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A Weekend Well Spent!

The Gingerbread Factory
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

This weekend was well spent! I drove to Leavenworth, WA after work on Friday for a weekend of camping and summer theater in the mountains.

A beautiful drive...reminds me of highway 12 as it snakes along the Selway River. It's been pretty grey on this side of the mountains lately and when I got up and over Steven's Pass, it was like morning all over again. The sky was so bright and blue! Quite the change from the grey overcast stuff I had left that afternoon/evening.

I enjoyed a nice morning of shopping, an afternoon of golf (putting green - 18 holes - somehow my mom had the best score...) and an evening of Singing in the Rain at the Leavenworth Summer Theater out by the fish hatchery. Leavenworth has a great setting for outdoor theater...I really enjoyed the stage version of Singing in the Rain and perhaps in another four years I'll make it back to Leavenworth for another show. Leavenworth is certainly a cool town to visit, but I can only take in so much "Bavaria" before I get tired. I'm set for the next few years. Next time I'll try floating down the river though...There were quite a few people out on the water yesterday. I was a little jealous, but it was nice to get some sun on the golf course.

As always, time with my parents was welcome and enjoyable. They are both quick to tease and full of life. If you ever get the chance to meet them you'll love them. I sure do!

With that, I leave you with a picture of The Gingerbread Factory in Leavenworth. You must taste their gingerbread cookies! Delish!

-Cheers!

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It's funny...

How does God always have the words you need to hear, right when you need to hear them. It's amazing how that works. Just about every single time I'm struggling in life or am disenchanted by this world, there is a reading or a sermon that speaks straight to my heart.

Today it came from My Utmost for his Highest. It's a daily devotion written by Oswald Chambers that I received upon my graduation from LHS. I dearly needed it today...

In the world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world - John 16:33.

Or as the Message Remixed says: ...But I am not abandoned. The Father is with me. I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world.

Oswald writes:

...you will certainly encounter adversities....God does not give us overcoming live--He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. God never gives us strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the moment. Oiut temptation is to face adversities from the standpoint of our own common sense. But a saint can "be of good cheer" even when seemingly defeated by adversities, because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone, except God.

These are the things on my mind today...From the song I'm listening to:

I've looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all

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Now playing: Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now
via FoxyTunes

Who's gonna be there...

I'm finding more and more that there's a distinct difference between great or best friends than regular hangout friends. I currently have 3 maybe 4 best friends who all live in different areas of the world. The reason they're great friends is because when I'm hurting or in trouble, they will call, email or visit me in the blink of an eye. This is distinctly different from the ones you call who ignore your call and never return it to talk to you.

I was sad on Friday after returning from my grandparents house. It wasn't that the visit didn't go well or anything like that. I had a marvelous time down there. But grandma wanted to talk about my older brothers and then we started talking about death and it just made me sad. I know my grandparents are getting older, but that doesn't mean I enjoy talking about death or even want to think about the day they're gone. I don't like the idea at all. So on my way home I called a friend because I just wanted to get these things off my mind. Well, they never returned my call. Mad? A little...I thought they were someone I could talk to if needed. I only called because I couldn't think of anyone else in the area. So with that I went to bed early.

Saturday though...I went to look a condo. It has a lot of work and is probably not something I want to purchase right now. It was listed as a 1 bedroom but in reality it's a studio with a loft for a bedroom. Still no call back. I'm not expecting this person to be a best friend, but the decency of a call back would've been nice.

After looking at the condo that I started chatting to one of my friends who I've known since elementary school. In the midst of chatting she kept trying to come up with ways she could see me. On Friday I had wanted to drive all night to just get out of town. She offered to meet me for a late dinner in Ellensburg, but we decided or mostly she decided that she would drive out to see me on the 21st. I have a date for a wedding AND I get to see one of my closest friends. I'm grateful for her and for all the years we've been friends. She has certainly gone the extra mile this time...now if only I can find a way to do the same for her when she's in need of a close friend. With that all I can say is Thank you...from the bottom of my heart.

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Now playing: Jimmy Eat World - Hear You Me
via FoxyTunes