Monday, May 18, 2026

Art, Crowns, and Beth at Work

Beth went back to the dentist today to get the permanent crown put on her back tooth. I could tell she was a little nervous but I told her it would be much faster than the last appointment.

When we got into the room she immediately decided to go use the bathroom. I'm sure she was thinking of the last time when they stopped the procedure so she could go. 

She got settled in and they began.


They took the temporary crown off and cleaned the tooth up a little. She was still nervous though because she was holding on to that arm rest.


But, it only took a few minutes and we were out the door and on our way home! Everything went well.

Last Thursday I was able to get a few pictures of her at work. She empties the trash in our preschool classrooms, then takes it out to the dumpster. I caught her coming out of the elevator but she doesn't look too happy to see me.


I followed her outside and noticed the lids were down on the dumpster. I watched to see what she would do and she got right up there and tried a few times to throw it in! I was already half way there when she got frustrated. I was holding the lid open (just barely - those bins are big!) and we ended up laughing as she would throw the bag and only get a corner over the edge, then I'd use one hand to try and help get the rest of it up and over... we were quite the team! 


Another thing she just started doing is delivering printer paper to the third floor work room. She gets the paper from the second floor work room, takes it up the elevator and into the office wing. We're always running out of paper up there so the third floor staff is going to love her for doing this!


Beth has another appointment the end of next week, and then Diana and Peter are coming for a visit! We are so excited to see them!!

Oh, I know what I wanted to show you. Our middle daughter Sharaya loves to paint and draw, and she posted this the other day, titled 'Michael.' I just keep staring at it.


Well, I should go start dinner so I'm going to close this. I hope you all have a blessed day! 

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

How Was Yours?

 May 13, 2005. It was 26 years ago today that my mom died. She was born in Massachusetts and her family moved to San Diego when she was 13. She met my dad a few years later. He was a sailor in the Navy and she was smitten! 

My mom in snow-covered Springfield, Massachusetts 


Me and my mom
I was in 10th grade here

Sharaya, me, my mom
In the front: Diana and Beth


Me and my girls


You know, while looking for photos for this post I searched a long time but couldn't find a current photo of me and my girls! You can bet that when Diana and Peter are here next month, that's one thing I want to do!

The girls all got me great gifts for Mother's Day, and we went out for lunch. (Missing Diana and Peter's family of course.) But I had a very good day. 

How was your Mother's Day? Did you do anything special?

Friday, May 8, 2026

One of Her Favorite Places is The Hair Salon

Beth had her final appointment with the Dermatologist today. Nothing has changed since she started the cortisone shots but the doctor said she believes the scarring alopecia is dormant. She's been monitoring it for about a year and it looks exactly the same, and it's still the same size. We've been able to cover it with a small pony tail so that's really good news. 

Between meetings with her case worker and various doctors, Beth has had 10 appointments so far this year. Plus she still has three more this month. This is the most she's ever had and I think it's just due to her age and how our health changes the older we get.

After we left the doctor we headed to the hair salon. She got a shampoo, cut and style. We were the only ones there so it was easy to get some pictures. It's a small salon and we've been going there for a few years, the mom owns it and her daughter is the main stylist. They both love the Lord so we kind of feel at home there. 







She's so excited to show her friends! After every hair cut she tells me, "All Aboard will be surprised to see me!" (All Aboard is the day program she goes to for karaoke and art.)

She loves her time at the salon! 

Saturday, May 2, 2026

Take a Walk Along the Waterfront With Me

Way back in January we had some nice clear weather so I bundled up and went down to the waterfront.

I walked out on the pier, it was really cold and it's always windy on the pier. The ferry was docked, letting cars and passengers off, then reloading for the trip across the sound. In the background you could see Mount Baker. Course, my phone made it look really tiny. It's about 100 miles from us but with the naked eye, it looked so big and so close.




I went all the way to the end of the pier, and I took this picture before heading back.


Looking back at our little town.


Then I walked along the marina. There was another ferry coming into Edmonds and a fisherman was getting ready to take his boat out.



Then I headed to the beach. Usually I just walk along the pathway and sit on a bench for a while. But this time I decided to walk on the sand. It had been years since I'd done that! It was January though so I kept my shoes on. 😊


This is looking back toward the pier and the mountains.


These are the Olympic Mountains. These are west of us. The Cascades are to the east of us. This area really is beautiful on a clear day. 


By the time I got to the end of the beach, another ferry had docked. It was so peaceful down there and exactly what I needed!


I hope you're able to take some time for you this week. Find a quiet place to sit and reflect on your blessings. Have a wonderful weekend!