Seattle Trip

My trip to Seattle finally came to fruition as I flew in yesterday afternoon. (Unfortunately, a tornado hit the Minneapolis area shortly after I left causing damage.) The clouds greeted me warmly. I got rather nostalgic as I drove into the city. The rental car company had me take the wrong car out of the parking lot and I was stopped as I left to exit. Fortunately, they allowed me to drive away with the newer Nissan Sentra instead of the subcompact I had rented — and for the same price.

I started visiting a couple who have been near and dear to me for awhile. He’s the quiet type and recently had an accident with his foot for which he does not want to get medical attention. So I’m pressing for the doctor visit to happen as the foot does not look good. The accident happened over 2 weeks ago and the foot is still quite swollen and does not look like it’s healed quickly enough.

My evening destination led me to another couple. I can’t say enough about them — I probably shouldn’t because they may read my blog too.  haha  They have opened the doors to their home for my family time and time again. I had fresh salmon for dinner which I haven’t had since I left Seattle. Then we stayed up talking and talking. It was great to see them again and I’ll see them later this week. I slept soundly in the bed that was made for me — just like I did the last time I was there.

This morning, two more couple friends. I feel so blessed that I know such wonderful people. How did so many wonderful people cross my path? Breakfast at Portage Bay – lively conversation and a tad bit of sadness as I left them, although I hope to see them again later this week.

Now I’m waiting for my son to arrive so we can have lunch. I haven’t seen him since November so I’m really looking forward to this visit. We were supposed to do some shopping together but I don’t know if he’ll have time as he needs to head to work sometime. But again — a “later this week visit” will occur.

Seattle seems so much more vibrant with colors than Minnesota. I think Minnesota had a late start for spring this year.

While driving around, I can say don’t miss the crowded city streets. One lane driving with cars parked on both sides – makes me nervous. And having to pay for parking everywhere you go …

I did drive by our old house here. It looks so dreary. The blinds are drawn in every room. I didn’t think they had a day sleeper but maybe someone’s sick. Driving through the back, it doesn’t seem anything has been done, i.e. no lawn mowed, no deck furniture yet. The neighbor finally put a fence up in the back. I remember asking him if he’d go in half with us on the side fence and he didn’t respond. Oh well …

The rest of the week will be busy and I may have limited internet access except on my phone. One more visit to an elderly friend and then I’m off to another couple’s house which is my home for the week, although I won’t be there much except for sleeping.

Coming back brings many memories and unfortunately there are many people who don’t know I’m in town and who won’t get a visit because time just won’t allow for it. Perhaps next time …

 

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Lake Elmo Neighborhood Pictures

I went to sleep last night with the frogs croaking either in the nearby pond or in the lake. It’s a soothing croak.

This morning I look out the window to see a hawk soaring in the sky. Beautiful. I’m pretty sure there are a pair of them. I saw one as it was perched on a tree but it was too far away for me to take a picture.

Then it happened. After all the rain we’ve been having I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Baby mosquitoes perched on my window screens. Small enough to get through. My sliding door slams shut! I have yet to get screen mosquito repellant. Later in the day, we opened the front door to go outside for a little while – there it is. My first indoor mosquito. I quickly get the newspaper and swat! it’s dead.

Today the welcoming committee for our neighborhood rang our doorbell. We were handed a folder with information on the neighborhood and are invited to attend the house socials that they have monthly. But where’s the pie? Just kidding. We feel blessed to belong to a neighborhood that has a welcoming committee. At first though I thought it was the Jehovah Witnesses who had found us.

My husband and I decided to go for our first neighborhood walk. It’s nice outside although a little humid. As we start walking on the road, we notice that our house can barely be seen now because of the trees that have blossomed.

Lake Elmo House

Walking down the road, we feel like we are out in the country. It’s so quiet that we can hear the birds chirping and the wind rustling in the air.

As we pass each house tucked away in the trees, we see unique mailboxes.

Our neighbors, and the previous owner of our house, have planted lots of hostas. I was told by one person that the local deer like hostas but I think they must not like this kind — or the person was wrong.

