Category Archives: Travel Log
Monday June 8 2015 Day 96 I’M STILL ALIVE
Okay guys! I’m still alive. I haven’t yet gone on the zip line so that is one cause. That is now planned for tomorrow morning before I leave Larry and Charlene’s. That is a must for me.
I had another strawberry picking morning. It is so awesome to be able to get out in the warm sun, this time with cooler clothes on than a fuzzy house robe and do something useful. The strawberries desperately needed picking. I picked two large containers almost full. See pictures below this blog. When I take pictures during the day I have no way to post them at the house. When we get into a service area I just load the photos so they will be there when I am ready to post the blog. So the photos are in order as to time sequence as to when they were taken.
Back to the strawberries. “There is just something special about eating what you have planted and tended and cared for”, as quoted by Charlene. Well, for me there is something special about just being given the opportunity to pick something right out of her garden or anyone’s garden and eating it so fresh. Totally organic, so I could just spray it off in the garden and take that first big juicy bite and then the second and third and so on…Oh my they are so delicious warmed by the son, firm and bright red. And, I get to eat them on my yogurt and bran in the mornings. it has been so wonderful to taste the freshness of the berries and other produce from here and from other places. I had avocados from Lisa and Bill’s place, oranges from Betts’ daughter’s backyard tree, lemons from Paulette’s tree, blueberries from Daneece’s bushes, and now strawberries and sweet peas from Charlene’s bounty. I hope I am not forgetting any other homegrown treats. Remember, I have been on the road for several months now and it is getting more difficult to recall all that has happened in so many days. Oh, how I have loved these days.
After strawberry picking I readied myself for the day ahead. While I was outside Charlene was inside preparing a feast for a king’s lunch. We three were the kings. Now this lunch would probably not be considered a feast for all you hamburger beef eaters out there. Here is what she packed. Delectable bits of cheeses, two kinds of olives, walnuts, almonds, three kinds of crackers, honey crisp apples, fresh cherries picked the day before, hummus, broccoli, carrots, baby cucumbers, and turkey slices. I had some of everything except the turkey slices. Yum…yum… I know my husband would just LOVE THIS!!! NOT! Well, maybe the turkey slices. (I miss you Dave)! We sat out under the tall trees, listening to waterfalls in the distance. We were at some sort of picnic turnout in a national forest. It is necessary to have a permit for any stop you make in the public areas. You either pay by the year and show you tags hanging in your car or you go to the nearest self serve box and deposit your $5.00 daily user fee in the box. Well, Charlene and Larry never know which tag to display so they just put them all out. The day we climbed Beacon Rock was FREE DAY and I didn’t have to pay.
Before we had lunch we drove a ways and stopped at a lookout to see Mt. St. Helen. The side we could see was not the side that blew out in 1980. It is so sad to see the mountain so deplete of snow this early in the year. These snow capped mountains are a huge part of the water source that feeds the Columbia River. I mentioned the dry riverbed that I saw the day before that was fed from Mt. Hood. All those dried up water ways will eventually deplete the waterways on further down in the state of Oregon and Washington. There are a few trees I noticed that are dried up and dead due to lack of water. Usually those are on slopes facing the afternoon’s hot sun. It is nothing like it was in Yosemite where there were full mountainsides of brown dried up dead trees. Please check out the photos of Mt. St. Helen if you can find where they are with my mistakes in posting. Sorry about making you hunt and peck for them. That’s what I get for being in a hurry. I am trying so hard to practice retirement to not live in the fast lane but it is a difficult lesson to learn. I hope I was able to get some nice ones on my camera because I took my life in my hands and climbed over the lookout wall and went down the hill a bit (a pretty safe grade) and took the photos with flowers in the foreground. I think it made for a more interesting photo. So that’s another reason why I am still alive, I lived to climb back over the wall, didn’t get caught, arrested, or fined.
While at the lookout site I almost had the opportunity to get a ride on a motorcycle. A beautiful RED motorcycle! But…alas the driver did not have his rear seat attached. Three bikers drove up beside us and of course conversation ensued. When I asked if he would take me for a ride he said sure. That was Steve #1 (the big guy). He was with Nancy and Steve #2. We had a delightful conversation and I asked for their wisdom. Steve #1 said: “Live your life to the fullest.” Steve #2 said: “You only go around once so do what you want to do.” I think I am paraphrasing that a bit. Nancy said something that I really liked when she said it and now I can’t remember what she said. I forgot to take notes on my phone. I sometimes forget that I have that feature. I’m still getting used to this technology stuff. Well, at lease I had a picture taken on the RED HARLEY! (I think it was a Harley). It was big and beautiful. Oh how I would have loved to take a spin on it. Nancy was going to loan me her helmet. Okay Dave, you can quit shaking your head now. I didn’t go! But I might of!
After the Mt. St. Helen interlude we then drove to the location I described above and then ate lunch. After lunch we hiked down to see the lower falls in an area that has three falls, lower, middle and upper. We were above the falls so did not have great opportunity for photographic views. I took more videos than photos but I don’t know how to upload a video on my blog. We hiked back up to the road (everything here is either up or down when you are walking) and took off for the middle falls. We parked in a little turnoff and hiked down to the middle falls. We almost didn’t get to go because about half way down it was cordoned off with bright pink ribbon tape that said it was closed and we had to turn around. Well, Charlene’s husband is fearless, (and when I say that I am a believer that it is LITERAL) he stepped over the boundary checked it out and in a little while returned and said we could make it. Hmm… It was definite that Charlene should not go down the hiking trail due to the fact that she needs a new hip replacement. Well, guess who went? You got it! I stepped over the tape, looked around in the eerie solitude of the vast shadowy forest to make certain we weren’t on surveillance camera. Not only were not on surveillance camera, there wasn’t another soul around anywhere. I felt better that Charlene was staying where the tape was so if we didn’t come back maybe she could Med Flight us out. Larry and I went down, down, down and when I looked up he was nowhere in sight. He was gone! Then I hear this plaintive yell above the din of the waterfall noise. He was calling my name “Wanda”, (oh yeah, that’s me I thought in this Kathleen persona). I could barely hear him but I could not see him. Then, through the trees I could see movement and low and behold he was walking IN the water. It looked like he was walking ON the water because he was on a ledge of rock that protruded out from where the waterfall fell from above us. Oh my it was so beautiful! So…So…BEAUTIFUL! It was worth breaking the law. (Don’t tell my son the Policeman I said that). I did figure out why it was taped off as I traversed down the 2 to maybe 3 foot wide path with drop offs literally one step away. The mountain was seeping snow melt runoff due to the hot weather and the 45 degree decline was slick with mud. I found my purchase and traversed those areas without falling. Oh man, not only did I have to go down, I had to get back up. Would I do it again? MAYBE! Well if I answer truthfully it would be a definite YES! It was worth it. Now that is another reason I am still alive. I didn’t have to be Med Flighted out. I think maybe Larry is being a bad influence on me.
We decided we would not hike the next 3/4 of a mile to the upper falls. We’re not talking about a little walk in the park here. These slopes are SLOPES! Up and down. I absolutely loved it. I think all my stair climbing exercise between classes in Redding readied my calf muscles for these hikes as well as climbing to the top of Beacon Rock. If I lived here I would become a hiker. It is so amazing to be in such pristine nature, isolated, quiet (between waterfalls that is), without much to carry, just enjoying nature at its fullest. I never knew hiking could be so exhilarating. The best part of the day was that I didn’t get killed on a motor bike, I didn’t die on a zip line, I didn’t get arrested for climbing the wall and I didn’t tumble down the mountain side, and I didn’t get arrested for stepping over the pink barrier, nor slide down the muddy pathway. Thank you God that I survived the day!
This blog has been written in its entirety at the Kia Dealership in Oregon as I waited for four new tires, an alignment and an oil change. I am in the waiting room while customers come and go, each watching a bit of TV and me here just typing away. My elbow neighbor Charlie sitting beside me took a picture of me sitting here typing so I could put it on the blog. He has been been here longer than I have. I asked him for his world wisdom for the moment. Here is his reply: “Why are we as a nation getting involved with a war in the middle east that has been going on for thousands of years. They are going to continue fighting and fighting until there is no one left to fight. We should get out of there and let them do what they are going to do. All they are going to do is kill our troops while we are there.” Charlie was watching the news on CNN as he waited here these few hours. I have been here since 9:00 a.m. and it is now 12:12 p.m. Charlie is gone now, another person in this world that I will probably never see again but delightful to talk with. I have been so fortunate to have come across so many interesting and “real” people. I have enjoyed every encounter. Kim who works here also gave me one piece of advice: “Enjoy the moment.” I like that!
Well my yesterday tale is almost over. After we escaped the perils of being arrested for crossing the barrier we hiked up to the highway and walked down the middle of the winding road. See picture somewhere in this blog. And we headed “home”. Oops, I mean we headed out to Pizza Time at the Backwoods. Literally, the Backwoods. We entered from the back of a building, the tables were outside in the cool of the evening and we looked at blank Angus bulls peering over the fence at us as we ate. The mountains surrounded us sort of like a mother hen, drawing us close with a feeling of being safe. And the pizza was interesting and delicious. It was sweet with a real kick. We had Thai Shrimp Pizza. Hey, if I am going to try octopus, Thai Shrimp doesn’t scare me. It was really hot thought! And for me to say that you know it was HOT. As I ate it I realized it was really the hottest when I had a big bite of jalapeno pepper in the bite. It was a good hot.
Went home and went to bed and up this morning at 5:43 a.m. I arrived here at the dealership at 9:00 a.m. Charlene and Larry are a bit off the beaten path. When I was with my cousin Joyce she encouraged (demanded) me to get my GPS out and learn how to use it. Up to that point I had been using either map quest printouts or my new Iphone. Well, I followed her suggestion, mainly because she got it charged and working for me, and it is a good thing. In some of these places I’ve been (on the very day I left her place) I have been out of service areas. My phone would not even pick up any kind of signal. It was my GPS that delivered me safely to all my destinations. I have thanked Joyce over and over in my heart since then. NowI say it in print for the world to see. Thank you cousin Joyce. You saved my lost self. I have been able to get to each destination, clearly and safely due to your lessons. By the way Joyce, I miss you a lot! Tell Daneece hello for me! Joyce, I finally found the perfect cherry!
Love to all of you…
Sunday Sabbath June 7 2015 Day 95 ENJOYING RETIREMENT PRACTICE
Oh how sweet to hear the beautiful music drifting down to my level. Guitar with instrumental background accompaniment. Found out something new about Charlene last night. I was sitting down here in the lower level when beautiful stands of guitar music came out of nowhere. It sounded so close and so real, not like recorded music. I had to get up and be snoopy and go upstairs. There sat Charlene strumming beautiful sounds on a guitar. WOW! I didn’t know she played the guitar. She informed me that she is taking lessons. Visions of the door of retirement keep opening before me. Charlene is also learning Spanish and goes to Pilates workout each week. Not yet even mentioning the greatest part of her retirement yet…personal travel tour guide around the greater Columbia Gorge area. I don’t think there is a back road around that she doesn’t know where it goes, and that includes the gravel roads. She and Larry and extended themselves way beyond what I would have ever dreamed or expected of anyone to do for me. I told her that I have learned a great deal from her. I have think I have a better understanding now of how to help my guests have the best time possible if they come to see me. My mind just wasn’t opened to that before. I didn’t know how awesome it would be to have someone who knew the area to be your guide and driver and informant. Can’t wait now to have guests so I can go out and enjoy them showing them the sights.
The doors of opportunity of a different lifestyle beckon me. I have two more weddings to complete, one senior portrait to finish and a baby session to workup and I will lay my professional camera down. I will be finished with that stage of my life. I do plan to continue with “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” bereavement photos of newborns but do not plan on any studio sessions at all. It has been wonderful doing what I have done. When I discovered photography as a profession it was if my passion had opportunity to surface. I have loved what I have done and never tired of it. I am not tired of photography but there is so much I feel I need to accomplish before I lay my mantel down and in order to do so I must first learn to enjoy being separated from the professional, pressured aspect of it being work. Photography and writing will now come together to enable me to accomplish that which I believe I am called to do. It is time for me to finish up some of the writing I have started and to begin new projects. But first, I will put in time to enjoy the leisure of unstructured time, at least for part of the day. I work well under disciplined time and know that will be part of my day but not in its entirety. I truly wonder what lasting effects and benefits this journey will have for me. Sometimes I am just overwhelmed with the gratitude, to myself and to others, for allowing this journey to take place. It was not done on a whim but with thought and some planning. And further planning has taken places along the way. I have plans now until June 24th and then I am free on the wind. Where will I go? Who will I see? Who will I meet that is new? How many miles yet to go? Only God knows.
