An Afternoon in the Park

Yesterday afternoon, we decided to venture out despite on and off snow showers. We drove out to Farragut Park and purchased a permit for the year. We haven't done this before, but plan to get a lot of enjoyment out of the park this year between geocaching, hiking, biking, wildlife watching, and just relaxing. We will probably try disc golf as well, because we've both been wanting to give it a try and see how many Frisbee's we can lose.

The park was fairly empty late yesterday afternoon. There were a couple other cars and a few people walking, but it was very peaceful, except for the sound of Canadian geese making sure we knew we were getting to close for their comfort, at times. We saw a lot of geese, hundreds of deer, and an eagle. I enjoyed a few moments in a swing at one of the little cabins, as I looked out over Lake Pend Oreille. We searched for mountain goats on the rocks but did not see any. We will keep going back and checking those rocks out for goats. I remember going there as a kid, with my parents and sister to watch the goats.

My hubby tried to find a geocache but didn't have any clues with us, and when we got home and read up on it, we found it is a tricky one. We will be back for a day of caching in the park, though! I sat in the car while he looked because a few moments earlier, I was so busy walking on the dock taking pictures that I wasn't paying great attention to things around me, and I hit a rubber bumper on the dock and took a nice little fall. Snow, rubber bumpers, and a person not paying attention are not a good mix! I was quite wet from the fall, but I did keep my camera safe! I am sure the nearby geese were laughing at me as the honked their chorus a few feet away.

Even though there were periods of heavy snow, there were also periods of bright sunshine. We enjoyed a couple hours of quiet in the park and it was nice to just be out, despite the crisp air.

Today

We have 14-16 inches of new snow this morning, and it's still snowing!

The grill was ready to do some grilling!
This is a shelf I have out back for my gardening stuff on it. Yes, it's really that deep!!

The dog isn't even happy about the snow!

An Open Letter

Dear Global Warming Officials,

I would like to invite you to come to the Pacific Northwest and explain global warming to us. You see, we seem to be stuck in a never-ending winter wonderland. The snow is never going to stop! You see, the snow piled up yesterday morning, and we have another 7-12 inches in the forecast to arrive in the valleys by Saturday morning. The temperatures the past week have ranged from 17 to a toasty 41 degrees. I am sure that sometime in the next day or two, I will look out my window and see a polar bear walk by, as we seem to have moved from North Idaho to the Arctic Circle. I also know that instead of Robins and Killdeer, I will be seeing Penguins nesting nearby.

I heard on the news today that even the Coastal areas of Oregon received several inches of snow, and my friend who is heading to California to see her daughter, was told by her daughter to bring snowshoes and winter clothes because it is snowing there as well. So, as you can see, those of us who live in the Pacific Northwest would love to see your evidences for global warming because we are seeing an opposite reaction in the weather.

I look forward to hearing from you!

With Cold Regards,
A Citizen Who Is Very Tired of Winter

Encouragement

Encouragement is awesome. It can actually change the course of another person's day, week, or life. ~Chuck Swindoll

Who do you know who could use some encouragement today? Give them a call, or take them to lunch and give them some words to lift them up, and help them along on this journey of life. You never know when those words can positively change a decision someone is about to make. Don't wait, do it today!

So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you're already doing this; just keep on doing it. 1 Thessalonians 5:11


And on a final note, Go Cougs!!

Right Page, Different Look

If you are a regular here, yes, you are on the correct page! I decided to change things up a bit. I guess it's part of spring cleaning!! Maybe if I change up the blog look, it will change up our weather for the better. I can hope, right?

I wanted to make the new colors WSU colors and tried, but it was pretty bright. I am cheering for the Cougs, though! I've been a Cougar fan for more years than I can count, and am wishing them the very best in the Sweet 16. No matter what happens, the northwest is proud of their success. Even a friend of mine, and my husband, who are die hard Husky fans are cheering for WSU on Thursday.
Go Cougs!!

