The Last Couple of Weeks

Hi friends,

It's been a while. I pray you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I had every intention of getting on here before Thanksgiving but it just never happened.

We got the results from Beth's biopsies, and they were exactly what we were expecting: Scarring Alopecia, or Lichen Planopilaris. The doctor wants to start cortisone injections and will monitor it closely for side effects. If the alopecia is still spreading after the second injection, they'll stop them and reevaluate the treatment plan.

The Sunday before Thanksgiving we began preparing for the biggest event of the year at our church. (It actually began months ago with leaders meetings, building walk-throughs, creating room set up diagrams...) We feed the community a full meal - family style - and after the first group heads home, we reset the tables and do it all again. Then again. At the end of the day we served over 1000 guests, and 500 volunteers.

The dining room ready for guests

Busser/Server stations in all four corners 

Chuck was a table host for two of the seatings, serving the food and initiating conversation.

This was on our church's website

Out in the main foyer we offer family photos, a reception area with snacks, puzzles and games while the guests wait to go to the dining room, we have a clothing bank, and everything is free. 

Being in the custodial department, we spent a few days setting up all the tables and chairs in every area, and we're one of the first groups to arrive Thanksgiving day and the last to leave: unlocking the building, providing coffee for the guests and the volunteers, cleaning bathrooms, emptying trash, wiping up spills, then all the clean up afterward. Monday - Thursday I put in 24 miles. 

On Friday Sharaya and Ally came over and we had our family Thanksgiving. All the usual food, plus ice box pie for dessert. After dinner we played Mexican Train, and video chatted with Diana, Peter, and the kids. It did my heart good to be with family.

The rest of the weekend I spent in my recliner. 😊

Like the rest of you, we're now preparing for Christmas. We'll be in Pennsylvania this year and are planning a day in New York, plus Christmas traditions with Diana's family. 

This morning I removed the garden hoses and covered the outside faucets; I did a load of laundry; I have a stye under my left eyelid that's been bugging me; Allison turns 16 tomorrow; and Beth wants me to take her shopping today. 

Sorry, this doesn't feel like a fun post. Maybe it just seems that way in my head. I think I'm still worn out from the Thanksgiving Outreach so I may go sit in my recliner for a little while. 

I pray you all had an amazing Thanksgiving.

Kind of a Crazy Weekend

On Thursday Chuck went to Denver to be with his sister. More than 20 years ago she had a stroke that left her paralyzed on her right side. Then a year or so ago she broke the ankle on her right side and has been in and out of hospitals and rehab ever since. She lives alone and they won't release her until she can walk again. He went to check on her and see how he could help.

Friday I stayed home, did laundry, dusted mini blinds, made some more greeting cards, it was nice to just hang out.

Saturday Sharaya and I took a scenic flight around Seattle - on a float plane! Chuck had given that to me as a gift and we went this weekend. Never been on a float plane before and was curious about taking off and landing on water - would you bounce with the waves? But it was actually smoother than landing in an airliner. Which makes sense now that I've done it because the water moves with the plane and gives a softer landing.  

We rode with another family, and when the pilot asked who wanted to sit up front, Sharaya was the only one who raised her hand. Some of these pictures are hers - 

The plane was extremely loud. They gave us noise-cancelling headphones that played audio of what we were seeing. I tried taking mine off for a second and it was SO loud. We weren't able to talk to each other at all during the flight.

This is the University of Washington

This is as close as we got to Seattle. Kenmore Air flies out of Lake Union (close to Seattle) and Lake Washington which is  further north and closer to where we live so we close Lake Washington.

I-5 headed north out of Seattle

Some of the beautiful homes that line the lakes here

These are on Lake Washington

This is a screen shot of a video I took of the landing -

Afterward we asked the pilot to take our photo, then we went out to lunch. Such a fun day! Thank you Sharaya for coming with me!

Okay, that was Saturday. On Sunday the other leader didn't show up to help in Sunday school and wouldn't you know it, I had all four kids. Thankfully one of the kids team went and got a volunteer from children's church to come help me. And she was actually really amazing! I was so grateful she was there.

Right after Sunday school I had a Thanksgiving Team meeting. I didn't have time to take Beth home, so I went up to the meeting to see if I could get Beth some lunch. (They always provide lunch.) I grabbed Beth a sandwich and chips, and took it back to our classroom. (Our class is on the first floor, and the meeting was on the third. Thank the Lord for that elevator!)

