BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN

 

Milky Way from Keck Observatory in Hawaii.  Internet photo.

When daughter Heather was in her first year of college she felt led to travel somewhere warm during her spring break.  We happened to have many many airline miles.  Also we found a coupon for a cheap place to stay if we were willing to attend a timeshare presentation. Unfortunately only Heather, son Jes, and I were free that week. Chris was involved in a big project at work.  We were sure he wouldn't miss us as he only came home to sleep for a few hours each night. So we made the reservations and called and left a message on Chris's work phone singing "Leaving on a jet plane." We immediately got a return phone call. He was very surprised but said he could handle batching it. That was our first trip to Hawaii.  A few others came later. 

Preceding us, Grandma Isabel and Grandpa Claude had traveled to Hawaii to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

Next Grace Grandma and Grandpa Dave toured.

They gifted us with Hawaiian wear:

Chris, me, Heather, Grandma, Grandpa Jes

On our first trip to Hawaii Heather, Jes, and I took in a luau and toured a pineapple factory.  Pineapples are no longer widely grown in Hawaii. 

Chris and I made it to Kauai a few years later. 

Then many years later when Heather and Jes went with us we toured volcanoes on the big island.

We celebrated New Years Eve with a nice dinner.

We never made it to the observatory on Mt. Keck. One Pastor who took in this amazing opportunity said that the night sky of millions of stars was the most awesome and surprising scene he had ever seen.  Then he said that when Jesus returns He will shine so brightly that the spectacle will be even more wonderful. Will we be like the Israelites at Mt. Horeb (Deuteronomy 5:4 The Lord spoke with you face to face at the mountain, out of the midst of the fire, 5 while I (Moses) stood between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord. For you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up into the mountain.) 

Or will we be so relaxed like Peter, James, and John and fall asleep?(Luke 9:28 Now about eight days after these sayings he (Jesus) took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.)

Revelation 1:7 See! He is arriving, surrounded by clouds; and every eye shall see him—yes, and those who pierced him. And the nations will weep in sorrow and in terror when he comes. Yes! Amen! Let it be so!

ALWAYS REMEMBER

 

I used to get confused about the dates for 2 of my cousin's birthdays in September.  After the terrorist attack on the United States on 9/11 I no longer am.  I'll always recall to mind cousin Laurie and cousin Diana's birthdays.  They were both born on 9/11.  What happiness that they have added to my life.  Laurie helped us with craft projects one year to decorate our home for Christmas.  We still use her decorations each year.  Cousin Diana actually likes relatives and supported us by singing at our weddings, attending them, and other special events for our family.  She led singing for both my parent's funerals. 

But 9/11 is still a solemn day for many in the United States.  Above is a You Tube which tells about a memorial display for 9/11 which takes place in California each year.  The people of our country were unified.  The churches were full to bursting.  The only place we could find words of life was from Jesus.

John 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,

BACK TO SCHOOL

 

Samantha and Natalie.  Photo by Heather. Year -- maybe 2015?

My grandchildren Samantha, Natalie, and Noah usually get new things for school.  They shop and plan for new backpacks, clothes, and supplies. Sometimes they shop for what they need from used things around the house.  (Natalie made me a birthday present by "borrowing" a frame from her mom's picture for a scene she made for me.)

In my day I did all my shopping at home.  Mostly I did this as I hate to shop.  So I would find pens, pencils, paper, and binders around the house that were in fairly good shape. Sometimes I'd borrow clothes from my sister.  I made do with what I could find.  I never thought of asking my parents for money or using my babysitting money to buy new things.  

When we were growing up in Virginia we would travel to Washington to visit the relatives each summer.  Our grandmother on our father’s side thought that she had to buy the five of us us new shoes at Berg’s in Spokane.  She thought we couldn’t afford shoes.  That wasn’t the case.  It was that my mom liked Bergs and felt we could get better shoes there. The store started out as a children’s shoe stores in Spokane, WA in 1932, then branched out into specialty comfort footwear in 1985. So we waited until we got to Spokane to buy our shoes. 

As a grandmother, the way I get ready for the school year is I plan to pray. This year I'm leading another Moms in Prayer group.  We are praying that God will increase the number of moms praying this year. Our schools need God's protection and loving guidance to encourage and build up our education system and to bring out the potential of each child. Ready, set, pray!

I Samuel 2:18 Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy clothed with a linen ephod.