It's our oldest daughter's birthday!

 

                                                           Mark admiring his new sister

56 Years ago today God blessed us with our first daughter who has grown into a lovely, God used and God blessed woman.
Carol and I celebrated her birth here in Portland today, wishing we could be with her in Alaska to celebrate.
We celebrated by the two of us travelling down memory lane together.
We visited the house we moved into when we came to Portland to attend Multnomah School of the Bible.We tried to find the building that housed the machine shop I worked at those four years. That location is now part of the I-205 freeway, near Glisan. We drove through the Multnomah campus where new students were arriving, registering and saying tearful goodby's to parents. Just thinking how it seems like yesterday I was registering 57 years ago.
We tried to find the house we lived in when Marla was born. 10509 Burnside. The house is gone replaced by apartments.
We went by the houses we stayed in on two different furloughs.

A lot of life for us happened in that one mile radius.

We drove up to the old Adventist hospital where I remembered a heat wave was on as Carol gave birth to our new red-haired daughter. The hospital is now a retirement center.
We did not take any pictures because except for Multnomah University, most of the locations and neighborhoods have deteriorated. Not picture taking material.

We had great plans to finish Bible College and enter the ministry. We did not realize that the greatest things we would accomplish are wrapped up in these two and their brothers and sister.
Happy Birthday Marla!!

Old Friends

We visited long time friends Jerry and Jo Thomas at Boise, ID. this weekend. We drove over with old friends from Salem, Bill and Joanne Goods. A plaque on the Thomas' wall said something like:

Old friends become New friends when you get old"

We certainly experienced both as we laughed, remembered and got caught up on our lives.

We ate Sunday dinner at the Cracker Barrel (the only one I know of in the Northwest. Went to church together and thoroughly enjoyed our time.

We also visited an air museum at Nampa, ID. Besides some cool WW11 memorabilia and planes (especially a couple P-41's) there was an old car exhibit.

We found a restored 1940 Ford, our dating car and our honeymoon car. We also confirmed the statement that old friends are new friends. Our friendship is deeper, richer, and fuller than it was in 1949.

Ministry Partner Memorial

We drove to Sequim, Wa. last weekend to attend a memorial service for a friend and ministry partner. Richard Breithaup was a man's man and more important God's man his whole life. He worked for forty year as a tree faller in the Forks, Wa. area and then "retired" to do horse logging with his team of Percherons in the Olympic National Park

He died at the age of 91 a hard worker. The picture with his wife was taken a couple of years ago when Carol and I drove up to Forks to see them. They had 8 children and were instrumental in starting at least 4 small churches on the Olympic Peninsula.

The picture above was taken when he came up to help us in Tanana, Alaska. He helped cut up quite a few cords of Yukon driftwood. I then took him hunting where we got two moose(legal).

This first one we shot about 15 minutes downriver on our way to go hunting. We dressed it and took it back to Tanana and then went hunting for real!

He truly was a great friend, committed to Christ and was one of the most Godly men I have known. I feel humbled in his memory.

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58th Anniversary Trip

Every December, (as long as we are able!), Carol and I plan a trip somewhere to celebrate our anniversary. Usually it is someplace warm!

This year we became kids again and went to Disneyland. We had a great time, the weather was perfect and we survived miles of walking and standing.

Disneyland and California Adventures were decorated in the Christmas theme and the lighting was beautiful. Not a hint this year that it was wrong to say Merry Christmas. Even though the real meaning of Christmas was somewhat muted there was no denials and even some acknowledgements as to what Christmas is all about.

Its a great time to visit there. the crowds a smaller and the waits are shorter.

We have a pretty average camera and I was wishing for a better one (or more skills) to capture some of the nightime lighting magic. One of the most spectacular was the new World of Color

in the California adventure Park. Laser, lighting, sound and water all integrated to make s spectacular experience.

And best of all Mickey remembered us from when we were kids.

The Proof is in the Pudding

The Jess Tanis family

Or put it another way, How do you know your life counted for anything. Carol and I got a graphic illustration of that as we attended the memorial service for a long time friend and fellow missionary, ALTA TANIS. Alta and Jess Tanis had labored in central BC for years among the First Nations tribes of the Chilcotin, Shushwap and Carrier.

