Storms where I live in rain battered California

 

I've been sending this photo to friends and relatives all over the USA, since our California rain storms are very destructive and in the national news. The photo shows the street that runs along the ocean, or what is left of the street. Half of the street has collapsed due to violent wave action.

This is about six streets over from my house. Closer to home, thus far is OK. Two blocks from my house where Bounce and I walk every day, the street along the ocean is undamaged thus far. I have several friends who live in the mountains outside of town and they are stuck in their houses due to road closures. Mudslides and fallen trees are closing roads and they periodically lose power. The rains are a blessing and yet now we are hoping they will stop soon and let the water soak in or run off. 

There was no rain in my town on Sunday January 8 and I dared to drive to church Sunday and attend the small group gathering of 25 friends. My spirits were very lifted to be in fellowship with such good people. I did not attend the larger church service since I am mostly avoiding indoor gatherings. Especially since I live alone, I need to see people! Be well and safe friends.

The above was posted Jan. 11, and today, Jan. 18 I am happy to see the sunshine and no rain. Hurray.

Arcade games in church lobby, Walking and Dementia

 

I took this photo of the arcade games in our church lobby. The games were borrowed for six weeks and relate to the sermon series our minister gave titled Press Start. Kids and adults played the games before and after church and they were quite popular. One boy age 9 insisted his family arrive a half hour early for the six Sundays so he could play the games. I like the colors in my photo.

 

Above is Bounce, my exercise coach. Hey friends. I just read that walking 10,000 steps per day can help cut our risk of dementia in half. This was in an article by Sarah Cownley in the Epoch Times this month. When I finally got a smart phone four years ago I found a fun app that I got that counts my steps. I do not walk 10,000 steps but I do walk x thousand. I don't think we need to compete against other people, I like to compete against me! Set slightly higher goals when inspired.

Above are my kitty Fluffy and Bounce on a walk, Fluffy often chooses to walk with us. People in the neighborhood love to see this. My exercise and walking coach is my dear dog Bounce, and I tell him I am his exercise coach in return. Cownley reports that walking 3,800 steps per day reduces dementia risk by 25 percent. She has a diploma in nutritional therapy from Health Sciences Academy in London. I wonder if the benefit is enhanced by walking outdoors where we can see the beauty of the sky, breathe in fresh air, and be encouraged to think peaceful thoughts. Or is the benefit the same when walking indoors? Just pondering.

I got 3 of these jackets for Mr. B, this one says Security and another says FBI. I read that neighborhoods where lots of people walk their dogs have less crime which makes sense. Enjoy your walks and your day.

Up from the ashes, Hope will arise

 

Above are the Asiatic lilies on my kitchen table. Do flowers give you as much joy as they give me? 

Amidst all the poor and sometimes hazardous air quality in California, Oregon and Washington, and the dark or weirdly yellow skies, I found hope attending church this Sunday. Here are some of the lyrics to a song we sang:

"Up from the ashes, Hope will arise

Death is defeated, the King is alive.

Hallelujah. 

I will watch the darkness flee."

Whenever I hit the "enter" key to create another line in blogger, it insists on a double space line. I only want a single space. Do you know how to fix that? 

Marcia asked if we all wear masks when attending church and YES we all do. We have indoor, outdoor, and online streaming of our services. I attend outdoors, we are in chairs six feet apart and are all wearing masks. Indoors they do something to clean the air before each service, we have two services each Sunday. I also went to an outdoor memorial service during the week at our church, with the same precautions. I love being outdoors. I still am cautious about being indoors for shopping or for any reason. I shopped for food Saturday at 7:45 a.m., almost no other shoppers, I wore mask and gloves! What about you all?

Dragon and Hearts in a Tree

My neighbor's dragon. It is gorgeous and the head is about 5 feet across. I think it is chomping on some plants. Below is another discovery on my walk with Bounce; two hearts in a tree. The tree was recently pruned and the pruning yielded these amazing hearts with a reddish color.

I think I should title this post Dragon Hearts. That sounds like a fantasy novel I might read. 

The fires in my county and the neighboring county are 54 percent contained, which is good news. However, much of California is having a heat wave starting Sunday Sept. 6, and our state is very dry. Good news is that two of my best friends are allowed back home after their evacuation and their homes are safe and sound. Our God is Mighty to Save.

I have been happily attending church outside on recent Sundays, we are all required to wear masks. One recent Sunday we did not have church at church because we were caring for 50 evacuees, from the area fires. They slept at our church, we fed them, etc. so church was online only one Sunday. Now many/most evacuees are home, thank goodness.

Shark eggplant, humor, church birdhouse, Julia Child rose

This looks like shark eggplant to me with the shark fin on top. It tasted good in a spaghetti sauce.

After live streaming church on Sunday Bounce and I walked to a Little Free Library to give them a C.S. Lewis book and saw that a neighbor had two birdhouses out with a sign that said "free." This one was meant for me, as it is a church. A very appropriate Sunday morning of church, C.S. Lewis and a church birdhouse! The birdhouse is old, wooden, and made by hand which makes it that much more lovable.
My Julia Child rose above is in full bloom again, it rested for a couple of weeks. I  did the hard work of cutting off all the old spent blossoms and the rose bush burst into another yellow sensation.
I found these two funnies on Oddball Observations blog  Oddball Observations

Poor sad baggage might need some therapy.

Choosing a Church

Some people find us Christians a puzzling group; here are a few words explaining a little about all the goodness I find in my faith. Feel free to skip if this post is too annoying, ha ha.
I visited 5 or 6 churches before choosing the one I attend now. I love this church. It is alive with love, serving people, and following Jesus.
A perhaps surprising thing about our church is that the services are held in what looks like a huge auditorium. Folding chairs. Very high ceiling. No windows.

Plenty of room for 500 of us at a time. These are not photos of our church, I found the photos on Pixabay and they have the theme of simplicity. I am an art history major and still thrill to visit ornate cathedrals and churches with beautiful traditional architecture but this auditorium style church is the one for me now.
There are several other buildings on our church campus, with a library, children's and teen rooms, and a coffee shop open during the church hours where you can get coffee for $1 and the money goes to charity. In the lobby before going in to church is free coffee and doughnuts, a small bookstore and tables where you can learn about volunteer opportunities.
This church is lively and the music loud and full of praise.
The people who attend do so much to help people that I could in no way list ALL the things. Many are done quietly. It gives us all lots of joy to help people as Jesus wants.
I attend Women's Bible Study before the second church service each Sunday. These ladies are dynamos of doing good things, some of them sew in a program making clothes for boys which is sent to Malawi and other countries worldwide. This group began when they saw a need for a companion program to the existing one that sews dresses for girls. There are large groups and small in our church and something helpful for everyone. We have a big Celebrate Recovery program for those in recovery from drugs, alcohol, over eating, depression, mental illness, etc. I am inspired by all the helping done by our church and I just started volunteering to visit two ladies in an assisted living home.
A great group of people. I hope you have people like these in your life.
If by any chance you don't, check out some churches near your home; you might find a safe warm place there.

The Darkness and the Light of Christmas

All Saints Church, Mattishal + Tree
Originally uploaded by rocketjohn
In the church I attend, these Advent Sundays include a rather dark church and 3 tall Christmas trees at the front, shining with white lights as the main illumination and decoration.
At the front of the church is a simple table with an empty wine glass and an empty bread plate, instead of the communion table of wine and bread.
Two ministers stand behind this stark table, to anoint us with oil, if we wish, and yes, I do.
This solemnity is precious to me and seems so right. The trees with white lights are very pure and full of promise.
Soon He will be born.
What parts of Christmas make your soul sing?