This is a little tribute to a dear friend of mine who recently went home to be with The Lord.  She has  been a wonderful friend and sister in the Lord to me for over 35 years.  Her name is Kathy Mundy.  But she would always sign her cards to me as Kathleen.  I always loved that about her.  She was a wonderful Mother and Grandmother.  She was such an encouragement to me in so many areas of my life, especially in these past 10 years that have been my darkest and saddest years.  

One night in December 1986, before I knew how to spell her name :-) she spoke in tongues at one of our home bible studies.  The Lord blessed me with the gift of the interpretation and this was what it was....

"In the special hiding place you have provided for me-
My praises will raise, as a bird on the wind, unto your throne"  

I have a notation of Psalm 27:5- For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock."  What a lovely comforting thought to know that Kathy is with Him forever being protected upon the rock! 

I do miss her or I miss knowing she is there to send a quick text to or receive a funny quote from. 

What I enjoyed most about her was her desire to help others in need.  She worked for many, many years at the Crossroads Pregnancy Center where she helped countless ladies over the years.  She was just a good person.  I don't believe I ever heard her say anything bad about anyone.  I miss her deeply, but look forward to our reunion!

Her celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 10:00 AM at South Valley Community Church in Lemoore. In lieu of flowers, Kathy asked that donations be offered to the Crossroads Pregnancy Center 206 W. Lacey Blvd, Hanford CA 93230.

Her Obituary is here.

I've been so neglecting my little blog.  I have good intentions to keep on going.  Here is a brief catch up.

Last few years I have fallen into the dreaded Secondary Progressive M.S. (SPMS)  I won't be focusing on this but instead I plan to give an account of how I'm muddling gliding through this time of life.

A few years back I had to go through the Social Security Disability process.  I came through it fine and then started to figure where I fit in.  I haven't driven for many years.  I have my license and feel I can still drive a bit, but I don't choose to drive because I don't feel my reaction time is fast enough.  It is a strange thing when your limbs won't respond when your brain tells them to!

So, I am pretty much home bound unless my dear friends carry me around.  I am blessed with many of these precious friends.

I no longer take LDN, because my doctor left the area and I don't want to go on the quest of finding another one.  So, I am on Copaxone.  It really hasn't been bad with side effects.  There was one side effect that I was dealing with for some time now (years), I didn't know it was a side effect.  Apparently the Copaxone lowers my ability to fight off shingles.  I would get them every couple of months with other blisters pretty much all the time.  Well, I finally mentioned it and was told that the Capoxone is the culprit.  I was perscribed an anti viral drug called Valacyclovir.  So now I haven't had those terrible shingles for about a year now!  (insert happy dance here)

So, where to now?  No driving....no job...lots of time.  I decided to persue somethings i've always wanted to do., jewelry making.

Several years later, I've become pretty good at it.  I opened a little etsy shop.  I post my items on Facebook, my page is Pandora Lee Originals.  (I know, not very original) I started and continue to do the jewelry as a hobby.

 Here is my awesome logo by the beautiful and talented Lucy Darby

And here is and example of my jewelry.  Fine silver bangle with a hand forged cross. I really enjoy learning new things. I take classes on line and then dive into trying.  Right now I focus on pure silver, sterling silver and some copper.  I also love resin.  See there are so many things to do!   And as before, I love birding and enjoying the small, simple things.  Thank you to everyone who reads this little blog.  I hope to inspire and encourage all those who struggle with any life altering situation.

Love you guys!

I've been away for a long while.  Since then I have started making jewelry.  I like how it consumes me and is a creative outlet.

Yes, I still have MS.  And it has been progressing.  I don't like focusing on that fact.  Instead I focus on jewelry.  I want to be a designer who works at my own pace.  Many people tell me I should open a shop.  I do have a couple of things on Etsy.  But, I really don't want to be a mass producer.  Instead, I want to enjoy what I do and bless others by offering unique items at a reasonable price.

