There is so much preparation and anticipation, and then Christmas is here and gone so quickly. Craig and Cassie joined us after church on Christmas Eve for our traditional fondue supper followed by exchanging gifts. Then on Christmas Day, Colleen, Ken, and I went to Curt and Cinda's for dinner and some family time.
Now we are in the throes of packing to leave tomorrow. I just keep piling things by the back door hoping I will gather everything I intended to take. I can't believe I have been so casual about getting ready to leave - I have spent more time preparing for a weekend in eastern Washington than I have for this four-month-plus trip, but I'm sure our credit card can replace anything we leave behind.
I gave Ken a new GPS for Christmas, so this will be the shakedown cruise. We have had one that Keith and Janet gave us several years ago, and we have loved it, but the newer technology appeals to us with respect to finding our way around cities like Phoenix and finding points of interest along the way. It is just about impossible to keep up with emerging technology.
After our stop in Stayton tomorrow night, we will be relaxing in Brookings-Harbor, Oregon until about the middle of January. Jeff and Bev will join us this Saturday for our annual holiday rendevous. We are always available via cell phones (253 961 8236 (Helen) 253 988 5146 (Ken), email, IM, or Skype. One of those should work for you. Ciao
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
Here Comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa........
I can now settle in and enjoy the rest of the season having finished shopping yesterday. I have a ton of baking supplies, some Christmas music, and ribbons and bows to keep me busy. We brought the tree in and decorated it earlier this week, and the gifts to be sent have been mailed and received!!
Depending on what Craig and Cassie decide to do for Christmas Day, we will probably go to Bellevue and spend it with Curt, Cinda, Jerry, Lois, and family. Linea and Josh just moved 'home' from Chicago last week, so there is lots of merriment at the Johnson household. To stay home and just have it be Colleen, Ken, and I seems not quite like it should be.
Craig and Cassie are apt to spend the day insulating and hanging sheetrock. They feel like everything is getting pretty well dried out to where they can begin the repair/replace project. They are hoping they will get by with just having the hardwood floor sanded and refinished rather than having it replaced. I think they are going to run some new water lines while everything is opened up, and they will need new base cabinets in the kitchen.
Elisabeth and I went to Seattle on Wednesday just because and to do some shopping, and we were wishing we hadn't. The rain let up early on, but the wind was brutal. The highlight of the day was lunch with Linea and Cinda at a very nice Italian restaurant in Pacific Place. I had squash-filled ravioli with fried sage leaves and it was to die for.
Speaking of shopping, I have made it a point this season to wish all I encounter a merry Christmas. I am tired of the ACLU and the atheists and their tirades - I'll be tolerant of their believes (or non-beliefs) as long as they are tolerant of mine!! Here is a piece written by Ben Stein that I love:
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
> My confession:
> I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not
> bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled
> trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated
> against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.
> It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't
> think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I
> kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this
> happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on
> display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a
> creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
> I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think
> Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who
> believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no
> idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country.
> I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my
> throat.
> Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should
> worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand
> Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us
> who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew
> went to.
> In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a
> little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's
> intended to get you thinking.
> Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson
> asked her "How could God let something like this happen?" (regarding Katrina)
> Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, "I
> believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been
> telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get
> out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed
> out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we
> demand He leave us alone?"
> In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think
> it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found
> recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then
> someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt
> not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said
> OK.
> Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they
> misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage
> their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should
> know what he's talking about. And we said OK.
> Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't
> know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their
> classmates, and themselves.
> Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I
> think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW."
> Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's
> going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what
> the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread
> like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people
> think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles
> pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in
> the school and workplace.
> Are you laughing?
> Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your
> address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think
> of you for sending it.
> Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than
> what God thinks of us.
> Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... No one
> will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and
> complain about what bad shape the world is in. My Best Regards.
> Honestly and respectfully,
> Ben Stein
Brian's friend, Jim who lost his wife last spring, and his two daughters are going to go to McCall and meet up with Brian and the boys for a few days of skiing after Christmas. I hope they have a good time. Brian and Sheila's condo is so comfy and inviting that it is impossible not to love being there. I'm not a skier, but I know it is fun for everybody who does. Just slogging around McCall in the snow is fun.
