Happy Halloween

I know some like Halloween while others don’t so much. I am one who can take it or leave it.

So much of Halloween is showing the dark side. In my home town of Gig Harbor families gather together in downtown after school is over. It has been a tradition for several years. Not so many go trick or treating these days.

My idea is we take some time out on Halloween and pray for our families and friends along with those who are involved in evil practices. This could change lives in the long run.

Enjoy your day in whatever fashion you spend on Halloween.

How Is Your Wednesday?

Being Wednesday it is a good time to see how we have done this week.

Are we meeting our expectations when it comes to our life purpose?

Have we met anyone that we haven't met before or for a long time?

Has someone helped us out with the help we need? It is always good to have someone encourage us when times are not too good for us.

Whatever the answer is just keep plugging along too.

We Should Be Ready

We are soldiers and runners. The natural is to help us into the spiritual. We are fighters along with finishing the race.

We need to be ready. Right now we are preparing to do so. This life is to get us ready for the next life.

We can laugh and have joy along this road we live on. Though life is getting us ready we don’t have to be serious all the time. Let us enjoy the ride.

Helping Family With Our Gifts

On Sunday at church, it was announced Preston and his wife were moving to Arizona to take care of their parents. Not sure whether it was both set of parents or just his or hers.

Whatever the case we wish them the best. They have led the hospitality group at our church for some time so they will be missed.

The gift of hospitality will be sure to help to take care of their parents. Also, having each other will help build strength too.

It is so important we take care of our parents at an old age. I am sure we would want the same from our children. Amen!

Interesting October

As October is winding down I decided to look to see how much rain we have had this month.

It seems like we have had more rain than what we actually turned out. We have had four inches of rain here in Gig Harbor.  It is hard to judge the rainfall; for instance one day this week the rain came down hard, however, the news said that Seattle had a quarter of an inch. I expected we got more rain than Seattle though. Our average is about five inches more rain than Seattle a year.

The rainfall for 2019 is right now half of the average for the year. In other words, we have to get double the rain over the next two months to be at our average. It could happen but not likely. Looking at the record of rain in 2015 we had the highest month ever in December so if we get close to that plus the average for November we would have the rainfall for the year we should.

I expect a lot of rain for the remaining of the year even if we don’t make the average. Last year we hit our average while in the previous four years we had more rain. Stay tuned see what happens.

Praying For Each Other

One of my friends on social media mentioned about praying for her children and grandchildren. It is so important to do so.

This goes for each other as well. We all need prayer to make it through the day regardless of the circumstances.

Some need prayer for their health while others need for general purposes. I figure prayer is part of our life purpose. It shows what we should do in loving one another.

Even though we may not know each other or say know from a distance we care for another so let’s have prayer included. If you are already praying for me and everyone who reads here we all appreciate it.

Until next time may you be blessed and joy comes through your heart. Amen!

Live Our Life Of Purpose

Another day to live our life of purpose. It is actually a good way to get up in the morning knowing that we have a purpose. Not only that but God created us for a purpose. Something really to think about, isn't it.

I like the fact I can encourage others to be who they are meant to be. To get out of our shell to share ourselves with others.

When I am in the coffee shop I look at others wondering what they are thinking. I get to talk to some especially those who are regular. Some people are shy while others have a smile on their face.

I wonder if this is how they are all the time or this is just for the moment. Not everyone feels right in a public place or it is just how they are today.

I usually smile then say hello if the opportunity arises. I try to talk to as many people as I can though I know some just aren't in the mood.

Have yourself a wonderful weekend doing your purpose only in the way you can.

Fear Grips

I have heard a lot about how fear can bind people up where they have a hard time doing anything at all. I haven’t experienced it myself in my life. People need help if they are in that state.

On Wednesday though I went to physical therapy to work with my mother from her fall; she was supposed to practice walking up stairs since we have stairs to go out of our apartment. We live on the bottom floor.

