Happy Birthday, Victor!

Sniff... Sniff... My baby is growing up. Just this week I noticed his last "little boy" shirt is getting too small. You know, the blue and yellow striped "little boy" shirts that go with matching shorts... it's his last "little boy" look and it is leaving us. Now I am left with a fun, camoflauge wearing guy. And this morning I handed him his clothes and started to take his jammie shirt off of him and what does he do? He grabs his clothes and leaves me standing there willing to help as he calls out, "I don't need help anymore." And guess what else?? He used to turn and wave and sign "I love you" EVERY day when I dropped him off at school. Now, he gets out of the car and happily runs off. Sometimes he says, "Bye, mom!" Sniff... Sniff.

Actually, it's pretty great to see. Yesterday Victor announced that reading is his favorite subject now. He still adores little toys - the hand held figures - whether they are animals, dinosaurs, or recently Pokemon (I was not going to have any children like Pokemon, but the school has used them as incentives and Victor has done really well earning them... sigh!).

Happy Birthday, my not so little boy!

My dear friend, Donna

I met Donna at church the summer of 2001. One time I jokingly asked her, "Did the pastor tell you to be my friend?" I sure needed a friend at the time and she has walked quite a road with me!! This wonderful lady is full of compassion, has a great sense of humor, can do just about anything you can come up with - from canning to smoking Salmon to hunting, trapping, fishing, but also lovely things like needlepoint and flower/centerpiece decorating... she is a fabulous, practical no-nonsense mom... And God gave her to me!! Years ago my youngest boy had multiple allergies and it was very difficult to feed him and he wasn't "thriving" to put it mildly. Donna stepped in and began lining her counters with food containers and placing shredded meats and soft-cooked vegetables and even spent time home-making apple desserts into each container. Then she'd freeze these, box them up and delivery "Victor meals" to me at my home. Donna is seen here with my oldest daughter, Shasta.

Do you know someone that you could call at a moments notice and say whatever you needed to say and be loved just the same?? That's my friend, Donna. When I was desperately hurting, she softly encouraged... when I needed to laugh, boy did we laugh... and over the years as I have struggled with judgement of peer Christians (how sad is that?)and heart wrenching choices and decisions, she listened and walked beside me.

Now when we talk, it is all rejoicing. I am not so naive that I believe all struggles in life are over, but for now, we bask in God's faithfulness and share the happiness and love that God has graciously brought me to.

We had such fun together! Donna was a crack up to hear, as she exclaimed, "There's nothing like this in Alaska!" (referencing watermelon piled in the back of a truck along the side of the road... and the tidy, kept up neighborhoods where we live... and she ooohed and awed at just the right times!). Thank you, dear Lord, for my friend, Donna.

Fun with my Mom

My mom came for a couple of weeks. We got to go to a favorite cafe for lunch and had lots of laughs. Shopping with her was more than fun! We got separated and there I was, a grown lady, walking down the store aisle calling out, "Momma.... Momma... Momma!" And I'll never forget sitting down to play cards and when it got too fun to describe, laughing until we cried. We ate out at Jack London Square. This great lady helped me garden and weed and rake, she helped drive my children around, and she folded mountains of laundry... I'll love the memory of her just sitting next to me, arm in arm, enjoying each other's company most of all and now as I glance out my kitchen window, I miss seeing her sit on my porch. May God bless and keep you, dear mom.