It's our 60th

Proverbs 31 describes "a wife of noble character" vs. 10. It also says that her husband is "full of confidence in her" vs 11, and her husband "sits at the gate" and "praises her".

This blog seems to be the best place I can publicly do that.  I have been very reflective this week as I have recounted my life with and my love for Carol Sue. It has been quite a emotional journey as I have thought through our marriage- my 60 years of days living and loving this woman.

Her senior picture was taken about the time that the following account, taken from a memoir I have written, recalls:

"We were going steady when I graduated from high school, but by the time I went away to college we had drifted apart just from the sheer difference in our geography and interests.

We were going steady, but not very steadily, seeing each other, still occasionally dating when I came home from school to work on the weekends.  Then one day while sitting in my room at college, it hit me. I missed her terribly and I was treating her and our relationship way to casually. I had heard she was going out some with other guys and I was in danger of losing her. I sat down and wrote her a letter saying I was coming home on the weekend and if she still thought she wanted to be with me I would meet her at a certain dance. I remember I was at the dance nervously looking for any sign of her. Well,after the dance started, she showed up and we have never looked back.

She has shown an enormous amount of patience with me, which is a huge part of the definition of true love. Carol always has been more whole emotionally. I have been just the opposite. I was damaged goods in the love department. Because of the lack of love or the examples of love in my upbringing, it has taken me a lifetime to grow to anywhere near a real understanding of love. In fact, I am sure that if I never had become a follower of Jesus and experienced His love and became familiar with His love letter the Bible, I never would have come to understand what true love looks like and to experience it. I am thankful for her unconditional love that has never wavered, I am also thankful that because of her, I experienced the opportunity to receive God’s love and begin the process of love finding me."

So began a journey of finding and serving God together. It was the beginning of a family that has grown to include over 65 people including 18 grandchildren and almost 20 great-grandchildren.
I am overwhelmed at the thought of what this lady has done to follow and support me in our efforts to serve God and raise our family. From Washington, to Alaska,
to Oregon, to Canada, and back to Oregon. In between the lines of those moves have been numerous houses, thousands of miles. thousands of meals and many crises. All without regret and surely without recrimination.
A faithful marraige is not about the crises or the spectacular. It is about a day by day commitment. A priceless gift, she is truly God's gift to me.

 

Good Intentions-Gone Bad

Three months since my last post. On top of that I had intended to make a special post  about each of our children on their birthdays. I did our eldest Mark on his 55th birthday in February 2010.
I followed that up very speedily? with a post about our second and daughter Marla three months ago. almost two years after Mark's post.

I had intended to get the other four this year. One complication is that all their birthdays are within weeks of each other. Another complication is that I got very ill with pneumonia during that time. I just feel I must make mention here and hope to catch up next year or being accused of favoritism to the oldest two.

In truth neither Carol or I feel any favoritism to our children. We do acknowledge unique giftings and personality traits in them that makes us highlight or appreciate them for their uniqueness. We never would wish they were all the same. I  highlighted some of the special characteristic about the oldest which you can read in the above mentioned blogs. Now for a thumbnail about the other four just in case I don't get to mention them on their next birthday.

Marty-  

Born in October Marty is a clear thinker, and is a committed to ministering and serving others. In fact that is a common trait in all our children. He had to deal with some challenging physical problems, but has faced and more than conquered those challenges.

His focus has been to live and serve in Alaska and his fine family could be called true Alaskans

He and Nikki have raised three, now grown and married children and are now enjoying grandchildren.

Merlin

Born the end of September, Merlin is our adventurous one. He married a Canadian girl and they have lived in Canada (Saskatchewan and Alberta), Texas, Mexico and now live in Vancouver Canada. They did a good work as missionaries in Mexico, learning the language and helping develop small churches there to have more significant outreach to their neighbors.
In fact Merlin and Brenda still have a significant tie to Mexico. Their daughter is married and living in Mexico and their two grandchildren live there. They look eagerly to each opportunity for visits from them.

