Winter Snow

 In our last move,

one of the deciding factors in a move

was to avoid snow country.

After years of Arctic life (hubby) and NY life (me),

we were content to avoid months of snow.

This morning, I shoveled for the first time in years,

not because we haven't had snow, but because I either didn't have a shovel, or I had a gravel driveway :)

You can see that our wild winter snow gave me quite the workout - a whopping 2 inches.

I will enjoy looking at the snow for a few days,

but I am glad that our "big storms" can be shoveled away in 30 minutes or less.

Photo (and Event) Dump

It has been a crazy "March."

They say it is in like a lion and out like a lamb.

It seems as if we are going to come in and go out like a lion.

The weather tomorrow is supposed to get "ugly."

At the beginning of the month, we had a wild storm.

We weathered it all right, but determined that our garage door was not strong enough for "Blowing Green," after it dented in during a wind gust.

It turns out our door was only rated for 20 mph winds.

A new door is on order with a wait time of 4-6 weeks.  

It will provide more insulation, protection up to 90 mph,  and the addition of windows since we use the room as extra living space much of the time (and hubby's work-from-home office.)

We were supposed to have "Donut Day" back in mid-February,

but sickness has been like a wrestling match around here.

We have gone around the ring with sinus issues and coughs for over a month.

We finally had our donut date last Saturday.

The new little shop did not disappoint.

They serve up hot mini gluten-free donuts with a choice of toppings.

We went for blueberries and cream (at least this time).

It will not be our last visit to Gus's.

After our donut date,

we built the blueberry bush planter.

Yes, we did not wait another year.

It is now in place and provides more privacy

and the promise of more greenery.

The apple trees and blueberry bushes are now planted

and we will wait for the growth and fruit in a year or two.

You can see the footers of two new houses in the background.

And just today, my serviceberry tree and lilac bush arrived.

The serviceberry is in the back right corner

and the lilac is in the back left corner.

In the front is a dead or "mostly dead" boxwood.

We took it out of the front and it was only in a bucket all winter.

It was a pretty harsh winter for a bush in a bucket.

I am hoping it has life,

but it may not make it.

Now we wait for the perennials that will fill the rest of the garden.

And there you have it - the update!

Now I have to get back to taxes.

I think this is a record of lateness - 

but the last forms finally came in last weekend.

Additional Help

I am always thankful for additional help.

It may be hubby helping me finish the supper dishes.

It may be an extra hand putting a meal together.

It may be an encouraging word or example that makes me push harder.

I am now 3 1/2 months from surgery.

My wrist is much better.

It is still often very stiff,

but does not inhibit very many activities anymore.

I am still doing rehab every day using exercises recommended online,

but I thought that I might need something more to push my progress.

For the cost of one visit to the rehab center,

I enrolled in 2 months of online instruction.

It is not personal,

but it has progressive exercises that are pushing my motion and strength further.

Currently, I am on week 3 and feel that the scar tissue is breaking down more.

I am also preparing for an offertory in 2 weeks which is stretching for me.

I can tell that I am working new muscles,

because my hand and arm are sure worn out at the end of the day!

 

Two Sides of the Same Coin

 There is much excitement today.

The cast is off.

I have washed away most of the dead, dry skin on my arm.

The scar is looking better now that 4 more weeks have passed.

I can progress with phase 2 - REHAB!

Working on grip with therapy putty

And there is a little discouragement.

 I tried to prepare for what "stiffness" meant, but I fell far short.

It is as if my arm and hand are just fused together without a joint.

My range of motion is tiny, very tiny.

I have gained a little mobility as I worked on some exercises throughout today,

but it feels like a long road.

But, I have a great cheerleader who worked from home today 

and made the meals while I rested and exercised.

It is definitely ready for a rest tonight.

On The Mend

 I am so grateful for all the people who prayed for my surgery yesterday.

We arrived at the hospital at 1:30 with surgery slated for 3:30.

Well, surgery didn't happen until 5:30ish,

but I was out of the hospital by 8:30.

I am thankful for a skilled surgeon.

I am thankful that my new splint ends before my elbow and is only hard on the bottom making it more breathable.
I am thankful that hubby has been able to work from home.

I am thankful that I have been able to manage pain with Tylenol only.

I am thankful for the cool temps outside so the house is cool and comfortable.

And today, I don't feel too bad.

I can sense where the plate and screws are,

but I have done two small loads of wash

and made a tuna pasta salad with hubby's help.

I hope to take a walk later on this beautiful fall day.

One Day Left

Just a brief update for all of the prayer warriors.