I know I am sounding more and more as if I am at my journey’s end but I am not at the end yet. What is ahead is still a mystery to me, one I anticipate with joy, but at the same time still living in the moment I am in, experiencing everything with total concentration and exhilaration of the moment. I am continually looking forward, thankful for the past. The past mingles with the presence in changing my attitude, incorporating the new wisdom I’ve learned, the events I lived through, the joys and sorrows I’ve experienced. I am who I am today because of all my yesterdays. How can I wish to change anything that made me who I am today. I love being who I am, a child of the Living God. Are all my past experience good? No, not by a long shot, but sometimes it actually that which happens that is not good that God uses to His glory and creates beauty from our sorrow. He has done that for me, even on this trip. He can do that for you if you have regrets and places of unforgiveness in your heart. Just open yourself up to living in the present presence of our God and He can mend your broken heart, he can take that which is not good and turn it into something beautiful. You may be able to touch a life you would not otherwise connect with, just because you did experience things that were not good.
There is a card that I have made from some beautiful artwork that my friend David Schrank drew and designed. The words are so meaningful and come from scripture. I want to write them here. Please read each line carefully and ask yourself is this the way you think of love and do you follow this pattern with those you love. The words are so powerful.
“Love never gives up
Cares more for others than self
does not want what it does not have
does not strut
does not swell the head
does not force itself on others
is not always me first
does not fly off the handle
does not keep score of sins
does not revel when others hurt
takes pleasure in the flowering of the truth
puts up with anything
trusts God always
always looks for the best to the end
never looks back
Love never dies”
I read these words and ask myself, am I living up to this standard of love? Ask yourself that question. It is powerful and mind awakening. Thank you David Schrank for your design on the cards I have made. I have enjoyed giving each one away. I pray that the words will touch the lives of all who have received one.
Now perhaps I should mention what we did yesterday, Sunday June 7, 2015. I tried to watch online the service at City Church and could not get it to come in on the computer. So I wrote instead. Then spent the morning visiting with Charlene and Larry, ate a late lunch and headed out for a new adventure. I was primarily sightseeing. We drove to Oregon from Washington where Charlene lives. Washington is just across the Columbia River but it takes a long ways to get to the bridge to get across. All beautiful scenery. We went from mountain bluffs, through little quaint towns (remember no fast food places) peppered with many cute little restaurants. We saw farms and cattle and fields of elk roaming wild, vineyards, orchards, and our final destination was Mount Hood in Mt. Hood Oregon. I mistakenly stated that the Mt. Adams, the mountain we went to a few days ago was in Oregon. Mt Adams is not is Oregon, it is in Washington. All of the large mountains in this area are volcanic mountains. I believe the last volcanic eruption of Mt. Hood was in 1868. It was so powerful that during the eruption it pushed so much land mass that it relocated a lake a half mile higher on a mountain than it had originally been. You could still see the large crater on the side of the mountain. There weren’t many trees on the mountain even after all these years. There was not much snow either. That was a sad sight. The mountain looked like grey ash and stone. There was a large dry riverbed below the mountain and it actually had a trickle of water just a few feet wide in some places. The massive river bed bed was dry. I think it was called the White River (I may be incorrect but I think that is what I remember being told). It was sad to see.
The taller isolated volcanic mountains still have some snow to melt but very little. The Columbia river is very low and the smaller ones are dried up, meaning they are no longer feeding the Columbia river. The Columbia river is no longer able to reach the Mexico border due to the volume of water being used in the U.S. I wonder how long it will be before it dries up farther and farther to the north. Remember to be thankful for the rains when they come to your area. The west coast is becoming a dry and weary land.
Today we plan a trip to Mount St. Helen. Many of you may remember the explosion in 1980 when Mt. St. Helen blue her top. Several were killed and the ash was carried thousands of miles from its origination. It will be interesting to see what recovery has since taken place. It has be 35 years ago, longer than a lifetime to some. I remember seeing the mountain a couple years after the eruption and it was sobering and sad to see. Nature’s force, beyond man’s control, is a powerful force to reckon with. And just to think that God is even more powerful.
I guess I will write about my experience to Mt. St. Helen tomorrow. Let’s go back to yesterday. After visiting Mt Hood we stopped at a cherry orchard and bought cherries. They were picked right at the farm where I bought them but that doesn’t mean they are less costly. I didn’t really care how much they cost after I tasted one. It was the true epitome of what a firm, fresh picked, ripe cherry should taste like. See the picture below of the cherries on the tree. Also included a photo of the little fruit stand at the farm. Another picture is of me on a gigantic swing. Larry pushed me and took a video of me. I felt like the little girl in me was still alive, especially with the experience of the swing being so over sized. As simple as a swing hanging between two large trees gave me such a thrill of enjoyment. To be a little girl again. Pumping to go higher, arms splayed wide to reach the chains, under the cool of two old oaks, with Mt. Hood framed in the background, was an exhilarating, fun moment in time. I went higher and higher and didn’t want to stop. But each moment does end and the next begins. What I do is take the joy with me as I leave, tucked away in my heart to enjoy the moment again when I view the memory or the photo. Go out and doing something fun today. Something you did as a child. Remember the feeling of awe and excitement of the simple pleasures in life. No matter how old, or how infirm, there must be something you can do, even if it is sitting on a bench in solitude just reminiscing. Go and enjoy a special moment this day. Don’t let any day pass you that you do not take time to notice you are alive and young at heart.
The garden is waiting for me. Charlene and Larry have already left. It is getting how out so will pick strawberries before the noon day sun approaches.
I’ll proof read this tomorrow. Have a great day. This is my day to do the zip line! (TINGLE GOES MY HEART)
Friday June 5 2015 Day 93 THE BACK ROADS TO THE MOUNTAIN TOPS
It is now Saturday afternoon June 6th and I am writing yesterday’s events. This couple I am with are wearing me out! In a good way! There is so much to see up here on the Columbia River and the surrounding area that we are off and running (well driving actually) at some point every day. Today’s running has not yet happened. We have plans for later. We are having a salad soon and then going to take off to climb a rock. A big rock. Look back at yesterday’s postings and see the picture of Beacon Rock. That is the rock that Larry and I plan to climb when it gets a bit cooler It is really quite high and has some rough trails that go around on the ledge. I have been told it has a magnificent view of the Columbia River at its highest attainable point. I get sort of a trilling stomach when I think about doing something as precarious as that. Yet, I feel like I can trust my body to perform for me. I haven’t had as much opportunity to workout this past week so I need a good strenuous challenge to look forward to. I spoke with Dave earlier and he told me that he attending a dinner tonight with the “Prime Time” group. It is where you go to someone’s house who is preparing a dinner for you but you don’t know whose house until you arrivet. He has an idea. I hope he has a good time while I am sweating my way up that rock.
Now to yesterday, Friday June 5, 2015 Day 93. It was an awesome day. My friends have been retired for awhile and are teaching me some things. One is how to sleep in, have a nice easy morning, then do what you want. Sounds pretty nice. Turn down to yesterday’s photos listed below and see the one captioned “Charlene’s backyard view”. That is exactly what I can see when I look up from the pages of my computer screen. It is 94 degrees, no humidity, and actually quite lovely here under a covered patio that comes off the side door from my lower level suite. Not just lovely, but absolutely grand!!!! I love this place. It speaks to my heart and soul. If I could I would convince Dave to come back to Oregon so we could live in this beautiful environment, albeit is drying up like California. That is so sad. I do hope snows and rains come this year for this country on the west coast.
After our luxuriously wonderful morning we high tailed it out to make up for lost time. Now I had on my red patchwork dress that I made in 1974. Carlene assured me that we wouldn’t being seeing anyone and that we would mostly be in the car and only out in the wilderness. So I decided to wear it. It was just too comfortable to change. I put on my stripped toe socks, red walking shoes, pearl earrings, and walked out into the wilds of the world wearing my floor length polyester vintage patchwork quilt red dress. It was wonderful! A little ways down the road past their house were some very secluded, unmarked waterfalls. Or so we thought they were unmarked. Charlene pulled over alongside this country road, deep in the heart of the forest (with huge trees) and we began walking down a narrow pathway that descended about half way down the mountain side we were on. At the end of our descent there was a lookout platform and straight ahead of us and below us were the most beautiful waterfalsl. The waterfalls comes out of the side of a mountain that loomed above us. The Panther Creek that runs in the backyard of Larry and Charlene’s place meet the falls at that point and both water sources combine into the Panther Creek. There were a lot of white rapids as the creek narrowed where it met the falls. It was so beautiful, so isolated, and sounded like how I imagine the chorus of heaven might sound like. I was in awe! I have a picture posted below but I was only able to get a portion of the falls because I was so close and couldn’t back up. How do I share in words something so awesome and beautiful. Now it does not compare with the Niagra Falls scope of waterfall but it’s beauty is all its own. There is an underground creek named Nine Mile Creek that feeds the falls. With so little snow left on the mountains I wonder how much longer it will run.
We made the climb back to the top of the road on a pretty steep embankment. When I got to the top and crossed the two lane narrow road I look down and see where someone spray painted the words: “FALLS” on the highway. It might have said “WATERFALLS” but I can’t remember. There was a big arrow of paint pointing to the opening path to the falls. So, I guess it isn’t such a secret anymore.
We drove around the mountains for awhile and stopped at numerous places. One of the places was at Forlorn Lake. It is one in a collection of several lakes all named the same–Forlorn Lake. Perhaps because they are all so small and in out of the way places and not easily found. They may be “forlorn” but they certainly had a pristine, primitive beauty to them. I also have a picture of one of the Forlorn Lakes posted.
As we descended the mountain there were several breathtaking views of a huge, snow capped mountain named Mt. Adams. When we finally arrived to the valley floor we stopped and took photos. That is the first photo you will see below. It is an awesome mountain. We drove through many small towns. One town we drove through actually had a MacDonalds. Charlene told me that that was the only fast food restaurant between where we were and Vancouver Washington, about 90 minutes away. How refreshing is that. All these little towns was peppered with quaint little mom and pop restaurants and many different specialties. We stopped in a little town which I do not remember, and ate at a place called Henni’s. It was a restaurant that offers small plates of food at reduced prices so you can choose two or three different entrees. I ate octopus for the first time and found it to be very interesting and tasty. I also ordered a wilted spinach salad.
Well, remember I am in my floor length leftover hippie looking dress from the 70’s, walking across the street toward an outdoor restaurant with red oxford shoes on, a red camera dangling around my neck, and striped socks of a myriad of colors, none of which matched the dress. And everyone is looking at me. I received a few smiles, a few furrowed eyebrows, and some who just glanced away quickly when I met their eye. Then the waitress comes out and makes a comment about her mother having had a dress like that way back when. She asked me where I bought my vintage dress. You should have seen her expression when I explained that I had made it 41 years ago. She went back inside, got her camera phone and asked if she could take a photo. I said yes, but she had to take two. The first one was a floor length picture of me holding my dress out. The next one I pointed my toes out, pulled my dress up and let my beautiful socks do their glory, and she took the picture. Everyone around were just smiling and I don’t even want to know what they were thinking.
I was just called for late lunch, it is 3:32 p.m. so must go. This will be it for yesterday. It was a fun day. I’m off to climb the world.
Tuesday June 2, 2015 Day 90 SLEPT LIKE A BABY
MESSAGE: I JUST WROTE THE BLOG FOR MONDAY JUNE 1ST. PLEASE GO DOWN AND READ DAY 89.
I slept until almost 9:00 a.m. Awesome. It was like I caught up on the sleep I had lost the past few days of short nights. But alas, it is late again and I have an early morning tomorrow. So this will be an abbreviated synopsis of my day.
Darrelyn had an appointment and was gone by the time I made it down for breakfast. Don and I shared time at breakfast until she returned. We ended up talking and sharing and snacking and then decided that the best place to go here in Eugene was St. Vinney’s. I guess it was more my decision. It was about the nicest St. Vinney’s I have ever been to. I think the reason was that when I walked in and looked to my right there was an entire library of books just waiting for me. And wonder of wonders I found several. I have been looking for out of print books by Norman Vincent Peale and I was able to buy several there. What a great find. If I never bought another book I don’t think I could possible finish all the books I currently own if I read straight through from now until I was 100. But I just couldn’t resist. Somehow I do get a lot of them read.
