Thursday, August 13, 2009

MY HAPPY PLACE !!!

Roberts Creek, B.C., Canada

Roberts Creek has always been my "Happy Place". My grandparents had a small cottage there near the beach and this is "our" beach! We would spend our two weeks vacation there with Gram and Grampop every summer from when I was about 9 years old until a couple of years after I graduated from high school. They sold the place and moved to Haney, B.C. when Gram's sister was widowed and became ill. But the memories of this place and of my two cousins, Pene and Poppe and aunt and uncle and all the many friends we made up there are forever imbedded in my mind.



Typical of the rocks found on the beach!


The beach is very rocky, but we made a lot of use of the sandbar when the tide was out.


Here I am sitting on one of the big rocks out front of Gram and Grampop's place looking north. You can tell by the look on my face that this IS indeed my special "Happy Place" on earth.


Just a little to the left of me in this picture is Gull Island seen in the picture to the left. It is, I was told, where the Sea Gulls have their young. The only way to get up to Roberts Creek is by boat. But that is all I will say about it. Already too many people have discovered it and it is not the private beach it once was when we used to go there.
And here is a sample of some of the rocks on this beach. Great for beachcombers. But I never found any agates on this beach.
I used to stand on the big rocks and sing to the waves and just praise the Lord for this beautiful place. Many inspired writings were borne out of this place...what I call Heaven on Earth!
Thank you Jesus for giving me this place to remember! Amen!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Wonders Never Cease!

I had long ago given up ever seeing a bloom on this rosebush that my daughter, Linda had given me a long time ago. It is an English Rose. So Saturday when I got ready to go out I noticed this pink rose hanging out and it caught my attention. (Course anything pink will catch my attention anyway!) I looked at it and wondered, hmmm, what rose is that one? Then as I looked at it some more I realized...to my utter surprise, that it was that English Rose that Linda had given me at least 9 years ago anyway. It bloomed a few times and then just got spindly and didn't do anything. Course if I had maintained it better it might have done better! Well I must have pruned it this year when I pruned a bunch of my other roses and lo and behold...IT BLOOMED!!! So the lesson here is we all need to be "pruned" now and then so we can "bloom" better or even just grow into what God would have us be. Look at how lovely it is and to think I have been missing out on it's beauty all these years because I neglected to prune it. It is lovely and so delicate too. And the fragrance is sweet. May our lives be like a rose that, even if we are "pruned" back by adversity, we can bloom even more beautiful than before. Or still bloom where we are planted.
Thank you Lord Jesus, for the adversity that came into my life to make me into the person I am today. I hope the fragrance of my life will be a blessing to others and that my legacy will be one of beauty and of hope. In your precious name, Amen!

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Isaac's First Birthday !






Isaac's First Birthday Party! (via Skype)



Friday, August 7, 2009

My Hiding Place



Boy, sometimes I just kind of feel like crawling into a nice quiet place to get away from all the "noise" of this world. The evil that I see all around us in the news. I relish the tranquility of a peaceful place where only the birds can be heard, or a breeze or even the rain sometimes. It is healing to the soul.

Our world needs so much of what God has to offer it. But our world is rejecting Him and I realize that our days are numbered. I am so grateful for each day God allows me to wake up in the morning and to live another day of life. To see the beauty of His creation around me. But the evil of our society spoils the scenery with it's ugliness. I so need more of God's love to overcome the offensiveness of the filth around me in this world in order to reach out beyond the filth to the heart of those who need Him. But I find it so hard. When I see the evil that some people are capable of every day in the news...I am so overwhelmed by it that it takes me awhile to catch my breath in order to gain perspective. I no sooner gain perspective on one set of circumstances when more just keep coming at me until I just want to run to Jesus and hide. He is my refuge and my strength. My hiding place. I do a lot of praying for these people, but sometimes even that seems too hard to do. Where to start?

I have always been repulsed by sin even as a little child. I have a lot of intolerance for injustices. I can see why God hates sin! I have to say, that I am just glad that I am not God or I would just want to annihilate the whole world. It humbles me to see how Jesus took all mans ugly sins, past, present and future upon himself on the cross...and forgave all of us. Something that we just don't even deserve.

I try to do good. I try to follow Jesus. But I know I fall short in so many ways. Lord thank you for loving me and for forgiving me of my own sins...of judging others, of being impatient with the shortcomings of others, for being so critcal, for letting others down.

When I Survey The Wonderous Cross


When I survey the wonderous cross
on which the Prince of glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them all to his blood.

See from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did 'ere such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so devine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

This is all I can offer to Jesus right now.
Amen!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Happy First Birthday, Isaac!



Today is our little grandson, Isaac's first birthday! He is such a happy little guy and so busy discovering things in life. This picture was taken of him at 11 months old standing up at Auntie Lisa's. Trying to take a few steps without realizing it. : )
Now he chatters like a magpie and trys to say words and a few do come out like "Dad-deee" and "Doo-eee" for his "Huey" sock monkey, his favorite "friend".
Happy First Birthday, Big guy! We love you so much! You are a delightful young man! And we are enjoying watching you blossom out as you are growing up.
Love and hugs and kisses from Grammy Lynn and Grampa Bob!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Our 49th Anniversary!


