I'M EXCITED!

Yes, I am! We're going on a trip! And even tho this trip (like always!) involves Larry's work, we'll have days to just play, laugh, have dinner, smile, remember, wish for kids and grandkids.......

We began planning early in the year for this trip, and that I would go along, that this would be the trip to make up for the 25th and 30th anniversary presents we didn't get to give each other. It was supposed to be Hawaii, but ...... well, maybe 35th!

Today I pruned 3 bushes in the back -- because he doesn't have time! I won't attempt to prune the junipers because he has his own way, but the holly, ornamental crab, and forsythia were monsters this year!

My sample quilt for our church project (quilts for the homeless) is done. A friend will meet and advertise while we are gone, and we'll work with volunteers to make 10-12 in a few weeks.

I've contacted moms to learn which Disney characters are grandkids' favorites right now. We'll be taking pictures with Wally & Eva, Mr. Incredible, Ariel and Tinkerbell -- if we can find them!

I need to make some more applesauce or else get more apples in the old frig. Even drying them would be good, but the drier takes so long.

Tomorrow I should deliver some donations, ask the neighbor to watch the house, wash the rest of the clothes.

His work continues to take every moment that I don't ask him to do something else, but I'm accepting it. God knows. God allows. God has a plan. I don't like this stage of the plan, but I'm not God, am I? so live with it, Linda, and be thankful!

So I thank God tonight for 3 daughters who are happy with us and a husband who grins at me when I get excited.

Northwest Beauty!

It took 15 years! Discussions. Dreams. Promises.

Finally a date, accountability to friends -- "You go with us!"

Tickets bought. Gear and lunches packed . . .

. . . and we headed up to Chelan to take Lady of the Lake into the Stehekin National Forest. AAAHHH!

Nippy? yes! Warm up? yes! We were quite comfortable both inside the boat and out on the upper deck. One guide told us that the upper Stehekin is only 8 miles from the ocean at the upper pass.

And beauty? Awesome! The majestic desolation of these rock
mountains! In some places, the walls towered up hundreds of feet. And the lake depth goes to 1486 feet in its center, 386 feet below sea level. Exceeded only by Crater Lake in Oregon, and Lake Tahoe in California/Nevada, Lake Chelan is the 3rd deepest lake in the US, and 18th deepest lake in the world.

Still we saw color -- vibrant reds and yellows! In patches
like scrapings across the mass of stone. Pines grow out of rock beds, bushes out of the silt washed down
mountainsides with spring thaws.



Some of the lower hillsides bloom with orchards, vineyards,
and of course extravagant summer homes, but all touched by
deep water reflections of rock walls and mountain forests.

Rainbow Falls is an incredible continual waterfall at the head
of the lake. Snows from the upper peaks feed it on a year-round basis, and bless us with a hidden oasis under the fallen pines and tangled brush.

The majesty is beauty for me. And the majesty speaks of God's power in check. It could all roll down in a blink, but he holds it patiently -- till the right time. So we can see and understand a little more....

The beauty, the time together, and the corny jokes of our men -- all made it a wonderful day.

Joel thinks Chad is inspired to emulate him, and carry the tradition in their family.

Any takers in ours?

Grandkids!

Oh, the blessing of being exhausted by grandkids!

Last weekend I traveled with some grandparent friends to visit our kids -- and grandkids. We had a great time together -- talking lots about -- OUR GRANDKIDS.

We arrived in time to help decorate cookies. Two little guys wearing Mom's aprons, icing and sprinkles stuck to cheeks and fingers, made a revived spirit after a long day on the road.

Joy and I had opportunity to watch "big kid" movies like "The Great
Debaters" and "The Illusionist". Good comfy time. Not movies one can

usually fall asleep to -- but Jer had a really long week.

Aunt Lora had planned on babysitting during Sunday's amazing City of Trees Marathon in Boise. (Joy and Jer both ran a spectacular 13 miles!) My visit gave Lora an extra half hour sleep Sunday morning. But no way could either of us have handled the boys at the race on our own! She and I had a great time together, taking two toddlers potty, meeting friends at the race, readying for naptime.

With the boys, we watched movies, played trains, went to McD's for ice cream, and sang in the car. All the great things a gramma loves to witness -- and be a part of. When it was time to leave, Ian invited me to daycare, then teared up when I told him I had to go home and take care of Papa. Within 5 minutes he was telling me to "go take care of Papa." Papa was sorely missed on this visit.

Jenny's Emily turned 3 yesterday! Recently Jenny got off the phone , turned, and saw Emily with hands on hips and a big grin. "Emily, did you hear what I was talking about?" "YES I DID!" It was birthday plans. As Jenny says, Emily is a "mess". All curls and grins! Paul (9 months) has officially pushed down his sister to get what he wanted.

There's nothing like the love of family and friends. It comes from hanging on in the good times and the bad, watching each person become whom he or she was created to be. And also from waiting -- WAITING -- till the next visit.

I'm working on PATIENCE. I remember an old quote from college days: "Patience is doing something else in the meantime." I always want to be doing something, so I'm incorporating more "things" into my regiment, like resting, or listening, or praying, instead of always running, or checking, or helping.

Life has had its bumps, but I'm lelarning to just live with them. Go around them. Look around rather than down. Pick the flowers instead of kicking the mud. Ha! The world will go on, and I want to go on too!!!

Find just a little flower today!

A New Day

OK, so anyone can say, "it's a new day!" So what? What does that mean?

For me it means I have another chance to clean up my house, to get my bills paid, to finish a project(s) I've not yet completed.

It also means I can work on my attitude (always a work in progress). I can look for new ways to support a discouraged co-worker or friend. I can pray for wisdom for someone who is struggling. I can reach out to people I care about who are "drifting" without purpose to their lives.

Those are things I CAN do. Many things I cannot -- yet they still afford me hope.

Somebody bigger than me can fix things -- or help me be happy in a broken situation.

Somebody bigger than me can calm my fears -- and help me rest well through the night.

Somebody bigger than me can speak to someone who wouldn't be ready to listen to even a good friend.

Somebody bigger than me can make me feel valued when my husband teases -- but didn't know I wasn't in a teasing mood.

Today is a new day! I want to see what it holds.