shopping

 just a quick trip to QFC for a couple more items that will finish the food preparation

No, not done with gift wrapping, that is what I should be doing now

Something is on my mind

There on the middle shelf in the bakery department was something I love for breakfast and it was on sale and I have not had any for over a year

Did I buy it?

Will I have some tomorrow morning?

Can you guess what it is ?

one hint:  two words.  both start with the same letter

the letter is P.

did you get it?

I live an exciting life

Having pumpkin pie for breakfast  

I live an exciting life  

when the day is busy

 

and you don't want to forget how special it was...

write about it..

Monday.. feeling a day late in getting our "Christmas box" to our family in Minnesota.  

 and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas  ♥

Package complete .. Darrell took it off to Staples and they think it might get there by December 24 !
no guarantee, but that's ok

Back to the next stage of gifts and things.  

Hubby in and out with Foxy issues.(.that is the pick up).  
        Darrell and Damon drove to Spokane on Friday to look after property business. Snoqualmie pass clear    On Saturday the passes were closed    They  came home on Sunday... passes clear, but the engine light was going off and on.
Monday morning  Foxy would not get up the driveway.   Just ready to call AAA ...tried one more time
         Bingo...she started.   A little shaky going down to the mechanic.
Now we are a little  shaky as we heard it could be a transmission problem.

About noon my friend Linda stopped by...just a short visit ..did not even have a cup of coffee, just wanted a signature on a petition... I understand enough to sign, but not explain now.

3:45 SIL   ( Dale ) came by to get a ride to his mechanic and borrow Sabrina ( she is my little red convertible ) and at the same time  there is a change of plans ...Sebastian ( our grandson ,age almost 11)  is going to spend the night !  

Sebastian entertained himself on the piano for quite a while  ( has an ear for music, no lessons yet )
A little hungry.  Ritz crackers and cheese.    How about "Elf"..time for about 20 minutes

almost ready to leave for an early dinner and

5:05 friend, very good friend Helen came by with her annual loaf of Great Harvest bread and two jars of her strawberry freezer jam.  I was ready. I had her gift bag ready.  
Her freezer door was left open, so she needed to come earlier than usual..Her freezer is 40 years old and still works !
Our vacuum is less than 3 years old and needed "help".  Don't ask how much that cost, but we had to pay and we had to pick it up before 6:00, closing.

Bye Helen

Off we go. Pick up a hopefully rejuvenated vacuum.
Next stop Crossroads. 
    First we leave a bag of  books at half price books ( they had been piling up and...well it was time to do something )  While I waited for my  ...what?  $1.49  payment, and purchase some cards.
     The boys went to the food court and both were ready for Thai food. 
      I  found a different choice and then parked right by the best French fries, so added that and waited for the boys to join me.    Poor Seb, his order did not look at all like the picture.  He ate part of it  but it was not until later Darrell realized he should have taken it back.    Well, Seb was not real hungry after some cheese and a tube of  Ritz crackers. And he is a good sport. 

At home we finish Elf and Seb has a Sorbet in a shell ( Costco, very fun) 

We call and chat with Tiffany, Seb's mom.   She is having spinal surgery in the morning.   Seb makes her a card.   

After Elf, we watch, my favorite  " The Very Best Christmas Pageant Ever".  I always laugh a little  and eyes swim a little.  

A little after 9:00 time for bed..prayers and goodnight kisses never heard another peep until morning.  

Just about the end of an almost normal day
Yes, we can manage with one vehicle 
Yes, we are grateful for friends who feel free o drop by
Yes, we can trust the Lord for all family concerns, even Spinal surgery

I live an exciting life

Anniversary

The 50th Anniversary Celebration

And the memories overflow...

