Let Your Light Shine

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

Lazing By The Lake

Lazing: to pass time in idleness or relaxation

That’s exactly what we did for a few days last weekend when we were away at one of our favorite lakes. We lazed, passed time, in idleness and relaxation by Clear Lake, on the side of Mount Hood not too far from our home. We took our little cabin-on-wheels and my sweetheart’s boat and made an extended Fourth of July Holiday weekend. It was wonderful but time in the quiet world of the outdoors came to an end too soon and we had to come home! Home where family and friends and work and responsibilities waited for our return. Since we got home a few days ago I have been trying to catch up – catch up with laundry and schedules and housework and my chaplain ministry. And there’s not been much chance to catch up with the two hundred and seventy-six blog entries waiting for me to read so I can catch up with you, my dear blog friends. I’m working on it – and I will get caught up. I think I can! I think I can! I think I can! I know I can!!!

There are still so many things to share with you from my recent trip to California and our day at the zoo with our sweet grandkids. That will happen soon – I promise – and then I will have a chance to share more wonderful finds from thrifting and garage sale-ing with my dear mother and cousin. But first I want to tell you about our days away at the lake.

I have shared here and here and here of previous trips to the lake. Things were a bit different this time because we had never been there in July. The weather was much warmer, the campsite was very dry and dusty and the mosquitos must have heard that we were coming! They had moved in with a vengeance! We thought we were leaving the heat that had settled into the Portland area and the surrounding valleys behind as we travelled to higher altitudes. But we were wrong. The first days were H-O-T!!! And filled with a lot of people on the beach, soaking up the sun, enjoying being together and relishing the fact that they didn’t have to march to the beat of anyone’s drum! It was as if we were all in this together. It didn’t seem to matter that most of us had never seen each other before. Time away in a beautiful place was what we all had in common. This area of the lake is first-come-first served. No reservations here. When we arrived we found that our favorite campsite by the water was still available. It took a bit of maneuvering to get our little home-away-from home in place and soon we were settled in and ready to stay awhile.

(Our campsite is just to left of the photo – we had great views!)

The day after we arrived my cousin, her husband and my dear little mother came to join us for a day together that we will never forget. The men enjoyed time fishing, especially since they caught some nice trout. Meanwhile back at the ranch - I mean campsite – we girls had a great time visiting and chatting together. My little dog, Joey, spent a lot of time through the days at the lake protecting and guarding us and watching the world go by outside!

The sights and sounds of wildlife on the lake are incredible. During the early morning hours we heard many birds calling each other. And throughout the day we were often visited by ‘the locals’ as they came by to see what we were doing. This mamma duck and her nine ducklings were frequent guests.

And toward the end of our time at the lake a Canadian Goose family arrived from somewhere nearby.

The mamma goose leads the way and the daddy follows behind, always watching for potential danger to his family. I was amazed that mamma and babies didn’t seem to have much fear – they came out of the water. . .

And walked right up close to see if I had anything special to give them to eat. . .

While the father stood guard nearby.

A brief, deep honking sound from him and the babies headed right back into the water as fast as their little legs would take them. Mamma wasn’t far behind!

Sunday morning we woke to calm water – so still it looked like a mirror! The reflections captured my heart.

It wasn’t long before my sweetheart headed out in search of more fish. Fish for supper that night – on the grill!

After lunch we decided to drive a ways to the nearest little village on the mountain. Time to see more of the area and time away together. The peak of Mt. Hood is just above the village and I was intrigued by the sight of the ski lift nearby. Abandoned for the summer.

On our way back to our camp we turned off the highway and drove a few miles to a lake we had never seen. The beauty was breathtaking!

You may have seen this view of Trillium Lake on a calendar. It's a popular photo from Oregon! I was thrilled to be there and capture my own 'prize-winning' photo.

