Christmas Time 2009

Steve and I had a very quiet Christmas Day. The morning started with opening gifts from family. Levi got two new toys and a bag of treats. Steve received slippers, Bible cover and a engraved license plate holder that says: "LIFE....living it and loving it!". I received a heavy duty 10-piece cookware set, which I absolutely needed and loved.

Around 9:30am we headed out to church for Christmas Morning Service. Pastor Sargent brought a Christmas message out of the book of Revelation (betcha thought I was going to say one of the Gospels...surprise)! Excellent message.

After the morning service we drove to Safeway, bought ingredients to make chili and came back home. Before we knew it, our bellies were full and we spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing.

We were invited to the Sargent's house around 4:30pm for fellowship, dessert and games. The evening went fast as we spent time with Pastor, Vickie, Vicki's mom, Josh, Sara and their very exhausted Cocker Spaniel, Lucille.

By 10:00pm we were ready to retire and went fast to sleep.

I just want to thank my family and friends for all the wonderful gifts we received this Christmas time.

Cookware from Steve... A Levi puzzle from Carolyn.... A heated mattress pad from my parents... A chain saw from Teri and Larry, and a Boyd's bear with honey, from Dave and Anne.

If you want to see some cute pictures of Levi from this holiday season and the gifts we received, check out the Birthday and Christmas 2009 Slide Show.

A Whirlwind of a Day!

Yes, yesterday was my birthday and what a whirlwind of a day it was! From the moment I woke up until it was time to go to sleep, I was on the go with one surprise after another.

My morning started with a big Happy Birthday from my best friend and hubby, Steve! I opened up my presents and received a 12" skillet and day planner pages for 2010. Great gifts as I was in need of both items. Thanks honey!

It wasn't soon after that, my sister called to wish me a Happy Birthday too! Yeah! She gave me two cards (a serious one and a funny one, which I loved) and $25 to purchase a flat iron. Awesome! I can't wait to try it out.

Not even five seconds after I hung up the phone, my mom and dad called. They wished me a Happy Birthday and told me my gift was on its way. It was good talking with them, and I would of talked longer, except time was fleeing away quickly and I needed to get to work. I can't wait to see what mommy and daddy got me! :)

Out the door and a little behind schedule I headed off to work where I met up with my friend Mary Fanning, who bought me, the birthday girl, a 16oz skinny, extra hot Chai; which I gladly drank until there was know more to slurp. Thank you very much!Yummy!

Shortly thereafter, my boss, Kathi, entered the building as secretively as she could and surprised me with cake and roses. All the staff that was available came and sang Happy Birthday to me (which was a prerequisite, especially, if they wanted a piece of cake), and then I blew out the candles, again and again and again. (Yes,Kathi used those funny candles that keep relighting).

Afterwards Kathi took me out to lunch at a local restaurant called Flyers. I had never been there before. The music was to loud, but the food and time we spent together was wonderful! Thanks Kathi for making my day so special.

Now I was really behind schedule as I was suppose to be out at the church by 1:30pm to work in the print shop and visit with my dear friend Vicki for a few minutes. By the time I got to the church Vicki was already gone, but.... lo and behold what did I find, but a birthday present left behind just for me. I joyfully opened the package up and found a jello mold bowl, two boxes of jello, heavy duty red pot holders and a meat masher. I had been looking for a jello mold bowl for awhile and now I have one. Guess I won't be able to ask her to bring a jello dish during the holidays anymore, now that I have been equipped. Yeah! Great gift and very, very useful! Thanks so much.

Three hours later and Baptist Doctrine IV completely printed, I was beginning to wind down. I called Steve to tell him I was heading home and that was when he promptly said, "We have reservations at 7:00pm, I will be home soon to pick you up". Well in no time, Steve whooshed me away to Christopher's, a very nice restaurant in Coupeville. Steve had pork tenderloin, with vegetables and scalloped potatoes and I had BBQ Salmon slowly oven baked, with wild rice and veggies. To top it all off, the restaurant served me a chocolate cake in honour of my birthday. The evening was fantastic, the atmosphere and my date were perfect.

On the way home we had to go back to the store to pick up some fudge to wrap for a customer and Vicki called to wish me a "Happy Birthday". I was so glad I got to talk to her before the night ended. Now all was complete.

Finally, twelve hours later, I got home, put on my PJ's and sat down exhausted, but happy from the days event! Thank you all...family and friends...for making my day so special and for all of the Birthday Wishes! I really did have a "sweet" day!

I am ALIVE!

I am totally amazed at how much time has gone by since I last blogged. I guess I just got to a point where I felt like I didn't have much to say and it was the same old boring stuff.

So what has been happening in my part of the world since September 7th? Probably the biggest surprise is that I went back to work part time on September 11th. I wasn't really looking for a job, but with the economy the way it is, and sales down, I needed to do something.

Shortly thereafter, my mom and sister came to visit for a few days in October. The weather was too cold for them, but they were troopers and survived!While they were here, my dad ended up in the hospital for an overnight stay and praise God is doing well.

In mid-October and mid-November I took a Bible Institute class called "Women in Ministry". Since then I have been answering many study questions and other assignments which are due the early part of January, along with a final exam (I'm scared).

