My Child

Today, I want you to know that I believe in you.

I believe
that you are a strong and courageous woman.
I believe

that you are a wonderful wife and mom.
I believe

that you are an amazing friend.
I believe

that you have a destiny and a purpose.

I believe
that you have the strength within you to accomplish all that you desire to do.

I believe
that those dreams in your heart will be realized.

I believe
that those whom you love and are praying for will be restored back to right relationship with Me, and with you.

I believe

that when you give your love away, you will receive more.

I believe

that when you feel weak, you will receive the grace to endure.

I believe

that you will run this race set before you, and that you will finish strong.

Do not lose heart. I believe in you my precious daughter!

 Love, Jesus

I found this on another blog and thought is was beautiful.  Hope it encourages you today like it did me ~

Cathy

Daddy's Girl

If you were to ask me growing up if I was a daddy's girl I would of said, "No, I am much closer to my mom."  My dad was strong, hard working, kind and very quiet.  But mom and I were the ones who always talked and shared hearts.  Even after I got married and had a family, when we all got together my husband and my dad would usually be off watching sports together while mom and I visited.  But all that changed about three years ago . . . . when my mom died.  That's when our relationship changed, as well.

My dad was 88 years old at the time.  He continued to live alone and did many things for himself but I found myself visiting him more often, bringing him meals, driving him to doctor visits, calling him every day, and just spending alot more time with him. Over the course of these past three years we have grown so close and I have gotten to know my dad so much more than I ever have.  The stories, the laughter, and the memories he's shared - what precious gifts they've been to me.  And now as time has passed . . . . in my eyes my dad is no longer just a good father and a quiet, private person - he's a big old wonderful teddy bear full of love.  Maybe he's always been like that and I just didn't take the time to see it.

Today is his 92nd birthday. I cannot express how much he means to me and how much I love him. I am so thankful I still have him in my life.  I can now honestly say, "I AM A DADDY'S GIRL!"

Happy Birthday Dad!  I love you very much!
Cathy

Goodby . . Hello . . .

Goodby my beautiful flower garden . . . . .

Hello  leaves of yellow, orange and red . . . . .

And pumpkins of all sizes and colors . . . . .

Goodby sipping lemonaide on lazy summer afternoons . . . . .

Hello drinking pumpkin spice lattes on sunny, crisp mornings . . . . .

Goodby cut-offs, sun dresses and flip flops . . . . .

Hello snuggly scarves . . . . .

And cute boots . . . . .

Goodby building sand castles at the beach . . . . .

Hello snuggling with a good book by a cozy fire . . . . .

And drinking hot apple cider . . . .

Goodby baseball . . . . .

 Hello football . . . .

Yes, it's goodby to Summer ~ and hello to Autumn!

It's been such a great summer but I am so excited for this new season that's just beginning!

Cathy

Sail Away . . . if only on a ferry!

"Twenty years from now you'll be more disappointed

by the things that you didn't do
than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover."

~ Mark Twain ~

 My husband and I  set out for adventure on a beautiful summer day!

The skyline of Seattle was beautiful!

The water sparkled like diamonds . . .

and Mount Rainier looked like a water color painted in the sky!

Someday maybe?

Lunch on the island

So many boats! Who owns them all??

The new ferris wheel on the waterfront!

What an fun day spent with the man I love. 

I couldn't of asked for a better adventure than that!

Cathy

Ocean Blue

There is something about water . . . beautiful torquoise blue water that makes me so happy!  I love dreaming of vacationing in places like that. I recently discovered a TV show called "House Hunters International" on HGTV where couples look to buy homes or vacation homes around the world.  I especially love the shows featuring islands in the Caribbean or places where there are beaches and beautiful views.  It's so fun to see parts of the world that I probably will never be able to live or maybe even visit.  Yet, I get the opportunity to virtually see them.

So . . . if you are like me, and LOVE sunshine, beaches, islands and beautiful water views, try watching that show sometime - I bet you'll get hooked on it just like me!

Cathy

Make A Difference

Do you ever read the newspaper or watch the news and feel very overwhelmed at the world we live in?  I sure do!  So many problems; poverty, crime, injustice, war, etc.  Sometimes I don't even want to know what's going on because I feel so helpless to change any of it. I read a story once that helped me put into perspective the understanding that I am not responsible to "fix" everything, but I can make a difference in someone's life.

It goes like this:

While walking along a beach, an elderly gentleman saw someone in the distance leaning down, picking something up and throwing it into the ocean.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, picking up starfish one by one and tossing each one gently back into the water.

He came closer still and called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young man paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”

The old man smiled, and said, “I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?”

To this, the young man replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.

”Upon hearing this, the elderly observer commented, “But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”

The young man listened politely. He then bent down again, picked up another starfish, threw it back into the ocean and said, “It made a difference for that one.”

We all can make a difference to someone!