I'm Done

A couple weeks ago we went to a conference, and one of the classes we attended talked about how we need to stop conflict and help out communication on our ministry teams, in our marriages, and in our relationships in general and instead of getting upset and fighting, just tell the other person in a respectful manner "I'm done." If you have already talked about this with the person you are in a conversation with, (which, by the way, you should have done so they know what you are talking about) they will understand it's time to stop talking about that subject because you've had enough for the time being and need to move on to another subject. They were really emphasizing this statement for spouse's who work together, or who do ministry together because either can consume your life and you forget to just be a couple and talk about other things that are going on in life. So, if you use the phrase I'm done, it's actually supposed to be a good thing, which means you don't shout it or say it with an attitude, you just make a statement, signaling to the other person it's time to move on in the conversation.

Well, today, I would like to say I'M DONE! However, I am yelling it! I would like to move on. I would like a different topic! Winter, it is time to move on!! We had 4-5 inches of snow on Friday, it snowed on Sunday, yesterday was sunny but cold, and this morning it's sunny, but only 18 degrees!! There is snow in the forecast throughout the week, and it's really time to move on to Spring. When is winter ever going to leave? The flowers out front that popped up when we had a couple nice days, aren't looking too great this morning. The Killdeer that have been running around here making their nests, are looking stunned, or maybe they are just frozen. My friend went to California over the weekend. She sent me a picture with the temperature sign in the car that read 85. She came to youth group last night with a sunburn because she went swimming, and got to enjoy the sunshine while down there. She said she thawed for a couple days! I'm sure she's frozen again this morning.

So, winter I'm done! It's time to move on and let Spring come in! You had your season and now it's over, it's time to accept it, and wait again until it's your turn to return in December.

"In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours. "-- Mark Twain

Easter in Review

Our weekend started with services at our church on Friday night. It was a very powerful and moving time, and an incredible way to start out the Easter weekend. Saturday night, we went to my parents and spent the night and went to early church my family and my husband's mom, then back to mom and dad's for dinner and an Easter egg hunt, which had to be done inside because it snowed, again! My nieces decided to have some fun with the eggs:

As you can see out the window, it was snowing quite heavy at the time of this picture, so we had to take a picture of the geranium my dad got my mom, just to remember that Spring is supposed to be here by now!

It was a blessed weekend, as I hope yours was and I hope you discovered something new about Jesus, or got to know Him on a deeper level this Easter weekend.

We sang this song over the weekend and it meant a lot to me.
Everyone needs compassion

Love that’s never failing

Let mercy fall on me

Everyone needs forgiveness

The kindness of a Saviour

The hope of nations

Saviour, He can move the mountains

My God is mighty to save

He is mighty to save

Forever Author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as You find me

All my fears and failures

Fill my life again

I give my life to follow

Everything I believe in

Now I surrender

Shine Your light and let the whole world see

We’re singing For the glory of the risen King

This is For You

This Man by Jeremy Camp

In only moment truth
Was seen revealed this mystery
The crown that showed no dignity he wore
And the king was placed for all the world
To show disgrace but only beauty flowed from his face
Would you take the place of this man
Would you take the nails from his hands
Would you take the place of this man
Would you take the nails from his hands
He held the weight of impurity the father
Would not see
The reasons had finally come to be to
Show the depth of his grace flowed with
Every sin he erased he knew that this was
Why he came
Would you take the place of this man
Would you take the nails from his hands
Would you take the place of this man
Would you take the nails from his hands
And we just don’t know the blood and
Water flowed and in it all he showed just
How much he cared
And the veil was torn so we could have
This open door and all these things have
Finally been complete

Take time to read about what Christ did for you this weekend in John chapters 18-20. The following link will take you there!
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2018-20%20;&version=51;

Spring!!??

I was so excited yesterday. I was out in our front yard, and we only had one patch of snow, about two feet by two feet, and a about three inches deep. I went over and kicked it around some to help it to melt. We still had a pile of snow on the center of the flower bed from shoveling the roof, but there were flowers coming up everywhere I looked. It appeared that the flowers were popping up as soon as the snow was gone from around them. I was so excited for the first day of SPRING today! Thoughts of flowers, green grass, birds, butterflies, and warm sunshine filled my head. Unless I'm having a bad dream, those thoughts will have to continue to fill my head on this first day of Spring because everything is stark white this morning, well except the sky which is a very yucky gray. The entire landscape out my window looks like one of those bad pranks at college, when someone takes baby powder and a hair dryer, and blows it under your door, and when you open the door, everything is covered in white and gray. I wish it was just a bad prank, but if it is, the powdered sugar is still coming down. There are no signs of grass in my front yard, again. The crocuses that popped up yesterday, probably aren't very happy little flowers today. The birds that were singing, and the kill deer that were squawking, are all quiet. My conclusion on this first day of Spring is that global warming is a farce and that someday, maybe, Spring will arrive. It may be July, but Spring will arrive!!!

