North Carolina - Day 3

Sunday was our third day in North Carolina.  I guess you all realize that I don't post about our trips until after our return.  I hope you don't mind.

So, after going to church in Raleigh we enjoyed a lovely afternoon with Ben and Sara.  They took us to downtown Durham where we enjoyed a lovely meal at a place I think was called Otis and Parker's.  It was a charming little store and restaurant built in an old tobacco plant.  Do you call it a plant?  Factory maybe?  It was lovely and again we ate outside.  I love that!

After our lunch we walked around a bit then went to Sara Duke Gardens?  Oh my!  That was a gorgeous place.  Feast your eyes!

It totally cemented my love for magnolia trees.  Why can't we have those in Wyoming?  I'd read about them in books but I did not understand the magnitude of their beauty!  They are huge and the magnolia flowers are the size of dinner plates!  The best part is the branches grow in such a way as to form a big, open area hidden underneath.  I took many, many photos of one of the magnolia trees.  I'll try to hold back and not post them all.

Yes, I love Magnolia Trees!

North Carolina Adventure - Day 2

On Saturday we left the city and headed to the coast.  I am drawn to the ocean.  I don't know why as I certainly did not grow up near one.  The power of the water there just thrills me, though.  It was a couple hours to get there but sooooo worth the drive!  We ate lunch along the way then headed to the beach.  Here, let me show you...

 Sara and Ben

 Me

Mike and I... I just love eating outside!  

 I loved the dog!

Cowboys at the beach.  I wonder if they took the hats off to swim.

 Ben was determined to teach Sara to body surf.  I tried it but you won't be seeing those photos!

The beach was absolutely littered with shells.  It was so pretty.

That's me (bottom right) waiting for the waves.  We didn't know it but there was a tropical storm, Alberto, off the coast.  The waves looked a LOT bigger close up.  It was fun but rough.  Nevertheless, I was just so happy to be there.

From the beach we drove to Wilmington, a town full of American History.  I really enjoyed looking at old houses.  Many had little historical signs telling about the original occupants... so cool!

Such a fun day!

North Carolina Adventure - Day 1

Last night Mike and I just returned from an extra long week-end trip.  Friday we went to Durham, North Carolina to see our oldest son and our daughter-in-law, Ben and Sara.  We'd never been to North Carolina so it was pretty exciting.  They've lived there for a year now so it was most definitely time to make the trip.

After our long flight it was fun to enjoy this nice leisurely walk with Ben and Sara through Duke Forest.  Yes, I am wearing a giant leaf in my hair.  Ben thought it appropriate for the adventure.

It was so wonderful to be able to go see them!   They live too far away but they are happy and busy.  You other parents know how hard it can be with grown kids.  You spend their childhood teaching them how to spread their wings but sometimes when they do that, they fly away!  Well, it is as it should be and we are happy for the opportunities they have encountered.

I'm so proud of Ben.  He's confident and smart and is making a nice life there with Sara.  I miss them but it felt so much better for me to be able to see where they live now.   Over and over I kept thinking how grateful I am that we live in a time when it is not beyond our reach to travel back and forth to see each other.  I thought of my great-grandparents who actually left North Carolina about a century ago and ended up in Wyoming.  I'm guessing that when they left they said good-bye to their relatives with very little hope of seeing them again.

There is a perk to having children live far away; we get to visit and learn about their surroundings.  This Southern orest felt much different than a forest in the Wyoming mountains.  It had it's own sort of beauty.  Much of Wyoming is prairie and we can see for miles and miles.  North Carolina has trees EVERYWHERE!  It was most definitely an adventure for us.

There were a lot of flowers growing wild.  Ben picked one for me, just as he used to do when he was a little boy.  Sweet, huh?

We had dinner at a little cafe with tables outside.  The evening was lovely.  We ended the day on the deck at their house, which is also nestled into the woods.  

What a pleasure it was to be there.

Walking for Life

Shortly after we moved to this town my friend, Nicole, introduced me to an organization that I have grown to really admire.  It is a resource center for women facing pregnancy issues.  It is a life-affirming non-profit Christian organization that offers emotional, spiritual and physical support not only to the woman but to her family.  Their goal is to eliminate the perceived need for abortion by helping women feel confident, not fearful, about their pregnancy.

