Old dog and old masters!

Our Maggie girl is getting on in years and she is a perfect match for us! We all kind of hobble around and forget if we've eaten or not and drool and take lots of naps! LOL!

Seriously, she is getting up there in years and we know it won't be long until we have to say good-bye to her. We knew the day we brought her home that she would break our heart one day. I hope the warmth (when and if it ever gets here!) will be helpful to her old joints. Feels good to me I know, and she loves to lay in the grass in the hot sun! Johnny loves Maggie!

Seasons of sadness and yet...

We all go through seasons of plenty and seasons of drought in our lives. Sometimes it is physical, sometimes emotional and sometimes spiritual. Our church family is experiencing a season of sadness and we know God has a plan and walks with us, but it can be so hard! A few situations:

A great 101 year old saint has gone to glory - that is actually a praise! She was a faithful servant!

Three men in their 70's have cancer - leukemia, lung and esophagus. All experiencing side effects from their treatments and all deep in the valley of ill health. One may be cured if surgery is successful, one may have about a year and a half, and other may go into remission. May. Might. It is all SO uncertain and SO hard on the families.

A young man not yet 40 who has a very rare form of cancer that will surely claim him in just weeks now. Leaves a wife and small son. Their faith is astounding.

A man has been in a motorcyle accident and thankfully only has some broken bones! It could have been so much worse!

Several have had bouts of melanoma. Others have family members with cancer or other serious diseases - a child as well.

The list seems to go on and on, and then on a little longer! I know I am weary from the emotional pain. I can't imagine how the pastor is holding up! He was ill Friday and Saturday.

If nothing else, these things point out how fragile our earthly tents are as they withstand the harsh storms of life. People are pouring themselves into others - crying, listening, hugging and doing what they can to help ease the suffering.

God is still there. He hasn't moved. He knows. He cares. He sustains and nourishes the soul. We still feel the effects of this fallen world and sometimes it seems so unfair, yet God is God and we are not! Yet we put one foot in front of the other. Yet we pray, we cry, we wonder what or who is next! Yet....God is faithful. All we can do is just cling. Not be afraid - just trust. Just trust. Just trust...and pray!

The Dynamic Duo We Ain't

Thursday morning saw me at my doctor's office for this cough that just won't go away. Back on an antibiotic since I so recently had pneumonia. Don't want to go there again!

Thursday evening saw us at the Emergency Department! Not for me - for Bill!! He had what he thought might be kidney stones and was in quite some pain and was running a fever. Not good! Well, the end result was not kidneys stones, but diverticulitis! So, liquid diet, pain killers, antibiotics and rest are the prescription. He needs to follow-up with his primary care early this week.

You know, this togetherness thing is wearing old. When he had his surgery in February, I ended up with pneumonia! Now, here we are again! Also, I was sick right around my birthday, and Bill was sick the day after his birthday, too! OK, enough already!

The good news is that we both feel better today and Bill can start on some bland solids tomorrow! This getting old stuff truly is not for sissies!!

Tea Party

We converged on our state capitol today to protest everything from high taxes to ludicrous spending to too much government! It was a great experience and I am so glad I participated! We met at the Tacoma Mall at 9:00 a.m. and gathered outside of Olympia City Hall to get organized. We stood along the street corners and waved at people while we waited. It was truly moving to be a part of thousands of people walking (mostly silently!) along the streets to the capitol! There was a great sense of camaraderie and the whole event was very peaceful. We ran into a few protestors of the protestors but they were only about 3 in number! I had to miss a day of work, and I probably have bronchitis again, but it was well worth it!

Tax Day Tea Party

Bill and I are going to march on the capitol steps on Wednesday! Our old hippie revolutionary roots are coming through! Whoo Hoo! I hope to take pictures!

Happy Easter!

Just a note to say Happy Easter! This is my favorite holiday of the year! I'm not nearly under as much pressure as at Christmas and can actually dwell on the whole reason we celebrate! And it is not about bunnies and candy. OK, well, maybe the candy a little bit. But, honestly, it is about rejoicing that we have a God who loved us so much He sent us His only son so that by believing that Jesus came and died on the cross for us, we could live eternally with Him! Hallelujah!

Yes, Virginia, there is a...

Spring! It is finally here! Sunshine, the sound of lawnmowers and children playing! Cherry trees in full blossom! Hummingbirds! Did I mention sunshine?

We have had about 3 days of wonderful weather, but tomorrow it will return to cool and cloudy/rainy. Oh, well, at least we got a taste of what we hope will return soon!

Washington State needed this weather SO badly!! ;-)