Tomorrow is moving day!

Saturday was a productive day with extra help from hubby.

We emptied the living room and packed up miscellaneous things in the garage.

We also enjoyed a walk in the Oregon Spring weather.

Yesterday, we said goodbye at church.

Today, I need to cook meals for the trip and pack up the kitchen and master closet.

I have been able to clean carpets as we empty rooms which has been nice.

Tomorrow we will find out if God was pleased to give us the 22' truck or if He knew we needed the 26'!

Please pray for space in the cul-de-sac to load the truck (neighbors at work or in their driveways).

Please pray for strength and safety after this weekend of packing to load the truck.

Our long days of travel will be Wednesday to Friday.

It looks like the weather will be good along the way - 

please continue to pray for safety that way.

We are also glad to see gas prices level off - 

please pray that they might stay put or lower as we travel.

God provided a storage unit in KY.

Who knew that it was such a hot commodity?

Our apartment is waiting for us next Monday.

Our new home was roofed late last week and will receive brick-facing this week.

Daily, we realize just how blessed we are.

As we walked on Saturday, we enjoyed a community similar to the one we are moving to.

When we arrived in OR, we thought out loud about how nice it would be to live in such a neighborhood - 

in a new or fairly new home.

And God has given us the desires of our hearts.

farewell Raleigh Ct. SE

Not Now, Maybe Later

I have quite a few of those jobs.

"MAYBE LATER" jobs!

You probably do to.

I accomplished two of those jobs last week.

The first was the linoleum in the kitchen and bathrooms.
While they do get cleaned weekly,
I realized that I had not really scrubbed / scoured them since we moved in.
It is one of those jobs that doesn't yield a dramatic result,
but it needed to be done.
So out came the vinegar and the baking soda.
Out came the rubbing alcohol to shine it all up.
Was it a huge transformation?
No!
But it needed to be done.

The second was the shower curtain liner.
It was brand new when we moved in and then was scrubbed in February,
but it needed to be done again.
Not my favorite job.
Again, only semi-satisfying results.
But it needed to be done.

I have a few more "maybe later" jobs hanging out.

The entry way that gets covered with spider webs and bugs.
Discouraging because within 2 days it will need doing again.
But it needs to be done.

Curtains need to be washed and pressed again.

Pillows need to be washed and dried.

The refrigerator is in need of a good cleaning.

So what are you putting off?

Why not check one of those items off this week?

And as a little side note:
If you are one of my nieces and nephews reading the blog,
why not grab one of those undesirable jobs this week.
I know you can do it.

This Day in History

 Most of my readers (family and friends) were in the same place on this day in history 2002.

It was a warm, humid day in NY - Latham, NY to be exact.

It is the day that I married my sweetheart.

18 YEARS!

It is hard to believe it.

And yet, so much has happened.

So much has changed.
We have changed as individuals and as a couple.
Hubby laughs when I say something bold or act with confidence.
I don't know if it is age or his influence on me, but I am more outspoken then I was back then.
Our first year (ok, our first 5 years of marriage) was spent on the go.
If hubby was not working, we were exploring.
Today, the perfect weekend is a "wog" together, brunch, and peace and quiet.
We are happily "homebodies."
We have made cross country moves 3 times,
lived in 4 states,
lived in apartments, trailers, and duplexes.

And some things haven't changed.
Our home is typically still quiet, just the two of us.
Despite our ideas, the Lord never opened the door for "full-time" ministry.
And we still enjoy being a couple and spending time together.

We celebrated on Saturday.
Yes, there was a "wog."
There was a brunch.
We mini golfed for the first time in years (we think since NY 2003).
We enjoyed cold brew coffee lattes at home.
And I made shrimp scampi and blackberry lemon bars for our celebratory dinner.

The lemon bars are perfect for a summer evening and the blackberries are plentiful right now.

Ingredients

CRUST:

1 cup Gluten-free rolled oats 

½ cup almonds

1 tablespoon coconut sugar

pinch of salt

2 tablespoons melted coconut oil or butter

2-4 tablespoons cold water (start with LESS, add more if needed)

FILLING:

4 eggs

½ cup maple syrup

½  cup lemon juice (fresh is best_

3 tablespoons coconut flour 

1.5 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel

pinch of salt

1½ cup fresh blackberries (blueberries or raspberries can be used instead)

Instructions

CRUST:

Preheat oven to 350F.
To make the crust, combine oats, almonds, sugar, and salt in a food processor.
Blend until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Add oil and then add water one tablespoon at a time, blend just until mixture comes together.
It should easily press together, but not be overly wet.
Sometimes it may only take 2-3 tablespoons, so it's important not to add all of the water at once.

