10 DAY MERRYTHON

Well…this is a record! Especially for this champion procrastinator-2nd post in one day! This will be less writing and more picture posting. (Sis, this will make your day!) I was privileged and blessed to be able to make three amazing trips this past week.

First Leg: Vancouver, BC via Susan and Arne Bergland's home in Puyallup, WA

I left Thursday, 8/21, after a meeting with our Faith Stretch Yoga Retreat Team, and drove to Puyallup, WA to spend the night with Susan Bergland. We had a wonderful, short visit, replaying her excitement of the day-running into a wasp nest while raking in her front yard, gathering 5 welting stings in her attempted escape running across the yard! I headed North for the Canadian border Friday morning, waited 30 minutes in line as I watched 6 cars pass through on either side of me. P.A.T.I.E.N.C.E.
I arrived in the beautiful city of Vancouver and after finding daughter, Jill and God-daughter, Amber, had a marvelous two days exploring the sites, cheering them on in the "SeaWheeze" 1/2 marathon, and photographing.

My sweet God-daughter, Amber. 

Yoga in the park = A.W.E.S.O.M.E.

L.O.V.E. these two!

My daughter, Jill, walking back to hotel after yoga in the park.

Drove home with Jill Sunday, got to bed around 10:30, couldn't sleep-last clock view was 2 a.m.-up at 4:30 to get to the airport.

Second Leg: Flew with Jack to Sacramento, CA, where we rented a car and drove to the coast for our annual Anniversary celebration (2 months early). We had a fantastic time combing the beach near Ft Bragg, and hiking the mountains to the waterfalls near Mendocino, CA.

amazing tide pools

Old Growth Redwood forest beauty

Great way to celebrate 38 years

One of the "Loves of My Life"

Stairway to Heaven (on Earth, that is!)

More tide pool spectacular beauty

The waterfall on top of the mountain-7 mile hike up and back!

After a "massage by the Sea", and a delicious meal we headed back to the Sacramento Valley to visit my sister, Amy, in Willows. I spent the night, and Jack drove to Davis for work and meetings the next day. After catching a ride with sis in the morning to Woodland, I drove to Arbuckle and surprised  the staff at AES were I taught for two years. It was so great to see Cundi, Veronica, and Steve! 

After driving back to Woodland and having a yummy lunch and good conversation with my sis, I drove to Davis to pick up Jack. Got to see a couple gals from his old office in Woodland-what a treat that was, Della and Kristi! Jumped on the plane and flew back to Spokane, arriving around 8:00 p.m.

Third Leg: Unpacked and repacked for a camping trip to Flathead with daughter Jill and her family. I headed out around 3 p.m., and arrived in time for Ryan to help set up my little tent and cot. B.L.I.S.S.

First view dropping over the mountains.

Our secret little "adventure island"

Youngest campers---L.O.V.E.

Good Morning, America!

We had a wonderful time sitting around the campfire, eating camp cooked breakfasts, and kayaking and swimming in crystal clear, pristine Flathead lake water.

We three 'girls' snuck away for a peaceful exploration--scoped out the property we want to buy! (hehe) 

That water is C.O.L.D. I was wading in, debating whether or not I wanted to jump in and join Jill and Ryan's sister, Angie. About two seconds after contemplating, I fell in! That was F.U.N!

The old saying: "There's no place like home", rang true to me Sunday afternoon, after stopping in Hot Springs for a 2 hour soak in the mineral waters. It felt heavenly to get everything unpacked from my car, and fall into the recliner. Daisy was happy, too. And now…..back to those piles-that waited patiently for my return! I'll have to ask Tatum and Jaxon why all those fairies and gnomes they always talk about, didn't stop by and clean for me.

Oh, that's right….they're living near the waterfall now!

F.A.I.T.H.    H.O.P.E.   C.H.A.R.I.T.Y.

PRAYER WARRIORS: Praying this week for the three little children of Shane and Amber McPherson in Glendive, MT. Their babies have spent this past few days fighting a rare illness, HUS, in three different hospitals; Bryce in Denver, CO, Brock, twin brother to Bryce, in Billings, MT, and Murphy in Glendive. God is Good….and is bringing healing to them, as Brock is home, and Bryce is out of ICU in Denver! Murphy is now in Billings, battling her way back to healthiness. Praise the Lord. Continued prayers are needed for the slow healing and complete recovery for these three little ones, and peace and rest for Shane and Amber. Their family and community is behind them all the way, and are hosting a Mcpherson Kids' Benefit (Live and Silent auction) Sunday, 9/14, from 12-4 at the Moose Lodge. For anyone so inclined; donations can be made by following this link: http://www.gofundme.com/dzu6nw

MAY-2014

I can't believe how quickly time zips by. I remember Grandma Rode 

Grandma Rode-lived to be 101

Mom-87-will be 88 10/3

talking about that, and then my Mother, and always thinking: "Are you kidding me?? It's taking FOREVER for Friday to get here!" And then day by day, minute by minute, time ticks away so quickly I lose track of it continually! Whenever I'm conversing with someone age 50 or older, and we share stories that pertain to "when did this happen--when did that happen", we automatically look at each other and say, "I have no idea, and it was probably a lot longer ago than we're thinking anyway!" 