After the meeting, Beth and I headed to Costco. For more than a month they've been out of the hot drink cups I buy for the church and we were getting really low so I went in person to get a few cases.

Literally five minutes after getting home, my phone rang. It was a custodian telling me about a car accident that happened in the church parking lot. So I headed back there and was surprised to see this - 

The driver wasn't hurt at all. He was walking around, joking with the officers and talking about how it was such a freak accident. We waited for the police and filled out reports about what happened. I finally got home around 5:30. It all made for a very long Sunday.

This morning (Monday) I picked Chuck up at the light rail station. So glad he's home!

So how was your Labor Day weekend? Did you go anywhere or do anything fun?

What a Difference a Few Short Weeks Make

 On November 3 I posted about things being quiet. Today I came home in tears.

I don't know what it is about this season at work but I get so overwhelmed. I came home and got on my knees. I asked the Lord if He was trying to teach me to be one of those people who don't get bothered by a lot of things coming at them all at once. Because I don't seem to be learning that lesson. I still get so overwhelmed.

I cried for a while, then Chuck came home and he listened while I told him everything that went on today. Then I made some tea, ate some chocolate 😌 and began to feel a little better. Whew, tomorrow is a brand new day! I'm thankful the Lord's mercies are new every morning!

Our big Thanksgiving Outreach is just three days away. We're praying for a lot of people to experience His presence for the very first time, or in a new way.

We'll have our family Thanksgiving on Sunday afternoon. Sharaya and Ally will come over, Sharaya will make her amazing mashed potatoes, and we'll try to video chat with Diana and Peter. Then I'm hoping we can go look at lights or go see a movie. I really want to do some Christmasy things this year. Now that the girls are grown, we just don't do them like we used to.

Beth's CT scan is on Wednesday. She'll still be able to go bowling - they're having a big Thanksgiving party that day - then instead of  her coming home on the bus, I'll leave work early to go pick her up. Thankfully this doctor is very close to where she bowls. Maybe we'll even do a little Christmas shopping!

I put out a few Christmas decorations on Friday. I've wanted to decorate for a while and finally thought, 'Why not?' I just love to sit and look at the lights.

On Saturday Chuck and I ran errands - he needed new shoes, filled his car up with gas, we did a little shopping (we have 4 birthdays in December!) ... then we stopped for coffee and watched the ferry come in.

I'm going to close this and sit in my recliner for a while before I head off to bed. I pray you have a blessed week and a very happy Thanksgiving! 

     

Waterfront, The Best of Trail Mix, and Thanksgiving Already?!

Good evening,

 

I'm writing this at 7:30 on Saturday. Today there's been so many games on TV - first the Seattle Mariners, then the Seattle Sounders, and now the Seahawks. I've been in and out of the living room, watching some with Chuck. I spent some time in the den making greeting cards, and then remembered I hadn't posted on here. I was looking through my phone trying to remember what we've been up to the last few days.

 

Beth and I went down to the waterfront. It's about a five minute drive from our house. We were only there for a few minutes but it was good to get out and smell that ocean! (She has her head phones around her neck.)

 

 

I don't know how it is where you are but around here the leaves are changing color, we've had a lot of rain, and the temps have dropped to  the 50's and 60's. Chuck even turned on the fireplace this morning! We're supposed to get some sunshine and temps back in the 70's next week but it sure seems like summer is over.

 

We've video-chatted with Diana and Adelaide this weekend. She's just over a year and a half but she acts so much older. Here's she's looking through the trail mix for her favorite things!

 

 Ally and I went to the mall yesterday to get some stuff for school. Unfortunately I didn't get a single picture. But I cannot believe she's starting high school! For all intents and purposes, she's an adult: she's my height, she's mature, she's kind, it's been such a blessing getting to watch her grow up. Time is just going so fast.

 

Not too much else going on. I'm going to a Thanksgiving meeting tomorrow after church. We always meet the last Sunday of August to begin prepping for our Thanksgiving Outreach. This is our 30th year. The associate pastor and his wife who lead this are now in their 70's and she was telling me this just might be their last year. Course she's been saying that for a few years now, but they are moving slower and slower as time goes on. We'll see what happens after this year.

 

Well, time for me to get ready for tomorrow. Have a good day - 

 

The Stage Was Set

 We spent days setting up and prepping for Thanksgiving. There were more than 500 volunteers this year! That's a record.

