WA Women's Employment Education

Last week I went to visit one of our community resource agencies for women named WWEE. I will be presenting to the classes they have for women in regards to continuing their college education at the college I work for... GRCC. The mission of Washington Women’s Employment& Education (WWEE) is to assist low-income individuals to gain the skills, the knowledge, and the courage to be self-supporting. However, they know that the women will need more skills and education in order to have better paying jobs.

They have a clothing boutique there for women to choose donated professional clothing that they don't have or have the money to buy. They take donations. So, today I am cleaning out my closet. I have to change out my cooler clothes for my warmer clothes now that it is getting much cooler around here. I am also weeding out the clothes that are "just hanging" in my closet. You know, those clothes that a person buys but for one reason or another you (global "you") just don't wear them. I also found other items like purses, scarfs, and jewelery. It is amazing that when I have a certain goal in mind, how much that helps in getting things done. I want to help these women succeed and if I have extra clothes that I don't use, and they can, then all the better. Plus, I clear out my closet and make it more organized.

The boys are here today. I haven't seen them since Thursday morning. They are playing while I go thru the closet. We will be going on a drive a little later on. My car had to be worked on again this morning, so we want to check it out.

This month my car has had it's oil changed, brakes done, alternator replaced, and this morning a belt was replaced. It should be in excellent shape now. It is important to keep up on since I do so much driving.

My niece is not in Santa Barbara this weekend. She drove home to Downey yesterday morning. The fires are still raging in Santa Barbara. Many stars homes are there. Some were spared and others are gone. I understand that 200 homes have been destroyed. It is a close community there and everyone knows everyone. It is very hard for them to see their neighbors lose their homes and possessions but they are happy they were able to escape. I know now there has been some injuries and there may have been a death. They don't know how this fire began yet. My thoughts and prayers are with those all involved.

Santa Barbara Fires

Brittany (my niece) is going to college in Santa Barbara so this news concerned me when I heard it. One of the colleges down there was been evacuated. So quickly I texted her to see if she was ok. To my surprise she texted back right away. "Yeah, fine why?" she asked. I texted back telling her what I had heard on the news. I told her that if I was down there, I would go to help out. She wanted to know how a person does that. I told her that her campus would probably be helping somehow. The next thing she texted was that there were 1000 students from the Westmont College staying in their gym because of their evacuation. I hope she goes and helps out those students.

At this point, there are about 80 homes that have been burnt and the winds are up. So, I am keeping tabs on this, knowing that Brit is down there. Please keep these people in mind and in prayers.

The Love Dare... I Dare YOU

Today I am going to make a recommendation. A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that we went to see the movie Fireproof. It is about a couple that is having marital problems. The couple is about to give up on their marriage when the man's father intervenes and asks him to do the Love Dare which only takes 40 days to do. He told his son that he should give his marriage this last try and the man agrees to do it. The Love Dare is based on a book and there is a devotional and a dare to complete each day. After 40 days, if he still feels the same way then he will get a divorce. As you may guess, it never reaches that point. Even half way through it, even though he has half way attempted the dares, he begins to change. Well, the book is a real book that the movie was written (like most movies) around.

The Love Dare personally leads you through daily devotionals, records your thoughts and experiences, and ends each day daring you to perform a simple act of love for your spouse. This 40-Day journey equips you to melt hardened, separated hearts into an enduring love that can withstand the flames of fear, pride and temptation. The Love Dare book will help you reinforce and enrich your marriage, earn back a love you thought was lost, and hear more about the One who not only designed unconditional, sacrificial love—He illustrated it.

I personally think that it takes more than 40 days to complete. Day One's dare is not to say one negative thing to your spouse (or anyone). It talks about patience in the devotional. It is good for marriages whether they are having problems or not. It is good to learn from on becoming a good Christian. God tells us that we are to love Him first and then love others. This book gives a person practical ways on how to do what God has commanded us to do. And by doing what He has asked we demonstrate our love to Him.

You can see the official website HERE and also a video of the movie etc. You can buy the paperbook at Barnes and Noble or Borders if you would like a devotional that is very down to earth and practical. One could work on each Dare for a week and then start all over again. Check it out... I dare you.

A Storm Heading Our Way

This is the five day forecast for Seattle. Notice today it is expected to be very wet and windy. Last November we had roofing tiles come off the roof, the fence blew over, and there is always a fear of trees coming down. Not to mention landslides. Even in an area like Seattle which has a lot of rain, there can be landslides when there is too much water coming down. And today we could have 3 or 5 inches. I woke up last night hearing the wind and rain outside the window. I know in the morning that I will be traveling to Spanaway to a high school and I wished that I hadn't planned to go. I would much rather stay in today. But like with everything I do, I will pace myself and allow more time to get there. I will have to check to see if there are any rivers in the area... most of them are rising and flooding.

Yesterday I met Renee in Black Diamond so she could get her favorite donuts. It is the only place that has them around here that remind her of her bakery where she grew up in Manson WA. We met Dave later at the new Costco to finish looking around. I feel like it is going to be the most visited Costco by me. It is very convenient to where I go and what I do. I bought Riley a book to work in for learning his numbers and ABCs. We will be going to have a conference with his teacher soon. I hope that Riley is adjusting well to kindergarten.

