Sturgis Bike Rally

Mike and I just went to the Sturgis Bike Rally because we are that adventuresome.  Or, maybe Mike and I just made the mistake of driving across South Dakota as the Sturgis Bike Rally was happening.  Yes, that is the truth.  This is what it looked like for an entire day's drive across South Dakota!

Although this is usually an interstate that is a bit lonely, sometimes traffic was at a standstill.

We saw probably thousands of motorcycles as well as campers and trucks hauling motorcycles.

This is me and Mike (or not).

A Practical Bride

My nephew was married this past week-end.  Mike and I were lucky enough to be able to attend.  I enjoyed seeing my  nephew, his sisters and their families.  I took a lot of photos but since I didn't ask everyone how they felt about being on a blog, I won't post faces here.  However,  I don't think the Bride would mind if I showed your her shoes.  She told me she didn't do well in heels.

She had them special ordered.  Her new last name is printed on the heels.

I like her style!

You're Worthy of My Praise

One thing I've been thinking about lately is how much we (humans) try to make faith to be something about us.  I don't know if all cultures do this, but I know it occurs in the USA a lot.  Too often we choose a worship experience according to what it does for us, how it makes us feel.  Do we like the music?  Do we fit in with others in the congregation?  Do our children have enough activities available to them?  Are the sermons short enough so we don't get squirmy?  Is the service at a convenient time for me?

Perhaps all of those considerations are valid, maybe even important.  However, they should not be the ultimate consideration.  Worship, by definition, is about paying reverent honor.  We are to worship GOD.  Nothing is more important.  We are to show adoration and respect to God, creator of all that is.  We are to WANT to worship God just for being God!

Worship is not about us.  Worship is about God.  Worship turns our thoughts away from ourselves and toward the one who gives us strength, love, comfort and protection. When I heard this song on KLOVE, sung by Jeremy Camp, it reminded me that we worship God because he is the one worthy of our praise.

He IS worthy of our praise!  Worship is all about HIM.

You're Worthy of My Praise
(click on title to hear song)

I will give you all my worship

I will give you all my praise

You alone I long to worship

You alone are worthy of my praise

I will worship with all of my heart

I will praise you with all of my strength

I will seek you all of my days

I will follow all of your ways

I will give you all my worship

I will give you all my praise

You alone I long to worship

You alone are worthy of my praise

You are worthy of my praise

I will bow down and I'll hail you as king

I will serve you, I will give you everything

I will lift up my eyes to your throne

I will trust you, I will trust you alone

I will give you all my worship

I will give you all my praise

You alone I long to worship

You alone are worthy of my praise

I will give you all my worship

I will give you all my praise

You alone I long to worship

You alone are worthy of my praise

You are worthy, You are worthy

You are worthy of my praise

Oh, I will give you all my worship

I will give you all my praise

You alone I long, I long to worship

Well, you alone are worthy of my praise

You are worthy of my praise

More Pictures of Grandaughters

I know; I am shameless.

An Armful of Grandaughters!

First, in case you've not read my comment on yesterday's post, it was indeed a car wash photo.  I was shocked when I thought blue confetti was blowing down on me, then I also saw yellow and pink.  Within seconds it foamed out like that, much to my delight!  I get my happiness in all sorts of ways, don't I?

Maria took some photos of me with my grandaughters.  I love those girls!

What is It?

Anyone know what you are looking at here?

I will give you a clue. 

Although the photos don't show the color very well,

it was blue, pink and yellow.

I'm not making that up.

Leave a comment if you think you've figured it out.

I will give you the answer tomorrow!

Extreme Remodeling

A few weeks ago I pulled into Taco Bell, which I think is Sam's favorite restaurant.  I was thrilled to see that for once I'd come at a time when there was no line.  My smile soon faded when I saw a sign telling me they were closed for remodeling.  

Yesterday I drove by again and this is what I saw...

I've heard that remodeling can be quite frustrating but I never saw 

anyone just demolish the entire project before!

Do you suppose the boss was angry and said, 

"Just scrap it" 

and someone took him seriously?

In the photo below you can see they didn't even take time to remove the chairs from inside.

The entire building is gone; what you see standing is another restaurant beside it.

Puzzling.

Poor Sam.

It may be awhile before he can get his 5-layer burrito.

Be Brave Enough to Live Creatively

Mike got a great fortune in his fortune cookie recently.  It simply said, "BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO LIVE CREATIVELY".  Isn't that fun advice?!

