GOT A MINUTE OR TWO

Our little fisherman, Tristan, is going out further, and catching bigger fish.  Ling Cod.   Look at that mouth...huge! I can't believe this boy loves fishing so much he'd kiss the fish!  Ugg!   His dad is a fisherman by trade, so Tristan could not have a better teacher or companion to take him fishing and teach him all the tricks of the trade.  How I wish I could be at this "Fish Fry".

PLUMS FROM SUE Several years go, when we were visiting Sue and Dave their plum tree was loaded.  She sent home a box with us.   I was able to make 7 jars of jam that was delicious. Sue, thanks for the memories.  I see from your current blog, that you have tons of plums this year.  Don't I wish we could take a trip and help you get rid of them. HaHa. P.S.  I've added a square to the top of my sidebar called "A Few of my Favorite Things" Originally it was going to be my favorite quotes,but for some reason it wouldn't let me do a TEXT so don't mess with Wanda, I'll just do a picture instead.  I will change it from time to time so be sure and take a peek!  Don't you hate it when our computers like to mess with us.  HaHa 

  Mercy is compassion, poured out on needy people.  But the mercy of God, which he expects us to model, goes one step further.  God's mercy is undeserved favor.  Even when we don't deserve mercy, God still extends it to us.  Our sin and rebellion against God deserves his punishment; but instead he offers forgiveness and eternal life.  If God was merciful towards us despite our sin, how merciful should we be towards those who have wronged us. We all deserved hell, but because of his great mercy, we are given the choice of heaven by faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Savior. Were does mercy come from?    2 Corinthians 1:3 "He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. Hebrews 4:16 "Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.  There we will receive mercy and we will find grace to help us when we need it." How long will God's mercy last? Psalm 89:2 "Your unfailing love and mercy will...

  This is what started the "Tea Cup" legacy for several generations in my family.  This cup was given to my mother on her first birthday, 1912.  Don't know if it was brand new when she got it, or if it's even older.  Before she passed away, she wanted me to have her hutch and her collection of tea cups.  I have collected tea cups and tea pots for years, and now my daughters have their own collections.  I'm sure these will be passed down to granddaughters when I'm gone.   I had a little visitor.  I was looking out the kitchen window and saw this little guy sunning himself.  I tried to take a picture through the window but the screen was too dark.  I slowly opened the front door, and he stayed there long enough for me to get the shot Then down the ledge he went in a hurry.  Sorry I disturbed his sun bathing. This is not a very good picture, but I love having a sparkling clean valance over the kitchen window.  I forget...

  When your stuck at home and decide to clean out a few closets you find things!!  One was my large canvas portfolio, covered with dust and full of paintings.  I got lost for a while thumbing through some of the old watercolors. I did the parrot many years ago when I first started painting.  I had always long to do watercolors, but my life, working full time in Property Management, and Pastor's wife, and mom to a couple left in the nest, didn't leave much time for that desire.  When I had my 50th birthday, our nest was empty and our adult children gave me a lovely art table and a generous gift card to Aaron Bros. Art store for my art supplies.  I had an extra bedroom so that became my studio, and that's where I did 80% of all my paintings. Click to enlarge When we retired and moved to Southern CA, we downsized to a small apartment, so no extra room for all my art gear.  But I missed painting so I got involved in a couple art blogs, tha...

SEEKING HIS FACE     Psalm 27:8  "When You said, "Seek My Face". My heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek." In the eleventh century, St. Anselm gave advice that is relevant to us today! " Up now, slight man!  Flee for a little while your occupations; hide yourself for a time from your disturbing thoughts.  Cast aside now your burdensome cares, and put away your toilsome business.  Yield room for some little time to God, and rest for a little time in Him.  Enter the inner chamber of your mind; shut out all thoughts save that of God and such than can aid you in seeking Him.  Speak now, my whole heart!  Speak now to God, saying, I seek Your Face; Your face, Lord, will I seek." Dear Father, it doesn't matter if it's from the beginning of time to now, men have always needed to seek Your face.  Where do we find it?  In the humble solitude of putting everything else away and seeking you.  Help us, Lord, wit...

