Though He slay me.

I can't believe how quickly summer is going! Before we know it.....it will be fall time again. Then Christmas. The other day, I mentioned to someone that Christmas was about 6 months away & I was met by a scowl and a " how can you say such a thing, Lana!" I guess some people would rather not think such morbid thoughts. I, on the other hand am already looking forward to fall time and Christmas! Not that I want summer to just zip by & be only a fleeting memory, but I so love that time of year. There's nothing more fun & cozy about a warm, crackling fire in the woodstove, an apple pie candle burning and curling up with a good book. And a cat on your lap, too.....which makes it even more cozy!

Ok, so I'll move on to other things. No more sentimentalizing ( is that a word?) is going to be done here today about fall time.....

I'm so amazed and comforted by God's love today. Today, it hit me very strongly in church while we were singing, that God does love me, and is for me. Some of you may say that is just a given fact, that we should always know and be aware of His love. Well, I do know He loves me, but sometimes I wonder how He can. I've failed Him so much, chosen to do my own thing, and cheated Him of my time with Him. Still....he graciously forgives, forgets and never holds it against me! Even when I'm so mistrustful, stumbling around in the darkness of my own foolish despair......He is there to help me. I have been through a very dark time in my life of late, barely hanging on and wishing for the sun to shine again. Yet, I have always known that He IS there, no matter how hopeless the circumstances may be. He is looking on with love and if only I'll trust Him completely....He will not only see me through, but bring me through these trials with a victorious shout!

I am DETERMINED to get all I can out of this, to stop struggling, murmuring and wishing for it to end. I am convinced that when I am still.... then and only then.... will He bring my trials to an end. Oh, it may not be instantly, it may even last much longer than I want it to....but He has promised that He WILL deliver me, so I know He will when the time is right! "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him". Job 13:15

Sloshing around Seattle

I'm just taking a quick moment to jot down a few thoughts, since I really, really should be getting supper started.

We had such a nice visit with my cousin & her family this past week! As usual....the time always flies by & before we know it, we're saying goodbye and hugging each other fiercely......wishing they could stay just ONE more day longer. Michelle and her family live in Alberta, Canada....and if we're fortunate, we get to see them once a year.......sometimes twice if it works out. If only they didn't live so far way we could see them more often!

The 3 of us girls.....Michelle, my sister and I had a blast in Seattle. We caught the ferry in Bremerton on Wednesday. We had a rather frazzled beginning, getting a wee bit lost trying to find the parking lot for the ferry dock. Then, a near accident because some idiot didn't have any patience with my rather confused driving, nearly side-swiped us. Yikes....it shook us up a bit! Once we got aboard the ferry........we had a great time sailing across the ocean blue. Well, it wasn't exactly the ocean blue....more like murky, grey water with no sunshine to make it sparkle. Yes, it was a gloomy day, with clouds galore. We couldn't even see Mt. Rainier. I was hoping to get a good picture of it, but it ended up looking like just a very large hill enrobed in ghostly fog.

We enjoyed walking down by the waterfront in Seattle, visiting shops, talking, and taking pictures. Of course we had to go into the Old Curiosity shop.......who could resist such a weird place?! I bought a little plastic box filled with Mexican jumping beans & a Seattle refrigerator magnet. Those beans are amazing the way they jump around for no reason.......

Later on, we met up with my uncle up by Pike Place market to have lunch with him. He works at a local TV station and was able to meet us right after he got off work. He knows the area quite well, so it was nice to have him as a guide. He showed us the very first Starbucks store! Just think what just that one building started.....!! Billions of dollars later, the coffee industry is still booming here..... and all over, for that matter.

We decided to try a neat Cajun resturant called Bayou on 1st. The food there was very spicy, but yummy! I had a chicken sausage po' boy along with a rocket arugula salad. Michelle shared her shrimp gumbo with me, too which was terribly good!

We did a little bit of shopping at the market after that. I bought some lavender Herbs de Provence for mom, and some lavender facial cream, which turned out to smell rather rancid when I opened it at home later. Trust me to buy something like that.....

Then we went to the Sea Aquarium where we were wowed & awed by all the different types of fish and sea life. It never fails to amaze me how intricate and colorful some of that stuff is! God sure had an imagination when He created sea life!!

When we were about to leave Seattle, the clouds let loose and the rest of the time was spent sloshing along the streets. But, we still managed to have a good time, and even took one more chance to get something to eat before we left. We chose Ivars, where the fish & chips are pretty wonderful!!

The ferry trip back to Bremerton was un-eventful and full of yawns on our part. We just stayed in our seats this time, instead of roaming the ferry like we did on the way to Seattle. We were too tired to move!

I guess that will do it for now. I've run out of things to say......

Just some random thoughts.

It's yet another rainy day here. I know that this time of year can be so rainy, but honestly.....it's getting a little old! We have been having some nice days here & there, though. Just yesterday it was like 77. I just wish it would keep it up! I get all inspired to make the yard look beautiful, and spend one day at it, then it has to go & rain.....which takes the wind right out of my sails!

