New Look

It feels like I lost some weight off my head. (And, no, it's not that I finally lost my mind)! It was hair loss--actually a very welcome change. This is my new look, although I probably won't keep up with all the curls. My hairdresser loves to put curls on my head! It's fun for dress-up now and then, but far too much work for every day.

Are you tired? Worn out?

Sometimes life is just too much hassle, and too much weariness! The daily news is full of trouble all over this world, and absolute nonsense in high places! Sometimes I wonder if there is any common sense left in our judges and lawmakers. I just shake my head in disbelief at the decisions that are made by those who determine how our lives should be lived!

Where is wisdom? Where is common sense? Where is justice? Where is the understanding of right and wrong? Where is conscience? Where is morality? Where is decency? Where is truth? Where is human kindness?

We live in a very strange world now. It seems that everyone gets to choose whatever seems right in his/her own eyes, no matter what anyone else thinks, or how it may hurt someone else.

Even I sometimes fail to live up to what I know is right and good. Sometimes I tire of my own weaknesses and failures. I long to be more like Jesus. I've come to realize that the only way for that to happen in my life is to spend time with Him. He desires that even more than I desire it, and He knows how much I need that in order to survive a way-to-busy life, in a way-to-evil world.

I want not to just survive life in this ungodly world of ours, but to be an example of how He wants us to live -- to be a light in a dark place.

This morning during my "quiet time" (the time I set aside every day to meet with God), I found the key to refreshment when my soul is weary. I've read it many times before, but today it jumped right into my lap and made me go "Hmmmm..."

According to the Bible (The Message paraphrase), in Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus said,

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Even so, Come Lord Jesus!

Today my heart hurts--a lot, for lots of stuff going on in my world--our world. Why does such sorrow and pain have to be a part of life? Why can't life be just full of fun and good stuff? Why does it have to include such awful, wrong stuff?

Sometimes I've heard people say that life would be so boring without the difficulties, but I disagree. I long for the good life--without crime, without tears and sadness, without injustice, without immorality, without heartbreak, without grief and sorrow, without pain and problems, without handicap and sickness, without evil and wrong.

Basically, I long for Heaven, where we'll see our Creator and Savior, face-to-face--the One who will make all things right and whole, the One who will wipe away all tears, the One who loves us and never fails us, and will continue to do so for all eternity.

Yes, Lord! Come, Lord, Jesus! This child of yours can hardly stand to wait!

Showers of Blessing

The beauty in our days has become rather moist--downright wet! It rained most of last week, and again today. At least we don't suffer from draught. Thanks for the rain, Lord! There's beauty and blessing in the showers also.

We moved our son's fiance into her own apartment (in Portland) over the weekend. I'm sure she is glad to have her own place once again, although we already miss her cheerful presence around here. Our lower level is beginning to look quite a bit emptier than we've seen it since we first moved into this house two and a half years ago.

Today we took a drive back to Vancouver, Washington (our old stompin' grounds) to run an errand for our daughter. We ended up walking around the mall for awhile, and then having supper at a nearby restaurant before heading back home to the Portland, Oregon area. It's always enjoyable to go back to an area once known as "home".

Not much else to report around here. Life is good. We're enjoying the newness of spring as it grows a little more beautiful each week -- already eager for the constant warmth and sunshine of summer.

Of course, we also continue our wait for the outcome to Larry's job situation. It's been wonderful to have him working at home for the last couple of months, and we both wish it would continue until retirement happens. His three-month trial period is about two-thirds over now, and we have no idea what will happen a month from now. Only God knows, and we wait upon Him for that outcome, simply trusting that He has a plan for our lives--a good plan -- a plan for our good, and not for our harm.

" 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.' " (Jeremiah 29:11-13, NIV)

Beauty in the Days

Life is good, and life is short -- make the most of it!

Don't wait for another day to enjoy it -- start today!

Here in the Pacific Northwest, spring is in full bloom. The flowering trees, bushes, spring bulbs and lots of other flowers are parading all their glorious colors. The trees are already showing off their new leaves, or at least budded out with new baby sprouts. The grass is thick and needing to be mowed a couple of times every week. Today the sunshine was bright and warm (warm enough for summer clothes), and tomorrow promises to be even warmer. I couldn't resist opening all the windows to let the house breathe in the fragrant freshness of spring. Plus, I enjoyed walking around outside barefoot and sleeveless to get my own share of that newness of spring. Truly delightful!

It reminds me of the year (1997) we moved here from California. I thought, "What's all this nonsense I keep hearing about non-stop rain? It's gorgeous here!" Of course, I soon learned that it was an exceptional season of very unusual weather for this part of the country. Now, ten years later, it's exceptional again, and I'm lovin' it! (Maybe our soon-to-be daughter-in-law brought it with her from Southern California.)

It gives me the urge to spend all of my time outside. Forget the housework! Soak up the sunshine while it's here!

Yup, life is good, and life is short -- make the most of it!
Don't wait for another day to enjoy it -- start today!

April Fool's Day!

Home again! We were in Montana all last week (since Saturday, March 24th), visiting with family and friends. It was wonderful! We arrived back home on Saturday evening, March 31st, to greet our son and soon-to-be new daughter-in-law Patti, who is now living with us until an apartment is found.

No, this is not an April Fool's joke! This is truly a dream come true for all of us! Jim and Patti have been friends since college days, many years ago (about 15 years or so), attending the same university and church in Long Beach, California. But, it was only about two years ago that they decided to try dating each other--long distance! Up until this weekend, Patti lived in San Diego, California, and Jim lived here in the Portland, Oregon area. So, for them, this dream has been in the making for a very long time!

