Emmanuel, the Gift of Christmas

The staggering message of the Christmas story is the arrival of God in the World— Emmanuel, "God with us." Majesty gracing the mundane. Omniscience enlightening the clueless. Omnipotence empowering the helpless. Love transforming the hateful.

This week we looked at the story of Zaccheus. It makes a great children's story, because every kid loves to climb trees. And the song is a lot of fun. It is easy to miss the heart message: the impact of the person of Jesus on a man whose life was mostly concerned with money, and not in a good way. Tax collectors were no more popular then than now. The words that come out of Zaccheus' mouth are unexpected. Those of his ilk were not known for being honest or repentant. But, Zaccheus is both. Jesus had that effect on people. Emmanuel impacting the hearts of men.

I was reminded of a recent experience. I took a friend to be checked out by her caregiver at the same clinic I visit. I also know many of the allied medical personnel there. As we were waiting for her to have a diagnostic test, a technician known for being very surly and difficult to get along with walked by. When I mentioned this to my friend, she said, "He has always treated me well." As more than luck would have it, he turned out to be the one who tested her. When he came out afterward to confer with her, his demeanor astonished me: soft spoken, kind, tender, concerned. I knew the dynamic was the result of this woman's loving spirit. She has that effect on everyone. I think Jesus would approve.

Being Jesus to the world. It is the year-round mission to which we have been called.

More Than We Can Imagine

I am always humbled by the passage in Matthew 10 that speaks of God's knowledge and protection:
“So do not be afraid of them... 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny^d? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Regardless of the context (I do not fear for my life), it is hard to comprehend that God knows not only when a relatively invaluable sparrow falls, but how many hairs are in my head. Harder still, that he loves me enough to care.

The next time you walk the beach, notice the feathers that litter the sand. None fell outside of God's will or without His knowledge. Yet, He cares even more about the "feathers" that fall in my life and yours.

It should not surprise me that the God who created the universe is so actively involved in sustaining it, but it does. I remain astonished at the value he places on my life. Every experience, every moment of my life is seen in the context of the eternal purpose He has for me... and He cares about each one. That is priceless.

With a Grateful Heart

I recently read tips on surviving months-long unemployment. Along with resume and job-hunting tips were health tips like exercising and eating healthy foods. I would like to add to that recipe the art of developing a grateful heart.

More than ever before, I focus on finding joy in each day. I'm thankful for the small things, some I have taken for granted most of my life. Like waking up and feeling well. And greeting the morning with a rich cup of coffee, often on the patio watching the day brighten. Watching the birds as they discover the fountain... and the dogs as they discover the birds. I am especially drawn to an awareness of the blessing of family and friends. So if I tell you I thank God for you every day, know that I am telling you the truth.

Sound trite? It can be-- and often is in our hurry-scurry, deadline meeting lives. Now, as I have time, I'm taking time to notice. And to be grateful. Not only grateful, but prayerfully so. God surrounds me every day with reminders of his loving kindness, and each day as I thank Him for those things, I remain confident that this time has value... and my future is well secure in His hands.

If It Walks Like A Duck...

Today I was scheduled for both morning and afternoon meetings at the Tower Mall offices. So, I decided to visit Ballew's for lunch. I can't remember the last time I was there, but I always enjoyed the little restaurant at 612 N Devine Rd.

I arrived promptly at 10:59 AM so I could meet my second deadline only to find that they "weren't quite open yet." I was anxious to wash my hands after using a public computer key board, and they were willing to let me use the restroom and take a seat to wait out resolution of last-minute preparation glitches.

Imagine my surprise when a lady came up to my booth with a camera, introduced herself as the restaurant's webmaster, and asked if she could take my picture to post as their "first customer." I had not noticed the banner outside announcing the grand opening of Duck Tales Kitchen by Steven & Jane Waddle, offering "Food, Drinks, and Catering." After a big smile and the click of a shutter, she made sure she got my name, spelled correctly.