 

 Our reception area - with coffee, tea and snacks. 

Plus a few areas with games and puzzles for the kids.

 

 

 

Our clothing bank. 

Everything throughout the entire day was free.

 

 Preparing the 'dining room' and the server stations

 

 

Then the stage was set and the guests were brought in.

 

This was taken at one of our outreaches before covid

The servers resetting the tables for the second seating

With all three seatings we served more than 1100 guests

 

Can you guess which one was the entertainer?

He's phenomenal! He goes by Chagy, (Shaggy) He's bilingual and does the show in both Spanish and English. At once! A sentence in one and then the other. And he doesn't skip a beat. He absolutely captivates the audience - they laugh and clap and cheer. I peeked in one time and every one was captivated! Every face looking at the stage. And best of all? He explains the gospel so well. More than 80 people gave their lives to the Lord!

 

We had our family Thanksgiving on Friday (forgot to take pictures) so I was up, put the turkey in the oven and got the house ready for Sharaya and Ally. After dinner we played Mexican Train and had lemon meringue pie for dessert. Then I was back at work on Saturday to help the custodians get the building ready for Sunday. Sunday of course was church and I taught my Sunday school class.

On Monday we got the day off so I was able to just relax. Stayed in my bathrobe the entire day. Took a shower... and put on clean pajamas. 😊 And watched one of my favorite movies of all time: The Little Drummer Boy. The old stop-motion version that came out in the 1960s. Every time I see it I'm taken back to my seven year old self sitting cross-legged on the living room floor completely mesmerized. 

When Aaron admits to the king that he doesn't have anything worthy to give the Baby Jesus, I can't help but feel the same way, and the tears come. Then he humbly chooses to give the only thing he knows, he plays his drum. As small and insignificant as Aaron thinks it is, that little baby, the Lord Jesus accepts it, and accepts Aaron.  ♫"And then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum..." Brings me to tears even now. We're all His children. He still accepts us today, still wants us to come to Him, still smiles at us. He is such a good and Holy God. 

We have so much to be thankful for.

  

Countdowwn, Turkey Toss, One of Her Favorite Things

 Hello,

 

Five days before Thanksgiving. For us the holiday is focused on our church outreach. We feed about 1200 from our community: the homeless, first responders who are on duty, immigrants, and entire families. They come to have their photos taken, enjoy a complete Thanksgiving meal, access to our clothing bank, and a fun show that includes the gospel. Plus there are more than 400 volunteers.

 

We've been prepping for months and tomorrow begins room set ups. It's a grueling week but by the weekend, I'm so grateful to have been a part of such an amazing outreach. Something our family has been a part of for more than 25 years. These are from last year...

 

 

 

 We have Translators

 We'll have our family Thanksgiving on Friday. Sharaya and Ally will come over, we'll watch our traditional after-dinner movie and play games. And we'll probably video chat with Diana and Peter. Then on Saturday...

 

 This is what I plan to do all day! 😊

 

 Beth and I got our hair cut this week. Same styles, just shorter. I suggested we take a selfie together but she didn't seem excited about that idea. So I just took one of her, then took mine when I got home. She'll talk for days about everyone who will see how different she looks, "I can show my friends on Tuesday!" "My sisters will be surprised!" She loves getting her hair cut!

 

 We had our Third Annual Turkey Toss at work last week. The Executive Assistant comes up with the most fun and crazy events for us - the goal is to see who can throw a frozen, wrapped-in-duct-tape turkey the farthest. This year there was a Lightweight division, for those of us over 55 (and there are a lot actually!) I think ours was a game hen. Anyway, there was hot chocolate... and lots of laughter!

 

 See the blue dot at the top of the yellow tree? That's the turkey!

Some of them threw 29 feet, 31 feet! It was crazy far!

 

 

I don't know if you can make out the blue chalk inside the circle. They put our initials where our throws landed. And you see the traffic cone? Right there at the starting line? That's my throw. Yep, 4 feet. I thought I would try to toss it like I was bowling but it slipped out of my hand! There were no actual prizes, just the honor of titles like Highest Toss, Farthest Toss, and mine? I got Biggest Oops! 😂 I absolutely love where I work! We have the most fun!

 I hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving. I pray no one is alone this weekend and that you get to share a meal with others. Whether it's with family, or friends or if you come to an outreach like ours, maybe with friends you haven't met yet. I'm thankful for you. You bless me more than you'll ever know. May the Lord bless you too!