YOUR LOVE IS EXTRAVAGANT

• Rejoice with us!
• We have a new grandson, Isaac Aaron born to Tessa & Jeremy on July 11, healthy, happy, 6 lbs. 13 1/2 oz. and 19 3/4 inches long.
• Grandma Denise is already out there with them & I leave Tues. a.m. Can't wait to hold him!
• Isn't it amazing the love we have for our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren?
• Do we understand that God's love for us in Christ FAR surpasses what we feel for our own. "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though SHE may forget, I will NEVER forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands!" (Isaiah 49:15-16a).
• The gift of a child sure does bring us back to basics and what's really important: relationships. Treasure them!
• And enjoy this song about our relationship with Him by Casting Crowns, called "Your Love is Extravagant."

YOUR GRACE STILL AMAZES ME

• My apologies to those who actually were reading this blog--it's been a while since I've written. Lots has been happening in our lives and God has been busy as usual, always working visibly and invisibly for His people's benefit, including ours.
• In the midst of our loss of Tessa, Jeremy & little Isaac (due any day now in CO), we had the joy of having Gianni with us for three weeks and he kept us happy & busy to say the lease as school wrapped up here in WA finally and we got to have some time away with him at Cannon Beach. Such a joy and so hard to let him go back to his homes in the midwest.
• Denise will be leaving Monday morning for CO to join Tessa for the "labor" process as only a mom can do. I will follow July 14, not soon enough.
• I had the joy of attending our NW District LCMS Convention w/ one of my elders and actually enjoyed it. But we had a sad event--the very first day, one of the delegates, Bill Brackman of Puyallup, WA, slipped and fell, hitting his head at the Convention Center in Portland, OR. He went into a coma, never regained consciousness &, unable to breathe on his own, the Lord called him to his heavenly home! Who would have expected such a thing? Reminds us all to appreciate each day we are given and to be ready in faith, because out time could come at any moment.
• We were privileged several years ago, w/ friends from our congregation to visit Bill & his wife and their beautifully tended rhododendron gardens. The pictures below were taken then. We pray for their family in confidence that the Master Gardener has received His son into heaven . . . . for His promise to us all is "Be faithful, even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).
• God has fulfilled for Bill this promise as well, "The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land; you will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail" (Isaiah 58:11).
• The Water of Life, our Lord Jesus Christ, has refreshed Bill fully. May He do so for us in part as we live in this world still, amazing us with His grace each day! Enjoy Phillips, Craig & Dean's song, "Your Grace Still Amazes Me," as you watch some of Bill's rhododendron garden.

MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION

• Lately, as the weather has been so beautiful, I've been spending lots of time (when available) in my yard, trying to catch up from last summer not being able to do anything because of my knee replacement. What a mess that made for this year!
• But also what a "fun" non-work activity (even though they call it "yard work", if you will, and GREAT therapy for most tensions.
• This Sunday afternoon, though, rather than yard work, we went to the Washington Rhododendron Species Garden sponsored by Weyerhauser Inc. and beside the beautiful rhodies, we saw all kinds of native wildflowers and groundcovers and this beautiful BLUE poppy! We bought two tiny plants, hoping they'll bloom in the rest of our poppy patch . . .
• As much as I enjoy plants and gardening, my real obsession is the same as St. Paul's, "I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3:10-11).
• Enjoy Steven Curtis Chapman's song, "Magnificent Obsession." What has captivated all your attention?

BLESSED EASTER

• What a Blessed Easter Sunday to not only hear the foundation of our faith that God has raised Jesus from the dead in acceptance of His Son's perfect life and all-sufficient sacrifice in our place,
• but also to receive His Holy Supper for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith and the joyous assurance that "because He lives, we will live also!"
• Wonderful music, wonderful hymns, wonderful breakfast, lots of guests at our services!
• And then just a little nap with a cozy little fleece blanket made for me by two of our children in the congregation, Jefferson & Serena, before heading to the family dinner.
• Blessings to you all! And Hallelujah! He is King of kings and Lord of lords and He shall reign forever and ever!