We then went to the Goodwill store. Found another book!
Darrelyn drove us home, we picked up Don and then went out to eat. We ate at a Mexican Restaurant and it was delicious. I think I did more talking that eating but that was okay, I still ate enough. I have thoroughly enjoyed my acquaintance with both Don and Darrelyn. I wish I could have bet their son. I thank you Don and Darrelyn for a wonderful stay in your lovely home. And when I say lovely, I mean lovely. It just had a very pleasant, homey, comfortable atmosphere with an artist’s flare. I love all the art they have displayed. Oh to be so organized! Well, I’m retired now so I suspect (very suspiciously) that someday my house will be so organized again. One time it was.
After the delicious dinner Don and Darrelyn drove me all around the campus of U of O. And for those of you who may be as naive as I am, that stand for the University of Oregon. It is an awesome campus. Sort of like a city unto itself. Beautiful buildings with lovely landscaping that seems to take up most of he city. The sun was setting give that golden hour of sunlight which bathed the buildings in a warm golden hue. Some of the buildings were so covered by the tall trees of many varieties that the light could not penetrate to the ground. It was still light enough to see and all I saw was magnificent. A big campus to cover. Oh yes, I can’t forget this: I saw the stadium where the Ducks play. I never heard of the ducks before coming here but I am becoming educated. I know the Ducks are a football team (oh I hope I got that right) and their colors are NOT ORANGE AND BLACK! Please don’t ask me what their colors are because I have already forgotten. I’m just glad I remembered the word FOOTBALL. Please forgive me Darrelyn. It only took me abut 10 or 20 years to remember who the Packers are.
Another late night because I talked too much. So I’ll close before I write too much. I have made a grave error on this trip. I have yet to get a photo of the three of us together. Don’t know if they will be awake in the morning before I leave so I may not have opportunity to do so. I do hope it works out. Will let you know tomorrow.
Goodnight everyone. Okay Joyce, I haven’t proof read this blog or yesterday’s (which I just wrote before this one) so let me know where I can clean them up. Thanks cousin. I love you so much. I will always remember your little routines and am impressed how you host all your events. You are awesome!
Goodnight! 1:08 a.m.
MY POEM IS UNWRITTEN
By The Dancing fingers of
Kathleen Martens
June 2, 2015
A day goes by faster than lightening
How it is so is sometimes frightening.
My blogs are written, thought all was done,
Time to go to sleep and have some fun!
Bu then I remembered with a sigh
My poem is unwritten, oh my, oh my!
So I set my fingers upon dancing keys
And say fingers, just speak for me.
Write the words that need to be said
So I can go and fall into my bed.
And so they did and now I may go
And this is my poem to you I show!
Sunday Sabbath May 31 2015 SUCH A BLESSED DAY!
What an awesome day was this day. First of all it was Sunday Sabbath, which I love. Secondly I had a long drive ahead of me and the music of David Hollandsworwth accompanying God’s visual poetry. What more could I ask for (except for my husband beside me to enjoy it with)? Beautiful and warm as I left the beautiful home of my cousin Daneece and headed for the mountains. So many mountains I have traveled and so many national forests I have gazed at. Today I traveled through Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Below is an excerpt I found with some facts on the internet you might find interesting:
“The Shasta-Trinity National Forest (STNF) is the largest national forest in California with a diverse landscape ranging from 1,000 to 14,162 feet. The 2.1 million acre forest encompasses five wilderness areas, hundreds of mountain lakes and 6,278 miles of streams and rivers. Hikers, backpackers and horseback riders will find over 460 miles of trails to explore. They range from wide trails with easy grades to rough rocky steep grades. The employees of the STNF manage a healthy forest by enhancing wildlife habitat, maintaining clean water, producing timber products and safeguarding communities at risk from wildfires. Pivotal in the economical, tourism and recreational aspects of Northern California, the STNF is a land of breathtaking beauty and a place for everyone to enjoy the great outdoors.”
It was absolutely awesome to drive through. Sheer drop-offs, high pointed mountains, rock formations jutting out from unimaginable places and dropping down to the valley floor. The park wasn’t as user friendly as Yosemite was, nor was it as magnificent. But it was well worth the drive just for the exquisite beauty and experience of being there.
I drove over the mountains on I-299 because Monday thru Saturday there are two hour delays to go across the mountain range. I thought if I went on Sunday I would not be bothered by a two hour layover. Well…I had two layovers. The first layover was indeed about two hours long but it was not by happenstance, rather self induced. I drove into Weaverville, a small old town with a few thousand population. What caught my eye as I drove through the little picturesque town was the white steeple of a little old fashioned church. I had a hankering to stop and check it out. It was about 10:30 and I saw people walking into the building so I deduced it must be service time. Well, I was hooked in the first moment I crossed the threshhold. The service had already started and it was a very small crowd so when I walked in it felt as if every eye turned my way. So much for coming in quietly.
The Church is the Trinity Congregational Church on the highway going through downtown Weaverville. The pastor is a lady named Jean. I do not remember her last name. It was an excellent service, very quiet, peaceful, and personable. It seemed more like I was walking into a family reunion, a true body of believers caring for one another. Small town flavor. Pastor Jean asked if anyone had a joyful report to give. Several people did. I raised my hand and asked if a stranger could speak in the church. I was given permission. I was joyful for just being there with other believers who loved Jesus. I also said I was joyful because this is the day that the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it. I mentioned that I was traveling and would carry the memory of being there in my heart. Such a sincere sweet group of people. The Pastor right then and there asked me to eat with the members afterward in the fellowship hall because a dinner was being prepared. I wasn’t really hungry but wanted the fellowship so I accepted. The dinner was delicious and the company was wonderful. A delightful spry 89 year old woman named Pat was an excellent conversationalist and a joy to be with. A couple across from me were also very pleasant to converse with. Everyone I met was awesome. I asked Pat what her wisdom is. Here is what she said, “I wish I learned and believed in the Bible at a younger age. Jesus is so special.” I also sat with a another couple and it was great to just to be a part of God’s family.
Along side the wall of the fellowship hall, which had the appearance of being a house next door to the church, sat three large imposing chest freezers. I was curious as to what their purpose was. Well, I was told that two of them were filled with 232 homemade Berry pies (and I think some pies may have had other fillings) all made in 2 hours and 20 minutes! WOW! That was impressive! I wanted to know how. A lady named Donna told me how it was done. Three long rows of tables were sat up. All the men and women of the church were called to come help. The pie crust were already prepared so the three rows of people worked assembly line, One row filled the pie shells, the next row put the crusts on the top of the pies, cutting the little air holes and the last row of helpers wrapped them up for freezing. They were big pies. And these pies have an important purpose. They will be baked and served in slices at the Trinity Congregational Church’s annual 4th of July Fundraising Ice Cream Social located in the vicinity of the church. I will include a picture of a freezer full of pies. Let’s pray there are no power outages before July 4th. What a great illustration of many hands make light work. That is a church body working together!
I finally left at about 12:45 p.m. (over two hour delay) . I Loved every moment of it. Then…as I arrived close to where I would turn off 299 I then had another delay. But…good news, it was just one round of light signal. And my day progressed and once again I came up over a crest and out before I beheld the ocean. It appeared unexpected and my breath caught in my throat.
SO GRATEFUL
Kathleen Martens
May 31, 2015
I beheld the ocean
And I thanked God for my vision.
I heard the crashing of waves
With hearing precision.
I touched the wet
And my hands chilled,
With joy and thanks
My heart filled.
I sniffed the air
Pungent and sweet,
And all my senses
Seemed to meet.
The taste of salt
Touched my tongue
Filled me with nostalgia
Of when I was young.
So grateful am I
To see, hear and taste,
What God has created
Does not go to waste!
Wrote just a little poem tonight due to the fact that it exactly midnight and I am fighting sleep.
So, a quick synopsis of the rest of my day. I stopped several places to take photos of the ocean. Not much room to pull off the road so had to be careful and cozy with other cars. At one place that just happened to be a little more generous I met three other travelers. I would have loved to have heard their stories in full but I had to get back on the road. One was a young lady from Australia. She is in America for several months hitch hiking her way across the U.S. Very attractive and small. I asked her if she felt safe. She assured me she did. The two men she was with she had met the night before at the campground where she was sleeping. One was a local and was showing her around. The other younger man was from back east and pretty much doing the same thing as the young lady, Bridget, was doing. They were both inspirational, full of life and health and curiosity and boldness. I asked Bridget for her advice. It went something like this. First of all let me state that she had told me that she was not afraid because she had God with her. Her advice is “Be willing to listen to the suggestions of others who have ideas of where to go and not be so rigid that you cannot open up and let God direct you to where He wants you to go.” She used the phrase “go with the flow” and when I delved further she said “we need to be willing to go where we are led by God and be free in that.” I am hoping I am getting across what she said to me though the phrasing is a bit different. Hmm…I just thought of something. Maybe I should do a 15 second video on my camera and let those who share their wisdom speak it so I can copy it verbatim. Bridget, if you read this please know that I am beginning to understand more and more of what you told me. It has just taken me a few (or maybe a lot) more years than you to learn it. I love the wisdom of the young. And Pat, I loved your wisdom too! Pat, I hope we come across each other in heaven because I am not through with you yet. I didn’t have near enough time! I would love to be your friend.
By the way Rebecca, Dave, and Courtland I met the above threesome in Trinidad. I didn’t have time to find “our” old motel we stayed in when Courtland was so sick but I did see the lighthouse. Watch for the picture to come through when I get my phone working again. At present it is not working
Again, on the road I stopped and bought Chinese food for dinner and started on my way. I’ve heard so much talk of this area having a lot of elk. There are a lot of elk crossing signs and I was bereft to think that I probably wouldn’t get to see even one. Not one minute later I turn my head to the left and see a small herd of female elk grazing along side the road I was on. I pulled over, gazed at them, they kept on eating and I had to leave. I did get some photos, albeit they are very small in the pictures. About 45 minutes later up the road a few miles I look to the left and there were several male elk leisurely having dinner. Two of them where sitting on the ground in high grass so they were not easily spotted. I could see their antlers sticking up and moving around. Two others were standing and moving around a bit. They were about as far away as the female herd had been but at least I saw them and did take a few pics.
I arrived at my Airbnb before dark and boy was I surprised. I turned on the road that my bossy GPS told me to and all I saw were house trailers, recreational trailers, rundown, a bit cluttery, and close together. Oh WOW, I thought. I guess God has another lesson for me. There is nothing wrong with house trailers or even recreational trailers, but the description of the Airbnb add was so totally different I thought I was in the wrong area. I drove down the street (more like a gravel driveway” and old Bossy told me to keep going. “Bossy” is the name I chose for my GPS. (Just thought you’d like to know Joyce). I actually had turned around thinking I was on the wrong street but she kept bossing me as to where to go. So this time I thought I would keep going. So I did. And at the very end of the street (if what I was on could be called a street) sat two stately homes that backed up to the ocean. Two houses side by side. The first house was not my address so I looked at the second one and there it was. Now all I could say in total astonishment was WOW WOW WOW! This place is gorgeous. The entire back wall of the house is glass and creates a panoramic view of the curving shoreline and beyond. The evening light was starting to dim but still beautiful enough to take photos. I took a few pics on my phone so I could send them with this blog. But…like I said before my phone is not working. I plugged my phone in the USB port of my car at the same time I plugged Bossy in to the cigarette lighter and my phone hasn’t worked since. I hope another trip to the Apple store is not in order. I might be without a phone for awhile. Not a good feeling.
I am settled in now and enjoying my stay. Lovely place to be. I hope all of you are in a lovely place as well. Probably all sleeping as I should be doing. Signing off at 12:33 a.m. Good night!
Friday May 30, 2015 DAY 83 I AM BACK
I missed a day blogging. I was on a pretty good stretch there for awhile. I shall try to resume my faithfulness. It seemed a few things beyond my control were happening and the evening got away from me without a blog AND WITHOUT A POEM!
