Nov 24-30 Post Thanksgiving

Wow! Didn’t realize it has almost been a week since my last post! Just in case you are wondering, I did enjoy my after Thanksgiving turkey sandwich I previously mentioned and was so looking forward too! In fact several, like almost one a day for a week! They aren’t elaborate but they are the best! White or wheat soft cheap bread, mayo, white meat turkey as long as it lasts, then dark meat will do and finally thick slices of jellied cranberry sauce! Then enjoy every bite! I do! OK probably more descriptive than you needed!

It was a blessing to be a part of the Kennedy family Thanksgiving loaded with great conversation and fun for 4 days! The days following have been relaxing days of Christmas decorating and shopping! So glad I get to help decorate here as I’m not sure how much I’ll do for the short time home over Christmas.

Sunday night at church was tree lighting (outdoor trees), crafts for kids, hot cocoa bar, caroling accompanied by the handbells choir, and for several songs getting kids involved to ring-a-ding and a short Christmas movie for the kids! Seemed like everyone had a grand time!

The weather has turned chilly, with morning and evening dog walks I have had to bundle up with multiple layers. Last night and this morning clear skies 22 degrees but feels like 17! 

Quick picture before the kids headed home!

Bell ringers at tree lighting at First Baptist Woodbridge!

Someone is relaxed! OK maybe two of us were relaxed!

Nov 23 - Thanksgiving Blessings

So blessed to spend Thanksgiving this year with my East Coast family! It has become a special tradition over the more recent years, close to 15 I think! The day was filled with counting our blessings, laughter, great food, dog walks, football, and a few games of Uno! Can’t wait to start leftovers tomorrow! Turkey sandwich!!!

Some fun pictures from the day!

Nov 20 - A Thankful Heart

I have been overwhelmed with a heart of thanksgiving this year! Thankful for a family rich in knowing and standing firm on the foundation of God’s love, the sacrifice of Jesus for my sins, and that Jesus didn’t stay in the grave but is alive and we have the Holy Spirit in us. Though I have to admit too often I don’t fully grasp the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life. Thankful for the privilege of 45 years of serving my Lord and Savior in one place of employment West Side Presbyterian Church. I’m thankful for those who have prayed for and supported me over the years. I’m thankful to be able to take a retirement trip of a lifetime seeing our great country, God’s magnificent creation from the perspective of two lane country roads. All the while making precious connections with dear family and friends throughout my trip. Thankful to not focus on the destination but on the journey and the experiences each new day brings. Thankful and so proud of 4 incredible nieces, 2 nephews, 4 great niece and nephews with one more on the way! I am blessed! I am thankful! Thankful for my biological family, my church family and my Christian family! Thankful that it is God that sees both the big picture of my life and the details, my responsibility is to be faithful, flexible, available and obedient. I’m thankful that God’s Word is just as reliable and relevant today as it was when it was written. I’m thankful for the sweet times of prayer while driving cross country…prayers for those at home, prayer for those whom I’m heading to visit and those I’ve just left. I’m thankful for spending this Thanksgiving with my dear East Coast family and the sweet time we will have together.

Please know if you are reading this…I am thankful for you and the way in which you have richly blessed my life! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Nov 19 - 4 in 1 and Sweden memories

 Today at First Baptist it was 1 service instead of 4 as the 8:30 Traditional, 9:55 & 11 Contemporary & 1pm Hispanic all met together at 10am. It was a beautiful service with all groups sharing in leading in worship, partaking of communion at the close of the service plus commissioning a couple headed to the mission field. 

Tonight while Kris and Laurie headed to handbell and choir practice I stayed home and Damos and I took a couple of walks and I looked through some old pictures from Sweden and found the pictures of the blacksmith shop my grandfather, great grandfather and great great grandfather worked in which I saw during our 1977 and 2006 trip. Both times the blacksmith shop was just as it was left the last time it was used! Pretty amazing! I also found my journal from that trip and have so enjoyed reading it tonight! It is 17 pages long, I’ve only read 3 pages but it comes alive as I read each entry! Such incredible memories! I’m so glad I have the written text! Maybe for fun I’ll include a couple pictures from that trip!

My dad’s Uncle Richard in the blacksmith building. Uncle Erik was my grandpa Aronson’s brother. Taken 1977

Blacksmith building in Falun Sweden. Below random pictures of the inside of the building from 2006.

Nov 18- Making Homemade Dog Food Fit for Human Consumption!

After a great day at a Christmas Bazaar, quick stop at the grocery store it was time to go home and make food for Damos (the dog!). Yes another first for me! Ingredients: chopped chicken, carrots, beans, broccoli, celery, clove of garlic! Sounds like it is good enough for humans! I’m here to tell you it is! Was definitely better when I added a little pepper and salt. Now to figure out how to serve it! I’m thinking I need to watch carefully was is being served here at the Kennedys as it might just be noodles and homemade dog food! Just kidding! 

