End of Summer Day Trip

A few weeks ago my mom asked DC if he would be willing to take her and Dad on a Saturday trip to the mountains, including a cook-out breakfast. Of course, my husband is willing to do anything that has to do with going to the mountains. And he is wonderful to my parents.

Today was the day. I wasn't thrilled last night when he woke me up to set the alarm for 5:30 a.m. - I get up earlier than that every work day, so getting up that early on Saturday was not in my plans. But he had told my folks we'd pick them up at 7:00. We didn't get everything packed up last night (including gassing up the minivan), so he thought we needed that much time this morning. We could have waited till 6:00 to get up, but we got a very early start to the day and arrived at my folks' at 6:40, before they were ready to go, of course.

We headed for the hills promptly at 7:00, discovering on the way north that we (read I) had forgotten the pancake syrup. I reminded him that this was his party, and I only offered to help, not remember everything! We found a grocery store just a mile out of the way and headed out again.

It was about 8:30 when we found the first good spot to cook our breakfast and eat. It was a beautiful spot! We began cooking the sausage links. I was gazing across the river, noting that there was a bush swaying back and forth. It wasn't windy - what was up? Suddenly I spotted a very large black "blob" against the rocks. I couldn't believe it when I realized what it was:

We enjoyed watching the little guy (girl?) as long as he/she was across the river! We finished preparing the pancakes, eggs, sausage, orange juice, and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast - everything tastes better outside!

The river was just gorgeous, sparkling in the morning sunshine.

DC was on a mission - a surprise mission. This is one of his favorite places in the state - the canyon he drives up many times a year, especially in the winter to go cross-country skiing. He has also hiked many of the trails in this area, and knows the mountain peaks by name. He wanted to surprise us with sightings of moose. We were fortunate to spot two - a male and a female.

As we headed back down the mountain at the end of the day, we saw the male still sitting in the same spot, just taking it easy. I said, "Well, what else does he have to do?" Then I had these thoughts:

I want to be a moose.

No meals to cook.

No dishes to wash.

No bathrooms to clean.

No floors to mop or vacuum.

No clothes to wash, dry, fold, iron, put away.

Nobody to take care of.

Then I thought some more about it --

BUT --

No air conditioning in the summer.

No heat in the winter.

No shelter from the storms.

I think I'll stay a person, the way God made me.

We found a great spot for lunch. As we were fixing the fried potatoes, baked beans, and hamburgers, I was snacking on Cheetos. We soon had a visitor, with whom I shared one. He kept coming back for more, and soon the animal grapevine took over and we had two of them. We decided they were vegetarian, because they took the Cheetos and the hamburger buns, leaving behind the chunks of burger.

The clouds were just gorgeous today. There were different varieties, all at the same time, in layers.

Some random beautiful views:

It was a great day. For some reason, I was exhausted when we got home and I took a nice long nap before going to the grocery store. We had some lovely rain down here. We had spent quality time with my parents. We enjoyed God's bountiful creation. We saw a coyote running across a field, besides the bear, the moose, and the chipmunks. I hope you've enjoyed the vicarious trip with us.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Things That Are Helping Me Through This Week

This is my 200th post. I can hardly believe it. I don't plan any big celebrations. It has been a tough week and I want to share what I have read and heard that have kept me going.

Last week's Sunday School lesson was called "Living By Faith." It was taken from Galatians 3. The key verse was "Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, 'The righteous will live by faith.' (Galatians 3:11). I loved this thought: "One of the most important aspects of faith is that when we say we have faith in someone, it means that we trust that person. Do we really trust God? When was the last time we worried about finances, health, or our future? Probably not very long ago!" Can you say yesterday? Today? Last Thursday? I need to go back to the Woman to Woman post I wrote a few weeks ago about worry - I need to read it every day to remind myself to "practice what I preach."

If you don't know what I've been fretting and worrying about, you can go read about it here and here.

"We may rush ahead of God's timing in our lives and try to make things work when it just isn't the time or the place for things to work out. It is in the waiting - in the in-between times - that our faith is exercised." Oh, that waiting. It is so difficult.