While I was there, several folks from the neighborhood stopped by to chat and inquire if happy hour was still going to be an all-day Monday affair. It is. And I was glad for the warm reception the restaurant seemed to be getting. It is a gutsy thing to start a new business in this economy, but these are no amateurs when it comes to offering good food and a yummy atmosphere.

You may remember the Waddle name. This couple is related to Waddle's at Jantzen beach, which closed a few years ago to be replaced by Hooters. And, no, I've never been to the latter. But I would recommend that you try out the Waddle's new, smaller, culinary venture with a name that is equally ducky. I had the spinach shrimp salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing, and it was wonderful. The salad was well presented, the shrimp was grilled to perfection, and the dressing was a perfect blend of tangy and sweet. Jane stopped by to ask how my meal was, and I was pleased to tell her it was very good!

You can check out them out at http://www.ducktaleskitchen.com/. (You'll find a picture of me and my salad.) Or, better yet, drop by for lunch.

The Joys of Home Ownership

This week has been a page out of that mythical tome, "The Joys of Home Ownership." I decided to take on some yard projects this summer that I've been putting off for a long time.

First and foremost was replacing the patio slab that a tree root had jacked up to the point it was ready to lift the siding off the house, too. The contractor tore out the old one and poured the new one. Except for the clean-up and tearing up the yard, that was the easy part. But, I had them leave a space (theoretically 8X5') to put pavers in around the troublesome root so when it expanded enough to lift the surface again, it could be easily leveled out. The space didn't get measured correctly, so no pavers would easily fit. Not wanting to cut cement or stone, I looked for an alternative. A resin fountain at Costco had great appeal, but it didn't entirely fill the space. I finally decided to pour my own "pavers" and have been collecting materials all week. Today I finished setting the forms, and should be able to tackle the ugly part--mixing and pouring cement-- tomorrow. My friend says the driveway, which is filled with piles of rocks, sand and gravel, and cement mix looks like 40 years of hard labor splitting rocks; I hope the project doesn't take that long, but my experience leads me to wonder if it might.

The patio project required removing the six-year-old "temporary" fence so many times that it could no longer be "reinstalled." So, I bit the bullet and bought the materials to install the ideal fence I originally envisioned for that space. I have spent the last few weeks putting in posts, finding and assembling a trellace, and making picket sections fit the space and my dogs. I even figured out how to install a fence post that can be removed so trucks can still access the yard.

I also made an impulsive trip to the nursery to buy some perennials I discovered online that are rumored to tolerate shade. The last time I became this inspired was when Shelby and Sister Sue were little pups. I learned after the fact that I had "taught" them to dig plants, which they did well. All winter. At Christmas time they drug an azalea into the family room, forcing it through the doggie door. The bedraggled bush became our "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree. But, I digress. Having invested the money, I'm still trying to choose the best placement for the "shade-loving" plants I am betting on.

But, my experience is that no good, thought-out expenditure goes unpunished, let alone impulsive ones. Yesterday I discovered swarming carpenter ants all over and around the patio doors. Scores of them. After spraying enough febreeze scent to disable their wings and my eyes, I collected the lot with a paper towel and forgot all about it. Really. That is, until I came inside around noon today to discover hundreds of the creatures crawling on the utility room floor. I reflexively grabbed my can of febreeze. Then I turned around to discover yesterday's nightmare repeated at the patio door. All told, it took enough febreeze to disable my lungs, as well. When I called for possible treatment options, I heard the cash register "ca-ching" at $325. Oh, well, it's only money, right?

Oh, and did I mention that I've been fighting a colony of rodent settlers in my house for weeks now? I've caught 3 of them, the dogs have caught one, but evidently we're still being far too hospitable. I discovered rat droppings in the utility room cupboards and shelves for the first time this morning. And, the dogs are still on "critter alert." But, I'm wondering if some of the suspicious noise we've been hearing is the munching of wood...

