MY "FIVE THINGS" LISTS

OK. I was tagged by Linda to continue this string of "FIVE THINGS". So to get the gist of what's going on, see her lists at www.lindaswindow.blogspot.com first. Then read mine (or whatever), and finally post your own and send me a link or a comment so I can find it. First five to do so by Feb. 14th (because of this blog) get a small prize (bribe, bribe). Ya have to offer at least five sets of five, and that's not too difficult.

Five Activities I Enjoy Doing These Days:
1. Reading
2. Bluegrass Music
3. Teaching BIBLE Classes
4. Oil Painting (especially plein air)
5. Trailer Camping

Five Places I would like to visit at length:
1. Rural Japan
2. The British Islands (E, S, I, and W)
3. The American National Parks and Monuments
4. Alaska (especially Eagle for a summer)
5. Southwestern USA (off the Interstates and Highways)

Five Hobbies I've really Enjoyed (Not all active now):
1. Amateur (Ham) Radio
2. Stamp Collecting (USA mint singles)
3. Garage and Estate Sales, and Auctions.
4. Tinkering, Puttering, Fixin', and Makin'
5. Various misc. collections (like small Indian pots)

Five Culteral Interests That Intrigue Me:
1. History of the Japanese-American Internment experience
2. USA Folk Music
3. Museums of Art, Science, Industry, and Local History
4. Biographies of Unique Achievements
5. Ethnic Foods

Five "I Gotta Do" in 2009:
1. Manage my diabetes better
2. Continue to de-clutter and simplify
3. Hand-paint our house
4. More time with each grandkid
5. Deep-sea fishing for albacore tuna

Five Areas to Focus Upon in Prayer in 2009:
1. For more effective Praises of God and Thanksgivings for our blessings
2. For our own needs in health, welfare, and security (esp. BIW)
3. For church(s) to end secular drift and recover Biblical spiritual health and focus
4. For cures to cancer, Parkinsons, Diabetes, ALS, and similar dehabilitating diseases
5. For an end to the holocaust of abortion

OK. It's Your Turn!!

HAPPY 90th BIRTHDAY, DAD

How many folk get to enjoy ninety birthdays? My Papa is one of the fortunate few.

We just celebrated my Dad's ninetieth birthday in high style. Best of all, it looks to me like he's still doing quite well and he certainly is not ready to give up in any way. Anyone who can safely and successfully drive the crowded Los Angeles area traffic is doing all right. So, maybe he moves a little slower, and maybe he has a few limitations and health challenges, but mind and body are together and working. He has a host of friends and admirers, and he does a lot of fine things and "semi-secret" good works just for the joy in it. He still reads his Bible half an hour every night before going to bed, and he always makes it to Sunday morning worship. Congratulations, Dad. I'm super proud of you in many special ways.

~~YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS SALUTE YOU FOR #90!!~~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DANA LYNN

There is no doubt around Vancouver (or Kennewick) as to the status of our most recent angel. We have been stormed and taken. We are conqured and captive, and we have totally surrendered. What's more, we are completely enthralled. And she has us at her beck and call.
How one person can be - so much - to so many - so easily - and so quickly is part of the miracle Dana has proven to be. The pre-nuptual visit was wonderful, but that was short and hurried time of getting acquainted. The wedding week visit was much too busy and event focused to allow much family cosy-time. The short days together just after Eli was born were pretty much baby-oriented as we all were adjusting to that little miracle, especially mother and child. But the special three weeks over Christmas vacation more than made up for all the limitations and shortcomings of prior gatherings. Even being snowed-in with Dana is delightful.
Dana is wonderful. She seems to be able to do it all. She has a special talent for picking up on simple little things that delight each family member. She is gentle and perceptive. She is fun and she is funny. She is thoughtful and she knows quality when she met him - er, us - er, I mean a family God has blessed. And she has multiplies our blessings in more ways than one little one.
Whether we call her aunt, wife, sister, or daughter*, she is clearly our collective "BFF".

A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, DANA

*PS For those of you that don't know, I am not fond of the "in-law" designation, thus Betty and I will think of Dana as a God-given daughter. And let the world know, I have another like her in Kennewick (Paige) and a son (Edwin) here in Vancouver who is as dear to us as the boys we raised. [Told you we are blessed!]

Now, if you have read this far, go read Betty's blog for this week. www.wordsndeeds.blogspot.com/ You'll enjoy it. Thanks.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAVID

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

**Oh, the memories! Just last evening I was remembering how you traveled to Alaska, only a year old, in the back seat of our Squareback VW which had been converted to a traveling playpen. I never figured out whether you saw the moose in British Columbia, but you sure caught onto the cows and horses and sheep.
**Even as a pre-schooler you were a pretty good fisherman, as some photos I enjoy will testify.
**I still can't figure out how we raised the three of you in that tiny little house, but I remember a lot of hours with you perched on the garage workbench helping me tinker and learning how to use basic tools.
**You weren't really big enough to push that lawn mower at first, but you managed to cut several lawns and make a little spending money.
**You weren't big enough to ride that first big bike from Montgomery Wards but you stepped up to pay for it and that tickled Grandma Alta who helped out with the rest.
**You and your siblings were powerful and eager hikers and we never had to worry about bears in the woods or trolls under the bridges.
**I think one of the most intense efforts you made in school was learning to play that enormous trombone and participate in the concerts.
**I can see you sitting at Angies table asking if you could have another slice of pie, but you wern't asking your parents (who might have said one piece was enough); you were confidently asking Angie who would never deny you enough pie at her house!
**I can see you "leading singing" just like Dad, and I remember you standing on a stool at the lecturn to give a little sermon.
**I really enjoyed helping you build your own float and seeing you in the Fourth of July Parade.
**I couldn't count how many of my colleagues over your high school years commented on what a fine person you were, and how thoughtful you were of others, and how hard you worked on your studies, and how well you did.
**Memories of seeing you at Harding and later at Oklahoma -- meeeting your friends and hearing their praises of your character and enthusiasm came back when we received a card from the Duncans.
**I remember your pointing out a cute young lady and explaining why you were going to try to spend a few minutes with her, if I would just be patient and understanding. (And I'm mighty glad I was!!)
**I recall fixing Alaska salmon for a wedding dinner. (That was good too, because I would have come apart for sure if I had not had something to do.) Mainly I can see again what a good looking couple you were that day.
**I remember you holding both of your girls as wee newborn things and seeing the love and pride and future in your eyes.
**I remember when you became "Captain Dave, Sky Pilot"!
**And just a few days ago I watched you give attention and affection not only to your immediate family but to the whole fourteen of us assembeled here - snowed in together - and reflecting on how you have become a great husband, father, and member of your extended family, neighborhood, community, and career.
**Not a day passes when your mother and I don't share some thought, memory, or happy detail from raising and launching you kids. You were our prototype, and we still delight in you.
**In a word, I am shamelessly proud of you Son.

**HAPPY BIRTHDAY, INDEED!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BETTY

Her grandkids lovingly call her Memaw, her kids call her "Mom" with great respect, her friends call her Betty, my dad calls her Betty Boop (remember he'll be 90 this month), I call her "My Bride", her doctors call her "remarkable", and almost everyone else thinks she's "amazing".

Today is her birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BETTY.

Thank You for all the JOY you bring to our lives. You are a special BLESSING wherever you go.

* * * 2009 * * *

My desire is that this new year be a time of blessings for each of you.

May you enjoy family, friends, fellowship, enough food, fun, and find a foundation and fullness of fulfilling faith in our Heavenly Father.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, FRIENDS!