Old Has Gone

"Coeur d’Alene’s last sawmill will process its final log in May, a casualty of the nation’s mortgage lending crisis and rising values for waterfront property. Stimson Lumber Co. gave its 60 hourly employees at the DeArmond mill a two-month notice on Tuesday. Workers weren't surprised." Spokesman Review

Just a few days ago, I was downtown Coeur d'Alene and looked at the sawmill and wondered how long it would be until it too turned into more Riverstone like property. Riverstone property once used to be the source of income for this area with a large lumber mill, as well. The headlines yesterday answered my question about the old mill, and the old way of life here in this area. I've known many people who have worked in these mills over the years, and now they have had to find a different way to make a living. Personally, I would rather have the mills than the hundreds of condos and all the pavement/concrete that line the riverfront now, making it so you can't even see the waterway. But, I've lived in this area for 32 years so lumber is what I grew up with as the main industry of this area. To me, it's sad to lose this industry in the area. It's also sad that more and more condos and pavement will go up in this area, making it a place where only the elite are allowed. It's happening all over this area, and the large sprawling fields are rapidly disappearing to housing developments. As I drive the prairie, I wonder where all the geese, hawks, deer, moose, and elk will go once those houses are there and I think how these housing developments keep encroaching on all this wildlife habitat, putting a stress on the wildlife that have lived in these areas for years. Of course, once people move into these areas and then have the wildlife show up in their yards, they complain that the wildlife should not be there, but it was their land before it was a housing development. To quote a couple of songs "don't know what you got, till it's gone" and "pave paradise, put up a parking lot" or in these cases, a housing development.

The Bridge

I got this yesterday and wanted to share. It's long, but worth your time.

Wait - before you read any further - please take a few minutes and watch this video on You Tube: Most – The Bridge.



This clip illustrates in a powerful way how the sacrifice of Jesus must have completely broken the heart of God the Father - and how Easter should also include a time of expressing our gratitude not only to Jesus, but to the Father as well.

This clip is also more than just a video. It's actually based on the true story of a man who made that exact sacrifice. Here's what really happened-
*The father's name was John Griffith. He had lost all he had in the stock market crash. He moved to Mississippi where he took a job as bridge operator for a railroad trestle. In 1937 he was involved in a horrible accident. One day his 8 year-old son, Greg, spent the day with his Dad at work. The boy poked around the office and asked dozens of questions - just like little boys do. The bridge was over a river and whenever a ship came John had to open the bridge to allow the ships to pass. The day the boy was there with his father a ship was coming so John opened up the drawbridge. After a moment or two he realized his son wasn't in the office and as he looked around, to his horror, John saw his son climbing around on the gears of the draw bridge. He hurried outside to rescue his son but just then he heard a fast approaching passenger train, the Memphis Express, filled with 400 people. He yelled to his son, but the noise of the now clearing ship and the oncoming train made it impossible for the boy to hear him. All of a sudden John Griffith realized his horrible dilemma. If he took the time to rescue his son the train would crash killing all aboard, but if he closed the bridge, the boy would be crushed in the gears. John would sacrifice his son. He made the horrible decision, pulled the lever and closed the bridge. It is said, as the train went by John could see the faces of the passengers, some reading, some even waving, all of them oblivious to the sacrifice that had just been made for them.
This week over a billion people will celebrate Easter. We celebrate the fact that Jesus Christ came back from the dead after paying the ultimate price for our sins. We celebrate the fact that salvation is available through trusting in the risen savior of the world.

But even though we celebrate, sometimes we forget. There was more than one sacrifice that was made on the hill called The Skull where Jesus hung on the Cross and poured out His life.

