today I pack

     I have put this off as long as possible.   I leave my house at 3:30 a.m. tomorrow, I need to seriously think of what to put in my one....1....suitcase, for a 2.5 week trip out of the USA.
     In case I haven't said, I will be going to Romania on a Mission trip for 2 and a half weeks.  I am very excited that God has made this trip possible and will use me to His glory.  I will be traveling with 11 others, ages 13 to late 60's.  It is so exciting to see these young people going to minister.  Six of the group first went 2 years ago, so there will be some with experience in the travel. 
     We leave PDX at 7:30am, travel to Newark, then on to Munich, Germany, then into Cluj, Romania, where we will be met by a church van and travel to Alba lulia, (Alba Oolia). We will meet the Pastor and family there, and be introduced to our host families, perhaps a little site seeing. 
     The Plan...we will begin on Monday with travel to the Camp, a week long Vacation Bible School, titled The Amazing Race at Camp Necrilesti, at the base of mountains.  There will be over 50 teens coming to the camp from neighboring villages. We will give them all camp shirts and lesson plan.  As our "Romania" is treacherous there will be a translator, and body language is pretty universal!  I am attempting to learn..."thank you, please, where is the restroom" ....I should have it down by airplane touchdown.
     During the week we will sleep in tents for the guys and inside the newly constructed building for women.  Little rustic, bathe in the stream, water for drinking is brought in from underground spring.  I do not think there is running water, last time it was trips to the outhouse. We can do our laundry on the weekends at our host family's home. There will be a trip into Sighisoara and a trip to see Dracula's castle....interesting. 
      I pray for health for the team, rest,( the time is ahead of us 10 hours), Divine appointments to happen, new relationships to be made, fun, and God's love to be felt by all.
      I'm sure time will fly past, as it always does when you do not want it to. I will take pictures to help me remember the special moments. Journal, as I always do. We will have access to the Internet at the church, but, not knowing what that means at this point, I will probably only have time to send notes to family. If I have more time, I may Blog from there!!
      In the past few weeks I have enjoyed the company of my grandsons, Mason and Gunner. Mason doing Sports Camp one week and both boys for a week of VBS. I enjoyed the boys, and enjoyed the rest afterwards!!!    Keep me in your prayers........

and what do boys do when they win hammers??

face painting, Mason is an alien, Gunner is Iron man, of course

riding fun

   

    

Romantic Thymes: Summer is for Grand son and fishing

Romantic Thymes: Summer is for Grand son and fishing

Summer is for Grand son and fishing

  As we are now into July, summer has decided to arrive!!  "Welcome sun"
I had fun with my grandson, Mason, he spent the last 4 days of June with me attending Sports Camp each day, 9-1, and doing fun things in the afternoon.

  First day we put together a new raised garden bed in my front yard, Mason did all the work, I was his "helper."  He handled the battery operated screwdriver quite well, instructing me where to hold the pieces of wood together so he could put the screws in.  He was proud of his "20" screws he did.  Grand kids are such a joy. 
  We went to see the newly released Green Hornet, popcorn, coke and candy in hand, where I was brought up to date on this hero. 
Tuesday I purchased his fishing pole and my fishing license, (first since coming to Oregon).  We packed the car and headed for Trojan Lake




this one got away, try again





and did I say it started to rain...we are in Oregon, but, kids do not care!!

  It was so much fun giving instruction and watching him cast his rod in anticipation.  He got a bite, but, as fishing goes it got away, he was convinced it was "big silver" the trout of all times!!
Next day he ask if we could go again, and try to catch the one who got away...of course we did, even though weather was a little more daunting then the day before.  First we dug in the compost pile, finding  worms, (we filled the wheelbarrow with the compost, dumping it inito the new bed followed by the bags of soil, grandma knows how to incorporate work with fun).  Made peanut butter and banana sandwiches for snacks (Mason's request) with strawberries just picked for desert ( grand kids give us the permission to be kids too).

he caught one, look at that face!

  He originally wanted to catch and release, not wanting to eat fish, which he said he didn't like.  This one swallowed the worm and hook, so we kept him.  About 30 minutes later I landed a 14" Trout,  Mason was right there helping me get him..."Grandma, Grandma, keep him away from the water so he won't get away"....as he was trying to grab the slippery fellow....to cute.  (of course, due to the rain, camera was in the car)   We were both soaked to the skin, and the only ones left on the lake fishing...but, we didn't care, we caught our fish.  We left almost 8:00pm, coming home to clean and fry our fish. Mason watched as I fillet the fish, (its been many years since I attempted this), as I gave words of wisdom ..."my Daddy, your great grandpa, always said, if you fish, you also do the cleaning".....so by 10:00pm we ate our fish with strawberries on the side, he did say the fish tasted like fish nuggets....a great day of fishing was enjoyed and we both slept like logs.
  Thursday ended with swim at local pool and after his Mom came we did dinner and down to the waterfront for music and entertainment, he left for home around 9 that night, Mom told me he slept in the next day.
   I miss my little companion, but, on July 10th I will pick up Mason and his little brother (4) for a week of Vacation Bible School, 9-1 each day....I think I will uncork that bottle of wine that's been in the fridge for over a year, after they return home Friday....;^}