Steve and I decided to close our store on December 31st and end our run with Candy Bouquet. We have had a fun and sweet time running this business, but again with the economy the way it is, the lack of stability in our government and market, we felt it was best to close the doors.

Since then, I feel like a burden has been lifted off my shoulders and I am now able to concentrate on other areas of my life...like the upcoming holidays and more importantly, what the Lord wants for me.

In November, Steve and I had several people over for Thanksgiving. Everybody was gracious enough to bring a side dish or dessert and by the end of dinner we were all just as stuffed as could be. After dinner, we played some games and really just enjoyed the fellowship and the downtime.

We are off to a good start for the Christmas holiday. We already have our trees up and Christmas cards sent out (which is very unusual for us, especially over these last four years).

Only six days to my birthday, 9 days to Christmas and 15 days when the doors of my business close. I am looking forward to the end of the year and to what the New Year will bring forth.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All!

Ouchie!

During my entire childhood and all of my adult life, up to now of course, I have never been stung by a wasp/hornet. At this point I am not sure whether it was a wasp or hornet, and there is really no way I will ever know, since I rendered that nasty creature helpless and then tossed him to the wind.

I was at the fellowship building at the church preparing the tables for the Ladies Bible Fellowship, when I reached into my basket to pull out a few items. I had no idea the little guy was there and when he stung me, I just thought I was being poked by a wire (or something) from one of the apples I was using to display on the table.

You can imagine my surprise when the wasp/hornet landed on the table. I grabbed my finger and mustered up enough strength not to yell out a loud cry, I walked around the room telling myself it doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt. The truth of the matter is...it does hurt!

Minutes later, I found my finger swelling up. I tried to call Steve to get his advice, but he was still out taking a jog. I finally hurried home and my poppie was there to takecare of me. Steve made sure there was no stinger and then he had me ice my finger for ten minutes. My finger is still reeling in pain, I think more from the swelling though, than where the stinger went in.

Oh well, this just tops everything else that has been going on today.

A Day's Getaway

On Thursday, September 3rd, Steve and I decided to get away from Whidbey and go and see some of the countryside. Our morning started at 9:30am as we headed over to the Key Stone Ferry to catch a ride to Port Townsend. After we arrived on the other side, our first stop was a military surplus store (Steve is looking for a green ammo box). Our next destination was the Chimacum Cafe, which we were told, was a must stop. And believe me, in Steve's mind, lunch is a must.

After we filled up on some awesome chow, we got back in the car and headed for Poulsbo. If you have never been to Poulsbo, you must make time and go. The downtown area was so cute. The Norwegians settled the area and the town has kept to that theme. Sidewalks were lined with seating that had memorial plates on them and some portions of the walkway had stones with messages on them in honor of a special person or occasion. The weather was in the upper 70's and there was a warm light breeze coming off the water; the harbor was a delight to look at too. We visited many of the shops found along the way and then topped the day with an ice cream cone.


Our next destination was Port Orchard. Our goal was to stop in and surprise some friends of ours that we had met in Schaumburg, IL back in the early 90's. We found our way to their house in no time and surprised them. We just missed John and his eldest son, but we were able to visit with Kitty and her other four boys. We had such a wonderful time and hope to get up with them again before the year ends.

The drive along the way was absolutely beautiful. Steve and I are looking forward to going back and checking out the Rain Forest, Dungeness Spit and the Sea Stacks. I am hoping it will be real soon.

Dog-on-Duty

On Steve's birthday he received a present from the Sargent family. In the bag was an outfit for Levi (among other things). It is tradition in the Sargent household for Lucille, their black Cocker Spaniel, to receive a gift on their birthday. So, a new tradition has been adopted in the Vaughn household and one I think Levi will appreciate. How could he not? He'll get two extra presents a year just for being part of the family.

Levi received this lovely cotton jersey that has a big red cross on the back and says, "Dog-on-Duty".
Isn't he just so cute....
Thanks Auntie Vicki, I just love my new outfit! ~Levi Vaughn

GOTCHA! Happy Birthday Steve!

The morning started out just fine. Steve left for a tutoring appointment and I got busy putting together his gift, cards and cake.

Yesterday, while I was out, I looked for a small round cake at Safeway. I could not find one, so I opted for a one-serving size round cheesecake. It wasn't your average cheesecake, it was better (yummy, I got a bite or two)! The candles were as big as the cake and the longer it took Steve to get home the more the "4" wanted to slide off.

Once Steve got home, I lit the candles, and then sang Happy Birthday to him. After Steve sampled his birthday cake, he opened up his cards and gift. The cards were cute; especially, the trick card sent from my sister.

This year, I wanted to do something special for Steve on his 45th birthday. For years he has told me he wanted to fly. In the past I have just brushed it off, but after our last conversation, I was surprised to find out that during his time in the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) he had actual flown a 1932 Piper under the direct supervision of Hermann Skok. Wow, I thought to myself.....he does know what he is talking about. His passion was real because he had lived it!