There was also a Daddy. He watched in heaven as His precious Son was spit on, insulted, tortured, and finally murdered by people who had no idea who they were killing. The heart of God the Father must have been shattered into a million pieces as the land grew dark and Jesus cried out to His Papa:
Then Jesus shouted, "Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!" And with those words he breathed his last." (Luke 23:46)

That's why this Easter we need to remember and celebrate not only the earthly side of the gospel message, but the heavenly side as well:
Romans 5:6-8 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

While we were on the train, headed for destruction...while we were addicts and selfish, sinful people...while we were clueless about the destiny of eternal souls...a Daddy chose to love us and choose to let His one and only Son be crushed by the gears of Crucifixion.

On Easter Sunday, take some time to watch the video again. Let it remind you of the tragedy and triumph of that first Easter, and let it convince you that you have a heavenly Daddy that loves you too much to live without you.

Bugs!

We tried to keep them out. We tried all we could, but it didn't work. Our house has been invaded by bugs! It's not a cute little lady bug, either. I'm talking the nastiest of all bugs, the CRUD Bug! We spent the weekend doing very little around here. We watched four movies, some Nascar, and some basketball picks-GO COUGS & ZAGS! We slept, we thought we were exerting maximum amounts of energy when we made dinner last night, and both of us had to rest afterwards. We hope the exterminator comes along and gets rid of this CRUD bug soon, as we are supposed to have Easter dinner at our house in a few days and we know that no one else wants to share this bug with us!

Going along with unpleasantries of the day, we woke up to a white landscape this morning. Most of our snow HAD disappeared, but it's back this morning, which I must say is not a welcome sight! I had two crocuses pop out over the weekend, but they have yet to show their glory because of the weather. Hopefully, they are still intact this morning and will bloom sometime soon.

The weekend also brought sad news of the passing of a lifelong friend. I am holding up her family in thoughts and prayers as they go through this time. She was a kind woman, who could always make you laugh. Today, she is without pain for the first time in a many years, as she walks with Jesus.

Life Prints

"To touch someone with kindness is to change someone forever. Heavy, huh? But that's not the half of it. Because for everyone you touch you also reach everyone they will ever know. And everyone they will ever know. And so, for the rest of all time, your kindness will be felt in waves that will spread long after you move on." ~Mike Dooley

We leave a life print on everyone we come in contact with, and the affect of that contact, whether positive or negative, does have a ripple effect on everyone that person comes in contact with, and on down the line. Are you leaving a life print on them that is passing down something good, kind, encouraging, or are you leaving a life print on them that is a put down, discouragement, or just plain mean? Think of how you treat your family, your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers, and also think how you treat a waitress, a clerk in a store, or maintenance people where you work. Will the way you treat them, even if it's just a look, pass something down to those they come in contact with that is positive or negative?

Saying Thank You

Blessings abound-look around you. The smiles of children, the beauty of a glorious sunset, the comfort of a warm bed at night. Small and great, there are plenty of reasons to say to God 'Thank you.' ~ Joni Eareckson Tada

I think this time of year, with rain and gray, and the dirty remnants of snow around us, we can forget to see the little blessings around us, so I am challenging you today to look for them, and to share them here for others to read. I am saying thank you this morning for the sun that is peaking through the clouds; the tulips popping through the ground; time spent with my mom and sister yesterday just goofing off; dinner with my friends last night; always knowing that I have a soul friend that is there for me when I need her; for my husband and the precious time we get together; for my lovable Golden Retriever, who is always happy to see me; for my family; for coming home to a house that I am able to live in; for running water, flush toilets and electricity; for my job and ministry, which overlap; for Jesus, my Savior! I could keep going, but want to read what you have to be thankful for so please share at least one thing!

What can you say thank you to God for today?