A week from now, I hope to be sitting on the patio, listening to the water feature, and enjoying the new fence and plantings of the revived landscape. But, tonight, every muscle of my body aches, I'm tired and hot from working outside in 90+-degree weather, at the crack of dawn I'm tackling a complicated project I've never done before, and I'm sharing my house with both winged and filthy creatures.

You may think I plagiarized this from page 634 of "The Joys of Home Ownership." Maybe. Or, perhaps I wrote the book!

Happy Birthday to US

On this Independence Day, I am particularly aware of our founding as a nation and the liberties I have taken for granted most of my life. I probably should say all of my life, but those times when my oldest brother served overseas in the Korean and Vietnam Wars brought the cost of freedom to our doorstep.

I see our liberty being taken from us day by day in the wake of the Obama administration's agenda, with few Americans challenging government intrusion in the private sector, the imposition of debt that will restrict opportunity for coming generations, or the laws that assail not only our standard of living, but the exercise of individual freedom. Every day I am stunned at the next step and the next and the next that are being taken to fundamentally change our way of life... with an unquenchable thirst for more governmental power by those whose vision for the future should be better grounded in our nation's founding. I no longer take our freedoms for granted as I am persuaded daily that those occupying seats of power in our nation's capitol do not share my love of such liberty.

Happy Birthday, USA, and I pray that this nation, under God, will continue to prosper as our founding fathers intended.

To renew your appreciation of our birth as a nation, watch this Francis Scott Key video (disclaimer: no contemporary political endorsements intended).

Serendipity

Yesterday I stripped my bed and washed all of the bedding. It wasn't on my list of things to do or even high on my list of things that were due soon. My plate was already full, my energy level low after a poor night's sleep. But, for the first (and hopefully last) time in her life, Sasha wet the bed. So, the unlikely became the immediate. I carved out time to head to the laundromat... not only to wash the comforter in a large capacity washer, but to dry sheets, et al, since the dryer vent needs to be replaced before I can run my dryer.

This incident also necessitated a bath for Sasha, so I bathed the other two while I was at it. And, since bathing Sis Sue is much like bathing a cat, I had to jump in the shower afterward.

But, last night I crawled into a wonderfully fresh bed surrounded by sweet-smelling critters. And slept like a log. A good and totally unanticipated ending to my day.

I wonder how often God insinuates "inconvenient" events into our lives just because He wants to give us that good ending.

Awesome

My brother believes that awesome is a word whose powerful meaning should be reserved to describe God. In his mind, only God measures up to that descriptor. Ever since he shared that idea with me, I have been reluctant to endorse the contemporary use of the word. It seems trite somehow.

I just viewed a video that I'd like to share with you. It is from a website called Crazy Love.* Once you're there, click on videos from the left menu and choose The Awe Factor of God.

Our God is an awesome God.

*Shared via AddThis.

The End of a Remarkable Journey

What a week it has been. Beautiful Harbour Island, meeting new family, launching a couple into a new life together, playing with an engaging 7.5 month old. Hard to see it end.




The island seemed as sad to see us go as we were reluctant to let go of a wonderful week in "paradise." I've never seen what could be described as torrential rains before, but we experienced them along with crashing thunder and a lightening strike to our house, which is located on the rise above the beach. It poured. And poured. Enough to spout from the gutters.

I was glad that Reggie was coming in his taxi to take us to the dock instead of relying on a caravan of golf carts. I didn't want to start out this journey soaked to the skin.

We had an amazingly smooth ride across the bay to Eleuthera on the water taxi. I was also thankful for the full canopy, which kept us relatively dry. After we were loaded in the taxi at Eleuthera, our driver got in a spirited argument over who was there first and deserved to take us to the airport... a six-passenger fare is nothing to take lightly.

We arrived at the airport to find everyone who had planned to leave earlier in the day waiting for the airport to reopen and resume service. We almost had our first wedding party reunion. I was glad Ryan and Anna had left the day before and weren't caught with us. Anna's grandmother, who bought the family house on Harbour Island, told me she had spent the entire day there before without ever getting off the ground.