So, I did a google search which led me to PilotJourney.com. This website is awesome and it was there that I was able to purchase a 40 minute orientation flight at Boeing Field. I think he is really pumped up.

The day ended with a trip over to the Jumbo Buffet where a few couples (plus dad) were waiting to surprise him. Everything was going well until we got out of the truck. Steve can be most observant when you don't want him to be. He stops, looks at me and says, "I'm not going in. This is a set up". He had noticed to many automobiles in the parking lot.

It didn't take him long to decide he wasn't going to miss dinner, so inside he went. The gang that was present broke into song, singing "Happy Birthday". I think Steve was slightly embarrassed. So he disguised himself appropriately (a Groucho Marx's he is not).

All in all, I think he had a great time. He was definitely unaware of the plot and really appreciated all that was done to celebrate his 45 years of life. (The only other thing he has to see is his picture in the paper and that will happen tomorrow.) Yes, I'd do it all again, just because he is worth it! I love you honey, Happy Birthday!

Slide show is up if you want to see a few more pictures.

Steve...is turning 45!

Yes, it is true...Steve is turning 45 years old tomorrow. The day will mostly be quiet as we come to terms with the fact that he is 45 years young. A small birthday gift will be given, cards from family will be opened and then we plan on ending the day eating at the Jumbo Buffet.

Pure Craziness I tell you...Pure Craziness

I don't know if many of you recall the Surprise 30th Birthday Party we had for Carolyn back in May...but for her birthday all the ladies got together and purchased her a tandum jump at Harvey Field in Snohomish County.



Well this past Saturday, August 1st, Carolyn and Nicki,another crazy young lady who has always wanted to skydive, made their jump.




I took many more pictures, but wanted to leave it up to Carolyn to post a slideshow of the days event. Head on over to Carolyn's blog to see a live video (which is absolutely fun to watch) and her write-up about the whole experience. (Carolyn has family in town, so it may be a few days before she makes a post...keep checking back though...it will be worth the wait.)

Oh Yeah.....

Unbelievable, the two weeks out of the year that I look forward to the most is here. Yes, I know most born and breed Washingtonians are just wanting things to get back to normal...but I am not.

AccuWeather.com states it is currently 76 degrees outside, but feels more like 79degrees. (However, I think it feels more like the high 90's.) The skies are blue, the sun is shining bright and my core body temperature is rising. This is the month that I look forward to the most because the sun ray's I take in now, have to last me the rest of the year. The humidity is at 57% which actually is not to bad; especially if you have ever lived where the humidity is 100%.

Steve and I just came back from a short stroll down to Whidbey Coffee to get a mocha shake. Unfortunately, because the stores around here do not have air conditioning some of them have closed up for the day. This heat is unusual and can cause many to feel sick and overwhelmed. So drink your H20 and plenty of it!

Well lots of Vitamin D speaking here and I am just a little pumped up, over the warmth and sunshine. Not only are the days delightful, but the evenings have been wonderful too.

I can't remember the last time I was actually warm enough to open up the windows during the night and not freeze. Last night I actually went to sleep with just a sheet over me, and quite frankly this was alarming. So much so that I actually tossed and turned through out the night. I guess I could say, I missed my blanky. Oh well that is okay..it is a small price to pay when one is enjoy this awesome weather.

Jr/Sr Camp 2009 Successful, PTL!

This is the second year our church sent our young people to a chalet on Mt. Baker for Summer Camp. The Junior/Senior Campers received a blessing from God's Word, which was preached by Bro. Jonathan Purks. There were skits, games and competitions and the campers even spent time sledding and hiking through out the area.

I thank the Lord for allowing Steve to attend the camp again this year. Ministering to the young people is such a blessing to him. He really looks forward to this time of year with eager anticipaton. As usual, Steve had a blast and as par for the course, he came back exhausted.

Bible Baptist Church focuses on their "Next Generation" because these very campers are our next leaders. We need to grow them up in the admonition of the Lord and teach them daily from the scriptures. As our country pulls away from its Godly Heritage it will be our young people, in the coming years, that will stand in the gap and take a stand for what is right. Thank you parents, Pastor's, teachers and workers for investing in the lives of these young people.

(I will put together a slide presentation and post it soon, after I decided which pictures I want to download. Steve took almost 200 pictures. Wow.)

We The People......

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.[1]

In a letter addressed to his wife Abagail, John Adam's wrote, "The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more."[2]

Families often celebrate Independence Day by hosting or attending a picnic or barbecue and take advantage of the day off and, in some years, long weekend to gather with relatives. Decorations (e.g., streamers, balloons, and clothing) are generally colored red, white, and blue, the colors of the American flag. Parades often are in the morning, while fireworks displays occur in the evening at such places as parks, fairgrounds, or town squares.

