42nd Anniversary

8/9/11


For 42 years--- it's been a great journey even through foggy and rainy times over bumpy terrain. For better or for worse. In sickness and in health.

The trek to the top. A great ride. A worthy view.

Another "anniversary celebrated."

MOUNTAIN MORNING MEDITATION

8/8/11 Location highly recommended for meditative moments: deck of a mountain hideaway, overlooking trees and streams with humming birds buzzing nearby along with a cuppa Red Rose tea, served with a cool morning breeze.

I rise before the dawn of the morning and cry for help. I hope in your word. (Psalm 119:147)

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and He delights in his way. (Psalm 37:23)

GONE BIRDING

8/7/11 Hooray! Hooray!! Our “end of summer” anniversary/retirement jaunt begins today!

Our glorious trip begins in North Carolina with dear friends in their mountain home in NC. After we say good by to Sam, JoLynn, Marge & Larry, “flying by the seat of our pants” is the way the rest of the trek looks---AL mountain lodge (a Jerry Haughton rec from years past (20+ yrs.--takes us a while to get around to things but might cancel if TOO HOT, since lodge has no AC) TN farmhouse stays, KY city stays, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in Oak Harbor, Ohio, Chelsea, MI Victorian B& B, & Pelee Island in Canada for more “bird watching” and “wine tasting”----two loves of hubby, my resident ornithologist and oenophile. (aka wine connoisseur.)

I’m packing his anniversary gift---the trip itinerary planned for him, new light weight but “strong” binoculars, 2 wine-stoppers, a lengthy book and a new “dual” book light. Nothing color coordinated this year just his favorites for his “birding” trip. Here’s to “42” years!

*Taking an old laptop but places might be too remote for wi-fi so not sure about blogs. If that’s the case, blog will return when I do.

Reckoning of Life Lessons…..

8/6/11 …….from the two most important men in my life.

The summer before I left my small town for college, my Daddy took just me to dinner in “big” Nashville. He shared two important revelations with me. The first was that meat did not have to be eaten well, well, well, well-done---think charred. He never criticized Mother; he merely advised me that there was such a thing as medium rare. He ordered me prime rib medium rare and I was hooked. Neither of us ever discussed that part of my education with Mother. At home we continued to eat beef that was very gray when you cut into it and thanked her graciously for cooking out all the e-coli or whatever the bacteria of the month was that we were avoiding.

The second revelation was a matter of linguistics. “I suppose so” was a more “educated” way to respond to questions he informed me. As opposed to “I reckon,” which never quite sounded even that formal when spoken by most folks in Hoptown.

Last week at the beach I struggled with the steep steps to the boardwalk that led over the dunes to the beach house----usually with a child in tow. A seemingly difficult task for all “mature” adults. Hubby revealed a secret to me. Don’t look up he said. (That view was pretty daunting.) Just focus on one step at a time. If you look back you can lose your balance and if you look forward too much (way up) you can actually get dizzy. Boy was he right about that! Looking up overwhelmed me---I feared the worse especially, when John Parker was on my hip. As the week went by I realized that those steep steps were a metaphor for life---take them one step at a time.

These are life lessons which I have taken to heart. I eat my premium beef medium rare and enjoy every bite. I use “I suppose” when appropriate and these days I’m taking life one step at a time.

I “reckon” I’ll never forget any of these lessons. I suppose that deep down, I’m still a “reckoning” kind of gal. Dontcha reckon?

Longing for Leisure

8/5/11 “I would love it if someone would pay me to stay home,” is a thought I averred for years. Now I’m paying myself from my retirement funds to do just that. Throwing in my 3^rd Wednesday Social Security check and that assertion has become a reality. Leisure looms in my future. Or does it? Hubby tells me that I can even make “work” out of leisure.

I am a, self-admitted, goal-oriented gal. Can one enjoy leisure times and still accomplish goals? “It’s okay to have a busy life. It’s crazy to have a busy soul.” (Miller p. 251) But how do you reconcile the two?

Today’s Jesus Calling (8/5) answered that. “A leisurely pace accomplishes more than striving.” What a great affirmation for one who would like both---productivity and a quiet soul. It just depends on your focus/priority. Put first things first.

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; (Psalm 37:7)

How does the Lord love me?

8/4/11 Let me count the ways. Enumerating God’s blessings in my life keeps me focused on His goodness. That focus feels my heart with thanksgiving. A thankful heart brings peace.

Recent months have been a bit frayed if not totally unraveled. The above path was what brought me peace. This week I have begun to see that even past events that seemed too ugly to be a blessing are indeed just that. I just need to have my heart open wide in gratitude to allow God to bring the “beauty” in. Therein lies the “peace that passes understanding.” (Philippians 4: 7)

Life Interrupted

8/3/11 Isn't that what life is----just one interruption after another. At least of OUR plans and expectations. Thus, when Wynellen gave me this Priscilla Shirer's book Sunday night, it had me at the title. Life Interrupted--Navigating the Unexpected. You see, lately I seem to live in the realm of the unexpected. Just now internet went out and I lost draft of most of this blog. FRUSTRATION!! (Obviously I need this book!)
Just a peek inside to whet your appetite-----I'll blog more when I finish reading it. (if internet connection cooperates)

Page one hooked me as well. ...."would've recognized God's unseen hand in all of it....would've met the frustration or disappointment.....knowing He was behind it all, that this interruption was merely His way of laying a foundation for better things."

...I know I don't want to let one more interruption send me off frantically dodging God's will and missing out on what He's wanting to accomplish in me and through me. I want my life to radiate what happens when God has a person's heart at His full control, when every event or circumstance is simply another way to know Him better and show forth His glory. (Shirer p.13)

Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.(Isaiah 64:4)

What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived, the things God has prepared for those who love him (I Corinthians 2:9)

I (you) can't begin to fathom God's goodness as He allows interruptions in life (both mine & yours) but we can be joyfully expectant in our waiting.

Pithy Prayer Points to Ponder

8/2/11 Points have to be pithy because computer, along with our phone, has been off "all most" all day. If the "bundle" does get reactivated, it's brief. Ongoing problem. Isolates me when I think I really need to be connected. I did spend part of my disconnected day reading the last few chapters of Paul Miller's, A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracted World.

Hm-m-m-m there's a point to ponder. Is my computer and the internet too often a distraction?

• There is nothing secret about communion with God---IF we live broken of our pride and self will and cry out for grace there will be communion with Him. (p. 147)
  
• It's okay to have a busy life. It's crazy to have a busy soul. (p. 251)
  
• Self-fulfillment apart from God can become an obsession of self as we become touch and supersensitive to self, but insensitive to others. (p. 252)
  
• I don't have control over my heart and life or the hearts and lives of those around me. But God......does! (emphasis mine) (p.257)
  
• Remember Life is both holding hands and scrubbing floors. It is both being and doing. Prayer journals are on the "scrubbing floors" side of life. Praying like a child is on the "holding hands" side of life. We need both. (p. 224)

I have been praying that I would be connected long enough to finish this entry. Pithy punch---in prayer, set the Lord always before you. (Psalm 16:8)----not the computer.

PAINTING BY THE SEA.....

8/1/11.........HIS sea! What a backdrop for the grandboys "painting by the sea night" which YaYa has for them every year.

The sea is His, for it was He who made it, And His hands formed the dry land. (Psalm 95:5)

What a variety of unique creatures God gave for our enjoyment during our week at "big water." The boys painted them all. It was good, indeed!

So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:1)

BEACH WALK (aka---Q T on the move)

7/30/11 Notes to follow when I have "easy" access.