Back at camp - after our dinner of fresh grilled lake trout, garlic-herb mashed potatoes, mixed assorted veggies and tossed green salad - my sweetheart, Joey and I enjoyed a long, leisurely walk together through the woods and along the lake shore. Shortly after we arrived back at our cabin-on-wheels the setting sun colored the clouds that had begun to gather overhead. The view out our window was more than I could handle. I had to grab the camera and go - there was no way I could sit still!

A few minutes later the colors in the sky had changed again and they were nearly gone. In the darkness, we could see the light of our neighbor’s campfire. Just a bright little dot in the night!

Not much later the moon was above the hills on the opposite side of the lake. The reflection in the water was absolutely fantastic! I wasn’t sure I could capture the scene with my camera. You can imagine my delight when I did!!

And then it seemed it was suddenly time to return home. Home where we would remember and reflect on our days spent lazing by the lake – days of idle relaxation, days to hold dear and treasure in our hearts. But before we left I had to look back – just one more time - to lock it forever in my heart. And in my soul.

The Answer

Intelligence, patriotism, Christianity,

And a firm reliance on Him,

Who has never yet forsaken this favored land,

are still competent to adjust,

In the best way,

All our present difficulty.

– Abraham Lincoln

photo compliments of art.com

4th of July

Happy birthday, America!

photo: ‘Table Laid For 4th of July’

compliments of art.com

The Rest Of The Story, Part 1

A few days ago I shared little bits of my trip to California and I gave you a sneak peek at some photos so you could see just a tiny part of the things I enjoyed while I was away. Now I want to share the rest of the story – a piece at a time because there’s too much to share all at once!

On Sunday morning my Best Friend Forever and her hubby took my sweetheart and I out to a wonderful breakfast at a favorite restaurant near their home. Shortly afterwards we took my sweetheart to the airport so he could fly home and return to work on Monday. A bit later my dear friend took me to the Alamitos Bay Marina, home to several yacht clubs, and with 1991 slips located throughout the Alamitos Bay area. It was an impressive sight to see – boats nearly everywhere we looked. I told her of my fascination with sailboats – and of my desire since childhood to have a sailboat of my own. It didn’t take long before I was enraptured by the sailing vessels that were out for the afternoon.

A lot of boats were out that day. Soon we were completely enthralled by the sight of boats of all kinds - big boats, little boats, sailboats, motor boats and jet skis.

Fancy boats. . .

Little boats. . .

And a man paddling along on a surf board.

Strolling along the sidewalk beside the channel, we could see many sailboats near the entrance into the marina.

As we watched they were all headed back into the channel. It seemed they were on their way home. A beautiful sight to see!

We watched. And they kept coming.

A few minutes later I stood inside a breezeway and where a quick look through a doorway reminded me of my longing for a sailboat. (Note to my sweetheart - if you are reading this: I don’t want the little one. I want the BIG one!)

It was an afternoon to remember. Together with my Best Friend Forever. In the sun - along the water - dreaming of sailboats and sailing away to places unknown. There is more to be shared at another time. Until then my sweetheart and I have gone away for another extended weekend at the lake we love on Mt. Hood. We are enjoying our trailer and our little boat - not the sailboat my heart longs for but the little boat my sweetheart enjoys for now.

If you are going away for this holiday weekend, be safe. If you are staying at home with family and friends, treasure every minute you have together!

Home Again!

After a few days away I have returned home again. Relaxed. Refreshed. Reflecting on my days away and the time spent making new memories with dear friends. Time spent with recent friends and long-ago friends - friends who are special and add so much to my life.

Recent friends who moved from here. . .

To here a few days ago.

It was good to see them again so soon. And such fun to enjoy the beauty of their new-home-for-a-time while he returns to school. And to see such beauty along the way. Snow-covered mountains. . .

And rocky crags.

And then there were cherished days together with my Best Friend Forever from college days long ago. She took me to places that made my heart sing. Peaceful time spent together. To share and reminisce. To care and shed a tear or two. To laugh and dream. To enjoy the world around us and plan more times like this in the future.

