A Little of This and a Little of That

 Hello!

It feels like it's been longer than a week since I've posted. I hope you all had a blessed Easter and that this week has been a good one.

Our church has a Good Friday service for the adults, and the Kids Team does a Good Friday Experience event downstairs. I opened our classroom and was available for any kids who found the Experience too overwhelming. There was one student who didn't want anything to do with the event so we spent the evening in our room, singing, writing the alphabet and swinging in the swing. The event is amazing though. The classrooms are decorated as the Garden of Gethsemene, the Last Supper, the courtyard where Peter denied Him three times, and there are actors that tell about the events that happen in each area. I wish the adults could go through it! I took a few photos before the kids arrived.

It's really powerful. One of the kids asked 'Peter', "If you were alive when Jesus was, how are you here now?" It truly brings the events of Holy Week to life. 

We went shopping a few weeks ago and Beth bought herself a wooden sign. As it got closer to Easter I decided to buy a couple things so the two of us could paint together. While she slept in I got the table and all the paints ready. She was so happy to come up and paint. And it was fun to have some time together. Sometimes our schedules are so busy we can go a full day or two without seeing each other.

She helped me fix breakfast for dinner one night: pancakes and scrambled eggs. Do you ever do that, have breakfast for dinner? We don't do it very often but we love it!

In April of 2024 a dear friend of mine passed away so I visited his grave last week. Took me a while to find it. And even though I know he wasn't there - he loves the Lord and is face to face with Him now, it was good to be there.

We've had warm, sunny weather the last couple of weeks and it's been so nice! I even bought some flowers yesterday and am hoping to get them planted this weekend. 

Can't think of anything else to write so I'll close this. Take care. Have a good weekend!

His Love for You is Like No Other

 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha and they crucified Him. 

The written notice of the charge against Him read: The King of the Jews. 

It was nine in the morning when they crucified Him.

Mark 15:22, 25, 26

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James and Salome brought spices to anoint Jesus' body.

When they got there they saw the stone had been rolled away!

A man dressed in white (an angel) told them, "Don't be alarmed, you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is not here. He has risen!

Mark 16:1, 4-6

As we remember His sacrifice on the cross, and celebrate His resurrection this weekend, I pray you experience the tangible presence of the living God.

His love for you is unmatched.

Scary Stuff

 Something happened recently that I haven't told you about. When I took Beth to the doctor a couple weeks ago and the x-ray showed she had bronchitis, they put her on two different antibiotics. One was a z-pack. Take two the first night and one every day after that. When I got back from the pharmacy I gave her the first two and told her to take one the next day and I'd come down to see her when I got home.

Now, I'm working 10-14 hour days. Chuck stopped by the house at lunch to check on her - all was well. 

So that next evening I went down to check on her and noticed the z-pack was on her recliner. An interesting place to put it. When I picked it up it was empty.

"Beth where's the medicine that was in the box?"

She put her head down, no response.

"Beth did you take all of this medicine?"

Without saying anything she opened her desk drawer and began shuffling things around like she was looking for them. I reminded her what it looked like but she never said a word, just kept moving things around her desk drawer. I asked her again, by now my heart is beginning to race.

"Beth did you take all the medicine?"

Again, no response. I checked her forehead but she felt fine. She had been laughing at whatever was on TV, so she was feeling good.

But I went upstairs and called the doctor. It was after hours and when I told the answering service what happened he immediately transferred me to the Poison Control Center. 

That's when I began to cry.

After spending a few minutes talking with her she reassured me that the small dosage Beth had would not cause problems. She might have some bowel issues, maybe a stomach ache, but nothing serious. However, if she does begin to feel dizzy or she faints, call 911.

Needless to say I didn't sleep well that night. Even got up at 3:00 to check on her. She was snorin' like a freight train. (Couldn't wear her c-pap because she was so congested.)

Checked again before I went to work the next morning, still good. I texted her throughout the day and she always texted right back. The doctor called me during the conference - I took the call outside - and she told me that if Beth wasn't having any side effects by now, she was going to be just fine. It might be a week or two until we see her bronchitis improve but she was going to be okay.  

And she has been. Not one single issue. I sometimes wonder if she really did take them. I don't know. I just don't know. I'm just thankful she's okay.

Besides Work and Illness - What We've Been Up To

For the last couple of months Beth would get really congested and she'd be coughing, then she'd begin to feel much better and would go out and about again.

It was during one of these times that we got gym memberships! The first time ever. We've only been able to go a few times but as the weather gets better - and Beth stays better - we're planning to go a couple times a week. With this being our very first membership, we're learning that you have to clean each machine you use. Thankfully they provide the cleaning spray and the towels. It's been really fun and we're looking forward to going more often. 

Have you seen The Chosen? We've watched all four seasons and now season five is in theaters, two episodes each week. When we left the theater last week I told Chuck it helps me understand the culture where it took place. It kind of fills in some missing pieces for me. I know they've taken some creative licensing in some of the storylines but the facts remain true to the gospel. For example - Doubting Thomas. The Bible doesn't tell us why he doubts Jesus is alive, so the creator of The Chosen created a storyline of one possibility of why. But they show the Biblical fact of Thomas having doubts about Christ. We're actually going to see two more episodes later today.

I was given an orchid a few years ago and haven't had a single bloom. I keep moving it from this table to that window and last winter I decided to try one more spot before throwing it away. And guess what?! It bloomed! I'm so glad I finally found a spot it likes!

Beth and I ran errands earlier this week. She was running low on lined paper and was desperate for more. We tried a few stores before finding some at a drug store of all places. She was very unhappy when the Staples in our area closed. She still talks about it every time we drive by where it used to be. After our search, we decided to stop and get a snack and something to drink.

The day before the conference at work, I took some time to go down to the waterfront. We have about 3 miles of coastline that includes beaches, a marina, a dog beach, and the ferry dock. I usually go to the north end of the waterfront but this time I went to the south. The mountains were so clear it felt like you could just reach out and touch them. 

We're so blessed that we get to live here. Just five minutes from the water. I'm just noticing how gray these pictures are! Hahaha! Welcome to Seattle! All the stories are true! 😂

Well, that's about all from here. I hope things are going well with you. Have a good week!