But God is so faithful. He keeps bringing things to me that I need. For instance, besides the SS lesson last week, I have found all of these readings. There was the devotional I read this morning about a young Zulu man working a piece of soapstone, making it into something beautiful. "When the sharp knife of loss and pain chips away at us, it is Christ's soft cloth of compassion that gently brings a radiant shine to our patina. Other times He gives an inner sanding to smooth the rough, calloused edges of our hearts to develop sensitivity, forgiveness, and grace. Tenderly, Jesus encourages us to press on for the colorful and beautiful shapes that are to come." (Ellen Decker)

My favorite writer, Max Lucado says this in He Still Moves Stones: From Jeremiah 32:37, "I am the Lord, the God of every person on the earth. Nothing is impossible for me."

"We need to hear that God is still in control. We need to hear that it's not over until He says so. We need to hear that life's mishaps and tragedies are not a reason to bail out. They are simply a reason to sit tight.

"Corrie Ten Boom used to say, 'When the train goes through a tunnel and the world gets dark, do you jump out? Of course not. You sit still and trust the engineer to get you through.' . . .

"The way to deal with discouragement? The cure for disappointment? Go back and read the story of God. Read it again and again. Be reminded that you aren't the first person to weep. And you aren't the first person to be helped.

"Read the story and remember, the story is yours!"

One more word from Max, from the book When God Whispers Your Name:

"Are there any unsurrendered worries in my heart? 'Give all your worries to Him, because He cares for you," (I Peter 5:7).

"The German word for worry means 'to strangle.' The Greek word means 'to divide the mind.' Both are accurate. Worry is a noose on the neck and a distraction of the mind, neither of which is befitting for joy."

Good stuff! Lord, help me to remember these words all day every day. Even if the answers next Tuesday are not what we want to hear.

There's always a song, of course, that comes to mind just when I need it. This one is by John Peterson and was written in 1952.

No one understands like Jesus;

He's a Friend beyond compare.

Meet Him at the throne of mercy;

He is waiting for you there.

No one understands like Jesus;

Every woe He sees and feels.

Tenderly He whispers comfort,

And the broken heart He heals.

No one understands like Jesus

When the foes of life assail.

You should never be discouraged

Jesus cares and will not fail.

No one understands like Jesus

When you falter on the way.

Tho' you fail Him, sadly fail Him,

He will pardon you today.

(Refrain)

No one understands like Jesus

When the days are dark and grim.

No one is so near, so dear as Jesus;

Cast your every care on Him.

One other thing that keeps me going - the things my grandkids say! Today's conversation with Care Bear (almost 5, but going on at least 22) is a case in point.

Care Bear and I were talking about a t.v. show that wasn't good for little kids to watch. Just then, Leave it to Beaver came on the screen.

She said, "Is that a good show for kids to watch?"

I said, "Oh, yes, that's a really good one. In fact, I watched it when I was a kid."

In the honesty of childhood, she said, "You did? That was a lo-o-o-o-o-ng time ago! A hundred years ago!"

One last thing - I received this sweet award from Michelle at Ozarks Sew n' Sews. I love this award - the Nice Matters Award. Thank you so much, Michelle! It really helped my spirits!

Mostly Wordless Wednesday - Summer Yard Scenes

Care Bear Playing "Eloise Waking Up"

Storm Building in the East

Untitled

There is so much I want to say, but no time to say it.

There is so much thinking going on, but the only time is at night when I should be sleeping.

I am so grateful for all of the prayers being offered to God for our family, both here and unborn.

There is quite a bit of frustration in my life right now.

I will concentrate on the verse I picked from the stack of cards this morning "randomly" - you think??

"You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you." Isaiah 26:3 (TLB)

My Heart Is in My Gut

EDITED: Kristen has posted her news HERE. Please read mine first and then go see what she found out.


I know that is not very poetic. It is ugly. But it is how I feel this morning. God granted me peaceful sleep. I woke up around 2:00, whispered another prayer, and went back to sleep.

