Weekend

Great time last weekend spent with the Penick family. The folks came over from Spokane, Elyse from B'ham with JP, & we spent Saturday with all the "Washington" Penicks, including Grandma visiting from Ohio! It was fun to play with the three new little cousins. Sunday was the perfect relaxing day: got up, ate waffles, spent some time browsing Half-Price Books & then headed to Snoqualmie Falls before Mom & Dad left to head back to Spokane. We knew the falls would be full from the recent rains, but I have never seen it with that much water pouring over the edge. The weather was clear & dry, but anywhere near the falls it was steadily raining from all the spray!

Spring Sunday

What a beautiful day!
I don't attend church regularly, but whenever I do go to Keystone Congregational I am always happy that I did. Besides the pleasure of sitting next to my mother & hearing her sing, I am always moved by the warmth of this place & by this little church's dedication to embodying God's love by seeking peace & justice for all peoples. Pastor Rich is one of my heros & each time I attend his service, I am amazed at how he helps me to define my faith & reach out to others.
This morning was communion Sunday & my heart was filled with such peace that at this church, this table, this feast prepared by Christ,
is open & freely given to all--just like His love.
I grew up in this church & its constant dedication to serving those that Christ would serve--the homeless, the hungry, the downtrodden, the outcast, the troubled, the sick, the refugee--has helped shape the person I have become & the efforts that I choose to dedicate myself to.
This church is, & always will be, a home to me.
It looked so lovely this morning, with the light shining in, that mom & I took a few photos.

After a sunny drive home, enjoying all the trees in bloom, I took the kitties out for their first spring romp in the backyard. They are mainly indoor, but on nice days I'll take them out to enjoy a little exploring & grass eating on their leash line. They were very pleased to be out today & are both sacked out next to me, probably dreaming of birdsong & chasing bugs.

Happy Spring Sunday to each of you--
I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
I'll leave you with one of Grandpa Penick's Prayers for the People--
Levi's grandfather was a Methodist minister for some 50 years &
he often wrote his own prayers.

O God, who touches earth with beauty,
We rejoice in the splendor of Spring,
And delight in the communion of color,
And joy in the sounds and smells
of bird and flower.
Our souls are restored in the quiet
and loveliness of Your earth.
Amen.

St. Patrick Papineau Wedding

St. Patty's Day was spent attending the wedding of our good friend, Steve Papineau to his beautiful bride, Susan. It turned out to be a Bellingham reunion, which was great fun for all of us. Many of the boys pictured below all lived with or near one another through much of college--it was wonderful to have all the boys together again, with "their girls" that were around in the B'ham days (like myself) or the addition of new gals.
Congratulations to Steve & Susan!

Introducing...

Keely Audrey Lanman
March 8th, 6:03pm
8 lbs 7 oz, 20 inches long
For more photos visit the Lanman blog.

Thinking of an old friend

Spring is on its way & the Forsythia bushes are in full array.
Their bright yellow blooms are always out in time for my birthday, but have always long since faded by May. My birthday is March 10th & my friend's is May 10th.
My friend Cynthia Camille.
After I met her, I began calling the plant "For Cynthia" & each spring at my birthday I would clip a branch & press it in a book so that she could have the yellow blooms on her birthday.
The Forsythia bush will always remind me of Cynthia.
She probably often seemed shy & quiet to many people, but to me she was silliness & laughter. We used to race around & climb trees, create games & stories, dress like twins & make up code names for our friends & the boys we liked.
Some of you who read this blog will remember her.
Please send a little thought or prayer her way--
the last I heard, she was not in a good place.
As I see the bright yellow blooms, I think of her & miss her.

May the sun shine warmly upon her,
& may her smile still be as bright as the "For Cynthia" tree.

Birthday weekend

Mt. Baker weekend

Good friends, fun dogs, a happy baby,
a snow covered mountain,
a hot tub, good beer.
Life doesn't get much sweeter.

Now, if they'd only send me their photos. :)

Snow & New Glasses

The sight that greeted us outside our bedroom window this morning.

About four inches of beautiful, silencing snow!

Sun rising through the snow laden trees.

I love this contrast of the spring tree buds just beginning to emerge, covered in snow.

And because no one's seen me in glasses (including myself) for over five years!

I am happily typing this post with the help of my new glasses.

Everyone will just have to put up with more snow photos next week also, as we are spending the weekend up at Mt. Baker with some friends.
Happy weekend to all!