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Dancing with the Stars...

If it's Monday, it must be Dancing with the Stars night!

Yes, I'm hooked and so is Tom. Yes, Dancing with the Stars...

Check out last season's winner -

or this tasty Argentine Tango from this season's favorite -

I wonder if Arthur Murray is taking new students...hmmmm.

Chuck's

My Monday routine for the past bazillion years has been to meet with Robin and Andrew and hang out and drink coffee. Well, it's been a bazillion years and things are just now starting to get a little stale. So now we are diversifying and going to different places for our visits. Here's a sampling - Yo'Licious frozen yogurt, Charlie's Bistro, Starbucks at Esther Short park and this week Chuck's Produce & Street Market.

Chuck's opened last Thursday in what used to be Joe's on Mill Plain. It was a fun outing for the 4 of us (Andrew & Tom came along too) and while I thought they had a nice variety of food stuff, I don't think that it is a place that I would go to routinely. It is a little bit out of the way -  15 to 17 miles to Chucks (depending on your route) while Winco is just about 5 miles away from our house. Less driving is best for me :)

It might be fun for lunch, if we happen to be in that area...which is not that often. At least we have options. 


Got some good photos though...

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Making Pancakes

Making Pancakes

Six-year-old Brandon decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents pancakes. He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the 2 counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor.

He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten.

Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very bad.

He didn't know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove and he didn't know how the stove worked!. Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky.

And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in Brandon's eyes. All he'd wanted to do was something good, but he'd made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just watched him.

Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process!

That's how God deals with us. We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky or we insult a friend, or we can't stand our job, or our health goes sour.

Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can't think of anything else to do. That's when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him.

But just because we might mess up, we can't stop trying to 'make pancakes' for God or for others. Sooner or later we'll get it right, and then they'll be glad we tried.

I was thinking and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that need rekindling or three words needing to be said, sometimes, 'I love you' can heal & bless! Remind every one of your friends that you love them. Even if you think they don't love back, you would be amazed at what those three little words, a smile, and a reminder like this can do.

Cycling Season Comes To An End

Harvest Century, October 9...our 4th ride that it rained. The worst rain had to be Tour de Blast and the least rain was at the Covered Bridge Ride. It was still good though. We got to visit with Scott before he met up with his buddy Gordon for their 100 mile ride. Even though we registered for the Century, we opted for the 45 mile route and called it good.

Here's looking toward a brand new cycling season, but first...some weekend rides here and there. Weather permitting :)

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