SARAH! SARAH! SARAH!

Woohooo! I was excited to wakefulness this morning when Doug came upstairs to ask if I could hear what my sister Kotya and her husband had been watching on the morning news - "McCain chose Sarah as his running mate." "Wha...??" "Our Sarah?" "Yeah!" OH MY WORD - "Did she accept?" "Yup, I think she has."

We are so happy with Sarah's abilities to govern and we don't doubt that she will be doing her best to work for us in the White House too should they become the next President and Vice President.

May God continue to give her wisdom and a love and passion for her work. May He bless her family as they share her with us! May He protect her and her family from the evil ones attacks.

I am happy for Sarah!

360 North

Our fairly new television station airs programs of interest specifically to Alaskans. I have found many interesting documentaries and programs being aired on this station whenever I've sat down and took a look-see.

This morning we watched a show about Canada's World War II Veteran's "Lest They Be Forgotten." (More show times and more "Lest They Be Forgotten" programs).

I appreciated being able to watch as these honorable veteran's remembered their part in that war. They encouraged us to remember their buddies and chum's who lost their lives during that conflict. It is a good thing - to observe the two-minute silence held on November 11th, each year in honor of all those fallen, brave men. We should stand at respectful attention lest we forget what they and all our veterans secured for us - freedom from a dictator. They forged on ahead to this likely death - so willingly!

Mom reminded me of the Bible verse: "Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Thank you to our "friends."

And thanks 360 North for showing such a fine documentary.

Aren't we all saddened to see the awful treatment one human being can inflict on another? Inhumane treatment was at an evil extreme inside the concentration camps of World War II.

I wanted to find a website on how many WW II veterans still remain alive today. I did a Google search and got side-tracked at REMEMBER.ORG, a website for the holocaust victims of WW II instead. Then and Now. The website has a collection of artwork created by concentration camp survivors. Stop by to view this exhibit of artwork along with actual photographs of the places they survived.

Author Terrence Des Pres described it as an "excremental assault" and wrote: "How much self-esteem can one maintain, how readily can one respond to the needs of another, if both stink, if both are caked with mud and feces?" [Terrence Des Pres, The Survivor: An Anatomy of Life in the Death Camps (Pocket Books: New York, 1976) p. 66.]

As I sat and listened to these guys and women speak of freedom, I began to think... what is freedom and do I realize what I have? I have thought of this before and don't ever want to stop thinking on this.

So I asked myself again... what is freedom to me?

It is going to sleep at night, turning off the light and knowing when I wake up in the morning there will be --- breakfast to be made. Dogs to be cared for. Bills to be paid. Air to be breathed. Beavers to be watched. Birds to listen to. Grandchildren to laugh with. Education, when I want it, where I want it. My God worshipped when and how I know is right. All these things done without someone with more power holding a club over me, demanding his/her way any of these should be done --- or not done. Freedom is so much more than what I think everyday! It's like breathing... we all should have that right, we die when we are not free.

After viewing the concentration camp art exhibit, I am even more aware of the many, many freedoms I enjoy each day. Clean water to drink, to wash in! I am thankful for these freedoms secured by men and women who gave up their freedom for a time.

I cannot speak of freedom and not mention that I am very thankful for the spiritual freedom secured by Jesus Christ giving up His own freedom. Freedom from the slavery I had to death - via sin is mine because of His sacrifice. Thank God for His willing Son! Because of the love Christ in us shows to all mankind, we are able to even be sane enough to remain free! Apart from Christ, all evil will be free to abound. He was the only Way our freedom from bondage could be won. All you have to do is believe it and you'll be made free too!

360 North also has a blog!

Alaskan Basket Weaver Now Blogs

Jill Choate, our basket weaver instructor and fantastic artist now is blogging about her life here in Alaska. Stop by her blog for her interesting life writes. She continues to bring basket classes to all those interested in learning to weave.

My last basket weaving attempt continues to sit unfinished in the bay window of my dining area. I just have been too busy this summer to get back to it. (Basket of messy stuff are all of Chewy's toys, and now been seriously chewed on by Moto too.)