Today felt like a bit of a holiday after the beginning of the week. It seemed I had so much to do on the computer for planning the rest of the trip that I felt like I actually needed a holiday. So today I took it. Probably not much of a holiday to brag about but I slept in! The latest yet! It was after 8:30 a.m. before I awoke. Then I commenced to sorting through ALL MY PARAPHERNALIA, most of which I don’t need; trashed some, packed up tight some of the other, and organized all the rest for the days ahead. I have two more places where I will be staying longer than two nights. When I stay two night someplace that gives me one entire day to enjoy who I am with. Arrive in the evening, go to bed, enjoy a day, sleep, and get up and leave. Sometimes too short. Sometimes just right, Sometimes too long? It’s never too long for me but that probably depends on parallax of the host. I’ve enjoyed everyplace I have been and all who I have been with. And, it never fails, I learn something each place I go. Sometimes I learn things that I’m not quite ready to share. Things about myself that I probably wish I didn’t have to learn. Actually, I hope I never get too old or too closed mind to keep learning about the world and about my personal self. The more we expose ourselves to others, the more we have our eyes opened, about both ourselves and the other. It is the lessons that ones learns about self that are sometimes the most difficult to learn. But, like I said, everyday I am learning.
I thank God for every experience on this journey. I have seen incredible work of nature’s art with God’s byline on each exhibit. Oh how I have loved the mountains and the sheer walls of granite and the beautiful softness of the green of the forest, the amazing girth of the Sequoia Giants, and the thunder, lightening, and downpour of a summer storm. I have experienced the view of horses grazing in soft pastures surrounded by the ruggedness of mountain peaks scaling the sky just a few hundred feet away. I have the seen the sky so dark with the cover of a cloud filled night that the blackness was impenetrable. And I have experienced the fierceness of planets and stars and satellites glimmering like glowing white diamonds, so close you feel as if you could reach up and touch one. I have watched the wildlife in abundance fighting the survivor dance against prey that would take their life in a split second should they drop their guard. And I have been on freeways of 12 lanes going in one directions with cars being driven by maniacs fighting the same fight. I have heard the sound of great waves crashing against giant boulders protruding from the ocean floor and the gentle sound of the patter of rain on a window. And as I look back, and remember and think about what I have experienced, I have a great joy wash over me because I know I have more to come.
Though my trip is “officially: 2/3 lived I still have 1/3 to go if I live on this earth long enough. And if I don’t live on this earth long enough, just imagine all that I will be experiencing in heaven. My time the past two months has passed so quickly and I know the last third will probably pass even faster (sort of like how the years speed up as you age), but I plan to enjoy each and every moment. PLAN is the operative word. I choose to enjoy. My attitude says I WILL ENJOY. I intentionally believe that I will enjoy every single moment. That means the packing, the loading up, the unloading, writing my blog, doing things differently, eating different kinds of foods, meeting people I don’t know, driving long hours on twisting mountain roads, sleeping in new beds every other night or so, not knowing what to expect, I STILL EXPECT I WILL ENJOY EVERY MOMENT! And that also means the times the Lord is teaching me, something new, or something old that I just haven’t got the hang of yet. Sometimes it’s those “old” things that take the most teaching, over and over and over…..And I say, Thank You Lord for loving me enough to teach me until I get it right!
So, tomorrow morning I will pack up my car and hit the road once again. And this moment will be gone. So I look forward and never back. My memories will stay with me, all the smiles I have tucked into my heart along the way, the lessons I’ve learned, the confidences that have been shared, the places I’ve gone, the people I’ve met, the pictures I’ve taken, but this particular moment of time and place will be gone, and will be cherished. I say goodbye once again to those I love. Not with sadness, but with joy for all the hours and moments we have shared. A simple space in time where our lives have once again crossed, once again influenced each other, shared both laughter and tears, joys and sorrows. And I leave a better person for having lived these past days with my extended family. I can only hope that their lives have been blessed by mine. I hope they have learned something from me as I have from them. Thank you cousins for your love and generosity and hospitality!
I look forward to tomorrow and the next day. I will be reunited with my new love! This time a new place, a new state, and more of God’s exquisite artwork. I am going to the coast. Not just any coast, BUT THE OREGON COAST. I hear it is spectacular! What can I say? I just love the ocean.
From the time I was 6 until I was 12 we lived in a little town that was caressed by the San Francisco Bay waters. It might as well been the mightiest ocean because it was too far to see across. It had a sandy little beach (that seemed big at the time) and one lone tree. I thought it was paradise. It was about 1 to 2 miles away. When I could walk I would trek there on a summer day with my cousins who came over the summer holiday and we would stay most of the day. We were all under about 9 years old and we would be there all day, by ourselves, no adult supervision, and come home blistered by the sun rays. And we survived. We had fun. And we suffered with our sunburns afterward. My mother once told me that if I ever got sunburned again she would give me a spanking I would’t forget once the sunburn was healed. I never let myself get sunburned again on that beach. (Later on other beaches?? Yes). Those days on the beach are wonderful memories. There was just one thing, there were no large, frothing, menacing waves. I enjoyed the beach but my love affair with the ocean didn’t really begin until my cousin Bill took me to see Monterey and Big Sur. Oh WOW! My heart did a flip flop and I’ve been hooked every since. There was a much shorter way to go on tomorrows trip that drive all the way over to the coast to tag along with the ocean on Hwy 101. But I have been assured it will be worth it. So…I’m going for it. Three hours of winding, winding, mountain roads before the ocean comes in view. I’ve been looking at those mountains for the past two weeks so I might as well go and get acquainted with them. I look forward to the mountains too. There are two hours of layover Monday through Saturday for construction work. Sunday has no lay over. Thus, I am driving on Sunday.
There is another story about the ocean I would like to share, but not now. It is a story of the supernatural and miracles. I’ll tell you another day. It is getting late, and I Must go to bed as I must get up early. Good night.
EVERY MOMENT JUST A LOAN
Kathleen Martens
May 30, 2015
Tomorrow’s hour of early morn
Time of renewal, a new day born.
What awaits is unknown,
Every moment just a loan.
Give to God what is His
And that goes without a quiz.
For every moment He paid the price
Through His son’s sacrifice.
Glory goes to God our King
And to remember this one thing.
His love surpasses understanding
And is never, ever commanding!
He asks that you would come
Sit awhile, meet His son.
The only way to heaven’s door.
Sit a spell, He’ll tell you more.
Thursday May 28 2015 DAY 81 THE LOST DAY
I am so perplexed that I don’t yet have a title for this page. I pick my titles as a reminder to what I lived that day, Well this day had been perplexing. Computers can be our friends, right? Well, some days they can become the enemy. The enemy, only in the sense that it has devoured this day, and yesterday, and the day before. Living in the present to plan for the future. I am trying to stay in Airbnb facilities across Canada as I make my way home. Airbnb allows me to go online and rent private rooms in homes from a list of those who have been background checked. The towns are so small that when I google a town up pops the ones in about a 50 mile radius and sometimes a bit further. Then I look on the map, try to figure out just how far, finally find one that might work and the date is already booked that I need. Sometimes the picking is meager unless you want to pay a lot (which I don’t). I can usually find really nice places from about$45 to $80 per night. The owners of the homes always seem so friendly and so helpful.
I have reservations to stay two night on Vancouver Island close to Butchart Gardens. It was recommended that I stay at the gardens after dark because the park and flowers are then lit with beautiful colored lighting and water features. The place I will be staying is very close to the gardens and I will not need to drive a long distance at night. The ferry stops running after the evening is over and it takes almost two hours on ship to get across from the mainland of Vancouver BC. I would rather take that trip during the daylight hours. I have many days before I get there but the Airbnb places available are becoming fewer and fewer and I knew I needed to get the scheduling completed. I have plans scheduled through my stay in Coeur d’Alene Idaho. After that I have no other places booked. I’m still thinking about what I want to do and where I want to go. Any suggestions out there? Send them in. I leave Idaho on June 23rd (our 42nd anniversary) or June 24th. I plan to be home by July 1, Lord willing.
I’m still doing the marathon of the “Outlander Series”. So…between walking all over the neighborhood, working on the computer, watching Outlander this has been a lost day. Ahh…I now have the title for today’s blog. I suppose not really a lost day because I did get a lot accomplished. It is just not one of my favorite things to do…having my nose in the computer all day. And, I do enjoy visiting with Joyce off and on between my computer nose and Joyce hosting online spades tournaments as well as playing the tournaments herself. So we haven’t had too much time today but the day was and still is enjoyable.
My computer episode went until about midnight last night. At 12:30 a.m. I realized I had not written the poem I choose to write everyday. So I wrote a poem. I will copy it below. Just a little look at how my brain works past midnight. At least there was still something up there.
I HOPE I’M AWAKE
Kathleen Martens
May 27, 2015
Oh man, it’s past my time,
Bed would be so sublime.
But many plans I had to make
I just hope I was really awake.
It would be awful to do these works
Only to find just in dreams they lurk
Are those few place I have booked,
And many places I’ve yet to look.
When tomorrow comes I shall pursue
All the plans that are new.
For all I decided with half a brain
I hope my decisions are surely sane.
As you can read. I wrote the poem with half a brain too.
Good night! And guess what? It is only 5:35 p.m. Sorry I have no excitement to report! Just being so full of peace and joy is excitement enough for me. I’m alive!! And God is good!!
Wednesday May 27 2015 DAY 80 SHOPPING DAY!
Shopping is a lot of fun. Especially when:
1. You don’t have a man waiting for you!
2. You have a credit card!
3. When your husband is in another state!
4. And you have no idea in the world what you are going to buy!
5. And you know you aren’t going to spend very much money!
I’ll get back to the shopping a little later. First I’ll tell of my most extremely, unexciting, wonderful, accomplished day. I didn’t join a gym this week because I didn’t want to pay the price they quoted me. So…I actually got up and set out for a nice long walk. Decided to do 45 minutes of up and down the hills around Daneece’s home. What a beautiful walk. Not too hot since it was early and all the homes in her neighborhood are absolutely beautiful. What amazed me was how groomed and green the yards are. I was surprised because of the severity of the drought. There are so many flowers blooming at present and the walk was tour around a neighborhood. As I walked I listened to a sermon on my Iphone and had an absolutely wonderful time with myself. When I arrived back at the house I did stretches and floor exercises. It was unexciting, but it sure felt great! Then I ate lunch, received a call from someone I haven’t seen for 53 years. I will be staying with him and his wife at my next home location. He is the brother of a friend from the past. My friend is Charlene and we attended church together when we were both in diapers. Her brother Don graciously agreed to host me in his home as a stepping stone to Charlene’s place in Washington. We talked much too long and then I was on my way to pick up my Triple A travel pack at Triple A in Redding.
When I arrived at Triple A the lady that assisted me yesterday had just gone to lunch and only she knew where the packet was. So I left to return later. Where do you go in a strange city when you have an hour or so to use up? SHOPPING of course! And so I did. No man was with me, I had my credit card, my husband was in another state, I had absolutely no clue as to what I would buy and I knew I wouldn’t spend very much anyway. I’m just not a big spender. So off I went to my favorite place to shop. Googled its location into my phone and found it to be about two blocks away. I walked away with one pair of pants, one wool vest, one wool sweater vest, one sweater blouse, seven shirts, some dressy, some for workout, and three books. No much. Only took two bags. And the total was $37 and some cents (can’t remember right now). Of course that was with my senior discount! My favorite place of the day? GOODWILL of course.
The most pleasant and delightful young woman assisted me. It was such a pleasure to actually be a person, not a number, treated with respect and courtesy. I give Triple A Redding the highest rating possible for giving the best possible professional service, interspersed with live human contact. Not only did
After I spoke with Don, I had a few new twists and turns added to my itinerary so some of it had to be redone. All total it took another two hours or so to have everything rescheduled. I even have to schedule an oil change before I leave the states because since I am still under warranty with my car I cannot go over mileage between oil changes and have them for free. While I am on the road as long as I go to a KIA Dealership and save my receipts Russ Darrow, by KIA Dealership in Madison Wisconsin will reimburse for my oil changes. My last change was in Denver Colorado. I must have them done ever 5,000 miles. The next one will be done in Burlington, Washington. That will get me home.
Back home to Daneece’s and another TV fest with Joyce. It was interesting watching the first few episodes of OUTLANDER with her last night and a couple more tonight. It is the story of time travel beginning post World War II back to 1743. As the books continue there are several different time travel episodes. What is so interesting is that the historical facts of each time travel situation are based on accurate facts of time, place, names and events. Very involved and some of the scenes are a bit too graphic.
