A Pleasant Surprise From California

Shortly after our second service began yesterday, I was blown away at the unexpected arrival of two very close friends from California, Mark and Silia Andresen. They got to the church shortly before I began preaching and it took a moment to compose myself before stepping into the Pulpit.

Kelly and I got to know Mark and Silia about 13 years ago. God brought them into our lives for only two years but during that time, He knit our hearts together in a very unique and beautiful way.

They last visited us 6 years ago. Then, we were reminded of how sweet our fellowship had once been by how easy and fast it was for us to get comfortable with each other. It happened again this time as well. Like a favorite sweater or your most comfortable pair of shoes, our relationship is so easy to slide into, it fits like it was made just for us.

We had a great time getting caught up. We were pleasantly surprised and mightily blessed to find that God has been taking them along a quite similar path to ours in what He has been showing and teaching us.

They only stayed with us for a day and a half. But, even after a short stay, it was tough to see them leave. We find ourselves, this evening, already looking forward to our next visit with them.

Seeing the Andresens has been great. It has reminded us of how God is faithful to bring us along, step by step. It also reminds us that he has been working in our lives, directing us and teaching us, for quite some time. Even though we've been apart for a long time, God has been steadily working in all our hearts and our ministries for a common purpose, His glory.

Sitting here this evening, we have the chance to reflect upon past relationships and present ones as well. Considering the great friends and heartfelt relationships He has brought into our lives since we've been called to serve at WBF, we realize and appreciate how precious those relationships are and how God is working through each of them, in the present, for His glory just as He has been in the past.

We're further encouraged to realize that when Christ is the foundation for a relationship, as He has been in our friendship with the Andresens and now with so many others as well, those friendships will endure in spite of time or distance.

Isn't this exciting!!

Clean Green with Tips from THE MAIDS

Back to Cleaning Basics

THE MAIDS Home Services offers tips for cleaning like mom.

Omaha, Neb. – You can undoubtedly find a product for virtually every cleaning need. Sometimes, however, the simplest methods are still best.

Dig through your pantry and embrace your inner naturalist with the following solutions from the cleaning experts at THE MAIDS Home Services (http://www.maids.com/), a residential cleaning service.



Reach for the vinegar instead of the bleach.



· A simple yet effective surface cleaner can be concocted by pouring equal parts white vinegar and water into a spray bottle. Not to worry, once dry, the only thing you’ll smell is clean.

· Remove odors from your home by simmering vinegar on the stove for 30 minutes.

· Add ½ a cup of vinegar to your laundry’s rinse cycle to help break down laundry detergent – great for family members with skin sensitivities. It also naturally softens your clothes.



Stock up on lemons during your next outing to the grocery store.



· Run a cut lemon half over chrome faucets, then buff it for instant shine.

· Sprinkle baking soda on the surface of the other half to scrub away stains.

· Grind a lemon half through the garbage disposal to freshen.



Baking soda is a wonder cleaner.



· Like vinegar, baking soda is non-toxic, multi-purpose and inexpensive. Use baking soda as a safe, natural scrubber rather than bleach-based abrasive cleansers.

· Absorb odors from the refrigerator and freezer by placing a box inside.

· Avoid clogged drains by pouring ¼ cup of baking soda down the drain and following with one full cup of white vinegar. Do this weekly for the best results.





About THE MAIDS Home Services:



THE MAIDS Home Services is the only residential cleaning franchise that cleans for health, providing the most thorough housecleaning in the industry. Started in 1979, THE MAIDS provides regular maintenance cleaning and additional home services to clients in over 40 U.S. states and three provinces in Canada. THE MAIDS’ exclusive 22-Step Healthy Touch® Deep Cleaning System is comprehensive and meticulous, utilizing state-of-the-art equipment, environmentally preferable products and a systematically engineered cleaning method. The Maids’ teams of four are professionally trained and supervised, uniformed, bonded and insured. All of this is why THE MAIDS can proudly proclaim, “Nobody Outcleans The Maids.”

Toast and Marmalade for Tea

This morning I heard about a study that claims drinking tea significantly reduces stress. It was mentioned that it is the process of making the tea and actually sitting down for a few minutes to drink it that helps calm a person as much as the tea itself.

It reminded me of one of my favorite songs - Toast and Marmalade for Tea by a group called Tin Tin. That was Tin Tin's only big hit and the distinctive sound you hear at the beginning of the song was made by accident. Someone leaned against a tape machine and that created the distorted piano sound you hear.

Several months ago I posted these same pictures and this YouTube song. Some things are worth doing more than once (that certainly conjures up some interesting thoughts but I better keep them to myself...).