I first got involved in a crisis pregnancy center when Mike was in seminary in Minnesota.  We had very little money to tithe with or to donate to anyone.  I felt a need to give back, though, so started volunteering at Birthright, a Catholic organization.  I am not Catholic but they accepted my offer to be a part of their efforts and trained me.  I went down to their office most Saturday mornings.  I did pregnancy testing and helped women learn of their options.  It was a busy little place!  We linked pregnant women up with whatever kind of help they needed to empower them to carry their baby to term.  The part I enjoyed most was when women came in with their new babies and I got to help them choose from the donated clothing.

My time at Birthright was so enlightening.  Although I'd heard via the media that abortion was really a women's rights issue, I found that point of view to be a little off-kilter in reality.  Many girls or woman who came there told me they were planning to abort if their pregnancy test was positive.  Of those individuals, without exception, each said they would abort because their dad or boyfriend wanted them to do so.  Let me repeat that...WITHOUT EXCEPTION.  I am sure there are exceptions to that, but none of the people I counselled stated they would abort because they wanted to for themselves.

The other thing I realized was what a loving choice it is when a girl or woman who feels she can't parent, for whatever reason, chooses to carry the baby to term and offer it for adoption.  I know that sometimes those girls/women get no support and are judged for "giving up their own baby" but yet they do it so that child may have life.  What a sweet sacrifice!

I am not a very political person but I am a medical person and everything I have ever learned makes me believe that life begins at conception.  I really don't want to be in anyone's business regarding their reproduction.  However, if I truly believe unborn babies are humans, how could I not speak out?  I came to believe that keeping quiet about it would be as wrong as if I kept quiet if I knew someone was planning to kill their newborn.  That's how I became involved.

What I like about True Care is their compassion.  Even if the patient tells them she is going to abort, they still offer only kindness.  In fact, they let her know that she is welcome to come back at any time.  Knowing that many post-abortive mothers later struggle with depression and guilt, they offer care to help them reach a point of peace, knowing they are forgiven.

Some of the assistance offered at True Care includes a nursing consultation, pregnancy testing and ultrasounds, STD testing and treatment,  abortion recovery, education on all options and referrals for community services and adoption when appropriate.  They do all of this free of charge!

I also like that True Care's goals don't end with a live birth.  They follow-up and offer  parenting classes and other forms of practical help as needed.  At any time during the pregnancy and beyond, they refer patients for help that may be beyond the scope of practice that clinic.

On June 2 Mike and I will be joining a group of great people as we are fund-raising for True Care Women's Resource Center.  If you are interested in supporting this cause, just click here.  They have it set up so you can quickly and easily donate online.  I love that!

I realize that no every one agrees with me on this issue.  I welcome your comments but I ask that you be respectful as this really is an important cause to me and my concern is heartfelt.

It's Just a Phase

When Maria was a 3rd grader she and I were visiting at the home of one of my friends.  My friend had a teen-age daughter who was being quite mouthy toward her mother while we were present.  Maria was quite horrified by it all.  I suppose I was a bit astonished by it as well.

On our way home from my friend's house Maria was talking about the girl and how she treated her mother.  I spoke about how teenagers go through a rough time sometimes  Maria responded, "I hope I NEVER talk to you like that."  Then she went on to say, "But if I do, will you remember that it is just a phase I'm going through?"  I laughed and said that I would.  When she was a teenager it was sometimes hard but I always remembered the little 3rd grade version of herself, imploring me to remember she was just in a phase.

...And Make a Difference Along the Way

We've all seen the motto to Live Every Day to the Fullest.  I saw it again the other day but added to the end was...

And Make a Difference Along the Way!

She Makes My Heart Sing!

This pretty little girl just absolutely makes me smile.  I took this photo recently as I was walking toward Cordy at her house.  As she was waving at me she narrated the situation as well, saying, "I'm waving at you, Grandma.  I'm waving at you."

Then she took me on a tour, showing me her rocks and flowers.

When I've had a couple of days without seeing her sweet face I develop a funny hollow feeling.

Her smile just makes my heart sing!

Slow Mail and Lunch With a Cutie Pie

Yesterday I ran some errands and arrived back home just before lunch.   Someone had brought in the mail and laid it on the kitchen table.  I flipped through it and saw three or four that seemed to be cards for me.  I said, "Wow!  Did I have a birthday or something?"  I was perplexed as my birthday was in the dead of winter.