The news is not good. I will wait to give more details until I've talked to Kristen this morning. I hope she'll share details, and I'll link you to her. I just wanted you to know, since so many of you prayed yesterday. I know she was uplifted by your prayers, because she was calm and strong throughout the day. Please continue to pray that she will be able to concentrate at work. I know I am leaving you hanging, but I feel like it is her place to give me permission to share more.

We are headed into another battle. It is the Lord's. I must remember that.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.

Because He lives, All fear is gone.

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living just because He lives.

(Bill and Gloria Gaither)

The fear isn't gone. But I know He will help us, and He does hold the future.

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,

He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;

To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials he multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources

Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,

His power no boundary known unto men;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

(Annie J. Flint)

I just got to work. Another thing I found in my over-full drawer of "stuff" accumulated over 12 years was a stack of note cards on which I had written scriptures - one for each day of the month. I don't remember doing it. I don't remember where the ideas came from for the scripture choices. But today - today - I picked this one out of the pile to look at as the day goes by. God is so amazing. Here are the two verses that were written on that card, who knows how long ago?

I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people (Living Bible).

My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness (NIV)

II Corinthians 12:9a

These are the words that came to me as I got up this morning and prepared to write this post.

Psalm 121:1-2 (The Message)

I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

I am thankful that I can physically lift up my eyes to the hills. This shot is of Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain Park. There are beautiful sights, then there are rugged shots - this is a very tough climb. Ask DC about it sometime. But it is reality - beautiful, but tough. Alot like life.

Thanks for your support. You are a blessing to me.

We Need Your Prayers Today

Kristen and Mike went to the first ultrasound yesterday afternoon. I was expecting them home early, because it was in the early afternoon. Three hours later, I was really wondering what they had decided to do instead of coming home and get their kiddoes. At 5:30 - 3 hours after the appointment started, she called me with tears in her voice. Instead of knowing whether it's going to be a brother or sister for the excited kids, they have to go to Denver today for a second opinion. The doctor saw something he didn't like and wasn't comfortable diagnosing the situation.

They are scared. We are scared. And sad. I am sad because I have not been excited about this baby. Do I dare admit this? I know it sounds awful. But it's true. There are many reasons. None of them have to do with the little person. But other circumstances. I know this not my fault, but I feel so guilty.

Please pray for them today. It was to be Mike's first day on a good new job. The doctor was going to call his employer - I hope he did. Please pray for God's will. Pray for peace in their hearts. I know you all know how to pray - I don't need to tell you. I trust your prayers more than you'll ever know.

I went to choir last night. Didn't make sense not to. Took the kids to their activities. One of the songs has been with me since I woke up. Yes, I slept. But prayed when I woke up at 2:00. Went back to sleep.

Here's the song:

You're all I want. You're all I ever needed.
You're all I want. Help me know you are near!
Help me know you are near!

We sang a new song last night. I couldn't believe how God picked it out just for such a time as this. I copied it off for them to meditate on as they drive to this very important appointment.

When you're walking through deep waters, I'll be with you.

When you climb tall mountains, you're not alone.

For I said in My Word put your trust in Me;

Stand still and know I am God.

When the enemy surrounds you he can't harm you.

When you're too tired to fight, don't give up hope.

Don't let your heart become troubled;

Stand still and know I am God.

I have always been and always will be.

I love you, You belong to me.

Hear those words I say, I'm never far away.

Stand still and know. Stand still and know!

Fear not, My child, I'm with you always.

I know how to care. Child, I'm always there.

I love you. You belong to me.

Hear these words I say, I'm never far away.

Stand still and know, stand still and know.

I am God. I am God.

I AM GOD!

I have been cleaning drawers in my office this week and found this quote by Mother Teresa, which I had taped to my monitor for a long time awhile back. I think I need it again:

"I know God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much."

I Must Confess . . .

. . . that I dislike ironing - intensely. When I was a young SAHM, I even hated it then. I would put it off as long as possible. My best friend in those days was the opposite - she even ironed her little boys' underwear (she and Barb would get along famously!) We finally compromised our habits - I ironed more and she ironed less.

If I did "Tackle It Tuesday", this would be a perfect "before" picture.