Today is our 49th Anniversary!
Looking forward to celebrating our 50th next year!
I remember my Grandparents celebrating their 50th anniversary and thought, wow, that's a long time! I hope I can do that someday. My other grandparents were married nearly 65 years and that was amazing to me! So with that in mind we still have some living to do yet and I hope we can do as well as my grandparents did!
Here's to us! We have endured so far!
Having six wonderful kids and five wonderful grandkids, we have been blessed!
Thank you Lord for bringing us this far through the tough times as well as the good ones. In Jesus name. Amen!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Taking Time Out!

Ah, much cooler today! Kind of the lull before the fun begins next week when Kevin arrives for a long weekend visit. He is bringing his friend, Jake with him. Too bad that the wives aren't coming with them this trip. I am sure the time will go all to fast.

Tomorrow is our 49th anniversary! Being the middle of the week however, Bob will be working as usual. We don't have any plans at this point but the week isn't over yet either.


We hope to see our little grandson, Isaac's first birthday party on Saturday via Skype. All these modern inventions that make such a thing possible. Next best thing to being there. Now if I can just get my weekly grocery shopping out of the way in time to get up to Julie's to see him on her computer. (At our age we don't move as fast as we used to. )
Here is Isaac with his beloved "Huey" sock monkey he got at the Snohomish Farmer's Market when they were up in June!


I am kind of "celebrationed" out at this point... too much of a good thing can also get old fast too. No wonder we get the nasty hot weather...so we can appreciate the cool weather when we have that. And no wonder we get the bad days...so we can appreciate the good ones. There is always that silver lining that comes along after the dreary stretch in life. So I am grateful for times to just rest and enjoy the peace and quiet. Truely grateful! In fact I enjoy the tranquilty of being older and less rushed. Time to just enjoy watching the birds, watching the clouds roll by, watching the moon shine brightly at night through the trees casting shadows across the yard at night. Time to just reflect on life, on the day, on memories of the past, on people in my life both past and present. Time to think about Jesus and all He has done for me and all that He means to me! Time to just count my blessings!



Sometimes we can just be on the go so much, that we savor none of it. Today take time to reflect. Take time to say "Thank You, Lord" for all the blessings! Time to just enjoy the music and let it float you to the moon and back with it's lilt. (And I don't mean that hard rock stuff either!)


Take time to enjoy the LIFE you live! You only have one time to live it, but if you cram too much of a good thing into it you will remember none of it. It will all just become a blurr. Savor it and make it quality instead of quantity!




"Only one life, twill soon be past! Only what's done for Christ will last!"


Sunday, August 2, 2009

Forgive Me Lord!

Wow, another hot day again today. I am getting the message Lord. If this is what Hell is like, I NEVER want to go there! And of course in this place I was convicted that my "yelling" warnings about the national health care plan probably wasn't a good idea. Forgive me, Lord, it is just that I was so convinced myself that it is a bad thing that I just wanted everyone to see it too. But I didn't mean to insult their intelligence. Sometimes I just get a bit carried away and empassioned about something and I just go off. I'm sorry. I will try to do better in the future. Life isn't just about these things here on earth, though we do get into battles over them, don't we Lord?
Help me, Lord, to be more sensitive to others when I get all wound up about things and am sensing the urgent! I need to remember that you are in control over all things and you don't need my help to fix the problems of the world. So I give this health care situation over to you Lord and know that you have my best interests at heart. Help me to trust my life and health and future to your keeping.
In Jesus precious name,
Amen

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Heaven Help Us!!!

I woke up with this verse going through my mind this a.m.

"For there will come a time when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."
II Timothy 4: 3-4

Yesterday I sent out some pertinent information about the new Obama Health Care plan for everyone to read and I got not ONE response from anyone!!! Maybe they just hadn't had time to read it yet as it was a nice day and perhaps everyone was out and about. But I would have thought that even one person would have had some response to it. I know it sure shook me to the core as I read the overview. I am not going to go into the details here. But I will put the link to it if you care to look at it. ( http://www.liberty.edu/media/9980/attachments/healthcare_overview_obama_072909.pdf )Personally I was appauled at what this socialistic health care is about. It is SO not what this country is about plus it is UNSUSTAINABLE and we tax payers will be digging our own graves financially if we THINK this is the answer to health care.

So since it is looking like we are heading into "ObamaCare" anyway against our will...I think this is the ideal answer to it...

The Perfect Solution to Senior Health Care

While discussing the upcoming Universal Health Care Program with a friend the other day, I think I have found the perfect solution. I am sure you have heard the ideas that if you are a senior, you need to suck it up and give up the idea that you need health care. A new hip? Unheard of. We simply can't afford to take care of you anymore. You don't need any medications for high blood pressure, heart problems, etc. Let's take care of the young people. After all, they will be ruling the work very soon.