Independence Day fireworks are often accompanied by patriotic songs such as the national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner", "God Bless America", "America the Beautiful", "My Country, 'Tis of Thee", "This Land Is Your Land", "Stars and Stripes Forever", and, regionally, "Yankee Doodle" in northeastern states and "Dixie" in southern states. Some of the lyrics recall images of the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812.[1]

Tourists from all over the world come to Independence Hall in Philadelphia to see The Liberty Bell - an international symbol of freedom. The 2,000-pound Liberty Bell rang when the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Cast in London in 1752, the original liberty bell cracked on the very first strike in Philadelphia after arriving from England. The bell was recast (using the metal from the old bell) but the second belll was defective too. A third (and last) bell was cast which includes this inscription:[3]

"Proclaim liberty throughout all the land
unto all the inhabitants thereof... "

The inspiration for this inscription came directly from Leviticus 25:10 found in the King James Bible. The men and leaders of that time were God fearing and I thank the Lord for that.

Did You Know:[1]
- Held since 1785, the Bristol Fourth of July Parade in Bristol, Rhode Island is the oldest continuous Independence Day celebration in the United States.

- Since 1916, Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City supposedly started as a way to settle a dispute among four immigrants as to who was the most patriotic. (I wonder, is there anybody today who would fight over being the most patriotic?)

[1]^ Wikipedia at Wikipedia.org
[2]^ "Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 July 1776, ‘Had a Declaration…’". Adams Family Papers. Massachusetts Historical Society. http://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/aea/cfm/doc.cfm?id=L17760703jasecond. Retrieved on 2009-06-28.
[3]^ http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/National_Symbols/Liberty_Bell.html

Mustard Seed Faith

On Thursday, June 25, a large group of people from church headed over the mountains to the Twisp/Okanogan area. Steve and I didn't arrive to the campsite until early Friday morning because of our schedules. This is our third summer in Twisp and our purpose for going is to preach the Gospel message. Our desire is to see God open a door to start a new work in the area.

Anytime you do something for the Lord or something that the Lord wants you to do, you can expect to be attacked by Satan. And, believe me, I was attacked. I have a few weak areas when it comes to sharing the Gospel of Christ, and the devil knows them all to well, but PTL! God knows them too and still can use this unworthy vessel.

One Thursday afternoon I was asked by one of our SPG (Singles Pleasing God) ladies if I was coming out to the Thursday night outreach. I got a little uncomfortable and said I didn't know. But, what I was really saying was "no, I don't think so." I went on to tell her that I felt inadequate and feared man. I went home that evening made myself a pot of coffee, picked up my Bible and was led to read all of IJohn. The Holy Spirit poked me in the chest over and over again as I read through God's Word: 1John 1:6; 2:4-6;23 and many more). I was so convicted I showed up to the outreach fifteen minutes early (and if any of you know me, you know that I always run late). The outreach that evening went well because God was there with me all the way.

I made it through Thursday night and now the Highway 20 Outreach was just around the corner. Do you think after the victory I had on Thursday that Satan would leave me alone? No, as the week approached the fears and doubt began. First, Satan attacked me mentally. I had "a gut feeling" - I just knew something was going to go wrong, and then I felt like I wasn't prepared and prayed up enough to be able to be of any help on the outreach. The second attack was physically made on my little dog Levi. He woke up Friday morning with an infected and sore bum, which led to many disagreements between Steve and I. Everything seem to take longer to get packed in the car, we had physical ailments, we were exhausted, upset and just beat up before we ever got out of Oak Harbor. The ride was long and our moods were unsettled. Trying to pray was even a chore.

We got to the campsite just in time as Brother Geist was finishing up his morning devotion on PB&J (which I heard was excellent). Shortly thereafter, everybody broke into their outreach teams and headed off to their destination. PTL! God was still with me and working on me...despite me. I kept recalling IJohn 1-5, but my nerves were on edge.

We arrived at our destination, received more instruction and then broke off into our teams. Right before we began to leave to go knock on doors, Pastor Sargent says, "and don't forget we are to have conversation with the people". Oh boy. Instantaneously my heart sank to my stomach, my pulse began to beat harder, my breathe got shorter and my mind began racing. I knew one thing for sure and that was I didn't want to disappoint God or my Pastor.

With that said, I knew that I wasn't going to get away with just handing the people a Gospel tract, now a full-fledged conversation was required. PTL! God knew exactly what I needed. This was the second time he partnered me up with a preteen who didn't want to talk. This forced me to led by example and trust in God alone for the words to say. There were times I experienced a boldness that I had not had before and I knew that it came directly from God. I've walked away from this experience knowing that I need to be ready to give an answer to every man. Now, I just need to do the studying. PTL! That God can take a unworthy vessel like me and still use me.

On Sunday morning, Pastor Sargent preached on the parable of the mustard seed. He had two points, 1) The mustard seed gospel and 2) The mustard seed faith. The mustard seed is a very tiny seed and all God asks of me is to have faith the size of a mustard seed. "..Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." My faith is little, but each time I go out, my faith gets a little bit bigger, just as a mustard seed would as it grows. PTL! God is so true to his Word.

I didn't get the opportunity to take as many pictures as I would have liked to, but what photo's I did take I posted as a slideshow. Check it out if you get a moment.

Cleaving and Leprosy...huh?

Being able to go to the Lord's house on Sunday is always a pleasure and like every Sunday we hear wonderful preaching from God's Word. This past Sunday was no exception. God was in the midst of our services and was very present in the singing, special songs and his spoken Word.

