A New Cat

I got a new cat in December. Lucky Grace join my family. Lucky was found by two friends, abandoned at the Everett Senior Center in a carrier. It was cold and she meowed loudly. They rescued her and I got her the next day. Life has changed. It has been interesting watching the two cats interact. Katie was so mad at the cat joining us but has gotten much better. They both have entertained me during this last week during out snow storm. Lucky likes to perch. She tucks her hind legs under her and hangs her head down. It is funny to look at her and see her perched watching you. Katie on the other hand will stretch out and roll over on her back for tummy rubs. Lucky has a loud meow, Katie's is soft and she chatters and chirps at the birds outside. So as I ramble about them they are asleep on me, one on my lap and the other on my shoulder.

Christmas past and present

Been thinking about what Christmas was like as a kid.

Fresh tree smell, decorating the fireplace mantel with the village and train. The train ran from one side of the fireplace to the other and back. My dad had made a shelf that ran below the mantel for the train. Putting the village houses and people, trees, and animals up was fun. I remember rearranging things just to bug my brothers and sisters.

The tree, a real tree, not a fake one. Ornaments that we as kids made, ones that mom and grandma made and the ones with our names on it from Auntie Buster. Mine is red. After the decorations and light are on and working then came the tinsel. Oh how I hated and still do. Tinsel the little strips of aluminum that mom required to be put on one at a time. One at a time are you kidding. I liked to take a little handful and toss on a branch. Only to be told to get it off and one at a time. Taking it of is not any better. Had to take it of and store it for next year. Oh Joy.

Christmas eve was the last minute of secret wrappings, me being excited. We would have sandwiches, potatoe salad, baked beans. Then sent to bed kinda early. That was a special time for me. I got to sleep upstairs. Yes upstairs in my sisters room. That was some fun times.

Early Christmas morning I got sent downstairs to see what Santa brought. So tip toeing past my oldest sisters room, which was at the top of the squeaky stairs, that made it fun to sneak past her. Down the stairs and out the door. On to the living room. Did Santa come, did he eat the cookies and take the carrots? Trying to be so quiet but having to turn on a light. Boy is that click loud. There under the tree some packages with our names on them. Hmm unwrapped, what did I get, then having to remember what my sibling got. That was hard I wanted to play with mine. But back upstairs to report the findings. Now the hard part began. The waiting until it was time to go back downstairs. Can I just say the my sister Pam made it difficult on Christmas morning. We could open our socks and play with the Santa gifts but had to wait until all of us were up. Mom with the coffee and dad in his recliner and my sister Pam in bed reading until at least 7 am. Sheer torture to a 6 year old. Who could stay in bed and read???? Pam did.

Finally the presents are opened and play time has started. Naps taken and then dinner. Sometimes we had relatives over and other times it was just us.

Now I don't put a tree up. No room but some decorations are out. Christmas Eve service at church. Love that it is a service of listening to members of the congregation display their musical talents.

Home for the rest of evening. Christmas morning with my brother and his family. This year we get to celebrate Jesus's birthday on Sunday. Then on to my adopted family Christmas.

Every year my sister Nancy and I get to celebrate Christmas again with our friends from Poulsbo. Doug and Paula. I have known them since I was 14.

Through the years I have become more ready to give then receive. Hmm... must be getting older.

Merry Christmas

The night sky

So it has been a long while since I blogged. Now is the time to start again.

I was outside and looked up. The dark sky. Some stars shining, a sliver of moon, and the shadows of the Cascade Mountains.

I think back to when Jesus was born. It is that time of year. Christmas, celebrate the birth of Jesus. Family and friends gather together.

But back to the night sky. I got to thinking what the shepherds must have been thinking when the angels came to tell them of the birth. Looking at the Cascades, on this cold night. A fire to keep warm. On alert for danger to the sheep. When suddenly an angel appeared and started talking to them. Personally that probably would have scared me. They listened to that angel. When the angel was done talking suddenly there were a multitude of angels praising God.

Could you imagine what that must have sounded like. The voices praising God so wonderfully. It must have so great for those shepherd. We hear music and think it is good, but to have God's chorus of angels........

Then the stars. If you go out and look up you see stars, little and big dipper and all the consulations but that bright large shining star. A star that lights up the sky and land. That would lead people to Jesus.

Oh I cannot wait to see Jesus and find out what it was like.

Random thoughts on different subjects can be fun.

A Pleasant day

What a lazy sunny pleasant day.

Sleeping in even for an hour is so good. Waking up to sunshine and blue skies a bonus. Spending the morning with sister and two nieces garage saling. Why is it I bought the most? I found a soup tourin in my pattern of dishes, a present for my great niece and batting for the ladies at church.

Time in the car with laughter and whining. Now out to Snohomish for cat food and then I think Cold Stone Ice Cream is in the works.

Hard long thoughts.

So a blog about something that has been on my little mind for a few years.

Prayer for so many different needs and wants are petitioned daily to God and He answers in His time with an answer that may not be what we want.

We pray for health, wealth, family, and the list continues on with unlimitless requests.