Visit Jill's blog now.

Overflowing

My house has been overflowing with friends and family. Howling Huskies happened this past weekend and Kene and Millie Jackson spent a few nights with us. My sister Kotya and her family stopped by (but I didn't take pictures!) and will be spending some nights with us. We also met Kris' friend from Arizona - Heather. They have been communicating now for probably a year +. It's nice to meet her finally - in person as she plans to spend the next two weeks visiting here in Alaska. First impressions of Heather? She is tall and has a beautiful smile!

We went to Chepos yesterday, a place our family likes to go for Mexican occasionally. Mom and I shared a chicken enchillada dinner and the rest of the couples each shared the deluxe appetizer plate.

Klint and Calli

Kris and Heather

Marie, Matthew.

My Mom and I.

The sunrise a few mornings ago. I've been seeing some sunrises since I've been getting up early to bring Moto outdoors before he overflows. House breaking is coming along alright.

We have been seeing the results of a very industrious beaver along the shoreline here too. He slaps his tail and does a very loud plunge into the lake when he is around. Chevy cannot resist jumping into the lake to chase him around then the loons come over for a closer look.

We have not had time to be bored at all lately. Doug has been busy as a beaver himself trying to keep Meadow Creek open and flowing with that beaver around. The beaver dammed up the creek so well that the lakes water level has risen and overflowed its banks to the point of flooding Marie's cute garden! Between the little critters that have been eating things up and now the water her garden is in poor shape.

Our Most Constant Comfort

Rapid Deployment Kits for our troops via Campus Crusade for Christ International.

I received an email from Focus on the Family asking for support of our troops being deployed overseas by giving to help provide Bibles for them. I can't think of a more perfect way to bring comfort in times of troubles, can you?

God's word saves - eternally.

??????

Can someone that can't/won't swim because she can't trust that she WILL float.... possibly know what it means to ----TRUST?

What Am I Keeping An Eye On?

My grandchildren watching t.v. on Easter day.

The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord: and He will give you the desires of your heart."

I am reading Billy Graham's book "The Holy Spirit, Activating God's Power In Your Life" and found what he wrote about delighting myself in the LORD and what that mindset will do for me, it contradicts what the world says delighting in the Lord will do which is give me riches, happiness, prosperity. Sadly, many "christian" preachers on television push a health and wealth philosophy. They sit in riches on their television programs. They buy extravagant riches in their lives. That is their god... riches/wealth.

Billy Graham wrote about St. Augustine's quote, "Love God and live as you please." When I truly love God I will want to do what pleases Him, and not myself.

Delighting in the Lord, will alter my desires. I have to ask myself, what are my desires right now?

When I delight in God, my desires are no longer riches, happiness, prosperity as the world has been teaching are my desires ... it is Christ in me the hope of Glory. I believe that people use that verse and others like it to promote riches, and wealth for the "christian" in this world below.

Also, it is whatever my heart keeps on eying that I will delight in. When I keep focused on Christ and pleasing Him that will be what others will be seeing in my daily walk, if it isn't, then others will see that too - it is whatever I have been focusing on.

Our minds ----- a powerful ally or a powerful enemy in our daily spiritual walk. It is our choice what our minds will dwell on - God gave to us that freedom.

WOW!

How about the Olympic opening ceremony in China, huh? Incredible.

It's hard to believe that Christian's are persecuted there from what we watched tonight. China did a great job with this opening ceremony and I am very impressed, but as I watched I could not help but think of where some of our Christian brothers and sisters are over there and what sort of fiery trials they are enduring.

Remember to pray for China's persecuted Christians as you watch your favorite Olympians, PERSECUTION.COM While you are there remember the Russia and Georgian troubles too. It was a wonder to me to see President Bush and Putin in the same place while Russia and Georgia waged war... if not, it was war-like activity. USA Today.