It's been at least a month (2 months, now) since I began this post, so, I may be switching gears as far as topic is concerned. I came up with an interesting "topic" today while meeting with a good friend while sharing tea. Finding Balance in Balance. We both agreed this would be a good title for a book! It seems to be one of my biggest challenges-Finding Balance--in Balance. When one area of my life is in sync, so to speak, or in balance, it takes seconds to realize that something else is OUT of balance. When my house is immaculate, my sewing projects are behind. When I take time to sit down and sketch or paint, my laundry piles up. Just when I believe I'm eating a balanced amount of protein in my daily meals, I read an article about chicken and all the reasons we should NEVER consume it! 

As a person who tends to fall into the OCD category from time to time, I find myself being a bit paranoid about my food plan of eating. Just when I believe I'm getting all the nutrition I need, and the correct, healthy kind of nutrition, up pops a very believable article about this food or that food; this pesticide or that pesticide; this contaminant or that contaminant. Where does it all end? Where does one find Balance in Balance? 

There is one and only one place to find balance in our lives. First of all, it must come in three forms-Body, Mind, and Spirit. If we balance our body with healthy, organic "clean" nourishing food, we have 1/3 of the balancing act completed. The problem that arises with finding balance in the balance, is formulating the perfect proportions in each area. In my time of planning, preparing, and protecting my "food balance", it's easy for me to overlap that time portion into the time allotted for my Mind and Spirit portion! I have managed to tip the balance a bit more centered by combining a few things. For example, I now do daily "oil-pulling" which takes roughly 20 minutes. This has proven to be a perfect time to sit down for my morning devotions and meditation. Obviously I can't talk, and if I discipline myself to NOT turn on my iPad, I'm good to go! Now…one would think it should be easier to find time to spend in prayer and meditation, right? Well, most of you are familiar with the comment: "coulda/shoulda/woulda", and add that to my ADDWOM (remember that acronym? ADD WithOut Meds), and a person ends up spinning their wheels. 

So, as I sit at my laptop, hanging on by it's fingernails to my desktop because of piles and piles of papers, pictures, envelopes, books, etc., I am once again reminded of that infamous word: P.R.O.C.R.A.S.T.I.N.A.T.I.O.N. (Wow! Had to re-read that several times to check the spelling!) I have been working in this area of our house and the laundry room for three days now, and just when I feel that I'm going to hit it hard and dig in; something happens to pull my mind and heart away from accomplishing this overwhelming task. And, really….is it that important? Not at this moment, it isn't. (so….it's been another month, and I actually DID get the laundry room "detoxed"!)

What is important to me right at this moment is taking a bit of time and space here on my blog to pay respect as I honor and remember an amazing man who joined the band of angels in Heaven awhile ago. Jim Erdman was one of the most gentle, kind-hearted, selfless men I've met. I have so much gratitude for his and his lovely wife, Marilyn's, acquaintance. They, together, were the epitome of a faithful, giving, God-loving couple. That awesome duo has been broken for the time being, as Jim will now be playing that roll in spirit until Marilyn meets him in Heaven.  Jim was available to lend a hand to any and everyone he met; whether they were Christian/non-believer, drunk/sober, happy/sad, healthy/ill…He always had a warm smile, kind heart and loving hug ready to share. He impacted so many lives, it would be hard for me to encompass all of that on this short blog. (yeah, right…my blogs are short….NEVER!)

Even though, my heart is hurting for the loss of this wonderful man, I am very happy that I will see him again someday and get one of those great "Jim Hugs". I wanted to share a little bit about this great man. We've been away from his hometown of Colusa, CA for three years now, but through the course of that time, in the midst of my own personal battle with cancer, he remembered and shared his loving kindness and support. I got a nice note in the mail from him and Marilyn with this inside: 

I wore this every day throughout my treatment, and put it on today to honor and remember this great man.
RIP Jim Erdman

Many of you know of this writing about cancer, and I'll share it here again. It's powerful and oh so true.

WHAT CANCER CANNOT DO

It cannot cripple love. 

It cannot shatter hope.

It cannot kill friendship. 

It cannot shut out memories.

It cannot corrode faith. 

It cannot eat away peace.

It cannot silence courage. 

It cannot reduce eternal life.

It cannot destroy confidence. 

It cannot quench the spirit.

Now…as I tackle my daily mess and many additional piles that have accumulated in the past month,  I'm going to think of how precious life is-clean desk/messy desk…it really doesn't matter. And, as we move into another another Season-Fall, I want to invite any prayer warriors to lift up so many hurting, lonely, struggling people; especially three small children-our son, Kyle's, H.S. friend's babies, as they fight to overcome a rare illness. Please pray for the three little ones and their Mommy, Daddy, Grandma and all of their family, as they are in three different hospitals in Glendive and Billings, MT and Denver, CO. 
I will be lifting this family and many others up in prayer as I count my blessings: God and Eternal Life, Family, Friends, enough healthy food, a comfortable home (albeit messy!), and feel the love and com

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11