrition ever blended in a cup. It is distinctively local, yet international in flavor.

There are two other coffee flavors:
1. Ganocafé Classic
"Bold, black coffee with more than just your morning jolt..."

And:

2. Gano Café 3-In-1
"A delicious latte with your health in mind..."

And a new tea:

GanoTea S.O.D.
"Soothing red tea sure to cleanse your soul..."

Now Gano Excel takes the tradition of rich natural tea and brings it to a whole new level. First they've found a naturally sumptuous RED tea from South Africa called Rooibos. This Rooibos red tea is both caffeine free and a natural source of Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD), a powerful antioxidant. In fact, Rooibos Tea is said to have a greater amount of antioxidants than Green tea Then they combine it with the extract from the powerful RED Mushroom (Ganoderma Lucidum). Known to contain over 200 nutritional trace elements, the Red Mushroom is called the magical "king of herbs." Finally the Gano excel experts blend it all into a superb new tea tradition with good health in every cup.

And here is one the whole family will be sure to enjoy:

Gano Schokolade
"Rejuvenating hot cocoa for the entire family"

We've learned a lot about chocolate lately! And it's all good news! Science is now showing us that good pure chocolate has a lot of great things - like antioxidants, digestive aids and an enzyme that may actually help you sleep better. Now Gano Excel has introduced what has to be the first true "Power Chocolate," with added nutritional benefits that are almost as appealing as its great taste. It's called Gano Schokolade.

Gano Schokolade is a rich, all natural Swiss chocolate uniquely blended with Ganoderma Lucidum extract, and powdered skimmed milk. And the sweetest part is that it includes the more than 200 trace nutrients from the rich Red Mushroom to make an energy drink that can truly "shake up your" day. What's more, Gano Schokolade is so versatile that you can mix it with hot water, serve it cold...or blend it with milk (or soy milk) into shakes and energy drinks...and it still tastes terrific!

Kids love it and so will you! (And How Sweet it is!)

Nanaimo Bars--- To die for....

Bottom Layer:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
5 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup coconut flakes
1/2 cup finely chopped almonds

Middle Layer:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
3 tablespoons whipping cream
2 tablespoons vanilla-custard powder
2 cups powdered sugar

Top Layer:
4 squares (l ounce each) semisweet chocolate
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1. For bottom layer, melt butter, granulated sugar and coco powder together in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Add the egg and stir constantly until thickened, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in graham-cracker crumbs, coconut and almonds. Press firmly into an ungreased 8-by-8-inch pan.

2. For middle layer, cream butter, cream, vanilla-custard powder and powdered sugar together. Beat until light. Spread over bottom layer.

3. For top layer, melt chocolate and butter over low heat. Cool. When cool, but still liquid, pour over second layer and chill in refrigerator about 15 minutes, then cut into bars.

Note: These bars can be made 3 to 4 days ahead and kept covered and refrigerated.

God's Cake

Sometimes we wonder,
“What did I do to deserve this”,
or “Why did God have to do this to me”.
Here is a wonderful explanation!
A daughter is telling her Mother
How everything is going wrong…
She’s failing algebra,
Her boyfriend broke up with her
And her best friend is moving away.
Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake
And asks her daughter if she would like a snack,
And the daughter says,
“Absolutely Mom, I love your cake.”
“Here, have some cooking oil,” her mother offers.
“Yuck” says her daughter.
“How about a couple of raw eggs?”
“Gross, Mom!”
“Would you like some flour then?
Or maybe baking soda?”
“Mom, those are all yucky!”
To which the mother replies:
“Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves.
But when they are put together in the right way,
They make a wonderfully delicious cake!
God works the same way.
Many times we wonder why He would let us
Go through such bad and difficult times.
But God knows that when He puts these things
All in order,
They always work for good!
We just have to trust Him and, eventually,
They will all make something wonderful!

The Potter's Clay

by Lynn Self

Without a form or purpose
I am as a lump of clay.
My destiny is in the Potter's hand--
I do not choose my way.

I am as yet unyielded
To the Potter's skillful hand,
And He needs to prepare my formlessness
For the molding He has planned.

Once in the Potter's hands
I struggle to take on shape--
Sometimes my clay is smooth and free;
At other times I break!

It takes a lot of patience
To make me a worthy vessel--
The process thus, cannot be hurried;
It will be a mighty wrestle!

Yes, stretching and pounding
Is an inevitable part--
In the way I'll be transformed--
Into His work of art.

And although I have been placed
Under tension and duress
Since the Potter first had found me,
Tried me by His firey test--

I cannot go throughout this life
Without some grief or pain--
My life would lack the strength and depth
That victories would gain.

