Jump into Spring

Tim and Abbie's Easter photo shoot

I am taking a "5 Minute Friday" break this lovely spring morning before preparing for our Mother/Daughter Brunch at church. We used to have a Mother/Daughter Tea in May, but we live in Cottonwood, CA and some cowboy with a very odd sense of humor created the "Mother's Day Rodeo" and that includes parade and the "whole nine yards". So, through the years our brunch/tea has gotten farther and farther into April.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat on the prompt “After” with no editing, tweaking or self critiquing.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in {you can grab the button code in my blog’s footer}.

3. Go and tell the person who linked up before you what their words meant to you. Every writer longs to feel heard.

OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes for the prompt:

Jump…

GO!

As Abbie and Tim jumped into the puddle, no bones were broken in the making of this photo,it is time to do some serious spring cleaning.

Today the window coverings, tomorrow the world.

Mary is 22 years old

Mary was 22 on Wednesday  Her second birthday away from home. She came by on Sunday for a "photo shoot" and cake. (It is nice to have an in house photographer.)

Johanna's new home

Last Friday Johanna and Abbie went to Humbolt and saw her "New Home".

Many changes are in store for our family in the next few months.

Time to jump into the program for the day with both feet.

Abbie went to Archaeology today with Tim for  BLM.

Ian went to hike a Shasta Bally with his friends.

Mary is in a pit crew for the Drag Races for Cool April Nights.

Johanna and I will be going to a Tea.

Spring at Humbolt State U

Poor little JR just has to stay home and watch every one come and go.

Even JR gets photo shots

STOP!

Air1 verse of the day
Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ-the Son of the Father - will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.(2 John 1:3 NLT)

Teachable Moments

As my children were growing up I always wanted to give them "teachable moments". For 22 years now I have been looking for "teachable moments". I realize that I was not the One who chose the Teachable Moments, I only recognized them. Now that they are beyond the age of me "creating" teachable moments HE is completely, The One, Jesus Christ who created and orchestras their teachable moments.

This week I finished reading:

Laughing in the Darkness

...Laughing in the Darkness, by Chonda Pierce. We all know her as the Christian Comedianne who makes us laugh and cry about our Baptist roots. I knew every person she talked about in her books. I was a deacon's kids (DK) and we went to church Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night. I was born on a Sunday and use to joke that was the only Sunday I didn't go to church until I was 19 years old.

   So, when I read a couple of weeks ago that she had written a book on overcoming depression as a Christian Celebratory, I had to take a peak. She had read my mail when she wrote the book. The woman raised in the 1960's and 70's to serve everyone and "do" it all. Meanwhile, holding in all the pains of life until the 40's hit and that dreaded "Perimenopause" send our mental, emotional and physical system into a tail spin. Added to that is usually the time our kids hit the teen years.

  She called it a "gray hotel with talking lights".  I just had a gray world, like High Desert Country in Winter. I don't remember when I noticed the definition in color between the trees and sky, but it still amazes me when I see the difference.

It makes me think of an old hymn from my childhood:

The Light of the World Is Jesus

Philip P. Bliss, 1875

1. The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin,
   The Light of the world is Jesus!
   Like sunshine at noonday, His glory shone in;
   The Light of the world is Jesus!
   • Refrain:
     Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;
     Sweetly the light has dawned upon me;
     Once I was blind, but now I can see:
     The Light of the world is Jesus!
2. No darkness have we who in Jesus abide;
   The Light of the world is Jesus!
   We walk in the light when we follow our Guide!
   The Light of the world is Jesus!
3. Ye dwellers in darkness with sin-blinded eyes,
   The Light of the world is Jesus!
   Go, wash at His bidding, and light will arise;
   The Light of the world is Jesus!
4. No need of the sunlight in Heaven we’re told;
   The Light of the world is Jesus!
   The Lamb is the Light in the city of gold,
   The Light of the world is Jesus!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  To is April 6th and Spring has sprung in Northern California. For Easter my youngest daughter took a picture of her rabbit for me. Our real Easter Bunny.

Bubbles

Reminder: 1 year ago I began my GIS Butterfly adventure

GOD is not Dead!

The family Easter 2013

Happy Birthday - Abbie "20 Today"

March 9, 2013 - Abigail Constance Burnham is 20 today

Yesterday Morning the girls got up at 7am to run before school

Last Summer - Abbie and the girls counselors at Mountain Meadow  Bible Camp

Last Weekend Abbie got her acceptance letter to the Anthropology Dept at Sac State

20 Years ago I went into labor a month early due to catching a ground ball at a Jr High Girls Soft Ball game, with my stomach. I was setting on the ground too close to home base apparently. As we walked home I felt the first pangs and by the following evening, I was holding my "preemie" who weighted in at 7 pounds 10 oz.