So now it is night again and I am the only one up and at it. I would like to go to bed soon so I will say good night. Before I do I will tell you that I plan to leave my comfy abode here in Redding on Sunday Morning. Maybe I will stay for church first and then leave. I haven’t decided for certain yet. I sure would like to go to church at Bethel just one more Sunday. If you’ve never heard of the class I just finished check it out online and think about next year. It is so amazing and worth the trip.
My day was extremely unexciting because I didn’t really do anything great like go up in the Eiffel tower, it was wonderful because I went shopping and found so many nice blouses, sweater, vests, and pants, it was accomplished because I actually have the remaining plans of my trip in a semblance of order. And.. it was the day that the Lord had made and I rejoiced in it and was glad in it all day long! Even an unexciting day is an AWESOME day to me!
Good night.
Tuesday May 26 2015 DAY 79 MOVIE OVERLOAD!
Dear Family and Friends:
Today I write a letter to everyone. First, I want to thank those of you who have been following my blog and for all the notes and messages received. Thanks for your encouragement. I haven’t been able to return messages for each one but I love receiving them. I am getting caught up now that I am finished with the class last week. That was such an amazing week.
The entire week last week was dedicated to learning about healing in the Biblical since. We had opportunity to be prayed for and to pray for others. I shared in a blog last week some of the truths I learned from scripture. I am not going to repeat it here because I want to listen to the download I bought last week of the sessions and do some deeper study before I share it and possibly share it incorrectly. I was so busy every moment of the day that by the time I came home in the evening to my Cousin’s home I could barely write my blog. I actually fell asleep a few times doing it and almost fell off my chair. Not a good feeling!
I want to share from my heart what this trip has meant to me. I have not clue as to what I am going to say so let me dig a little and stir up some memories. First I want to say thanks again to my husband for standing behind me in this endeavor, holding the fort at home (actually washing each toilet at least once a week) while I am gone, and giving me loving and encouraging words each day on the phone. I realize what I miss so much is his touch. That has never been one of my love languages but I realize now how much I miss it when it is not experienced everyday. Just a hug, a squeeze on the shoulder, the touch of a hand, all say so much. Touch those close to you. Give a hug to your spouse and children and GRANDCHILDREN. They may not think they need it but they probably really do. I love to give hugs and one day while at church I hugged a woman that I felt God was directing me to give a hug to each week. After several months I realized she always came up to me anticipating that hug. One Sunday she whispered in my ear, “I love your hugs. This is the only hug I receive all week and the only touch from another person.” She was widowed the previous year and lived alone. You never know how much a hug might mean to someone else.
One important thing I have practiced more, is listening. I always have so much to say that listening has sometimes been put on the back shelf. I want to say to any that I may have every offended in the past that I am truly sorry. I now realize that everyone has lots to say if they just have someone interested enough to listen. It is becoming more apparent to me that people need to be heard. People are starving to be heard. Do I have to agree with them? No. Do I need to tell them I disagree with them? No. All I need to do is listen. I am getting better at it and very educated at the same time (quite interesting educations). Do I still talk too much? PROBABLY! No… the answer is yes, but I have come along ways.
Another thing I have learned by listening to people and observing their relationships with one another is, that I need to step back and listen to my own voice as well. How do I sound when answering another person? What are my voice inflections saying to the other person? Are some of the things I speak even necessary? Do I sound defensive? If I disagree with something said do I need to argue until the other person agrees with my perspective? I ask myself these questions and wonder if some of the situations I see could be diffused if answered or spoken in a different tone of voice. I can remember times when it was pointed out to me that I came across differently than I thought I was coming across. It is up to us to be certain we say what we say in a voice and tone that depicts what we purpose to get across. I’ll have to practice when I get home to see if I am learning what I’m telling you about. I want to stop and listen to the words in my head before they become sounds in another’s ears. Words are so powerful. How they are spoken, what words are used, and how they are presented. Maybe we should STOP, LOOK, AND LISTEN…and then speak. I ask God that He will help me do that.
Even though my every day on the road has been full, rewarding, and wonderful in its own way I realize more and more each day how important are the friends that await me at home. Friends are precious and priceless. I think of individual friends and wish I could just call or connect with them. While at the homes of those I am visiting I believe it is important for me to give them my attention without a phone in hand or at ear. So I have chosen to leave the phone in my room and check messages occasionally to see if I have any pressing information that needs addressing. I have tried to return all calls within a few days. Honestly, I very rarely have a few moments to myself. I have been able to connect with my family on occasion by calling before I get out of bed in the mornings. Even when I awaken early or as late at 7:00 I can still call Wisconsin and find everyone up and at their day. Nights are a little more difficult because it is so late in Wisconsin before my day ends here. So I say to you in this letter a great big H E L L O! I do miss all of you and look forward to seeing you again but I don’t want to rush it. Even though I am in my 11th week of being on the road I am looking forward to every day that lies ahead, enjoying each one to the fullest when it comes.
This journey has given me an even greater appreciation for living in the moment. It is truly in the moment that I live. However, this week I have had a few planning sessions that have come up and must be attended to. Until I get the next segment planned I will have no place to go. This week is a gift from God to me. I have a home that has offered me shelter until I am ready to leave. Shelter AND delicious food! Hmm…maybe I should just stay the summer…they have great air conditioning too! But, I guess not. God still has assignments for me so I must get on the road again. I never know what my assignments are, when they will come, or what they are. When it is time, then I know. So I guess I’ll keep on keeping on.
Today I spent 4 hours at Triple A in Redding, California with a travel agent planning my next segment after I leave Daneece and Joyce. After hours of work, the travel agent’s computer would not accept all that she had input and she had to do it all over. I left and will pick up the plans tomorrow. My best recollection tells me that I will be staying at another 13 or 14 locations, some up to one week long, others as short as one nighters. I have four more homes to stay in and the rest will be Airbnb.com while I am on the road. If I remember correctly I think I wrote about Airbnb early in my blogging. For those of you who joined the blog later I’ll explain a little here. Airbnb stands for “online (through the air) bed and bath” accommodations in private homes. People are vetted (background checked) and join a network to advertise their home for rent. Usually it is just a bedroom and bath. And sometimes the bath is shared with the family. I stayed at two in Texas and had a feeling of safety as a lone woman coming into a neighborhood instead of going to a hotel parking lot and having to carry my belongings in by myself. As an Airbnb customer each traveler must also be vetted with a background check. One complaint about the home or the customer and the persons are not longer allowed to be in the system. So…everyone is on their best behavior. The prices go from $10 to hundreds of dollars per night. They are not in every town but I have been able to choose enough that I think I will be able to make it all across Canada by using only Airbnb. I do have a few places I will be with friends and family but other than that I will use Airbnb. I’ll tell you more about them as I journey toward home.
Speaking of “toward home” I have felt since the first day I left that my journey was always headed toward home, not away from home. I have always been progressing, not going away from, but going toward. And I am still progressing toward…and home is my ultimate destination. Home and a husband retiring on July 4th, and friends, and a cluttered house, two weddings to finish, one newborn session to finish and one senior portrait session to finish. Going toward my church body, and what is left of summer, and my husband, my son, my daughter-in-law and my two loves of my life, Zach and Xander, and my gardens, and my CSA box, and making more soups, filling my freezer, cleaning out 42 years of collections, redoing the kitchen, having surgery AND…QUIET!!! Oh yes, and retirement! As my friend Bill says: “NOT RETIRE–BUT REFIRE!”
Yes, I said QUIET! Pure unadulterated, soundless quiet. Just me and the Lord. NO TELEVISION!!! Hours and hours of quiet. And then I will go outside, sit in my chair and listen to the birds. I can hear the birds now you know. Before my ears were healed in October 2012 I had not heard birds for many years. The first time I heard the bird song I stood under the trees and cried. And I have been hearing them all across the country. Some of their sounds I have never heard before. Somehow, bird songs are not noise. To me they are like jewels tinkling in the air. And sometimes, I still stand under the trees and cry.
Love to all of you,
Kathleen
(Wanda to some)
Monday May 25 2015 DAY 78 AAHHH!!!
How nice is nice? It was so nice today. I was able to sleep in, have a relaxing morning, a restful afternoon of simple shopping trip (the kind you know what you need and you go get it and you’re done), AND…YOU TREAT YOURSELF TO A MC DONALD’S SOFT SERVE! Then you come home and have the pleasure of watching a movie all afternoon. Now the movie was the opulence for me. It has been a long time since I took the time to watch any TV, much less a movie that lasted over two hours. I watched THE HIDING PLACE, which tells the story of Corrie Ten Boom’s life. It was a sad and amazing story. I would highly recommend watching it. I read the book many years ago and the movie actually did it justice. It is the true story of a person who survived the concentration camps during World War II.
Now I have the absorbing, engaging, engrossing, gripping, interesting, intriguing, involving, riveting, and time consuming task of planning the next few weeks of travel. I used all those descriptive words because I’m trying to psyche myself into the belief that it is great fun to do. The traveling is great, but sometimes the planning and reservations can become tedious. I still have too much to do (like having fun) than to take a day to plan. But now is the time to do so while I have the comfortable place I do it where I feel so welcome. I think there may even be some surprises in store for me. I think I am going to be seeing some beautiful country. Hope you keep reading along with me as I think I have some pretty neat things I will be seeing and experiencing.
God is so good! God is so good! God is so good to me! (Words of a song going through my head). And oh, it is so true! And with the above song singing in my head I set to write a poem and his is what came out.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
Kathleen Martens
May 25 2015
Quiet time is lost to me
So much noise flies so free.
Television blares it’s noisy racket,
Sometimes I would like to smack it!
But I won’t , for I love who’s here,
And not often are they near.
With generosity their home they share
And to do as they please is only fair.
A beautiful home welcomes my day,
A place for me to sleep and play.
A yard of beauty awaits each morn
As a new day again is born.
The fridges are full of delectable food
And the atmosphere has a happy mood.
And even night has its own sounds,
For in the waterfall frogs abound.
I love this home away from home
For it is far that I have roamed!
But now I feel a peace and calm
And and the noise of the TV has become a balm.
And I am loved by a furry little creature
Who is the queen of this home’s feature.
Black little Nikki is the love of my day,
She greets me heartily and wants to play.
I’m not alone and the sounds are sweet
And I love that our path did meet.
It is such a comfort that I can hear
Those who are close that I love so dear.
Thank you Daneece and Joyce AND NIKKI!
MY SAGE ADVICE FOR TODAY: “ENJOY WHEREVER YOU ARE FOR SO SOON YOU WILL BE SOMEWHERE ELSE.”
Sunday Sabbath May 24 2015 DAY 77 FUN DAY-SUNDAY
Relaxing and fun day! Why fun? Just because I say it was and still is. Up early to get a seat at Bethel Redding. Great service on the continuing topic of worship, took a trip to Costco, a stroll through the mall because the restaurant of choice did not open until noon. And then I had my first experience at an OUTBACK RESTAURANT. Salad and shrimp was the best thing I could find. It was delicious.
And what do I do when I got back to Daneeces? Start making food of course! Made a quinoa salad with lots of veggies in it and had a lot of chopping to do. Daneece’s son Daniel and his girlfriend stopped by to visit me. We had a short visit before they had to leave to go to another engagement. But…I think we have a dinner date with them tomorrow night to go out for Indian food. After they left I made more food, a pomegranate salad. To me it is delicious but I don’t think it was quite as delicious to the others. Cousin Joyce is totally convinced that I eat weird. Before I came she was told I ate weird, and now she knows I do (according to her). That’s because I eat, according to Joyce, RABBIT FOOD! True, the rabbits and I probably eat a lot alike, but to me that is not weird. WHAT THEY EAT IS WEIRD! But, enough of food.
When I have quiet days it seems to me I have nothing of interest to write about. I love the days but perhaps fall short of information to share. And…I even took a picture of me with everyone else on my tripod camera and forgot to take one with my cell phone so I could put it on line. I’ll try to take a picture tomorrow and put it up a day late.
Though I am sleepy at the present, this has been a lovely day. I will try to stay awake until I finish. It is but 7:21. I hope you enjoyed reading about my long day in these short paragraphs. Probably the shortest blog I’ve done to date. I think I must move around or I will fall asleep! Day 77 has been a wonderfully relaxing day of suspended bliss. Still have some things to do.
God bless all of you. I hope my tomorrow is as uneventful as today. I need this down time before I head out for the next leg of my journey later this week.
Dave, it is already late and perhaps I shouldn’t call. So I will tell you here for all the world to know–I LOVE YOU!