I never really thought about how much courage it takes to be creative.  Think about it, though.  Start with fashion.  It is easy to just follow the crowd and wear what is popular and trendy.  What if you see something you like but it isn't currently in style?  Do you wear it?  I admit, I usually won't.  That's not to say that I only wear the latest trends but you know what I mean, don't you?  I want to fall somewhere within a category of "normal".

This applies to other things as well.  Have you ever seen any really funky furniture that you thought was cool but just a bit over the top for your home?  How about colors for your home?  What if you wanted to paint your front door grass green (I do)?  What if you thought a purple fence would be fun?

Let's talk about hair.  Way back when I was in junior high school I thought of a really fun haircut.  I've never seen it on anyone.  I'm too chicken to try it myself.  See?  I'm just not brave enough to live quite that creatively!  I even have a name for the haircut style.  I'm calling it the "terrace".  It's simply 5-7 crisply cut layers that go straight around the head like terraced rows, not blended layers.  Think rice paddies, only hair.

It would be quite sleek and not one bit messy.  I'd use a flat iron to make it look even cooler and I'd walk with my head kind of swinging to get a fun movement going.  Do you think it would catch on?  Too bad I don't have that much courage.  If I were a rock star, maybe I'd try it.

What would you do to live more creatively if you had the courage?  Do you think you will try it someday?

Paper Clip Necklace

Yes, I did it.  I made a necklace out of paper clips.  Is that too weird?  Well, take a look.  These were not ordinary paper clips but very COOL paper clips!  I bought them, not having a clue what I'd do with them.  One day I found my inspiration, creamy thread and a tiny crochet hook.

I picked them all up and went to work...

I used a chain stitch and hooked through each 

clip at two different places so that it wouldn't 

accidentally slip out the open side.  I just kept 

going until I felt happy with the result.  

I tied it off, added a droplet of 

super glue to the end knot and... 

Twa La!

I thought it turned out very pretty.

It has kind of a fun and funky look I think.

Then, I decided I may as well make some paper clip earrings.

They look lovely on my tomato plant so hopefully they will look nice on someone's ears.

I put it all together and felt mighty happy with myself.

Feel free to copy this idea.  Let me know what you come up with!

I'm so happy with it I am thinking of going to an 

office supply store to see what else 

I might want to crochet together!  

Or maybe a hardware store!   

Auto parts?

As your reward for following all the way through this tutorial 

I'd like to offer a discount to you 

today at Wyoming Rose Boutique at Etsy.  

When ordering, simply type the word DISCOUNT in all caps 

and you will receive a 10% discount on your entire order.

  

 .  

My Chains are Gone

The worship team I am on sang this song yesterday for the funeral of our friend.  I hope you have time to listen to this version.  It has kind of a long piano intro but it is beautiful and if you hang in there, I think you will be glad. 

Like me, many of you likely grew up singing Amazing Grace.  I have always loved that song.  This newer version, with the additional chorus, is very potent.  

The first time I remember our worship team singing this song was a day my friend and patient, Mary, was still alive.  I remember knowing that her life was nearing the end.  She'd arrived late and sat in the back pew, likely too weak to walk any further.  When we sang this powerful song, I felt we were singing it to her most especially.   Just a few weeks later we sang it at her funeral.  Now, I always think of Mary when I hear it.  I find both peace and excitement in this version.

from Tuscancitizen.com

My chains are gone 

I've been set free 

My God, my Savior has ransomed me 

And like a flood His mercy reigns 

Unending love, amazing grace 

Another Good-Bye

After work yesterday I ran to the mall for a brief errand.  As I was walking in, I thought I saw a man I knew.  While I was looking toward him, I suddenly realized that the man I thought he was had actually died a couple of years ago.  Does that ever happen to you, where you feel happy thinking you are approaching an old friend, only to realize it couldn't be them because they are gone?  It happens to me quite a lot.

Through family, church and from my years as a nurse I have known a lot of people.  I don't know how many I've known who are now dead, but the number is pretty high.  The mall was full of people.  I wondered if I'd known an equal number of people who have died.  Maybe.

These are kind of mournful thoughts, I know.  Or are they?  Yes, I miss some of those people a lot.  I wish I could see them again and have a thoughtful conversation with them.   I miss the voice of my friend and patient, Sara.  I miss hearing my Grandma discuss politicians.  I miss seeing Mary in her pew at church.  There are so many people to miss!

