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!

A Good Listener

Oh God, I want to be a good listener. I want to ask, hear, and obey what you have to say to me.

Our full purpose will happen when we are willing to listen to God and do what he has to say.

I know at times we may not hear back fully what he has to say. In those circumstances think what would Jesus Christ do if he were in our place.

Our lives will be so exciting to ask, hear and obey. Not just for ourselves but for others too. Have a great week everyone. Let it begin with today. Amen!

Mt. Rainier and the Space Needle

Mt. Rainier and the Space Needle are the two most recognized landmarks in the Seattle area. I can see Mt. Rainier from my home in Gig Harbor almost every day depending on the weather.

The Space Needle and Seattle, on the other hand, I can’t see from my home. I would have to drive 15 miles to Port Orchard to see the Space Needle. The best view is from the waterfront of Port Orchard.  So I don’t see the Space Needle very often. In fact, I drive to Seattle more often than I do to Port Orchard though 15 miles is more convenient.

Though both landmarks are awesome to see they are nothing like seeing ourselves in the mirror. We are meant to be awesome as well. We just have to remember it. So the next time you see an awesome landmark in your city remember how awesome you are too.

Getting Older

We all know it isn’t easy getting older. For those like my mother at 99 years old, it is really tough. I am fortunate mother is still around and doesn’t have any longer-term illness.

I have friends and classmates who can’t say the same about their parents. So many have dementia; I had an aunt who now has been gone for a while had dementia. My dad who has been gone a while himself said he would never want to live in a nursing home and he never did.

My mother would have to live in assisted living if I wasn’t taking care of her.  She prefers living in our apartment.  It isn’t always easy to see her especially having a fall like she did a few days ago. She will probably have to move into a rehab center when she gets out of the hospital. It hasn’t been determined yet but most likely. The wound on her left leg has to be treated every day.

She used to have a very sharp mind. Her long term memory is still in good shape just her short term memory isn’t that good anymore. Yesterday she told me when waking up in the middle of the night she couldn’t remember who she was and where she was at. She wondered where I was at as well. She thought she was at home but I wasn’t around which really worried her.

When I saw her though she knew who she was and she was in the hospital. She asked me what hospital she was in. When I told her it was St. Anthony’s she was glad about it.

I know at times when I take a nap when I wake up it takes me a little while to realize where I am at and who I am. For mother, it is the same way but takes her longer to realize where she is at and who she is. I just hope her mind is still in the state it is now when she dies. I asked her what her name was and she told me so it rests assured me. Not easy seeing how she is cooping but I am thankful mother is doing well most of the time though her leg is hurting.

It is so important we look after each other as we get older well as our loved ones who are old. We need to stay in good physical shape as well as keeping a sharp mind. Amen!

Early Mornings

I find waking up early in the morning a good time. I usually go back to sleep, however, I am able to think and ponder for a few minutes before doing so.

The rest of the day it is hard to get the mind going like early in the morning. It is easy to get distracted. So whether it is five, ten, fifteen minutes or longer I find it good.

Mother was quite talkative yesterday in the hospital. Usually, she doesn’t talk a lot but she did yesterday. After a while, she said, “I should stop talking because I am not making any sense”. I told her it was OK to talk even if it wasn’t all making sense.

She had a friend stop by for a few minutes. Her friend I didn’t recognize at all. I don’t even know her name and mother couldn’t tell me her name.  Her friend just returned from a trip to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and Jasper Park.  I have been to both but I was only 12 on the long summer trip. I look forward to visiting again someday.

I actually have known several people who have visited Calgary and Jasper this year. It is a wonderful place to visit if you have never been there before.

Amazing to think it is Friday once again. It has been one of those weeks with my mother falling on Monday and being in the hospital. The doctor said yesterday she will be moved to a rehab center either today or tomorrow likely. We will decide which one to go to.  I expect the one closest to home.

Enjoy your weekend. Take a little time to think when you first wake up in the morning whether you intend to go back to sleep or not. A good way to get the day going.