Charlene if you are reading my blog please give me a call when you have a chance ASAP (or I will be calling you).
Carole H. I miss you.
David H. I love your music! It is so peaceful for me.
Rebecca M. Missed your call tonight during my blog time darling daughter.
Neil H. Thank you for loving my daughter.
Court M. My favorite son!
Amy M. My favorite daughter-in-law.
Zach and Xander. YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE. GRANDMA MISSES YOU.
…goodnight John boy…
Saturday May 23, 2015 DAY 76 HOW GREAT IS THIS DAY!
Every day I must peek at yesterday’s title to see what this day is. 76 Days of my journey are in the past. I wonder how many will be in the future? I ask myself, am I on the way home now? And then I realize that I am not on a trip, I am on a journey. To me the difference being, a trip has a certain place and time to be somewhere and then a return trip is necessary to return from where you started. I don’t see my journey as that way at all. A journey is setting out and perhaps not knowing exactly where you are going or when you will be there. The presence of the moment IS the journey and the reason for the journey. Each day stands alone in the stepping stones leading you to places unknown. My journey is two fold: a place of time and space as to where I am, and a journey of the heart and spirit of the internal me. I know I have said this before, but it is true, EVERYDAY I AM LEARNING! My spirit is becoming more peaceful, my heart is expanding, love grows inside me for the beautiful country I live in, and I am amazed that there are so many kind people wherever I go.
My cousin Daneece were out in the car today and she made a statement about “going home” and it made me stop and think about all the ways we “go home”. I go home everyday when I settle in to talk to my husband. Some days it is just for two or three minutes, but while I am on the phone with him I experiencing a little bit of “going home”. I think I go home when I pause and think of my house, it’s surroundings, what is growing now and thinking of the changes of the seasons in Wisconsin . I “go home” when I pull up the photos on my IPhone of my two grandsons. It is then the smile in my heart gets bigger and I have such satisfaction knowing they are there for me to see again someday. I “go home” daily. Not with sadness for being apart, but it is with joy I think of all that going home means, for it is my place of refuge and peace and calm in all these vast miles I’ve traveled. It is my little piece of the world that I share with the one I love most dearly. It is where I truly belong. Though I have seen much, experienced many different acquaintances along the way, enjoyed every hour I’ve been alive since leaving home, there truly is no place like home. I look at all the people around me in this vast and busy world and wonder about where there home is, what is it like, is it peaceful and a place of refuge or is there strife and turmoil and heartache that awaits them at the end of their trip? And the truth is, I’ll never know. All I can know for certain is that when I return home I will return to a sanctuary.
When I think of returning to the place I belong it makes me think of the even greater journey I am on the journey to heaven. It makes me realize that as big and beautiful as this world is, it is not my home. As the song goes, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through”. It keeps me focused on my true purpose for being on earth, and simply said, my reason is to take as many with me to heaven as I can. And when I think of heaven’s home I realize that there is one there who loves me more than I can even comprehend. How awesome is that! It makes me excited about the journey I am on, both returning to the one I love and who loves me AND someday going to the place where I am so loved that it is beyond my understanding. I have an awesome Father who loves me enough to allowed His son to die for me that I would someday be where He is.
Now, to what I did with this absolutely great day! I slept in until almost 7:00 a.m. I talked to Dave for over an hour before I got out of bed. I wrote my blog for yesterday. Daneece and I went shopping for the pizza ingredients I needed to make my super delicious, awesome pizza! It is my own recipe. Came home, made the pizzas in the pleural and then froze them for future eating. Worked up a flat of strawberries that needed freezing. Took the chicken off the bone so I could boil the bones into broth to make Quinoa tomorrow. Did my wash, prepared dinner. Still doing my wash, must iron my clothes for tomorrow and it is almost 11:00 p.m. and then put the chicken broth in containers in the fridge. I think I did a lot more things but too many to remember. So this absolutely great day has turned out to be a bit longer than I had intended.
I love all you out there in never never land. Church comes early so I will go and proofread tomorrow. No photos today as I didn’t do much to warrant them.
Hopefully I’ll write more tomorrow.
Friday May 22, 2015 DAY 75 AWAKEN THE VISION OF MY HEART
Good morning everyone! It is actually morning instead of last night! OOPS! It is now actually afternoon of yesterday. Friday was long, interesting, full of the joy of the Lord, overload of information, AND EXHAUSTING! I actually felt tired last evening, probably due to very short nights all week. It caught up with me! I very rarely know what it feels like to be tired these days AND IT IS AN AWESOME FEELING!
There was also a bit a sadness. When you are with new people that you bond with for a week there are always farewells that must be said. God brought absolutely delightful young people into my life this week. First, there was Jessica, my little hitch hiker I told you about. Then came the radiance and glow that shines from Linda’s sweet face. Linda was such a gift to our group because she was there early enough every morning to reserve seats for all of us close to the front. For that I am forever thankful. Angelica was the next gift God had all packaged up. She is just as her name depicts, angel like and free spirited and beautiful to behold. And we all received two additional lovely ladies from Singapore, Dawn and Estelle. What a delightful pair. The love of Jesus just shines from their very presence. It was awesome to be able to get to know them in the limited time we had to visit. God blessed me with this core group of ladies and I truly felt as if I was in a little family. My friends Lana and Tim were there also but they chose to sit in the back. I was able to connect with them some during some of the meal breaks. I brought my own lunch and dinner so as to save cost and for my own health reasons. We did however have the chance to get caught up a bit at the picnic table. My regret was that I didn’t have the opportunity to spend more time on the last day with them as I felt God wanted to me to spend time with a group of three young men who drove up from Los Angeles. I asked them to go out to dinner but they were fasting and chose not to eat. Instead, we sat under the trees outside and talked and shared. I wish I had asked them what their wisdom was but I forgot to do so. Time goes by so quickly and before I knew it, it was time to go back in for the next session.
We had an interesting session on Thursday. We were taken into the sanctuary that had been transformed from an auditorium to a Healing Room. Chairs were placed back to back in curving lines, artist were painting beautiful works for art as spiritual expressions of praise, dancers were dancing with flowing scarves and graceful movements, and a worship team was singing and playing musical instruments on the platform. The lights were low and peaceful. Groups of class members were brought into the room in groups of about 100 to experience the room for a half an hour or so to bask in the presence of the Lord, to view the artist at work, to sing and worship God and just soak in the presence of the Lord’s presence. It was a beautiful place to be. We were then directed to a room where a group of people prayed with each person individually. There were four who prayed for me. It is is wonderful that so many people (over 800) volunteer on a rotating schedule to come in and pray with people for healing.
It is a good thing I was able to write my blogs at night this week, except for yesterday’s, because so much information is jam packed in my brain that it is difficult to differentiate one day from the next.
I think the word of wisdom I will leave with you today is something the speaker Chris Gore quoted from a woman who spoke it at age 92 years of age. Her name was Mrs. Lindsey and she has since died. From what I gathered, she was a woman of prominence, a great spokeswoman, and one of importance in the what she did. Chris asked her for a word of wisdom and this is what she said: “Stay humble, stay low, give God all the glory.” Quite succinct. What we must remember when miracles happen is that it is not by our works, but it is the Lord’s work and power that performs the miracle. When we are to be a servant of the Lord we are to have a humble heart and ask how can best serve rather than coming into a situation exhibiting behavior that says “I know it all”.
This past week there was a message given by one of the many speakers. I can’t remember if I mentioned before what I am about to tell you. Sorry if it is a repeat. The minister was talking about how, when we ask, God will open our spiritual vision to new truths in His word. Truth that was already there but not understood or seen as one read the scriptures. When we ask God to open our hearts and minds to the truth He has in the scripture, God will do so. Sometimes when we do not see these revelations we are not ready to receive them. The more truth we see sometimes makes some things more difficult for us. When we are ready to receive God’s truths we should also ask for patience. When we ask for revelation we must be prepared for revelation, and the patience will help us work through what God is teaching us.
I am finding that to be so true in my life. God is opening the scriptures up to me in the past few years that I am just amazed I didn’t see, nor understand. Over and over this is happening. The more truths exposed to me, the more I learn, which often reveals convictions with which I must deal with in my life in order to grow from those truths. I looked back over some of my poems on my hard drive that I have with me and one poem stood out. I will put it here. It was written about a year ago but it says so clearly what the speaker was speaking this week. I would like to share it here. With these words I will sign off. God bless you!
Awaken the Vision of My Heart
By Kathleen Martens
April 30, 2014
Open my eyes Lord
That I may see
With vision of heart
The truths You depart.
Illumine Your word
So wisdom it brings
So the knowledge You give
With me forever lives.
Let me hear what You say
As I devour Your word,
Awaken my soul
That Your truths I know.
If I must suffer
With more knowledge received
That which I acquire
Replace with Your fire.
Awaken Your Word,
Burn it deep in my heart
That the sound of Your voice
Be my pages of choice.
For Your Holy Scripture
Lights the way of my path
To the place I belong
To bring others along.
Open my eyes Lord
That I may see
The lost ones You bring
To tell of my King.
My increased sorrow
Is turned to joy
As I toil long and steady
For a harvest that’s ready.
Give me wisdom and knowledge
Though it may mean more grief
Eternity is long,
Time on earth is brief.
Thursday May 21 2015 DAY 74 BONUS HOURS!
How awesome that the class schedule was not what I thought it was. Actually we were dismissed at 3:00 p.m. today and I do not have to report back until 6:55. The prayer room will be set up and every attendee will be prayed for individually. I am praying that my hands will be healed and my breast lumps will disappear.
Jessica, who I pick up and drop off each day came to the conference this morning. After she arrived in the packed room looking for me so she could sit next to me she realized how blurry everything was. She forgot to put her contacts in and did not have her glasses with her. She asked herself how could she do that. She felt the Lord impress upon her heart that it was because He was going to heal her vision today. Five years ago someone came to her church and prophesied over her (my paraphrase) saying that the Lord would one day heal her vision and she would see signs, wonders and miracles. That memory was brought to her recall and she again felt God impressing His word into her heart telling her that this was not only a physical restoration of her sight but would be restoration of her spiritual sight as to who He was and how He perceives her. There was more but I do not remember and do not want to misquote. During the first half hour worship session (remember, they are out of this world) her vision cleared and she can now see both near and far without needing glasses. Her eyes even looked different. Perhaps because I am used to seeing her with contacts or glasses. Needless to say, that was amazing to her and those around her. There have been many testimonies of healing taking place. I am ready to have a testimony. I could even go for my eyes being healed, especially the dryness! I’ll add that to my list. God is the God of miracles and what He starts, He completes.
The speakers today were awesome. All the speakers have been awesome but today clinched it for me, confirming that I need to hear it all again and so I decided I will buy the download of this week’s speakers. I just hope I will know how to upload (or download?) it onto my computer. I would much rather have CD’s so I could listen in the car.
So much is spoken by the speakers at each session that it makes it difficult to take accurate and thorough notes. Though I try I am certain a lot gets left out or incorrectly written. I’ll share a couple of highlights of today. A beautiful statement that stood out is “Miracles are an extension of worship. The proper response to miracles is PRAISE. When someone gets healed it is a song from the Lord. It draws people into praise”. I love “it is a song from the Lord”. The song I heard from the Lord when my ears were healed was the song that went into my heart when I first heard birds again. I hadn’t heard birds for many years except an occasional crow. I have a poem I wrote about that. When I find it I will print it in the blog. I think it is in the trunk of my car in a place that is difficult to get to. If I have time I’ll do it today. Our praise opens the heavens to increase more healing power. This class teaches us that our assignment is to release worship across the nations. “Our role is not to try to do God’s job for Him. Our job is simply to come to Him, recognize who He is, and to get out of the way. We are to take our eyes off the problem and put our eyes on the One who IS THE SOLUTION. Our worship is in intimate fellowship, not on the problem or illness at hand. Healing is not what God has to do, but healing is what He IS. WHEN HE IS PRESENT, SO IS HIS HEALING PRESENT.”
There is so much more but these sentences were interesting to me and thought you might enjoy seeing what we are learning. It is a very hands-on intense teaching. Some of the classes are so packed with information that it would not be possible to share just bits and snippits because it all builds on each sentence and explanation. That is why I will buy the download. So many wonderful scriptures to back up what is being taught. One of my favorite sentences that was in this last session today was: “FAITH IS NOT IGNORANT OF REALITY. IT JUST DEFIES IT!” (My exclamation point!) I have lots to study when I arrive home. I took careful notes and when I have the access to the messages again I should be able to comprehend and understand even more. I feel so honored to be able to attend these sessions. I would love to come back again with Dave. I highly recommend a trip to Bethel Redding for the Healing Classes.
