Good Morning! We are on our way to South Dakota! It's about 11:30 am as I'm typing this and we just passed one of the many Lewis and Clark State Parks around the midwest and northwest. We're only going about a four hour drive today. We planned it that way since I had my colonoscopy yesterday and we didn't know if I would be feeling very well. I admit to being a little sore in my abdomen as she cut more of the mass out. She thinks she got it all this time and it's been sent for a biopsy. I'll need another colonoscopy, probably in a year or so, but she's waiting for the biopsy to say for sure.

Meanwhile, while waiting for me at the hospital, Dennis got a raging migraine. He hasn't had one in years but they took him off his BP medicine about two weeks ago because his BP was on the lower side. He's in great shape! We knew the meds were keeping him from the migraines because this happened in Spokane too. I have a message in to his doctor to get a new RX for just amlodipine without the BP component. She talked to him about it at his appt. and I wish she had just prescribed it then. 

Anyway, obviously I couldn't drive, (I slept all afternoon). He barely made it home before being violently ill. He took his migraine meds and slept a few hours and was good to go again. Ugh. It's always something. 

I don't have a lot to report from the last few days other than medical stuff and who wants to just read that, so I unearthed a few photos from one of our trips to London a couple of years ago. I don't remember if I shared them then or not so I thought I would again.

I don't remember which museum this was but we were able to see the Rosetta Stone in person. It was so interesting and a fascinating piece of history.

Here's a close up photo of the writing on it. Let me know if you can read and interpret it! Ha!

I believe it was the same trip that we went for a VERY nice English high tea at the historic Landmark Hotel in London. The tables were set up on this elevated area. We had our very own server who was very attentive. It was a gorgeous setting.

A few of the delectable treats. We also had sandwiches and tea/coffee. 

I wish I could show you more of the wonderful food and hotel, but all of my photos have our dear DIL and son in them and I can't show you her face online. 

Jenny bought me this sweet little antique oil lamp at the General Dodge House in Council Bluffs, Iowa when she visited this summer. It's very old. They have a corner where the people who support the Dodge House sell trinkets and family heirlooms. I found the little birds at the Thrift store for fifty cents apiece! They match almost perfectly and I love them together.

Okay my friends, I guess I'll close this short post and try to pop in on your blogs while I have internet! I'll be checking in when I can.

Blessings and hugs,

Betsy

THRE IS A REEDEMER

There is a redeemer
Jesus, God's own son
Precious lamb of God, Messiah
Holy one

Jesus my redeemer
Name above all names
Precious lamb of God, Messiah
Oh, for sinners slain.

Thank you oh my father
For giving us your son
And leaving your spirit
'Til the work on earth is done.

When I stand in glory
I will see his face
And there I'll serve my king forever
In that holy place.

Thank you oh my father
For giving us your son
And leaving your spirit
'Til the work on earth is done.

There is a redeemer
Jesus, God's own son
Precious lamb of God, Messiah
Holy one

Thank you oh my father
For giving us your son
And leaving your spirit
'Til the work on earth is done.
And leaving your spirit
'Till the work on earth is done.

Still Standing!

Happy Thursday. Thank you all for praying for Spokane. Yesterday was the last time I heard anything and the evacuation orders were almost all lifted for the city. Our old house still stands and people are making their way back home and slowly coming to the realization of what is left. It's a terribly sad time for them all. I know many other communities around the west are dealing with the same thing and it breaks my heart. I'm praying of all of them and that the rains will arrive soon.

Meanwhile this was the state of the weather here yesterday. Notice the "feels like" temperature of 107F. I think we're all over this heat wave this summer and just want some cooler weather to arrive.

This was the containment for the fires as of Tuesday afternoon. I haven't been able to catch a screenshot since then but this is so much better than last week  and I'm sure the numbers have improved even more since then.

I was able to complete another baby blanket. This was using Bernat Baby Sport yarn in the Blossom color way. I used an I hook and made a simple picot border. I've been making this for years and is a very simple sc, hdc, dc pattern. 

