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On the other hand

by | Sep 16, 2012 | Uncategorized

Isaiah 28:27
And at the harvest, the delicate herbs and spices,
the dill and cumin, are treated delicately.
On the other hand, wheat is threshed and milled, but still not endlessly.
The farmer knows how to treat each kind of grain.
He’s learned it all from God-of-the-Angel-Armies,
who knows everything about when and how and where.
Joining Deidra from jumping tandem and the Sunday community
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This is a working grist mill in Washington State called Cedar Creek.
It is run by water and turbine and throttle pressure.
When they turn the machine on the water is moved up into the mill using old fashioned pulleys.
The water level determines the type of grain that can be milled and threshed.
If it has not rained recently and the water level is too low hard grain such as ‘wheat’ cannot be threshed.
The day we visited we were able to take home a fresh bag of corn meal and also a fresh bag of pancake and waffle mix which are stored in my freezer.

The water runs freely towards the old mill. 
Falls coming down from the top of the grist mill.

“The Sound of Silence- original version – Simon and Garfunkel

by | Sep 16, 2012 | Uncategorized


There is a new theme in the blog land to write a letter to your teenage self.
Wow I thought
that would be really hard for me to do.
My teenage years were not the easiest.
Not typical.
Not normal or even peaceful.
Oh we lived in a clean nicely kept home.
For many reasons I was quiet and very cautious.
For many reasons no one knew the life behind closed doors.
This attempt will be a difficult one.
Be patient with me as I process this young teen who didn’t know herself very well.
The first thing:
The first thing I would say to you is this:
God saw you when you were in your room with the door shut
listening to the quiet music of Simon and Garfunkel.
You related to it. 
You sang every word and stored them deep into your spirit.
You were alone most of the time and when you were not
You allowed others around you sometimes 
although
You rarely let others close to your heart.
You were reserved and cautious and you had every reason to be.
You had every reason to be.

On this day

by | Sep 11, 2012 | Uncategorized

On September 11th.
I remember it was early in the morning as we were either making breakfast or just finishing it.
The TV was on as we were watching either Good morning America or a local Oregon show.
The station changed into a scene so catastrophic it was hard to believe or imagine.
The news stations were not just showing and delivering news.
They were bringing to the face of America a tragedy.
A sorrowful moment.
A day of disbelief and unimaginable terror …we were all silent as we watched.
Words could not even touch the scenes that we were watching.
The first airplane hit… then the second… the news of other planes going down.
Then in total absolute shock the first tower began to tumble down
crumbling like a ill designed tower of metal.
We watched dust and debris floating all over the screen filled with people running.
Then the second tower weakened by its broken foundations fell toppling itself onto the remains of the first.
I could not get away from the images they were showing on the screen.
My grand daughter was two at the time and I tried to watch it without her seeing the horror of the moment.
This was live viewing as our modern technology allows the sounds and
the screams mixed with panic as we watched the
the dust falling
and the trauma unfolded into our own living rooms.
With my stomach in knots all day long churning and turning like a washing machine agitating
like others I was glued to the television set and could hardly remove myself from the family room.
On September 11th we were attacked like no other time in history unless we remember pearl harbor.
On our American soil.
Our land of the free and home of the brave.
Many of those brave souls died.
Those who didn’t die had their spirits changed forever.
Nothing would have told each and every one of them that on that day
as they rose to get ready for work or school,
have a muffin or a cup of coffee.
That it would be their last one. EVER.
That their lives would be changed
in a moment… in an instant.
Can you even imagine?
Saying goodbye to your loved one with plans for the evening or weekend to come
or dropping your child into the daycare not realizing it would be the last hug,
the last kiss or the last little smile you would share with them.
There were children in the buildings just as there were adults.
It was an American tragedy eleven years ago.
My fear is that we have forgotten so much.
My fear is that our ‘American patriotism’ that rose to the surface so many days after the tragic moments
has numbed itself.
I pray we never ever let our guard down to let evil prevail.
We must be strong as a nation.
Our United States of America must always remember
we are stronger than our enemy.
Evil did not win then and it cannot win now.
May God continue to Bless Our America.

Our hearts are not quiet

by | Sep 9, 2012 | Uncategorized

Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise, who shout on parade in the bright presence of GOD. Delighted, they dance all day long; they know who you are, what you do—they can’t keep it quiet! Your vibrant beauty has gotten inside us— you’ve been so good to us! We’re walking on air! All we are and have we owe to GOD, Holy God of Israel, our King!

Psalm 89
Joining Deidra and the Sunday community
photograph by Maxine of Oregon