Well, I think this will be my blog today. Tomorrow is an earlier day and a long one. Perhaps I’ll get to bed before 1:30 a.m. like last night.
I must get ready to leave for my healing time.
This week has passed all too quickly!!!
Wednesday May 20 2015 DAY 73
Another one of those WOW DAYS! Long and interesting. Four classes today. 9:00 to 12:00; 1:30 to 3:30; 4:00 to 5:00; and 7:9:30 with prayer for healing afterwards. Left Bethel Campus at 10:15 p.m. Now that was a long day. After class I take my little “hitch hiker” back to her place which is in the opposite direction of my final destination. I don’t mind. It has been so good to get to know Jessica. She is so bubbly and full of life. She has two little girls so this is wonderful get-a-way time of freedom for her. I can see she is thoroughly enjoying the classes and worship and freedom.
Speaking of worship. The worship service we have each morning before we start our day is out of this world. And I actually mean out of this world! It is as if you we are in heaven. The sound of worship is so beautiful, especially when there is no music and the voices blend together in a heavenly language and sound like what I imagine a choir of angels would sound like. A chill just came over me as I thought about it and typed it. The class allows 750 students because the sanctuary seats 750 people. I would imagine there are about 600 or a little more in session. The entire church building seems to be full with just scattered empty chairs. I faced booked Dave tonight, stood on a chair (as everyone was already standing) and let him see and hear the music and praise. We couldn’t say one word to each other because of the high volume of sound but I just panned the room and platform and let him enjoy what I was hearing. I don’t know what he heard or if I had the phone on speaker or not. Hope he heard something. I’ll find out tomorrow when I speak with him. My phone must be off most of the day from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. because of being in the classes.
My cousins Joyce and Daneece are making life too comfortable for me. Joyce is so generous and wants to buy all my food. I am taking my lunch and dinner because it makes it easier for me to continue to eat healthily while I am traveling. There is a Costco here so I have been able to go there and get some of the foods I enjoy. I only see Joyce and Daneece a few moments before I leave and they are both in bed when I arrive home. I’m trying to figure out how I can get some time to plan the rest of my trip so I’ll have the dates lined up when it is time for me to depart. I do plan to stay here part of next week also (by popular demand)! God provided these wonderful accommodations just for me. Now I know why Daneece moved to Redding all thouse years ago. SO I WOULD HAVE A BEAUTIFUL HOME TO STAY IN WHILE I AM HERE. Isn’t it amazing how God’s timing works out? God is looking out for us even when we don’t know what we’re going to need or when. I just love that about Him.
No time to read. Very little time to write my poem daily. I have been faithful lately, however, today’s poem will not be added to the blog due to my time constraint.
I have enjoyed getting to know several people while here. Jessica, my little passenger lady, Linda, who sat in front of us on the first night, and Angelica who God pointed out to me. Don’t have a picture of Jessica but I can post pictures of Linda and Angelica. It is amazing what the sweet spirits of others does to your heart when God is involved in new relationships. I hope I know them for years to come. I also met another family, a mom and her almost 11 year old son and 15 year old daughter from Saigon. Beautiful people to speak with and to look upon. They are Chinese and speak English fluently. They came all this way to come to this class. I hope I have the mom’s name right, Shin, because she is the source of my wisdom to depart this day. Shin’s wisdom: “I have learned that salvation is through Grace and not through trying to earn your way. Grace is freely given and it is because the Lord wants to give it to us.” Such a great truth spoken so simply.
Grace’s son Benjamin had a word for me. He said he saw a picture and I was up front in a church and I was alone. He didn’t know what it meant and neither do I. I believe in God’s timing I will know the revelation of this word given to me.
This morning all the different countries represented by participants was called out and the people of that nation were asked to stand. I wish I had written the down the names of all the countries.. I found it astounding how many people came from all parts of the world and all parts of our country to participate in this week’s session. It is a mighty work that Bethel does in equipping people to go out and minister to others with boldness and confidence because we know the source of our power is the One who lives within us, which is the Spirit of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Many healing miracles have happened just this week in the services. I am praying for healing of my disfigured and painful hands and the breast tumors I need to have removed when I return. Tonight I prayed for a 24 year old man named Brian whose kidneys are failing and his back is rounded and humped. I ask that you believe with me that God will work a miracle in Brian and heal both of these conditions. We have a mighty God! Believe with me!
It is 12:34 a.m. and 6:30 comes early. Must go. Goodnight.
P.S. I am down to the last few oranges I picked from Bett’s tree in Orange Ca. They are still wonderful and fresh tasting and extremely juicy oranges. Supposedly juice oranges but I love to eat them. I will miss them. Carole, if you read this please call your mom and tell her Thanks for me again. I don’t get to make or receive many phone calls due to my time constraints. None this week at all (except to Dave).
I love you guys out there in the real world!
Tuesday May 19 2015 DAY 72 WOW! WHAT A DAY!
“WOW! WHAT A DAY” could mean many things. The first thing that made it WOW is that this day was long!!! I wish all my days would be as long as this one. Started my day at 6:00 a.m. and it is now 11:11 p.m. I still have a mile to go before I retire.
This school of healing has three classes per day both today and tomorrow. Thursday there is a bit of difference and then Friday’s class schedule is different than any of the other days. The schedule is not the important thing, rather just the fact that this was a long long day! Thursday and Friday’s schedule are different but I imagine will be just as long.
“WOW! WHAT A DAY” could also refer to the subject matter of the classes being taught. The speakers are all very interesting to listen to. It’s as if you are listening to up close and personal testimonies of people who have been healed. Always interesting to find out what is happening behind the scenes. I am learning a lot of new things in regarding the scriptures in the Bible that refer to healing. Way too long to go into tonight as I am already very sleepy.
This school’s mission is to teach and equip lay people to understand the concepts of the Bible in regards to healing. I didn’t realize there were so many scripture references, and when they are explained, using Greek and Hebrew correct translations, how clear the verses become. It is amazing it is to be a part of someone receiving healing. The healing does not come from our power but rather through the power of Jesus. As children of God we must realize that we have access to the promises of God. And one of God’s promises is for us today. That we will go into the world and heal the sick. We must always be aware of who lives within us. We do not heal from our own power but by knowing intimately who lives within us. It is the power of Jesus that heals, we are simply the conduit. We must walk in the confidence of releasing the kingdom even when you aren’t trying.
There is so much more I could say but sleep is getting the best of me. Maybe I can continue this at a later time as I must close soon and head to sleepy town. I do not have even one photo to show for today.
I want you to make record of the fact that I did not take even one picture today, not on my cell phone nor on my camera. I think that is first in the 72 days I’ve been traveling. I also do not have any wisdom from anyone today. I’ll work harder at getting that tomorrow.
Here is a poem I wrote today between the sessions.
AND ALWAYS GIVE THANKS
By Kathleen Martens
May 19, 2015
Happy is the man whose sins are forgiven
For he is the man who is truly living.
Good like a medicine is a merry heart,
The the mystery of God will never depart.
God has a plan for each one
That rejoicing always be part of the fun.
And we need pray without an end.
And always give thanks to Jesus, our Friend.
For God’s throne is forever and ever
And all evil in our lives must be severed.
And in righteousness we are to love
Anointed with oil of gladness from above.
To the unrighteous His mercy God shows
Their sins he chooses no longer to know.
He gave a new covenant, Jesus His Son,
And as believers we are the most joyful ones.
Saturday May 16, 2015 DAY 70 ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
I love being wherever I am when I am visiting friends and relatives…HOWEVER…I love just being on the road again. Today’s drive was short and sweet, about 3 hours or so. The entire way was blissful, quiet solitude. No radio, no CD’s, no listening to sermons. I did talk on the phone a few times trying to catch up on friends. Usually short and sweet because my car phone (no hands or visual needed) does not sound clear when I am moving on the highway. Too much tire noise comes through the speaker. I can hear the person I’m speaking to but they have difficulty hearing me. So the drive was mostly just the Lord and myself. I love the driving. Just wish I was the only one on the road so I wouldn’t have to keep my eye on the road. Too much to see!
Left Paulette’s house after 12:00 noon and went by the gym where I have been working out this past week. The young man I talked to three days ago told me he had a gift for me. He gave me a St. Christopher’s medallion that his Grandmother gave to him. I was touched in my heart. He wanted me to have it so I would have a safe trip. I accepted his gift with great humbleness in accepting something so carefully and purposely given that hand sentimental value as well. I told him Thank You. I expressed how much I do believe Jesus is watching over me and protecting me and that his gift would remind me that there is someone else praying along with me for my safe travels. I promised to send it back to him when I reached home. That is the only way I would accept it. This way he would know I was home safe and sound. Thank you Todd for our kindness to me. Tod also had another gift left there for me from the young lady I spoke with a couple of days ago. What a lovely card and variety of travel goodies she packaged up for me. How is it that people are so kind and thoughtful to someone they’ve only met once? I feel that is just God blessing me through the kindness of others and filling me with even more joy.
Included in my goody bag were 6 CD’s of various things from Bethel Church. Bethel Church is the one I will be taking the class at this next week. Included also was 5 packets of Eletro Mix which I have not yet tried. There were two bags of nuts, macadamia and a bag with a mix of walnuts, pecans, and almonds. Corrisa, the giver of this gift is pretty insightful as to what it is I would love to have. I also received an Herbalife “Formula 1 + PDM on the Go”. Can’t wait to try it! Also in the bad were two packets of H30 along with three samples from YOUNG LIVING, ESSENTIAL OILS. All total, this is one of the most needed and purposeful gifts I have received. Thank you Corrisa. Let me know if you read this.
Back to departing from Paulette’s. Paulette talked me into taking EVERYTHING out of my car and starting over with a clean slate. I was reluctant and after we did, I sure was glad it was finished. Still didn’t find the toothpaste I thought I packed. When I say we took everything out , I mean EVERYTHING! I ended up sending two boxes of books home with a few articles of clothing squished inside the boxes. It seems like a lot of my things get squished! I did feel better after it was all done even though I was traveling such a short distance only to unload everything once more. I have two buried compartments in my car and now I won’t need anything from them for awhile.
I arrived at my cousin’s (First cousin once removed) home where she lives and her mother lives with her. Her mother Joyce is my first cousin. Our mothers are sisters. They would still be sisters if they were alive that is. I prefer to speak of them as in the present tense because in the presence in which they live, they are both alive, still sisters, just living in a different place, Heaven.
What a joyous greeting when we arrived. Sitting on the table in the dining room is a beautiful bouquet with red roses stuck here and there in the bouquet. Joy said she bought them just for me. I think she know how much I love roses. So exciting to see my cousin Daneece’s home for the first time. It is beautiful, spacious, and purposeful. I have a lovely room all to myself. My bed is an airbed with a foam mattress-like covering over it. Right about now I would like to be in it. Up too late again and in the morning we are going to early service at Bethel Church here in Redding, California. I am excited to register on Monday for the class that I am already registered for. We register after 3:00 p.m. on Monday and the first session is Monday evening at 7:00 a.m.
The rest of the weekdays begin at 10:00 a.m. and closes about 9:00 p.m. This will be my first class at Bethel. I’ll write more about the class after I take it a few days. I’m getting excited to learn what they are going to teach.
We had a delicious dinner tonight. Salad, cherries, fresh bread and chicken. Joyce was so kind by asking what kind of foods I liked to eat. She had practically everything I put on the list. I was just giving her ideas, I certainly didn’t expect for her to go out and buy it all. Both ladies were tired tonight so I just searched the fridge, designed a dinner and had it ready in just a few minutes. It is such a pleasure again to put my hands on real food and prep it and prepare a delicious dinner. So simple, yet so enjoyable for me to do. More enjoyable on the trip because I am not doing it every single day. Yet, when I am home I still have the same thrill when it comes to working with, touching, smelling, and visual sensations I receive when working with raw foods. I love them all. Joyce still thinks I eat weird!
