THE PATHS OF GOD ARE IMPORTANT!!

AND, FOR YEARS AND YEARS, HE'S TOLD ME

TO FOLLOW HIS PATHS AND SERVE AND PROTECT

MANY OF OUR PEOPLE IN THE WORLD.

I HAVE AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE,

AND HIS BLESSINGS HAVE FILLED 

MY HEART WITH JOY.

WALKING AND WORKING HARD IN OUR WORLD,

BUT WILL BE BLESSED AND SHOWN LOVE IN

HEAVEN.

I'M A ROOT, NOT A FLOWER!

I SHOWED THIS A YEAR OR SO AGO,

AND AM SHOWING NOW, AGAIN.

IT IS TRULY ONE OF MY GOD-JOBS.

SOMETIMES I'VE WANTED TO BE ONE OF THE 

LEAVES, FLOWERS, OR A SPECIAL BRANCH.

INSTEAD, THE LORD HAS USED ME TO GO OUT

AND ABOUT AND WATCH AND STEP AND DO

WHATEVER IS NEEDED AND NECESSARY.

WITH MY PRESENT-DAY AGE THING AND

MY STRUGGLES WITH AND FOR

DEMENTIA AND VARIOUS BODY ISSUES,

ALL I CAN DO MOST OFTEN IS

WORSHIP, PRAISE, AND PRAY

FOR HIM...

MOMENT-BY-MOMENT,

DAY-BY-DAY.

AND THIS IS MY MAIN SPIRITUAL BIBLE VERSE

THAT HE LAID ON ME YEARS AND YEARS AGO.

BUT HE'S ALL THAT COUNTS, FOREVER.

THAT'S MY FOCUS!!

I'M A "ROOTER"...DAY BY DAY THROUGH HIM!

PORTLAND AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH, TACOMA, WA.

I've shared this salvation issue many times over the years.  When in Tacoma, and driving or going around and about, I always try to see this church.  In mid-March, 1966, the Lord sent me there with my friend, Carol, who had just moved into my apartment a couple weeks earlier.  When I asked lots of "God" questions and through her confusion when she saw the UN-godliness, she connected me to one of the men who was a straightforward sharer and teacher.  I went with her to the church, which was all the way across town and we had to take the bus.  Not a nearby going-in-and-out situation as almost all of us in this nation do now.

I was showing my Omaha friend, Lisa, for whom I had gone to Tacoma August 11th, because she was working there for a couple months in a special nursing teaching way.  Even though we had been friends at church for a few years, she hadn't known I was from Tacoma.  And while she was out there, I didn't know it.  I knew she was working hard somewhere, but assumed it was here in Omaha.  When I suddenly discovered it, at the beginning of her last section out there and it would be ending August 15th, I definitely wanted to be there with her so she'd truly know me.

Since she had already read my book, "The Annie Project", I certainly wanted to be there with her and have her see much of the portion of Tacoma that was part of the book.  

I didn't use the NAME of Tacoma, but much of what occurred to "Cary" and/or "Annie" in the book I shared the events, rarely was an actual town named -- except Klickitat, WA, in one full chapter story.  While in Tacoma, I showed Lisa houses that were part of my family many, many, many years ago.  For instance, one where my Mom lived when adopted when born in 1920.  We all had been in that "Grandma"  house occasionally until I was about 25, around 1970, and Mom had let it go.  She had had it several years since my grandma had died.  Showing Lisa that house, and several other ones, and Wright Park and Point Defiance Park, and many other places, seeing and meeting some of my family was quite fun.  She was a very busy lady, but we miraculously fit it in!  Now she truly knows me.

MOM'S ORIGINAL HOUSE, SIGNIFICANTLY READJUSTED

WRIGHT PARK, MOM'S FAVORITE

 

2 AREAS OF PT. DEFIANCE PARK

The first real place we went to was the Baptist church that I had entered through Carol.  I came to the Lord April 15th, 1966, but not at the church.  I had been taken to the home of the man's family for dinner. He had already laid the truth of the Lord on me.  And, he, Stan, said the right things and through him, He took me in.  Lisa asked if I'd have a photo at the church. I never had.  She took the photos.  I was amazed.  Now, it ISN'T a Baptist church.  Several other titles have taken place over about 20 years, but it looks nearly exactly the same way.  And, BTW, I was a Sunday School teacher shortly after I came to the Lord.  THAT is amazing, too.  And every time I go by the church, I see the windows where I was in my teaching places.  Makes me smile.  So, here's the photos, even though nothing is perfect.  Might make you grin, though.  That would be a good thing.

