2009 Committment (aka New Year's Resolution)

At the end of every year many people begin to think of the things in their lives that they would like to change..thus the New Year's Resolution comes about. I stopped making New Year's Resolutions years ago because I always failed to keep them (if you get an opportunity to do so, take the New Year's Resolution Poll).

However, for 2009 instead of making a New Year's Resolution, I would like to renew my commitment to God in two areas: 1) eating and 2) exercise. Most people usually start out their new year with; "I've got to shed some pounds and start exercising" and I am no exception. But the eating and the exercising I am referring to involves the spiritual realm.

God has blessed me by giving me a wonderful church to attend. We have Pastor's that love the Lord and their flock. They continually bring challenges from God's Word which is always needed. Sometimes it is the common sense messages that tug at the heart. My 2009 commitments were solidified after listening to Pastor Jeremiah and Brother Majors preach this past Sunday. Thank you Pastor and Chris for bringing the message God laid upon your heart.

My 2009 Commitment is three fold: #1 I want to commit myself to reading and studying God's Word DAILY. This is by far the best nourishment I can give myself. #2 I want to commit to exercising more faith in God. God promises me that he will hold my hand, guide, direct and instruct me in and through his Word. #3 I want to commit to eating right and exercising (at least three times a week) so I can be effective both spiritually and physically for the Lord.

These are the three areas I want to commit to the Lord and excel in. If God lays me on your heart, please pray for me. Finally, I would love for you to share with me your commitment(s) (aka New Year's Resolution) for 2009. I want to wish all a Happy New Year's and may your have a profitable 2009 both spiritually and physically.

Our cuttie pie Levi

Most of you probably already know that Steve and I have one canine named Levi. He is our pride and joy. We thought it would be neat to post a picture of Levi in his winter sweater. He was sitting at the top of the stairs stretching his neck to get close to mama.

Although Steve and I do not have any children, our dog Levi is a great alternative. Owning a dog should be mandatory for all couples who want to have children. You have to feed these little guys, clothe them, take care of them when they are ill, educate them and play with them. The best reward any doggy owner can get is their dogs total loyalty and devotion and that is what we get with Levi. He is our world and we are his.

Levi wants to wish you all a Happy New Year as you head into 2009.

December 21st Snow...Again

We are just loving the snow! It brings quietness, stillness and peace. The scriptures tell us to be still and know the Lord and you can not help but to stop and think upon things that are important like your family and friends, spending quality time with you loved ones and just enjoying the beauty of God's creation.

I took this picture this morning after last night's snow. We sure do live in a gorgeous area. I have a lot more pictures I'd like to post, but I am still trying to figure out how to post a slide show.

We are suppose to have a 36 hour break from the snow, but are expecting more Tuesday night. WOW! What a December!

Pass Lake

I Thessalonians 5:18 tells us "In everthing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Steve and I had to make a delivery to Mulkiteo today and the excursion ended up taking us four hours from start to finish. We drove the length of the island, sailed across the Puget Sound and came back to Whidbey Island on I-5 and Route 20.

Much of the area is under several inches of snow and we would of loved to have taken some snapshots, but since the roads were treacherous in some spots we decided to keep driving. (However, we did make one stop, because Sherri wanted a picture for her blog.)

Right before crossing over the Deception Pass Bridge you come to Pass Lake. The lake is partially frozen and definitely not safe to walk on. But, the beauty of the trees and lake was just too peaceful to pass up. Thus the picture.

We are expecting our third snow storm this evening which is projected to bring another four to eight inches of snow and moderate winds. This has been quite a chilly December and winter hasn't even officially began. Brrrr!

We do praise the Lord for the safety he gave us while we were on the road today! God is good!

Presto Pressure Cooker

For my birthday my mom and dad bought me this awesome Presto Pressure Cooker. When I was a little girl my mom had one and every time she used it, I would find myself worried that the top was going to blow and we'd get hurt.

Back in September, when I was home for my mom's birthday, she pulled out her pressure cooker and cooked up this marvelous meat, carrots and potatoes meal. YUMMY! It has been over 25 years since I last seen her use a pressure cooker. Amusing enough, the cooker didn't intimidate me like it did when I was a young girl. But what did get my attention was the fact the it didn't take mom long to whip up a very tasteful and tender meal in what seemed like minutes.

I just got my pressure cooker out of the box last night and was told to read all (and all means all) the instructions before use. I can't wait to see what kind of meals I will be able to dish out in short order. Pressure cookers cuts your cook time down by 2/3. So, if a meal normally takes 45 minutes to cook, it will now only take 15 minutes to cook.

I don't know how fast time is traveling for you, but at the fast pace my life seems to be running any time I can reduce meal preparation and cooking time is a blessing.

Thanks mom and dad for this GREAT BIRTHDAY GIFT! As soon as I cook something up I'll be back to let you know how it went.

Migrating Canadian Geese

Every year the Canadian Geese migrate to this area. Steve and I were headed over to the commissary after church this morning and found a flock of these Geese on the seaplane base.