I have been hiding this pile of ironing-to-do in my spare bedroom. When a friend came to spend the night, I realized how far behind I had gotten. I decided to tackle it last night, as the cooler night air came in my bedroom window and I watched "The Closer." (This is my new favorite show on TNT, starring Kyra Sedgwick - she is such a good actress!)

I had finished 6 pieces already and had them properly hung up when all of a sudden, out of the blue,without warning, without provocation of any sort, in the middle of the shirt you see hanging down over the board, my iron died. Now this iron is not old. It has definitely not been overworked. Evidently, it's just a piece of modern-made junk.

The large pile of blue that you see on top is a lovely linen tablecloth that I received from my MIL when she moved to an apartment and also gave me her beautiful cherry wood dining room set, which opens into a very large table for company. She didn't have room for the table, nor need for the tablecloth (and 12 matching napkins) when she downsized. I love using this heirloom for special occasions, but it takes me from one special occasion to the next to iron it - it's huge and not polyester! Nor are the napkins.

I can remember ironing for Mom when I was a kid - it was a weekly task for us. She started us out with handkerchiefs (remember those?) and pillow cases. It was a hot, sweaty job in the summertime in Arkansas.

So now I can't do an "after" picture showing my accomplishments. Instead I have to stop at Wal-Mart on my home from work today and pick up a new iron.

Martha Stewart I will never be. Nobody will ever accuse me of being like Martha of "Martha and Mary," Jesus' good friends and Lazarus' sisters. I will never be scolded for being compulsive with my housework. I am hoping, however, that with my not-too-distant retirement plans, I will go back to being a bit more diligent, as I was when I was younger. My house was much cleaner when I had little kids (of my own) than it is now. I can always blame the grandkids now - for the mess and for my depleted energy! But that's not kind. True, but not kind!

So hopefully I'll get a spurt of energy again after I get a new iron and get this job done. DC is probably wondering where in the world that blue and red plaid shirt is. I just hope this next iron lasts me the rest of my ironing life.

Now for another picture of the hibiscus - it is going crazy with beauty and notice all the future beauty!

And on a final note....if you would like to read some interesting, surprising news, go HERE.

Random Ramblings #16

It's been awhile since I've rambled on and on, so get ready for a long ride. I have a lot to get off my chest of a random nature. There are many things rattling around in this brain of mine, none of which is sufficient for an entire post. So lwe's pretend we're sitting under a shade tree in my back yard, having a soft drink, and enjoying each other's company. Feel free to interrupt at any point with a story of your own!

My hibiscus finally bloomed today - they are glorious!

Last Sunday morning I woke up really early and decided to go for a nice, cool morning bike ride. It was a lovely sunny morning, until suddenly a fog rolled in and shrouded the world. It was a strange sensation for a late July morning. I didn't have my camera with me, but I backtracked with it to get a few shots of the sun trying to peek through.

Remember the story about Barb's son-in-law-to-be getting admitted to the MSW (master of social work) program where I work? I actually process all of those application packets and was excited when I realizedthe connection with Aaron, whose file I was reading. He is now officially Barb's son-in-law, and he and Mandy have moved over to this side of the mountain, are settled in to student housing. Mandy is busy preparing for her new teaching position, and Aaron dropped by to say hello and sign the paper work for his new job in our office, where he'll be working while he is in school. I just "happened" to have my camera with me and asked him if it would be all right to post his picture. He graciously said it would be okay.

I need to acknowledge a lovely award I was given by Midlife Mom. I apologize that it has taken me so long to thank her for the Thoughtful Blogger Award.

I appreciate this award so very much, and have enjoyed getting to know Midlife Mom and all about her "Home on the Range." We have very different lives, but we have those wonderful grandkids in common. I would love to visit her in Maine sometime.

Remember little Micah?

We've been praying for him for several months. If you have kept up with his progress, you know that he has been through more in his little 3 year old life than most of us will in our lifetimes. I got this e-mail from his family and thought you'd like to know:

To all who have probably wondered if we dropped off the earth!!