I am doing some baking today with the goal of having something to send to McCall with Jim and his girls when they drive down on Christmas Day. Colleen and I are going to Jordan Swain's baby shower tomorrow in Bellevue, so it will be a good opportunity to take the goodies to Jim in Seattle.
We are still planning to leave on the 27th..........knowing us it might be four in the afternoon on the 27th, but it will be the 27th. It is only three hours to Stayton for the first night's stay, so we don't have to be out of here all that early.
Have a joyuous Christmas and may you enjoy the many blessings of our Lord in the coming year. Ciao
Depending on what Craig and Cassie decide to do for Christmas Day, we will probably go to Bellevue and spend it with Curt, Cinda, Jerry, Lois, and family. Linea and Josh just moved 'home' from Chicago last week, so there is lots of merriment at the Johnson household. To stay home and just have it be Colleen, Ken, and I seems not quite like it should be.
Craig and Cassie are apt to spend the day insulating and hanging sheetrock. They feel like everything is getting pretty well dried out to where they can begin the repair/replace project. They are hoping they will get by with just having the hardwood floor sanded and refinished rather than having it replaced. I think they are going to run some new water lines while everything is opened up, and they will need new base cabinets in the kitchen.
Elisabeth and I went to Seattle on Wednesday just because and to do some shopping, and we were wishing we hadn't. The rain let up early on, but the wind was brutal. The highlight of the day was lunch with Linea and Cinda at a very nice Italian restaurant in Pacific Place. I had squash-filled ravioli with fried sage leaves and it was to die for.
Speaking of shopping, I have made it a point this season to wish all I encounter a merry Christmas. I am tired of the ACLU and the atheists and their tirades - I'll be tolerant of their believes (or non-beliefs) as long as they are tolerant of mine!! Here is a piece written by Ben Stein that I love:
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
> My confession:
> I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not
> bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled
> trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated
> against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.
> It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't
> think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I
> kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this
> happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on
> display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a
> creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
> I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think
> Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who
> believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no
> idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country.
> I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my
> throat.
> Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should
> worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand
> Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us
> who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew
> went to.
> In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a
> little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's
> intended to get you thinking.
> Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson
> asked her "How could God let something like this happen?" (regarding Katrina)
> Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, "I
> believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been
> telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get
> out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed
> out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we
> demand He leave us alone?"
> In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think
> it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found
> recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then
> someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt
> not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said
> OK.
> Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they
> misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage
> their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should
> know what he's talking about. And we said OK.
> Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't
> know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their
> classmates, and themselves.
> Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I
> think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW."
> Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's
> going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what
> the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread
> like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people
> think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles
> pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in
> the school and workplace.
> Are you laughing?
> Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your
> address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think
> of you for sending it.
> Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than
> what God thinks of us.
> Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... No one
> will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and
> complain about what bad shape the world is in. My Best Regards.
> Honestly and respectfully,
> Ben Stein
Brian's friend, Jim who lost his wife last spring, and his two daughters are going to go to McCall and meet up with Brian and the boys for a few days of skiing after Christmas. I hope they have a good time. Brian and Sheila's condo is so comfy and inviting that it is impossible not to love being there. I'm not a skier, but I know it is fun for everybody who does. Just slogging around McCall in the snow is fun.
I am doing some baking today with the goal of having something to send to McCall with Jim and his girls when they drive down on Christmas Day. Colleen and I are going to Jordan Swain's baby shower tomorrow in Bellevue, so it will be a good opportunity to take the goodies to Jim in Seattle.
We are still planning to leave on the 27th..........knowing us it might be four in the afternoon on the 27th, but it will be the 27th. It is only three hours to Stayton for the first night's stay, so we don't have to be out of here all that early.
Have a joyuous Christmas and may you enjoy the many blessings of our Lord in the coming year. Ciao
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Flood, Christmas, and Departure Date
We were awakened a week ago last Monday morning at 4:30 with a phone call from Craig saying that the creek behind their house was covering the back deck and rising. We jumped in the car and headed for west Olympia. Ken helped get some furniture stacked and move a few things as the water rose to six inches inside the house. We left Craig and Cassie to wait and watch and took Greta home with us. We kept her for two nights and I took her to school on Wednesday morning.