I just can't get over how lush & green the plants are! So happy to see my Sweet Cicely growing in lacy, white masses all over the place. It smells like licorice when you press the leaves! Also, the feverfew and lemon balm are growing like mad, not to mention the peppermint! Mom & I made the dumb mistake of planting it IN the garden, and not in some remote spot where it could grow its little heart out without being criticized. It's just spilling out onto the lawn, like some wild tidal wave. If anybody knows how invasive mints can be.....well, then you can imagine what this is like. But, you know.....it's worth it( I think) to smell it in the air, when you mow the grass by the garden! I love the scent of peppermint!!

I'm so tired today. I didn't sleep very well last night. I was at my overnight job where I stay with sweet, little Mrs. P., who has Alzheimer's. I had trouble getting to sleep as it was. ( too much caffeine late in the day!) Then the dog woke me up scratching at his kennel door to be let out. So, of course I had to let him outside which got me wide awake all over again. I'm sure I only got about 4 hours of sleep last night. No wonder I feel like like I do right now.

Then I come home about 6am, and very foolishly didn't take a nap, but instead I trotted off to a rummage sale at 9. All would have been well & good, because I love going to sales......but this sale was soooooo dumb!! So disgusting and a waste of time!

I pass by a flower shop when I go to work, and they usually have a sign out saying " If your name is ____ come in for a free rose". And do they ever have common names?? Oh no......they have names like Barney, Reba, Conrad and Stu. Now tell me.....who, now days is named Conrad?!
Expecting them to put the name Lana is a bit much, but honestly........why not some more familiar names, like Tom, Jessica or Scott? Today, the name was Bella. I suspect the movie Twilight has a lot to do with that name choice.

I have no idea why I went into all that........

Well, all for today!

Spring has sprung.

Finally, I'm taking the time to update my blog! Life has been so busy lately, that there isn't much time to just sit down and type out any thoughts on things.

What to say. Hmmm........... I guess I could begin with the new job opportunity that came my way recently. It involves a very large house & cleaning supplies. Yes, you guessed it.....I get to do some house-cleaning! I'm actually very grateful for this opportunity, since my current job as a caregiver hasn't given me all the hours I would like. I do thank God for providing extra ways to bring in income.

The couple I clean for are very nice & have a lovely home. The husband is an acclaimed chef here in WA, and currently teaches classes in cooking at the the culinary institute at a local college. I had the fun of seeing his studio kitchen, located on the first level of their house. Pretty neat, I must say! I have been pretty interested in cooking lately, so this is right up my alley. I wish he could give me some pointers on cooking........

Everything here in WA is just bursting out into a zillion shades of green now. It's so satisfying to see the trees finally leafing out after having to endure all those months of bare branches everywhere. But then again, I find bare branches intriguing objects of photography. Branches against the background of a stormy sky; what a striking contrast....

Our plum tree is a mass of white blossoms right now. We have to enjoy it while we can. The blossoms are at their peak for only about a week, then the green leaves come to take over. The flowers have a honey-like scent, which smell wonderful on a breeze. The bees love this tree! If you ask me......it seems to grow larger each year. Each year I'm amazed at how striking the white blossoms are, especially in the sunshine. They're practically dazzling in their brightness. Every year, I take a picture of it, but I can never do justice to just how glorious those blooms really are!

My caregiving job is going well. I work with a company called Angel Advocates. The elderly lady I'm a caregiver to, has endeared herself to my heart lately. She has Alzhiemer's, so she has trouble communicating her thoughts to me, but I have found that she responds well to simple chatter, a caring touch and plenty of kindness. I have found that a smile or a hug goes such a long way with the elderly! She is really starting to like me, I think. Her face always brightens up when I walk into the room. I brought her a bouquet of forsythia blossoms today, and she was real happy. I hope they will cheer her up whenever she looks at them!

This job has been a learning experience for me, as I have never been a caregiver before. Caregiving certainly has its ups & downs, and it can be physically & emotionally demanding, but at the same time it's also quite fulfilling. There is something very nice about being able to help the helpless, if even in a very small way.
Caregiving will forever change the way you think of the elderly. I don't view them the same as I used to. They may be un-communicative, crusty, stubborn or many other things, but they still deserve our respect, kindness, and patience. They are still people, too....after all! They have the same feelings as younger people & should never be left alone to just wither away. Many elderly people are so lonely and just need someone to care about them!

Well, all for now. I hope my readers will have a wonderful Easter!

And so another blog is born.

Well, here goes the start of my new blog. I really have no idea why I'm doing this. I doubt if it will be wildly(woops.....widely read....though maybe some people do read blogs wildly) Maybe it's the need I feel lately to capture my thoughts on cyber space, or become the million-ith, (or should I make that billion-ith person?) to want some sort of recognition for airing my thoughts online for anyone to see. I must be nuts, but I do believe this is going theraputic and fun. I do love reading other people's blogs, though, so if this provides amusement for my reader(s), it will be worth it. ;-)

I must let it be known, that my blog page is a work in progress.....thus the reason it may not look like YOURS!

I just drank a very strong cup of coffee, and feel so nervous I could just jump out of my chair. I harnessed that energy effectively a bit ago, to iron 14 items of clothing. I listened to a Father Gilbert mystery while I was ironing. Not that I could really concentrate on the plot, but when all was said & done..... I did get the ironing done.

I'm going to leave my poor blog now, and go do something more constructive.

I shall return with other mundane thoughs later on. I'm sure you're waiting with bated breath......