Being a Pastors Wife, I don't want to, "get rich"  so to say, but offer prices that maybe the less advantaged people can buy and feel good about the quality.  I use sterling silver and fine silver in my designs.  And offer the pieces at cost or maybe a little more.  For me, it is a wonderful way to focus on things that are wonderful rather than the fact that I have a disease that hinders me.  

My BFF is offering a favorite necklace I make on her blog.  Check it out and maybe you will win!
Click HERE to win.

And if you would like me to something special for you, shoot me off an e-mail and let me know what you are thinking and I will love to come up with something extra special for you.  If you would like to see some of my items, look at my facebook site Pandora Lee Originals.

Out with 2013, in with 2014!

Here in Central California it has been an unseasonably warm winter. I know I need to take the decorations down but decided on trying a little experiment.  I don't know why I have never tried it before.  I took my iPhone outside and played bird songs from my favorite bird app ibirdplus 

I noticed the return of the dark eyed juncos, so I played their calls and songs.  Low and behold many answered!  I got a photo of this guy up in the branches.  They are such a sweet bird.  Last year I noticed them more around April.  But this year they seem to be around earlier or maybe longer.  Their little pink beaks are such a blessing in the yard! Read about dark eyed juncos HERE. 

Then I started on the hummingbird calls. This marvelous Anna's Hummingbird.  His head flashed a beautiful pinkish color.  They are around all year, so we are careful about keeping the feeders full.  You can read about them HERE.

Isn't he beautiful?  They are simply an amazing wonder of God's creation.  Then suddenly I noticed a Yellow Rumped Warbler. I also saw these last year.  You almost think they are just a sparrow, then you see the flash of yellow.  So amazing really.  You can read about them HERE.

 Look at him?  He really couldn't figure out what was going on.  Where was the bird singing the song?

Here he is looking around.  Check out my iPhone on the rock.  Why didn't I think of this before?  I'm especially proud of this picture

I've been a little sad that I haven't been birding for awhile.  But, I noticing my own backyard is full of life and excitement.  

I didn't want to leave this guy out.  Northern Mockingbird.  I thought he might peck my eyes out!  All in all, a very nice start to 2014.  I have an idea….I wonder if I can get owls to come if I play owl sounds?  What do you think?

Have a wonderful day!

Moments that bring Joy

I have to say one of the biggest joys in my life is when the grand kids are together.  I love it.  Little CJ is "teaching" the boys to play on the iPad!  The moment just makes me smile every time I look at it.  Hopefully it makes you smile as well.  Have a blessed day!

Family Camp 2013 was amazing!

It's time again for Family Camp!  For years our church has done a family camp.  I think this was our 13th year, or there about.  (However they weren't in order, there were years in the middle where we didn't have it due to something with the YMCA, but that is not important right now)

Some years we would go up for all weekend, but this year we went up for Saturday only.  Our church does so many great things.  Everyone loves Family Camp when they come!  It is like no other! But, I will do a post on what we do, but this one is about finding a life bird!  I posted a while ago that I had started birding.  I have many wonderful birds that come to my yard, but in the summer it is pretty much the same every day.  We went out in the spring but the summer here is so hot that I just don't do well outside for very long.

We were free this year to go birding around the lake.  I was surprised how very hard it was to find any birds.  Either the time of year, or the loud voices, or something seemed to keep them away.  My son gave me a pamphlet that said what kinds of birds were at the lake and how often.  I was so excited to set out on a trail and find them!

It was a very good thing that we took a dear friend named Linda Harris with us.  She was a real birder who knew things that we didn't. (we don't know much) She came along for the one hike we did. 

First of all this girl was swimming around the lake. I think it is a mallard.  There were two of these last year, but this year there was only one.  It made me sad that she seemed all alone.  She was very friendly and not shy of the kids and loud people around.

 I really love this picture!  I caught her getting some snack.  I affectionately call this "bottom's up!"

 Then we saw this bird.  I have to admit.  I thought it wasn't much but Then Linda said it was a Western Blue Bird....WHAT?  I figured there were no blue birds in California. 