Craig and Cassie have a major job ahead of them, but it is nothing compared to the folks down around Chehalis and over in Grays Harbor county where the losses are in the millions. C&C have packed the entire downstairs and stored it in a storage unit they had delivered to them. Now the walls are open to two feet high and the sodden insulation removed. With help from friends, all the lower walls are removed as well as the kitchen base cabinets, the stove and the dishwasher. They have heaters and fans going to try and mitigate the damp and the mildew.
They are fortunate in that there has already been an insurance adjuster to the house, so they pretty much know how everything will shake out. And in fact have already been notified of what their settlement will be, which sounds as if it will pretty well cover the damage. But still a lot of work ahead.
We know this is the Christmas season, but other than a goodly number of hours working on some Christmas gifts for the kids, we haven't done much else. The tree is in a bucket of water in the back yard, and there are a few decorations set out. But that is okay, it allows for more space and time to focus on the true meaning. I suspect the tree will be up by Sunday along with some further decorating.
The scheduled date to leave for Arizona is December 27. We are going as far as Stayton, Oregon and will spend the evening with Cassie's parents. I have met her mom, Joan, but neither Ken nor I have met her dad so we are looking forward to the visit. As it turns out, Cassie and Greta will also be there to celebrate Christmas with her parents. By the next night we should be at our first destination of Brookings, Oregon where we stay until it is time to leave for Arizona; around the 12th of January.
We have been through Brookings a few times, and spent a few days there on one trip and quite like the "banana belt" of Oregon. It is right on the coast, so there should be some good beach exploring and seafood eating. I don't think we have ever had Cooper on a beach so that will be fun for him.
Rod and Karen are probably in the San Diego area by now after having left home on Tuesday. They were worried about the snow and whether or not they would be able to get out their driveway, but it seems the entire trip has avoided bad weather.
Now Karen and I are trying to convince brother Mike and Mary to come and visit us in Arizona this winter. I think every newly retired couple needs to bask in some Arizona sunshine during their first winter of retirement. Of course that would mean being away from grandson Ben for a while, but we will keep them busy so they won't have time to be lonesome!!!!!
One of the joys of the season is to hear from good friends that we haven't seen for years as is the case with dear friends from Nova Scotia, Giff and Betty Anne. They were one of the first couples we met when we moved there, and out of the blue, with not even knowing us, invited us for dinner, and the rest is history. They are born and bred Canadians and love their Nova Scotia, their five boys and their grandchildren. I keep holding out hope that we will get back there to see them!!
Craig and Cassie have a major job ahead of them, but it is nothing compared to the folks down around Chehalis and over in Grays Harbor county where the losses are in the millions. C&C have packed the entire downstairs and stored it in a storage unit they had delivered to them. Now the walls are open to two feet high and the sodden insulation removed. With help from friends, all the lower walls are removed as well as the kitchen base cabinets, the stove and the dishwasher. They have heaters and fans going to try and mitigate the damp and the mildew.
They are fortunate in that there has already been an insurance adjuster to the house, so they pretty much know how everything will shake out. And in fact have already been notified of what their settlement will be, which sounds as if it will pretty well cover the damage. But still a lot of work ahead.
We know this is the Christmas season, but other than a goodly number of hours working on some Christmas gifts for the kids, we haven't done much else. The tree is in a bucket of water in the back yard, and there are a few decorations set out. But that is okay, it allows for more space and time to focus on the true meaning. I suspect the tree will be up by Sunday along with some further decorating.
The scheduled date to leave for Arizona is December 27. We are going as far as Stayton, Oregon and will spend the evening with Cassie's parents. I have met her mom, Joan, but neither Ken nor I have met her dad so we are looking forward to the visit. As it turns out, Cassie and Greta will also be there to celebrate Christmas with her parents. By the next night we should be at our first destination of Brookings, Oregon where we stay until it is time to leave for Arizona; around the 12th of January.
We have been through Brookings a few times, and spent a few days there on one trip and quite like the "banana belt" of Oregon. It is right on the coast, so there should be some good beach exploring and seafood eating. I don't think we have ever had Cooper on a beach so that will be fun for him.
Rod and Karen are probably in the San Diego area by now after having left home on Tuesday. They were worried about the snow and whether or not they would be able to get out their driveway, but it seems the entire trip has avoided bad weather.