The past few months have passed with a blur and we apologize for not sending a note to you all sooner. Through the month of June, Micah underwent all the tests that were necessary to detect Neuroblastoma and they ALL came back negative...no evidence of disease. The doctors moved Micah out of the transplant department...(We'll miss you, Dr. Frangoul!). But we will happily start seeing Dr. Collier again as his regular oncologist, who will keep tabs on Micah with regular clinic visits and scans. Although Micah has been declared as having "no evidence of disease", he still has a 60% chance of relapsing within this first year. There are times where we look at him laughing, yelling, having fun and wonder how long it will last...if there will be a time where we start this all over again. Those are the times where our faith is really put to the test. Here at the end, people kept saying, "Now you can have your life back." Yes, we have life. Micah has life! But, there is a new reality to everything and a sense that things will never be the same. We will learn to live with the presence of cancer always being a possibility.

Micah is doing SO well! It has amazed us how he has bounced back to "normal." He looks so healthy and beautiful to us. He is starting to talk ALOT. He is ornery and persistent and is back to driving his siblings absolutely crazy. In these moments that should create normal parental frustration, we sometimes have to stop and hide a smile at Micah's personality that has been hidden under this horrible disease these past months. Thank God he has determination and gusto, just like his dad! This past week, we got to travel for the first time and went to Grandma and Grandpa's farm. Hannah, Ethan and Micah loved fishing with Aunt Connie, Veggie Tales, kitties, Grandma's pancakes, swinging, swimming, bubble baths, etc. It was a wonderful break from reality and so wonderful to be back in a place that holds so much comfort and peace.

Although we are living life more as it should be right now, please do not stop praying for Micah. Neuroblastoma is horrible and we do not want it coming back! Pray that God will continue to work miracles in Micah's life. We believe that it is a miracle that he is here today and everyday is sweeter having him here. Pray that God will use Micah's life for His purpose and our lives as well. Also, please pray for our family as we make transitions back into life outside the hospital and most likely outside of the military. If you know the Crimmins', you know we always seem to have not one, but several major life events happening all at once! This is another time that we are facing some spinning plates. God though has seen us through this past year and He will give us the strength for the future. HE IS FAITHFUL We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your prayers, letters, emails, phone calls, and support. We will never be able to adequately express how each of you helped us through this experience. ! May God bless each one of you for your kindness to us. God be with you all…..

Thank you,
Nathanael, Jacque, Hannah, Ethan, and especially Micah

Thank you for praying for Micah...
Go to www.Pray4Micah.com for regular updates.

Here is the most recent picture of Micah and his parents. Praise God for His good work in this family's life. Keep praying for them, though!

Feisty is 3. She's been talking for a long time, and quite well at that. I was gone for a week recently, as you know if you read me regularly. When I got back, she had grown up unbelievably in that short time. Her vocabulary had doubled in a week, and her conversational skills had soared. How does that happen? One of my favorite conversations went something like this:

I was wearing shorts for the first time all summer (I usually wear pants a bit longer, because of this very issue). Feisty says, "Grandma, you have big knees."

"Thanks, Feisty, for pointing that out."

"Grandma, you have fat arms."

"Thanks, Feisty, for noticing that!"

"Grandma, you would look silly without your glasses!"

Feisty has become a bit too observant!

She has also become more independent. She fixed her own ham and cheese sandwich from beginning to end, and proudly ate the whole thing - on wheat bread, no less.

She is also quite a fashionista.

Well, there's a lot more, but I think that's enough for now. We just got back from "Praise in the Parking Lot" at our church. Kristen and Mike and their band sang about 19 songs as we sang along with the ones we knew. Kristen had two solos. Kristen and Kevin's best ever babysitter was there tonight, at a family reunion. She was the kind of sitter who loved the kids so much that she'd come and get them to take them to the Dairy Queen or to the park - just because she liked being with them. She told me once that I was her inspiration to become a mother. I had to tell her that she went way beyond my inspiration - she has 8 children, all home schooled, all wonderful people. The youngest is 9, the oldest newly married. I have great admiration for her. It was fun to have her there as Kristen sang and her children were running around the parking lot.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Another Flood of Memories

A year ago yesterday I posted "A Flood of Memories" . It was about the 30th anniversary of the Big Thompson flood, just up the canyon from us. Saturday was the 10th anniversary of a second flood. It was not as devastating in terms of loss of life, but it was very personal for me.

