I was sitting on our front porch one morning recently, thinking back over the summer. If you've been reading along with this blog for a while, you know that I am a "summer" girl. I love the sunshine, blue skies, and any possible time I can spend enjoying the water. The past summer was certainly full of sunshine, a record breaker for the Seattle area...no complaints from me! 

Well, did you see the bridal shower post from the other day? I promised to follow up with the wedding so here goes! As I mentioned before, Abby is the daughter of our pastor, Mark, and his wife, Lori. She is the youngest of their five children...yes, their "baby."

A young woman who grew up in our church was getting married. Two friends and I decided we should throw a bridal shower for her and arranged a date. The bride, Abby,  just happens to be our pastor's daughter and is beloved by many in our congregation.  She and her family came to Lake Stevens when she was just 5 years old so we have all had the pleasure of watching her grow up and mature into the lovely woman she is today. Abby is one of those young women that you can't help but admire!

Just returned home from staging another cabin like home in the Plain, just around the corner from Leavenworth, WA. The home is located on the Wenatchee River, in the Ponderosa, a large development of over 600 homes, many of them cabins for recreational use.

Don't you love waking up in the morning feeling refreshed from a good night of sleep? That is one of the things I love about spending time in Plain. The nights are so quiet and peaceful so a good night of sleep is a pretty safe bet.

After many days spent working away on the loft cabin (Hans Olaf Loft) in Plain over the past two years, we can finally say it is done! What a labor of love...lots and lots of labor...for my builder husband. He milled and planed and sanded and stained and finished almost every piece of  wood that was installed

Journeying to Minnesota and Wisconsin a week ago, I once again experienced that sense in the depth of my being that we all crave...that of being deeply loved.  I drove up the winding driveway through the trees to the door of my aunt and uncle's home on Red Cedar Lake on that Thursday evening and my aunt Connie and several cousins came running out the door to greet me. What a welcome!

"End of the spring and here she comes back, Hi, Hi, Hi, Hi there, them summer days, those summer days..." Traditionally in the Puget Sound area, summer doesn't truly start until the 4th of July has past, but not this year. We had the hottest June on record, with many days in the 80's and 90's....yes, 90's! 

Last week was the culmination of months of meetings, of planning, for the annual conference of the our national church body (the AFLC). Sometime last fall, our pastor had emailed me and asked me to consider taking on the "decor" for several events at the conference, to be held at the Warm Beach Camp and Conference Center. After praying about this "opportunity," and recruiting a couple of friends to help me, I said yes.

Not long ago, I followed the recommendation of a friend and stopped by Mon Amie, a coffee shop/bakery in Mill Creek. I'm don't speak french, so I looked up the meaning of mon amie, and found out that it means "my (female) friend." I had invited my friend, Pam, along with me so I felt like my little venture was fulfilling the meaning of the cafe's name.  

Do you ever feel a little stuck in a rut when it comes to the meals  you cook? I sure do! You would think with all the online recipe websites and Pinterest that I would be experimenting like crazy. I don't know about you, but the problem for me is, I hate to go to a lot of work and the expense of buying the ingredients, only to find out the final result really wasn't worth the effort. Snagging recipes from friends is much more reliable, but I really like learn how to prepare a new dish hands on...like a cooking class!

Every where I've gone in the last few days, I've heard the the parting farewell words, "Have a Happy Mother's Day!" Do these clerks and bank tellers just look at me at my age, perhaps see the wedding ring on my hand, and assume that I am a mother?  I know this farewell is spoken with good intentions, and yet, part of me wonders if these words bring a soul ache instead of the warm "Hallmark card" commercial feelings?

We spent this past weekend in Plain, working on projects for our loft cabin. Prior to this, I will admit we had been calling it an "apartment", mainly because you have to go up a flight of stairs to reach the living area. Neither one of us liked the sound of that word for this space though....sounded way too urban. 

The past weekend was full of wonderful birthday celebrations! I find it hard to believe that special people in my life are actually turning 60! How is that possible when I am still sooooo young...mentally, anyway!!! My sister, Vangie, and a friend, Lynette, actually turned 60 on the same day last week and I had the joy of celebrating life with each of them.

Returning from a weekend spent at beautiful Ingalls Creek Enrichment Center in Peshastin, I felt refreshed and renewed. The site for our Women's retreat could not have been better! Situated in the Cascade mountains near Leavenworth and Peshastin, the main lodge and grounds are bordered by Ingalls Creek...just loved the sound of the rushing water.