Hostas

One property had lots of ground cover –  yellow flowers whose name I don’t know.

Ground Cover

Lots of trees. I feel like I’m out in the woods camping.

 

 

The back of our house can barely be seen from the road.

As we end our walk, two hawks soar overhead. Welcome home!

 

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Sunset in Lake Elmo

Today was a rather unusual day. I have not gotten used to the humidity yet so I am running around in a down jacket while everyone else is wearing t-shirts, shorts and sandals. Hmmm … it is rather warm with this jacket on — yet, the temperature gauge tells me that it should feel a tad chilly. Off with the jacket!

Late afternoon we had a small shower. Big drops of rain fell on the car making splotchy noises. At first one would think that a bird had passed by and … no, it’s definitely splotches of rain.

The local weatherman predicts rain tonight with both rain and thunderstorms tomorrow. Well, the rain did come tonight – then a pretty clearing. The eastern night sky was illuminated by the sun going down in the west.

Eastern Sky at Night in Lake Elmo

After the rainfall, it was pretty to see the wee bit of blue in the sky. The trees on our property have filled in very nicely and we have a forest as our backyard now. So nice. It’s like living on a campground.

 

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The Wedding

Puerto Rico Sunset

This week I read this Scripture:

“I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”  Isaiah 61:10

It made me think of my wedding day.

I took the day off from work to go with my husband to the justice of the peace in our local town. I can’t remember if I took a vacation day or if I just called in sick. (Some would say that getting married makes you sick in the head …)

I have always been a simple person. I wore a green dress and no jewels with the exception of the gold wedding band that my husband and I exchanged. No family or friends gathered around us to witness the event. Just me and my husband. That’s really all that’s needed.

I think of the weddings that occur these days where people spends thousands of dollars on gowns, brides maid dresses, flowers, food, music, photos, etc. And a lot of those weddings end up in divorce.

I delight greatly in my Lord … God has often called us His bride as He lavishes His love upon us day after day. Sometimes, like in all marriages, we miss the moments of kindness, of gentleness, of honesty. And just like in our marriages we always have to be cognizant of what is happening so in our marriage to God.

My soul rejoices in my God …

What a pattern God gives us in our relationship with Him — doing the same in our relationship to our spouses.

Do I rejoice when my husband walks through the door? Do I delight greatly when I see him? Do I feel peace and security when I’m in his presence?

He has clothed me with garments of salvation …

Indeed – in the arms of love both husband and God have clothed me.

 

 

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Seattle Bound

I’ve been thinking about Seattle and my trip there soon. All the friends I’ll see and won’t see. My time there will not be long enough to visit absolutely everyone I know. Sometimes though, small “bits” of people make the time more valued.

I believe it’s because we don’t take the time for granted. And, this could be the last time we see the person. But isn’t that the way it is anyway? One minute a person’s alive and the next they are dead because of health or accidents.

Small “bits” of people – sometimes that’s really all we know about them anyway as people are too tightly guarded with themselves. Not all – just some. And it makes it hard to get to know them on the inside.

Fortunately, I have friends who are open and honest. Oh – but not too honest. (laughing)

I miss my friends in Seattle. It’s only distance though as sometimes we didn’t see each other very often. But the distance seems to make a difference because we can’t just run over and talk, sympathize, empathize or have a “spot of tea.”

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Gorman’s Restaurant in Lake Elmo

Since moving to Lake Elmo, we haven’t found many restaurants locally although the surrounding area makes up for it. We did go to Gorman’s for dinner once.

The restaurant has been around since 1985.

I had the barbecue chicken breast sandwich and my husband had the mushroom and cheese omelette. It was okay. Nothing extraordinary but simple. We also had a milkshake which was really thick and good.

The service was good and although the food was “okay” we’d probably go back.

 

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Unpacking and Re-packing

I’m still unpacking boxes and clothes that arrived from Seattle about 2 weeks ago. Since they had been in storage for 5 1/2 months, I’ve had to wash everything which has made unpacking take much longer than it should. Still – it’s the right thing to do unless I want to smell musty the rest of my life.