Steve got out of the car to go and take a picture of them and they became a bit leery. They all started to move away from Steve, as if they were one.

Steve patiently waited for them to calm down and took another picture of them. If you click on the photo it will cause the picture to enlarge and you can get a better view of these Geese. This is just one of the two types of geese that migrate to Washington. The other geese are referred to as Snow Geese, and are completely white.

The Snow Geese can usually be found in the tulip fields in Mount Vernon or on Camano Island. I guess the flocks there are quite large and can be a problem in some areas. Anyways, thought you might like to see a picture of these big birds.

First Snow of the Year

Well we have been hearing about the weather to come on the news for a few days now and the system has finally arrived. We woke up this morning and found 3 inches of accumulation on the ground. It is beautiful!

I love seeing the snow fall and the trees and ground covered with these beautiful, and unique snowflakes. We are expecting it to be in the 20's over the next couple of days.

It is a bit chilly outside, but the beauty of this season is just breath-taking. I know this scene is nothing for those of you who live in the Midwest or the North Eastern part of the United States, but for these parts, snow only comes to the Island a couple times a year. So we tend to enjoy the fluffy stuff when it appears.

Don't forget to take time out to make a snow angel, build a snowman, or an igloo or better yet, make yourself a hot cup of cocoa with whipped cream, build a fire in the fire place and stay inside.

Mary had a Little Lamb

Monday night was our monthly Ladies Bible Fellowship (LBF). The evening was full of excitement. We had a great time of fellowship. Wonderful testimonies from the ladies and Vicki brought a message from Isaiah 9:6. During the devotion Vicki read the following poem which I'd like to post below. The poem is about Christ and how he is waiting for you.

Mary had a little Lamb,
His life was white as snow.
Because of mankind's sinful bent,
The Lamb was sent below.

He came to us on earth one day,
He was a gift of grace.
He makes the Christian sing and pray,
The Lamb Who took our place.

And though the world has turned Him out,
Yet still He lingers near,
And waits so patiently about,
By faith He does appear.

Modern Day Snowman

The picture of this Modern Day Snowman is brought to you by my sister Teri. She found this snowman in her backyard one afternoon after coming home from work.

Excerpt from Ter:

"Please note the following.....

Larry spray painted the snowman's head black to give it black hair. The eye balls are cherry tomatoes with green pepper around them. The nose is a orange ping pong ball (go figure). The mouth is more green peppers. The arms are shims he found down stairs that must of been left over from the builders.

Thought you might want to have a look at what Larry does in his spare time."

I'll have to admit, the man knows how to use his available resources. Thanks Ter for sending me the photo.

Steve's Teaching at ITT

Psalm 37:4 "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

Steve and I are just praising the Lord for the opportunity he has given him to work as an adjunct instructor at ITT Technical Institute in Everett, WA.

Steve was hired on for two classes this past September. For the winter quarter he has been assigned five classes. Steve will be teaching three math classes, one electronics class and a management class. PTL!

If you would of asked me twenty-five years ago if Steve would ever be a college math teacher, I would of said, no way! God has orchestrated his life so well. When Steve left to join the Marines he did it because he wanted to prove that whatever his brother could do, he could do better.

But the Lord used the Marine Corps, in part, to help mold Steve into the person he is today. All that he has gone through and the experiences he has gained over the last couple of decades has all played a role into who he is today.

I can't help but to be overwhelmed with joy and love for this man. I appreciate all the work he does, the time he spends educating himself, the love he has for his family and the desire he has to want to help others in any way he can. The man has a big heart! And I love him!

Have You Been Watching .....

A couple of weeks ago I was talking with my dad and he told me of a bright light he had seen in the sky.

Since I am a fan of astronomy (not astrology), I decided to do some research to see if I could find out what was going on, and boy am I glad I did. Had my dad not mentioned this bright light, I would be missing two planets (Jupiter and Venus) in our solar system converging. Tomorrow night, December 1st, right after sunset the two planets will be very close together.

You can't help thinking about God and his wondrous works when things like this occur. Psalm 8:3 says, "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou has ordained;".

I also believe God allows these events in our night sky to take place so we can know and remember that there is a God. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork." Psalm 19:1

If you want to see a great picture of the two planets, then check out this photo at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/meisenhut/3064198709/

and if you want to read up more on what is happening in our sky, then check out this article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20081128/sc_space/spectacularskyscenemondayevening

Happy star-gazing!

Log Splitter is the way to go!

Since the weather was so nice today, Steve and I headed to our backyard to chop some wood for the next chilly night.

Two years ago I got Steve a log splitter for Christmas. If you have never had a splitter or have never seen one this is a must have tool. The time it takes to split logs is cut in half and it beats chopping a lot of wood with a maul.

This log-splitter is so easy to use I can do it. The blessing here though, is not that I can use the tool, but that it allows Steve to split wood without further damaging his shoulders.

My New Sassy Look

After much thought, prayer and trepidation, I woke up this morning, took the plunge and had my locks cut.