Time in the sun. . .

And time for some fun.

Time to enjoy the beauty and craftsmanship of talented men and women. . .

And time to stroll through the beauty of God’s creation. . .

In a wonderful, big garden center nearby.

Time together at the beach. . .

And in little shops close by.

Time that goes too quickly but stays in my heart forever. Time that I will never forget and will always hold dear and treasure. Nothing can take it away.

There's a miracle called Friendship

That dwells within the heart,

And you don't know how it happened

Or when it got its start.

But the happiness it brings you

Always gives a special lift.

And you realize that friendship

Is God's precious gift.

-Author unknown-

My, How Time Flies!

Wow – this week has just flown by and I’ve not had a chance to share pictures of our trip to the zoo with our grandchildren and our daughter. The photos are wonderful and I can’t wait to share them with you. Here's a sneek peek at the fun we had together. This was a week of remembering dear ones who are no longer with us. Of course Father’s Day was a bittersweet day. Our children honored my sweetheart and I remembered, with a few tears, the dear father who blessed my life. And it was a day that nearly overwhelmed our three grandkids who lost their daddy just months ago. But we all, in different ways, celebrated the dads we have loved so much.

As I shared in my last post, Monday would have been our son-in-law’s thirty-fifth birthday and we wanted to do something special with his children and our daughter. So – we went to the zoo. There is so much to tell you. Like the fun we had and the animals who seemed to know we had come to visit them. Tuesday marked six months since our son-in-law died. It was the third day in a row of emotions and memories for the children and our daughter. But they made it through and are committed to doing things that he would want them to do to move forward.

Wednesday would have been my parents’ sixty-fourth wedding anniversary. Each year since Dad has been gone I have spent this special day with my dear little mother. Just the two of us. We go somewhere a bit different than usual and we do something she enjoys. And I treat her to lunch. This year we had such a good day. A day to celebrate the love my dear mother and father had for each other and the blessings of God through the years they had together. We took a beautiful bouquet of flowers to the cemetery. Flowers from my dear mother's garden, artistically arranged by her hands - just for him. If Dad could see us, he would have laughed and enjoyed my antics as I dodged the sprinklers that were watering the grass at the cemetery. I retrieved the flowers I had put there on Father's Day and the vase we needed for my dear mother's arrangement. After filling the vase with fresh water and the new flowers I waited until the sprinklers were in that certain spot again before I ran (like crazy!) across the grass and successfully placed the vase in its holder before the water came my direction again! It would have made a great video! Then we thrifted and shopped and we found a wonderful place for lunch where the food was good and the staff treated her like she was the queen of the universe. They honored (and surprised) her by upsizing her steak and then they gave her a free dessert. And they asked her to come back again.

Yesterday was a busy day of care center chaplain ministry. It was one of those days that had such special moments that remind me why I love doing what I’m doing. And make me realize again how important my visits are to the dear folks who mean so much to me.

So, what am I doing today? Putting the last things in my suitcase and heading south. To California. With my sweetheart. It’s a long story and an unexpected, happy surprise. From God’s hand to ours. We are driving a car down to our former Worship Pastor. He and his wife became good friends while they were here but he recently resigned to return to school. He is pursuing his Doctor of Theology, with hopes to teach in a Bible college or university. Maybe overseas! Tomorrow we will deliver their car - their second car they couldn’t drive down when they moved last week – and tomorrow evening we will go to a community not far from there to visit my best friend forever from college days. She and I remain very close friends. We keep our computers humming with emails back and forth. We never dreamed that this visit would happen. Sunday morning she and her husband and my sweetheart and I will go out for breakfast together before my sweetheart gets on a plane to fly home. Without me!! I am staying for a few more days to visit my dear friend. And walk on the beach. And talk. And laugh. And maybe shed a few tears together. But most of all, just enjoy being together again. An unexpected blessing. It still doesn’t seem real. When I return I’ll tell you all about it. For sure!