The ironic thing is that now I am packing clothes for my trip back to Seattle. I’m finding that I need new clogs as the ones I’ve been galavanting around in hurt my feet since the sole has worn pretty thin. Then, there’s trying to find simple clothes to take back with me. Rather than go through every box looking for unstained t-shirts, I will happily shop today for a couple of new tops.

Having said that — I dislike shopping. A friend in Seattle once went shopping with me and it was wonderful. She would find clothes for me and bring them to the dressing room. Wrong size? She’d find the right one. Wrong color? She’d run out again and bring me a different color. It was simple. But it’s unrealistic for me to expect it’ll happen today since she lives in Seattle and I’m not shopping at Nordstrom’s.

I used to wear Birkenstock sandals all the time in Seattle. Not sure if I can find them locally here in Minnesota.

Can a 50+ year old still wear Birkenstocks without looking hippyish? Awww .. why not? Who cares what other people think? The question should be “Am I comfortable?”

Okay — time to psych myself out to shop.

[amazon_link id=”B000G6TMEI” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Birkenstock Sandal[/amazon_link]

 

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Painting

The three second floor bedrooms are now painted (with the exception of one master bedroom wall that we have the vertical blinds on). Next – the closets. But those will have to wait until I come back from Seattle.

Seattle Waterfront

The rest of the week will be spent unpacking more boxes and getting ready for my trip. I hear Seattle is having a lot of rain – but today sunshine spilled out. It will be so good to see my friends and the Emerald City again.

 

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Jonah

I was listening to a sermon on Jonah – the man who is known for being “eaten” by a big fish. I wonder what it would be like to have known him. Here’s a guy who was asked by God to go to a city named Nineveh and let them know that they were wicked and that they needed to change their ways. Not a very friendly message to deliver.

I squirm sometimes when I hear of friends/relatives who do things wrong and I’m told “someone needs to talk to them.” Normally that means me and it isn’t God whose telling me to do the talking.

Jonah initially decided not to listen to God and went the opposite direction. It was a tall order that God was requesting. I mean, if God told me to go to St Paul or Minneapolis and let the city know that they were wicked I’d want to “reason” with God. ”

  • Uh, are you sure you want me to do it?
  • What about the preacher of that church over there?
  • I really think it will be a waste of time God.
  • I don’t think they would listen to me – I’m just a woman.
  • Don’t you want someone prettier?
  • Don’t you want someone smarter?

We’re not told that Jonah tried to “reason” with God – only that he “ran away from God.” Well, I guess if that works …

But Jonah was not gone for long. He was given an assignment and even if he felt unqualified to do it, God asked him to do it.

God even gave Jonah a second chance to witness for Him. On the ship that Jonah got on (to get far far away from God and His assignment), a big storm came up which Jonah slept through until woken up by the other sailors. It’s interesting that the story tells us that the other sailors asked Jonah “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.”

But Jonah missed his chance again. Ahh well, Jonah is thrown into the sea, the storm calms down and he gets swallowed by a big fish.

Lots of time to think in the belly of a big fish. Sometimes God has to use extraordinary measures to get us to pay attention. Is reliance on God really so hard that we have to run away from Him?

I feel for Jonah. I’ve run from God too. Feelings of inadequacy in what He wants me to do or not do make me cringe. He may see the potential in me but if I don’t see it I question His leading. And then I’m afraid – afraid that I’ll mess up – afraid of embarrassing myself.

The wrong words or expressions — if only God could just give me the manual and robotically make me do what He wants done. I’ve often asked that of Him but He has said no every single time.

It takes awhile for me to remember how special He thinks I am — how special He thinks we all are.

Jonah — I’m so glad He got his act together in time to do what God asked.

As a child, I can remember being asked to close my eyes and jump into the arms of someone. It was scary at first. But then I learned to trust them and every time I jumped I would giggle.

So – I’ll jump and giggle knowing that God will always catch me.

To read the whole story, click here.

 

 

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