So many people will be having new goals for the new year, but I decide to plan to do 13 activities this year.  Just because it will be 2013.  

So here are my thirteen activities

1.  Visit Leavenworth Washington.   Not just to spend a hour or so but the whole day exploring the town

2.  Pedicure,   I have never had one.   I don't like my toes and so I have stayed away. This year I will get one done.

3.  Travel to Seattle Washington just to wander and take pictures a few time during the year.

4.  Ride the San Juan Ferry and visit Friday Harbor.

5.  Hike the Lime Kiln trail out of Granite Falls

6.  Visit the Big Four Ice Caves.   Again live here and never been.

7.  Hurricane Ridge.   What to go on a clear day.

8.  Ride the Seattle Great Wheel.   I would love to ride during the day as well as at night.

9.  Visit Butchart Gardens in Canada in the Spring and Winter..  My goal is to visit each season.

10.  Visit Mount St. Helens

11.  Go to Multnomah Falls

12.  See the Fremont Troll.

13.  Go up in a Hot air balloon.  I have the tickets just waiting for the day.

November

November is one of my favorite and saddest months of the year.

It is my favorite for my Dad and I would go to the Auto show in the Kingdome.   Hearing the ads this year just made me think of Dad.

1984   In the Kingdome walking among the new cars.   I was 20 years old and working my first real job.   My dad and I were just spending a Friday evening out.

Entering the Kingdome you see all the shiny cars, trucks and neon signs from all the dealerships.   We start walking.  Open car doors,  looking inside at all the 1985 new cars when my eyes landed on a 1985 Plymouth Voyager gray with blue interior.  I spend over an hour looking at everything about this car.    Mind you I was not out to buy but  dream yes.  

Why would a 20 year old female want a 7 passenger minivan?    I just did.  

We looked some more and came back to the minivan.   This time I left my name with the dealer and we went home.

The phone rang early Saturday morning.   The dealership,   The minivan was advertised in auto section of the Seattle Times and if I came down to the dealership I could test drive the minivan from the Kingdome.  My dad and I left for North Seattle.     I drove the minivan,   I drooled over the minivan and dad said to me " you can use the dodge dart for trade in, and I will cosign a loan."

I was in awe, I was going in debt, I was getting a brand new minivan.  

I had my brother's both say "Why did you get a minivan??"    My minivan carried youth group, moved many people, went on a trip to Colorado without me, and on many road trips.   Oh I miss my minivan.

I had it 11 years when it got totaled in an accident.

My dad use to like to go to the auto show and home shows.  Of course to tag along has given me some great memories.

As for the sad November is the month that my dad died.   In 1995 He went home to heaven to join my mom.  

Thank you Dad for the awesome memories.

It has been quite awhilte since I have been writing.    Spring and Summer flew by so fast.  What ever happened to as you get older things slow down?    My life has not.  Until last week.  I get to that later.


Not to much this spring happened.  I have taken some sewing classes and learned alot.  

Summer had a couple of camping trips and my birthday and a wedding on the first day of fall.

 A quiet lake,  Loved sitting there in the morning with my friends and just watch the fog roll by and lift.

 The geese running for the food.   So entertaining to watch.

 The brave or not so smart swimmers in the lake.   Brrr  it looked cold, but they swan and the went to the dock and jumped in.  

The Cascade mountain range.  



The next camp was our church family camp.    This one is so much fun.  I get to camp with my friends in a small tent city.   

 Setting up a tent, one of many.

 Fort Ebey State Park has twisted trees.  From years of being beaten by the winds of the Straight of Juan de Fuca

Brothers looking down the cliff 

 The sun setting the first night

 Looking down the cliffs.   It is so amazing the power of the water and the beauty of the area  God has made the Northwest a masterpiece of art.

 We hiked down the path to the beach.

 Some swam.  Others looked out for whales and other sea creatures.

 The whole Westminster Family campers and visitors.  2012

The Family.

After Family Camp we all helped get Hannah and Aaron ready for their wedding.

It was a beautiful night.   

So after all that my life has slowed down almost to a stop.   I had surgery last week.   A total hysterectomy, down by   Robotic da Vinci (laproscopic) hysterectomy! At Overlake Hospital. This was the first major surgery I have had.  I have day surgeries and oral surgery but staying over night in the hospital scared me the most.  I can never thank Jeanne for taking me to the hospital, staying overnight and then opening her home for me to recover at. Thank you so Much Timothy and Jeanne,   Gladys and Joe, Daphne and Eva, Esther, Hannah and Aaron. and Peter.  