So here is the solution: When you turn 70 (I just turned 73), you get a gun and 4 bullets. You are allowed to shoot 2 senators and 2 representitives. Of course, you will be sent to prison where you will get 3 meals a day, a roof over your head and all the health care you need!!! New teeth, great!!! New glasses. No problem. New hip, knee, lung, heart? Well bring it on. And who will be paying for all of this? The same govenment that just told you that you are too old for health care. And, since you are a prisoner, you don't have to pay income tax.


If you really want to make a difference please contact your representitives and even your senators, even though apparently they have already passed this monstrosity as of yesterday.
Do whatever you can to make your voice heard loud and clear to our illustrious leaders. They don't have to experience what they are forcing on us. Why, then, should we accept this garbage they are thrusting on us? I for one vehemiently am opposed to this. In my 73 years of history in this country this is NOT FREEDOM and NOT THE AMERICAN WAY folks? We are being sold down the tubes. I am angry!! And for good reason. I want better than this for my grandchildren and future great grandchildren. Or Lord PLEASE COME QUICKLY!
(And now I am beginning to sound just like my sister!!)

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Still Celebrating....


It was a fun day with Brian taking me up to Karen's today in his new car. Runs great too! We had fun with Rebecca and Sarah too. Rebecca wanted Grandma to read several stories to her which Grandma was happy to do. Little Sarah reminded me of my own curly hair when I was a little girl.
We had a nice supper with them and then came home to find Linda here waiting for me. She had brought me a lovely bouquet of flowers and a nice necklace she found at the Farmers Market in Snohomish today. Also got a lovely card and note and gift certicate to Olive Garden from Kevin and Rachel and Isaac.

Isaac has a birthday coming up next week. So is our 49th anniversary. Julie's birthday is on the 3rd so we have been having lots to celebrate lately.
Karen had a nice strawberry short cake for us after a nice supper this evening. I am afraid that had she put any candles on it it would have looked like Bob's ...about to burn the house down. So thankfully she didn't put any on it.
And thankfully the temps are going down slowly. Whew! At last a breath of fresh air in sight.
I am grateful for all the nice greetings I received for my birthday and I am just grateful for my life. Life is fragile and I am well aware of that, so you know, we only have TODAY! I am living life with joy and gratitude. Each day is a gift from the Lord. I know I say that a lot, but it is so true. I don't take it forgranted. And life is too short to waste any of it on being negative, grouchy or angry or bitter. I give all my disappointments over to Jesus and let Him carry them for me. He wants me (and you too) to have life to the fullest and to make use of the time we have here on earth to His glory!
Lord, I Give You My Heart
by Steve Murray
This is my desire, to honour You
Lord with all my heart I worship You
all I have within me
I give you praise
All that I adore is in You!
Chorus:
Lord I give you my heart
I give you my soul
I live for you alone
Every breath that I take
Every moment I'm awake
Lord have Your way in me.
(Repeat chorus)

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!


















Me and my cousin, Lleana

Today is my birthday...73 today! (Not the temperature either). And I am hoping for 73 more....7 + 3 that is...= 10! Gotcha on that one didn't I? It is really a hot one today setting a record for this year. Some were reporting temps from 101* to 107*.


But I am just happy to be alive and grateful for another day to enjoy life. God is so good.


Lleana and I went to the Olive Garden for lunch today and enjoyed their delicious salad and air conditioning! Their wait staff sang their Italian version of Happy Birthday to me and it was amazing how the whole restaurant got quiet all of a sudden. They said they hoped they didn't embarrass me too much. Me? Embarrassed? Nah! I was having a great time. Then afterward we went over to Michaels and shopped their bargains. And then came home. She wanted to get home before the traffic got too bad. And because her house is cooler than mine today she wanted to get where it was cooler.


Julie called first this a.m. and I answered the phone: "Happy Birthday to me!" and she laughed and said "Mom, you are stealing my line" or something to that effect. She thinks I am incorgable. Then Kevin called right as I was trying to hang up from talking to Julie.


Later Bob went off to work and I thought I had better make a pit stop before Lleana got here. So wouldn't you know....IT JUST NEVER FAILS...ya get in the durn bathroom and the phone rings...well I thought I heard it anyway but the fan was making a noise so I wasn't quite sure until I heard Bob saying something about "Aren't you going to get the phone?" and then I am thinking "Why is Bob home...I thought he went to work!" Well it was Brian on the phone so Bob told him that his car got stranded about 3 or 4 blocks from home and he hadn't taken his cell phone with him either so had to walk home to call work to let them know that he might not be able to get in today...So I see Brian coming into the driveway ...that familier red car you know... and so I went to greet him at the door and then I looked ....and said "That....isn't....YOUR....car....!"
and Brian smiling said "It is now...as of yesterday!" I said " YOU bought a new car????" We had to go out and take a look at it.