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given.
1 Chronicles 16:8-12

Garden

Our snow really disappeared yesterday. It was a cool day, but we had high winds and it took the majority of the snow off the front yard. The middle of the flower bed is still covered in snow from where we shoveled the roof, off, but around the edges there are tulips starting to poke through! I can't figure out why my crocuses haven't bloomed yet, but hope to see them soon as well. I was wondering why we long for our gardens so much, and besides the beauty of the flowers and the bounty of produce they offer, I think it's because life began in a garden, a perfect garden, free of weeds, disease, and pests. The perfect relationship between humans and God and between humans and themselves took place in that garden. There wasn't any disease, stress, or death in that garden. Life was perfect. Life was amazing. Can you imagine, there wasn't any knapweed, crab grass, aphids, or earwigs! God gave Adam and Eve the best of everything, yet they still wanted more. They decided they wanted to be like God and they chose to disobey him. Because of their choice of disobedience, they were banned from the perfect life, the perfect garden, and had to fight weeds, sickness, and death. God still was with them, but in a different way. They now had to go to Him, instead of Him just always walking with them. Just as parents have to discipline their children for bad choices, God had to discipline them, and us. We have to choose to believe in Him, He doesn't make us. Sin entered the world in that perfect garden, in the perfect relationships, and now we have to work at those relationships, both with God and with each other. We have to pick the weeds of life out of our relationships and cultivate meaningful relationships and work hard to produce bountiful friendships and time with God, the original gardener. So as I long for my Spring flowers and being able to plant my garden, my soul longs more for that perfect relationship with the Gardener, my Savior. He is always planting seeds in me and wanting to produce great things, but I have to take the time to grow them, spend time pulling the weeds of life out of the way, and get in the Word to nourish my soul.

Security

Where does your security lie? Is God your refuge, your hiding place,your stronghold, your shepherd, your counselor, your friend, your redeemer, your saviour, your guide? If He is, you don't need to search any further for security. ~Elisabeth Elliot

It's funny how we do search for a place to belong, a safe haven, when all we need to do is give our lives fully to Jesus and He will provide that safe place for us. Yes, we still need relationships because that is what we were created for, to love and to be loved, to let others in our lives and to walk with others through their life. However, we don't put our trust in others that they will fulfill us because if we do, we will be strongly disappointed. God wants to fill us up and be the one we lean completely on, whether times are good or not so good. He gave us relationships with others so we can learn how to love, even though people will let us down at times. Friendships are vital to life, but what God has to offer us is far above what an earthly friend can give. As you enjoy the friendships you have been blessed with, dig deeper into your friendship with God and see where it takes you!

The hands of God will hold us close in ways that no earthly friend ever could. You have a Father...Friend...Savior...a home in heaven. God is as near as you'll allow Him to be. ~Mary Pielenz Hampton

Trip

We've been in the Seattle area since Thursday. About sixty of us from our church in the children's, middle school, and high school ministries went to a conference for some training in the Redmond area. We had a great time and received some good resources and encouragement.

As we started over the top of Snoqualmie Pass, heading West, it suddenly got green!! There was grass and ferns everywhere. Once we were in the city, there was bright green grass everywhere, as well as flowers and trees blooming. It was so pretty! We only experienced a partial day of misty showers so we were excited about that, and the temperatures were in the 50's. It was wonderful to experience SPRING!

For those of you, like us, who haven't seen green grass since October, this is what it looks like!!!

We made a quick stop at Snoqualmie Falls on the way home. It was beautiful, as usual. The rhododendrons where in full bloom at the Falls, as well.

It was nice to get home, but it was hard to see the snow that is still piled in our yard. Plus, the temperature dropped 22 degrees in three hours! Oh well, the hope for spring is that much more alive in us and we look forward to it with great anticipation. We even bought some landscape cloth at Costco yesterday to start working on the backyard as soon as we can get back there. Sounds like we are in for a cool, wet week here but it might wash away some of the snow, so I will try not to complain and know that March showers bring April flowers!