I'M A "ROOTER" FOR THE LORD!

THE LORD LAID THIS VERSE ON ME NEARLY 15 YEARS AGO.  THAT WOULDN'T MAKE SENSE TO MANY IN THE WORLD, BUT IT DID TO ME BACK THEN AND HAS CONSISTENTLY SINCE THEN.  

THE SITUATION IS THAT, IN SINFULNESS CONNECTED TO OUR WORLD, SOME PEOPLE ARE STANDING UP FOR THE LORD STRONGLY WHEN IT IS BEFORE THEIR EYES AND HEARTS.  THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE DESTROYING THE SATANIC FRUIT.  ONE OF THEM, AS AN EXAMPLE, CAN BE ABORTION.  I'M PROUD OF THOSE WHO HAVE DEALT WITH IT PERSONALLY AND STRONGLY AND 

CONNECTED TO THEIR CITY AND STATE SIGNIFICANTLY.

GOD USES ME AND A NUMBER OF OTHERS IN A DIFFERENT WAY.  WE LOOK AT THE UNDERGROUND OF THE AREA TO DETERMINE HISTORICALLY IF OTHER gods HAVE BEEN WORSHIPED AND IF OR HOW SACRIFICE HAD BEEN PART OF THE EVENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE.

IN OUR CITY AREA, OR STATES, OTHER NATIONS, THE LORD HAS USED TO ME [AND OTHERS] TO SHARE WITH PASTORS OR LEADERS OR WORSHIPERS OR SPIRITUAL GODLY "SACRIFICERS".  WHEN THEY SEE THE "UNDERGROUND" AND SEE THE "ROOTS" FROM THEIR HISTORICAL SITUATION, THE SATANIC AND/OR DEMONIC PIECES CAN BE DESTROYED.  THE ROOTS CAN COME OUT AND BE TORN AND BROKEN AND RUINED AND BURIED IN THE LORD'S GODLY LOCATION.  THEY CAN DO NOTHING BUT BE IN CONTROL BY HIM FOREVER AND EVER.

SO, EVEN WHEN I'M NICE, I'M A "ROOTY" PERSON AND A "ROCKY" PERSON... AS I'M WELL KNOWN OF NOW.  I DRIVE SOME PEOPLE NUTS AND MAKE OTHERS FILLED WITH ENCOURAGEMENT OF WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW THE ENEMY CAN BE DESTROYED, AROUND AND ABOUT.

MY GOD-JOB, FOR DOZENS OF YEARS, IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, SERVING HIM, HOWEVER HE PRODS ME, MOVES ME ON HIS PATH, I'LL TRULY TRY TO BE HIS WARFARE WORKER,  FROM NOW UNTIL HEAVEN, AND FOREVER, NO MATTER WHAT  HE USES ME 

FOR THERE, TOO..

DON'T LEAVE HIS PATHS!

YES!  LISTENING TO HIM,

FOCUSING ON HIS DIRECTIONS!

HE DOES GIVE MORE STRENGTH

IT WAS A BLESSING TO SPEND SOME TIME

AT PT. DEFIANCE PARK

WITH NIKI AND PATTI.

FUN TO SEE NIKI CLIMB.

I COULDN'T HAVE.

AND HERE'S NIKI AND PATTI, 

RIGHT BEFORE NIKI CLIMBED:

[AND THIS IS ONLY TWO OF MY SISTERS;

I HAVE FIVE.

I'M OLDEST TWO-MONTHS SHY OF FIVE YEARS;

NIKI AND PATTI WERE NEXT.

TERI, BETTY, AND KRISTAN AFTER THAT.

I MISS AND LOVE ALL MY SISTERS.

THEY ALL LIVE IN THE NW. 

I'M ABOUT 1800 MILES AWAY

TRULY WANT TO SEE THEM AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE.]

PATH GUIDING

TRUSTING HIM TO GUIDE.

THAT'S ALL I CAN DO. 

EVER, EVER.

HIS CREATION

On my trip to and from the Northwest in July, I saw much of His creation and I smiled and rejoiced very often. 

 A variety of creative bits and pieces.

Hope you will smile.
Couldn't not share.

 =============

HOW HAPPY I WAS WITH

 WHAT HE CREATED.

Proverbs 8:31

===============

At Yellowstone NP

Point Defiance Park, Tacoma, WA

Downtown, Portland, OR

Point Defiance Park by 5-Mile Road

Multnomah Falls, OR

Bremerton, WA,, Puget Sound, Ferry Area.

