an adventure begins

We all rose early and left the house at 5 a.m. My family dropped me off at the airport, and I left the desert to fly to Seattle. I've flown into Portland several times, and it was my destination today, but AlaskaAir's flight schedule did not have a direct flight to Portland today. The flight was lovely, with lots of snowy mountains below. And flying into Seattle is far more beautiful than flying into Portland--views of the Olympics, the ferryboats on Puget Sound, Mt. Rainier, and the Cascade Mountains.

My seat was next to the window. On my right was a young Asian man, focused on his laptop and his Ipod. Next to him was a young blonde guy, also focused on his laptop and Ipod. As I also used these two items during the flight, I felt part of the young hip technological crowd. The two young guys fell asleep on their laptops and I envied their ability to sleep on an airplane. When we landed in Seattle, the blonde guy called someone on his cell phone; someone who was going to be meeting him at the airport. He kept saying, "Just look for the guy in a camo jacket wearing combat boots and carrying a violin." This was such an odd combination, but I was puzzled when he ended the conversation with "See you in a few minutes, Mom." Why wasn't his mom going to recognize him?

In the row behind me sat a woman carrying a dog. It was securely zipped into a soft carrier, but I heard it occasionally. Next to the dog-carrying woman was a very young woman, eighteen at the oldest, who had been wearing quite a lot of mascara but most of it was now on her skin because she had been crying. Apparently she was flying standby and almost didn't get to board the plane. I heard her repeat over and over, "I just want to get home to see my baby; he's 2 months old. They almost didn't let me on the plane. I just want to see my baby." Of course I don't know the rest of the story, but it was heartbreaking to listen to her. She seemed to strike up a conversation with the dog lady who helped calm her down a little. I've been praying for her today, and for her baby son.

My best friend's mother in law picked me up at the Seattle airport and we met my best friend in Tacoma. We carpooled with several other ladies to Portland for a women's retreat hosted by my best friend's church. A retreat seemed the best way to fuel up for what promises to be a rather draining week.

We're staying at a Marriott Residence Inn. I attended the first session of the women's retreat tonight. My mind drifted in and out, worrying about interacting with my dad this week, and hearing some of the speaker's words. The theme this week is Identity.

It is refreshing to be with my best friend....we've walked together through so many life experiences, living several states apart most of the last twenty years, but retaining our close friendship.

Praying with Psalm 16-17

Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You.
I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord;
I have no good besides You."
Lord, You are my portion and my cup of blessing;
You hold my future.
I will praise the Lord who counsels me...
I keep the Lord in mind always.
Because He is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad,
and my spirit rejoices;
my body also rests securely...
You reveal the path of life to me;
in Your presence is abundant joy;
in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.

My steps are on Your paths;
my feet have not slipped.
I call on You, God,
because You will answer me;
listen closely to me;
hear what I say.
Display the wonders of Your faithful love,
Savior of all who seek refuge...
(Psa. 16:1-2, 5,7,8,9,11, 17:5,6,7)

O Lord my Refuge and Counselor,
You hold my hand
and guide my steps.
Keep me in constant conversation with You,
and open my eyes
to the evidence of Your love for me.

Praying with Psalm 11-15

I have taken refuge in the Lord...
You, Lord, will guard us...
I have trusted in Your faithful love;
my heart will rejoice in Your deliverance.
I will sing to the Lord
because He has treated me generously...
The Lord looks down from heaven
on the human race
to see if there is one who is wise,
one who seeks God.
(Psa. 11:1, 12:7; 13:5-6, 14:20)

Oh Lord,
I seek You today,
asking for Your wisdom.
Be my refuge
and my deliverance
from worry
from uncertainty
from my own inadequacy.

more dad stress

Today I had the "you need to stay in your assisted living apartment" conversation with my dad. I thought he had already decided to stay there...in fact he told me he had a couple weeks ago...but now he doesn't remember that, and he is not happy.

Thankfully, he did not get angry with me, he was calm, but so depressed by the idea.

I do not handle these serious conversations well, but I knew I had to get it said over the phone before I was actually there. I am still shaking. It's hard to use the mouse when you're shaking. I used to be able to diffuse angry customers when I was a working woman, but I have become a wimp.

I was smart today though...I made the call from the bathtub. Really helped me stay calm. Although the shaking could have caused the demise of my phone, thankfully I did not drop it.

exhausting shopping trip.

I've been putting off the Big Shopping Trip to Super Walmart, but today I could postpone it no longer. These trips always exhaust me, especially when I take the three princesses with me!

Today I wore my pedometer. I reset it when I left the van, and by the time we left Walmart, I'd walked 2.07 miles! No wonder I feel tired! After bringing in all the groceries, walking back and forth from the kitchen to the driveway, I reached 2.45 miles. I also have a sore back and a broken fingernail (not to mention the depleted bank account).

Time for a coffee break.

Then I have to rearrange the pantry so that all those groceries will fit in there. I bought far more processed/prepared items than usual, to make things easy for my children's caregivers when I'm gone next week.

Simple Food Pleasures

When I was little my dad used to make my bedtime snacks. My favorite was a "butter" and sugar sandwich. White bread, margarine, white sugar. Simple. Not healthy. Yummy.

This week, I've rediscovered this pleasure, but I've upgraded to whole grain tortillas and raw sugar and real butter instead of the spread we used to call "butter".

My childhood was filled with very simple and often boring food. But a few of those simple pleasures are worth experiencing again:
baked potato with butter and salt,
homemade biscuits with maple syrup,
tuna noodle casserole (I just realized my kids have never had this!),
french dip sandwiches,
pie dough, baked in long strips and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar...

(I see a high carb trend here...)

Praying with Psalm 9-10

I will thank the Lord with all my heart;
I will declare all Your wonderful works...
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
a refuge in times of trouble.
Those who know Your name trust in You
because You have not abandoned
those who seek You, Lord...

Lord, why do You stand so far away?
Why do You hide in times of trouble?...

But You Yourself have seen trouble and grief,
observing it in order to take
the matter into Your hands.
The helpless entrusts himself
to You; You are a helper of the fatherless..
Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble;
You will strengthen their hearts.
You will listen carefully.
(Psa.9:1, 9, 10, 10:1, 14)

Lord,
I praise You and thank You for Your goodness and guidance.
I put my trust in Your name
Counselor, Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Everlasting Father!

But sometimes I don't feel Your nearness,
and those times come on the dark days,
the worrying days,
the wearying days.

Yet You assure me that You see
my trouble and my grief,
and You hold the entire situation in Your hands!
I am helpless,
You are my helper.
You hear me,
You strengthen me.
Help me remember Your words.