2-27-16 Cooking update

Everybody is getting such a kick out of my battle with learning how to cook, I thought I'd give you an update. I cooked my 3rd grilled cheese sandwich yesterday. I think I'm applying heat a little bit too much. You're probably asking yourself how can he tell? When the cheese sandwich is starting to smoke, I think it's probably too hot, what do you think? It really did come out pretty good little bit blacker on one side then I like it, but the cheese was melted all the way through and it was really good. My friend Eric says that 3 grilled cheese sandwiches are better than one. I guess he's a cheese-a-holic too.

 
The little plant update next to Harriet Side of the bed, It has revived and there is beautiful new growth in the center of it you can see the leaves coming up. I can't seem to resurrect the dead branch. So I guess I'm going to have to take my friends advice and cut it off.

Of course the sad news is that our brother Brian Verhoeks, died a couple of weeks ago and we're having his service at noon today at Sonrise. I will miss him because he was a good guy and he always helped people in need. I can't remember him ever saying no, when people needed assistance. A true servant of the Lord. The family asked me to open the service today. The service starts at noon and if you're able to come, I would recommend being there at least 15 minutes in advance because I know it will be packed. Brian helped a lot of people over his lifetime.

Maranatha,
Frank

2-20-16 Sat.

I have some sad news to share with you. Our dear friend Brian Verhoeks died a week ago. I believe he was about 54 years old, give or take. He is a dear friend. The service will be next Saturday, at Sonrise, 12 noon. I will be opening the service and then Pastor Ron. The nicest thing I can say is that Brian, he was really a servant of the Lord. He helped everybody. I know that the church will be packed. He leaves behind his wife Jamie, his 2 daughters and his son Tanner who is married to Bri.

I have a picture I want to share with you. It's our grandson Matthew who had his 3rd birthday. He's really a cutie.

I'm doing this blog post real early on Saturday morning it's about 4:35 AM. I promised my friends that I would meet them at the beach this morning. I've stayed in contact but not been in the water for quite a few months. When Harriet really sick, I stopped taking my iron supplements. I've been dealing with low iron for the last 15 years or so. Harriet used to put the pills out for me and when she got really sick I just spaced it off. And of course when she died I still didn't take any of my pills until I realized that my hands and feet were cold all the time due to my low hemoglobin. I went down and got tested and it confirmed that I was low on iron. So I've been taking those pills in the morning and evening. Lord willing by this spring I'll be able to get back in the water.

I have to be down at the beach by 5:30 AM. Because the boys get in the water at 1st light. Hopefully the waves are good.

Daniel is preparing to go to the next stage in his reinsertion into society. He is finished his 6 months of transitional housing. He's doing very well and working hard. I'm thankful that his brother Joe has provided him a job and training.

                                     Harriet and Autumn

That's it for now. I hope you have a great weekend.

 PS. Just got back from the beach. I took a picture of two of my friends, David on the left and Ken on the right, checking the waves out. I have surfed with Ken for about 30 years. Both are really good friends.

Maranatha,
Frank

2-13-16 Sat.

I have to do the blog early this morning because we have our annual breakfast for church. It used to be a men's breakfast, but last year we invited the ladies because Valentine's Day fell on a Saturday. Well, the ladies liked it so much were inviting them back this year. I hope they behave themselves.

Everything is going pretty much the same as it has been. Daniel is working hard and I guess I can say I'm doing the same.

Today I want to tell you about a lonely plant, that survived my lack of care. I should probably preface this story with a little history. Taking care of plants and everything that goes with it like what plants we bought and where they were planted, was Harriet's domain. We have the plants that are around the house on a timer so that they are watered on a regular basis. But, there are a lot of plants on our porch that do not have a sprinkler system because they are potted plants, even though they are quite large. So, Harriet explained to me the watering and how often it should be done depending upon the heat and time of year. And I've been watering them faithfully and not killed any yet.

So couple of months ago, I noticed that there was a plant that is on Harriet's side of the bed on her nightstand and it's a real plant, as opposed to artificial. I tried to figure out how long it's been since it's been watered and it probably did not get any water for at least 3 or 4 months and I'm so surprised that it was still alive even if just barely. So I've been watering it and making sure that it got some sunlight. We have  the louvered shutters throughout our house and I've not been opening the shutters on Harriet side since she was not here. This means that the plant was not getting any water or sunlight for months. I'm going to include a picture of the plant in its current condition. It's been revived in the last couple of months. Can you believe it's already been 6 months since Harriet died? There is one strand you can see that is struggling, but there is new growth also. It's amazing that this plant survived for so long without water and sunlight.

Next week I will have some pictures that I will take at the breakfast this morning. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and the title of the message is, "All You Need Is Love". Yes it's from the Beatles. But I will not be using their lyrics, I will be using verses from the Bible.

Maranatha,
Frank

                                      Harriet and little Joe

2-6-16 Sat

Hello everybody! I remembered this morning. I have some updates and of course I need some cooking advice.

Everyone asks about Daniel and this past week he got something in one of his eyes while at work and scratched the cornea. We found this out when I took him to the doctor. Because he couldn't see properly to drive. They gave him ointment and pills and told him not the worst contact lenses until this is resolved. Hopefully in a couple of days.

Now we get down to the important things like cooking. My girl Hilda bought some "potatoes O'Brien" for Daniel and I. I know that you are probably all aware of this but for the less informed (Larry) it comes with the potatoes all cut up and onions and peppers included. You just have to put them into a pan and cook them. Unfortunately I did not have a stick proof pan which was recommended. You'll be able to see what I cooked it in when you look at the picture below.

As you can imagine everything stuck to the bottom of the pan. I got it cooked and everything, but I like to have things a little bit crispy or browned, if you know what I mean? So, the question I have you I had a stick proof pan will that allow me to crisp things up? I must tell you that I would prefer to ask for your input then to try and Google it or look it up in a cookbook. It's much more fun this way to get feedback from you. And I want you to know that I really appreciate everybody's help. I guess my rehabilitation is a community project.

That's pretty much the excitement for this week. I am going to include a picture that was taken almost a year ago. This was taken about Easter last year at church. Harriet had finished her 8 rounds of chemo and was doing very well as you can see by the smile on her face. It wasn't until later on toward the middle of May that she started feeling really bad again.

This Sunday the title for the message is, "Mercy, Grace and Tolerance".  Are these terms compatible? The world accuses Christians of being intolerant. Of course the question that comes to my mind is that anyone who accuses another person of being intolerant is showing their intolerance.
Maranatha,
Frank                   Harriet, Hilda, Timothy and Little Joe