Sunday evening Pastor Sargent preached another message from his series on "Biblical View vs World View; this time it related to the institution of marriage, and since we just witnessed Dave and Amber's wedding on Saturday, it was very appropriate. His text came from Genesis 2:24 and it made me anxious to hear what he had to say about this institution.

Back in May, I gave a devotion at Amber's bridal shower and my text was Genesis 2:24,as well. God is so good, because I felt like everything the Pastor was led to say, confirmed what I was led to say in my devotion. But, what I found most interesting from Pastor's message last night was the illustration he used to help us understand the cleaving part of Genesis 2:24.

In my studies I had likened cleaving to glue or cement; being adhered to, or joined to, one another (like peanut butter and jelly). But the picture Pastor presented last night on cleaving was even better. In 2 Kings 5 Elisha's servant Gehazi is deceitful by taking what is not his and then lying to Elisha about his whereabouts. The Bible tells us in verse 27, "The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee (Gehazi)...".

Leprosy isn't a disease that just sits on the outside of the body, but comes from within the body. There is no separation: the body and disease is one; it is deep within the bones. I know this isn't the most pleasant analogy when you are talking about a marriage, but the concept of cleaving (or the union of two people becoming one) here is perfect. I don't think I know of a better illustration or definition for "cleaving" than this one.

I just love how God takes his Word and can show us exactly what he means and what he wants for our lives. Pastor's message on the institution of marriage last night was powerful, insightful, and right on. We must take a stand and share with others God's way: his plan and purpose for the institution of marriage. Thanks Pastor.

A Father's Day Poem

A Father means so many things...
An understanding heart,
A source of strength and of support
Right from the very start.
A constant readiness to help
In a kind and thoughtful way.
With encouragement and forgiveness
No matter what comes your way.
A special generosity
And always affection, too
A Father means so many things
When he's a man like you...

Happy Father's Day

Thank you dad for all that you have done for me since the beginning of my life. I love you.

The Two Shall Become One

Well on Saturday, June 20th Amber and Dave exchanged vows and became man and wife. The ceremony was nice and I can't wait to see the pictures John Pendleton Imaging and Photography took from the days event.

Steve and I tried to take a couple of pictures, but for whatever reason they did not turn out clear. I don't know if we were anxious or just plain not paying attention. I know I was more focused on enjoying the ceremony and watching the bride and groom as their eyes met one another.

Congratulations to the Bride and Groom!

Genesis 2:24 "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."

Could this be the Record Breaking Year?

Beautiful weather abounds and it has been amazing! Did I say A-M-A-Z-I-N-G?! Steve called me while he was on his way to work today, to let me know that this area has gone 27 days without rain. The record is 29 days. Could this be the record breaking year? I wonder. Hmmm.

Amazing Weather!

The weather here on WI has been extremely beautiful! This is our spring time and usually we get showers, but not these last sixteen days. I will take in all the sunshine and warmth God will give us. The temps have been hovering around the 75 degree mark and last night after a day in the 80's a cool breeze blew through the house. It was very nice indeed. Yep, this is my kind of weather. Usually, I have to fly to Florida a couple of times a years just to get a "fix of warmth" to last me through the dull months. I'll have to admit it is going to be a bit of a downer when the rain comes back, but if we don't get the rain, then we can't be called the evergreen state, now can we. Oh well.

An Old Hit...With A Spin On It.

Steve was sent this you tube clipping. A Sammy Davis, Jr hit....with a spin on it.

Needed Time Off

On Wednesday May 20th I flew out of Seattle on Southwest Airlines and headed to Chicago. I was able to spend six days with my sister. It was a lot of fun in many respects.

On Thursday I went to work with her and was introduced to all of the people she works with and I was given a tour of admin. Teri works with a lot of nice people and the school she is in, is huge! After introductions, Ter put me to work. Can you believe it? Ter was in charge of putting together a Staff Appreciation Luncheon and I was volunteered to assist her. I was happy to help. We had fun setting up the staff lounge, arranging the food tables and setting up the cookie trays and pop coolers. Teri went all out, with blue and silver table clothes, and stars for centerpieces (their school mascot is the North Stars).

Late Friday afternoon we packed up the TrailBlazer and off we went to Western Iowa. We had a small family reunion planned, but it didn't turn out exactly liked we had hoped for. My Uncle Terry had a heart attack on Wednesday and was flown to Creighton University of Omaha. He was scheduled for open heart surgery Friday morning.

Saturday morning we got up and visited with some family and then headed to the hospital, with my folks, to go visit my Uncle. He looked good and was doing as well as could be expected after having a double bypass. We didn't visit long, but it was good to see him. Later that afternoon we headed over to my other Uncle's house.

Uncle Frank and his wife built a house a few years back on some lake front property. The house was amazing and the view is to die for. To my surprise I was able to reunite with my step-cousins, who I had not seen in over 25 years.


On Sunday, we got up, had some breakfast, and then we all boarded Uncle Frank's pontoon boat. The boat was full and away we went. It was a blast. The lake is feed by the Middle Racoon River. The deepest part is only 23 feet deep, but in most places only 3 feet deep.

