Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
179 - Today's Reading
Prior to 4th of July, I try to read a book related to our nation's independence. This particular one has been excellent, and I find myself tearing up on a regular basis as I listen to David McCullough read it. Ever since I heard him narrate the Civil War series, I have loved this man's contribution to helping us understand our nation's history.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
177 - Purpose-Driven Couch Potato
Ingredients for making a Purpose-Driven Couch Potato:
Bible - For Lectio Divina in Colossians 1:15
Journal - For thoughts on above meditation
Hinds Feet on High Places - For devotional reading
1776 - For knowledge of US History
Crunchy Cons - For leading a discussion at the Lampost
Computer - for looking up how to spell independence, the true meaning of Machiavellianism, posting on a blog about 1776, and leading a Crunchy Cons discussion.
Add all these together in a couch and turn on the mind heat. When the discussion on Lamp-post is just beginning to boil, stir in hot Chai Latte and simmer until children need breakfast and you need closure on cleaning the closet you started working on yesterday.
Yields one serving of a refeshed heart, soul, and mind ready to face the day!
(It was 9:51 a.m., and I looked over and saw this mess and started to laugh. I hadn't closed a book, put anything away, or gotten dressed, but it had certainly been a stimulating morning! Just had to document it! My other option was the clean closet, but my husband said that was WAY too boring of a shot.)
Monday, June 25, 2007
176 - Joy Like a Fountain
"A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles." -- Washington Irving
(Taken at Riverfront Park during my date night)
Sunday, June 24, 2007
175 - Beaver Nation Wins National Championship!
These are pictures taken of a computer screen video. So, my apologies for the lousy pictures today, but my Alma Mater, Oregon State University, won the College World Series for the second year in a row tonight! They didn't even have a winning season, and they are the first team in the history of college baseball to win with this kind of record.
My dh went to high school with the head coach too! :)
Go BEAVS!
(Sorry Carrie that your team lost.)
174 - Infinite Reflections
Saturday, June 23, 2007
DSC_0032, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.
Taken at a magnificent new home.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
172 - Parking Lot Mosaic
The artist was working on this mosaic in the underground parking lot of the library when I was on my bike ride yesterday, and I so regretted not having my camera with me. We went back to pick up all my movies :) and more books today so I was able to get some shots. It is a scene of my town (notice the Irish Bend Covered Bridge from a February photo set) and will eventually have yet another artistic rendition of that famous courthouse!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
171 - Shadow Self on a Bike
I had such a great day! The slower pace of summer has finally arrived. I rode my bike to run errands today (buy a new appointment book, mail a package, bring back library books) and ended up down by the river doing Bible study, eating Great Harvest bread, and watching the kids play in the fountains at the Riverfront Park. Oh, how I wished I had brought my camera to take shots of them but it was nice to have a lighter load in my backpack!
After this, I went to Amatsu Japanese Restaurant for Yakisoba and deep conversation with one of my new friends, Vicki (Our Women's Ministry Director). After that, I finished up my Bible study at Sunnyside Up Cafe (home of my book club shots) sipping Chai Tea Latte and watching the world go by in this hippy hangout downtown. Then, it was home on my bike in beautiful 76 degree weather. Oh, how I love my town!
So, here is my shadow on my bike that I took when I got home to remind myself of a perfect day (with the exception of leaving the camera at home).
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
170 - What Lewis and Clark Saw
Everytime I go through the Columbia Gorge, I am overwhelmed with the beauty of it all. Can you imagine the Corps of Discovery coming through all they came through to feast their eyes on this as they floated down the Columbia toward the Pacific Ocean?
See our route to Boise and Back that goes along the Willamette, Tualatin (From the book Moccasin Trail), Columbia, and Snake Rivers here. (It also includes our trip to the Boise Zoo)
169 - The Road Back from Boise
Monday, June 18, 2007
This church caught my eye when we stopped for dinner in The Dalles, Oregon.
168 - Father's Day Wedding
Sunday, June 17, 2007
This is our family at the wedding of my dear friend, Debbie!
For the whole set of all the festivities, see the set at Flickr: Boise Wedding
167 - Lifelong Friends
Saturday, June 16
These are two of my closest, long-term, make me laugh until I can't hold anything else in, challenge me to live a life of purpose friends, Patty and Debbie.