As you may know, Tintin is actually the name of a very popular Belgian comic character. Tintin and his faithful dog Snowy have all sorts of wonderful adventures. I can relate very closely to Tintin as my faithful companion is a dog named Bailey and the two of us live alone (okay, with each other).



Tintin first appeared in 1929. The characters were created by Belgian artist Hergé, who went by the pen name George Remi. The combination of art and clever story lines has kept the comic popular for all these years.



I found this in Wikipedia: "Tintin is a young Belgian reporter who becomes involved in dangerous cases in which he takes heroic action to save the day. Almost every adventure features Tintin hard at work at his investigative reporting, but he is rarely seen actually turning in a story. He is a young man of more or less neutral attitudes and is less colourful than the supporting cast. In this respect, he represents the everyman."



"Snowy, an exceptionally white terrier, is Tintin's four-legged companion, who travels everywhere with him. The bond between the dog and Tintin is unbreakable, and they regularly save each other from perilous situations. Snowy frequently "speaks" to the reader through his thoughts (often displaying a very dry sense of humour), which are supposedly not heard by the characters in the story." (Wikipedia)



Steven Spielberg is currently producing the first major Tintin movie. It is scheduled to be released in late 2011. I hope it can live up to the books. Until then, I am going to sit down and listen to one of my favorite songs.



Thanks for stopping by.

25th Anniversary Harvest Show by Dusty M

Hail survivors played a key role in last weekend’s 25th anniversary Jeffco Master Gardener Harvest Show. Top winners in several show divisions were among gardeners “wiped out” by the devastating July 20 hail and other hail storms before and after that big one. Some entries were from plants that had recovered from the damage. For others, the judges were lenient in grading blemishes caused by the hail. A few came from plants in sheltered spots where they escaped damage.

In all, there were 277 entries in the show, held Friday, August 21, through Sunday, August 23, at Echter’s Garden Center in Arvada. The annual competition, staged by Jeffco Master Gardeners, was open to all gardeners near and far. It included vegetables, herbs, fruit, annual and perennial flowers, floral arrangements, container plants, cuttings from trees and shrubs, educational displays, garden photos, and scarecrows.


Diane, Rebecca and Michelle Sullivan of Arvada stand beside their garden scarecrow entered in the Jeffco Master Gardeners Harvest Show. The scarecrow was awarded a champion ribbon, as was Diane’s arrangement of dried plant materials.


Norma Faes, a Master Gardener from Golden, holds her champion thyme entry in the herbs division of the Jeffco Master Gardener Harvest Show held last weekend in Arvada.



Karl Tomaschow of Arvada won the championship of the vegetable division with the eggplant shown here. Karl grows a number of different vegetables in containers. All were wiped out by hail this year, but Karl coaxed most of them back into production, and was able to exhibit a variety of vegetables in the Master Gardener show.



Paul Luzetski, a Master Gardener apprentice from Evergreen, won champion in garden photography and reserve champion in everlasting flowers. His everlasting entry, three sprays of globe thistle (echinops), is shown here.



Show winners-web – Jack Shea (right) of Lakewood and Duane Davidson, Arvada, were overall champion and reserve champion among Master Gardeners who exhibited at the Harvest Show. They scored the most points in a tabulation of ribbon-winning entries by Master Gardeners in all divisions of the show. The gardens of both men suffered severe damage in the July hail storm.


A pair of single dahlia flowers entered by Linelle Zimmer, an apprentice Master Gardener from Golden, was awarded reserve champion in the bulbs, corms, and tubers division of the show. Other Golden award winners were Mary Kirby, champion rose, and Jim Faes, reserve champion vegetable (carrots). Other awards won by Lakewood residents were Cheryl Mulhauser, champion container plant (orchid), Jack Shea, reserve champion rose, and Jane Thorell, reserve champion, garden photography. Top award winners from Littleton were Mike Boyle, champion perennial flower (hibiscus) and Peter K. Szilagyi, reserve champion annual flower (cleome). Division award winners from Arvada were Duane Davidson, champion annual flowers (asters) and Charlotte Gottlieb, reserve champion floral arrangement. Tom Taggart of Wheat Ridge received the reserve champion award in the educational exhibits division for his display of mushrooms and bonsai.

More Pictures by Heirloom Fan

Ray Comfort and a Great Scene From ER

Ray Comfort (The Way of the Master) uses a powerful scene for the popular TV show "ER" to make a point about God's goodness and holiness. Then he shares the Gospel. Careful, some strong language here:

Eco-Friendly Shoes at Simple Shoes

I just scored some pretty awesome eco-friendly shoes for my older kids for back to school.