She had a very hard time going up one step. I am sure it was in part because her leg is hurting; however, she was in fear of walking up the stairs. The physical therapist said to my mother “you made it up two stairs so that is progress though you had fear in doing so.

It amazed me to see my mother grip with the fear of going up the stairs. It is something she has to overcome for us to stay in the apartment and for her to come home. I hope today will be a better day for doing the stairs. Pray for my mother thanks.

If you have any stories about fear please feel free to share in the comment section. I am sure there are those who could use the help especially stories about overcoming fear. 

Life Changes

It has been exactly a month since my mother fell. She is still in rehab center; however, she probably will be out in a few days.

The rehab center wants me to work with her for a couple days on her physical therapy.  The work will be about her going up and down stairs since we have seven stairs leading out of the apartment. We live on the bottom floor.

We hope to be able to still stay in the apartment; however, there is a possibility we may have to move to another apartment where there are not any stairs.

This is where life changes can happen when making decisions like this. I hope we can stay where we are at but moving may end up being the best thing for her.

The important thing right now is to find out whether she can walk up the stairs. There are only seven stairs so not many; however, could still be a problem for her. We do have a grass back yard so it is a possibility for her to walk out that way too.

We all have decisions to make whether it has to do with parents who are old or we are looking to move because of a career change. Never an easy change especially if we have lived in the same place for a while.

A lot of people though go through these changes some more than others.  I hope any changes you have made have gone smoothly. Amen!

Doing Number One

Jesus Christ said the greatest commandment was to love one another.

It begins with family and friends. We do so by trusting one another; being faithful to those near and dear to us.

I know most of us do so without even thinking about it which is a good thing. Loving one another should be as natural as breathing. Amen!

Another Monday

I hope your day and week has gotten off on a positive track. I know some people don’t like Monday’s but we should enjoy each day as it comes along. God has only appointed us a certain amount of days on this earth before calling us home.

It is still dark outside here; however, it looks like it is raining, not a big surprise in the Pacific Northwest in October.

I know in a couple of months a lot of people are going to be tired of the rain around here but I figure if the sun can come out sometimes even once in a day, I am up for it.

Let’s pray for one another that our day will be fulfilled with blessings. We are enchanted with those we meet. We can encourage one another to take every step in a positive way. Also, we can be surprised by those we meet. Enjoy the day. Amen!

Mind Games

It is amazing how our minds work sometimes. I thought about what I was going to write here today but I lost it. I guess I should have written it at the time. Oh well. I am sure it will come back again. Does that mean I am getting old? LOL.

Anyway our minds are very important to us. It helps us get where we are going. It is the first step to communicate with others.

I hope what I had planned to write comes to mind again. Probably after I finish this so I will write it down then.

It rained hard here for a lot of the day on Saturday. At least the sun came out later on along with blue ski. It is always a good sight, especially in October. It was windy as well so a bit chilly too. I hope the weather is good where you are at. Continue your weekend along with good blessings. Amen!

Update Coming Soon

It has been a couple weeks since I got an update on my mother at the rehab center. She is doing so much better since the last one.

On Tuesday I should know when she should be coming home. It seems so long since she has been in the apartment. It has been almost a month since her fall.

She has been working on her physical therapy every day. She doesn’t remember everything but good for someone who is 99 years old though.

Who knows how long she will be around but every day having her is a blessing.  We should be thankful for each other being here.

Until next time enjoy your weekend.

A Message For Today

God wants us to listen and obey. He challenges us with faith and encourages us with his love. He wraps it up with hope.

Travel Locally

This time of the year it isn’t easy to travel locally for a weekend or a vacation because we are at the beginning of the raining season.

Those who enjoy snow especially going skiing the season will be coming up soon.

Staying home watching television or playing cards is the way to go.

There is one place in Washington State on the Olympic Peninsula where you can not worry about rain and it is Sequim. You may have to drive in rain to get there but while you are there rain shouldn’t be a problem.

You see Sequim gets less than ten inches of rain per year. Last February it was amazing because they got like 15 inches of snow. It doesn’t happen often in Sequim. I am sure it had to be a record.

