Sayonara Seattle

 Listed my  好きなもの  (Sukinamono, translated favorite things) as a way of saying sayonara (good-by) to Seattle.

Japanese language was used b/c topping off my favorites of NW Washington trip was our kind, capable, knowledgable and funny bus driver (think lots of verve) who spoke Japanese. He also steered us safely through the Cascades to SNOWY Leavenworth, WA via the Snoqualmie Pass and back to Seattle thru the Stevens Pass (Hwy 2) so we would not have to chain up twice. Chaining up is hard enough for cars BUT for a BIG bus it takes skill, patience, strength and perseverance---not to mention that he also did another bus for a lady bus driver. Raymond Borge is bus driver extraordinaire! Corey, our Viator tour guide, was great as well and had lots of snacks, music and Christmas movies available. BEST tour duo, for sure
Best Breakfast Treat---Lolo's donuts in a bag served with cranberry jam & vanilla mascarpone cheese* (Could eat the mascarpone on card stock and love it.) Yummy omelet with Beecher's cheese too. Seattleites love Beecher's cheese & Berkshire pork.

Best Lunch--Andreas Keller Bavarian Restaurant Leavenworth WA--Schnitzel---all 3 varieties. (I ate my weight, which has increased exponentially on this trip, in the Spätzle alone.) Courtney, the BEST waitress, booth in a barrel, and Bavarian decor of this "underground" establishment all added to its cozy ambiance. Of course, the snow falling and cold temps outside and warm mulled wine served inside heightened the appeal.

Best Tea---the  Fairmont "1907" black tea at the Georgian Room in the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. The elegant surroundings didn't hurt either. (Pix at 12/12/15 blog entry)
Best Fine Dining maybe one of the best ever for me--Canlis Restaurant---Pacific NW fare (Peter Canlis prawns) steak, twice baked potato, tho I was skeptical about this Canlis tradition served in a ramekin, it was yummy--- Best View--our table view of Lake Union, aglow with lights.

Best Christmas Display--21 miles of lights coming ablaze at the Christmas lighting in Leavenworth

Best Gingerbread House Display--Star Wars themed ones at the Sheraton hotel

Best Surprise--The Chihuly Garden and Glass. Amazing. Other displays elsewhere but this is TOPS!

Best Extra--a car available, compliments of the hotel, with a true gentlemen of a driver.
Best Reason to Travel this far---seeing Gigi and Bonnie, even in the rain and snow!

LEAVENWORTH

Leavenworth.........and I'm "NOT" in Kansas anymore! 

But......I am in my cuddle duds!
There is snow! Lots of snow!!!
A true winter wonderland.
No wonder Leavenworth, WA was voted today the #1 Best Small  Town in America for Christmas.
Just click the link to see it and 19 other " best town" candidates.

Snow continued all day. Carolers, Santa, Snowmen, Elves and folks in crazy shoe-shaped hats walked the streets. Music groups performed all day at The Gazebo in the town center. Stars were carried in along with placards proclaiming being "born again" as the mayor reminded each of the importance of following the One who lights the way.
Prayers were offered in His holy name and all gathered together there sang "Silent Night"---3 verses!
How blessed I was to be there with friends to share this snowy day.  

HIGH! HIGH!! HIGH!!!

HIGH!!! HIGH!!! HIGH!!!......605' high. I said I was NOT going up!!
That's what I told myself long before I even boarded the plane for Seattle.
As my family knows, my feet hurt when I am high above the ground.
Bridges. Ridges. Skyscrapers. Elevators. Helicopter rides. Hotel rooms with a double digit number.
My head swims. My feet hurt. The tingling starts at my feet and goes all the way up----so, as I've aged, I've chosen to avoid very high places.
I know the spirit of fear is not from the Lord but was this endeavor in the sound mind category which He does provide? (2 Timothy 1:7) My mind was spinning just thinking about it.

My friend Gigi had planned this trip and reserved this "upward excursion" to the space needle as part of our fun. The 10 mph glass elevator ride to the top (on a very WINDY day) was a little unnerving to consider as was my fear of being in a place that might be considered a "soft target" by Isis.
The Paris massacres had occurred as I was leaving Turkey a few weeks ago and just 16 hours before I left for Seattle, 14 people were killed in San Bernardino, CA in a terrorist-style attack.  I checked the area for unattended backpacks. If I could sweat, I probably would have been doing that as well.

But.....I also don't like to hurt someone's feelings. So.... I went. I prayed. I peeked over at the downtown Seattle skyline and Puget Sound and across at Mount Ranier. I returned to earth and seriously considered kissing the ground.