Check and Recheck

So - as I worked in the laundry room a few days ago I dug through a box that had been used as a catch-all for a while. All sorts of things were in it by now. Mismatched socks, little shirts that I have no idea who they belonged to, a broken bracelet, a broken clothespin, one side slipper which I silently wished I knew where the other side was, volcanic rock (yes, taken from Maui) that dropped out of my hand and down to floor with a loud crack. I had stooped down to make sure the ceramic tile was not chipped but I didn't bother to pick up the rock.

If only lost and misplaced things could talk, they'd tell us where they last saw the other matching sock, who might like that small shirt back, how did the bracelet get broken, who broke the clothespin and then didn't dispose of it properly, where that nice other side slipper might be found, and why in the world was that rock in the box anyway?

Once again I was in the laundry room this morning after having spent early morning chasing after my puppy Moto. Today will be THE day that he totally understands "potty" I thought to myself while I got up refreshed and ready to face another early morning taking him outside.

"Okay Moto, potty. Let's go potty." I said cheerfully as I coaxed him out of his kennel.

Out the door we went and I set him down near the woods and said, "Potty." He did and I praised him "loudly and profusely." "Very good Moto! Good boy! POTTY!"

Back inside we both went and I ran upstairs to get a load of Doug's jeans to throw into the washer. He followed me happily out to the laundry room. Okay good, I thought, he can eat his breakfast while I work in the laundry room a bit, and I can keep a close eye on him. So I began folding laundry.

I could hear the puppy sniffing around and then he began to whine and I thought that he was just bored and wanted to go into the house. (My laundry room is off of the garage.) I spoke to him and said, "Wait 'til I am done and we will go back inside."

Suddenly I thought I smelled something and looked down. Oh my word!

"Moto! No!"

"Come!"

He came up from the garage floor and yes, he did look very sheepish. I said, "No potty!" Then I took him to the offensive pile and sat him down to look and sniff at it. "No!"

Then I took him outside and put him near the trees again. "POTTY!" I said rather madly and feeling like bonking him on top his head.

I left him outdoors and went back inside to clean up AGAIN!

I got tissue paper and went to the laundry room and began to clean up the volcanic rock. Ha!

I laughed and laughed as I held the volcanic rock in the tissue paper. I went to Mom's room to go share what I had just done. We laughed and I apologized to Moto, then I went back to work in the laundry room. I suddenly stopped. One thing I have been blessed with is a good snout and I did smell something after all! Moto had gone down on the garage floor and did leave a mess, and I did smell it, and he was whining for that reason. So, perhaps we are coming along with the housebreaking.

Ah well. Live and learn. Learn to check ....and recheck!

Marriage Monday - Recreational Companionship

e-Mom is hosting Marriage Monday's once again and I did get time to create this video to share with everyone. I have been busy and playing with my Handycam videos has been hard to get to lately.

My husband and I love to go out for rides on our ATV. It's a Polaris Sportsman and I get to have my very own queen chair! It is pretty comfortable. Sometimes the whole family will be able to do an outing together and that is very fun. It ends up being a picnic and all the grand kids get to come and we love that so much as a couple.

So here is the video of us doing something that we both love. Doug loves the machine part of it all, and I love the beauty of outdoors. He is getting to appreciate that also more and more as we spend time together.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

One With God

My friend Sandi shared this cute story with me this morning:

A father wanted to read a magazine but was being bothered by his little girl, Shelby. She wanted to know what the United States looked like, he tore a sheet out of his new magazine on which was printed the map of the country. Tearing it into small pieces, he gave it to Shelby , and said, "Go into the other room and see if you can put this together. This will show you our whole country today." After a few minutes, Shelby returned and handed him the map, correctly fitted and taped together. The father was surprised and asked how she had finished so quickly. "Oh," she said, "on the other side of the paper is a picture of Jesus. When I got Jesus back where He belonged, then our country just came together."

Get Jesus back where He belongs, USA! In our hearts. Helping us via the Holy Spirit to make the right choices, to do the right things. I don't subscribe to the theory that if we walk with God He will make us rich with money... I believe that He will make us rich in joy, peace, love - long suffering, gentleness, meekness, kindness - contentment with daily bread.

A righteous prosperity - sadly it is dwindling in our country.

Don't forget to read the Bible today.