Simple Things

I was getting a few groceries today and the clerk commented to me how everyone was in a much better frame of mind today and actually smiling because the sun was out. She said it is amazing how the weather really makes a difference in customers attitudes-whether they choose to smile and be nice because the weather is good, or whether they are grouchy and don't offer a smile back to her when she offers it. I know she smiles most of the time and is cheery because I see her at least once a week, sometimes twice and I always look forward to her warm greeting. I know that what she said about people's moods is the truth, and I will say after a very long winter, my spirits are lifted when the sun is shining, but if we depend on the weather to make us smile or be grumpy, that is pretty sad. Life is about much more than the weather, and if you live in North Idaho and depend on the weather for your mood, you will spend most of your life depressed and wearing a frown on your face, because we have a lot of gray days!!! Life is about the small joys, as well as the big ones. I got to spend a little time with my nieces today, playing with their princess Barbies and Barbie want-to-be's from the dollar store, and their horses. We had fun putting Cinderella in her carriage and my sister made a makeshift halter for one of the horses to pull the carriage. I asked the girls where the prince was and since they don't have any boy dolls, they looked around and quickly made due with a Care Bear teddy bear for the prince. It made me laugh, especially inside, because here is a beautiful Cinderella Barbie with her long, flowing, glittery blue gown, and the prince is a chunky, turquoise bear with stars and hearts on his belly! The point is, enjoy life and don't sweat the small stuff! Life is full of heartache and sadness, but it is also full of joy and simple pleasures. Lately, we've had a lot of both in our lives and I am thankful that God brings along the moments with a clerk who chooses to be happy no matter what the weather, and pass that happiness on to her customers. I am also thankful for the simple moments playing with my nieces to be brought back to a simpler time, even if only for a few moments. Remember to find happiness in the simple things-look for it, search it out, and enjoy it! The most important thing to do though, is to pass it along to others!

"For most of life, nothing wonderful happens. If you don't enjoy getting up and working and finishing your work and sitting down to a meal with family or friends, then the chances are that you're not going to be very happy. If someone bases his happiness or unhappiness on major events like a great new job, huge amounts of money, a flawlessly happy marriage or a trip to Paris, that person isn't going to be happy much of the time. If, on the other hand, happiness depends on a good breakfast, flowers in the yard, a drink or a nap, then we are more likely to live with quite a bit of happiness." ~Andy Rooney

Investment

"If I were given the opportunity to present a gift to the next generation, it would be the ability for each individual to learn to laugh at himself."
~Charles Schulz

Last night was Monday night, which is youth group night. Usually I am at church, helping to check in three hundred kids, showing them where they need to be, and helping leaders out where I can. Last night, however, the kids met in the homes of their small group leaders. I went around to the leaders that are under me and checked out the different groups, and took some pictures. Well, I took pictures everywhere except the first group. I walked in the house and sat and enjoyed some time with the girls and then went to snap a few photos, only to find I forgot to put my card back in my camera! Oops. They had a good laugh at my expense, as they should have. After leaving there, I ran and bought a new card and off to the other groups I went. About this time, a blinding snow decided to come upon the area, which made driving quite interesting. I honestly have not seen snow flakes so large and come down so hard in a long, long time, if ever. Even with a visit from winter, the evening was a lot of fun. The kids were enjoying themselves and there was a lot of laughter everywhere I went. Some of the leaders are probably still trying to get all the chocolate cleaned up from the ice cream sundaes they had, but it built great memories for those girls and the time invested in them will be remembered throughout their life time.

Somehow, find a way to invest in a kids life. It's not always an easy job, and sometimes you don't see that you made a difference until years down the road, if ever, but you will make a difference if you care about them and show them how to live. So many kids now days don't have an adult they can look up to, so I challenge you to be that adult in a kids life, and make a real difference in someone's future.

Sunday Drive

Unlike today, where we woke up to fresh snow on the ground, yesterday was a beautiful sunny day! We decided to go for a drive around a couple of lakes in the area and see if we could spot any wildlife. We saw dozens of Robins and Canadian Geese! We also had fun watching some deer. We drove by quite a few old farms, and some had lost their old barns or out buildings due to the heavy snow, while others made it through the winter. It was nice to get out and enjoy the day! Our dog had a smile on her face the entire drive as well. I think even she is ready for spring to arrive.

Our trip ended with meeting our friends who had just arrived home from five weeks in Hawaii. They were having a bit of shock to their bodies with the weather, considering they just left 80 plus degree temperatures. It is good to have them home, though! They brought me a beautiful lei with the sweetest fragrance, which makes me want my flowers to start blooming even more. I know spring is on the way, it just gets hard to wait for it this time of year!!





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