At the recent memorial in Central BC many of us were witness to the proof in Alta's life and ministry. Serving in a group of people who self admit "they are hard to work with" Alta and husband Jess faithfully loved and shared Jeus Christ. There were many of them at the memorial service and many gave public testimony to their appreciation for that ministry in their lives. In fact most of the people who spoke and sang were first nations people.

The Picture above shows an Indian lady sing a tribute to Alta. She sang the song in her native language-a song she wrote in memory of Alta. She shared how much influence Alta had in her life.

Something to "MUSE" About

I began this blog as an opportunity to "think out loud". That's why I called it Moffat Musings.

It's been a month since I have offered anything here. Lots of things have happened since my last entry. Some things real special. Like the visit of my sister and brother-in-law from Lake Havasu. Like the mini family reunion we had when they were here. A lot of family stuff, including the hunting adventure of my grandson Luke and his wife Becca that ended on a scary mountain near Kodiak, Alaska with Becca being evacuated by helicopter with a severely broken leg. (They did get a beautiful mountain goat). Like the death of a very dear friend Henry almost three weeks ago,We visited Henry the three days he was in the hospital on his journey to eternity. that gave me a lots of pause and opportunity to muse. But nothing compares to what happened last week.

It has been a beautiful Fall here in Oregon. Carol and I decided to take advantage of the warm sunny day to visit Silver Falls State Park, a couple hours away East of Salem. We drove down, stopping at Mt. Angel for lunch. A Bavarian theme town. We had Goulash at a German restaurant and then drove to the park. It has got to be one of the most stunningly beautiful places in Oregon. One of the many hiking trails is a three mile loop that descends into a deep canyon and where the trail goes behind two waterfalls. Of course, going down into the canyon means you have to hike out!!!

As we were about three fourths of the way around the circuit enjoying the huge Douglas firs interspersed with the hardwoods in their fall colors I saw my father coming down the trail. Now mind you, dad has been dead for quite a few years. But the man leading the way toward us ,

accompanied by two young adults appeared to be my dad. He was dressed in bib coveralls like dad in the picture. (Pictured taken in 1966 at

Kokrine Hills Bible Camp in Interior Alaska).

Somewhat shocked I whispered to Carol, "that looks like my dad coming." The shock increased the closer they came until the stranger cheerfully greeted us and joked "Am I halfway yet?" I could barely get out "not quite" and we passed on the trail. I was dazed and kick myself for not finding out who he was and if maybe he was a Moffat. But I was speechless.

I was glad Carol was with me to affirm what we saw.

After spending all the time just prior to that with Henry, watching him take the journey from this life to the next, my spiritual sensors were really tuned in to eternal things. Henry died with peace as He knew where he was going. I was with my dad when he died and am sure he trusted in God for his eternal destiny.

I am convinced we see reality, as the Bible says, "through a glass darkly". Randy Alcorn has written a book "HEAVEN" which is a journey through the Bible to explain questions about heaven. He makes it quite clear that heaven is going to be a lot more than sitting on a cloud strumming on a harp. It is going to be an eternity of surprises and joys and adventures and maybe occasional trips to other places? I am so glad that because of John 3:16 I can say "whosoever believes in Him (Jesus) has eternal life." I believe that.

I'm still musing about what I saw.

78

Yes I am 78 today. Kind of a wonder in a way. I was sure years ago that I would never see the year 2000 and here we are ten years later.

I was born in a birthing home in in Port angeles, WA to a confused and hurting mother. My father had gotten her pregnant and found they could not stand each other. He married her to give me a name and left her to birth and raise me by herself. She married a Norman Johnson who gave me a house to live in if not any of his heart. It was a rough existance for me and my mother. Four more kids came from their marrige until my mother died giving birth to the last . All hell broke loose in that home then.

This picture was taken before my mother died.
That resulted in my being taken in by my real father and stepmother.
This picture is taken about the time I moved into that home where they already had a boy and a girl. So I had a new brother David and and sister Marilyn. David and another sister born later are both in heaven and Marilyn and I are the only family survivors. Life was much better in that new home and I was loved and cared for.















Here I am graduating from Port Angeles High School. Our class just celebrated our 60th high school reunion.

God has been good to me. I accepted Jesus Christ as mu Savior when I was about 19 years old and God has given me the most loving and caring wife who took care of me and gave us 6 wonderful children.

I have found by experience what Jesus promised to those who follow Him.
"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10