I wish the lighting was better, but I think it was a female she had the red breast and grey upper and we could see blue when she flew.  I was pretty excited about that...but there is more! 

We heard these guys, but finally caught a photo.  A Steller's Jay!  Yes they are bossy but they have the crest which makes them special to me! 

Then we saw several of these

The dreaded parasite bird-Brown Headed Cow Bird.  Yes this male is very pretty, but they are terrible birds. Read about them on the link mouse over the name.

 

I'm teasing you now, but it is a beautiful tease.  These lovelies were along the trail.  I was going to try and identify them, but that is harder than you think.

 There seemed to be a lot of butterflies and dragon flies.  Then while walking back I had to sit on a table to rest and I was staring at the trees.  I saw something moving.  I said to Gene....look there is something over there.  He was thinking, it is a lizard but I'll take a photo.  I couldn't believe what it ended up being.  If it weren't for Linda I would have figured it was a wren or something. 

There was this little bird that blended into the tree so amazingly.  It was traveling up the tree poking his nose into the cracks of the bark.  I'm guessing it was eating insects.

Look at him!  (or her) It's a Brown Creeper.  The pamphlet said it was uncommon around the lake.  I felt so excited.  Like I found a priceless treasure! 

I was hoping to see the Bald Eagles that people saw last year, but there was no siting this year.   But truthfully this little guy made up for it all!  We did find this nest, but it seemed abandoned.  Maybe next year we will find someone using it next year!

 All in all it was a wonderful day!  And I am hooked on birding!  Last night we watched the movie The Big Year.  It is a must for us birders! 

When did August 20th become September 3rd?

Summer is all but gone here in the Central Valley of California.   What we have done each year for the past few years is underwater photography with those reusable cameras.  This year there was only a couple of times I wanted to go in the water when CJ was here.  The water has to get warm enough for me to venture in.  :-)

These cameras remind me of the "stone age" when you didn't know what you were taking pictures of?  Remember that?  You went and bought expensive film and then hoped you actually got one good one out of the batch.  (I just realized that I didn't remember how many photos were on a roll...I guess that isn't important right now)  You'd go to the store and get the package and look to see if there was one good one, maybe 2 if you were lucky!  So, most people didn't take many pictures because of the cost.  Most of us have shoe boxes around filled with photos.  They were organized once but they are not now.  I did try and be a great mom and make albums, but you know what I am going to say...they were on that acid paper so....they all turned yellow!  Who had time really?  And the generations before us had even less.  I often shop in thrift stores and want to buy all photos I see just because I feel bad that they are in the store and their families have forgotten or just out lived them.  But I digress....

We got our underwater camera this year and snapped some good photos.  Little CJ is such a joy in our lives.  She is growing leaps and bounds.  Can you believe she will be in second grade?  This year she likes to do tricks in the water.  She does one then I try and preform it.  She doesn't care that I look ridiculous and terrible in a bathing suit! 

She does twists and turns, hand stands and she even can sit on the bottom like a yoga person for the longest time with out floating up.  Well, I assure you I can't do that one!

What is the title all about?  Well, in Southern California school always started after Labor Day.  ALWAYS!  It is how we gauged life.  Labor Day marked the beginning of the year.  Here in the San Joaquin Valley school starts August 20th!  What?  It's still summer!  Why are they robbing us of these precious hours? 
People are buying "Back to School" clothes.  Teachers are going and getting their classes ready.  It all feels wrong to me.  It's like something precious has been taken from everyone and most people don't even know what it is.
Well, that is the state of our society isn't it?  Kids can't play outside.  They can't linger in the warm outside air.  There are no more Wonder Years.  I suppose I am showing my age.  I miss the days of summer the way they were when I was a child.  I miss the carefree moments.  I miss the old days!

I can almost hear her saying...."Come in the water Coco"...and just like that...it's gone.

 

I love you peanut!  Have a great year!  Learn Lots!  Come over soon!