Our Children....

"And so what we should be thinking about, is our responsibility to care for
them, and shield them from harm, and give them the tools they need to grow up,
and do everything that they’re capable of doing. Not just to pursue their own
dreams, but to help build this country. This is our first task as a society,
keeping our children safe. This is how we will be judged. And their voices
should compel us to change". President Obama-January 16th, 2013 

Yes, President Obama, we should keep our children safe, and shield them from harm, and give them the tools they need to grow up and do everything that they're capable of doing. To let them be able to  pursue their own dreams and help to build this wonderful country.  This is our first task as a society, and yes, this is how our country will be judged. Their voices do cry out compelling us to change, starting from where every child's life begins,  the womb.

Just Between Us

I carry so many hopes and dreams for this new coming year of 2013.

But, one lesson I have learned in life is that expectations can be the death of you.

So, with these expectations, I very carefully and gently place them in the Lord's hands and trust Him to bring them to pass, keeping my eyes and heart focused on Him and not on myself or others to fulfill them. Of course, I am to do my part, whatever that consists of, but ultimately my hope and expectations are from Him. 

When we begin to look at others to fulfill our dreams, our hopes, our expectations, we become disappointed, disillusioned and discouraged. The three D's. Sounds like the friends that gathered with David in the cave when he was running from Saul.

Goodbye 2012. You have given me some of the deepest desires of my heart and also some of my deepest pain...but just between us: that is life, and I love life.

In the last 20 years….

We moved to Oregon

We were on staff at a wonderful place of blessing-New Life Foursquare

We moved back to Alaska to Pastor at Skyline Foursquare

We have been called to shepherd. It still remains our heart. We love it.

I love my Pastor Jim

Our 3 children graduated from high school

Two of the children went to YWAM

Laura is dating a wonderful Christian young man.

Jess and Mike have married and we gained a son-in-law and a daughter-in-law

Our son-in-law is in Afghanistan. Our daughter-in-law is a RN.

Laura got her Masters from Azusa and is now a high school counselor in Kenai

Jessica has her Medical Assistant Certificate and AA Degree

Mike has his AA degree and just passed his EMT finals

We have 3 precious grandchildren. The 3 T’s. Taylor, Tanner, Tristan

We have gone through some of our deepest pains

We have experienced some of our greatest joys

I dyed my hair blonde and no longer get perms

I have worked for doctors, a community college, Horizon Air and now Alaska Airlines. I fly a lot now.

Jim has lost most of his hair, but just as handsome

Jim has been a wonderful husband and has treasured me

I have been his bride for 36+ years now

We have experienced the gut wrenching pain of divorce in our family

We have lost two precious grandchildren in the womb

Mike is on a national TV program because he is a crab fisherman in the winter

Our children are grown, and healthy and responsible adults with integrity

Kathy is still my dearest friend

We moved out of the apartment 6A at Alder Park

We moved into the parsonage at CCC and I had a washer and dryer

We had the precious blessing and gift of our own new home on East Hill

We ran a bed and breakfast called, ”Heart Of Alaska”

I can no longer fit into my wedding dress

We have learned a lot about grace

Mom-20 years ago today, you left our lives in an instant, November 27^th, 1992 at 12:13pm AST.  I have missed you more than words can be penned.  Today, I honor you for the woman you became and the mother you were.  I am blessed that the Lord choose you to be my mommy.  Through the tears, yes, still after 20 years, I send my love and hugs to you in heaven. I know you are rocking those two grandbabies for all of us.

Your firstborn.....

Marjorie 11/10/1938

I am missing my mom so much these days. Today is her birthday and she would be 74 years old. It has been 20 years now that she was taken from us.

When I think through the last 20 years, so much life has happened in the lives of her children. We have had wonderful joys and deep sorrows that we know she would of walked through with us.