They have three children, a daughter and two sons.




This picture shows them with their daughter, son in law and granddaughter. A grandson has since joined the family.

 Matthew

Also born the end of September, Matthew is fun-loving, mixed with a deep compassion for people.He keeps our family laughing and enjoys life and helps those around him to enjoy it as well.
He lives with his family (Maralle and two high school aged children) in Sandy, Oregon. Since he lives close to us, we are often included in many family activities.

 

 



Often Matt will call and suggest we join he and his family in many fun activities. He helps keep us "young" thinking.

 

Marianne

Our November baby has grown into a remarkable woman. Gifted and wise we enjoy being with her and her family. Since she and husband Scott live in Alaska that is not as often as we would like. Marianne works at a school as an accountant and is very active in running and other outdoor pursuits. She and Scott are involved in many things Alaskan.

They have three  grown children, but so far no grandchildren.
Scott like all of the spouses of our children, gives us great joy and we are convinced that each one of our "in-law" kids were chosen by God and consequently could not be a better choice for us.

I don't think I mentioned Mark and Marla's mates in my previous blogs so I will correct that here.

Mark and Shari's three boys are married and those marriages have given them 10 grandchildren. It is hard to find a picture of Mark and Shari without them being surrounded by grandchildren.








                                                                               

Jim and Marla at his retirement party last year. Their lives are full with all of their family living very close to them. Their six grandchilren give them much joy.

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

Reality Check

Carol and I went out into the country last Sunday-actually up into the foothills past Estacada. I taught SS and preached at this country church that has supported is for many years.
Imagine our surpise when we drove up this remote country road to the church which meets in an old schoolhouse. A billboard with my name on it encouraging people to come and hear me preach!!.

Well that is where perspective is needed to keep from getting too big a head.
Sunday School had about 6 adiults and church maybe thirty total. I imagine hardly any traffic goes down that country road. James 1:9 says we should look at our position in life with a reality check. In the end everyone will end up on the same level and we should look at life and our position in that light. If our name gets put up on a billboard, keep that in mind.
By the way those people in that church are very wonderful believers and carry no pretentions whatsoever. They are good friends.

Five Weeks of Memories

Yes, I have been absent for five weeks. About three of those weeks involved a trip to Alaska where we again were embraced by family. Maria graduated, Nikki had an operation after a puzzling sickness. (gall bladder): We had a delightful trip to Seward with Marla, great grandkids had school activites to attend and pictures galore were taken shared and posted. Two did not.

One was our childrens belated birthday gift to their mom. Carol was queen for a day at a delightful BandB in Anchorage. The owner specializes in English Teas as well and it was everything a traditional TEA is supposed to be.

Another unrecorded hightlight was my induction to the 50 Year Society of Multnomah University, where I graduated 52 years ago. I went rather reluctanly because they called me on the phone and asked me to consider. I was suprised how much I enjoyed it and was moved. We marched in with this years graduates and faculty and were given special public recognition.

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So Carol and I were both honored during the last five weeks. Multnomah gave me an excellent education in Bible and Carol certainly deserved the praise of her children

A couple more pictures to add

The whole program lasted almost and hour and a half, with the above ensemble joining Morgan for the last 15 minutes or so.
Kaitlan somehow was missed in the pics below and here she is with her parents. It was a milestone event for Morgan and Kaitlin and as Morgan said "one of the hardest things he has ever done."

Morgan Recital Weekend

As all such events in our family, this weekend was full, memorable and full of variety. After all getting to Moscow, ID on Friday night all the ambitious ones got up bright and early to do the 5K run. It was also Mom's weekend at the U so there were lots of activities besides the Recital which was held on Sunday evening. Maria, Mason, Scott, Derek his brother Clinton and Marianne took over the race. Maria was the fastest woman and all finished in great time.
However two of the Wick's were First and second as pictured here.
It was a fun filled weekend with lots of picnics (temp in the 70's), minature golf, church, games -well you know. Of course the highlight was Morgan's amazin performance at his recital. 45 minutes of solo memorized intricate, hard guitar solos, duet with a flute player and two songs Morgan wrote and arranged with a enemble of ten other fellow students. There were about 100 of us there.