Before I had a chance to open the cards Sam told me what happened.  Apparently around the first of February Sam had brought mail in from the mailbox but instead of leaving it upstairs where I would find it, he'd taken it downstairs and there it stayed.  Yes, it was a pile of birthday cards for me!

I hope no one has been upset with me for not acknowledging their cards.  I must say, it was a fun thing to be opening them now!  Maria and Cordelia were here for lunch and I mentioned that they should all sing Happy Birthday to me but they did not.  Never mind.  Having them over is like a present anyway.  Just take a look at this sweet face!

I hope you are all having a lovely May.  

My Tree

I pulled this tree up by the roots.

Well, it was a bit smaller when that occurred, as was I.  I guess I was about 5 years old or so and we were visiting my grandparents.  My cousin and I were playing in a vacant area nearby.  It was low and moist and there were a bunch of little seedlings sprouting up.  My cousin, Tim, and I each chose one and pulled it up because we knew our Grandpa Red loved trees.  Wouldn't he be proud of us?!  I remember feeling like we were bringing him such a remarkable treasure.

My Grandpa Red did indeed love trees.  However, their lot was getting pretty well wooded.  They lived right by an alley and there was more vacant land there.  At that time, their home was right on the edge of town.  Grandpa helped Tim and me dig holes and plant our treasures.  I didn't even live in that town so I likely would not have even remembered it by the next time we visited.  Grandpa Red, however, took loving care of our tree babies.

Well, time passed and that vacant land became the site of a new elementary school.  By that time our trees were of a pretty good size.  Somehow Grandpa found out that the powers that be were planning to remove our trees in order to landscape according to their own plan.  In Wyoming, where trees are hard to grow, that was not the best plan.  Grandpa actually went to a meeting and fought for our trees!  Isn't that just about the coolest story ever?

The trees stayed and grew.  When we came to town to visit, Grandma would often take photos of me in front of my tree.  When I married and came there with Mike, she took photos of both of us there.  Later, she did the same with our children involved.  

My tree has been hit with lightning several times over the years.

I think its scars just give it more character.

Grandpa Red died in 1982 but the trees lived on.  Grandma Rose died a little over a year ago.  On the day of her funeral my aunt took pictures of me and Tim in front of our trees.  I thought that would be the last time I posed by my tree. 

This past Sunday, when Sam and I went to visit my Mom, we drove by my grandparent's house.  Of course I had to stop and check on my tree.  It's still there.  It's still beautiful. It still makes me proud of my Grandpa.

Kirsten's Kitchen: of vegan creations: Craft Project: How to Make Clay Roses

My daughter, Maria, is once again a guest poster at this site...  Kirsten's Kitchen: of vegan creations: Craft Project: How to Make Clay Roses  Check it out!

Standing on the Promises

Are you familiar with the song, Standing on the Promises?  The first line is, "Standing on the Promises of Christ My King."  Our friend, Emily, wrote a post yesterday that reminded me of that song.  Today I just want to ask you to please follow this link to read her post.  You won't be sorry.

Pounding and Banging

Well, we couldn't just relax now that the work is done for the time being on the inside of our house.  I'm really glad that I'm not working a night shift so far this week because with all the pounding and banging on our roof, I don't think I could sleep during the day!

Actually, we found out we had damage to our roof last Fall.  The winds here all too often reach 60-70 mph and poor little shingles can just take so much.  Apparently many others have the same problem as there was quite a waiting list for the roofers, and of course they couldn't work on roofs most of the winter here.

Although it is annoying, I am grateful for people who will get up there and do that work as I sure wouldn't want to.  Sorry, I was too shy to point my camera when the guys were up there.  Some of you may have liked that!

I Don't Know Who Those People Are

I hope you had a great Mother's Day.  I realize it is a hard day for some for so many reasons.  I hope all women understand their importance as a female role model to those around them.  None of us know all the lives we touch.

My day went like this:

-Got up.

-Went to church.