Dave and I were going to go to the movies but we ended up not going due to my mistake. We were going to see "Eagle Eye" but when we got to the movie theater it wasn't showing there. I must have mixed it up with another theater. Then it was too late to see it because we had to pick up Riley from daycare around 5 pm. We did make it to the mall. We hardly never go there because of the crowds. He helped me pick out a sweater and I bought him a shirt. It is much easier for me to pick out his clothes than my own. He has good taste though. Kari approved of the choices which is high praise.

Kari is at our church practicing in the choir tonight for Christmas. She does that every Tuesday. I usually take the boys to the library for storytime but it was closed tonight because of the holiday. (Next week there will be storytelling by a native american storyteller.) I am hoping that she has fun and it will be good for her to get to know people too.

Brady has been sick the last couple of days. He got a cough and a cold. He has been home with Kari. Riley has gone to daycare even though there was no school the last two days. Today will be the first full day of his week... and Brady too. Brady not only goes to daycare but he attends a
special education program in the school district. He is thought too of having ADHD (heavy on the H) which runs on my mother's side of the family and gets special behavioral training. After Riley's tantrum last Saturday, I am wondering if Riley might need it too.

Old Friends and Veterans Day

I don't know if I mentioned this yesterday, but at the luncheon that I was at on Sunday at the church, I was thinking of my old church in California. I was remembering when Kari was as little as Riley is now and the friends that helped me raise her that was in my church. I saw a slideshow about how they built the church and it wasn't too different than when we assisted building Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Ontario CA. I was reminded of so many memories and I felt the Spirit talk to me about "returning". Not moving back to California but making contact with those that I had known before. Maybe because I haven't kept my relationships up as I should have or maybe because it is something that is necessary.

So, when I sat down to write my post last night I also was doing a "search" on all the people that I could remember from my old church. I even tried to find the church's website. Talk about searching back in the archieves of my mind. I was trying to remember last names and how they were spelled. So, I started with the easiest ones first. I decided that I would try my friends that are missionaries first... hoping that they might use the internet to connect with those at home in the states. The last thing I knew was that Andrea and Derek were missionaries in Tours, France. They were hoping to minister to those in Africa one day and were learning french to prepare for that day.

I also tried to find one of the "kids" that was in the youth group. One of the kids in the youth group we lead had moved to Federal Way. One day at church I couldn't believe my eyes when Josh and his mom Janice was sitting a few pews in front of us in our new church 1300 miles away from our old church. They didn't know we were there. And we didn't know they were there. It just so happened that in all of WA we were together again. Janice didn't stay but was helping Josh move up here.

Next I tried finding my old friend Sherry. I had her last email address but I didn't know if she still answered that email address or if she did often.

Well, in no time I found Andrea. It just so happened to be her first day on Facebook. Do you think that is a coincidence? I thought it was my idea but it became clear that it was more than just a "wonder if" thought in my head. Of course, I found Derek too when I found Andrea. He had put his middle name on Facebook and that was one reason I couldn't find him right away. They had just returned to the states in July. They returned back to CA.

I also found Josh. He was just 23 and now he is 36... married eight years with a two year old daughter. He had moved back to Ontario CA because he couldn't take the Seattle weather. My brother couldn't either when he moved here in 1998. He moved right back in a few months... so Josh is not alone. Kari and I are the only ones we know of that stayed.

Sherry hadn't been on Facebook, so she too joined Sunday after reading my email. I could tell her then that I found the others.

Not bad for one nights work. I have connected with 4 friends that I didn't know I would ever see again. I could hardly sleep knowing that those that I have wondered about and prayed for is near again, thanks to facebook.

I have today off because of Veterans Day. My father was a veteran of the Korean War and many of my friends are vets. I would like to express my gratitude to them for their service.

Happy Veterans Day!

New Friends

Yesterday after church, the church leadership had a lunch for those that are rather new to the church. We have been attending Riverview Community Church for six months now but I guess that is still rather new. I didn't remember that they were going to have this lunch today but as it happened Kari took the boys and Dave was doing something else, so I stayed. The next thing I was sitting at the table with the pastor and his wife. That sort of thing happens to me.

At one point, only Brett (the pastor) and I were sitting there. I joked with him when he mentioned that no one else was coming to sit with us smiling and saying "It must be you because it isn't me." I was "playing" the "new" card... no one knows me. Finally, Jennifer the Associate Pastor over Women of Victory sat with us and Jaime who is starting a ministry to feed the poor. I have worked in both areas in a church. Brett also talked about church planting and missions. They have planted a church in Brazil in their short years of being a church. They have plans and visions that the Lord has shown them. Hey, I could be in Brazil or Italy soon. Who know?

I was glad that I stayed, I learned more about the purpose and vision of the church, and it's history. It all aligns with our beliefs... especially mine. If you are interested, you can check out the website HERE. My season of resting is over, I am thinking. This will be a great place to be and grow. I am looking forward to it.

Today is church and a family day.

Have a good Sunday!

Blessings!