Press mixture into the bottom of a well-greased 8x8-inch pan.
Bake in the 350F oven for 10 minutes.
Remove and let cool while you make the lemon filling.

LEMON FILLING:

In a blender or processor, add eggs, honey/maple syrup, lemon juice, coconut flour, lemon peel, and salt.
Blend until smooth.
 Carefully pour mixture over the oat crust and sprinkle berries evenly over the filling.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until edges are golden brown and the filling in the middle has set.
Remove and let cool before placing in the refrigerator.
Refrigerate for several hours before serving.
Cut into squares and serve chilled.
Store remaining bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Where have you been? Part VIII

Something for the little ones

and a way to show love.

Early in the quarantine,

one of hubby's coworkers had a baby - 2 months premature.

We decided to reach out with a gift and the gospel.

A blanket, some wipes, some baby lotion

and a tract and letter with the gospel.
I had many of the blocks completed,
but hurried to finish the rest and put the border on.

And then I got to thinking that I should always have a little blanket on hand to give.

If there is one thing I have learned in life its this:

if you love on someone's child(ren), you automatically show love to the parent.

And so, I crochet to and from church.
I can get one block done per trip (which makes 3 a week)!

I crochet on quiet evenings at home.

I am well on my way to having another completed.

(they are anywhere from 5 blocks x 5 blocks to 7 blocks x 7 blocks - depending on the pattern)

I think that this one is set to be 7x5.

Where have you been? Part VII

This one is a strange one ...

but none the less, it occupied some of my time during the blog break.

With the return to church services, also came the need for social distancing.

Rows were separated and spread apart.

Our little church has plastic canvas tissue box covers on the tissue boxes in each row.

While they are not quite my "cup of tea" and a little dated,

they do help the boxes to hold up a lot better.

tried to at least use more modern colors and patterns

Suddenly the need for tissue boxes and covers multiplied by 2.

So another member and I made tissue boxes.

I still have one more to complete.

one of the originals

Where have you been? Part IV

As the "lockdown" came to an end,

another ministry presented itself.

Libraries were still closed,

typical summer activities for children were canceled,

and moms continued to work without a break.

I wanted to help out a church mom and the church ministry at the same time.

And so, on Thursdays, I have been able to entertain 4 little friends.

We work on songs to sing in church,

on verse memory (it holds me accountable),

read books,

play games,

do a craft,

help with ministry (like bagging treats for police officers).

It has been fun to be in "teacher" mode again.

I don't know who is helped more ...

but, I would guess, that it is probably me😉

Where have you been? Part III

With every move and change in ministry,

there is a time to find your place.

A time to observe what is happening.

A time to contemplate what is needed.

We have not been without ministry in our new home,

but as we passed our 1 year in OR,

I began to feel like I had observed enough.

The music ministry has been a place of ministry for me.

Hubby is back to teaching fairly regularly.

But what else?

Is anyone else frustrated by the fear of personal interaction that the virus has promoted?

It makes it difficult to distribute tracts and definitely has shut down door-to-door for a while.

Recently, hubby helped me lead an outreach to police in our area.

I was upset by the struggles of officers in the nearby cities of Portland and Seattle.

Drawing on a couple of ministry ideas from our former church,

we asked church members to bring in snacks for police.

Using 4 big laundry baskets,

we were able to give to State Police and 2 town's police and sheriff's offices.

Flavored waters were labeled with our thanks.

Treats were packaged with a tract (similar to our treat bags at Christmas).

The feedback from those who participated was positive 

and we received positive remarks from those who received the baskets. 

I forgot to take pictures of the finished gift baskets,

but here was the start.

By the end, they were overflowing.

And a quilted, embroidered note of thanks was on the side of each basket.

Where have you been? Part II

There are times in life when you just have to (or get to) sit back and evaluate what you are doing.

Moving cross country creates a natural opportunity for that.

You disconnect from almost everything that filled your schedule outside of homemaking.

It was hard to leave a Sunday School ministry,

a piano ministry,

choir,

a printing ministry,

and regular interaction with college students and young couples.

On top of that ... add a pandemic that halts everything.

Early in the fall,

I was really feeling disconnected and lacking ministry.

Through blogs and podcasts that I read and listen to for encouragement and challenge,

I thought that I needed to find some younger women to encourage.

I needed to be a part of the older encouraging the younger.

That demographic is a little sparse around me right now,

so I began writing letters - yes, good old fashioned snail mail.