I sure can write a lot when absolutely nothing has really happened today. But inside me a lot happened. I received such beautiful thoughtful gifts, I received a warm, warm welcome from both cousins, (mother and daughter), a refrigerator full of delicious foods I love (including a whole rotisserie chicken ready to eat), a beautiful bouquet of red roses, a front row seat to the the most beautiful hummingbird show, and a wonderful new friend named Nickie (not certain of the spelling” or even exactly what Nickie really is. He feels like a cat, sort of looks like a dog, and is the strangest little critter I’ve seen that claims to be a dog (at least my cousins believe he is a dog). Can’t remember the breed but he has a calling. That calling is to be used on ships to catch rats. I’ll find out more tomorrow when everyone wakes up.
Thanks for listening. It was an interesting day for me. Oh yes, cousin Daneece is 8 weeks post knee replacement and is still suffering much. If you have good knees you need to get on them and give thanks to the Lord that you have healthy knees. I hope I can pamper both Joyce and Daneece while I am here. I love being here in their home. It is an honor to stay with so many of our friends and family.
Too tired to proof read this evening as it is 10:44 p.m and I need to go to bed. Enjoy all my TYPOS!
Good night
P.S. I forgot to ask anyone for wisdom today so I’ll give some from my on experience. “Don’t stay up this late to write a blog because you will be tired in the morning.” Now it is 10:54 (But at least my teeth are already brushed)!
Friday May 15 2015 DAY 69 I THINK I GOT A LEMON
Sometime days are just down days. Not down in spirit but just a day to slow down, stay close to home, revel in the quiet, no hustle and no bustle. Just a great “down” day. That was today, for the most part. And I loved it. Paulette had several suggestions as to where we could go, things we could see, etc., but instead we chose to stay close to home until we thought of a movie we’d like to see.
I did go to the gym and when I came home I braved the post rain back yard and tackled picking lemons. Yes, I said lemons. If I had to guess I would say her Meyer lemon tree probably had 500 lemons on it. And let me tell you, this lemon tree fought back. It had great big, long, sharply pointed, strong, THORNS. I mean they were like weapons and extremely sharp! Ask me how I know! “Ouch”! I wore long sleeves which helped but still had a few pricks elsewhere. I picked lemons for a half hour or more. After they were washed and dried and laid out I counted 80 lemons on the counter and in a bowl was about another dozen or so.
So, the photographer in me just knew there was a picture waiting to happen. Paulette pulled down her beautiful baskets from the pantry and we loaded the lemons into them. I arranged them in what I thought a was nice display and we not only took pictures, but, we did a talking video. We had fun doing it. I took some to the gym this morning, which I had picked yesterday, and gave them away to the people I spoke with yesterday. Tomorrow I will take more. I also plan to take them with me as I leave and hand them out to wherever I go to whomever wants them. They are quite sweet lemons or could be mistaken for a very sour orange. They look more like oranges, both outside skin and inside flesh. This is a very forlorn tree. It is sad because it is neglected and left to its own devices. I heard the lemons calling out to me to please pick them so they could fulfill the destiny that God had intended for them. That destiny was to be picked, eaten, and enjoyed, while giving rich nutrients to to those who ate them. The picked lemons are happy lemons! And I am quite happy for picking them, as well as helping them fulfill their destiny! I called ahead and told Joyce I would be bringing lemons. She said she had two lemon trees and didn’t need any lemons. Oh well…Wish I could get them to my sister Velma. She is the lemon lady!
So you see when I have a “down day”, and not much happening I have to “make” something happen. So I did. Quite exciting for a blog, right? RIGHT??
Paulette and I went to see the movie “The Age of Adeline”. It was quite a ways away but we both wanted to do something “exciting” so we drove out to see it. I thought it done well, had an interesting but abrupt ending, but overall was an entertaining movie. Paulette didn’t seem to like it as much as I did. I don’t see many movies so maybe I don’t have enough to compare it to. I especially like the actors (and don’t ask me who they were).
Paulette’s husband, Dave, joined us across town and we had dinner at a place called CHOPS. Very nice upscale restaurant. I put on my best behavior and tried to be quiet. It worked for awhile. I ordered my favorite food, BRUSSELS SPROUTS and a beet salad. It was very good. I thank you Paulette and Dave for the delicious meal. I have enjoyed myself here in Folsom California. I had a large suite to myself and I spread out like a 16 year old. And that is about how my area appears at the moment, like a teenagers! EGADS! I am leaving tomorrow so will tidy it up in the morning as I pack. It felt so good to just let it all hang out! I would be embarrassed to take a picture of it. I think I needed this respite!
While at dinner I asked Dave for his words of wisdom. He responded quickly: “As I age my priorities change. There is nothing I’d rather do now that hang out with my grandsons” I asked him if that was it and he said yes it was.
Paulette’s wisdom: “Take the time to find joy in every day. Sometimes you have to find it yourself because it is not always going to bite ya.” Very well said!
And because I have a wonderfully peaceful, low-key day I will share a poem I wrote yesterday. I have not had the opportunity to spend as much time in solitude with the Lord while on this trip. I try when I can and have been quite faithful in writing my gift of poetry to God daily (missed a couple of days). I had a quiet peaceful morning yesterday and spent in on the veranda deck and just enjoyed communing with my Lord. Here is the simple poem that spoke how I felt. After the poem are words I felt impressed upon my heart when I asked the Lord what words He had for me.
AND FOR LOVING ME ENOUGH
May 14, 2015
Here I am Lord
To offer my time and space,
To rest my heart in You,
In this peaceful time and place.
To be alone in myriad sounds,
To be refreshed from inside out.
My heart sings from within,
My soul longs to shout.
To proclaim Your love and mercy,
And Your tender loving care
That spills from my heart,
For inside me You’re always there.
Thank You for Your grace and mercy
And for the strength You supply,
And for Your freedom You provide,
And loving me enough to die.
**************
My Heart Sounds from the Lord: IF YOU PURPOSE TO LISTEN
I am your rock forever and I give you true peace because you trust in Me. Even in times of your absence in solitude My love will never leave you. My promise of peace does not disappear because of your busy schedule or the hands on a clock. When My children love Me I will bless them. My face will shine upon you and you will become more and more like Me that others will see my countenance upon your face
Come and let us enjoy this interlude in your journey. Pause and give time to reflect on all I am teaching you. Write down your lessons that you retain them to look upon and continue to grow. As you seek Me, my wisdom will come from within you. Wisdom that comes from heaven is pure, it loves peace while considering others needs. Look and see who I bring before you. Step out in boldness, yet be submissive unto Me. I will fill you with mercy and good fruit. Judge not others and always speak truth in sincerity. Be my disciple for I have called you to be my witness. You are my beloved. I love you with an intensity you do not yet understand. Listen as I speak to your heart. Through all the chatter and clatter of this word you will hear My voice if you purpose to listen.
****************
This has been a wonderful stay. I feel refreshed and ready to look ahead to next week when I will be a student at a week long class at Bethel Church in Redding CA.
Good night. 7:55 p.m.
P.S. We are going to watch a movie!
Wednesday May 14 2015 Day 68 BE PREPARED FOR WHAT YOU PRAY FOR
Another lovely and amazing day. God is so good! It seems God just brings the nicest people across my path. I forgot to even mention one from yesterday that I met at a resale shop in Placerville area on the way back to Rebecca’s from Lake Tahoe. A young man came strolling across my aisle and I couldn’t help but notice is short spiky corkscrew hair sticking out all over his head. It was wonderfully interesting and I couldn’t help commenting on it. I asked him if it was dreadlocks. He said no, it was very naturally curly and he just spike it up (each spike about two inches or longer) with a tight question mark curl at the end. I wished I had taken a photo but felt that might be too intrusive. We ended up talking about a half hour and he told me a little about his story. He is from the United Kingdom, had a very seriously, difficult accent to comprehend him fully, but was a delight to talk with. He was with a group that came to the states to live in American with families for free room and board by giving 5 hours daily to any kind of work the American family needed to have done. I wish I had asked him what kind of work he was doing but our conversation veered away from that topic before I could ask the question. I asked him why he decided to come here. With his sweet smile and a red blushed face he said, well…his parents needed a break from him. He told me he had been in some situations that were not so good. Oh my interest was peeked but again I refrained from prying. The topic (through my help) came around to God. He had no real concept of who Jesus is. I shared a bit with him, gave him some book titles to think about reading and asked him if I could pray for him NOW? He said yes. God gave me a prayer that must have been just for this young man named Craig. It was more cohesive and beautiful that any words I could have come up with. When I was finished he looked and me and said “Wow, I’ve never had anyone pray for me before”. And I tought WOW!! He said thank you to me for praying for him. I told him that God and His son Jesus were real and that should he ever be in one of his low spots again to just call out Jesus and He would be there.
I asked Craig what words of wisdom did he have. He said “The most important things is to learn to love yourself so you can love others. People have to learn to love themselves.” I told him that those words were in the Bible, that we are to love our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind and our neighbor as ourselves (My paraphrase). He found that interesting. I do hope some seeds were planted in Craig’s heart for future watering and future harvesting.
Today was no exception to my meeting new, interesting and delightful people. One young lady captivated me by her smile, sparkling eyes, and the exercise she was doing, a new position which works the back muscle strength. I asked her if she would show me the proper form and she did so willingly. We engaged in conversation and it was such a delight to me to see such life and health in a young woman. We shared many things. She was such a courteous listener that I fear I might have taken both of us off course in our purpose for being at the gym. I did learn a few things about her too. One, that she is getting married in the fall and that she is a child of our amazing God. When God is in the equation there is always so much to talk about. I asked her what her wisdom would be. She answered, “Smile at everyone because you never know who you might meet”. I thought that very interesting because when I met her she had the most beautiful smile on her face that just drew me to her. She is living out her own wisdom. Thank you Corrisa for being so kind to me today. I enjoyed our time together!
I heard through Rebecca’s husband that it might rain and storm today…and I awakened to a bright sunny spring day. After workout I came back to Paulette’s house, we changed and headed out for shopping and a Kia car dealership visit to see if they could figure out my media system for me. When we dressed, we dressed for the sunshine and warmth that the day offered. As we drove away I looked at the sky and it was blue with the most magnificent clouds ever. We went to Kia first. When we finished there we drove out and oh my, clouds had come together as if in counsel. I prayed for rain. Paulette didn’t think it would rain. I just had an inkling that there had to be rain in the making with the blackness of the cloud that seemed to be hovering over us. It was just over the area where we were. Other clouds could be seen beyond in the blue sky. I again prayed for rain for this dry and parched land. It seemed the clouds were gathering together as we drove. Well, we went into Costco and stayed awhile and then the sound on the roof gave proof that what I had prayed for (along with probably thousands of others) that the prayer was answered. Not only did it rain, as we approached the door to leave, it started blowing sideways, coming down in sheets of hail. It was very cold for California in May. We retreated and found a place to sit for quite awhile hoping the “squall” would pass. Paulette said that squalls don’t pass here in California. She was right. I finally gave in, made a dash for my car so I could bring it up to the door to load up. I was soaking wet, shivering, and cold before things were loaded. I grabbed a jacket in the now messy back end of my car, ran back into the store, took off my outer soaking wet blouse and put on my jean jacket and wet jeans. We had the heater blasting, the wipers swishing and took my little Kia for a swim. I had to go slow in the low spots so I would not hydroplane or be swept away by the splashes of the cars passing me spewing water over our my little Silver Fox. We made it home all in one piece. I put my blouse in the dryer, my pants on a hanger to dry, put on my most favorite garment I own (my housecoat), thawed my feet out with a hair dryer (I had worn sandals), put my striped toe socks on and called it a night!
Dinner is over and my cousin wants me to finish this blog.
Before I go I want to mention another wonderful person I met today. God is so good to provide places for me to exercise and He did it again. I spoke with a the manager of a gym and he was so gracious to allow me to workout at a rate I could afford. Thank you so much Todd. We had a delightful conversation but I feel amiss because I didn’t really get to learn much about him. Perhaps tomorrow when I go back. He is one of those kind of people that make living in this world a pleasant place to be. He has something very special he is bringing me tomorrow that he wants me to have. I will tell you more after the event. I just always wonder how I am so blessed to meet such special people.
In closing, I just want to say that this day has been a blessed day for me. Blessed because I am a child of the King. Blessed because I have so many really nice people who walk into my life everyday. Blessed because I have the opportunity to pray with so many people who are little more than strangers to me but leave with hugs. I thank God for this blessed day. May your day be full of sunshine EVEN WHEN IT POURS. Remember, be prepared for what you pray for.
Hey it is only 9:16 p.m. and I am done.
Good night.
Visions of Poetry 