Assumptions

Never assume anything
while driving around Seattle.



Never assume the blocks are square.
If you take a wrong turn...
don't assume you can just turn
at the next block
and come back around again...
cause you would be wrong.
Where you might end up, though
is on the other side of town
before you can find a way to get back.
This does make for interesting experiences, though.
Yeah, I've pretty much had my fill of interesting experiences!

Never assume that as long as you go somewhere
before 3 you won't have to worry about traffic.
Cause you would be wrong.
I seriously think there are a million people
just wandering around in their cars
trying to make life miserable for everyone else.
...and they do...

Never assume people will smile and thank you
for letting them go first...
even though they broke every law in the book
to get in front of you and you didn't HAVE to let them in.
Not only will they not smile and thank you...
They'll probably cuss you out and tell you you're number 1.
(If you don't know what that means...ask Kevin Johnson...I learned it from him)

Never assume that the bus drivers
drive safely...
or even have a driver's license for that matter.
They go anywhere and everywhere
they want to go...
...cause they're BIGGER.

Case in point:




















Never, and this one's a biggie...
NEVER assume the freeway
is faster.
The only advantage is
you're not turning so you don't
have to use your steering wheel.
Unfortunately, you're also not moving.

And if you're a good Christian girl...
you won't be after spending a few hours
in Seattle traffic!
Just sayin'...

Someone's Child

I went shopping yesterday at Safeway.
As I got in line with my overly priced items...
I noticed this guy in front of me
with major issues to say the least.

He was dirty, had greasy hair,
filthy clothes and was super fidgety.
Absolutely could not stand still for the the life of him.
Obviously wasted on something.

So, I kept my distance
and really didn't want to look at him
any more than necessary.
Certainly didn't want to get too close.

But something inside of me
(probably the Holy Spirit)
made me look at him.
As I looked to see who was behind
all that mess...
He turned and looked directly in my eyes
and smiled uncertainly 
and my heart smote me...
And in that swift moment of time
I could see someone's little boy
who has wandered too far.
And maybe they cry for him every night.
And pray that God will send someone to help him.
And here I stand in my smug certainty
not wanting to get too close.
And God broke my heart...
Cause I'm that person...
I'm the one with the answer.
That's the only reason I'm not standing where he is.

He walked off...
I paid for my stuff
with a lump in my throat
Not even able to talk to the cashier.

When I got outside I looked for him...
to give him a tract...to talk to him
who a moment ago I didn't even want to look at.
Nowhere in sight...my heart fell.
Lord, why did you show me him...
why did you allow all this to happen in my heart
if you weren't gonna give me a chance to tell him?

But then I realized He wanted to break my heart
and not give me an opportunity to make it right...
so that next time, I'd remember
the person who was someone's child.

I don't need to worry about this young man.
God is faithful...even when I'm not.
He will bring someone to him
to give him the answer.

Pastor Andres once said...
"God's boat sails whether
or not I get on. It's up to me
if I want to help sail."

Keep breaking my  heart, Lord...
and let me help sail!

Reality?

We've never had TV stations much since we've been married.

So imagine my surprise when I get to Seattle
and see the myriad of offerings on the boob tube!

What is really perplexing to me is the reality programs.
Almost EVERYTHING is a reality program.

Why would you want to watch other people's lives?

OK, I can see it if it's about a smokejumper...
or a spy...
or a mountain climber...

But watching rednecks wander around
and do whatever it is they do?
Do I seriously have nothing better to do?

Amish Mafia...really?
I didn't even know there was such a thing

 I thought they were a peaceful people...

Did you know there's a show called, "I Didn't Know I was Pregnant!"
OK, outside of the totally uninspired name...
Are there such people?
You don't think the big belly in the front would be a huge giveaway?
Not to mention barfing, excessive weight gain, inconceivable cravings
and abrupt chest expansion.
Surprisingly enough, there ARE women like this.
They go into the bathroom...
And come out with a baby!
I've watched more of these than I care to admit.
Most of the time...with my mouth open in bewilderment!

Prison Wives

(Are they wives in prison...or are their husbands in prison. These are questions that demand answers.)


Teen Moms
Funeral Boss
(Do I want to know what they do to Granny to get her ready for the grave? I think not)
Lizard Lick Towing
(Totally don't even want to know)
Untold Stories of the ER
(OK, now this is kinda good in a freak show kinda way...)
Oh...and now there's one on taxidermy.

Now I will say I haven't watched almost all of these.
The idea of most of them just doesn't appeal to me.

But I think I could make up some of these programs and make a ton of money!

Day Care Mafia
(Don't Laugh...I've seen some of these kids! I might have even had one or two)
I Didn't Know You Were Pregnant
(This would be about that horrible moment when you realize the person you congratulated is NOT pregnant!)
Preachers' Wives
(Follow some of us around for awhile. You'll be hittin' the altar before the program's over)
Old Moms
(My mom had my sister when she was 39 and let me tell you...it's a whole different animal than
when my brothers and I were little!)
Mourner Boss
(This could be good! A person with a crew of people crashes funerals and mourns with the unfortunate. You know, kinda like they did in Bible times)
Untold Stories of the Bathroom
(Use your imagination)
Trash Truck Tales
(I've dumpster dove before...this could be a hit!)