Old Faithful, Yellowstone NP

Flowers, Bremerton, WA

AND NOW THE FINAL, BUT MOST LOVED BY ME...

Mount Rainier, Tacoma, WA

Would LOVE to include the piles of family and friends... would LOVE to ... but don't have enough of the photos and wouldn't want people to feel hurt if they weren't included and would feel rejected.  

But WE created by our Lord was EXTREMELY special.  And we are extremely blessed through Him.

REALITY STRIKES AGAIN...

I left Tacoma yesterday, and don't think I'll ever be there again.  The photos were taken another time, because of today's computer issue, and the words written then.  However, the reality is still Reality.  All the photos are connected to Point Defiance Park beach area or downtown when seeing the Rainier... "my" Rainier.  The last photo is on the Washington side of the Columbia River ... one of my favorite Rest Areas.  Will be there in about 5 days when heading east.  But, as I said, this truly is Truth. 

===================================

THE "SOME DAYS" OF LIFE

Some days feel sluggy and bloggy and foggy,

even when hard and firm Rockiness is in sight.

 

[Sometimes the rocks are in bits and pieces;
not a firm foundation.]

Sometimes life simply seems unraveled. Unorganized.

...or dusty, and gusty and dingy and fringy...

 

Sometimes,

yes, sometimes,

that is how our days,

hours, minutes, seconds

... our lives ...

feel.

And yet...

The reality,

The True Reality,

is...

Strength, solidity...

Strong Roots linking our past to the future...

 

Wispy, whispery Spirit breezes swifting through,

bringing Light into our hearts.

 

 

TACOMA ON MY HEART

MT. RAINIER AND PUGET SOUND, POINT DEFIANCE, TACOMA

Since my arrival from the northern Oregon "sisters" location, I have been hanging out at Point Defiance.  Driving through it, walking on the beach, taking a "million" photos of Mt. Rainier ... much more extremely clear now, but I can't download them until I'm home with a computer, so you're stuck with one from a couple years ago.  Anyhow, watching the waves, the islands, the mountains [both Olympic and Cascade ranges seen from the Tacoma area], the boats, the birds, and millions of flowers and trees. I'm overwhelmed with joy.

God has used me to meet and teach and touch a number of people.  I had no idea when or how it would come to pass.  It has been amazing. For instance, I met a lady at my favorite restaurant, Harbor Lights, yesterday.  As I was leaving from the small outside eating area, Terri and I said, basically, "Bless your day."  Well, I asked where she was from and she said Indianapolis.  I said I was from Omaha.  We talked about much, and when she said her son is a leader of a Teen Challenge, I began rejoicing. Shortly after I was saved, in 1967 the book by David Wilkerson, "The Cross and Switchblade", was dropped into my life and filled me with extreme desire to serve and fight for the Lord.  We talked for quite a while, and are going to be spiritual "forever friends".  I never could have imagined that was the reason the Lord had me stop there for dinner, when, as much as I like it, it ain't cheap.  It was more important to meet Terri than to be concerned about a few bucks.

That's one example.  There are others.  Can hardly wait to share those when I reach home in a couple weeks.

I miss reading so many of your posts... but rarely have time to do more than toss something on for you. When I get home, I'll spend a number of days of posting my things and reading yours.

God truly is using me... and I truly am tired and struggling physically and mentally.  Can I trust ME??? NO!!!  Can I trust HIM??? ABSOLUTELY!!!  HE is "IT"!

[Oh, and a long-time friend of mine with me today ... met when in 4th grade ...and, when sitting in her living room, she said very strongly that she thinks abortion and suicide -- as you are old and are ill -- is perfectly OK.  I can't change her mind and her heart, but, while driving her around and about, I told her more and more re: the Word and some of the Reality I know.  Hope Dorothy will eventually turn to the Lord thoroughly instead of just casually.  I truly hope so.  She and her mother always saw me as a poverty, poor, emotionally-ill kid ... they were, in their way of thinking, much better off than me.  Dorothy has a lot more respect for me now, but she also still somehow thinks I'm "less than".  I want the Lord to break through before she dies.  She's dealing with cancer and other issues now--she's been smoking since her teens and will be 68 this Fall.  Believe me, her house is filled with the nicotine stains on the walls and the odor is pretty overwhelming..  So I'm  tossing her on your hearts.  Can trust you more than I can trust me.]                                                    

POINT DEFINANCE PARK STORY

... one of my favorite places in the world. 