Cathy

A Little Piece of Heaven

Spring means lots and lots of hard work each year in my yard!  Things like weeding, pressure washing, cleaning up winter's messes, trips to the dump, pulling out the yard furniture, trimming trees and shrubs, beauty barking, etc., etc., and don't forget the many backaches we occur along the way!  Yes, it really is a lot of hard work but when we are done - once more our backyard transforms into a beautiful park!  A haven that we and our family and friends get to enjoy all summer long! 

I love my own peaceful retreat where I can sit and drink my morning coffee with God's Word, or enjoy the afternoon sun while reading a good book or maybe just relaxing and enjoying friends over for an evening BBQ!  My ten grandchildren love to come here as well and have fun.  

So now that we've done our part - the spring clean up - all we need is sunshine! So if you're ever in the neighborhood, we'd love to have you stop by and enjoy our little piece of heaven with us! 

Cathy

May Day

I remember as a kid picking flowers on May Day and putting them on my neighbors front steps, ringing the doorbell and then running quickly to hide and watch them come to the door and see the flowers. They usually played along and expressed their happiness to WHOEVER did this!  

Oh - the simple joys of being a kid again!  I think I might go out today and pick some flowers . . . 
Cathy

Thorns

Some people are always grumbling that roses have thorns;

I am thankful that thorns have roses.

A Peaceful Moment

sometimes

a peaceful moment

is all I need

*

it's the middle of march

the snow is falling

I'm curled up

watching the snowflakes
*

no one else

just me
the quiet

the snow
my coffee

a smile on my face

thought winter was gone

but all is well

Cathy

The Old Farm House

This a picture of my family and our old farm house . . . but this was more than a old house - it was my home where a lifetime of happy memories were made.

I grew up on a 10 acre farm with horses and cattle and an old barn filled with sweet smelling hay that we loved to play in. The house was old and drafty and had a big country kitchen where you'd find my mom always baking something wonderful. 

It had a huge attic that my brothers made into their bedroom and we all had to share one bathroom that didn't even have a shower. But we did have the best tasting well water you could ever find!

There was nothing fancy about this old place but we loved it!

There was a beautiful lake at the back of our property that we swam in every day of summer. We lazily sunbathed on the dock with our friends for hours on end.  My brothers loved to go fishing in the rickety old rowboat we owned.  One day it disappeared - we found out many years later my brother accidently sank it.  It still sits at the bottom of the lake.

We raised cattle.

We rode our horses.

We had a beautiful German Shepherd dog named Prince that we loved.

We played endless games of hide and seek in the field of tall grass.

Sunday dinner was always pot roast.

Life was good.

It was in this old house that I was nurtured and loved by two wonderful parents.

It was here I became a young woman.

It was here that I fell in love.

It was here where I got married.

A few months ago I drove by the old place and saw that the windows were boarded up. I felt very sad knowing what that meant. 

Yet I smiled as so many wonderful memories came flooding back.

Eventually the house was torn down. Now there is nothing left but the land, the barn, and an empty spot where the old house stood.

So today, my dear old, drafty, wonderful farm house . . .

~ I say FAREWELL ~

You gave me many, many years of happiness and warm memories for which I will will always be grateful ~

Cathy 

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Littlest Things

I don't know about you but I have

SPRING FEVER

Being cooped up all winter has been hard!

THEN . . .

Yesterday as I was getting ready for the day

I HEARD THEM!

The sweet sound of birds SINGING outside my window

I stopped and listened and a SMILE came to my face

I knew then that winter was coming to an END

The promise of spring was soon to come with flowers blooming and more little birds joining in the sweet CHORUS

Funny how sometimes in life it's the littlest things that bring so much JOY ~

Cathy

First Dates & Valentines

My very first date was to a Valentine's Banquet when I was sixteen years old.  The sweet memories of youth came flooding back to me this week as my husband and I attended another Valentine's Banquet.  This one . . . forty-two years later.  I got to share the evening with my beautiful sixteen year old granddaughter who was on a first date with a young man.  As I sat watching her, those memories of years long past slowly unfolded before me of a very shy, young girl who was just beginning to experience the world of dating and romance. And now, so many years later . . . here I was, a Grammy, watching my precious granddaughter begin that journey for herself. My heart filled with joy and happiness as I saw her smile and laugh throughout the evening and I wondered what wonderful and magical things were in store for her in the years ahead. 

I barely remember the boy I went to the banquet with . . . somewhere along the way I met and fell in love with another young man who I later married.  A man I still deeply love after forty beautiful years together.  

And so, my sweet granddaughter . . . someday (when you are much, much older) I pray the Lord will lead you to the young man of your dreams . . . and to a love that will last a lifetime . . . just like He did for me. 

BUT remember  . . .  it all begins with a first date!  

Cathy

Today I'm Dream'n Blue

  

        On this cloudy Northwest day . . . 

            I am dream'n blue:)