I have to stop my self and remember that I had surgery.   I feel so much better over all. no more constant pain.   With only 5 , inch long incisions it is so easy to want to do more that my body is ready to do.  So to say my life has slowed downed.  

I guess I will have to accept it and enjoy because it will get to flying away from me soon.   I will be wanting down time.

Thank you all who have prayed and visited  and texted and called.

updates

So I have not written anything lately so here is some updates.

I finally got my tattoo.  I have wanted one for 20 some years.   I know I said I wanted a Winnie the Pooh but got my favorite verse in a banner on a cross.

My Tattoo upside down.

Celebrated the Fourth of July in Everett.   Started with breakfast with Esther. Then on to the parade.

 For the evening went to Snohomish and celebrated with my friends aka family.   All the good food and watching the games.   Found this flower just hanging around.

Sunset and fire works.

The 6th Lucky lounging in the sunshine.

Flowing Lake.   Came here for a picnic with friends.   Just to tire the kids and enjoy the sunshine.

So  onto the rest of the weekend.

After spending the day with my cats this hymn came to mind.

So I research a little.  Written by St, Francis of Assisi.  He had a great love of nature.   So many of the nature written in the hymn we have here in the Pacific Northwest.  

Oh praise to God for all nature.

All Creatures Of Our God And King Hymn

All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam!

Refrain

O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!

Refrain

Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
Make music for thy Lord to hear,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright,
That givest man both warmth and light.

Refrain

Dear mother earth, who day by day
Unfoldest blessings on our way,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,
Let them His glory also show.

Refrain

And all ye men of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part,
O sing ye! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care!

Refrain

And thou most kind and gentle Death,
Waiting to hush our latest breath,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou leadest home the child of God,
And Christ our Lord the way hath trod.

Refrain

Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!

Refrain

Reading and thinking.

Have you ever read something that just made you feel that it was written just for you?   I have.  

I am reading The God who sees you by Tammy Maltby and Anne Christian Buchanan.  

There is a chapter that really hit home.   That even in the darkest moment of my life  God was there.  God constructed my life but gave me choices.   We all make wrong choices but for me, my wrong choices really bug me.  How could I have not seen how my choice was going to play out.  I know that God is there at all times.  He sees what no one else sees.  

We all hide things from others.  I know I do.  God knows it all.   He is always prepared to be there for me.  Nothing I do can be kept from God.  

Does God sit back and shakes His head at our lives.  No He is there with open arms to give the best hugs.  He forgives us for all our sins.

I have been so looking forward to the rest of the book until I saw the next chapter.  Just the title put tears in my eyes.    You're Worth It.   This is what the Gospels are about. The God of the universe see me as someone worth it all.  Even death of His son on the cross.   The chapter ends with this "God really does see you - your past, your present and your future, your possibilities,He is painfully aware of your sins and failures but rejoices over you hidden good deeds and best intents."

Wow think about this.   As the Father He made you and adopted you into His family.
As the Son He thought you were worth dying for.   As the Spirit, He chooses to live within you.   Wow.

It has been awhile

Oh blog I have ignored  you.  It has been awhile since I posted anything.  It is not that I don't have anything to say but what do I want to say for others to read.

I have been out around the county taking pictures.  I have been home sewing and playing with Katie Ann and Lucky,  my cats.  I have been going to doctor appointments.  I have been worshiping my God who sees me for what He wants me to be. Ok that came from the devotional I have started reading.

It is one of the best times in the Pacific Northwest.   We get to see blue skies, snow covered mountains both the Olympics and the Cascades.  Throw in Puget Sound.   So many different shades of blue, with white caps on the water at times.

Now add the brilliant colors of the trees and grass.  So many different greens.  Some dark green others yellow light green.  With the flowers colors that add an assortment of colors,   Red, purple, blue, yellow.  Light or dark.  Others mixed colors.  All painted by God.

There is so much I want to take pictures of.   I have been trying to take more people pictures.   I just am not comfortable with that but people have been encouraging me.

I have been out walking more but still have pain.   I really hope that I get results from tests soon.

So back to real life.    Trying to live for God, serving Him and showing Him to others.