He had driven down to Portland, OR. to look at this car, but by the time he got down there his car was heating up in this hot weather and he wasn't even sure he would get home in it...so he ended up negotiating and finally bought the car. So his old one is still down there and he has to go back down to get it...Remember...this old car of his has around 520,000 miles on it and is literally falling apart. He went against all his own good senses and bought this car without checking it out first...fortunately it is in great shape and he got a good car. Yup...another red Acura Integra...And here is Brian with his new car! Way to go Brian and YEAAAAA! Now we don't have to prop up the glove compartment with a stick anymore. Plus a bunch of other stuff.
It has been a whacky, sunny hot and wonderful day full of surprises and greetings and I couldn't ask for a more wonderful day than today! Thank You Jesus!

Monday, July 27, 2009

Discerning The Difference...


There is no doubt that the weather is on everyones mind today. We all feel like a puddle of sweat. The last I checked it was 92* by around 6 p.m. this evening. My fingers are still so sticky that it is hard to type without making a ton of mistakes. My fingers stick to the keys and then I can't move on to the next ones with out first having to "unglue" my fingers from the first ones.


Maybe this is just a little taste of what hell is like. I don't need to be convinced that it isn't a place I would want to spend eternity. I think God gives us days like this and experiences that are unpleasant so that we can appreciate the good days and experiences and circumstances when they come along. Without the contrast how would we be able to discern the difference? Or how would we be grateful unless we have bad experiences and days to make the good days look even better?

So whenever you go through a bad time in life just know that you are being given a glimpse of what hell is like so that you will appreciate the good times even more. And better yet, that you praise God for those good times as you envision what Heaven will be like.

Here is a poem that seems to tell it better than I can...

The Weaver
by Unknown

My life is but a weaving
Between my Lord and me.
I cannot choose the colors
He weaveth steadily.

Oftimes he weaveth sorrow
And I, in foolish pride,
Forget he sees the upper
And I the underside.

Not 'til the loom is silent,
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God unroll the canvas
And reveal the reasons why...

The dark threads are as needful
In the skillful weavers hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern he has planned.


May God reveal the pattern in your life and help you appreciate the process as you go through life.

Heavenly Father,
Sometimes it is hard to accept the frustrations, the discomforts and the pain that comes into our life. Help us to accept it as part of your plan for us that we can't see right now as to how it will all play out in the final pattern. It will be more beautiful than any of us can imagine. Help us to trust you for the outcome.
In Jesus precious name..
Amen!

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Hot Predictions! OH MY!

Just when we thought it couldn't get any hotter here. HA! Guess what I get for my birthday! 93*! Yup! Sunday was suppose to be the hottest day and then it was SUPPOSE to start cooling off but then something shifted and now Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be the build up days to 93* ON my birthday.
So, ok, why am I complaining?

Well for one thing my cousin and I do our annual "birthday celebration" (it's the day I get to be older than her) on my birthday every year and one year it was 90* when we were at Country Village and the best the shops could do was use fans which hardly made a dent in the heat. We were wilting and looking for any place that had some air conditioning. We headed to my son's house but he wasn't home so we ended up at Denny's for a cool drink and some recovery time.

So to think about 93* on that day is daunting to say the least. Now where do we go for a nice cool lunch and where do we go for our shopping expedition? We don't "DO" malls. We like the thrift shops or antique shops the best. Most of the places we like to go don't have air conditioning...but...we might just get lucky.
Well I will let you know how it turns out!




Friday, July 24, 2009

Memo From God!


To: YOU
Date: TODAY
From: GOD
Subject: YOURSELF
Reference: LIFE

This is God. Today I will be handling All of your problems for you. I do Not need your help. So, have a nice day.

I love you. And, remember....if life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do Not attempt to resolve it yourself! Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. I will get to it in MY TIME. All situations will be resolved, but My time, not yours. Once the matter is placed in the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now. Should you decide to send this to a friend; Thank you. You may have touched their life in ways you will never know!

Now have a nice day.
God

Welcome to My Blog

To all my Facebook friends:
I hope you will enjoy reading my blog. Check out the older posts as well as I have some of my poetry there and some great recipes, musings and a whole variety of things. Even some stories on myself as a child. Now there's a trip!
There is also some links to other websites and videos there.
So have fun. Let me know what you liked.
Lynn Self

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Eggless, Milkless, Butterless Cake

Now here is a cake that should make some of you folks happy as it doen't contain dairy products. Plus it is a delicious spiced cake that's easy on the budget! This recipe came from Rosemary Marbach of Boston, Massachucetts and appeared in August 2009 issue of Guideposts. It was her Grandma's Depression Cake.

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 1/2 cups water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 cups dark raisins
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground clove
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons water
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

Preheat oven to 125*F. Combine sugar, water, oil, raisins and spices in a saucepan, and boil for 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Take pan off heat and let cool for 10 minutes. Dissolve baking soda and salt in 2 teaspoons of water and add to raisin mixture (it will foam). Blend in the flour and baking powder. Mix well. Pour batter into a greased 9-inch-square pan and bake for 55 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cake cool for about 10 minutes before serving. Serves 10 to 12.