Sequim is famous for Dungeness crab. The crab is harvested at the Dungeness Spit which is located right by Sequim. A good place to spend time at; when I was a kid my brother Dick walked the whole spit. We decided to go have dinner which by the way included crab.

Sequim has the Olympic Game Farm to visit as well. They have all kinds of animals. Many of the animals have been in Disney movies so you would meet the movie stars. LOL.

So whether it is October or any other month of the year come check out Sequim, and have yourself a good time.

                                                   Sequim Washington

On the Agenda

When we wake up in the morning we should thank God we are here once again.

Next we should ask him what is on the agenda for the day. What is his purpose for us just for today? Remember tomorrow will take care of itself.

I am sure God can surprise us. Remember he has a sense of humor too. Amen!

Remembering Others

I was thinking about a couple young children I met a few years ago. They are Anthony and Brooklyn brother and sister.

I haven’t seen either of them for about a year. I am sure they have grown up a lot in this time. They are such beautiful children. I look forward to seeing them again.

I am sure everyone has people they remember that they haven’t seen for a while. The important thing is they are always in our hearts even when they are not present with us.

Always good to keep those special people in our hearts; they are important to us over the years we are alive. Amen!

The Father’s Business

Jesus Christ says that he came here to do his father’s business. When he was crucified, buried then resurrected he left his purpose to us to do his father’s business.

Since Jesus Christ is our brother then it means we are to do our father’s business too.  Since we have family it begins right there, then friends, and others we meet on the way.

Important for us to hear the father’s voice and act on it. What he tells us to do we must do. Amen!

The Invitation

In my last post, I mentioned about going to the highways to invite people to the wedding feast.

For some, it is through mission trips or being a missionary. For others, it could be traveling to different parts of the world on vacation and then for many living every day out spending time with neighbors and friends.

There is not a true way to invite people to the wedding feast the important thing is to do it in the manner that God has called you. Amen!

Visiting British Columbia

Growing up I visited British Columbia, Canada several times because my grandmother lived there along with my Uncle Bob, Aunt Joan, and three cousins Rob, Susan, and Christy. 

I am sure most people are familiar with Vancouver and Victoria. Vancouver was where my grandmother and Uncle Bob with family lived. Vancouver is quite a large city now with several million people. I have been there several times as an adult as well.

My sister Barb lived in Port Moody for several years before moving to Quebec. Port Moody is a small city near Vancouver. It has been a while since I visited there but I found it is a very nice place. I am sure it has grown a lot since my sister lived there.

I have been to Victoria a few times. My cousin Rob was married in Victoria, and my Aunt Judy who lived in Montreal when I was growing up retired near Victoria.  I have friends who visit Victoria on a regular basis, at least once a year. My mother says Victoria is more British than England.

My cousins Susan and Christy each live in the Williams Lake area of British Columbia. They both taught school in Williams Lake. I saw Williams Lake last year for the first time though I had been in the area a couple other occasions.

They call the Williams Lake area as part of the Caribou. A good area with lots of lakes, and rivers; it looks a lot like Western Washington.

Cousin Rob lives a bit further east in Vernon, British Columbia. A very nice area as well, and part of the Okanagan; I spent several days at Rob’s some time back. For those who like to ski, there is Silver Star Mountain Resort nearby.

In the gospel of Matthew chapter 22 verse 9 to go to the highways and as many as you can find invite them to the Wedding Feast. I figure for many that should be part of our purpose. So while you travel where your destination is inviting people. Amen!

                                                Susan's House

Being Faithful

One of the most important deals for us is to be faithful to everyone. Those around us will see us in a whole different way if we are faithful to others. This goes along with love as well.

Our goal is to live a life of purpose that God created us for in the first place; however, our influence will get us there in a way we may not realize.

Being faithful in everything we do especially in the way we act with others shows those who may not know as well what kind of person we are.

