YES, AGAIN ...

Indeed, another faithful member of PoP has died.  There was a mighty threesome of retired 'grandpas' who served at Forest Hills Lutheran School, and then as age and arthritis began to set in, they turned their talents to fishing.  Well, the threesome is gone, now - Roy died in October, Bob on Christmas Day, and now Ralph.  What a great trio they were.  Bob worked behind the scenes at Ma Bell for many years in the beginning stages of networking (then suffered a stroke at an early age - @50; and was never stopped from fishing - though sometimes he was with cane, or walker, or wheelchair - his condition was different every day.  Roy had his doctorate in education and taught in US schools in Germany, and then came back to the states and organized schools on Indian reservations for the BLM.  And now Ralph - worked for Kraft for his whole career - and even when they were bought out, he still spoke so favorably of his employment.  He was 92? (married 70+ years - wife still living).  So this Saturday is the "celebration of life" services for Lorraine (morning) and Terry (afternoon); and then Ralph's will be next Monday.  It's been a lot of grieving for this congregation ... but the Lord provides and we continue to get through.

Last Fri/Sat we made a quick trip back north to see Dorothy; she had been transferred from the hospital to the Re-Hab center (the Lutheran Home) for the next week or so.  We left at 7 Fri nite, then headed back home about 2 on Sat.  She is doing marvelously well!  She walked some 50 yards to the deli dining hall to join us for lunch on Saturday; then needed a ride in the wheelchair to get back - we've haven't determined if she's stubborn or determined ... probably a little bit of both!  I brought back two of her dining room chairs to mend/reinforce.  When chairs get to be over 20 they start getting a little wobbly ... and the last thing I need to hear is that she falls because the chair she grabbed collapsed!  Need to have them done before Friday - Karina's making the trip north again - probably to bring her mom back to her home.

Leaving Tacoma we "hit" a snowstorm - well what they call a snowstorm out west ... huge 1+ inch flakes floating down from the sky; and it lasted all of 7 minutes ... then hit a couple more flurries like that on the rest of the way home - dry highways in-between, though.  Today we're getting the same - well not the same, that was last Saturday - the same KIND of flurries - huge flakes and wet and heavy, but not sticking on the ground.  So it is really pretty outside at times.

Yesterday also provided a photo-op for Zephyr, Bodhi, Silas and the other Big Machine lovers in this family.  A couple a folks were out for a walk and noticed flames shooting out of our neighbor, Chris', chimney.  They called 9-1-1 and before you could sing the third verse of the National Anthem guess what arrived and was blocking our driveway?

a 100' hook and ladder for a single story house???

and another firetruck to add more water???

the chimney in question after the ordeal!

  Chris said that he was just starting a fire and the starter burned really hot,  and thinks maybe some flames rose really quickly.  The firemen knocking on his door were the folks that alerted him to the situation ... not really ... the walkers came after making the call.  Anyway - all are safe and sound, and life is pretty much back to normal.  Though I jest about the 'over-kill' - I was pretty happy to know that passers-by would take the time to call!

Had to go to Church earlier today to meet with one of the families for this weekend's service and posted the sermon already.  Don't know what possessed me to use the "Rocky" theme - you'll have to listen to appreciate it.  The exuberant voice in the background is Paul, who has cerebral palsy - and responds often with unbridled joy! is As I was preparing the text, the Rocky theme kind of flew by me, but got stuck in my brain.  Had a lot of comments for the whole sermon (not just the music) - evidently people were feeling pretty guilty for showing their judgmental sides!  Anyway - it was a worshipful occasion - even though the 'snow' kept may of our people away.  Speaking of church - I invite you to read my "pastor's blog" - if you haven't found it already.  I try to add a thought/idea/reflection every week.  I especially enjoyed sharing the WEIRD Bible Study format (think it's still the newest post, if not, it's one week past); how appropriate!

Karina still hasn't opened the Bernina ... but she's got a lot of other things on her mind - this is her last week in the IC-VR wing and will be going to work for the CardioDocs in the same hospital at Providence Portland (same place as now - 20 mile commute every day) - but is truly looking forward to the change.  He whole outlook on life was lifted when the position and hiring took place!   

Fried up some hamburger and decided to make hamburger soup for my lovely bride.  Didn't have a recipe, just kept adding stuff - but am glad that the pot is bigger than the kitchen sink!  It fit!

Thank that's about it from the left coast for today.  Happy MLK day.

Love ya,

Karina and Dan