Talented Grandkids

 I have a couple of things my grandkids have done for us recently, and it's always fun to share their talents and abilities, unique to each. Recently my 4-year old granddaughter Macy visited us for a week, and colored the above fish for me. I thought it was a remarkable job for only 4 years old. Didn't she stay in the lines nicely?

Julie's children each sent a card, picture or story to Papa for Fathers Day. Each was special, but I picked out a writing to share, that 11-year-old William sent:

"Time in this world is fleeting, and time with a Grandpa across the continent is even more so. But the fleeting time I do spend with my Grandpa is one of the most special things around. (Especially if he lives across the continent and we only see him once every two years.)
I would like you to know that you are one of the most special people in my life, and that makes the few times I see you even more precious to me. I love you so much Papa, and I hope you have a wonderful Father's Day full of delight and happiness."

And finally, when we arrived at Joy's house for graduation, Kory surprised us with a gift. She had done a drawing of our house for an art project at school, had matted it and wrote a very nice message on the back for us. We were awe-struck at the ability of this girl. She has only had one drawing class in High School, as a freshman, yet she was able to draw so accurately our wonderful home. This is only a portion of the original drawing, as it was too large to scan. Not only is the detail wonderful and accurate in every way, but the amazing part is that she did this with letters and words. Tiny, tiny letters and words in all of it, except around the word 'Shadowood'. I asked her what she wrote and she told me it was mainly Bible verses about family. If you click on the photo and enlarge it you can see some of the writing. We plan to have it framed, and hang it above the fireplace.

Each item is priceless to us, and what a joy and blessing it is to have reached this stage of life where our grandchildren are old enough to bless us with their talents.

Oh, to be in June in strawberry season....

 This is truly one of the best times of year. We are so blessed to live in a state that has the best strawberries around, wonderfully sweet Pacific Northwest strawberries. With just a little sugar and butter....oh what wonders a cook can come up with!

The first of course is Strawberry Shortcake. When I was growing up, my Aunt Joyce who had strawberry fields all around, started the tradition of celebrating strawberry season by having strawberry shortcake for dinner one evening....just a big bowl of shortcake with nothing else. We all looked forward to that every year, especially after picking strawberries all day. I continued the tradition after getting married, and now my daughter Joy does as well. Since the strawberries are a bit later than usual, due to a rainy season, we had our strawberry shortcake dinner this past week, along with some rhododendrons and peonies from the garden. I prefer homemade biscuit type shortcake, how about you?  YUM!

 Next, I made a couple of rhubarb-strawberry pies for a supper club we attended, with the rhubarb from my garden but not the strawberries. We have a patch, but they are just now putting on the berries, and they are still green. That way we stretch the season out just a bit...by having our own after the valley berries are gone.

And finally this morning we had strawberry crepes for breakfast, a great way to start out the week-end. Oh what joy during the season of strawberries!

Happy Graduation!

 Kory is the first of our 10 grandchildren to graduate from High School. It just seems like yesterday we were doing all this with her Mom, and not THAT long ago we were graduating ourselves. But, time waits for no one, and so we found ourselves driving over to Woodland, and watching as Kory got ready for her big night.

 She was ready a bit early, and so posed for a few pre-graduation photos, with Papa...

 and Aunt JoAnn.

It was a very rainy day, and as the graduation ceremony was outdoors on the football field, there were a few jitters about what the weather would do. We headed to the school with umbrella's in hand.

 We found good seats on an uncovered bleacher right in front of the graduating class, and had a good view for picture taking. Kory walked in with her boyfriend Sam Anderson, and they both looked happy (no rain) and exited.

 Here is the entire graduating class of Woodland High School.

 Kory is shaking hands and receiving her diploma from the President of the School Board. She finished second in her class, and is wearing honor gold cords which she worked hard for!

 After the ceremony, we all posed for photos. We made it with no rain thankfully, but it was really COLD! (Note the heavy coats) Kory was shivering violently, so she borrowed my coat for the night. She and Sam headed off for their class party in Portland, and the insurance man and I headed back to the house to warm up!

 The next evening we had a big graduation party for Kory. Her mom had completed two photo scrapbooks of all Kory's school years (excluding graduation) and here they are waiting to be opened. It was a big project, and even I got to help out in finishing up some of the pages.

 We spent all day Saturday preparing the food and it was delicious. Joy served hamburgers and hot dogs, home made potato salad, homemade mac and cheese, various other accompaniments, and home made strawberry shortcakes for dessert. Really yummy, and the insurance man took advantage of it!

 Kory and a few of her friends had a great time looking through her new scrapbooks. It was the hit of the party, as everyone entertained themselves looking through them and enjoyed looking back over the years of Kory growing up. What a special gift!