We go all the way back to our college days (Well, Patty is a Duck, but we still love her in hopes of a conversion to Beaverhood someday). We were all in the Navigators together and were roommates back in the early 80's when we were all single, fun-lovin' women!
Well, as of this last weekend, we are all married ladies! Here is a mosaic of our fun weekend together!
Friday, June 15, 2007
166 - In Keeping with the Appointment Theme
When Sandie said she was loving all the celebratory and colorful pictures lately, I thought, "Well, blood is colorful!" LOL!
The echocardiogram and chest x-ray were not ready today, but he will take some medicine to control his heart rate. George also promises to take his 81 mg of aspirin each day!
. . . and I PROMISE there will be no more pictures inside offices this weekend because we are going to Boise for my best friend's wedding, and we are leaving at 5 a.m.! We are really looking forward to the drive through the beautiful Columbia Gorge!
Thursday, June 14, 2007
165 - Another Exam
You would think with all the stuff going on with George, I would be tired of examinations, but NO! I had to have just ONE more to add to the mix. Actually, we had four more because we do this every June! I had never seen what he does from this side. So, I thought it was a cool picture!
This is a picture of Michael's exam, but I wanted to add that Paul has joined the ranks of the "be speckled"! Dad is now the only one not requiring some sort of optical enhancement. :)
Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers for George's heart. We will hopefully find something out at yet another exam tomorrow morning.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
164 - Echocardiogram
His heart raced just short of twenty-four hours. The technician said that was good because it is better not to get it while it is racing.
Thanks for your concern. We will know results tomorrow or Friday.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
163 - Still Racing
His heart has been racing since 12:20. That is 7 hours 20 minutes and still counting at press time, but his record is 24 hours. In the past, a shower has curbed it, but he took one at work and called me at 1:40 to say that he needed to come home because it wouldn't stop. I took him straight to the doctor who ran an ECG and sent him to get a chest x-ray. Tomorrow will be the echocardiogram. It is Atrial Fibrillation and the thyroid was ruled out long ago. He hasn't had an episode in over two years, but it always causes my heart to race too. :(
UPDATE: Still racing at 8 a.m. PST on Wednesday (almost 20 hours)
Monday, June 11, 2007
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Saturday, June 9, 2007
160 - Heart of the Valley
My boys and I looking over our city after a dinner out followed by an early evening hike. We are literally in the the "heart" of the beautiful Willamette Valley. So, the name of our town means "heart of the valley" in Latin. This is the closest hill to our house, and our family hikes up to it on a regular basis.
Here is the whole set:
Friday, June 8, 2007
159 - Neighbor Nourieh
One to two times a week, I go over to Nourieh's house and we sip copious amounts of Jasmine tea the Persian way (Place sugar cube in the mouth and let tea dissolve over it as you drink) and study about 45 minutes in the Bible and 45 minutes in the writings of her faith, Baha'i. We are currently in the book of Mark and will go on to study Genesis in a few weeks. It is always a very special time with a very special, warm, and wonderful woman!
We first got to know Nourieh and her husband, Iraj, on Easter Sunday three years ago when we had baked some bread and wanted to give it to one of our neighbors. We knew that most of our neighbors would be engaged in Easter activities with extended family. Then we said, "Hey, the Baha'i won't have anywhere to go!" So, we headed over with our warm Challah. When Iraj answered the door, his jaw dropped. He said, "I was just telling Nourieh thirty seconds ago that I wish I had a loaf of homemade bread!" We laughed and spent a delightful afternoon into the evening eating Persian dessert for Easter and talking about many things under the sun! Nourieh and I have often commented how we just CLICKED immediately on that day.
Background about our neighbors: In 1979, Nourieh's husband was in a Ph.D. program at Oregon State University when the Shah (King) of Iran fell to a revolution led by the Ayatollah Khomeini who established an Islamic Republic intolerant to other religions. The persecution of the Baha'i in their country became so intense that they could not return. So, they sought political asylum here in the US and have been here every since. Subsequently, all of her family members have escaped and live in the United States and Spain.