Scott and Marianne organized most of the reception and of course, Carol Sue reveled in the helping.

Wick Times Ahead

We are leaving for Moscow, Idaho in the morning. We are giong via Redmond, OR.
We met Chris and Ashley Wick when we were up in Moscow for Morgan and Kaitlan's wedding. Chris is Morgan's cousin and is a detective for the Redmond police dept. He and Ashley have been accepted by Josiah Ventures, a mission organization, to go to Slovenia to work with youth there. They wanted to get together with us to chat about the ups and downs of missionary life.


We will stay over night there and then drive to Moscow, ID where Morgan is givng his senior recital in guitar performance. This is a big deal for a graduating music major and we are looking forward to a fun filled weekend. Morgan's whole family will be there as well as Jaime and Adam who live there..

We will share some pics when we return.

My Son Just Turned 55!!

We have six children and I can truly say that no one of them is a favorite. I can appreciate each one for their distinctive qualities and giftings. It's like a beautiful grouping of vivid blooms making a bouquet of God's gift to us.

But I have been thinking about Mark turning 55 yesterday. First of all, I can't believe we have a son getting close to retirement. Someone saw us at McDonald's today and asked me to pray for him preaching tomorrow. The reason he said jokingly was "that you are as old as God." So I guess I am old.

Mark and I were bonded in a unique way when we first went to Alaska as missionaries. Carol had to stay behind in WA. to have our fourth and Mark and I went to a remote Alaska village and went through the trauma of isolation, people speaking another language, culture shock together. Mark was a real trooper at 4 yrs of age and was a great comfort to me when I was missing his mom, the rest of our family and going through challenges of adaptation. He was my rock in a changing world. It might be strange to say that of a 4 year old, but it is true.

He is still a rock to me. My oldest son fills the bill of every expectation in the phrase "oldest son".

He is a great husband to a wonderful daughter in-law. A great dad to three outstanding grandchildren and a loving grandpa. He is a strong committed believer, a wonderful christian leader and a wise son.

Happy Birthday Mark.

Jesus Loves the Little Children

I have been somewhat scarce on this blog. One of the reasons I began it was to keep our extended family aware of some of the family happenings. Facebook has changed that a since a lot of family communication goes on there. A case in point was the wedding recently in Moscow where Morgan and Kaitlin tied the knot. It was a great time,with over 100 photos

springing up on Facebook.

I did title this blog "Moffat Musings" however and I will still muse from time to time.

I have been musing about children and Jesus' love for them. They are so incredibly innocent and so subject to the strengths and weaknesses of us adults.

Our great Grandson Rowan experienced that Love as he went through a 2 hour operation to remove an extra kidney and reroute his "plumbing". Marla sent these pictures of Rowan with his grandmother, mother and brother We pray for our grandkids and great-grands a lot and it was a privilege and joy to see Jesus' love for him as he did marvelously and the medical staff and doctors used their love and skill to bring that about.

That led me to wake up thinking in the middle of the night about the Haitian children. I don't need to add any images of them here. We have been assaulted with those images, both good and bad. One news flash I just witnessed was the ruins of an orphanage flattened on about 50 young orphans. I know they are resting in the loving arms of Jesus, because he said "let the little children come."

On the other hand there are hundreds of these kids experiencing the loving arms of Jesus through the ministry of rescue workers, orphanage workers, relief organizations (mostly Christian) and new adoptive parents cutting through the red tape and getting them into the homes of these parents. For these survivors a chance for a loving home was accelerated because of the earthquake!

Jesus shows His love for the little children in many ways. We thanks him for working in the lives of the children in our family and that "Jesus loves the children of the world"