I was wondering if I'd bring them back if I had the power to do so and realized I would not.   That would be too mean.  I miss them but I am confident they are having glorious experiences right now.  I am also confident that I will see them again.

Today at church Mike did a memorial service for a charming man.  He was well-loved and will be sadly misssed.  It makes me sad that he is not here, but at the same time, happy for him

Mike's sermon was from a verse in Ecclesiastes.  He spoke of a time and a season for things....a time to be born, a time to die.  Today is the time for sadness and support for those left behind, but it is the season of pure joy for the one who has gone on.

How do people handle death when they do not have this confidence in eternal life?  That is what I am wondering today.

Surprises in My Grandma Bag

Remember yesterday I told you about my Grandma Bag?

 
Well, there is more to the story.  I arrive at church early to sing on our Worship Team so I just put the bag in a pew and when Maria arrives, she goes to that pew.  Eric is on the Worship Team as well but Sam joins the girls.


From time to time I go through the orange bag and trade out the toys.  One of the things I'd put in the bag was a handful of index cards on which Cordelia could draw and color.  One day in July, before Elise was born, I went through the bag and found evidence that either Cordelia is even more advanced than I thought or else Maria and Sam are using the Grandma Bag as well.

What do you think about that?

My Orange Grandma Bag

One day, maybe a year or more ago, I saw this glorious little bag while out shopping with Maria and Cordelia.

The little girl in me was absolutely charmed by it.  The old lady in me thought it would be ridiculous for me to use it as my purse at my age.  But still, I really wanted it.  I just did!  So, I came up with an idea.  I decided it would be my "grandma bag".  I fill it up with fun stuff to entertain Cordelia during church.  Cool, huh?   People may think I carry it because I am a thoughtful Grandma, but I just think I look cool with it.

Now you know the truth.

Funny Face, I Love You

I have taken about a zillion photos over the first

3 weeks of Elise's life

.

Not all of  them were flattering.

I love that little funny face!

How a Walmart Clerk's Smile Changes the World

I was at Walmart recently.  I was rather lost in my own thoughts, shopping as fast as I could as my goal was to be anywhere but there.  I don't generally enjoy shopping; it is just another chore that needs to be accomplished.  Checking out at Walmart is not usually a joyful experience either.  This trip was to be different.

As the person in front of me was checking out I noticed that she really had her hands full.  She had several little people attached to her and she was trying to manage a lot of groceries.  The clerk was being so sweet and actually SMILED at this tired mother.

Wow!  That smile just seemed to ease the tension out of that young mom.  You should have seen the change in her! She smiled back, they chatted a little and then the mother and children left.  I imagined that the mother spoke a bit more kindly to her precious children.  The children would then be more kind to each other.  When they got home, I bet their dog even received a bit of the run-off happy feeling!

As I moved up to swipe my debit card, the clerk gave me a big smile as well.  Even though I'd seen her be so encouraging to the previous customer, I still felt as though I'd just received a special sweet gift by her smile and pleasant greeting.   I noticed I pretty much instantly felt lighter, happier.

As I left, I found myself wondering how many people passed through that clerk's aisle during the course of her shift.  Did she manage to stay upbeat and pleasant with all of them?  I'm wondering now if each of those  customers left feeling more kindly toward others?  Did that mean they were more likely to place their carts into the cart rack, rather than leaving them behind the car parked next to their's?  When they drove away, was there a reduction in road rage?  Were they more likely to smile and nod as they patiently waited for a pedestrian?  Did that pedestrian then help a lost dog find its owner?  Did the dog owner, happy to meet a kind neighbor, decide to bake cookies for her child's teacher?  Did the teacher, happy to feel appreciated, encourage each child with a little more enthusiasm?  Did those children, feeling their self-worth, realize their potential and feel more interested and eager to learn?  Perhaps some of those children will use what they learn to build on, eventually leading them to make great discoveries.

I'm sure you can clearly see where I am going with this.  That young clerk's happy smile more than likely will lead to more happy smiles that will likely lead to cancer cures, a drop in national levels of depression, scientific breakthroughs in sustainable forms of energy, poverty resistance, cleaner water, better care of animals, drop in crime, less bankruptcy, a balanced national budget, fresher air, improved international relations and so on and so on.

Don't you agree?  So go ahead, smile at a stranger!

Week-end Visitors