Looking back through the album for a picture of our wedding cake I decided to add a few special pictures to the "story"

but could not stop with just a few

Darrell and his Dad....    My sister, Barb,   Bride, me,   My Mother 

                                                        

Candle lighters. Becca and Liz                                        My Mother with  Al Cantrell

Nelson  Wright and Anita Giesbrecht                              Al and Judy Cantrell

Dan Thonney and Nancie Renaud                                         Al Erisman   and Sharon, Darrell's sister

Barb, my sister    Paul Willis, Darrell's best man                    Trina  and Lisa Dorge 

      Roger gave me away                                                      Trina and Jeff Dorge lead the way 

  Favored guest, My Grandma                 Favored helpers, Vern and Joan Reed 

     Wedding ceremony by Ted Froese                                              Wedding party 

      Grooms cake by Lisa Dorge and Mona Kristoferson   servers" Nancy Kristoferson and EllenMarie 

Helen Greenway and Aunt Dora Morgan         Uncle Bill sang and Mary Jane played organ

Mr and Mrs Greenway, Mrs. Tanner, Mr and Mrs Locati, Mr Tanner

                                                                        Betsy Kristoferson at the guestbook, Mr and Mrs Fournier signing 

The Tanners Ginger Greenway & Mrs. Harle             Otto and Eunice Klassen

Bel McCoy,  Aunt Pat, Aunt Mary, Ellie Brimlow

Emma ( Pink dress)  Aunt Dora, Mrs. Tanner Mr and Mrs Storrer 

Our Sunday School girls
Teresa,                              Cindy and Edith 

Great getaway

Our friends had a boat and rice 

2021...the celebration begins

Our children planned a dinner at the Salish Lodge, overlooking the Snoqualmie Falls 

A beautiful private room with deck overlooking 
The Snoqualmie Falls by night 

Having such a good time did not snap enough photos 

Cake made by our friend Janet 

Our kiddos  (minus 4 in Minnesota )

Sister and Rog.... He gave me away 50 years ago
But, they can't get rid of me yet 

On the 27th Darrell had a bouquet prepared 

We went out for breakfast at Chase Pancake Corral and then drove up to North Bend and shopped around....and did not hurry

Home for a little rest...

Then Tiffany and Sebastian came with balloons

We received phone calls and lots of cards

And just before heading out to dinner our wonderful neighbors and friends brought another bouquet and card.  
thank you Asha and Arun 

This is the view from Daniel's Broiler.   Saturday night started the Snowflake Lane parade.   We skipped it, due to rain, but got a glimpse from the 21st floor.

Crab legs to share 

Salmon for me

Filet Mignon for Darrell

All the cards are special, but this one.....

Yes... we sent this card to Barb and Rog in 1975 ...Barb saved it  ( It is very cute) and now we have it in our collection  

I live an exciting life

and a blessed life too 

a date with our little man

 It started with a big hug at the bus stop

little walk up the hill

grab  a suitcase and off we go

First stop lunch

British Pantry with super friend Martha

Home to  relax and then

Then a little concoction of his own

Bubble bath
(  all three favorite towels because " I am much bigger now")

Loves to sleep in the rec room, on the floor by the wood stove
Listening to his ipad...stories of long ago

sleep.

Early morning
Waffles on the same "table" where he made his concoction

Then we file into Bella and off to school.
Singing:  "Genesis Exodus Leviticus"    up to
Lamentations...  still have some memory work to do

Only one wrong turn ( I can honestly blame GPS ) 

Arrived in plenty of time
A half day at school and then the first of his birthday party celebrations

And another tradition for the year- a sleep over at Grammy's , the right before his birthday so his parents can decorate for the party. 

We live an exciting life

Only once a year

 and only  in October

Preparing goodie bags

Here is what happened 2021 

Getting fun bags from the dollar store and adding at least 4 pieces of candy

This is the gospel message I found for this year... a sweet and true story

Ready, inside and out... photos from previous years give entertainment and smiles to this years visitors

Robin is always my first visitor.   She was full of sparkle and loved it

One young gal asked if it was legal to take her picture.  I promised not to post it on the internet, so she and her friends posed and I can post it on my door next year.

                              No identity here.... 

                                                             or here ......