Some college students, some young mothers, and some women just waiting on God's plan.

And then the pandemic began and there were church shut-ins to add to the list.

It has been a fun ministry for me.

Who doesn't like to get mail once in a while?

And hopefully, it will encourage a young woman in right paths.

The Power of the Pause (or I am not busy, busy, busy)

Have you ever noticed how often the answer to 

"How are you?"

or

"What are you up to?"

is 

"busy, busy, busy"?

Listen for it.

You probably won't have to listen long.

Maybe you will even hear yourself say it.

And maybe the speaker truly is busy.

 I have noticed that when I can't honestly say how busy I have been,

I feel bad - 

isn't that odd?

Why is busy-ness the accepted and expected norm?

At the beginning of December,

we celebrated 6 months in Oregon.
How time has sped by!

Starting over is always difficult for me.

At the beginning it is busy,

it is challenging in a fun way,

there is a house to set up,

there are new stores to learn,

there are new routines to establish,

there is just adventure in the newness of it all

...

but once we are settled,

it is quiet ... very quiet.

I have to find the people who need my ministry.

I may have to invent a new ministry.

I have to find a place in a new church.

I have to establish a new "normal."

And until those connections are made,

it is quiet.

Enter "the powerful 'pause'"

It is not bad to be quiet.

It is not bad to be still.

It is not bad to slow down.

It is not bad to be challenged in new ways.

I have thought much about the times God says to "Be Still" or to "Consider."

Though I often want to complain about the quiet,

God has used that quiet over and over and over again in the past 6 months.

I have been given a gift.

In the quiet,

I have found women online who have challenged me ...

in Bible memory,

in Bible study, 

in witness.

In the quiet,
my dependence on God deepens,
my soul searches harder for truths in my quiet time,
Scriptures stand out in new ways because my needs are more clear.

In the quiet,

I have had more time with my husband each week.

More time to read with each other.

More time to truly listen to each other.
More time for dates and walks.

In the quiet,

I have had to look harder for the outreach

resulting in more focus on the lost around ME

instead of just the ministries already established by my church.
The "pause" led to the tract bags to give out around town.

The Element of Surprise!

By the end of our first month in Oregon,

we went to visit each of the neighbors on our street.

There are about 24 households on our street.

We probably caught about 12 at home.

3-4 were friendly and chatty.

5-6 looked frightened and eager for us to leave.

Others were polite, but not really sociable.
Many were just shocked.

Since the visits.

One neighbor has been more friendly (greeting me almost daily) and may be a good open door.

Another neighbor (who was not home when we stopped),

stopped by to introduce herself and brought macarons (naturally gluten free).

This again is another open door.

It is a start in this new area.

Keep praying for open doors.

DeJaVu - 10 years in coming

Well, the winds of change have been blowing since the last post.

God has led and we are heading west again - this time to Oregon.

It was 10 1/2 years ago (October 2008) that we left the Pacific Northwest 

and figured that it wouldn't be long until we were back "home."

In the process of time, "home" has been relocated to NC.

God had us stay in NC 7 years longer than anticipated.

There was so much that we had to learn - 

about ministry, about relationships, about serving ...

But now we will head back ...

in much the same way we came ...

A Penske moving truck pulling a Focus on a car trailer.

There wasn't much to say goodbye to when we left WA so many years ago.

We had struggled to find a good church.

Many of the friends we made had left with or before us.

We had the excitement of no more deployments before us.

This goodbye is much harder.

We bought our first home here and are saying goodbye to it.

We have made friends who have treated us like family when we were far from our own.

We have a church family that has helped us through some tough times and loved us back to health.

But God's grace provides and sustains.

He sold our trailer quickly,

He provided a new job quickly,

As of last Friday, He provided a rental home that meets needs and eases us back into rental life.

And we rest knowing that He would not lead without providing a church and church family,

and so we anticipate finding our new place of ministry.

The trailer is more than half boxed and is looking less and less like home.

By the end of the day, there will be even more boxed up and ready to go.

The truck will be loaded on Thursday.

We head out on Friday morning and hope to be in Oregon in the middle of next week.

So that's the update.

I anticipate that with the move,

the blogs will be a little more regular for a while.

It is always hard to start over and it takes time to find my place of service and ministry

and those things that will keep me busy again.

What's Missing?

Old

New

Look closely ...

What's missing?

I guess there are a couple of things missing.

The bright pillows will be back soon.

The bed skirt can come back soon.

But the headboard is gone.

