MY QUIXOTIC QUEST

My blog posts have not been getting the many views I had hoped for but lest I become despondent, I later realized that the person who benefits the most from my words, is me.
Some days it means taking up the challenge of my own words.  It gives me a chance to deep dive into areas I am passionate about, usually about my scriptural exploits, adventurous experiences, family, care giving, daily incidents, or the anomalies of my marriage.
So, I am assuming, I should really not be concerned about the size of my viewing audience as my posts often reveal my insufficiencies and spot light the status of my heart, often magnifying the seriousness of it as well as disclosing its idols.
I love well-crafted sentences, poems, and quotes that stop me in my tracks as I encounter them in my reading.
Journaling/blogging has been an amazing journey for me. 
No matter how many encounters with Scripture, I am still struck by something I've read and wonder why I had not seen that before.  I suppose it could be that we have the tendency to think we have got it when a familiar passage appears, then someone like our pastor milks it for all its worth.  It really is amazing!
 When fate sets the agenda, it is a surprising thought that God has actually been involved in every detail in these past 43 years.  He connected me to godly mentors and opportunities to test his faithfulness in my life all these years.

God is full of surprises.
It takes a disciplined mind and life to keep on God's path when it appears to be going against us.  When that something comes along to test us and to shake us, who are we to question a sovereign God with a sovereign plan.
We tend to want to view God and his process through our colored glasses.
We want to pick and choose.
Time is the thing that challenges me during marriage.  You start out with this one person you think you know as one person and then as time evolves you become a different, new person, and then 10, 15, or more years later have to sync up with that "new person".  Get what I mean? 

You can't program your life, marriage to operate on auto pilot.  It takes a disciplined mind and life. 

ANTICIPATE THE UNANTICIPATED

ONE DAY IT HAPPENS.
You hear the words, Alzheimer’s, dementia or some other dreaded illness or anomaly.
Every couple who stays together long enough will eventually take care of the other.
Having taken that oath in early marriage you ignore that fact in early marriage “for better or worse…”.  You ignore that fact as life continues on in a fairy tale like fashion.
In the enchantment of those earlier years, unless some unfortunate events disturbs or we are buoyed by good health, we tend to forget some of the realities we may encounter as we journey through life. 

Suddenly and un expectantly we are forced to re-organize our world, to love what is.
The ultimate test of love for one another, the durability of love is care giving ~rjs

1.PHOTOS NEVER FORGET:

 In an effort to remember details, I have journaled and blogged about many things.  I got my first box camera as an 8th grade graduation gift.
The habit of journaling moments in an attempt to preserve memories began long ago.  The advent of the computer and the ease of blogging added to the enjoyment of capturing those moments.
I want to remember the moments, the emotion, the discovery of long ago.

 Mom Ediger,(Helen Dick Ediger), Cousin Kat Dick. Moved from Canada to Walla Walla, WA where they became Adventists. They visited Pop and Mom and our other cousins in Dallas.

Dad's grandparents, Heinrich Warkentin was born April 24, 1824 in Tiegerweide, South Russia.
Married in Peters Church, McPherson County, Kansas. Died May 22, 1910 in Inman, Kansas. Buried So. Inman Cemetary Block 2, Lot #5 E. half.
His first wife Katharina Petker died.
They had 17 children of which 7 died early. Multiple births and childhood diseases were a contributing factor.
There were several sets of twins.
This picture and the other one were taken in a studio some where in Kansas.

"Trips...to Los Angeles, California from Dallas, Oregon to attend Bible Institute of Los Angeles (BIOLA). This trip (One of them) was made with John & Suzie Frey in one of the first Model T.Fords. The trip took a week with one accident."

Uncle Jamie(L) & Dad (r)Little boys wore knickers with matching suit coat.

Uncle Jamie & Dad (r) & boys wore tights

Mother & Dad  1947

Camping, Betty & Doris

Dad with sisters, Janet (L), Barb (r) 1947

My mother and family camp out

Betty & Doris

Doris (L)  Betty (r)

My great grandmother, Emily Elizabeth Chick Wedgwood

My mother with her family

Betty (L) & Doris (r)

My mother Betty (L) & Doris sister

My mother, Betty

My mother with her father, Edwin Wedgwood

My mother, Betty. Sister in swing

My mother with her parents

Aunt Janet, Aunt Barb, Aunt Bev (in middle) 1930's ?