The great thing about it is we don’t really have to try that hard all we have to is do it. Pretty simple I think. I am sure those who know you already realize you are faithful. Just keep doing what you are doing.  

Always Willing To Help Others

Last night I had a dream where a woman called to ask if my dad could come over and paint her bicycle again after several years.

Dad told me in the dream (he has been gone for a long time) he couldn't do it until the middle of February because of his heart.  I thought oh know she is going to be disappointed because that’s several months away.

So when I got back on the phone I told her my dad couldn’t do it until February because of his heart; however, I could come over instead to help her out. She was fine with that then I asked her if she had the color paint we needed to paint the bicycle. She said that she didn’t so I had to go over to see the bicycle so I could get the right color. I woke up after that.

So the moral of the dream is we need to help others even when it is inconvenient for us to do so or we didn’t know we had to help.

Helping others is important because someday we may need help ourselves. Helping others can be satisfying too. It should be part of our DNA. Amen!

Getting Colder

The weather here in the Seattle, Washington area is starting to get colder. We are expecting near-freezing temperatures this week; amazing it was just summer.

It is raining right now though the sun is expected to come out today as well. We always like seeing the sun especially this time of the year when it doesn’t come out as often.

The way some people talk you wouldn’t think we have summer at all. We forget so easily, don’t we?

Update on my mother she is doing much better. At the rehab center they aren’t sure when she will get out but could be within a couple weeks if she doesn’t have any relapse.

Last week she wanted to come home real bad though not in shape to do so for sure. Yesterday she said that she was at her home for now. I am sure she wants to be home but realizes she has to spend a little more time there.

It is quite amazing where her mind isn’t working very well but she can speak some things with clarity. One of the therapists says she can count numbers backward faster than anyone she has ever heard. She can’t remember her birthday but does know how old she is and knows where she was born. I asked her what her father’s name and she raddled it off real fast though she couldn’t remember my dad’s name though she knew he enjoyed sailing.

Until next time may you be blessed and your life purpose is seen by others. Amen!

Winding Roads

I did a little searching finding that cities with winding roads usually are ones with scenic places to see. We could call that a good thing.

I remember hiking while in Boy Scouts a lot of switchbacks. I am sure there were good reasons for it; however, it took longer to get where we were going.

Though switchbacks and winding roads have merit to them straight roads are better. In fact, in our lives, we should live a straight path. A winding road we live in isn’t a good thing though it could be interesting. We all need consistency in our lives.

In our youth winding roads is a pattern but when we grow up a straight path should be the way we go or we can get into a lot of trouble. Anyway something to think about.

Now Into October

Every year we get amazed how time goes by faster and faster. They say it happens the older we get.

Not only is it hard to believe we are into October and winter is around the bend another decade is about to end as well. Less than three months we will be living in 2020. This decade seems to have gone by fast as well. Please slow down I don’t want to look or feel older coming up.

In 2020 my mother will be celebrating her 100^th birthday. Right now being in a rehab center after falling I am hoping she will be able to stick around to celebrate with family and friends.  She is experiencing dehydration so at times during the day she is confused; however, when she is eating then put on an IV for the hydration she starts looking better and alert.

Besides the dehydration, the fall gave her a big bruise on her left leg. They had the leg drained so now in the process of healing. I hope when the leg is ready for her to come home her mind will be ready at the same time. As you can imagine she wants to be home right now.

Every day through December 21 there is more darkness. We may lose a minute or two each day of sun or daylight. After December 21 the sun starts coming back at about the same rate. It is quite a phenomenon if we think about it.

Makes me think how careful we should be not to have darkness come into our lives too. If we are not careful it can creep in without us realizing. We need to let the light shine instead.

Enjoy your day and the month of October too. The weather here in Western Washington will get a little colder to each day. The mountains already have had some snow. God bless you very much. Amen!

Execution Of Your Game Plan

In sports often the team that wins is the one who can execute their game plan the best. Sometimes the team who isn’t as good as the team they are facing wins because they know what they must do to win and they are able to pull it off.