What does this say about us as a people?
We would rather watch someone else's boring life than live our own?
...sad...

Ooohh...gotta go...
a new episode of Untold Stories of the ER is on!

Rebellion

My husband left me today.

Now before you get the rumour mill going...

I'm in Seattle
and he's in Montana...
for the time being.

He was visiting me here in Seattle
for our 30th Anniversary.
Yep...our oldest kid is 29.
That's proof we've been married that long.

We had a great time...
going out to dinner...
going out to lunch...
going to the museum...

But today...
he had to leave.
After all, he's got a sermon to preach tomorrow.
People to minister to...
besides me, that is.
Go figure.

So I'm rebelling today...
Not gonna shower...
got my hair in a ponytail...
wearing a T-shirt with holes in it...
Watching a Matlock Marathon...

Yep...I'm pushing the boundaries today!

Then later when I feel better
I'll get right...

 And Redeem the Time...

 The Ballard Locks

Seattle Museum

  The First Starbucks Sign

 And of course, the waterfront!

Complete In Thee

"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power..."Col. 2:9,10

This is my new favorite song...

Complete In Thee

Complete in Thee, no work of mine,
Could take, oh Lord, the place of Thine.
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,
And I shall stand complete in Thee.

Yea, justified, O blessed thought,
And sanctified, salvation wrought.
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,
And glorified, I too, shall be.

Complete in Thee, each want supplied
And no good thing to me denied.
Since Thou my portion, Lord, wilt be,
I ask no more, complete in Thee.

Complete in Thee, no more shall sin;
Thy grace has conquered; reign within.
Thy blood shall bid the tempter flee,
And I shall stand, complete in Thee.

Dear Saviour, when before Thy bar,
All tribes and tongues assembled are,
Among the chosen I shall be,
At Thy right hand, Complete in Thee.



I ask no more, complete in Thee...

Panic Attack

You know how
in the movies,
when something goes horribly wrong
there's always one person
who panics...
and has to be slapped
to return to their senses?

That's me...

I hate to admit it,
but it's true.

I'm completely calm
and can make rational decisions
...when it has to do with other people.

But...if it has to do with my kids,
or my husband,
or ME...
I totally and completely
lose it!

One time Adam hit his chin on the
edge of my Mom's pool.
After the screaming was done,
(not mine...his)
I looked at his chin...
saw bone...
and an ENORMOUS
amount of blood!
I immediately felt faint
and began to hyperventilate.
I would have started screaming
and running around the room
wringing my hands...
IF my 13 year old sister
hadn't said,
"Calm down...if he sees you freak out,
he will too!"
13 years old...
It's shameful to be reprimanded
by a 13 year old.
Especially if you used to change her diapers
and tell her not to pick her nose.

One time Russell and the boys
were out in the cul-de-sac
playing street hockey.
Russell accidentally (and I use the term loosely)
ran into Alex and knocked him down.
When I looked out the kitchen window,
Alex was on the ground,
flailing his arms and legs,
and gasping for air
looking very much
like he was dying.
I ran out there
with the intention
of ripping his head off
(Russell's, not Alex's)

But Russell is always the voice of reason
and only he can calm me down
and make me look at things rationally.

When my back goes out,
I panic...
I'm sure I'll be a cripple forever.
Life as I know it...is over.

Dr. Hoover has to calm me down...
Remind me that this has happened before...
and we'll get thru it.

This week, in Seattle,
my back went out.
Russell was 7 hours away...
so naturally I began to panic.
After all, I'll probably be a cripple forever.

So, I did the only sensible thing...
I hobbled into the other room
and called Russell.
After I was over my Panic Attack
He was able to coach me thru it.
And I got better...

So, if you see me panic...
Don't slap me...
(I will stop panicking for one second while I slug you)
Call Russell...my Panic Pill.

And Russell...you are not allowed to die before me...
...ever...
just sayin'...

Why Church?

You know how sometimes it seems
that the sorrows of the whole world
rest upon your shoulders
and you can't shake them off?

They begin to discolor
everything you look at...

Pretty soon you're sitting in a hole
that you have dug for yourself
and you can't seem to get out...
cause you dug it too deep!

I've found the best cure for this
is to go to church.

Doesn't matter what I'm going thru...
or how low I am ...
Sometime during the service
the dark cloud that sits over me
begins to break up
and the Son begins to shine thru!

I don't know if it's the preaching...
or the singing of praises to the Lord,
or the fellowship we have with each other
thru Jesus Christ...
I think it's all those things
all wrapped up together!

But it never fails to pick me up,
set me on my feet,
and show me that no matter how bad things get...
I always have someone who will stick with me
thru all the hurts this world and the devil throw at me.

I feel bad for people
who haven't made going to church a habit.
They miss out on that.

I know that we can read our Bible
and receive comfort also...
but there's just something about
hearing God's Word preached
that never fails to comfort
 my comfortless heart.