How does one go on when you lose your mother? I know for me, it is a continuing process. You accept the pain and over the course of time, the deep sharp pain of the loss lessens, but nevertheless the pain remains. Because no one can take the place of a mother in your heart.

I will be forever grateful that the Lord choose to give me the mom I had. She was just a child herself when I was born. It was always fun having such a young mother.

One vivid memory: I was 15 years old (sophmore in high school)  and that year my mom turned 30. I remember going to school that day on her birthday and telling my friends that my mom was really old!  It is all in the perspective :}

Happy Birthday Mom.... I love you to heaven and back and back again!  xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Memories Of The Way We Were And Are...

Lyrics | Barbra Streisand lyrics - Way We Were lyrics


Memories,
Like the corners of my mind
Misty water-colored memories
Of the way we were
Scattered pictures,
Of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another
For the way we were
Can it be that it was all so simple then?
Or has time re-written every line?
If we had the chance to do it all again
Tell me, would we? could we?
Memories, may be beautiful and yet
What's too painful to remember
We simply choose to forget
So it's the laughter
We will remember
Whenever we remember...
The way we were...
The way we were...

Attending my 40th high school class reunion was absolutely wonderful. It was an evening full of memories from high school as well as making hours of new memories to carry away as well. We all laughed so hard. In fact, we laughed all evening!

There is something about your 40th reunion. We are all past the "stage" of trying to impress one another.  We have all lived long enough to experience deep pain in our lives, and deep joys, and have had lots of character building moments to shape us.  What wasn't important were our clothes or hair, or if we have put on a few pounds more than last time. What was important was our friendships that have carried us through the last 40 years. We have always remained close and have this special bond.

The bond comes from growing up in the boondocks, at the end of the road, in a little town in Alaska. There was no TV, no high school football. High School basketball was the whole towns entertainment. We all grew up together, experiencing the years from childhood to adolescence to young adults.

I am honored and priviledged and blessed to be a part of this class. It is a part of my heritage, a part of my past,  and also a part of my future.

Already looking forward  to our next reunion in 5 years: 2017

For Such A Time As This......

How does one put into words, ones heart? The emotions are deep, the feelings are real, the goodness of the Lord abounds and my heart is full.

Today, Jim and I began our ministry at Skyline Foursquare in Anchorage.  The portion of scripture from Esther that kept coming to my heart today was " who knows whether you have not attained this royal position for such a time as this"? 

All the different seasons in our lives, all the work behind the scenes, He was preparing us for this day, this new season.  A day and season that has been in His heart, that  He saw long ago.

The excitement about the journey ahead that He has birthed within our hearts is such a gift. He is faithful.

 I could listen to Damaris Carbaugh sing "He Is Faithful" over and over again. It is my heart,  and tears well up within my eyes as she ministers through this song. I have it on my iTunes and listen to it again and again.

We love our little flock at Skyline and look forward to the weeks, months and years ahead with them.  Growing along side them in the journey together.

Yes, each of us, in the journeys of our lives have been put in "royal positions".... seasons  that the Lord has ordained, for such a time as this.

No More Crying On This Employee Bus.....

I absolutely will LOVE my new job. Oh Lord, you are so good to me and so faithful.

I wasn't in the Board Room 5 minutes and I saw a guy I graduated from high school with and haven't seen him for 20 years. It was so fun! He was there waiting for his flight, which was delayed :{

It is a busy job and I will love that. The gals I met today love to laugh. So, I am thankful for that. How can I work without laughter? It seems like a really neat team that work there. I am very excited to be a part of their team! I love my manager!

I still get to talk to passengers and help them. That is what I love to do best.

I get tears in my eyes when I think of the goodness of the Lord in my life. He definitely has gone before both Jim and I and opened doors and has led the way through this whole transition process.

Providing us with a wonderful place to stay, a vehicle to use, my job, Jim as lead Pastor at Skyline. Overwhelmingly grateful.

To Him be the glory!

Until next time.... signing out from ANCHORAGE, ALASKA :}