As is common during these storms, the lights flickered more than once, and a generator could be heard coming to life before they came on again.

Ours was the second plane out, delayed more than a couple of hours by the bad weather. It was good to be airborne, but I read the safety instructions twice since I was the only one sitting at the exit window over the wing of the plane.

The aquamarine that you see in this photo is the ocean, and the darker images are on the sea floor (clouds are white).

Sleeping is the best choice on this flight, and Grandma Weber and Carson were the only ones who crashed.










We arrived in Ft. Lauderdale just minutes before our connecting flight to Houston was scheduled to leave, but it was also delayed. Terry was just thankful to have landed and be heading toward customs. We were all glad it wasn't raining out on the tarmac. The Weber clan barely made that Houston connection, the last flight out. We flew south around some storms in the Gulf, but had time to eat together in Houston before splitting up for our Seattle and Portland flights.

I actually got into PDX half an hour early. We left Houston about 15 minutes early and evidently made up more time in flight. I was surprised since we taxied so long on the ground, I thought we were driving part of the way.

It was a long day. Over 21 hours after I got up in the Bahamas, I was home in Vancouver. Amazing that it can even be done in a day.

All in all, it is very good to be home.

You can see more pictures of the trip here.

Wedding Celebration

The event we have anticipated for months went off with very few hitches. My nephew Ryan married his soul-mate Anna in the Bahamas on the 22nd of this month, with eight adults and one infant from his family in attendance.

The weather on Harbour Island was "iffy" all week - to say the least, and the decision to hold the ceremony on the beach was made at the last possible moment. The photos I took can be viewed here. The reception was marred only by the sunburn inadvertantly acquired by various guests earlier in the day. Most notably, the best man's toast speech was cut short because of his discomfort, but was still remarkable.

In the days preceding the wedding, we spent time getting to know Anna's family at Farcliff and being immersed in family traditions: Dinner Tuesday night, sitting at a table with Anna and Ryan, her parents, sister and brother-in-law. A native dinner in the courtyard the next night, after which Anna's father led a hootenanny from two large volumes of songs collected over the years.

The next afternoon's event was a rousing beach volleyball game on the beach below Farcliff. I was given the honor of holding the game ball by Anna's father, Scott, for having scored 14 consecutive points on serve. We're wearing our "official" Anna and Ryan wedding T's and windblown hair-dos.

That evening, the rehearsal dinner was hosted at Landfall, an estate further down the beach rented by a contingent of Anna's family. Cheeseburgers and Conch salad!

Don't ask me to recall everyone's name, but I met a lot of really, really nice folks. This family will compete with the English Clan on almost every level.












We saw the newlyweds off at the government dock the day after the wedding. We know where the honeymoon is, but we're not telling... not that you're likely to be in the Turks and Caicos this week. In case you don't recognize this vessel, it is a water taxi, otherwise indistinguishable from the water craft that populate the Columbia River on any given day.

Paradise Found

We finally arrived in the Bahamas after a two-hour flight delay. For the second time this trip, our plane was decommissioned because of maintenance problems, and we had to wait for another. The plane was a small Gulfstream, with one seat on each side of the aisle. Lynn and I had a front row seat for watching the pilot in the cockpit.

From Eleuthera, we took a water taxi. I'm not sure what comes to your mind, but this wasn't what I had envisioned. Here's me next to a bag of onions in the back of a very ordinary runabout.




















We seem to have brought good weather with us. After settling in at "Sitting Pretty," where we posed for a family picture on the deck, we had a great time "meeting the parents" for dinner at "Farcliff," a house the Lowes have owned for 26 years.

Roosters roam freely over the island, and a very persistent one served as my alarm clock this morning... much earlier than my body was ready to be up and about. But, I'm told "island time" is very relaxed, so I'm sure there will be time for a nap later today.