 

Every time I drive or walk through that park, as I said, one of my favorite places in the world, I have to laugh at the strange time I spent there when I was about 13 years old.  MANY, many years ago, obviously.

I was 9 years old and in 4th grade when my family changed homes in Tacoma.  In our new neighborhood, I soon met Marilyn and we became friends.  Same age, same grade, same school. As friends, we usually did well; but we sometimes did not. For instance, Marilyn would be very angry at me, and refuse to talk to me, but wouldn't tell me why.  She, going past my house on the way to school, would stop for me.  We'd walk that next few blocks.  She'd walk, but wouldn't talk and wouldn't look at me. No matter what a fuss was, a few days later, even though I usually had no idea what it was about, she would suddenly start smiling and talking, but never told me she was sorry or explained why she'd been upset.  Strange relationship, fair friendship.  We kept moving along until after 9th grade and my family left  Tacoma during the summer when I turned 15.

Like mine, her parents were alcoholics. But big difference:  she was the only of their kids who lived at home; her next sister was about 10 years older.  [I, as most of you know, was the oldest of 6 girls.] Consequently, she could deal with her parents more easily than I could.  

We did some really strange things.  One "funny" one: I had come to spend the night with her, and I climbed in her bedroom window on the side of their house.  Marilyn wanted me there that night, but her dad had not given permission, so I snuck in, and stayed on the floor by the bed.  Her dad popped in a couple times that night -- I'm sure he heard us whispering and snickering [who'd a thunk that?] -- but each time I was so well hidden on the wall-side of the bed on the floor, he didn't see me.  Did I have a good time?  Did I sleep, covered with blankets?  Not much.  BUT we broke his rule and we won.  That's what counted with us.

Even all these years later, though, when I'm driving through Point Defiance, I laugh. This is what happened: 

One morning the summer when we were 13, her dad still asleep from his drunk night, Marilyn went through his pockets and wallet and took his spare cash.  Her reasoning?  He wouldn't think it was stolen; he'd think he'd bought more beer for others at the bar than he had planned.  SO, she took the money and came to my house.  I happened to have the day off from babysitting my 5 sisters.  That summer my parents occasionally hired a lady to watch them, especially now that my youngest sister, Kristan, was less than a year old. The sitter would leave mid-afternoon, so I'd be free until about 3:00.  Believe me, I was a happy kid.

Marilyn came at 9 o'clock that morning and said we should go to Point Defiance on our bikes and she wanted to ride horses there.  I'd never ridden a bike nearly that far, always stuck to the neighborhood area, and I'd never been on a horse.  Point Defiance was about 4 miles away, riding up and down some hilly streets, and, once inside the park, another 1/2 mile or so to the horse area.  And, remember, in those days, folks, bikes weren't filled with all the easiness our present-day ones have.  They had a saddle w/o pads, regular wheels, pedals, and handlebars. Very basic. "Easy Riding" wasn't always easy. But... we did it.  [And, what was a helmet???]

Marilyn and I rode for about an hour to get to Point Defiance.  Then, we rode horses for an hour or two along the paths, through the tree and leafy areas and looking over the Puget Sound.  Then we rode the bikes back home. After reaching the house about 2 o'clock, I was exhausted from those hours of bike-and-horse-riding. We did it a couple times that week, but never again.

Did I have fun?  YES!!!  My first chance to do anything like that, because we were so poor and I had so much household responsibility and little free time.  Did I feel guilty?  YES!!! I KNEW her dad had been robbed.  I KNEW when and how it had been done, and who had done it.  I KNEW I had taken advantage to have the money used on me.

Did Marilyn ever wonder, feel guilty?  I don't know.  She was angry at her parents for their unparenting.  She felt angry that her sister had come out better than she did.

I haven't seen her since I was 20.  Returning to Tacoma for a job when having left Seattle, I connected with her through another former neighborhood friend. Marilyn was planning her marriage. I had a short visit at her apartment.  She seemed pleased with life.

I hope her life has improved as beautifully as mine has.  I hope to see her in heaven.  I can thank her for many things over those several years -- she really did some nice things for me. 

However, as much as I still grin about it at Point Defiance, when seeing the former horse-path area, in heaven it wouldn't be OK for me to thank her for providing excitingly fun horse-riding that week.  No matter how I might want to approach it, it wouldn't be OK, since the "fun" came as the result of stealing money from her dad.

But I DO hope to see her in heaven.  When there, we'd both be much spiritually-oriented happy ladies, forever.  And can walk, bike, and horse-ride for eternity ... however those activities are provided through angels.