Sour Cream Cinnamon Coffee Cake with Drizzle Even though I'm retired, I have my weekly routines.  Household chores, laundry, etc.  But SATURDAY'S, that my day.  Love sleeping in, lighting my candles and having coffee cake for breakfast in my nightgown listening to my Christian music. All the years of ministry, (50+) Saturday was so busy, getting ready for Sunday Service, practicing with the Praise Team, putting the final touches on my Sunday School lesson for the children.  Deciding what I would put in the oven Sunday morning so lunch would be ready after service.  Usually it was a roast with carrots,  potatoes and onions.  We lived next door to the church in the parsonage so when you walked in the door after service the aroma was strong.  The kids still remember saying "It smells like Sunday". We are in a different season of our lives now.  Things are at a much slower pace, and things that use to worry me,  don'...

I haven't done a "Throw Back Thursday" for a long time.  I was looking through some of my archives and found this picture of my sister, Donna and me when we were so young.  My sis is 6 years older than me and you can see from this picture, I was the little redhead, and she the brunette.   Fast Forward ~~ this picture was taken a few years ago on one of our "Sister Weekends".  We are no longer redheads or brunetts but fashionable older wiser women with our grey locks! This dear sister is 85 and just a sweetheart, doesn't let the grass grow under her feet.  In fact her husband and her still take day trips and enjoy their lives.  Usually to the ocean.  We both have a love for the ocean!

COURAGE/BOLDNESS   Courage is the ability to act on what we know is right and good, to dare to do what we should or must.  Fear paralyzes; courage is what helps us move ahead.  Courage does not conquer fear, it simply renders fear ineffective. The more we rely on God, the more courageous we will become.     Let's see what the Scripture tells us about courage and boldness.     Duet. 20:1   "The Lord your God is with you."   Isaiah 41:10 "Don't be afraid for I am with you.  Do not be dismayed for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand."   Joshua 1:9   "Be strong and courageous!  Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."   True courage and boldness comes from God, understanding that he is stronger than our mighty foes and that he want to used his strength to help us.  ...

  Funny thing about thrift stores.  There is always a bag or two to take back.  Like lamps that don't work anymore.  A straw hat that comes down over my ears and eyes.  I'm not "big headed" HaHa.   Every morning at the breakfast table, my dearest and I read the Daily Bread and discuss the story, scripture and insight.  Then we pray for the day and we're ready for whatever God has planned for us.  Today was a real treat for us.  We "face timed" with our daughter Jill and this is the scene from the boat they were fishing from in Oregon.  It was fun to talk to her face to face and see Tristan and Jaya with their fishing poles. No bites yet, but these fishermen don't give up. There are several fig trees here at the Villa.  They are just beginning to show, and the problem, by the time they are ready to pick, the birds get first bite.  Unfortunately, the best figs are too high to reach, and they don't encourage anyone...

Is that not the face of "pure joy"?  Tristan got two parakeets for his birthday in June and they are already buddies.  I just love the look on Tristan's face.  I told my daughter, "That's pure joy." Some of the things that have brought me "pure joy" is holding each of our grandchildren after they were born. Seeing someone respond to the Gospel message and say yes, brings me "pure joy". Doing a "secret" kindness that only you and the Lord knows about.  That's "pure joy'! Watching my dearest getting stronger each day.  Finding the balance in his medication.  Getting to attend church after such a long time.  "Pure Joy". What bring you pure joy?  

Psalms 113 ~ The psalmist calls us to duty: Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD! Blessed be the name of the LORD. From this time forth and for evermore! From the rising of the sun, to its going down. The LORD's name is to be praised. The LORD is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens. Then the psalmists ask a question: Who is like the LORD our God, Who dwells on high, Who humbles Himself to behold The things that are in heaven and on the earth? Father God, Lord and Savior, who is like You?  No one!  That is why our hearts cry out in praise to You.  Bless Your NAME, the name above all names.  Lord, we rejoice to praise You from the rising of the sun to its going down, and we praise you in the night watches.  Who do we have but YOU? Accept our praise and adoration.  To YOU be all the glory!  I love You.  Amen googleimages.com

Remember the Movie "Driving Miss Daisy".  Well that's me of late.  When our daughter takes us anywhere, my dearest gets the front seat. HaHa.  As she was taking us to church Sunday, I was laughing to myself and thinking I must look just like Miss Daisy, so I took the selfie! Does anyone else make old fashion meatloaf and scalloped potatoes any more??  This was a staple growing up.  At least once a week this was the menu usually with peas or green beans. I had a pound of ground turkey in the freezer and decided I would make a turkey meatloaf and scalloped potatoes.  It tasted like "home" and we enjoyed it.  Today my dearest enjoyed the leftovers.