Nov 14-18 Two Days of Luncheons

Monday - Returned to my East Coast Home at Four Seasons with a busy week of special luncheons planned.

Tuesday - After a few morning errands I joined Laurie for a Colonial Thanksgiving Lunch sponsored by Woodbridge Christian Women’s Connection at Brandi’s a local bar and lounge. We had a wonderful full Thanksgiving lunch! Followed by Mary Ann Jung portraying Margaret Brent. Who you ask is Margaret Brent? I was asking the same thing! January 1648 she was the first women in the New World to go before the assembly and request the right to vote! It was unanimous to deny her request but that did not discourage Margaret as she became a strong business woman, attorney, landowner among other ventures. (Google her online to find out more!) It was an informative and entertaining portrayal!  This was followed by speaker Candi Johnson of Johnstown PA sharing “Story for All Seasons” her testimony of her walk with Christ over the seasons of her life.

The very next day we enjoyed yet another Thanksgiving meal for the “seniors” JOY Fellowship at First Baptist of Woodbridge. Our speaker was Cody Schultz, member of FBCW, currently getting his seminary degree to become a pastor (will be his second career). He spoke on Angels & Demons, a six week course he taught previously at church. He the class packed into 60 minutes! Wow! Let me know if you would like a copy of his notes! They are jam packed with supporting Scripture! My brain was “mush” after that! And his notes I will be going through with a highlighter and my Bible.

Friday: A day of morning laundry, multiple dog walks, a bit of shopping at JC Penney’s, Talbots Outlet, Trader Joe’s for almond Kris Kringle and of course a new Hallmark movie! It was a great day!

Saturday - Plans to hit the first Christmas Bazaar of the year at Fairfax High School! This will be my 3rd time over the last 8 years! It seems like it probably has about 300 exhibitors and always fun!

Nov 12-13 Waynesboro

Sunday morning I left the house at 6:25 for a 2+ drive to Hermitage Presbyterian Church, Waynesboro where I met up with Jaci (Smith) Patman where she is currently serving as interim pastor. Jaci and I grew up at West Side PC having many of the same mentors/influencers in our lives. We attended Madison Junior High and then West Seattle High School. Later in our junior year in college (attending different colleges) we studied abroad for 6 months, Jaci in Paris, me in Lund Sweden. We met up at Spring Break both with Eurail passes and toured France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Over the years we have stayed loosely connected so imagine the fun we had catching up with one another! Yes, many “women do” were used!

I arrived early enough to enjoy a hot breakfast at Hermitage, meet a few people from the congregation before the worship service began. This was a small country church, one of 5 PC U.S.A. churches in Waynesboro. So special to worship with a new church family! After a delicious moon dinner provided by Chef Keith, I joined Jaci at an afternoon meeting of elders and pastors from the other town and country Presbyterian churches as they joined together for Better Together. This group has met for the last 18 months working together in mission collectively that they would not be able to do individually as a church. Very encouraging to see how they are supporting one another and the impact they are having in their community.

Waynesboro is located in the Shenandoah Valley. Monday morning included a walk along a tributary of the Shenandoah River. It was a beautiful morning for a walk and yes Jaci, Keith and I were able to share MORE WORDS, So good to catch up on old times, life of the last 40 years, ministry and looking forward! Then it was time to say goodbyes.

The drive today was starting Skyline Drive from the south end midway exiting at Highway 33 (two weeks ago I drove from the north heading south halfway when the trees were in full color) today the were very few leaves remaining but the view was still beautiful! 

Nov 7-11 - A Thankful Heart

 Several days with multiple walks with Damos, he has been so instrumental in hitting 10,000 steps each day! Means he probably walks 20,000-30,000 steps a day with his little short legs! 

Opportunities to use lots of words! To read! To pray! And…to make scrubbies.

Such a great time to rest, reflection and be refreshed!

Thankful for family and friends who have served in the military- bless you!

Nov 1-2 A Time for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is not just one day or one month a year but every day we are blessed and have so much to be thankful. Take time each day to Count Your Blessings!

Nov. 1 (W) Day of Pampering- The day began with self care with chiropractic adjustment, haircut, pedicure, dog walks, extensive jigsaw puzzle time.

Nov. 2 (Th) More self care today! Sleeping in! Dog walks, writing notes, family business AND I FINISHED THE PUZZLE! Proof of completion below! Thank you cousin Julie for the puzzle! It took me until retirement to do it!  The night capped off with great conversation when Sara arrived to spend the night and shared about her daily lunchroom duties at Micah’s elementary school. Lots of difficult stories but also some precious glimpses of hope and encouragement with children she has begun to develop relationships with. Pray for Sara as she loves on these kids for a few minutes everyday. She is providing love, expectations, boundaries, consistency which every child needs. For this season…this is Sara’s mission field. God Bless her! 

Couldn’t help but include a photo of these two cuties! Little brother Lincoln loves to watch movies sitting next to his big sister Lillian! 🩷