Goonie galore......

OK....

so...I forgot to tell you that while we were in Astoria we went to the "Goonies" house and, while that was cool, Con thought to take it a step further and went to the neighbors' to ask about the movie and such.....
we talked to the guy across the street, Don, and he told us that he just got a letter from Spielberg and his studio that said they would be filming a "Goonies 2" right there again and he also told us that we just missed the 20 year re-union where all the actors came back to Astoria and they blocked off the street for a big street celebration!!!!
THAT would've been so cool to see......
anyway, while we were going down that big hill to head out we came across a mother doe and fawn walking down the street!!!!!
now THAT was cool!
GOONIE!!!!!!!!

the ocean....

There's something about the ocean.....
It's vastness.....
The waves....their constantness.
It's power.....
I find it mesmerizing.
There is no place on earth that I feel closer to God than when I am standing on a beach, the edge of a continent, overlooking waters teeming with life, covering long held secrets yet to be revealed.
It makes me feel small and,yet, at the same time, significant.
I love watching my children delight in it.
These same children who love all the technology of the time can spend hours running and playing in its waters and truly enjoying a place that is like no other.
Knowing that these same waters can yield destruction and death if it chooses reminds me that life is precious and sweet and that on this day, at least, grace was given and I feel so grateful to be.......
There is something about the ocean.....

pondering heaven.....

We lost our kitty, Merry, this week and we are devastated.
Merry was Nevada's cat and, of course, with the death of a pet, comes the inevitable question of a child, "Will Merry be in heaven?"
We have always told the girls that, because animals don't have souls, they would not go to a heaven, but, God has promised there will be "no more tears" in heaven so we will not miss them.
However, after reading Randy Alcorn's recent book entitled, "Heaven", we are re-thinking this whole issue.
Mr. Alcorn suggests that because God so delights in us and knows the desires of our heart, why wouldn't He allow our precious pets to be re-united with us in Heaven, a place that He is preparing for US?
It's funny how easily we put God in a box, but, He created the universe, for heaven's sake, and I'm so looking forward to eternity with my Heavenly Father, seeing loved ones, and playing with dearly loved pets?
You know most of us have misconceptions about heaven.
But, in reality, I believe it will be a place beyond our wildest dreams.
Do you know that you know that when you die, you will go to heaven????
I have that assurance and you can, too.
Ask me how........

I LOVE color!!

.....so I'm painting my kitchen about the color of this font, deep orange with a color wash of terra cotta!!!
WOW!!!
Here's my vision:

an Italian cafe/bistro with accents of yellow and cobalt-blue,
on top of the pantry door in BIG letters will be written; Bistro
on top of the window will be the word CAFE and I'm making a chalkboared/menu-board to hang on the wall.
new rugs and a window treatment to finish the decor and.......

I love it!!!!!
I can't wait for you to see it.
Reservations not necessary.

Chicken Soup.....

Way back in the very darkest corner of the back freezer....lay Mr. Lee.
Mr. Lee was the very naughty rooster who was given a death sentence ONLY after his repeated attempts to BEAT the ANKLES of his loving owners and even after much GRACE was extended to this naughtiest of roosters.
Much was learned after the sentence was carried out, for you see, Mr. Lee, though appearing large and in charge was, actually, very small, indeed.
Mr. Lee had "small chicken syndrome".......yep, that's right, hardly worth the effort, that one.....
......made a pot of chicken soup, we did.....yummy!!!!!
I propose this:

Next time we have a rooster who develops bad attitudes, we will not kill him, NO!
We will, instead, slip a little over -the-counter steroid into his feed, bulk him up a bit, see if then he quits trying to overcompensate for his lacking of self-confidence to the point of bullying all those around him, and, hopefully, will become a kinder, gentler poultry-kind.
I can get chicken at Fred Meyer.......there is absolutely no reason to go to the extraordinary lengths that we went to extract the exact amount of chicken needed for chicken soup..........................which ain't much.

"Fragrant" prayers.....

OK....
yesterday, for GA's we started a unit study on Greece and how our missionaries ministered to the people through the different Olympic events in 2004.
We talked about Greek mythology, specifically, the Labyrinth, and, so, I decided to plan a Prayer Labyrinth, complete with candles, prayer stations, stories about the missionary.
I got the idea from a friend of mine who had done this at his church with the whole body, but, I was concerned that it would be too much for the girls??
IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!
The girls really got into the "worship" attitude that I'd hope for. I think it was really powerful.....we spent the whole time in prayer.
I loved the symbolism of the fragrant candles....how are prayers are so very fragrant to God.
I hope the girls see that corporate prayer is important in the body of a church and it doesn't have to look a certain way.
What a blessing.....

Our motto verse:

"I have fought the good fight. I have won the race. I have kept the faith."
2 Timothy 4:7