She will be graduating with about a 3.8 at Shasta College in the Spring then transferring in as a Junior. History and digging around in the dirt are her passions. As a small child she wore a dress everyday, and love to collect worms in a flower pot in the front yard. I encouraged her digging toward planting flowers.

It wasn't until her senior year of High School that she took her first  college Archaeology class and the rest is history.

                                                HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY ABBIE-0.

Now, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Oh and Ahem, if you would take pity and turn off comment verification, it would make leaving some love on your post that much easier for folks!

OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on:::

Home…

Saturday morning. I work all week, so Saturday morning is when I stay home. Take a shower, throw a load in the washer....Abbie makes pancakes...Ian puts on the Christian- Children's radio programs  that we have listened to while smelling pancakes since there was only one child in the household, because the others weren't born yet. (Mary is almost 22 and listening to the radio in her own home.)

Johanna is off early for AWANA games practice and will be coaching a team in Sac next Saturday. Ian come's out and sports his latest hair-do.

JR-Corgi, is bagging pancakes under the table.  Reruns on Adventure in Odyssee, then"Liz and Lucille" the Lizards are talking in their funny voices on the radio. Years and years we have celebrated this Saturday morning routine.

It has been whole wheat, plan white, rye, barley and (for me) Gluten Free Rice pancakes today.

STOP.

                                                      HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABBIE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ground Hog Day 2013

Well, Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow today. So, "HELLO SPRING". This is easy for me to say when it is suppose to be in the 60's where I live. My friend Deena  in MI had a different reality today.

19.6 °F

How can it snow and be that cold? We get snow when it gets about freezing. Living in a place that gets about 26 inches of rain a year and maybe 2 inches of snow.... that is amazing. I was raised in snow country on the other side of the  Southern Tip of Cascade Range. I grew up seeing the other side of Mt Lassen.

High Dessert

The elevation is almost 3,500 feet and it would snow 3 feet or so in the winter. The town had 7,000 friendly people according to the sign as you came into town, on the hill side, and I always wondered how many were unfriendly people.

Looking at Lassen from the West Side

For 27 years I have lived on the West side of Mount Lassen. Our place is almost at sea level in the valley. Orange trees and lemon trees can grow in Redding. Mosquito can be found almost year around. I never completely loose my tan. (Though my Irish hide is mostly freckles that have grown together, it looks tan in the winter)

This is the reality of our weather. I doesn't seems to be such a big deal, now that I work full time and the only thing that I am concerned about is what shoes to wear to the van.

For those of you that are following me, the van is running again. Thanks to John, a faithful friend. He put his spare time for weeks into giving it another lease on life. I still don't know what was exactly wrong that is quit on me over 2 months ago. I just know that he fixed all the things that seemed to be wrong and it runs. By the grace of God and John, it runs.

Since this seems like as random a blog as I have every written, I will add the big news of the week.

NEW WHEELS MOM

Johanna bought a 2000 Kia Sportage this week. Just the thing to get her to University in the fall. It needed a new hose right off the bat, but the fella had just replaced the tires and 4x4 hubs and she seems good to go.    Congratulations Johanna!

Mary at Graduation May 2012

Mary, who got her Diesel and Welding dual AS degrees last May, has also got her class "B"driver license.

She is now a full time bus driver and will be happy to fill in as a mechanic and welder. She was given her own Route this week and is ready to get her kids into shape for a safe trip to and from school.

Congrat's Mary!

Those two announcements tie into the topic for 5 minute Friday...Afraid.

Daniel 10:19  (Daniel 10)

And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

1. Write for 5 minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in {you can grab the button code in my blog footer}
3. Go leave some comment props for the five minute artist who linked up before you {and if you love us, consider turning off word verification for the day to make it easier for folks to say howdy}

Afraid

GO!

Big Breath

My job was a bit to be afraid of at first, but now I feel the need to show excellence and I have my music to tell me "Fear Not, for your God is with you where ever you go"

This last week I had some fear.

When things get Topsy Turvy at work and I feel that up is down and down is up.

Then I remember who I am working for..."do all thing as unto the Lord"

When Johanna was driving around in her new car the first night...yep I had some fear.

"She is your child Lord, and you will take care of her."