And not only are they eco-friendly and cute they were SUPER CHEAP.




I spent less than $30 on them-together!




They were $14.90 a pair plus FREE SHIPPING!





I got a pair of M ECOS BLACK and and a pair of SATIRE BLACK.




I love it when I find awesome eco-deals!

SIMILARITY

Howdy!

I'm enjoying my holidays at home with Gabby without I realize that I'll be working, soon. Oh, how time flies.....



That look. Most people say that we look alike. Hmmm...she looks more like Papa now as what I can see.



We're actually look like an Avanza and a Viva.... don't you think these two cars look like mommy and baby?

A Lion in the Garden by Donna Duffy

My friend Beth – a Master Gardener in Boulder County – has an unusual plant growing in her yard. It’s called Leonotis leonurus, a member of the Lamiaceae family, commonly called Lions’ Ear. Beth got the seeds for this spectacular plant at the Denver Botanic Gardens sale, from a woman who ordered them on-line. I was fascinated with this plant, and did some research. Here’s what I learned.

Native to South Africa, Lion’s Ear is a tropical shrub that can grow rapidly to 3-6’ tall in a single season from seed planted in the garden in early spring (Beth’s is already 7 feet tall!). Tubular two-lipped orange flowers (typical mint family) appear in tiered whorls that encircle the square stems. Flower petals purportedly resemble lions’ ears. Flowers bloom in the fall from plants placed out in early spring. Oblanceolate to lance-shaped green leaves (to 2-4” long) are aromatic when bruised.

(Turn volume up while viewing video)

The plant is beginning to develop side shoots from the main stem. Photos on the web indicate this is typical for this plant at this time of year. It seems fitting that the Lions’ Ear will reach it’s full glory as we move into the sun sign of Leo.

St. Patrick's Country Church

St. Patrick's Irish Settlement is located about 15 miles southwest of Des Moines, Iowa. You have to drive several miles of gravel road to get to this rural church.



Set among slightly rolling hills in a pasture like setting, the first thing you notice is how quiet it is. Maybe peaceful is a better word. I noticed this hitching post. There is another one on the other side of the entrance.



Unlike so many large churches, this church is very small. It is made out of wood. It is very simple in all ways.



The church itself is surrounded by wild flowers. I liked these asters.



Located behind the church is a large cemetery. Unlike many grave yards, this one is not crowded. It overlooks a river and rolling hills.



Many of the headstones are quite old.



I noticed the headstone of this young woman. She was only 23. I guess a lot of people died young in the 1800s. A lot of women died while giving birth.



Walking back towards the church it occurred to me that this church and many of these graves had been here since before the Civil War (1860-1864). It made me realize that life is fleeting and that all these people buried here had once lived and dreamed and loved and been full of life, too.



I liked this lace curtain.



What you do NOT see is any mention of Pope John Paul II's visit to this tiny church on October 4, 1979. The pope visited Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Des Moines, Chicago and Washington, D.C. in October, 1979. He came to Iowa to celebrate farming and to be in the breadbasket of the world.



The Pope actually traveled to Des Moines to say mass for over 350,000 people at Living History Farms. But he stopped at this tiny church first. My guess is he liked it.

Gardening on the Cheap by Late Bloomer

This has been a strange year for this veggie and fruit gardener. First, frozen apple blossoms, followed by cool wet weather, lasting long after its time. Then two hail storms. It's very rare to have hail here, let alone such damaging storms. I've seen many violent winds and heavy rains in my day, but not in such ferocious combinations.

The results have not been pretty or productive. Last year at this time my daughter-in-law was coming over to pick an over-abundance of chile peppers and eggplant. This year, zilch. Nada. Now, with August half gone, and the peppers are just setting on and the eggplants beginning to bloom. I am hoping for a very long Indian summer.




As can be seen in the before and after images, four weeks after the first bad storm, the eggplants that were hail-shredded twice are taller and putting on new leaves and flowers. What troupers! Several pepper plants were uprooted with the last storm's swirling winds and driving rain, but the hail did little damage to them. The cosmos that adorn the garden were very unceremoniously thrown down, but they didn't seem to mind the bare roots; they just pointed their branches to the sun. Salvia and marigolds are un-phazed. All roots have been reburied and the plants propped up, so the garden keeps on keeping on...

I do have lots of green tomatoes and a plethora of yellow summer squash. The winter squashes—which I consider to be the jewel of the garden and kitchen—are making huge leaves and long vines—maybe too big and long. One acorn type is putting on fast-growing fruits, but the crown jewel, an heirloom called Hopi Orange, is only just blooming. I doubt there will be any 15 pounders this year!

