Sisters and Brother Visits!!

We love visitors!  And we have had alot!  So so fun.  We have been very busy over here.

First visitors were my sister, husband and daughter from the Oakland area.  They were here the FIRST weekend of the snow.  So crazy on the first of March.  On Friday we all had gone for a long walk, out for coffee, etc.  Saturday the snow started so us girls went sledding over on the school hill.  We made a super cute snow man (we just forgot to make it level!!)   And the snow just kept on coming.........NO CHURCH on Sunday.  Are you kidding?  That happens like once every ten years here.  My niece was ecstatic, being a California girl and all.  More of us went sledding out on Barnhart hill.  Even baby Kaden went sledding for the first time!

Meeting Kaden!!

Jenae and Becky

 At this point my California brother-in-law was getting a little worried about driving in the snow to Seattle (no I am NOT calling him a sissy lala......) but once they were through Bellingham they were just fine.  Thanks for the visit and WE WILL SEE YOU SOON ;)

Next up:  Les' older sister Linda and baby brother Gawin.  They are both Minnesooooota people so came from 20 degrees BELOW that morning.  Linda has been here before, Gawin has not.  They were picked up in Seattle by Les and niece Emily; they had lunch on the Seattle waterfront and toured Pike's Market.  The very next day we headed to Friday Harbor.  We had a beautiful sunny day.  They also had trips up to Mt. Baker and out to Birch Bay.  The weather was amazing!  We ran out of time before we could complete everything on their "to do" list, but we did a pretty good job.  We'll finish that list next time.......

 

One night we had Corby and Scott, their wives and their kids over for dinner (oops, supper for those midwest people).  Corby and Scott both went to school in Minnesota in Gawin's town and Gawin kinda took them under his wing and "took care of them" while out there.  They had some fun reminiscing to do!  Scott - you missed the picture!  A very fun evening.

Corby, Les, Kris, Gawin

Linda and Gawin were here for a week.  Goodbyes are pretty hard these days, but this one wasn't TOO bad because Linda's son in Montana is getting married on Labor Day and we will meet up with them there.  We loved having them here.

We are taking a break from visitors - our family of 7 has a big adventure planned for next week, so stay tuned for that blog!  And please pray for safe travels for us!

Too Many Goodbyes

We have been to TOO MANY funerals lately.  The first one was for a member of our church - a sudden death.  Les and I were both blindsided by how hard it was to sit through the service - maybe since it was in our church, our pastor, a guy a little older than us........ We walked (ran, more like) outside afterwards and burst into tears.  Very hard.  The second service was for Marty, one of my dad's best friends.  I went with my parents, who flew up from Arizona for the service.  This also was difficult! but it was nice to be there with my parents.  A hard loss for my mom and dad.

The third was for my Aunt Nan a week later.  She lived in Seattle.  She had a tough going in her younger years, but through that started Seadrunar, a rehab for drugs and alcohol in Seattle.  Her and her husband ran this program and grew it into what it is today; along with a recycling center for the patients to work at.  Aunt Nan was the next above my dad, and now my dad is the only sibling left.  The service was so great, Aunt Nan was honored and represented well by her family.  She was so much fun, so dedicated to helping others; she will be missed by many.  My younger brother and I with our uncle and cousins:

Recently our town lost Don Smith, a man loved by many.  He was married to my cousin Nyla.  Again, a sudden illness and now his loved ones will miss him so much!!  My dad had coffee with Don on weekday mornings - Don liked to call my dad "cuz" since he married Nyla.  Another friend my dad has lost.

Another recent, difficult loss for us was our neighbor, friend and fellow church member, Ken.  Ken also had ALS.  His ALS developed in his limbs first, and the disease progressed rather quickly over the past year.  Since we are dealing with ALS, this is so personal to us and so difficult to watch.  His wife Jan walked over the other day just to give us hugs - she knows.  I had some of their girls in youth group several years ago - they are all so special to me.  The service was so well thought out and so personal - very emotional for Les and I. 

"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life.....The Lord will fulfill (His purpose) for me; Your love, O Lord, endures forever."  Psalm 138:7-8

Jesus Calling

"Continue on this path with Me, enjoying My presence even in adversity.  I am always before you, as well as alongside you.  See Me beckoning to you: 'come, follow Me'.  The One who goes ahead of you, opening up the way, is the same One who stays close and never let's go of your hand.  I am not subject to limitations of time or space.  I am everywhere at every time, ceaselessly working on your behalf.  That is why your best efforts are trusting Me and living close to Me."

"Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me"
Psalm 63:7-8