This pic is a FAKE backdrop tho you can probably tell---'cause our hair isn's flying!!

No more High! High!! High!!! for me so don't even think about asking.....unless of course I'm worried about hurting your feelings.

SEATTLE BOUND

The 25th year of Tres Amigas Trips. The first weekend of December since 1990.

Our "girlfriend getaways" started out with 3---expanded to 4 from the north (IN), south (TN) east (MA) and west--after losing Maureen to breast cancer and health problems thwarting Bev's travel---we became 2--- the last 10 years we have been back to 3 with another sweet Calkins gal.

So.....with Gigi's (Keith's gift) 1993 Dom Perignon in hand we toasted our 25th Anniversary trek!

Fairmont Olympic Hotel Seattle, Washington Room 838 

Chemo Kindred

There is no color here. No religiosity. No gender differences. Cancer is no respecter of persons.
Chemotherapy is the common denominator.

West Clinic. Nothing seems changed since previous visits with different friends. 

This Clinic still has dedicated, friendly, capable staff and volunteers. People care for each other---even patient to patient.
Outside, the pond still reflects trees though sun is not shining and most of the branches are bare. Just a few scraggly leaves are holding on.
Inside, patients are holding on awaiting the drip that hopefully will save their lives. Some have been there weeks, others months and even years. But all with hope.

Seasons change. Weather changes. Cancer is the constant. Hope remains.

However, this is the last Tuesday at this location. Lots of emotional detritus will be left here. The good the bad and the ugly as cancer leaves it's mark.
But God .....is in this place. Today I once again saw "the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."(Psalm 27:13) 

The good news is----God and hope will be at the new location as well. I know because sweet friend Pam will take Him there! 

DOUBLE DIGIT

Double-digit birthdays are biggies. Hallmark knows this and takes full advantage.

But the first double digit seems the BEST---a real milestone! 

For Caleb it was an extended celebration of sorts---from party with friends earlier in the month to a celebration with extended family days before---a pogo stick was even delivered to the door and a family dinner at Texas Land and Cattle on the “real” day!

Happy 10^th Birthday to our football playing fisherman CDL!
Cabela's awaits you with open arms anxious to help you spend your birthday "bucks."

SAD-urday

Pinkness came......in her pink tutu pajamas.....

....Pinkness.......captivated her cousins from the youngest to the oldest.....

......and all the ones in between.

Pinkness conquered....right down to her pink-tipped socks in the cousins' "good-by" picture.
Saying good-by to all these "grands" made this a real SAD-urday!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Pre-Meal photos trying to "beat" the rain. Not a fave activity for kids but at least we have it!!

Plus, each receive an authentic soccer jersey from a Turkish team thanks to Serdar Bey who "shopped" for my grands so each one would have one. They LOVED them!!

Set up same as 2 years ago so we could see the changes. 

GLEANINGS

Gleaning. A picking up. A gathering. 

In Scripture we see it as the Lord's provision when Ruth came and gleaned in the field after the reapers. (Ruth 2:2-4)

I often glean spiritual truth from non-fiction books. Some gleanings are noteworthy.

For me, when short on time, I often approach a book with a glance at the Table of Contents. 

Much info can be gleaned from there to aid my "quick read" even if I read from the back...forward. 

The true gleanings, though, are the leftovers. Those phrases or thoughts which feed my mind after I have put the book down. Some books offer more than others.

With morning tea in hand, teach us to want : longing, ambition and the life of faith by Jen Pollock Michel offered a few gleanings:

Clarity and certainty are not the soil in which faith grows. (p. 112)

Prayer is where we meet God with all our humanity hanging out. (p. 113) 

The prayers of our struggle prepare the way for surrender, even praise. (p. 122)

Disappointing news might not have one in a conspicuous spiritual tantrum....but flinging silence at the sky is NOT at all a Mary type answer. 'I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.' (Luke 1:38) (p.110)

Seeing agnostic Mary's life fall apart, her friends tell her to pray anyway.
"Yield up what scares you. Yield up what makes you want to scream and cry. Enter into the quiet. It's a cathedral. "
(But) how does getting on your knees do anything for you?" Mary asks.
"It makes you the right size." (p. 65)

That last one's a keeper---a true "prayer posture" gleaning for me.

Happy 40th Birthday!

Today is the birthday of our middle child---our younger son, Megan's hubby and Lucy's daddy. Where has time gone??

Prayers offered---straight from scripture. 

Pix to follow---