After the boat ride, we packed up our belongings, took some family pictures and headed back to Teri's.


Memorial Day was relaxing, Ter took me over to Borders so I could purchase a gift card for my niece's birthday, then we had lunch at Penora's which was yummy, and then we went grocery shopping. In the evening Teri and I played a couple games of Scrabble and then finished the night off by watching a movie with my nieces.

Tuesday was spent at the hospital because my sissy had to have a procedure done and then before I knew it, it was time for me to head back to the airport. The weather had turned bad, so my plane left the gate 50 minutes later than it was suppose to. PTL! though, the pilot was able to get us off the ground safely and even managed to get us into Seattle before the original arrival time.

Steve and Levi picked me up at the airport and we got home around 2am. Wednesday was spent cleaning out rooms and sprucing up the place. We wanted everything to be in order because we had a visiting missionary, from Samoa, and his family staying with us for the evening. But, by the end of the day, there were still so many things I still needed to do. So, I decided to stay home one more day.

Thursday was not spent indoors like I had planned, but instead I spent 7.5 hours outdoors mowing the lawn, racking and trimming shrubs. Steve had six piles of debris to pick up when he got home. Thankfully, Vicki came out later in the afternoon and took charge of a few shrubs and whipped them into shape. The grounds look a 150% better.

Well that is what I have been up to for the last week. Now it is back to the daily grind of things.

God's Grace is Sufficient

There have not been to many times I have been asked to give a devotion, so you can imagine my surprise when I was asked to bring a devotion at Amber's Bridal Shower. Immediately, I said, "oh my, uh, well let me pray about it". Well I prayed about this opportunity for a week and was led of the Lord to say "yes". I think I would of pretty much said yes to begin with, but the feelings and different thoughts that went through my mind and body, at that very moment, were fluently speaking "no".

I know that all I needed to do was be a willing vessel and then let the Lord do the rest; but just thinking about standing in front of the ladies (of whom I knew) caused me to have a shortness of breathe, a dry mouth, and swelling of the throat.

So on Saturday, May 16th by and through God's grace I stood before Amber, and the ladies attending, and gave a devotion that was God directed. The devotion was entitled "To Leave and To Cleave". I had three points: The Vows, The Unity Candle and The New Name". My text was Genesis 2:24, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."

I think the most amazing part of the whole devotion was the overall calmness I had after I prayed and began to speak. Sure, I was still nervous, but Sherri had to die to self to let the Lord use her. And, I believe that is exactly what he did. The devotion went well, it wasn't to long and it stirred the ladies hearts. Amen!

I had asked just a few ladies to pray for me and I must say, I felt their prayers! I know it was the prayer that was lifted up on my behalf that went before me that afternoon. Thank you!

Our American Idols

Memorial Day is much more than a three-day weekend that marks the beginning of summer. To many people, especially the nation's thousands of combat veterans, this day, which has a history stretching back all the way to the Civil War, is an important reminder of those who died in the service of their country (www.history.com)

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day because it was a time set aside to honor the nation's Civil War dead by decorating their graves. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former sailors and soldiers. On May 5, 1868, Logan declared in General Order No. 11 that:

The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit (www.history.com)

So this Memorial Day, take a moment and remember those who have given their life for our country so that we may have "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Hapiness".

Cougar vs Bear

This is some amazing footage.

Tiny Bubbles

A new dog grooming place opened up in November of 2008 called Tiny Bubbles Pooch Parlor. Steve and I have been toying around with setting up an appointment for Levi.

Steve and I are pretty loyal and faithful customers especially, when it comes to our regular dog groomer. Last week Levi was scheduled for his 8 week grooming appointment, but when I got to the Groom-mobile, (this is a dog grooming facility on wheels) the vehicle wasn't there; Levi's groomer was no where around. Immediately, I thought that we must of had the day mixed up, since we usually set his appointments up on Friday's. But when we tried to call the business all we got was the message machine and a series of fast beeps. Hmmm. We tried for a few days with no success.

In the meantime, my little Levi was looking shabbier and shabbier. So, Steve and I decided to call Tiny Bubbles and set up an appointment for Levi to be groomed. Well today was the day and Levi was taken over to Tiny Bubbles.

This was not an easy step to take because Levi is my baby and I just don't trust him to anyone. Well as you can see from the picture, he survived. He is kind of snubbing me right now because I left him with a stranger, but he'll be get over it (+/- 24 hours).

The gal who groomed him did a good job. Levi's ears are a little shorter than I like, and a bit uneven, but Levi can get wiggly at times. So I can imagine trimming his ears is not an easy task.

In the meantime, until Steve and I can figure out what happened to Levi's normal groomer, we may have to keep bringing him back to Tiny Bubbles. At least it is right around the corner from my store.

Mom.....You're One of A Kind to Me.....

Nobody's Like You, Mom

Nobody's quite like you, Mom.

You're special in every way.

You cheer me up, you fill my cup

With tenderness, come what may.

Nobody loves me like you, Mom.

No matter what I do,Good or bad, happy or sad,

You support me; You always come through.

Nobody's equal to you, Mom.

With you in my life, I'm blessed.

I love you so, and I want you to know

I think you're the very best!

