ENGLISH IDENTITY

 

Aunty and Beanie's houses photo by Chris

Aunty and Beanie, my great aunt and great uncle, were “English.” All their ancestors can be traced back to England, and in many ways they carried that heritage with them. When I think of them, their houses—pictured in the photo above—seem to capture the spirit of the Pilgrims who emigrated to America in 1620. The Pilgrims primarily built their homes using wood such as oak, pine, and walnut, following traditional English methods. Their earliest dwellings often had thatched roofs, although clapboards later replaced them for better fire safety.

In the same way their homes reflected tradition, Aunty and Beanie themselves lived out many English traits. For example, they were wonderful gardeners. Uncle Beanie tended a huge lilac bush beside his house, while Aunty grew vegetables and a lovely bush of wild roses. It always seemed to me that many English people are dedicated gardeners, and they certainly were.

Beyond their gardens, Uncle Beanie was a natural caregiver. So it usually fell to him to entertain the cousins when we were visiting Grandma and Grandpa on their 15-acre farm in Eastern Washington. Whether he was taking us on long walks or escorting us down the hill to the mailboxes to wait for the mail, he always made us feel cared for.

Aunty, on the other hand, seemed happiest with babies. I remember her rocking one or two little ones at a time. My brother Jay, the first grandchild, bonded with her deeply, and they always enjoyed one another’s company.

Because of distance, we never spent Thanksgiving with them while we were growing up; our visits were usually limited to the summer. However, that changed later. When three of us attended college nearby, we finally had the chance to spend Thanksgiving with them and with other relatives in town. One year my brother Jay wanted to enjoy every Thanksgiving invitation he received, so he managed to eat Thanksgiving dinner at the college, at our grandparents’ farmhouse, and at our aunt and uncle’s home in town.

Looking back, I’m thankful that our ancestors emigrated to America and that we have such a rich heritage.

Psalm 119:111 — “Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.”

IT'S VETERANS DAY

 

Our active duty veteran--  Josh

Today is a day to honor veterans. We have an active duty veteran in our family—Josh—married to our granddaughter Samantha. We are very proud of him and grateful for his service.

On Sunday, our church recognized veterans in a touching tribute, and now, throughout Spokane, various events are taking place to honor them once again. It’s wonderful to see our community come together in appreciation. If you’re local, check out this website for details. Even “Play It Again Sports” in the Spokane Valley, 15412 East Sprague Avenue, Suite 12, is hosting a special event today—what a great way to see different groups show support.

As I reflect on all this, I’m filled with gratitude. I deeply admire these brave men and women and am thankful we have a day set aside to honor them.

Thinking back, I’m reminded of my own small connection to military life. Many years ago, when I attended EWU, I was an ROTC Sponsor and even served as the honorary colonel, commander of the Sponsor Corps. Those were exciting days—marching in parades, attending “Rifle Meets,” and supporting the cadets at various events. We Sponsors were proud to play a part in encouraging these dedicated future officers.

Back then, before women could officially join as officers, one of the few ways we could be recognized was by running for Military Ball Queen. Below are photos of the queen candidates from 1966—a cherished memory and a reminder of how times have changed.

It truly was a fun and meaningful time to be part of the ROTC community. I'm thankful for it. 

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
— James 1:17

IT ISN'T SAD MOVIES THAT MAKE ME CRY-- IT'S NEW TECHNOLOGY

 

Mad scientist

My wonderful family wants me to have the best of everything. Unfortunately, that often involves change — and change is not my strong suit.

This weekend, for example, my beloved iPhone 6s was pried out of my hands (with my reluctant approval) and replaced with a shiny new 16e. I know, I know — progress is good. But as soon as I start getting comfortable with one gadget, another upgrade appears on the horizon.

As if that weren’t enough, our Select Comfort king bed also got an upgrade — adjustable mattresses this time. It’s not that I dislike these improvements; it’s just that my brain doesn’t adapt as quickly as the technology does.

Take my nighttime podcast routine. It used to be so simple: grab my wired earbuds, plug in, and listen. Now, it’s an entire production. I have to fish my fancy wireless earbuds out of their little case, twist them the right way, and somehow get them into my ears — all in the dark. Half the time, I’m not sure if they’re even on.

Then I remember — there’s always help nearby. When all else fails, I can just ask ChatGPT.

Because as Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us:

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

Maybe this is my season to learn — slowly, reluctantly, but with a little laughter along the way.