When Mary told me she was driving a bus load of kids around town and I know how kids act when they have  a new driver....

"Her boss put her there, because she had faith in Mary and you are her pilot, so I know you will take care of her and her  bus load of rowdy munchkins.

So, what should I fear?

I only need fear the wrath of God.

I am under  grace through faith in  Jesus Christ my Lord.

Therefore, I have nothing to fear.

This weeks memory verse:

the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

(Romans 3:22-23 ESV)

Opportunity - 5 minute Friday

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Oh and Ahem, if you would take pity and turn off comment verification, it would make leaving some love on your post that much easier for folks!

OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on:::

Opportunity…

GO

Breath

Breath again

Bigger Breath

I am now in an new Opportunity

3 weeks ago 3 of us were hired

Now there are 5 people gone from those we were hired with and only 3 left with the 3 of us

On Monday or Wednesday, I don't remember, I was moved into one of the peoples desks that is gone

I cleaned it and disinfected it within an inch of it's life

How could a person live in a desk with an inch of dust?

Why did she get chosen to leave and I got chosen to stay?

I am God's chosen...I don't think she was a believer and now I wont get a chance to find out.

My Opportunity to share with her was brief.

Did I glorify God with my actions and speech?

Now I feel more intentional to live Christ to the ones who are left.

Not in a preachy way, but in a way that pleases God.

Actions, Deeds, Helping when I can.

Meanwhile, I am new in an organization that I know little about.

Watching my P's and Q's.

The opportunity is amazing to show Christ it a lost and dying world.

Read about my New Years ideas in the Jan 1st post.

My post will be brief and few as it seems working on a computer for 8-10 hours a day Blogging will be a little harder.

STOP

New Year 2013

The family Christmas Day in the Rain

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3: 12-14

Peak 331 Challenge on Roo

"I think my goal this year is to just live fully where I am and to be content. I’ve learned to plan, but hold those plans loosely, knowing that the Holy Spirit will guide me and direct my ways."

"I want to assess my Proverbs 31 qualities by asking questions like Am I virtuous, trustworthy, energetic, industrious, God-fearing, kindhearted, unselfish, economical, prepared, giving, charitable, honorable, prudent? THIS could take me a whole year to assess. "

Joy-Filed Days

"Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come." Proverbs 31:25 (KJV)

Dear Lord, give me the ability to live the honeymoon life with my husband. Help me to stop focusing on the what if's of the future and to start focusing on loving to the fullest today. Help me not to have any regrets of how I've lived out my married life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Proverbs 31 ministry

My One WordChange Your Life With Just One WordBy: Rachel Olsen
Next book on my want list 

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

We have snow in Redding today and even had some fall here in Cottonwood.

It was amazing to see snow, even when you are told it will come to see it in the yard is so surprising.

I went to the grocery store at 10 this morning and it started to rain as I left, the snow came down about an hour later and it is still snowing in the area.

My girls went to Redding to see a movie and took the camera, I am looking forward to Jo's photos.

My new job is going well, it is a real change to be working a full 40 hour week.

I am so thankful to have a job when so many are unemployed.

Our Christmas celebration is small and I really never know what we will do for Christmas.

So many people have this grand plan and many gifts to buy, many parties to attend, and many fancy food to eat.

Our Christmas is simple. 

The tree is small.

The gifts are often homemade or necessities.

The parties are church celebrations with cookies and caroling.

No fancy clothes or food.

I made Latkes and Applesauce for the kids and Wes for Friday night, I wouldn't be home in time from work, so I made them the night ahead.

Last night we went to the Anderson Cottonwood Neighborhood Church annual caroling and cookies.

Abbie played her violin at the end with Ellen. 

I love to hear them play together.

My favorite part of the caroling is coloring a picture for my friend Molly.

For the last 3 years I have colored her a picture and made it a Christmas card to her and she puts it on her refrigerator.

Christmas is truly simple to me.

Tree in the corner

Cookies in the jar

Fire in the wood stove

Cozy robe and Slippers

Jr (Corgi) eating popcorn tossed to him by Ian

Carols in the background

Yes, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

The highlight of the Christmas season is going to church on Christmas Eve and listening to the story and scriptures while hearing the old traditional carols and some newer ones. I hope Ora will sing "Mary did you know" this year some time.

That is what I like about Christmas.

This year I will be working  Christmas Eve and December 26th, so on Dec. 29th, I guess I will take down the tree and things and clean for the New Year. Some times I will leave the tree up until January 1st. We will see.