Now Karen and I are trying to convince brother Mike and Mary to come and visit us in Arizona this winter. I think every newly retired couple needs to bask in some Arizona sunshine during their first winter of retirement. Of course that would mean being away from grandson Ben for a while, but we will keep them busy so they won't have time to be lonesome!!!!!
One of the joys of the season is to hear from good friends that we haven't seen for years as is the case with dear friends from Nova Scotia, Giff and Betty Anne. They were one of the first couples we met when we moved there, and out of the blue, with not even knowing us, invited us for dinner, and the rest is history. They are born and bred Canadians and love their Nova Scotia, their five boys and their grandchildren. I keep holding out hope that we will get back there to see them!!
Sunday, December 02, 2007
(A) Happy Anniversary
December 1 was our 45th wedding anniversary so we celebrated by spending the week end at a lovely resort on the Washington coast - Ocean Crest in Moclips. We stay in the area often, but in the motor home at Pacific Beach State Park which is the property just south of Ocean Crest. This resort has been in the same family since the fifties, and they have continued to expand and improve.
We had a room with a glorious view of the ocean, an excellent restaurant on the premises as well as an indoor pool/spa/sauna/exercise room. We spent many hours sitting beside a small fireplace and watching the surf. Saturday morning we were showered with about 1 1/2 inches of snow, which by afternoon had turned to rain.
Colleen sent us off with a basket of goodies along with some good beverages so we were able to stay in and enjoy the view. Last night we had an excellent dinner in the resort's dining room and enjoyed a bottle of wine that Keith and Janet had purchased for us while they were on a cruise last summer. All in all it was a most memorable time. We had text messaged greetings from Craig and when we got home today there were star gazer lillies from Brian and Sheila and the boys. We love our family!
Now Colleen is threatening Christmas decorations so I think that will be the project for the week. I usually start slowly with nutcrackers, a wreath, the German pyramid and smoker, and the nativity. Then when we get a tree I get up the nerve to unpack the rest of the boxes. But this year is easy because we are going to leave to go south on 12/27 so Colleen will be left with the task of putting everything away.
I was a guest of Elisabeth's to attend a reception and private showing for the quilts of Gee's Bend that are now on display at the Tacoma Art Museum. I don't believe one has to be a quilter to appreciate the originality, the creativity and the sheer tenacity that shows through in these works of art. I quite enjoyed all of it.
You might recall that Brian and Sheila and the boys moved from Mt. Home, Idaho to Virginia this past summer, which was quite a leap for the boys coming from a pretty small rural community. Nolan had been wrestling while at Mt. Home, and now as a freshman in a large high school in Virginia, he has made the varsity wrestling team. Go Nolan!!
Ciao
We had a room with a glorious view of the ocean, an excellent restaurant on the premises as well as an indoor pool/spa/sauna/exercise room. We spent many hours sitting beside a small fireplace and watching the surf. Saturday morning we were showered with about 1 1/2 inches of snow, which by afternoon had turned to rain.
Colleen sent us off with a basket of goodies along with some good beverages so we were able to stay in and enjoy the view. Last night we had an excellent dinner in the resort's dining room and enjoyed a bottle of wine that Keith and Janet had purchased for us while they were on a cruise last summer. All in all it was a most memorable time. We had text messaged greetings from Craig and when we got home today there were star gazer lillies from Brian and Sheila and the boys. We love our family!
Now Colleen is threatening Christmas decorations so I think that will be the project for the week. I usually start slowly with nutcrackers, a wreath, the German pyramid and smoker, and the nativity. Then when we get a tree I get up the nerve to unpack the rest of the boxes. But this year is easy because we are going to leave to go south on 12/27 so Colleen will be left with the task of putting everything away.
I was a guest of Elisabeth's to attend a reception and private showing for the quilts of Gee's Bend that are now on display at the Tacoma Art Museum. I don't believe one has to be a quilter to appreciate the originality, the creativity and the sheer tenacity that shows through in these works of art. I quite enjoyed all of it.
You might recall that Brian and Sheila and the boys moved from Mt. Home, Idaho to Virginia this past summer, which was quite a leap for the boys coming from a pretty small rural community. Nolan had been wrestling while at Mt. Home, and now as a freshman in a large high school in Virginia, he has made the varsity wrestling team. Go Nolan!!
Ciao
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