Optional toppings:
(For those who like the dairy)
Whipped cream
Ice Cream
Yogurt
For those who avoid dairy:
Carmel or chocolate toppings

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

How Much is a CHOICE Worth?

I was reading an article in the lastest Women's Day magazine about a mom who was pondering over the idea of young mothers getting tatoos. That somehow tatoos have become more mainstream and how she was not buying into the idea of tatoos and body piercings. Me either. And I had to totally agree with her that beauty comes from within not from all these tatoos and hardware everywhere on ones body.


It isn't my place to judge these people, but rather to get people in general to see that our bodies are the temple of God and that by using it as a billboard or hardware store, so to speak, is like putting graffiti on our bodies, thus defacing them. We need to respect our God given bodies because they are designed to be the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.


It is like when we junk up neighborhoods with graffiti, it sends a wrong message and then the wrong sort of people hang out there, thus degrading the neighborhood. It doesn't make the neighborhood nearly as inviting.


So now which one would you be more inclined to be attracted to?
Here is a before and after picture of the same fence in our neighborhood. The picture on the right is before and the one on the left is after it has been cleaned off.
"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple; God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple." I Corinthians 3: 16-17
" Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have recieved from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." I Corinthians 6: 17
These verses are speaking to believers of course, but everyone has the potential to become a believer at some future point in their life time and what if suddenly they become a believer in spite of what they currently believe, and want to undo all the "graffiti" they have put on their bodies?
The truth is...there IS HOPE and that is my point here today.
Psalms 51: 7 says "Cleanse me with hysop and I will be clean. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."
Acts 22: 16 says: "And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name."
"For God SO LOVED (you) that he gave his one and only Son, that (if you) believe in him (you shall) not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world (for you) to condemn (you), but to save (you) through him. Whoever (and that can mean you my friend) believes in him is not condemned. but whoever does not believe in him is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son (Jesus)"
John 3: 16-18
It goes one to say that: "The verdict is this: Light has come into the world. but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." John 3: 19-21
I will challenge you to consider these thoughts BEFORE you decide to put tatoos or piercings on your body because once they are on they may be more difficult to remove than when they were put on. "A LITTLE forethought is better than a LOT of afterthought."
Have a great day!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Facebook! New Experience...

Well I finally did what I said I wasn't going to do...go back to Facebook! I joined it once but my daughter scared me off of it and I swore I would never go back there again. (Security issues). Anyway I went back there for totally different reasons this time and the person I was trying to find on there was one of the last people to locate but I did find them. In the meantime I found tons of other people that had for many reasons slipped out of my life and now we were reconnecting. I am still trying to figure it all out but it is fun to catch up on long lost friends and even some relatives.

Course my kids are giving me a hard time and wondering why I was back on again. (Just to haunt them really...: )) They can't escape the MOTHERNET! After all they are the ones who gave me that title in the first place. I am just living up to it. (Sort of like "Marie" on "Everybody Loves Raymond"!) They weren't answering their emails for the most part so I had to go where they were to just get their attention! Boy did I ever! Even got a call from a couple of them. One was like "Oh no! Mom's back on Facebook!" and the other was acutally quite encouraging...thank you Julie! One hasn't quite yet discovered mom is back on Facebook but I am sure he will soon enough and I am just waiting to hear his comments when he does! : ) I can already hear him saying "OH NO! Marie is here, run for cover!"

At any rate folks I am learning one thing at a time and who knows what I will be doing on this ol' computer next! It is never too late to learn!

UPDATE: And here is my son's exact comment to the above: ' "EXACTLY -- OH NO! MARIE + FACEBOOK = ARMAGEDDON. RUN!!!" B' He is so funny! And predictable.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Eating Fruit Correctly

We all think eating fruits, means just buying fruits and cutting and popping them into our mouths. It's not as easy as you think. It's important to know how and WHEN to eat.

What is the correct way of eatting fruits?

It means not eating fruits after your meals! Fruits should be eaten on an empty stomach!

If you eat fruit like that it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weigh loss and other life activities.

FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD! Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the system into the intestines, but is prevented from doing so.

In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes in contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil.....

So please eat your fruits on an EMPTY STOMACH or before your meals! You have heard of people complaining - every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat during my meal my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet, etc. --actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hense you will bloat.

Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes -- all these will NOT happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach!

There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the SECRET of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.

When you need to drink fruit juice - drink fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste. Cooking destroys all the vitamins.

But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking juice. If you should drink juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse you body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!

KIWI: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin E & fiber. It's C content is twice that of an orange.

APPLE: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

STRAWBERRY: Protective fruit. Strawberries have the highest total of antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

ORANGE: Sweetest medicine. Taking 2 - 4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dessolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher....Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutithione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for you eyes.

