Summer travels in our Road Trek

Traveling in our Road Trek has been a great adventure this summer. Visiting our son and family in MN was an added blessing.  Everything was so lush and green.  Spending time with our family was wonderful.  Families are such an important part of life, and we are so thankful for our family and extended family.

Because of the dry atmosphere and the fires in the mountains (set off by lightening), fireworks were banned.  We enjoyed watching the fireworks there, celebrating the freedoms we enjoy in America.

Chinese New Year 2012

Tomorrow is Chinese New Year. I am privileged to be the School Nurse at a friend's Montessori School. The children study Chinese culture and about this holiday, ending up with a parade in the town. The children all enjoy this, and the adults look forward to this event. All are ready, with cameras in hand, to see the children in their parade.

Here I am pictured with my friend, Cyndy, who is the owner and administrator of the Montessori School.

To all my Chinese friends, I wish you a Happy New Year.

Mountain Majesty #4

Another beautiful time with friends up in the mountains. We are so thankful the Lord gave us this wonderful, refreshing scenery to enjoy.

3rd Year Blogoversary

I can't believe today is my 3 year Blogoversary! This has been a wonderful experience! I have met so many neat friends through this world of blogging. We had shared experiences, laughed, and cried together. We have prayed for each other and have seen God answer our prayers! In this changing world, the blessings of my blogging friends is very meaningful. Thanks to you all for being my blogging friends.

#33 China Childhood Memories - Indian Mountain Retreat

The evacuees from China were all waiting in Calcutta, India for a ship to take us back to the USA. Travel was slow and we did not know when the ship would arrive. Because the heat was so oppressive that summer of 1945, the School kids were moved to a place in the Himalayan Mountains to continue schooling and get away from the heat.

The last part of the journey up the mountain to the compound, the kids walked. Because of my recent bout with pneumonia, I rode a horse. I remember it was a white horse with a hernia.

Somehow, I had gotten a little 4 inch rag baby doll with a porcelin head. I had her with me up in the mountains. Another little missionary girl was crying and lonesome .. so I gave her my little doll to sleep with. I guess she rolled over and it fell on the floor and the head broke. I wrote a note to my mom, saying " I let my friend sleep with my doll, and it broke. Now I have no dollie". My mom often talked about that and how badly that made her feel. There was no way my parents could replace it for me.

I think now of so many missionary moms in foreign countries and the sadness they have sometimes, without the easy access to things that we have here. We need to pray for our missionary moms.

My parents were concerned about being up in the mountains and missing the ship when it came. They trusted the Lord to take care of the details of the ship. And He did.

#32 China Childhood Memories - India

After evacuating from China over the "hump" to India, we stayed in a large compound on a river bank. It was extremely hot. There was no airconditioning in those days, and the only cooling was the breeze from large ceiling fans.

It was in India that I had my first ice cream. I didn't mind the taste, but was not terribly impressed. In China, we did not get many sweets and I wasn't used to that sweetness. Some of the missionary kids didn't like the ice cream at all. They thought it was too cold. Realize, we only had lukewarm things in China. We had to boil our drinking water, then hang it from the porch rafters in the breeze to cool it down, and drink it lukewarm.

During those early days, I developed a cough that wouldn't go away. My mom and I were sleeping in a large upstairs room with many of the other missionaries. Because my cough was disturbing the others at night, my mom and I were moved into a small room by ourselves. This is such a good example of God making good to come out of a bad situation, as we had our privacy. I ended up with pneumonia and had to stay in bed for the long while it took me to recover.

While I was sick, someone gave me an Indian doll with a beautiful Indian Sari. The Sari was yellow with gold braid. To me, the Indian doll was commonplace. I was used to seeing Chinese gowns and Indian saris. I was more excited to get to America and have something American! One day, while I was up in my room alone, I used a sissors and cut up the beautiful sari to make an American dress for the doll! My mom took the incident very well, and helped me sew the dress for my "American doll". Looking back, my mom was so sweet to help me and not scold me for destroying what, to her, was a special doll. She understood my childhood dream to have something American.

Years later, as a Pediatric nurse in America, I told this story to one of our Indian moms. She was going to India to visit her parents. I asked her to please buy me an Indian sari. When she returned, besides the sari for me, she surprised me with the gift of a beautiful small Indian doll with a red sari. I treasure that today.

Charlie Brown Christmas tree

We were so happy to have our family from Minnesota come for Christmas this year, in spite of all the snow. We put up this fun Charlie Brown Christmas tree downstairs for the grandkids.
As we gathered, we remembered what Christmas is all about - celebrating the birth of Jesus who gives us Eternal Life if we accept His gift of Salvation.

Wishing you all a wonderful and blessed New Year.

Thankful for our Freedom in America

We just had midterm elections here in America. I am so thankful we live in a free country where we can vote for our leaders. God bless America!

Camping in the Beautiful Colorado Mountains

Back up in the Rocky Mountains for our End of the Summer vacation. We were happy to see this bull elk sitting in the middle of his herd. It was just getting cool enough for the elk to come down out of the high country.

This is the view from our campsite. The rushing river and the sounds of the geese lulled us to sleep at night.

A nice place to read and relax by the river.

And up in the Rocky Mountain National Park, the views are spectacular. There is nothing like the beauty of the mountains. We are so glad our forefathers had the forsight to preserve this area as a National Park!

Camping season is here again

It's always so great when camping season starts again. Cold winter days are replaced with warm days and cool evenings - and the joys of camping with friends, enjoying the outdoors. Evenings are spent around the campfire sharing stories, laughing, and catching up with each other away from the business of everyday life.

We even toast a marshmallow or two. It's almost more fun to cook them than to eat them. My DH makes them just right! Yummy.

