House Full of Love

There's nothing like the feeling of a house filled with family - and love

Often it looks chaotic and messy - but it's really a wonderful feeling that persists long after people have gone home and things have been put away.

November 1954 at my grandparents' home

Grandpa looks tuckered out. He often didn't say much at family gatherings. As I got older I realized that he was quietly enjoying having everyone together. On the right Susan is wearing a wig for some reason. She is working the Ohio jigsaw puzzle that's still in the family. If you look in the  bookcase to the left of the globe you'll see one of the copper Lusterware pieces that Grandma collected. When you went on a trip with her and Grandpa you could count on stopping at many antique shops to look for more pieces. Not sure if that's Uncle Dick or Uncle David with Tom. The TV was in the cabinet to the left of Tom. In the days before fancy remote controls, Grandpa ran a wire from the couch, under the carpet to the TV and had a switch so he could turn off the sound on the TV without having to get up from the couch.

December 1955 at home of my father's parents in Ohio

Grandpa, Connie, David, Julia, Grandma & Dick

By the window there was a window seat that 

opened up to reveal a storage space for toys

December 1953 at home of my mother's parents in Illinois

Gram, Jan, Mom, Idah Browne (Gram's mother), Tom & Susan. Poppie is reflected in the mirror 

June 2012 at the house we rented for a family reunion

At the end of the day, I loved seeing all the shoes by the front door and thinking about the family and love those shoes represented. 

A house full of family & love

What a blessing

Sharing Insights

“When we study the scriptures, each time we receive inspiration - each time we see something new or understand something in a new way - we should prepare to teach that insight to someone else. ‘And when thou are converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22:32)  Russell T. Osguthorpe

I appreciate it when someone shares his or her insights with me. I can be strengthened, my eyes can be opened, my mind and heart can become aware of something I hadn't seen previously. Sharing things of God in a way that allows our spirits to communicate, and for us to be taught by the Holy Ghost, brings an awesome dimension to relationships. 

Happy Thanksgiving

We praise God and thank Him for an abundance of blessings

Happy Thanksgiving

Rhodies & More

I wrote this clear back in May 2012. For some reason it was never published. Given that some of you are experiencing cold and snow, I thought you might appreciate being reminded of the beauties of Spring. 

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Rhodies or rhododendrons are spectacular in this area from March through midsummer. The colors are very intense and it's difficult to capture some of the colors with our camera. Rhododendrons are planted in commercial and residential areas, seemingly everywhere you look. They range from small to very, very tall and bushy. They are explosions of color. Most, but not all, of the plants pictured here are rhododendrons.

The Bellevue Botanical Garden is a beautiful place. We went there recently to see the rhodies and other Spring flowers. Click on one of the images to get a slide show of larger images. 

These blossoms were as big as my hand

March is "only" a few months away :)

Come and See

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is known for its missionaries. Members of the church are known for being ready and eager to talk about the church, its doctrines, and Jesus Christ. Have you ever wondered about the eagerness and where it comes from? David Bednar addressed this topic. 

 “Why are Latter-day Saints so eager to tell me about what they believe and to invite me to learn about their church?”

"Devoted disciples of Jesus Christ always have been and always will be valiant missionaries. A missionary is a follower of Christ who testifies of Him as the Redeemer and proclaims the truths of His gospel.

"The Church of Jesus Christ always has been and always will be a missionary church. The individual members of the Savior’s Church have accepted the solemn obligation to assist in fulfilling the divine commission given by the Lord to His Apostles, as recorded in the New Testament:

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19–20).

When we invite you to attend church with us or to learn with the full-time missionaries, we are not trying to sell you a product. As members of the Church, we do not receive prizes or bonus points in a heavenly contest. We are not seeking simply to increase the numerical size of the Church. And most importantly, we are not attempting to coerce you to believe as we do. We are inviting you to hear the restored truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ so you can study, ponder, pray, and come to know for yourself if the things we are sharing with you are true.” 

We invite you, indeed invite you eagerly, to “come and see.” (John 1:39)

video of 15 minute talk here

1 minute excerpt here 

Blast from the Past

It's been 50 years since we graduated from high school! 

Where has that half century gone? 

I remember when my father had his 50th high school reunion. 

I teased him about being ancient. And here I am!