-Sang for an hour of practice with our Worship Team
-Rode with Sam for a couple of hours to surprise my Mom  (more on that later)
-Enjoyed a phone call from son, Ben, from North Carolina
-Ate out with Mom, Sam, Tina (sister), Steven (nephew) and Stephanie (niece)
-Rode a couple hours back with Sam
-Stopped by to enjoy some evening time with Cordelia, Maria and Eric
-Home

So, surprising my Mom was fun.  I called her just before we got to her place and wished her a Happy Mother's Day.  My sister and her kids were in on the plan and had arranged a reservation for us to eat out.  Because we couldn't make it to town until 2:00, Niece Stephanie helped to keep my Mom from eating lunch.  Stephanie creatively asked to go browse some open houses.  They happened upon a little art show but the open houses were pretty slim pickings.  Stephanie then had her Grandma (Mom) give her a tour around town of all the houses my Mom has lived in there during her lifetime.  That took awhile!  Stephanie did a great job.

OK, back to my phone call.  I was still speaking to Mom when we parked by her house.  She was saying something and then kind of stalled out as she looked out the window.  She said to me, "Someone is coming to my house.  I don't know who those people are."  What?!  Well, as it turned out, she was looking at the car, not us.  Often I come up to her place in Mike's vehicle so maybe that was it.  Still, it was pretty funny.

Of course I snapped some photos to share with you.

I loved my day.

I love my family.

My Mother in a Sentence

As I was driving home from work one day last week, listening to KLOVE, I heard a challenge.  Well, I don't think it was meant as a challenge exactly.  Anyway, they were asking people to call in or write on the web page or some such thing.  What they wanted was for people to describe their mother in one sentence.  So, as I drove I mulled that one over.  I decided to do it on my blog...

I've always known my mother to be one person who truly let's the love of Christ shine out through her words and actions, putting the needs of others before her own as she strives to bring joy, comfort, peace and love to all she meets at all times and she does this as though it were her pleasure, not an act of martyrdom as she makes us all smile and laugh and even giggle because she also has a great sense of humor and is very intelligent and that combination makes for a witty type of delightful conversation that is enjoyed by all of us who know her and we in turn walk away from her feeling as though we are better human beings ourselves while we contemplate how she could be so smart, kind, funny and humble even as she is beautiful and looks so much younger than her actual age which isn't that old anyway because I always had the youngest mother of all my friends and many of my friends even liked to think of her as their second mother because she is quite simply just the epitome of motherhood, perhaps even the epitome of womanhood and I love her so much and I love that her name is Grace because she is quite gracious and I know that I owe her for modeling the kind of mother I hoped to be even when I knew I wasn't ever likely to live up to her high standards but yet she made me feel that I could do anything and when I did do things she made me feel like I did them better than anyone could have imagined and that I myself was just perfect but perhaps she was just seeing her own reflection, which of course is so lovely but she would not admit it because of her deep humility although I don't know how she could remain so humble when she is so talented, excelling as an artist, seamstress, gardener, cook and so much more yet she acts as though it is nothing but I know that she is a woman far above rubies as it says in the Bible and I am grateful that she raised me with Biblical ethics and always helped me and my siblings decipher what is truly important in our lives and I love her so much and of course who wouldn't because she is quite easy to love and I am so glad to be one of her daughters.

Well, I left some stuff out but they really only wanted one sentence so there you have it.

Love Notes on the Wall

I've been painting one of our bathrooms.  Actually, that bathroom has been torn up for weeks and weeks.

First, we discovered the shower was leaking into the basement below.  So, we set up for our plumber friend to fix that but decided to replace the whole shower stall.  We waited for the new shower to arrive and for the plumber to be available.

Then, the plumber saw that if we took out an upper cupboard next to the shower we could upgrade to a larger stall.  Our old shower stall was, shall we say, close.  As our plumber friend put it, if we dropped the bar of soap we'd have to open the door to pick it up.  Think about it.

So, they ripped it all out.  The first night I realized I could sit on the potty and look into the attic...

as well as the basement...

That was fun.  

You can't really tell by the photo but trust me, I could see into the basement and the basement could see up to me.

The day the plumber had the new shower installed he contacted a local sheet rocker person to come fix the hole in the ceiling where the cupboard used to connect.  There was some wait time until she could come.  As it turned out she was a single mom doing her sheet rock business after her day job so it took more than a week for her part to be completed.  She warned me ahead of time about that and I agreed to it so it was ok.

Anyway, now, for the first time in a long while, we have no workers inside our house on a daily basis.  So, now it is time to paint!  

 And, as is my custom, I painted a message on the wall.

It was a good thing I took the photo as no one saw it but me and Bode before I was ready to paint that wall.

I like knowing my little love note is under that last coat of paint, though.