For our life purpose, we must do a similar plan. Whatever our life purpose we must execute it in a way that will be successful in helping others.

There are several different reasons we have a life purpose. The main reason we were created to give God the glory and be loved by him.  The rest of our purpose has to do is to help others because we love God back. God gives us gifts and talents to do so. Executing those gifts and talents will show how successful we will be at doing so. Amen!

Snoqualmie Pass

                                          Interstate 90 at Snoqualmie Pass

My latest travel tip; Snoqualmie Pass is located on interstate 90 28 miles east of Seattle. It is the most used freeway to go over to eastern Washington. I-90 starts in Seattle and ends in Boston, Massachusetts.

Snoqualmie Pass is a good spot to go skiing. Also, a great place to take your young kids. There is a city of Snoqualmie as well. Near Snoqualmie there is the Snoqualmie Falls a must-see for all and they have a casino as well where concerts happen along with gambling. Nearby there is a winery too.

So Snoqualmie has something for everyone. When you come to Seattle spend a day at Snoqualmie whether it is to ski, visit the falls or have some nice wines or see a concert. Enjoy your weekend. 

                                            Skiing at Snoqualmie

                                                              Snoqualmie Falls

A Long Week

My mother is getting worse as she is in rehab. She was better when she was in the hospital last week. Her poor health is catching up with her. Please pray for her.

This is the time when faith has to be strong. It is easy to have stress and doubt without faith. I know my mother is old but I don’t want her to go out this way. She was put on oxygen Thursday afternoon after being dehydrated in the morning. I hope to see progress on Friday morning.

Jesus Christ says faith will move mountains. My mother needs some mountains to move today. Amen!

Happy Ever After

As kids, we are told in every story that ended it was happy ever after.  I am not sure whether we really believe it or not at the time; however, we now know it is not true.

The best we can do is make life as happy for others as possible. We find that life isn’t always fair. There is so much evil in the world and sometimes it is of our own doing. This is why it is important to encourage one another as often as possible so life can be as close to happy ever after as possible.

Being Able To Forgive

Forgiveness is something we all need to do when we are wronged by others. Not always easy for sure.

I have heard on several occasions forgiveness is not to let the other person off the hook but for ourselves instead. Also, forgiveness is not to forget the wrong put on us. In other words, when we forgive doesn’t mean we have to be friends with the person who has wronged us. We have to make that decision on our own.

When I was a freshman in high school I had to deal with bullies. I still remember a few of the bullies but I have forgiven them. It has given me peace of mind. Also, I have forgiven classmates who treated me wrong in school as well.

So forgive as soon as you can and release those people to God. Pray that they will have their lives changed. Amen!

A Hard Day

I am sure most people are not fans of Monday’s. The main reason most have to go back to work on Monday plus would like a longer weekend which is good when there is a holiday on Monday.

My mother had a tough day on Monday on her first day of rehab. I spoke with the physical therapist who will be working with her over the days ahead. I am not sure how long that will be but we will find out. The physical therapist wanted to know what her normal day is like so she can get back to it.

She had a tough day because her left leg with the bruise hurts a lot. So praying for her would be nice. My mother’s name is Gwyneth she is 99 years old.

Gwyneth did a lot sleeping as well on Monday. I had to wait for her to wake up on two occasions I saw her on Monday. I had to wait about 30 minutes both times. She had hard times while awake though she told me she was OK.  Sometimes she has trouble when waking up where she is at.

She wanted us to talk but had a hard time telling me what she wanted to talk about. She did ask me how my family was. I told her she is my family. She thought that was nice. She was glad that I was there for her.

I will be returning again on Tuesday. I figure late morning because I am sure she will have physical therapy first. I will probably speak with her physical therapist to figure out her schedule. I hope today will be a better day for her. It should be though at least when coming to speaking to each other.  It was difficult seeing her yesterday for sure.

It shows we all have to endure when days are difficult whether it is with us or for those we deal with. We should find a way our lives are not stressful. Jesus Christ said not to worry about anything. Amen!