In case you're looking for me alphabetically, I'm not there. You can find me in the upper right corner. We had a reunion the weekend of October 10th. Fun times together. 

50 years later (I'm on front row 4th from the left)

Eleven & Twelve

Have you ever wondered why eleven and twelve don't follow the same naming pattern as the rest of the "teen" numbers - thirteen, fourteen, and so forth? One of our grandchildren asked. I'd never thought about this before. 


It probably has to do with the "Old Germanic ancestor languages of English." Several sources indicate "eleven" and "twelve" have to do with words that meant one left over and two left over after counting to ten. Read more about it here and here.








images

Projects & Time

"Today, in the heaviness of this July heat, 
word came of a friend’s diagnosis
with its sudden re-orderings
of time: ....."

....
A builder, he tells me

he’s not afraid of dying, but of leaving 
things half finished, his full shop and garage 

too heavy a weight to bequeath*

Some life events cause this "re-ordering of time..."  Plans change, timelines change - everything changes. 

Leaving things half finished - Boy, can I relate to this! Hopefully I have many healthy years ahead of me. I have too many half finished big projects - Bahamas history, family history, as well as family photos and artifacts.

*Shade by Dixie Partridge

Mixture

Each of us is a mix of belief and unbelief, faith and fallibility. We see many people in the scriptures who demonstrate these combinations. 

There’s the father who asks Christ to heal his son. 

"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." Mark 9: 23-24

We can learn from Simon Peter. He often seems impulsive, yet he has great faith in Christ. Brent Top likened Peter’s characteristics to ours. 

“Simon’s faithfulness overcomes his fallen, foolish, impetuous, speaking-without-thinking nature. He did what he said he would. He did lay down his life for the Savior’s cause. Will my faith be greater than my foibles? Will I allow my mortal selfishness to be consumed by charity, service and sacrifice, as it was for Peter?” When Peter walked on water as Christ beckoned to him, we see a “demonstration of both faith and fallibility. To me, this is a scriptural story of triumph and transformation more than failure or lack of faith,” said Top. “The focus should not be on Simon’s sinking, but on Jesus’ lifting, not on Peter’ human fallibility, but on Christ’s divine ability.”

Family & Friends

Each life that touches ours for good


Reflects thine own great mercy, Lord;


Thou sendest blessings from above


Thru words and deeds of those who love.*

A month later I'm still reflecting on wonderful family and friends I visited back in Ohio and Michigan. I am deeply aware of how many people have touched my life for good. I feel immense gratitude. 

Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings "Each Life That Touches Ours For Good"

Click here for another post about this hymn

*Each Life That Touches Ours For Good
Text: Karen Lynn Davidson, b. 1943. (c) 1985 IRI


Music: A. Laurence Lyon, 1934-2006. (c) 1985 IRI

Home

My father's childhood home

top - October 2014

bottom - 1957

Decades ago we sat with Dad on the steps of the elementary school. We were all in town for a family reunion and we going to tour the school. Dad's childhood home was across the street. I asked Dad about his feelings when he looked at the house where he spent his entire childhood. I was surprised when he replied that it was "just a house" and he didn't feel any particular attachment to it. I now have a better understanding of his comments. 

I now drive by North Oak Street and see it as just a house (image October 2014). Wonderful memories of my childhood and beyond are connected to that house but it's no longer "home" because none of my loved ones live there any longer. 

Union Street

The house on the right was Mom's & Dad's (and my) first home in London. We moved there after Dad returned from WWII and got out of the military. We lived in the upstairs apartment. At that time there was a balcony across the front of the house. We entered via the door on the left (hidden by the left pillar). 

June 1948 - looking from back toward Union Street. Our house is on the left. That's my mother with Rainbow Reid* and his bulldog Bulldozer. Rainbow lived on the first floor with his wife or was it his sister?

September 1949 - Gram with Susan & Mom with me in front of Union Street home. 

Our entrance was the door on the left.

West North Street, Worthington - home for 34 years

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Ohio was "home" for most of my life. First London, then Harvest Street outside of Dublin, and then Worthington. Then we moved across country. Kirkland felt like home pretty quickly but "Washington" hasn't - until this recent trip. On my drive from Ohio up to Michigan I saw license plates from many states. When I sighted a Washington plate, the thought "home" went through my mind and heart. 

home is wherever Joe and I are together

*not sure of spelling

November 25, 2014 image of North Street home added