Traveling Across Country

The day began with the alarm going off at 3 AM for the trip across the country... from the NW to the tip of Florida. It ended over 14 hours later. Along the way, I had a smooth trip into Houston, where I had time to walk for 40 minutes after eating lunch at Bubba's. (Where else would you eat in Texas?) The airport has a space exhibit in honor of NASA's 5oth anniversary; along with amazing space pictures, my favorite was a full-size model of the Mars rover.

I then met up with the rest of my family and fed Carson strained carrots while everyone else had lunch. Carson's penchant for sucking on two fingers of his left hand, even while eating, gave new meaning to carrots as finger food.

We boarded the jet for the next leg of our journey and were promptly "deplaned" because of some maintenance problem. Less than an hour later, we were underway again. But we were in a holding pattern for quite awhile before we were allowed to land in Ft. Lauderdale.

We felt right at home because it was pouring down rain. Did I mention that it was sunny and 80 degrees in the NW today? Soaked to the skin on the first day of this adventure. I wonder what tomorrow will bring...

Kristi Needs

Thanks, Patty, for a fun exercise this morning. Googling "Kristi needs" garnered some amazingly accurate results. It seems that Kristi needs:

1. A schedule. Kristi needs to know exactly what time she is to be doing something and exactly how to do it. Not really. I'm quite resourceful.
2. A new hair color. What, you don't like the silver highlights?
3. To go to Home Depot and buy a filter for the exhaust fan over her stove. Honestly, I just put in a new fan! Is it dirty already?
4. HELP. Don't we all.
5. Bread. Always, because I have to bake my own. Then, again, there's the beatnik $$$.
   
6. A boyfriend. Most of my life.
7. To be patient. Refer back to number 6!
8. Some sleep. Hmmmmmmmm.
   
9. Our support and prayers. Now more than ever.
10. Numbers. Mostly more numbers in my bank account. See number 9.
    

Happy Anniversary

It has been a year since the day I was called into the CEO's office and laid off "because we don't need you." A year of searching for another full-time position. A year of unprecedented illness and healing. A year of examination and growing. A year of expectation. A year to be thankful that God is mindful of me.

Look Who's On Facebook

It had to happen sooner or later. It appears that God is now on " facebook. " At least there is a profile page with his name on it, where facebook users can sign on as fans and leave messages or have discussions with each other that God will no doubt monitor.

It is a sign of our techno times that God has been given a URL. Historically, we have appeared to house God in church buildings, cathedrals, and synagogues. But, they, too, were just meeting places to which people were called to acknowledge God in the company of like-minded souls. God "tabernacled" with his people throughout history in various ways, but his Son's coming was not timed to utilize the technological innovations of the info age.

The God of the universe, whose presence fills and sustains all creation, has specified only one dwelling place of choice in all of the earth... it is the heart of the believer who invites His indwelling by acknowledging God's gift of his Son and all that that implies. There is no i Pod application for that.

Much of the world will spend this weekend rejoicing in the empty tomb. I hope you are one whose heart is filled with the presence of God and the promise of eternal redemption.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:6-11

A Day At A Time

What would you do if someone told you the next 10 months would be yours to pretty much do with as you pleased? An extended vacation of sorts. A mini-retirement. Ideas would come crowding into your mind if you're anything like me. The possibilities would seem endless. And exciting.

But, if that time came dribbling a day at a time, with the next day or two that of expectant change, what would you do with just that day or two?

Perspective changes everything.

Looking back, I could've written my memoirs, researched and written a book of substance, remodeled the front room or Mom's place, redesigned the yard. Any number of things. Who knew that the days would stretch into months?

Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

....................................Ps 90:12

Winter Blues

My head hurts. My face hurts. My eyes hurt. My ears ache. My throat is sore. My chest hurts. With each breath, a whistle wheeze echos in the ear that I lay against the pillow. Severe abdominal cramps send me tottering unsteadily to the bathroom with agonizing frequency. Every muscle in my body seems to ache.