It's hard to believe she's finally here, and we're so glad to finally have her with us. She starts her new job tomorrow (Monday), and will live with us for a little while. We've just finished pouring over maps to help her find her way to work tomorrow.

A new week has begun; a new month has begun; a new quarter of this year has begun; and a new adventure in life has begun. Now, I'm ready to go to bed, and get a fresh new start in the morning.

So much is happening in our lives in this new year!
Thanks, Lord, that You are in control of all of it!

A Dream Come True

She said YES!!!

Tonight was the big night (a very BIG surprise for Patti, although the surprise has been in the planning stages for quite awhile now.
Sorry this picture quality isn't the best. (Another one will be posted as soon as I receive another one.) This picture was taken on the beach in San Diego, and sent via Jim's camera phone to my camera phone.Thus begins Jim's new life! Patti is moving up here next week (Thursday, I think), and already has a job to start the following Monday (April 2nd). We're very excited and, of course, so are they! Welcome, Patti!

Let the wedding plans begin . . . .

Just pondering . . .

Ever feel like this?

I've run out of adventure (adventurous thinking).
I've run out of fun (fun ideas).
What happened to joyful Jeannie?
(She got tired and grew old -- or, did she get old and then grow tired?)
Lord, I need newness (new freshness).
I need new strength.
I need a lift from my feeling of being old and tired.
(57 isn't old enough to feel old, is it?)
Lord, I need Your strength; I need Your help. I need You.

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:29-31 NIV)

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits--Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." (Psalm 103:2-5 NIV)

Okay, I will continue to hope in the Lord and He will renew my strength, so that I can run and not be weary. I will praise the Lord and think on all His benefits--the One who satisfies my desires with good things (so that my youth will be renewed).

Now what? What fun and adventurous things will I think of to enjoy today?

Hmmmm . . . guess I'll start with a dish of ice cream -- yes, at 11:00 in the morning)! It sounds fun and satisfying, so why not? It's a start -- definitely a new idea!

Must be Spring!

What an incredibly beautiful day today! It sure does look and feel like spring now, with the crocus in bloom all over the neighborhood (including in our yard), along with some other spring flowers. With bright sunshine and temperatures above 60-F (16-C), Larry and I couldn't resist going out for a walk at lunch time--without jackets! Then we enjoyed eating lunch out on the deck, basking in the warm sunshine. Just delightful!

Is it winter or spring?

It's snowing today. Those white, fluffy little particles are filling the heavens and wafting to the earth ever so gently. (I wonder if it looked like this when God sent manna to feed His children as they roamed through the desert many milenia ago.) Now the sun has just popped out, shining brightly, as though to focus light on the picture.

This lovely little reminder that winter is not quite over yet, was the first thing I saw this morning, when I first opened my eyes to the beginning of a new day. Since the ground already had a light dusting of snow, and it was still snowing heavily, I've held onto great hopes that we would soon have another winter wonderland to feast our eyes upon. However, with temperatures several degrees above freezing, and the warmth of bright sunshine, the ground refuses to hold on to the whiteness.

Oh well! The snowy scene is quickly disappearing, but it a was nice treat while it lasted. (Hope it hasn't hurt my spring bulbs whose green leaves had already sprung up.)

Scamper

Naming the Squirrel

Okay, I've decided what to call my squirrel.

Thanks to all of you who submitted name ideas -- such good ideas! However (sorry to say), none of them seemed just right for my furry friend.

"Chip" (or any variation therefore) seemed more befitting for a chipmunk (a cousin of my squirrel).

"Chat" (or any variation therefore) didn't work because I've never heard my squirrel chatter. (Guess he's always got his mouth full when he's sitting in my tree.)

"Barabbas" or "Achan" didn't seem just (or right) for my perfectly fine-mannered little friend, because he is no longer a thief. Now my little pet eats only what it finds in the squirrel feeder--freely offered by my own hand. Therefore, it seems unmerciful to attach a reminder of a shameful past by way of a nametag. Since he (she?) has repented of his/her sinful ways, I say, "Let sleeping dogs lie" -- or should I say, "Let scampering squirrels...squat (and sin no more)!"

For a moment I considered "Slick", for this fast little furball is pretty slick at running up and down the tree, and slipping in and out of the squirrel feeder; however, it's hair is seldom slicked back -- it's usually a bit tousled by the wind.

Actually, my squirrel (who used to be such a little scamp) was once appropriately named "Lucky Thief" (by Carol-Ann). But, now, this cute little critter has turned away from the practice of thievery and is nicely reformed. Since, it now seems quite well-behaved, and is so very fun to watch scamper about...from henceforth and forevermore, my favorite, furry litttle friend shall be known as "Scamper". Afterall, that's what it does best!

Definition of "scamper": to run nimbly and playfully about.
Yup, that perfectly describes this little rascal! "SCAMPER" it is!

Hey...maybe the "S" stands for "Slick", and camping out in my squirrel feeder is what he/she likes to do in his/her spare time!
(Slick camper -- S-camper)

Furry Friend

My squirrel friend hadn't shown up for awhile, so I figured something must have happened to him. Yesterday I put fresh food in his feeder, and today he was back. I guess he just got tired of eating the old leftovers! This squirrel feeder was a Christmas gift from my son (made by his own hands) a couple of Christmases ago.)
This is where he used to eat before I put up the squirrel feeder. My fine-feathered friends were very glad to see him leave their feeder alone once he got his own feeder. However, they also use his feeder!
Hey, Dianne, this post is for you, since you just posted pictures of your little squirrel friend also. Wanna name my little furry friend?