But you might notice the winter blooming camellia...always beautiful in October 

.. many parents in costume and just a polite fun group ...152 total 

The weather was ideal.. a little cold, but dry and I think everyone was just excited to be outside again.   

Favorite comment:   Do we get extra if we have been vaccinated?

I live an exciting life   

94 years and still smiling

Happy 94th Birthday Marti 

 

Delighted to spend an hour, right on her birthday, around her little fireplace... 

So perky and full of stories .. she remembers my hubby ( he grew up in Spokane and was a little naughty and Marti loves  telling me about that)

Only a little time to reflect on her life, but I asked her what her favorite birthday might have been.

She said she had not thought about it before, bur probably her 8th birthday.    She had just asked the Lord into her heart and for her birthday her parents gave her a Bible.  
A treasure for many reasons, but one we might not think about today, they were very poor.  She was raised during the depression and times were hard.  She repeated that a few times, they were poor and worked hard.

The youngest of a family of 8 brothers.  When she was born, one of her brothers went around the neighbors telling them.. 

                      " We finally got a dish washer"

I have known Marti for probably 60 years. My instant memory of her is always with a smile.

An example to follow...  we all love you Marti !

p.s. thanks for permission to post  ☺

 

I live an exciting life 

 Hard times..very hard  

Times  we will always remember...

Princess Diana's Death 1997 

I remember we were at Hick's Lake Bible Camp over Labor Day weekend and someone came on Sunday morning with the newspaper and the news.

A face we all recognize 

                                                   ------------------------------------

Assassination  of President Kennedy 1963 

A patient came into the office where I was working and said " Here today Gone today"
Funny that after all these years I remember those words, but it was  shocking, hard  and world news.

                                           -----------------------------------------------------

9-11

A before and an after... only a glimpse of the disaster 

2001 

It was a Tuesday morning, BSF leaders training day. I came downstairs and thought that someone had changed the radio station in my kitchen. It was always on, 24/7 and on Spirit radio.  

              No one had changed the station, 

                        an event in New York had changed our world.       

..................and.............

Who remembers April 29, 2011 
         A Friday that many women around the world dressed in their best English attire to watch  the wedding of a Prince & Princess

         But all the joy and excitement was halted when on 

May 2, 2011   the world's most wanted terrorist was taken down

--------------------------------------------------------------

Each of us holds on to the memory of a loss.  A grandparent, a child, a best friend.  Or even someone we had never met, but the circumstances were harsh and close to someone dear to us.

For me, there are a few, but  most recently, there are two

 A child in the neighborhood of our grandchildren.  A little two year old was separated from her family while at the park.  When the father took one child to the restroom, he came back and the other children had not noticed the little one had slipped away.  The search party, police and helicopter spent the night  combing the area for her.  It was the next morning when they found her little body in a pond.  No I had never met the family, but the news hurt my heart. I cried for the family.  That precious life was taken, too soon.  That little one has a name. She has a family and loved ones that will forever hurt and miss her. 

     --------------------------and ------------------

Personally, for our family, a loss we will remember

Tyler, lifted up to heaven just a year and a day before his 40th birthday 

Tyler went to school with our son, soon to be 40. 
 The circumstances of his death are hard to talk about, mainly because it was a series of events that were out of his control. And very harsh.

 Over 100 friends and family gathered on September 29th. 
 Many 40 year old friends and their parents  
A beautiful tribute to the genuine loving person Tyler had been.  Lindsay Anderson  opened the "Celebration of  Tyler's Life" with  prayer.  A very emotional and touching prayer. 
 Another friend was at the keyboard and shared  beautiful Christian music. We were not able to stay for the whole evening, but we left with a kite to fly in his honor and  the confirmation that

Tyler loved Jesus and they are together now and for eternity.   
That is the greatest memory  

We are reminded that we have only today.... we hear it often, but today, I am especially clinging to the friends and family that God has blessed me with.    Praying for them and working a little harder to spend time with them. 

I live an exciting life