One that is frequent is for a women to be able to conceive. God wants us to be fruitful and multiple but there are times that this does not happen.

I have no regrets about not having kids. I have had the privilege to be involved in many lives through out the years. Many that have come to know God and serve Him.

My regret, unanswered pray or answered in a way I don't like is for a spouse. I don't see how God has used this in my life except I have patience. Sometimes I think that I am not a person that someone would like to spend time with. Other times I feel who cares, I am who I am with a love for God and family and friends.

Being single I have had the privilege of observing marriages. To watch how they interact and show their love and frustrations with their best friends the spouse. I am so thankful that I don't feel like I am a third wheel with my friends. I am included and love them for that.

I miss coming home and only my cat to greet me and have dinner with me. There are times I would love to have a shoulder to cry on or just to spend quiet time with.

I do love that my cat Katie will be at the window when I pull in and at the door as soon as I open it.

There have been a few times in the past three or four years that I have really broken down about

being alone.

The first was when I realized that I never had the chance to be a friend to my mom, only her child. Mom died when I was 18. I have women in my life who have been the mother figure for me. Paula was my Sunday school teacher in high school and is a dear friend who is a phone call away. I have been adopted by a wonderful lady Gladys. She is there for all her girls and has so much wisdom. So thankful for these woman.

I see my friends interact with their mothers and at times get jealous. I think I hide it well but it comes out sometimes. I can say I do not like mother/daughter teas at church but I go. I have had the privilege to be a mom for the tea to other girls who share their mom.

The second one was after I was assaulted at work. It was later in the evening and going home to an empty house was scary for me. I could have called a friend and they would have been there but I was embarrassed to even tell them what happened. My teddy bear was the shoulder I cried on. Teddy has seen alot of tears throughout the years.

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The third was last Christmas at my family Christmas. My sister every year takes a picture of each family in front of the Christmas tree. Seeing all my siblings with their family and me alone really hit hard last year and I was not very nice to my sister. A few days later I was able to tell her what was bugging me. She said she never thought about me being alone.

Most people don't. I can hide it well, it just comes out at times. How many times do you think about your single friends. Look at some of the holidays. Valentines day are not for singles. I will never be a mother so Mothers day is out. I have wonderful friends and family who are there so I don't miss to much at holidays.

The fourth was last summer at a women's retreat. Hearing the women talk about their husbands and the kids with all the good and laughter. I could not join in. Oh how the evil jealously was on my heart. So with the jealously and recently I had stopped a relationship and was dealing with that too. My thought and tears on my best friends shoulder on the beach was when I finally realized that God has something planned and I don't know what it is but my patience runs out at times.

I know that I am God's workmanship and He will use me and my life to do His will and I will try not to be impatience and accept His will.

So friends I might be calling for a shoulder to cry on or a spider to remove from my apartment or a jar to open. I will try not to be so stubborn and not ask for help. I keep getting reminded that their helping my might be a blessing to others. So God do Your will in my life.

summer

With summer in season so much to look forward to.

Garage sales with family and friends trying to find that something special. Ok someone elses garbage.

Driving around the state seeing it in it's finest green, since we have had rain this year.

Camping out in a tent with church group. Laughter will be at it best here. : )

Fresh fruits and vegetables out for sale and for the picking.

Just sitting on the beach and doing nothing but watching Gods wonders unfold in a beautiful sunset over the Olympic Mountains.

Exploring the Snohomish riverfront antique stores.

Now off to a drive and garage sale.

July 4th past and present

In my life I have enjoyed celebrating the Fourth of July.

Growing up on Puget Sound the beach was our playground.

A dock that when the tide came in you could jump off. Wide open areas of sands for drawing on. Looking for shells and rocks. Of course using kelp as whips on our make believe horses.

We had family come over as well as friends. An Aunt and Uncle would come up from Oregon with their travel trailor and camp in our yard for a couple of weeks.

The start of the day setting up for the picnic. Yummy food and BBQ. Many friends and relatives over the years. From young to the Grandmas, the dogs begging for food from the tables.

I loved to rest in the picnic baskets.

Swimming or just standing around in the water as it came in over the warm sand. Just splashing iin the water and getting wet was fun.

We also went out in the boats or had something to float on. I still love being in water. There is something about just walking the beach ankle deep in the water and viewing all that is there.

The pyromaniacs dream starting the fire and shooting of the fireworks.

As dusk falls the fire gets started, Graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate bars with the perfect stick for roasting the marshmallow to golden brown, OK burnt. I love smooshing t

he graham crackers together and the chocolaty googy mess drips out, but I really don't like eating them.

Now is the time of night for the fireworks. My brothers could put on a pretty good show.

Present day Fourth has been somewhat the same but different in a very good way.

Everett puts on a pretty good Fourth of July festival. Saarting with the Yankee Doodle Dash

thru town to the parade and ending with fireworks both on the waterfront and at the stadium after the Aquasoxs game.

Having fun with friends, picnic foods, fireworks all make for a busy day.

God Bless America.