What Did We Get?

caravan to Tall Timber

Take 20+ people of various ages and skill sets, 

5 vehicles, an assortment of  tools, luggage and bedding, 

and enough snacks to feed an army, 

spread them out over a 4 day period

 and see what you get. 

most of the crew acting 'normal'

rainbow of promise!

What we got was:

2 leaders who have been doing this Tall Timber thing for about 20 years. 

A core group that has gotten Tall Timber-itis and keeps coming back. 

Newbies who have never experienced the wonders of our favorite camp. 

Grasshopper Mountain

What we got was:

a list of chores, a plan to execute

work assignments, group time to play and pray

sore muscles, paint splattered clothing, blood, sweat, (but no tears)

weeds-be-gone

blood, sweat and giggles.

artistic touches

safety first

move that dirt!

know the plan

What we got was:

well fed, well housed

dirt moved and removed

weeds gone, flowers planted

grass mowed, trails blazed

mow it down

spread it around

What we got was:

game time, nap time

books read, hikes taken

fellowship, fresh air

sunshine and rain

wild life

sunshine!

What we got was:

a feeling of accomplishment

a sense of pride in a job well done

a better -closer relationship with our church family

time well spent in God's creation. 

having fun while we get it done.

little cabin in the big woods

What we got was something you cannot measure in weight or gold 

and cannot sell, buy or trade. 

What we got was something that can only happen 

when you make a sacrifice of time, money, and energy. 

What we got was something only a mission experience can bring you. 

Mission Tall Timber 2014.
THANK YOU EVERYONE! YOU ARE AWESOME!!

the color of happy

I belong to a monthly photo challenge group on Facebook. 

Every day of the month there is a different prompt

for what to post a picture of.

The group is made up of both professionals and amateurs, 

those with expensive cameras full of do-dads and what-nots, 

and those who snap furiously away with iPhones and Androids. 

The point is, we are taking pictures, 

which means we are LOOKING. 

Looking for opportunities, looking for details, 

paying attention to the great big wonderful world around us 

and trying to capture it in 1/1000 of a second.

Maybe the world we live in 
is much different from the world of 
Dick and Jane and Spot 
in the sense that there seems to be 
much more brokenness,sadness and waste, 
but the importance of the "biggest word of all: LOOK" 
hasn't changed. 
Having my camera and list of photo prompts 
spurs me on to LOOK, 
and it's beauty I seek. 

The prompt for this particular day was Yellow; 
an appropriate choice for the month in which Spring arrives.
As I set out on my morning walk, 
I was purposely looking for yellow. 
Not just for the prompt but as a sort of challenge to myself.
How much yellow could I find in the world around me?
The results were surprising. Spying each flash of yellow
caused a little spurt of happiness inside of me.
It was fun to recognize 
how certain colors are associated 
with certain moods and emotions. 

For me, yellow is Happiness.

What colors represent happiness to you? 

the Good, the Bad, the Beautiful

Finding beauty in the day. My favorite view of Mt Baker and Twin Sisters, from Hwy 9

I have a very dear friend who always, and I mean, ALWAYS, finds beauty in her day. She inspires me to no end, with this attitude, especially since she is a cancer SURVIVOR. So, despite the good bad and ugly that you might expect to come with depression and physical pain, I am, PRAISE THE LORD, seeing beauty, not ugliness.

The Good:

• I do feel better. Stable. More evened out. Not so overwhelmed by little things like making phone calls or leaving the house. 

halfway to goal!

• I have even lost some weight! I set a goal awhile back and I have reached my halfway point. Celebrating being able to get back into some 'skinnier' jeans that have been tucked in the drawer for sometime....

• My sister and her hubby have decided to move 'back home' after being in S. Ca for 30 some years. They will be here next week and I cannot tell you how excited I am over this! I realized the other day that my sister and I have never lived in the same area as adults, where I had the FREEDOM to visit her whenever we wanted. The times she and her husband resided in our county, I was prohibited by the controller I was married to at the time, from having her over or going to her house, unless he approved it. Which wasn't very often. So I am delighted that this option is now before me. Sister-time will be happening on a regular basis!! whoo hoo!

ready for the 4th of July

• Progress-- and I mean GREAT progress has been made with my mom. While she still won't admit she likes her new digs, she has settled in and is opening up more to the other residents and joining in some activities. Other great news is I found a new doctor for her who makes HOUSE CALLS. HELLO!!!  Yes, it's a nurse practitioner and one of the places on their approved list for visiting patients in the facility is right where my mother is living. While I will still be in attendance for those Dr. visits, it is a huge burden lifted to have this service. 

The Bad

• pretty sure my foot still has the stress fracture. but it does feel better... 
• going back to work this week on the regular schedule was a toughie. Today made day 4 and I have tomorrow off and then work Saturday. Yah, even though the boss and I talked and had this cool understanding about me working 3-4 days a week he could not make it happen after all. He is out of the office a lot so I am just getting Fridays off for right now... could be worse.
• torn and undecided now about whether to continue with this job or not. Listing the pros and cons don't add up to much when I am in pain. 
• Work has been pretty much at a standstill for the hubby. Frustrating. We get a lot of phone calls and leads on jobs but they don't pan out or something else comes up. We are holding on, faith is important, trust is important, especially in times like these... like Mother Teresa is credited with saying " God won't give me more than I can handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much."

The Beautiful

• This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.

• I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.

• My grace is sufficient for you,( Says the Lord) My power works best in your weakness.

• I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.

• We have had sunshine for a week straight and it's been glorious. Not too hot, just perfect summer days, one right after the other.

• I am in love with my husband and he loves me. Super uber goodness right there. 

when your husband writes this in chalk and then nonchalantly walks you passed it on your way home, that's love. 

There is a great big wonderful world waiting outside. I am going out there and gonna REVEL in it!!