Sadly, the apple tree will not have its usual every-other-year bounty. A late freeze look the blossoms before they opened. There are few apples, and those are hail-pocked and small. The good news, all the time usually spent putting up the bounty can be used for other purposes, like putting up my feet.

MERDEKA @ COKI STYLE

Ohhh.. best nya, Miss Coki is at home, just came back from the market buying meat and veggies. Sounds like so the very Ibu Mithali kan? After that had breakfast together with Papa and Gabby. Just kolok mee deng...hahahaha; :p I miss office already.

Yes, I'm on leave for today and tomorrow, plus weekend and our Merdeka Day next Monday. 5 days at home, Merdeka for me from H1N1 and workloads. I'm still contactable via YM and should you need me, just buzz me when you see me online. I monitor the works from home.

Well readers, it's time for lunch. Hot bone soup is awaiting to be slurped. Before leaving, just an image of my dinner last night with Zul @ The Bing.


Oh Mork.... remember that 'salsa' I thought before? Very Malaysian!

I am in the September Issue of Redbook Magazine

Ok, technically I'm not in the magazine but I have a couple little reader comments in the September 2009 issue of Redbook Magazine on pages 166 and 168.

While googling Wenona Napolitano + Redbook I also found out I had a reader comment in the December 2008 issue of Redbook on page 142, good thing I still have that copy.

I guess I just never looked through it-holiday season left me busy plus The Everything Green Wedding Book came out this past December and I was busy doing some promo work so that's another reason I could have missed it.

Oh well, just glad I have the copy so I can add it to my "clips".

(The digital zinio page numbers are not the same as the actual print page numbers of the magazines since they don't match up.)

Cleaning House

When you visit the library you will no doubt notice a large amount of non-fiction books for sale. In an effort to make our non-fiction collection more efficient and hopefully increase its usage, we are combining the juvenile non-fiction collection with the adult non-fiction collection. As part of the process I am looking at each book to determine its value to the library and the community. Because we are limited on space it is important that we maintain a collection that is relevant and timely. While there are always exceptions, the following guidelines are used in determining whether or not a book should be withdrawn:

• Has the book been checked out in the past 10 years?
• Is the content of the book accurate and up-to-date?
• Is the book in good general condition?
  

At this time we invite the public to visit the library and browse through the many books that have recently been withdrawn from our collection. Maybe there is one you would like to add to your own personal library. Hardback books are 25 cents a piece and paperback are 10 cents apiece. You can hardly find a better bargain! The money will be used to support the operations of the library.

Happy Birthday, Kelly!

Today is Kelly's birthday. What a time we're experiencing! What an adventure! What a woman God has given me to walk next to! She's the love and light of my life.

Here are some of my thoughts as I sit here, early in the morning and think about her special day:

Kelly has miraculously, maybe only in my eyes, gotten younger looking and more beautiful. She's worked vary hard to get herself in shape with amazing results. I'm so proud of the job she's done! It inspires me to do more to stay healthy.

She looks great. But there's so much more here.

I believe...no, I know that Kelly is radiating the truth Peter shared in 1 Peter 3:1-6. She's gotten hold of the beauty and purity of God's purpose and calling in her life. The peace and love that come from that is just pouring from her. Kelly is acutely aware that all the outward adornment in the world cannot hold a candle to the inner beauty of being totally committed to her God and putting on His attributes. Watching her as she continues to grow in her faith has been exciting and energizing.

Kelly has always been my biggest encourager and my harshest critic. Most people won't fully understand how vital both blessings are to me. She knew long before I did that I would become a Pastor. When it happened, her excitement knew no bounds. It gave me the confidence to step out in faith and do something I would not otherwise have been able to do. Her passion for seeing the truth of God's word and the supremacy of Christ rise up in our ministry and in our private life has provided an accountability that has refined and focused me as we continue to move
forward. She's managed to do all this while being one of the finest mothers our children could ever have.

I have been blessed and moved by her dedication to our Lord and her passion for being a "good and faithful servant". Her ever-increasing thirst for His Word and her eagerness and enthusiasm to share it with those around her is contagious. Her sheer joy in praising Him and worshiping Him is an exhortation all in itself. Her grief at her own imperfection has driven her to a deeper understanding and appreciation of our God's grace. As we face those realities together, a whole new era has dawned in our relationship with each other and our relationship with God.