By Joanna Fuchs

I can say it in "Four Words".....

He is so cute!

I can't help myself, is it becoming a sickness, or do I have too much time on my hands? Maybe a little bit of both. Over the last couple of days I have thoroughly enjoyed blogging. I know my family and friends might think I have gone a little coo-coo, blogging about horses and cows and all and now Levi, again.

Could you only imagine what I would be talking about or taking pictures of if I had actually had children? Levi is my boy, my pride and joy and I love to take pictures of him. Sometimes he is reluctant, but most of the time he doesn't mind being a ham.

Tonight I was out in the backyard taking some updated shots of my tulips. These beautiful red tulips have done very well, but they are almost spent. Levi just happened to be sniffing in that general direction, when I caught him and set him amongst the tulips. He really didn't want to look into the camera's eye, until I said the magic word, TREAT! Yep, that got his attention. I know it is a sickness, but I just can't help myself. I think he is the cutest little white dog ever!

Mooo

On the way back from church last night this calf was drinking milk from the mama cow. I came to a screeching halt, backed up and decided to take a few pictures.

I can't seem to stop taking pictures of animals. Spring time is a wonderful time because there are always new births. Obviously, the calf in this picture is not a newborn, but is still very cute. Unfortunately, one day she will be meat on the table.

These cows are just two of the 500 head of cattle owned by the 3 Sisters Cattle Company here in Oak Harbor. 3 Sisters Cattle Company is a grass fed/finished beef operation that has been a family business for over 100 years. 100 years, amazing! This company uses no growth hormones or antibiotics and their meat is USDA certified. It is nice to know that you can get beef without all of the extra stuff. They actually sell their beef at our local Farmers Market in Coupeville and Bayview. You can also purchase meat directly from them as well.

It is quite a story about the 3 Sisters Cattle Company and if you are just dieing to know how their journey began then head over to their website at http://www.3sistersbeef.com/ and poke around.

The Five Love Languages

If you have never read Gary Chapman's, "The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate", you must. This is an easy book to read (read in one day) and understand , and with a little hard work, it can be put into practice (a lifetime). You may be saying, there is nothing wrong with my marriage, why do I need to read this book? My answer: Because your marriage and your mate is worth it.

(For those of you who are not married, Dr. Chapman has a book out entitled, "The Five Love Languages for Singles".)

You can get a copy of this book, new or used, at Amazon.com, just click on the link: http://www.amazon.com/ as well as any of the other twenty books he has published so far. You can go directly to Dr. Gary Chapman's website at http://www.garychapman.org/products.htm to find out more.

Tulips All Around

As promised, here are a few pictures of the tulip fields. Vicki asked me Sunday night if I wanted to go out to the Tulip Fields. After conferring with Steve and his ever-changing tutoring schedule, we decided the best time to leave would be right after I closed my store Monday night. The last time I had been to the Tulip Fields was back in 2004 with Vicki and Trish.

We first stopped off and got a coffee (a must) and then away we went. Once we got into Mt. Vernon, Vicki showed me the new round about, and around and around we went. Once we got out of the round about we headed down the road to check out the tulips. We ended up taking pictures of two different fields (as usual I have some pics out of order, and since this was my fourth attempt to get them uploaded I am not going to redo it). To see more pictures of the tulip fields check out my slide show, "Flowers Abound".

This picture is obviously Vicki and I. Some guy asked us if we wanted him to take our picture and of course I said yes. You can't go to the tulip fields and not have your picture taken.

This was the first field we stopped at. The field is owned by RoozenGaarde, a division of Washington Bulb Company, Inc. This field was primarily lined with yellow and red tulips for what seemed like miles.

This was the second field we went to. I am not sure who owns this field, but the tulips here seemed to be more vibrant. There were red/white tulips, pink/light pink tulips, and purple tulips everywhere. It was absolutely beautiful. God is a wonderful artist!

This was one of the roads we were walking on to get to the rows of tulips.

As the hour went by, the wind was picking up and the clouds were moving in. Although I took several pictures of the tulip fields, I've never been there on a cloudy day. It makes taking pictures a little more challenging.

We also wanted to stop in at Tulip Town, but they were already closed for the evening. I don't know if I'll make it back there, but if there is anyone out there that wants to go to Tulip Town, they will be open until May 10, daytime hours only.

Well that about sums up our little adventure. All in all it was a fun and relaxing evening. Thanks Vicki for inviting me. I had a great time!

Colt and Mama Horse

Yesterday I had the opportunity to go off island with Vicki and head over to Mt Vernon to see the Tulip Fields. Another post will follow with some pictures of the fields. In the meantime, on our way from one tulip field to another we saw these horses. When we first caught sight of them the baby horse was feeding, but as soon as I got out of the car to take a picture he moved away.

In just moments I was able to take a few shots of these wonderful looking creatures. I wish the mama horse would of turned around and smiled. It would of made for nicer pictures. Oh well. This would of been a really cute shot had I moved a little quicker. The colt was backing up to his mama and sticking his bootie right underneath her belly and rubbing. I think he had an itch.

Vicki and I thought he was heading back for more food, but he changed his mind at the last minute.