We decided that rather than battle the bed bugs that had found shelter 

in all of the cracks of the headboard,

we would dispose of the headboard.

So far 5 nights without bites ...

March Update

Personal Goals

Blog at least 3 times a week  (you all can attest to this one)

Develop (and use) a Prayer Journal to be more focused in prayer by February. 

(this is really helping me)
Read through the Bible in the year. (On track)

Memorize 24 Psalms (1-24) - 2 per month.  (failed)

(considering printing these out and taking them on my walks)

Review/Rememorize - James, I - II Thessalonians, I-II Peter, II Timothy, Galatians, Jude (1 per month).
(nothing this month)

Memorize I,II,III John (remaining months after reviewing others).

Exercise 4 days per week.

Meet step goals daily. 

Learn Hebrew Using Rosetta Stone program - 4 lessons a week - 2 years.
(I've failed this one in previous years)
(Added 17 in February (short by one) for a total of 73 lessons)

Read 12 books (1 per month) emphasizing American History and Missionary biographies.
(Read 2 whole and 2 half - finished book on the home and started a new one, read one on Charles Dickens, 1 on Eleanor of Aquitaine)

Family Goals

Help encourage, format, and edit hubby's commentary on the book of Isaiah.
(on schedule to have text done by end of may)

Walk at least 4 miles together each week.  (at least 1 per week - easier in nicer weather)

Be done with regular housekeeping by the time hubby comes home each day. (Improvement seen)

Ministry Goals

Write 1 card to a college student each week.  (sent out happy mail and almost daily notes during midterms)

Write one note of thanks or appreciation each week (in the home, at church, in the community).
(4 for the month)

Entertain in our home at least once a month for a meal.  (got in 3 - 2 groups of students and one family)

Find a place of ministry.
(still focusing on encouragement for others)

Home Goals

Continue developing a useful meal/recipe book - Reorganize it monthly.  (it is still organized as we speak!)

Thankful Thursday: The Monday Edition

Often, we are reminded to be thankful.

We are reminded that God is powerful.

We are reminded that our safety is in God's hands.

We had that experience yesterday - 

a little residue from hurricane Nate.

We sat eating some dinner before church

and we watched the wind kicking up.

Soon the chair cover from the front porch was in the back yard.

In two minutes it was over.

It was a mini tornado.

It wiped out one of our Bradford pear trees - 

the one that we had not yet pruned back.

We are thankful that it blew into the yard and not the house.

We are thankful that the trailer is still standing WITH a roof.

We are thankful for God's grace today and every day.

And this week - 

I am thankful for the strength to work on removing this monstrosity from the yard - 

one Ranger truckload at a time.

A Belated Welcome to 2017

Happy New Year to one and all!

December flew by.

My schedule was thrown out of whack by changes in piano lesson schedules,

time off with hubby,

making Christmas dinner for almost the whole church (only 17),

some special dates with my sweetheart

...

It was a pleasant season.

We had a simple celebration of our Saviour's birth.

There were no presents under the tree.

There was no snow.
There were no excited children on Christmas morning.

We were able to enjoy the day at church with the blessing of two normal church services.

We were able to share a Christmas meal with those, like us, who had no family in the area.

We are a blessed people.

This weekend, we have enjoyed the rare snowfall in NC.

The snow began Friday night,

and the 8 inches of snow closed everything down on Saturday and much of Sunday.

Oh, the simple joy of walking in the snow on the vacant streets of our little town.

It is still very cold, so the snow is oddly still on the ground 3 days later.

With the cold and snow this weekend,

I decided to try a new recipe.

I regularly bake with beans- white bean cake, choclate brownies ... .

This new recipe was for black bean gingerbread bars.

Yes, I did receive a strange look from my hubby,

but he will try anything once,

and he was the one hanging out of them on Friday night.

Are you daring?

Care to give them a try?

Black Bean Gingerbread Bars

from the Detoxinista

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups cooked black beans, or 1 (15 oz.) can drained and rinsed

1/2 cup gluten-free oat flour (I just throw whole oats in my blender until they are like flour)

1/4 cup melted coconut oil

3/4 cup coconut sugar

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses

2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350ºF and grease a 9-inch square baking dish.
In the bowl of a large food processor fitted with an “S” blade (I used a high speed blender), combine the black beans, flour, oil, sugar, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, salt, baking soda, vanilla, molasses, and vinegar. Process until a smooth batter is formed.

Pour the batter into the baking dish.
Bake until the top feels firm to a light touch, about 25 to 30 minutes.
Cool completely before removing the bars from the pan and slicing.