So it's best to have a yieldedness
To that which He has planned--
For in the end of all His work
I'll be made in the image of...

The Great

I AM!

Here's to A Wild Rose...

The Roberts Creek wild rose is finally blooming. Here is a peek at one of the blossoms. It is a large bloom. The 75th Ave. wild rose is also blooming. Here is a picture of it too with three blossoms. The one from 140th still hasn't opened up yet but it will be blooming soon too.

The Roberts Creek one I brought back from Canada in 2000. For those of you who have no clue as to where Roberts Creek is...it is 30 miles above Vancouver, B.C. My grandparents used to own property up there and my friend Donna bought her parents property next door to it. She kindly let our family use their two cottages for a few days to celebrate our 40th anniversary that year. It was the first time most of our kids had ever been there. They had heard many stories about Roberts Creek their whole growing up years but hadn't been there. Gram and Grampop had a wild rose hedge all along their beach property. My sister, Bev and my two cousins Pene and Poppe, and I built a fort under some of them one summer. So it was something that had a lot of memories for me and I wanted to bring a little start back with me to plant in my container garden. It nearly died on the trip home but I managed to get it into some water and with some root tone it managed to survive. This is the first year it has bloomed.

Dear World,

Though many seek Me they do not find Me. Many profess to know Me, but they do not follow after Me.
I am the one and only true God—there is no other god but Me. I sent my only Son, Jesus Christ into the world, but the world did not receive Him. On Him were laid all the worlds iniquities—He was the ultimate sacrifice once for all. There is no other way to be saved except through the blood of Jesus—who is now risen from the dead. He overcame death and Hades for you. Wise men still seek Him. They who seek shall find, those who knock will find it shall be opened unto them--all who ask shall receive Him.
Do not terry-come while He may be found- while there is still time.
Come Follow Me!

Love, God
Your Heavenly Father

I Saw A Glimpse Of God Last Night

By Lynn Self - Oct. 24, 1963

I saw a glimpse of God last night
Through a window He let me see—
How much He loves me with all of His might.
A glorious God is He!

He pricks my conscience with my sins
And lets me feel their pain—
Then once I’ve learned the hard felt truth
He soothes my soul again.

Oh! Why must we suffer so much woe
Before we yield to Him?
In absolute submissiveness
And other lives to win?

Snow On The Mountain - Great Crowd pleaser

Here is a great potluck type recipe for family get togethers. I have enjoyed this at several gatherings such as a Bible Study fellowship time, a gals get together and good for a summer pot luck or birthday party.

Snow On The Mountain (from Janice Oliver) Serves 4-6

Rice - 4 cups (cooked or steamed) Chicken - 3 breasts (cooked and shredded) Gravy - 1 can undiluted cream of chicken soup and 1 can of undiluted chicken broth (If you enjoy garlic, you can add 1 minced clove to the broth before you heat it.)

Stuff to top it with:

Mandarin orange slices - 2 small cans
Crunchy Chow Mein noodles (Sun Luck brand is best)
tomatoes - chopped
green onions - chopped
celery - thinly sliced
pineapple chunks or tidbits - large can
grated cheddar cheese - 3 cups
slivered almonds or sunflower seeds
coconut - 2 cups
raisins - 2 cups
water chestnuts - 1 can
sliced mushrooms - 2 cups (optional)
mini-marshmellows - 2 cups

Note: it's the combination of the sweet, sour, salty, crunchy and smooth that makes this recipe a winner. Serve with warm chewy bread or Orowheat Best Winter Wheat Premium Rolls. Great recipe for crowds, Bible Study groups,Bridal or Baby Showers, Mother's Day etc.

The Call

By Lynn Self - 12/18/96


What excuse is good enough—
When my Saviour calls to me—
To “Come and Follow” in His steps?
--There is none!

What can possibly be more important—
Than His gentle calling of my name?
--There is none!

Could it be that I—
In my clamor for worldly gain—
That I’m deaf to Jesus “call”?
--What a shame!

For He gave His very life
In exchange for all my sin
Because He loved me—
--Simply loved me—
--I’m ashamed!

But—it’s not too late—
He’s still calling out to me—
Ah yes! I hear my name!

Oh yes, my Lord, I’ll gladly come—
The cost? – What cost?
It’s going to cost me pain?
I didn’t count on this—my Lord!
Is there any other way?

No, my child, but I’ll be there—
To walk you through the strife—
And the joy of life will come to you
For I AM THE WAY,
THE TRUTH,
THE LIFE