Drinking cold water after a meal = CANCER! Can you believe this?? For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you! It is nice to have a cold cup of drink after a meal. However the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. Very soon this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

Take time to read the following:

A serious note about heart attacks. HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE: (THIS IS NO JOKE) Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting.
Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line....You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms...Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they sleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you up from sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we have to survive...

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this info will pass it on to 10 people you can be sure of saving at least one life.

Friday, July 17, 2009

HOT ONE TODAY!

It's a hot one today! I am feeling like a grease spot right now. It is 88* so far and could get warmer as the day wears on. For some of you Arizona people I am sure 88* is nothing but for here it is HOT! No air conditioning and even a fan doesn't make a dent in the air.

Reminds me of a song that my brother-in-law penned back in high school about his beat up car to the tune of "This Silver Haired Daddy Of Mine" ...as near as I remember it...

On a grease covered spot on the race track,
I was covered all over with grime,
Trying to stuff all the rods back,
In this beat up old hot rod of mine.

Something blew on the stretch of the fifth lap,
Just as I over took number nine,
I came to the rapid conclusion,
Something's wrong with this hot rod of mine.

If I could erase, my smashed up old face,
And bring back just half of my hair,
If Dupont would grant me the powder,
Just to blow up the pages of time,

I'd give all I own,
If I could just disown,
This beat up old hot rod of mine.





This has stuck in my head since high school days. It makes me smile because I had ridden in that beat up old car before my brother-in-law ended up with it. The front floor boards were GONE and you could see the road underneath you as we were riding along. So by the time he ended up with it, it was REALLY beat up! Which I am sure inspired the words to this song. He and his sister sang it for us during an assembly one day and I never forgot it. I had "adopted" him as my brother as I never had any brothers and not knowing that one day he would become my brother-in-law. I pray for him as he is not doing well these days. I hope that God will heal his heart.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Musing For Today!


Today we woke up to fog this morning! Now this is summer and we don't ususally get fog until fall. So it was a bit of a surprise to see the fog this morning. Some days are like that. We just wake up and we can't seem to get through the fog of our sleepy minds.



But another consideration of "fog" is how it blocks our view of things we normally see and know are there. I think God is like that too. Not like the fog, but that he is normally there and when we can't seem to connect with Him it is like the fog has rolled into our lives and we don't see Him as before. Then the fog lifts and out pops the sunshine as it now has this morning. Only a few hours makes the difference sometimes.

When we get discouraged or depressed it is like that fog and at some point it WILL lift and we will experience the "sunshine" or "sonshine" if you will, and things get brighter as the day wears on. Maybe by simply putting on some music or taking a nice walk can help to lift the "fog" in your life. What ever it takes to get through that fog...and sometimes we just need to be patient and get busy at something else until the fog goes away.

Lord Jesus, I just pray for those today who might be experiencing "fog" in their lives where they can't seem to see you or sense your presence. I lift them up to you for your healing touch. In your precious Name...Amen.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Another 50th Anniversary Celebration!


Congratulations Lleana & Bud on your 50th Anniversary!
What a fun time we had at your celebration!
My cousin is very resourceful and found a gorgeous gold gown for the occasion! She looked stunning in it! She even found some "antique" 50th anniversary napkins at a thrift shop for $.35 a pack several years ago in anticipation of their 50th. Basically she is the THRIFT SHOP QUEEN! One doesn't have to spend a fortune to have a wonderful celebration in this economy. She does it with flair and I enjoy her creativity as well as her sense of humor! Bud was hilarious and was better than any stand up comic! And as Lleana said: "The way to a long marriage is to keep a sense of humor."
So there you have it from some of the "experts"!

Sunday, July 12, 2009

I Don't Have To Imagine -- I KNOW!

I Can Only Imagine
By Bart Millard


I can only imagine
What it will be like,
When I walk
By your side...
I can only imagine,

What my eyes will see,
When your face
Is before me.
I can only imagine.

I can only imagine

Chorus: Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still?
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing "Hallelujah!"? Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine.
I can only imagine. Yeah, I can only imagine!

I can only imagine,
When that day comes,
And I find myself,
Standing in the Son.

I can only imagine,

When all I will do,
Is forever,
Forever worship You!
I can only imagine.

I can only imagine (2 x)


As we sang this song in church this morning, I didn't have to "imagine" because I have had the experience of being in His presence and for me I was kneeling at His feet and in awe of Him. I was just sitting there, still, basking in the warmth and power of His love for me. Everything else in the universe just paled in the light of His love. I felt so complete. There was not one thing I longed for other than to be there in His presence. I experienced that peace that passes all understanding and I wanted for nothing. I didn't want to leave His side. Just to sit there in worship of Him was enough. I wish I could say that I experience this every day, but I don't. It was a rare, but healing time for me.