It was a Sunday night when the rain began - nothing spectacular, as I recall. Kristen was living in the northwest part of the city north of us. She was going home from her week-end second job, but the police would not let her through on her normal route. She had to take quite a round-about route to get home that night. Our fear was that the dam above the city would break and flood her part of town.

This rain came roaring down the city streets, piling up against a berm, which was built up around the railroad track. The water backed up, destroying 98 mobile homes, taking 5 lives. I had no realization that these trailers were even there, though I drove by them many times. They were tucked in behind the Dairy Queen and some other business, obviously well hidden by trees. They were mostly very poor people in old trailers, so the tragedy was magnified for them.

The next morning I got a call from my boss, asking me to please call everyone on our list of employees to tell them not to come to work. There was flooding on our campus. I never dreamed of the magnitude that Monday morning.

As the story unfolded, the water had inundated the basements of many of the buildings on campus. One of those buildings was the student center, which housed the student bookstore in the basement. All of the books, some 60,000+, which were waiting for the students to return in one month and purchase for classes, were now floating around on The Oval, which is a beautiful, tree-lined area of our campus.

When school started a month later, the grounds had been cleaned up so well that the new students would not have known there was a flood. But the buildings were a different story. There were long lines snaking around the student center, waiting to purchase their textbooks from tractor trailers which had been driven in and parked on the plaza of the student center. It was hot. There was no air conditioning anywhere, and the decision was to work on the heating first, in order to be ready for winter. Huge fans were moved in to classrooms and meeting rooms - but nobody could hear what was being taught! There were videos played for students in the long lines to be able to see what had happened.

The library had just undergone a multi-million-dollar renovation, and now its basement was destroyed as well. The books and journals down there included all of the ones for the students in our program to use for their research and assignments. They had to use interlibrary loans for the first year at least. But soon after that the electronic sharing of articles and book chapters began. It has made research much less labor intensive.

So many books were destroyed. A company whose job it is to try to salvage water-logged books came to the rescue. Dozens of temporary employees began the laborious task of placing the books in boxes to be taken to Fort Worth, where they would be treated with dry ice. They spent many days on this task. Unfortunately, it didn't work, and they were still smelling of mildew when they were returned months later.

The building I worked in also had water in the basement which reached the top of the steps. When we finally were able to go back to our offices (more about that), there was a huge pile of water-logged books, furniture, research, artifacts stacked outside the building on the grass. Someone had made a sign and stuck it in the pile that said, "Mount Devastation." So very true. Below are pictures of the building and grounds just north of ours.

We were out of our building for at least the first two weeks - we were loaned a small office with one computer and one phone, in one of the buildings that had escaped the water. We took turns working one at a time, and the rest of us got some unexpected time off. I remember making phone calls from home, and having people call me there, because school was beginning very soon and we had lots of loose ends to tie up.

We were allowed to go to our building once a day to get our mail - it smelled horrible of mold and filthy mud, and was treacherous to walk. We were only allowed in there when a guard opened the door. This was to prevent looting, which is often the result of a disaster.

Many of the professors lost all of their life's work, art work, artifacts from travels, books they'd written, research in their basement offices.

The final tally of insurance pay-out was $100 MILLION. The very deeply disguised blessing in all of this is that many improvements were made that would have not been done for years to come. The first year was very difficult - all traffic had to be routed in one pathway - 24,000 students and 2400 employees "fighting" for space to get to and from class.

It took another few years to build up the campus and place flood walls that are supposed to prevent a reoccurrence. I'm not sure it would work, but if you were to come and visit our campus, the only evidence you'd see is a water mark they've placed in the basement stairwell in the student center.

If you are interested in reading more of this story, you can go to this web address: http://welcome.colostate.edu/index.asp?url=history_flood97_main