I'm wearing sweats, a down vest, a fleece zip hoodie, and two pairs of socks. I lay on the couch under 2 throws, freezing, while my temperature creeps above 101 degrees. The dogs love it when I am sick. I am "momma" bed, and they each find a place to snuggle on me. Tonight I am too hot for them, and they find other places to be.

I am in and out of awareness with vivid, feverish dreams. One in which someone is tapping on the window from outside trying to rouse me while the dogs protest the intrusion. I don't acknowledge them. Long after bedtime, I rouse enough to secure the house and go to bed.

I missed my flu shot this year for the first time in decades. I hope it isn't too long before my body assembles the templates for antibodies to fight this bug. Maybe they will come in handy next year.

Tagged for 5 Things

Betty tagged me to produce my lists, so here goes:

5 Things I Was Doing 10 Years Ago (As near as I can remember)
1. Breathing in.
2. Breathing out.
3. Eating.
4. Um... well, you know...
5. Reading.

5 Things I Want to do in 2009 (Better idea)
1. Find the perfect job... er, a good full-time job.
2. Spend more time with family and friends.
3. Advance the NW chapter of AMWA as president.
4. Keep on decluttering life and home.
5. Finish remodel projects.

5 Things On My To-Do List Today
1. Finish the brochure for the AMWA-NW's Symposium.
2. Go to the grocery store... finally.
3. Do on-line job search.
4. Make appointments for me and dog-children.
5. Sweep debris off the patio.

5 Snacks I Like
1. Popcorn.
2. Tootsie Roll Pops.
3. Cheese, summer sausage, rice crackers, and grapes.
4. Jelly Bellys.
5. Corn chips and salsa.

5 Things I Would Do If I Were A Millionaire
1. Retire!
2. Retire all my debts.
3. Buy a beach house.
4. Buy a house with a garden patch.
5. Set up a trust for things I would like to support.

5 Places I Have Lived (For Various Lengths Of Time)
1. Guymon, Oklahoma (6 years)
2. Corvallis, Oregon (6 and 3 years)
3. Weiser, Idaho (1 summer)
4. Los Angeles, California (8 months)
5. Vancouver, Washington (31 years)

5 Jobs I Have Had
1. Technical Writer.
2. Laboratory Director.
3. Financial Services Regional Manager.
4. College Biology Instructor.
5. Addressograph techi for Montgomery Ward credit office.

5 People I Tag (to post a "5 Things . . . " list on their blog)
Put your name right here: ___________.

Catching Up on Christmas

It's hard to believe that I haven't posted on this blog for almost a month. I joined Facebook in the middle of winter hunkering, so my internet interests are stretching time resources.

Christmas did indeed turn out to be a white dream; my front-yard Douglas Fir looked like a giant flocked Christmas tree. The week set weather records for our area. I enjoyed the beauty of the snow, if not the enforced isolation. I got out Christmas eve to join my family in Seattle. The drive was like a blast from the past with the lightest freeway traffic I've experienced in decades. My stay was extended by a day because the melting snow made climbing the hill out of my brother's neighborhood an impossibility, although it was fun watching many locals try. The extra 5 inches of snow we got over Christmas day didn't help.

Family is one of the highlights of Christmas. This year the brightest spot was spending time with the newest addition to the family. I babysat Carson the day after Christmas while mom went bargain shopping. I got the best deal of the day. See if you don't agree. It was an all-consuming job, what with being required to hold him nonstop; but, hey, someone had to do it.

It is fun to examine babies and look for family characteristics. Carson is a good mix of mom and dad's DNA. Overall he reminds me of his mom when she was an infant, but his mouth resembles his dad's. His expressions reflect both parents. But, Carson holds his hands like us... his mom and me, and his great great great grandmother Lib!

If you have trouble understanding why a holiday can be structured around the birth of a baby, you've never had a new little one to play with in December. Carson will have a great future if how much he is loved is any predictor. But, the significance of a baby Jesus is how much God loves us, and that gives all of us a forever future.