Iraj and Nourieh are lovely neighbors and have raised two wonderful children, one of whom discovered water on Mars when she was a junior in college!
Thursday, June 7, 2007
158 - 4-H Fun
We decided to join 4-H in the fall. So, we had a planning meeting today, and these are some of the boys in the class (including the tallest two who are mine!)
My kids signed up for woodworking (led by one of the elders in our new church!), movie making (imagine my kids being interested in that?), and derby cars. I am going to teach digital photography, but my kids didn't want to be in my class. LOL!
I know next to nothing about 4-H, but since they meet at my church, and I am already there on Thursdays for afternoon Bible study, it will work out just great!
4-H Pledge
I pledge
my HEAD to clearer thinking,
my HEART to greater loyalty,
my HANDS to larger service, and
my HEALTH to better living for my club, my community, my country, and my world.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
157 - The Blessings in the Mundane
Outside the flowers were blooming and spring beckoned me for shots,
But inside I stayed cleaning with my men, no longer tots
Inside the books were scattered in a mess upon the floor
But in labor there were blessings as our memories did soar
Of the time we read Dr. Seuss on a Taiwan airport delay
Of reading Cars and Trucks and Things that Go a hundred times a day!
So here is a mundane picture: a family room turned neat
And a memory of a blessed time with men that are so sweet!
We are here to destroy your cleaning!
The Bionicles try to take over after the job is done, but we will resist. WE WILL RESIST!
You can see our collection of Bionicles on the left side of the picture of the day. The kids cleared the shelves and dusted them and the Bionicles. A laborious job!
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
156 - Cotton Candy Rose
They're here! My favorite flowers in our garden are the roses. We led a Bible study for a few years; and at the end of the time, each of the four families gave us a rose bush that symbolized "growth" from the study. We planted them in a little rose garden at the side of our house. It always reminds me of those special families, and how we grew together. I think this one reminds me of cotton candy!
Monday, June 4, 2007
Sunday, June 3, 2007
154 - Wildcat Finished at 6 p.m.
I am in tears as I write this post. How fulfilling it was to be a small part of something so wonderful that brought our community together! Dh and I headed down after church to help with the final touches on Wildcat Park today. The park was to be finished by 5 p.m., and we thought it was perfect because we had to be at the Global Day of Prayer at 6 p.m. At about 5:15 p.m., we realized that there was no way we could leave! We wanted to get it done because the kids were all lining up outside the park waiting for it to be done. It was so rewarding to see them all flood the park at about 6:25 p.m. tonight!
You can see the whole set from today here. For those of you who have followed this blog, you might remember that I put a picture of the Benton County Courthouse here. Well, as you can see, they did a replica of it in Wildcat Park.
So cool!
Saturday, June 2, 2007
153 - Spring Fly Fishing
George is my guest photographer for today because I love the picture that he took on his day of fishing with friends. I loved the shot of the flowers and fly fishing. I also loved the one of the columbine below.
He is also my guest photographer because he had the DSLR while I stayed home and worked on Wildcat Park. He said it felt weird because it is the first time he has ever gone on an outing with our new camera because I always have it! LOL!
You can see the whole set including a wonderful waterfall here. Come visit Oregon!
Friday, June 1, 2007
152 - Sorority Sisters at Sam's
I had a delightful three hour lunch with two of my sorority sisters from college, Leanne and Jean. We all met at Alpha Delta Pi Sorority in the late 70's and have been friends every since. The conversation is always lively and real; talking about topics from frustrating family dynamics to discerning evil in people. I always treasure these times, and today was no exception. We also get together with our spouses a couple of times a year and, amazingly, the husbands all really like each other too! This is really good because we usually get so engrossed in conversation, they are on their own! They are great women of God that I really enjoy.
(By the way: Jean is the wife of the pastel artist whom I have told many of you about. See one of Jim's portraits of Jean here. She is his main muse. They are also the people who had the Curly's Dairy Truck run into their kitchen. If you have never heard this story, you really need to read it here. It will be an inspiration for you.)
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We spent a great day Saturday at the beach with two other lovely families. This little fourteen month old sweetheart was just adopted from China on March 12. Adorable!