You see I had been carrying a lot of anger and hatred toward a person who had deeply hurt me and all of a sudden Jesus "appeared" to me and said to me "You will go into that dark pit along with the person you are angry at. Vengence is mine. I earned the right to it on the cross. But you, Come follow me!" and I knew I had to make a choice. I didn't want to be separated from Him and so I just let all that anger and hatred go (I gave it all over to Him) and by the warmth and power of His love for me I went and knelt down at his feet and in that moment I was healed of all my bitterness and anger and hatred. I felt cleansed and whole and at complete peace. I found my joy in Him!


Are you only "imagining" today or have you experienced being in His presence? Or are you carrying a burden of anger or resentment toward someone? All that it will do is rob you of the joy and peace you deserve through Jesus Christ. He can exchange all that "junk" within you for His peace and His joy and heal you completely. I KNOW! I don't have to "imagine" any longer. Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could KNOW too?


Here is the Assurance March song from childhood days!

Can we know that Jesus saves us, can we know? Be assured each moment, everywhere we (everywhere we go with Jesus)? Can we know our sins are all forgiven, washed away? That our path is leading to God's perfect day?


Oh yes, we can know, can know our sins are washed away, we can know, can know our sins are washed away: Chapter one verse twelve of John...is the ground we stand upon..."For as many as received Him to them gave He the power to become the sons of God even to those who believed on His name. "


We can know that Jesus saves us, we can know. Be assured each moment, everywhere we (everywhere we go with Jesus). We can know our sins are all forgiven, washed away. That our path is leading to God's perfect day!


Saturday, July 11, 2009

Love Going Down Memory Lane

Today is a nice warm sunny day but the clouds are coming in and we could have showers by this evening. I wanted to take a picture of a beautiful dogwood tree in the area on our way to and from Fred Meyer...it is a pink and white tree and just so full of blossoms. Bob wouldn't turn around so I could take a picture of it either and had the audacity to tell me that the blossoms were all gone...yeah, just since yesterday...hardly! Sounds like my Dad when I was a kid and spotting an Ice Cream truck I would tell Daddy to stop and get some ice cream... he would say "What Ice Cream Truck? I don't see any Ice Cream truck!" It was his polite way of saying no we aren't buying ice cream today. I GOT the message but wasn't happy about it. But since I wasn't the one driving I didn't have any choice.




Do you ever wish you could just savor moments of pure pleasure? I remember we had a Summer Sunday's in the Park with our church one summer and I looked over to notice a "totally Norman Rockwell" moment when Jack Day was standing there, baseball cap on backwards, smiling and singing joyfully while two of his kids (who were little back then) were happily swinging all wrapped around each of his legs. I still picture that scenerio and wish I had taken a picture of it. (We didn't have digital cameras back then.) But I could just "see" that as the epitomy of a "DAD" and Norman Rockwell painting that scene. I could even "see" it as a figurine. But alas, it is just a memory in my head.




Here is another totally "Dad" picture of Steve working on their "Omlet House" (aka Chicken coop). I love it! Plus he did a fantastic job on it too. This one did get photographed for the archives of memory.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Praying For Good New Neighbors!


We pray for good new next door neighbors without dogs preferrably. But I am sure God will send the person or people of His choosing and I need to be open to whomever he plants next to us. Of course we neighbors always seem to have the "ideal neighbors" already figured out as to who we would like to move in and many times it isn't anything like what we hoped for or imagined. Every potential renter is a new opportunity to meet and get to know and possibly to witness to as well. A new mission ground.


The last two renters next door really weren't compatable with the neighborhood and frankly we neighbors were happy to see them move out. But is that really the attitude we Christians should be having? Probably not! Of course some can be extreemly annoying, like parking a truck up close to the mailboxes and even knocking the mailboxes over and not bothering to fix the problem and then after our landlord gets the problem fixed this neighbor still parks his truck up close to the mailboxes as well as other things. He was making it difficult for the mailman to get in close to the mailboxes to deliver the mail. The other problem was he was parking a big giant truck out front sometimes and unloading stuff off of it which we found out later he was stealing from his company and ended up going to jail. He wouldn't socialize nor speak to any of us neighbors. But it is making me aware that I myself need to check my own attitude toward my neighbors good or bad. Everybody has baggage they carry and we don't know what that baggage is and it behooves us to pray for our neighbors. God can do with them far more than we can.


Lord Jesus,
While I pray for good new next door neighbors, you are preparing those whom you will plant next to us for your purpose. Help me to be willing to see beyond my own agenda and accept what you have planned. In your precious name...Amen

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

LIVIN' EASY! Life is rosy!


Just had to show off my one beautiful rose called "Livin' Easy"~ and even though it is only one rose on the bush this year, it is gorgeous! Winter was pretty rough on all my roses this year and many didn't survive. A few looked like they were dead and then new growth came up from underneath, perhaps from the parent plant and will look much different than what it was intended to be, but still will send out some pretty roses to look at. Maybe next year I will get some new ones, but for this year I am going to just enjoy what comes up. We are having too much fun starting our new Gano Excel business to spend much time in the garden this year.