"LOVE" THROUGH A CHILD'S EYES         Today's word is not from the Touch Point Bible, but from an article I wrote back in 2003.  But it touches me to see LOVE through a child's eyes.  I hope you enjoy these two little stories.     It was not a good day!  Sorted piles of laundry filled the kitchen floor.  Dishes piled high in the sink, an eye crossing headache, raining outside and three preschoolers underfoot.  It was a day I wanted the world to stop and let me off ~ just for a while.  A deep breath, a reality check, and I started the pile of dishes.  Behind me I heard children laughing and turned to see them racing their trucks and cars around the piles of laundry.  My heart melted when I heard the words, "I love it mommy, when you make us mountains in the kitchen to play in.  LOVE THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD!   * * * * * *   Why can't I get organized!  Why can't I get t...

For quite some time I've had a longing and desire to see the ocean!  Don was feeling really good Sunday, so our daughter, Michel picked us up and we attended early service at church.  (Yeah our church is open with safety and restrictions.)  It was wonderful to see friends, and hear our Pastor in person.    We got a phone call from our granddaughter that her husband had a two hour lunch and wanted us to meet him at the pier for lunch together. My dearest had the combination plate, shrimp kabob, and scallops. A very happy camper.  Not measuring salt today!! This is oldest daughter Michel and her dad.  She is our Chauffer and takes us wherever we need to go.  A sweetheart! Michel's daughter, Monique and her hubby Eddie.  He's 4th generation working the docks.  It was fun to meet him for lunch.  Have time with the family, great food, and a glimpse of the ocean.    

Father God, as You promised Your people of old, so you promise me today, "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you".  Lord, I want to be where You are.  Go before me to prepare the way.  Stay with me to direct my every step.  Surround me with Your presence so that I may say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me"?  I love You.  Amen.     Deuteronomy 31:8  "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you, he will never leave your or forsake you.  Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged." Keep bright in us the vision of days when war will cease. When hatred and division Give way to love and peace. Till dawns the morning glorious When truth and justice reign And Christ shall rule victorious O're all the world's domain.                ~William W Reid Jr. (1958)   

Once in a while we get out, and make a choice to have burgers and fries!  Because we are so careful about his sodium intake, this is not a regular occurrence, but "once in a while" it sure tastes good! This would be a normal lunch for us. Pasta salad, fruit and crackers.  This was my plate.  My dearest had a cucumber sandwich with his. FYI- My dearest blog is called "RELECTIONS", on my sidebar, not to be confused with my friend Victor, whose blog on my sidebar is call "Time for Reflections"  My dearest posted a picture of our grandson, Tristan on the balance beam, and his reflections on it.  Please visit him, and leave a message if you desire.  I'm trying to encourage him to blog often so we can have them printed in a blog book at the end of the year. Also, thanks again to all of my faithful friends that visit me daily.  I love you all.

I found a recipe for "Fig Bars" but it was using fresh figs and cooking and making a filling. So I looked a little more and in one of my old Betty Crocker cookbooks, I found a recipe for "Apricot Bars" and it had the look I wanted.  So just substituted the fig jam for the apricot jam and they turned out so good and delicious.    FIG BARS   1 1/2 cups sifted all purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats 1 cup brown sugar 3/4 cup butter 3/4 cup preserves (fig or apricot) Sift together dry ingredients Stir in oats and sugar Cut chilled butter in small pieces sprinkle over your mixture and cut in until crumbly (I use my pastry blender)  Pat 2/3 of the mixture into a 11x7 pan Spread with preserves Add remaining crumbs Bake at 375 for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool and Enjoy!!