Good Morning All & Happy Sunday!
Isn’t it one of the best feelings in the world to hold a baby and watch her eyes follow yours and see a smile emerge? I got the opportunity to experience that most wonderful feeling again the other night when I held our newest grandchild, little June. She is SO sweet! There’s really no better feeling in the world than to hold a newborn and cuddle them in your arms. One of the many gifts from God, I think, and no doubt one of the best! We had a great meal at my daughter’s home and afterward I got to take one of my other grandchildren, Izaak (Ike), on a walk of discovery into the backyard to explore a child’s playhouse. He’s quite the climber and seems to have no fear of “climbing without a net.” I think that might come from feeling confident that someone will be there to catch him if he falls. Ike is quite good at “make believe” and it was fun to recapture the joy of having Ike pretend that the playhouse was his own home. I had lots of fun playing knock-knock on his front door and then having it open with a great big smile on his face. So many great things about enjoying grandchildren!
I had the pleasure and privilege to attending my friend Tom Bowman’s memorial service at a park along the Spokane River in Post Falls, Idaho yesterday afternoon. There were so many terrific stories about how Tom affected the lives of so many in such a positive way. Tom was interested in people and he loved them and it showed in his relationships with others. He always had a way of taking up a conversation with someone and often times it would lead to a discussion of one’s faith journey. He was wacky in a wonderful sort of way…his story about the time he met Sasquatch was always entertaining & memorable! Our family will never forget the time one Thanksgiving where he got dressed up as a Pilgrim for our church fellowship’s Thanksgiving service…that was a hoot! He loved nature and hiking and that showed through his magnificent colored pencil paintings (bottled water and Tom’s favorite trail mix was served after the memorial service). He really had a way of painting sunlight and moonlight and how they played on a mountainside or valley or on water. It was really something to see so much of his art displayed at his life celebration yesterday. I’ll really miss Tom…he was truly “one in a billion.” Every time we look at Tom’s Great Blue Heron painting or his painting of Cameron Lake in Alberta will remind us of him. Tom has a web site if you are interested in finding out more about him and his artwork…it’s www.tombowmandesign.com. His work has also been displayed at Spokane Gallery & Framing, 409 S. Dishman-Mica Rd., Spokane Valley WA. Their number is (509) 747-0812.
Speaking of celebrating life, Happy Birthday wishes go to the following friends who have birthdays this coming week: our friend Joanna in Chicago, wife, mother of Thea Louise & Jones, and Christian childhood education professional extraordinaire; our friend Beth in Lewiston ID, actress and music educator extraordinaire; our friend Mike in Spokane, husband, father, grandfather, pastor and business owner extraordinaire; my high school classmate from the “Amazing Class of ’73” at Olympia High School (she was at the top of our class—straight “A” student as I recall and attorney extraordinaire, Nelda; my friend Jan in Spokane, wife extraordinaire and advocate & strong supporter of Christ Kitchen in Spokane; my friend Julie in Spokane, wife, mother and human resources professional extraordinaire; my friend and former neighbor, Harry in Spokane, husband, father & pottery artist extraordinaire; my friend Tom in the Spokane Valley (originally from Montana), landscape & fly fishing ties painter extraordinaire; childhood friend and high school classmate Evelyne in Blaine WA and LAST, BUT BY NO MEANS LEAST, my beautiful wife, Judy, who celebrates her 63rd birthday on September 25th. She is the light of my life and a steadfast, loving partner to me. Happy Birthday, sweetie! Here’s to you!
Next Tuesday, September 22nd at 7:00 p.m. there will be a terrific People For Effective Government (PEG) Zoom Public Forum on Affordable Housing & Homelessness. You won’t want to miss it! Go to www.pegnow.org and look for the Zoom link to this event. I hope you can join us for this informative presentation & discussion on affordable housing resources and strategies on addressing the pressing issue of homelessness that seems to be a concern across America.
Here is the word definition for the day:
“Buck-And-Wing”: An American English word meaning “A lively solo tap dance, typically done in wooden-soled shoes.” This word reminds me a some of the great tap dancers of all-time…among them Donald O’Connor, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire and Gregory Hines…who can ever forget him and Mikail Barishnikov (sp?), the incomparable ballet dancer, doing a tap dance number in the movie “White Nights” (I believe that’s the correct name of the movie)…it was FANTASTIC! They starred in that movie with Isabella Rosallini (sp?)—daughter of Ingrid Bergman. What a terrific movie…especially the dancing segments. If you’ve never seen this movie, you’ll want to search for it and watch it!
Here are some thoughts for the day:
“Thirst was made for water; inquiry for truth.”
—C.S. Lewis, “The Great Divorce,” as quoted in C.S. Lewis’ Little Book Of Wisdom: Meditations on Faith, Life, Love and Literature” (2018)
“From the ends of the earth I call to You when my heart grows faint. Lead me to the Rock, that is higher than I.”
—Psalm 61, verse 2 (from our friend Tom Bowman’s memorial service yesterday in Post Falls ID)
Here’s to a great Sunday and lots of love & best wishes always…GO PACKERS!…GO SEAHAWKS!…
Stay safe…stay strong & press on!
Papa ‘a (Dad, Uncle Mark, Mark, etc.)