Days are spent taking hikes by the lake, exploring trails, and enjoying the wildflowers.

Our last morning, packing up our RV, and enjoying a picnic by the lake with our friends before saying goodbye till next time.

How fortunate we are to have this beautiful campground so close by. And such wonderful friends to camp with! Truly a blessing in our lives.

Mothers Day Blessings

The blessings of family are so wonderful. Having lunch with our daughters, spending the afternoon sitting with them and visiting in the warm Colorado sunshine was such a treat. Then phone calls from our out of state son and his family, text messages from a grandaughter, and a wonderful evening with my DH made this a very special Mothers Day. I thank the Lord for the blessings of a loving family.

I also think of my Mother on this Mothers Day and of her positive influence on my life. I was priviledged to have a Mother who loved the Lord, loved her husband, loved me, and loved the Church family that she served so faithfully. She taught me many things. One valuable lesson was that "people are more important than things". I thank the Lord for a Godly mother and I miss her.

First campout of the Summer

Our Summer camping season has finally begun! We had a wonderful weekend with our Good Sam camping group. We know Summer is just around the corner when we start our campouts!

It rained most of the weekend, but we were able to be inside. Several of us visited a miniature train museum with 20 miles of track. The backgrounds were very intricate and looked so real. Everywhere you looked, you saw something new and interesting.

This is a real caboose. It is fascinating to see how they lived in those bygone days.

As we gathered for our Sunday morning breakfast potluck, my hubby gave a devotional on "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord (the Bible)" from Deut. 8:3 and Matt 4:4. A great way to end our weekend.

P.S. For those of you who have been following my blog: Our greatgrandson, Jacob, is doing well after being in the hospital for 23 days. He was actually featured in an article of the Wall Street Journal (April 13). Thanks for your prayers for him. God answered them!

The message of Easter

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb where Jesus was buried - to find the stone was rolled away. An angel said to her "You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified; he is risen; he is not here." Mark 16:6

In John 11:25 Jesus said "I am the resurrection, and the life; he who believes in me will live, even though he dies. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die."

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for dying on the cross for my sins and for the sins of the whole world, and coming alive again, so that we may have eternal life in Heaven with him.

Second Blogoversary Surprise Give-away

Amazing that it is actually my second blogoversary! I have so enjoyed meeting all you wonderful people in Blogland! You have become my friends. What a special connection we all have. I appreciate each one of you. You have added a wonderful dimmension to my life.

To celebrate my second blogoversary, I will have a drawing and a surprise give-away. Please post a comment on this blog, sharing what is your favorite thing about Spring and why.

Smiles to all of you.

Ruthie

P.S. Little Jacob is home from the hospital (after 21 days) and doing well. Thanks for your prayers. God is good!

Jacob's progress

Just a quick note to update you on Jacob. He developed pneumonia in both lungs, was sent to ICU, intubated, on IV antibiotics, and was kept sedated. Yesterday, he was finally doing better and was sent to a regular room. He still has IV antibiotics but only oxygen with a nasal cannula. He is now awake and starting to rehabilitate. Our daughter (his gramma) visited him last night, and when Jacob saw her, he gave her a huge smile and said "Gramma, you look beautiful!" What a trooper.

The picture is Jacob giving his mom,Heather, a hug after he got rid of the intubation tube. If you want to read more, you can go to his website: http://www.weemightyman.net

Thanking the Lord that our prayers are being answered and Jacob is doing so much better. God is good!

Prayers needed for our Great Grandson

This is our Great Grandson Jacob. He had a kidney transplant one year ago. Yesterday had emergency surgery for a bowel obstruction and hiatal hernia. Today was diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs. Please keep Jacob in your prayers.

Those of you have been following my blog for awhile, remember that he was a premie (born 9 weeks early) with non-working kidney and was not expected to live. He is our "miracle baby" and we know the Lord has been watching over him all this time and will continue to do so.

Wordless Wednesday - Storybook bridge

God makes all things beautiful - with snow gently falling on a beautiful bridge over a gentle stream. Looking out the window while we were dining at a resturant, this was the scene that greeted us one cool December evening.

Wordless Wednesday - Rainbow Promises

This rainbow seemed to originate right beside us as we were driving. It reminds us of God's promises to us when he sends the rainbows.

Wordless Wednesday - Memories of Summer in the mountains

What is more beautiful than a summer day in the mountains. Thanks, Lord, for the beauty You have created for us to enjoy!

China Childhood Memories #31-Chinese New Year

This is Mae Ling, my Chinese doll. She speaks a few words of Chinese and then says the word in English. As Chinese New Year is February 14th, I decided to tell you about my time in China during that time.

It was a time of great celebration in China. They had feasts,parades, and firecrackers. I can remember the noises of the firecrackers going off and being very disconcerted as a child. We were in our compound and the noise was very loud and seemed to go on for a long long time.

The celebrations went on for several days. Before the celebrations, they cleaned their houses to sweep away ill fortune. This was a time for family celebrations, honoring the elder members of the households, and holding feasts of pig, duck, chicken, fish, and sweet delicacies. They made paper lanterns and long paper dragons and paraded in the streets. They ended with firecrackers, which were thought to scare away the evil spirits. These firecrackers were made with gun powder rolled in red papers. They were then strewn together by the hundreds and were known for their deafening explosions. (Now, as an adult, I can see why the loud noises were frightening to me as a child.) In the morning, the children wished their parents a happy and prosperous new year, and the parents gave their children money in small red envelopes.

Many of these traditions still go on today, although in some areas the firecrackers have been banned because of the danger of fire.

I am thankful that my trust in the true God, Jesus Christ, and that I do not have to light off firecrackers to scare away the evil spirits.