This is the first day of my new hair style, so it will be interesting to see what my hair will look like tomorrow and the days to follow.

As I have been told by many, shorter hair styles make one look more youthful. I am not quite sure I understand that comment or agree with it, but nonetheless, youthful or not, here is the new me.

In Memory of our Beloved Dog Joey

Our Joey

Once upon a time in a state far away,
Laid Joey, a dog, it was the month of May.
Without a care in the world
He basked in the sun
Waiting in his cage to be the next one.

There laid Joey, silent as can be

Inwardly saying, please, please pick me.
It wasn’t long after that Joey came home

Now no, no longer alone.

Four months only and having been mistreated
Joey was our joy and his first life defeated.
Joey got to play and run with his master
A traveling dog he became ever after.

Joey was a dog who didn’t fetch bones
or even try to run away from home
He liked to eat and he liked to sleep
and he just liked to be left alone.

Several years later when Joey was nine
We decided to bring home another canine.
B-I-G mistake, as Joey didn’t care
all he wanted was for him to disappear.
Years went by and he finally gave in,
realizing Levi was truly now kin.

His last years of life were quiet

Really, no strife, just a strict diet.
Joey one day decided not to eat,
before the week ended,

he was limp and weak.

On Monday morning we called the vet
So we could offer him everlasting rest.
We said our goodbye’s and let him go,
ever to remember him in our souls.
A year has gone by and we miss him so,
Never will we forget our dear friend and

great companion, JoJo.

October Football Bouquet Giveaway

Occasionally, I giveaway a bouquet. In October, I gave a way a football bouquet to Sandy of Oak Harbor. She was delighted and surprised to win. If you are on Pioneer Way be sure to stop in, you never know when we will be drawing for another bouquet. Looking for a unique gift then make sure you check out candybouquet.com or go to my direct link at http://4260.candysurprise.com/

My Heritage - Part II

What a ride I have been on! For a month now, I have been diligently researching my family heritage. I still have not found any avenue that would link my family to "Derbe"; however, I have found some very interesting nuggets along the way.

The very first BIG nugget came when my family and I began to dig around for some information. My dad had called and talked to his brother Terry about our genealogy and that is when Terry told my dad about a book written by Viola Bromley Derby, called the Derby Genealogy. SCORE!! If this woman was alive today I would give her the biggest hug ever! The book is out of print, but I happen to have found it on CD, another huge nugget!

She took our heritage all the way back to first generation Americans, which started in the early 1700's in Massachusetts- unbelievable! She charted out first generation to the eighth generation and now, I am filling in the last five generations.

This has been a very exciting project and I hope to do and find out more about my family in the coming months.

If you have ever thought about following your ancestry you have to check out ancestry.com. It is a very useful and helpful site.

I'll keep you posted along the way!

Storefront set for Christmas

With the general public starting to shop early for Christmas and looking for any bargains that can be found, my friend and interior store designer, suggested I set my store for Christmas.

We have cool dessert plates and bowls, awesome latte mugs with cute sayings like, "Fa La La La, La, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah", "My Friends are Flakes", "Chill Out" and much more. Of course, we also have a bountiful display of bouquets to choose from for any occasion or season. If you find your self on Pioneer Way please stop in, check out the store and say hello.

Do you want to see more store displays designed by Teresa? Then please click on the link below. http://www.decorateandredesign.typepad.com/.

My Heritage

On Saturday my sister sent me a link to Ancestry.com. I clicked on the link and found the family tree she started. I didn't realize how much I didn't know about my family. Now I'm hooked and in the fact finding mode so I can help fill in the details. We also got our folks involved, which was absolutely necessary, in helping us fill in the puzzle pieces. They have been such a great help. We still have many blanks to fill in, but are excited at the prospect of finding out more about our ancestry.

My dad says are family originated in Europe, so we will see. There is a town mentioned in Acts 14 and Acts 16 called Derbe. Although I can't prove it, I have often wondered if maybe this is where are family began. The Wikipedia states,

"In ancient times, Derbe was one of a few Christian cities, and was used as a refuge for traveling Christians. Its Christian church was burned and buried under a mountain of soil by the Roman Emperor Diocleitan, during the Diocletian Persecution, this event took place just prior to the year 300 AD. After the destruction of Derbe, there was a mass exodus of the population. Many went to western Europe, settling in modern day France. It is during this time that the last name "Derbes" began to be expressed with the connotative meaning, "man from Derbe". The name is still expressed as a surname to this day." Today, Derbe is an ancient city in the country of Turkey.

Kind of interesting, huh?

If you have never checked ancestry.com out, you should take a peek, but beware, you might get the fact finding bug too.

Mom's 75th Surprise Birthday Party

Ephesians 6: 2-3, "Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."

It was a privilege to work closely with my sister and dad to pull off the surprise party of the year. My mom turned 75 years old and many friends and family attended the celebration. Thank you to all who made the journey to come out and partake in this memorable moment in my mother's life.

I love my mom and will honour and cherish her all the days of her life.