We thoroughly enjoyed the graduation, our family, and the week-end. Kory will be attending Corbin University in the fall, and is really looking forward to it. I'm happy it's in Salem, Oregon, just over the mountains from us, so we'll be able to visit often.

A kiss for luck, and she's on her way....

Flag Day and Iris's

 I love to celebrate June 14th, flag day...by flying the flag of our beloved country. It has been 235 years since we first adopted the stars and stripes, and it continues to be a beautiful symbol of our freedom. In honor of flag day, I am going to quote the often forgotten 2nd verse of America the Beautiful...

"O beautiful for pilgrim feet,

whose stern impassioned stress.

A thoroughfare for freedom beat,

across the wilderness.

America! America! God mend thine every flaw,

confirm thy soul in self-control,

thy liberty in law."



 Today, June 14th, 2012 is also a day to celebrate the beautiful iris blooming, and blooming and blooming in my garden. Some solid deep purple, white and yellow are on the way, but the 'Stepping Out' is at the height of it's yearly glory. Along with the daisies (a start from my dear mother-in-law), they are a sea of beautiful joy, waving gently in my garden.

Special Sunday

This past weekend we went to our daughter Joy's house for some special celebrations. Joy's stepdaughter Ashley, is engaged to a young Russian-born man, Ivan. He is from a Russian family of 8 children, and attends a Bible-believing church of Russian immigrants in Vancouver, Washington. Ashley and Ivan have been very busy...planning a July wedding, preparing their new home, studying for Ivan to become a U.S. citizen, and studying the Bible to prepare for their Baptism, as well as working at their every-day jobs. We were privileged to be able to attend their Baptism this past Sunday.

 The happy celebration was held at a park on the Columbia River just west of Vancouver. Ashely and Ivan were two of seven young people baptised that day. They all wore white to be baptised, and then a shade of blue afterwards, and the ladies all wore head coverings as well.

 There was singing, preaching, praying, and then some time to take photos before the main event. This is Ivan's family, his father in the light blue coat (he was going to baptize them), his mother and his seven siblings, as well as Joy, Kirk and daughter Macy. It was a beautiful day, and we all enjoyed the beauty of the surroundings and the sunshine.

 Here is Ivan's father and Ashley as she prepares to be baptised in the cold water, in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. They were so kind to provide us with a translator, so we could follow along with the service.

 A special moment in her life....

Afterwards, they changed into dry clothes and received huge bouquets of flowers, along with kisses, hugs and congratulations from everyone. It was truly special to be there, and view this from another culture's perspectives. They really celebrate their Baptisms, in a way that we don't. After all this, (about two hours worth), they left to go and were then going to hold church and have communion. We left for home at that point, but will have another opportunity to fellowship with these folks as Ashley and Ivan will marry in the Russian church, in just three weeks. We are thrilled for her, and covet your prayers for this couple.

Good Friends

This last week-end I had a wonderful opportunity to connect with some old friends. We were all young wives and mothers at the First Baptist Church of Burns, Oregon in the early 1970's. The gals planned a reunion, and we rented a house at Sunriver for the week-end. Here we are in Sunriver Village, and for the benefit of Nancy, Mom and my girls, here are the names: L to R is: Barb Borden, me, Cheryl Wilson, Rolleen Reed, Marilyn Radmacher, my sister-in-law Peggy Asmussen and Linda Wilbur. We have not all been together since those early days, so it was a huge treat. We ate good food, and Peg fixed a taco salad like we used to eat in those days. We shared, laughed, cried, prayed, read, walked and even shopped. As the old song says, "Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold."

A Nightgown for Millie

Amelia and I started this project quite some time ago.  Back in the fall of last year she was really wanting to start a sewing project.  I knew we would be moving and Christmas was coming, but we started it anyway.  :)  She is just begining to show real interest in sewing and making things.  I had the pattern and a stack of flannel fabric to choose from already.  So, she chose the style and the fabric and I began walking her through the steps as I did them, so she could see the process.  We nearly completed it before we moved...when it got put into a box...and we didn't recover it for several months.  About a month ago, we finally found it, pulled it out and put on the finishing touches.  She and I are both pleased we did it.  Even if she is wearing a long-sleeved, flannel nightgown in June.  :)  

I've never really had time to sew for Millie.  I'm pretty certain that this is the first thing I've ever made for her to wear.  I remember how much it meant to me to wear something my mom made for me when I was a little girl.  I was so proud and felt so loved.  I think that memory makes me squeeze in the time now.

She picked the lace at the fabric store with me.  Amazing how special a simple nightgown-project  can be.  :)