I was asked about the blanket on my last post. It's the "Virus" baby blanket. I've had the pattern so long that I don't know where I found it. I know it was a free pattern because I rarely pay for them. 

It has been a busy week. On Tuesday I had to be at the cardiologist at 8:10. I had to drive to the other side of town in rush hour. I'm glad I left at 7:15 because I barely made it on time. I was there over two hours. Apparently my pacemaker battery has about 9 months left so there were several appointments made for January and February for pre-surgery tests like an echocardiogram, X-ray and blood work. When we're back from Texas in April the actual replacement will be done. 

Then, Dennis and I both had our annual dentist appointments in the afternoon. That was another few hours of sitting in an office. I'm so glad I take along a sock to knit on when we have medical appointments with waiting involved. All ended up well there though, with no cavities or other work needed. That was good news!

Dennis went kayaking last night with our friends. He used his new to him kayak we found on FaceBook marketplace. He said it worked great. They saw two eagles, herons, a duck family and lots of other birds and people. I'm so glad we decided to sell the double inflatable kayak and get him a regular kayak. He said it's much easier to propel with a lot less effort.

My colonoscopy is scheduled for next Tuesday and we're leaving for our camping trip for about 6 weeks on Wednesday. We're getting excited to see our son and Montana grand kids, along with all of our friends in Spokane. First we'll be in the Black Hills for a week with Curt and Barb. I'm praying that during the colonoscopy the doctor will find that she was able to get the entire tumor/mass that was removed six months ago. I really don't want to drink another gallon of that vile concoction anytime soon. :-)

What a blessing you all are to me. Thank you for hanging in there with me with a relatively sporadic summer of being online. I'm hoping that the campgrounds over the next 6 weeks have good wifi for my laptop.

I also hope and pray that that each of you has a great weekend and I'll be checking out your blogs.

Blessings and love,

Betsy

MAKE ME A BLESSING

Text: Ira B. Wilson

Music: George  S. Schuler

1.        Out in the highways and byways of life,
 Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
 Making the sorrowing glad.

 

Make me a blessing, make me a blessing,
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
  Make me a blessing to someone today.

2

Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love,
  Tell of His pow’r to forgive;
Others will trust Him if only you prove
  True, every moment you live.

3

Give as ’twas given to you in your need,
  Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed,
  Unto your mission be true.

FIRE!

My heart is breaking for all of our friends and our church family in Spokane. There are three wildfires that have merged and are now burning in the city. As most of you know, we lived in Spokane for almost 30 years, moving back to Omaha to take care of Dennis's Mom who had Alzheimer's. We will always consider Spokane home though, and our friends there are like family, since we had no family living close.

This is a photo of the house we had built in 2002 with our sweet Chloe standing in the front. We loved this house and planned to retire there. We sold in it 2020. Well, this house is now in the "Get Ready to Evacuate" zone. Many of our friends have had to evacuate because the fire has either already burned their homes or is heading toward them. That's the "Get Out Now" Level 3 zone. Our old house is in Level 2. 

It would be so sad to go out there next month and see this house gone. It's already going to be tough seeing all of the damage.

Flames burning near a friend of ours home. They still don't know if their home is okay or not.

This is the perspective from the Gonzaga University campus. Terrifying. This photo is fairly close the to first home we lived in when we moved to Spokane.

According to the officials, this is the number one priority fire in the nation today, although there are hundreds of fires burning around the country. There are more fires in Washington and Oregon than anywhere else in the country. They have not had a drop of rain in Spokane during the entire month of July.  We know over 700 homes have burned and most likely many more.

Please pray for everyone in the path of the fires. Although we got used to having wildfires around us every year when we lived there, I never, ever thought one would be inside of the town and literally burning much of the northwest part of the city to the ground and it's still spreading. The fire began in Riverside State Park on Saturday morning and spread very quickly.

Please Pray For Spokane!

Blessings and love,

Betsy