Our "Other" Grandbaby and thoughts on the 4th of July

For those of you who do not know, this beautiful smile belongs to our best friends little girl Olivia. Angel and Dom, her parents, asked Papa Joel and I to be Olivia's grandparents - - or as our girls know, MeeMaw and Papa Joel. That means that we get to spoil her, when they let us, and teach her all kinds of habits that we have taught or would like to teach our kids.

Well this little family came over to spend the 4th of July with us. We had Papa Joel's bar b que pork ribs, ummm good, corn on the cob, sweet tea and Dom made a cheesecake dessert. Could of sworn I was back in TX. Angel brought over some fireworks - - as this was Olivia's first 4th we had to celebrate with with loud cracking noises, which she didn't like at first.

All in all it was a very good 4th. So good, in fact, that from what I hear next year the event will be even bigger. Due to the fact that our neighbors and several surrounding neighborhoods spent some serious cash on fire works - - to the point that it was determined it was easier to get to our house to watch an awesome display and not have to walk 4 blocks from a parking lot.

This babbling about food, babies and fire works seems kind of pointless when you think about why we actually had the day off to play. Thank you to people like Great Papa Bill, Teddy Tomchesson, Uncle Joel Baker - - and countless others who believed in fighting for the freedoms that we so often take for granted. If you are currently in the military - - thank you thank you thank you for your sacrifice. To your families; thank you thank you thank you for your sacrifice. My challenge to you - - if you know a serviceman - - send them a letter of love and support. If you know a military wife/husband and kids, send them a letter or better yet, find out what they might need: a ride some place, help with car repairs, playing with kids, or just sit quietly and listen. It is at this time when having a shoulder leaning or an ear to just listen. These men and women are allowing us to do the things we like to do best, sit and blog about things that are wrong. . . .

Blessed Belated 4th to all.

Mt Constitution on Orcas Island

Last Fourth of July we took Nolan on a ferry to Orcas Island and then to the look out on r Constitution. From there you can see Mt Reiner south of Seattle, Mt Baker east of Bellingham and the Cascades around Vancouver, BC. It is a view everyone should take in their life. Then if you believe all the elements of Earth came together by chance you deserve to fry like bacon.

This Is What You Wait All Winter For

Springtime is wonderful wherever you are but it is especially appreciated in the Pacific NW after a long winter with grey skies. These are pictures from Lake Samish and from flowers in our yard. Everything was so beautiful this year.

God Is Delighted

I grew up in Southern Baptist churches - 1st Baptist of Marlin (18 yrs), Seven & James Baptist of Waco (4 yrs), 1 yr in Austin, 2 yr in Waco, Green Acres of Tyler (5 yrs), 1 yr in Plano, 2 yrs in OKC, Colonial Hills Baptist of Tyler (5 yrs), Hampton Road Baptist of DeSoto (15 yrs) and Ovila Road Baptist (3 yrs) - 56 years in the Baptist Church.

Then MaryAnn and I moved to NW Washington - Lynden, Washington is our physical address although we live out in the county. Everyone, I mean everyone told us we would have a hard time even finding a church to attend. Instead, what we found was a thriving Christian work that was much stronger than anything we had experienced in our lives.

Last night we saw 35 people baptised in our Saturday night service - 1400 people in attendance. The three services today saw 50+ people baptised. You realize that the Southern Baptist Convention gives special recognition to churches with over 100 baptisms in a year. We have already done that many and it is only February 15th.

God is delighted and I stand in awe of what God is doing in the world that we are so unaware of. He is so in control while we fell we are so helpless. God is awesome - I hate that word because it is so overused but HE IS AWESOME.

I count it all joy to be where I am and to be privileged to see His mighty work.

Next weekend is an event called Arrows Out. It showcases Christ The King Church work going on around the world. There are workshops, seminars and worship for anyone interested. Believe me people will be attending to equip themselves for the work ahead.

God is so good and He delights in seeing people come to salvation through His Son Jesus Christ.

I pray for each one of you daily.

Joel

I See You Dad

Homer Lester Baker, one of 9 children, one or two of whom died as children. He was my father and later my dad. He was 5 feet 11 inches tall with white hair and hazel eyes. His arms and neck were tan all year long from being outside but his body was white. He was a powerful man with lots of upper body strength and big hands, worn by hard work.

He was missing a lot of my early childhood traveling as a salesman. But then he came home and sold for the Lone Star Gas Company in Marlin. The gas company used to sell gas ranges, yard lights and even gas grills. From there he started teaching at South Junior High School in Waco and finally at Waco High School. He was a math teacher and that was his great gift in life. But he always wanted to be rich because he had a great longing to give his family what they wanted.

I remember his hands because they were big and had worked hard but also because he would message my legs at track meets between race to keep me limber. It really embarassed me when he did that but in hind sight it was wonderful for him to do that for me.

My dad loved me very much and looked to me to be successful where he had not been. He was also proud of me as the person he thought I was. I saw him this afternoon in my minds eye. His eyes were striking but also sad. My dad was not happy and I suspect he passed some of that along to my sister, brother and I. He didn't mean to but we as parents pass lots of things we don't realize we are passing to our children.

Another thing he passed to his children was his perserverance. I thanked him for that today.

I hope I see my dad again soon. I really miss him.

I love you dad,

Jody

Point and Shoot

If any of you are into photography you know what I'm talking about. If any of you are into Louis L'Amour westerns you know what I'm talking about also. But in both these past times, point and shoot does not always get you the results you hoped for.

Isn't that life as well? Most of us simply point and shoot our way through life when we should take more deliberate steps to get where we need and want to be. For example, I want to lose weight - no really I do. Now the quickest way to lose weight right now is one of the cleansing diets. You can drink a diet supplement or make a berry drink or whatever and you can indeed lose weight quickly. Naturally if you move to 1,000 calories of intake a day, you will lose weight. You could also lose consciousness as well. Or you could be so tired you don't want to get out of bed. Point and shoot produces a picture but not the one you really wanted.

So, what am I babbling about you ask? SLOW DOWN Consider what your goals are. Think about what you are trying to achieve. Put together a plan to be successful, raise your children, get your education, lose weight, learn another language, whatever. Lay out a thoughtful approach and you will have a beautiful results.

Water Water Everywhere - - Who would want to Drink ? ?

The photos I am posting are taken in the same place as the those taken on Dec 25. The Nooksack was frozen with snow covering the top - - now the top of the Nooksack is ready to cover the streets of Ferndale.

Small house on Main St. heading into Ferndale - - the water level is up to the middle of the door on the barn.

As we have told our friends and family, we do not live in "downtown" Lynden - - but out in the county around the berry fields. The following pic are of the Hannegan heading north into Lynden which has been closed due to flood waters. The farm to the right and left have been flooded out.

Ashley and Jeremy if you read this blog these pix are for you - - the first is the shot of the condo you used to live in - - the street has been flooded and closed. The other two are from the Nooksack River level - - You used to tell us that you and your friends use to tube under the bridge - - that is the bridge and look at the level of the water. It is moving very very quickly.

Papa Joel (Scooter) and I are not in any danger - - we are high, dry and warm. Pray for those in our area and through out the region who are not as lucky as we are. We will stay out of danger - - but count on live coverage of the Water in Western Washington.

Buckeyebb