Just strolling around mama.

Just hanging out with his mama.

This shoot came seconds after the colt pulled away from his mama eating.

It was a lot of fun to stop and take pictures of these horses. They really are a majestic animal and are absolutely a wonder to watch in their environment.

Surprise! Blessings Abound

All it takes is one person to ask, "What are we doing for Carolyn's Birthday?" (Sandi), one unknowing subject (Carolyn), one master planner (Kali) and one master deceiver (Sherri). When you put all these elements together what do you get? A SURPRISE 30TH BIRTHDAY PARTY!

Kali and I had the best time planning a birthday party for Carolyn. Yes she turned the BIG 30 and her friends were eager to join in the fun and make her day special. We had 23 ladies meet up at El Cazador's Mexican Restaurant Friday night for the big surprise.

Two blessings came out of this for me, that I wasn't expecting. The first blessing is that I was given the opportunity to work beside Kali and actually get to know her. She is quite the young lady. God has blessed her with the hospitality gift; she is gracious and likes to have fun. Sandi and I think she should become an Event/Wedding Planner.

The second blessing came from the ladies that attended the event. We wanted to make a dream of Carolyn's come true, so we all pitched in and purchased her a tandem jump at Snohomish SkyDive. Can you believe it? That crazy girl wants to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Anyways, we ended up collecting enough money to pay for the entire jump with video, and her dinner. The love shown for Carolyn is the real blessing here. Everybody gave willingly to make one persons dream come true. That just blesses my soul and pegs out my joy meter.

Psa 32:11 "Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. "

I won't be posting any pictures of the event or the video I recorded because I want Carolyn to be able to blog about it on her blogger. So be on the look out for the whole kit 'n kaboodle at http://covegirl79.blogspot.com/.

A big thank you for all of you who came out and made Carolyn's day special and for the love that you showed her. I know without a shadow of a doubt she was overwhelmed and touched by your thoughtfulness and generosity.

Rom 12:10 "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;"

1Th 3:12 "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: "

Zawkane's, SPS and Flowers

Tulips, Roses, Carnations just to name a few,

help me feel happy and not so blue.

The colors alone are vivid and bright,

making Springtime come alive and the days a delight.

I must admit, I love flowers and I really love to take pictures of them. These particular flowers are a mixture that came from the Zawkane's and last months Secret Prayer Sister. They fit so perfectly together I couldn't resist keeping them separated.

Speaking about the Zawkane's...I wish I had been smart enough Saturday evening to remember to take a picture of the group, but our church has a ministry, for all those who are 50 years and older, called The Zawkane's. This past Saturday they held a progressive dinner. My husband and I, along with two other families were to host them for the evening.

The meal started at our house; we were charged with preparing the salad. Then the group moved over to Bro. Matt and Sister Sandy's house for the main course. I heard it was Spaghetti and Cattitorie. Finally, they ended up at Bro. Solomon and Sister Tess's house for dessert. During the visit, the men brought a charge to the Zawkane's on how they can still be used of God. The word is that all the devotions tied together which is of God only, since the men did not call one another, nor do they have telepathic abilities. The evening was fun and full of energy.

Lastly, I also want to thank Susan for the beautiful yellow tulips she gave me at the Ladies Bible Fellowship (LBF). They are absolutely stunning. Your gifts, kindess and prayers this past month have been greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.

Maybe I will put together a short slideshow of all the flower pictures I have taken over the last few years.

Island Girl's Song Request

The song in this video was retooled by our very own Island Girl. The song was sung and dedicated to Shannon at her going away luncheon this past Saturday.

The Good Samaritan Texas Style

This afternoon we had a going away luncheon for our Pastor's wife, Shannon. This is one of the skits that the young ladies of our church put on today. Pastor and his wife are moving to Lubbock, Texas. (Sorry about the volume, it is kind of hard to hear the words, but the actions of the actors should give you a good idea about what is going on).

Mom's New Ride

Looks like my dad took the plunge and purchased a new 2009 Chevy Equinox for mom. She looks great and even looks good behind the wheel.

This is probably the last car they plan on purchasing and since they don't drive all that much, it should last over the next decade or so.

Enjoy your new ride mom!

Levi and his bunny

Levi loves to play with his toys and his bunny is one of his favorite stuffed animals. I am definitely an amateur when it comes to making video's, as a matter of fact, this is my first one, so please forgive me for the poor quality.

12th Annual ARC Fundraiser

Every year the Island County American Red Cross puts on their annual fundraiser, which honours local heroes of Island County. This was ARC's 12th annual Heroes Event and by far one of the best. In this picture Steve was tasked with the opening words for the event. Standing beside him is Chuck Morrison from Snohomish County and T.J. Harmon, our very own Island County ARC Executive Director.

The picture above and below are of some of the people that attended the event.

The room was packed with guests that enjoyed the meal, entertainment and most importantly, the stories of our lcoal 2008 Heroes. The recipents for this years event were two men from the Sheriff's Department, one little boy, who helped saved his older brother's life, and our own NAS Whidbey's SAR Team. Each were very deserving of the honour and award given to them this night.