And like this rose...we are just LIVIN' EASY and enjoying LIFE to the fullest!



But another thought for today...


Above All
By Michael W. Smith










Above all powers, above all kings,
Above all nature and all created things,
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man,
You were here before the world began.









Above all kingdoms, above all thrones,
Above all wonders the world has ever known,
Above all wealth and treasures of the earth,
There's no way to measure what you're worth.









Crucified, laid behind the stone,
You lived to die rejected and alone,
Like a rose trampled on the ground
You took the fall and thought of me
Above all!

And like my roses that seemed to die; underneath was some new growth...(like us), because of the death above it, we are given a second chance at life!
Thank you Jesus for what you did for us!

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Happy 5th Birthday Rebecca!

July 4th was party day for Rebecca and her cousin Alyssa but their birthdays were and are on different dates. Rebecca turns 5 and Alyssa has already had her 10th birthday! Rebecca is seeing her best surprise of all:



A new bike that she was wanting so badly and thought she was going to have to wait until Christmas to get one....


















"Wow! Is this for real?" she is thinking as she touches it and is taking it all in ....












And then getting on it and trying it out~
Can life get any better than this??


Don't we wish we could all be kids again?




Saturday, July 4, 2009

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!


The oral history of the night that inspired our National Anthem, the Star Spangled Banner. Listen to this story of our great Veterans during the war of 1812...
vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=21689194
You may have to copy and paste that link into your address line but it is worth listening to. It is about 12 minutes long.
Have a safe 4th!

Friday, July 3, 2009

Canada Day - July 1st

My mother's family came from Canada. It is like my second home. Mom was born in Nova Scotia and came west in 1910 to Vancouver, B.C.
After she and my Dad were married she came to the United States and became a naturalized citizen. My beloved Grandparents lived in Canada so we would go to visit them often and I have many precious memories of many vacations spent with them every summer. I enjoyed spending time with my cousins, Pene and Poppe and my aunt and uncle too. Since then I have found more of my family heritage online going back to Ireland and Scotland. I even discovered cousins I didn't know I had and have been in contact with several of them and have learned so much more about my mother's family history. I have made several wonderful friends there too.
So to all my Canadian cousins and friends: Happy Canada Day to you all! Sorry I missed the day. Got a little bit mixed up there. : ) But my sentiments are the same.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Getting Ready For the Fouth of July!

Here is our humble abode. We love where God had planted us and are content in this place!
We are all ready for the Fourth of July! But notice we are keeping an "eye" on those would would deny us our Independance. : ) Nice to have the banners but in looking at them from this angle they look like a couple of eyes! Funny how that happens!

But here is the good ol' United States of America Flag. Long may she wave!

Got A Minute? Let Me Tell You About....


Here is what our new business cards will look like.
This is a fun retirement business and one that is easy to do. Everyone enjoys a cup of coffee or tea or hot chocolate. But this coffee, tea and hot chocolate is different! It cuts the caffeine and helps to balance you out so you aren't getting the highs and lows with the caffeine jitters.
Plus you get all the health benefits of super antioxidants with each cup. Our mission is to help people we care about stay healthy and live a long and happy life. Plus help people have extra income to sustain that long and happy life.
If you just need extra income or have lost your retirement savings in this economy or out of a job and are looking for a way to provide an income for your family this may be your ticket to both health and financial security. Check out our website at: www.myganocafe.com/selfstarters
and then see for yourself what it is all about! You owe it to yourself to check this one out. We are so glad that we did! For us it wasn't something we thought we were interested in until we heard the details. Then we got exited and couldn't wait to get signed up. Maybe this is what you are thinking too. If so...do what we did and give it a listen before telling yourself "This isn't something I would be interested in." You might be surprised as we were and you might just miss the opportunity of a lifetime!

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Chicago Tribune 1934 Cartoon


Here is an editorial cartoon 75 years old!
Seem familier? Most all of us know what happened and how long it took to get things straightened out. Most of those in D.C. weren't even born then!
Look at this cartoon from 1934 and look especially carefully at the plan of action.
Remember the adage, "Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it!" Looks like we could be in for difficult times. Frightening!
And just in case you can't read it it says:
"Plan of Action for U.S.
Spend! Spend! Spend under the guise of recovery -- bust the government --Blame the Capitalists for the failure--junk the Constitution and Declare A Dictatorship"
While a picture of Stalin is to the right saying "How red the sunrise is getting!"
On the back of the cart the sign says "DEPLEATING THE RESOURCES OF THE SOUNDEST GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD"
Does this ring any bells or sound familier today? With the Fourth of July and what it means: OUR INDEPENDANCE DAY! Is our Independance being taken away from us as we read this?
We the People need to pray as if everything depends on us and do what we can to stop this madness.
What will we do about it? What will YOU do to help save this country from destruction? I have been praying hard and signing petitions, passing along info and donating where and when I can as the Lord enables me to do so. Do what you can however little or much you can do. Every little bit helps.