Where did all this come from? How is it, that when life should be slowing down for both of us, there is a new vibrancy, a new urgency, a new energy and a deeper love than ever before? I believe it is the Holy Spirit drawing us closer to the Father and helping us to realize that we still have a long way to go. the journey is not ending. In so many ways, it's just beginning. I believe, with all my heart, God is saying, through my wife, "I am the God of miracles! I am the God of Blessing! I am the God of love! I am the God who will refine you! I am the God who will sustain you! I am the God of no beginning....and no end!"

I love you, Kelly. Happy birthday. You are God's great blessing to me and a great treasure to Him.

Is This Iowa?

In the movie Field of Dreams, a ghostly baseball player who steps out of the corn asks "Is this heaven?" Kevin Costner says "It's Iowa." That is perhaps the all time favorite line of any Iowa-based movie (though people always, always say "No, it's Iowa").

I thought of that when I walked into this new garden center by Des Moines.



Just for the record, these large cacti are not real. But they look real until you get really close.



This flying dragon is not real, either. But here's to you Dr. John! I thought of you right away when I saw this!



What a great face! I could almost hear Peter, Paul and Mary singing Puff, the Magic Dragon.



And, yes, I thought I could hear some music over here. Look at this fellow!



Here's his partner.



Is this Leghorn Foghorn? I think so...



Look at that llama!



And this dog!



Johanna, look! We have palm trees in Iowa, too!! Just like you do in Vancouver!



Okay, so they're made out of metal. Details, details....!



Can you see the dragon in the moat?? Look closely...



Okay. Time to go. Thanks for stopping by.

Hail Resistant Plants? by Gardener Dave

There are no hail-proof plants (cast iron plants?). There also may be no such thing as a “hail-resistant” plant. Their survivability depends on the severity of the hailstorm. Factors like hail size, hail-fall density, duration, accompanying wind and rain all enter into the damage equation.

I escaped the severe storm that wreaked havoc north and south on either side of Kipling St. on the night of July 20th, but my yard didn’t escape the swath of hail that crossed the eastern flank of Green Mountain on August 9th. It was not large hail and “microbursts” that caused damage in this area, but instead, relatively small hail a half inch and less with a high density that lasted around 15 minutes, along with strong NW wind and heavy rain.

After surveying damage the next day, I noted that some plants withstood the storm better than others. There were, as always in storms, areas that were protected to various degrees by house eaves, trees, etc. I am quite sure of the storm’s main direction, because my longish grass in the back yard was all lying down toward the S.E., and the hail came in 2-3 yards under my N.W.-facing back patio.

My trees seemed to take it quite well, although there were a lot of leaves on the ground. Perhaps the fact that the leaf canopies were very dense this year - due to a lot of available moisture - helped a lot. The majority of leaves on my front lawn and driveway were from my neighbor’s soft maple. My young redbud tree took it quite well, as did my linden and apple trees. Many leaves fell from my locust, but it still looks OK overall. Larger hail would doubtless have done much more tree damage.

Of course, all soft-tissue plants, such as begonias, impatience (including New Guinea), geraniums, and petunias were pretty well stripped. Also damaged heavily were daisies, coreopsis, black-eyed susans, and hostas. My canna lilies in front were spared, but only due to overhanging S.E. house eaves. I am not a vegetable gardener, but I can imagine how badly tomatoes, pumpkins, melons and most veggie plants must have suffered elsewhere.

Interestingly, my best survivors were the agastache, diascia, calibrachoa, (low) dianthus, most roses, ornamental grass, smoke bush, burning bush, astilbe, ivy (English), salvia, coneflower, and snapdragon. Peony leaves were badly scarred but intact otherwise. I am especially happy that my new Agastache ava and Agastache blue fortune, were still upright and blooming, just losing a few leaves. (The Agastache leaves do smell nice and “licorice-y” when ground up with the leaf vacuum though!)

Have we have seen the last of our summer hail? One never knows here. We just have to keep cleaning up and hope for a long, quiet, extended growing season the rest of this summer and fall !

Cheers,
Gardener Dave

THE MORE AND THE LESS....

Today is the 4th day of Ramadhan.

The office becomes more quiet,..... less gossiping, :p

The toilet becomes more clean, less visitors .... because of fasting, less drinking and eating, - hmm...untung kakak cleaner, ringan beban di bulan yang mulia ini, hahaha!

The internet connection is slower in the afternoon, .... less people going out for lunch, - Chisss! Patutlah....

The road becomes more jammed, people chasing time to break their fast and rushing to buy food!! - True.

Relax.....



Oh my, oh my..... cobaan.... ish ish ish... +_+