ROOM WITH A VIEW

8/14/11 EVENING POST----picture taken from our window, per Texans' request, as out trip has become a geography lesson of of sorts for them.
Location: Port Clinton, OH overlooking Lake Erie, USA side----will post Canadian side on Tuesday or Wednesday from Kingsville, Ontario and Pelee Island. See if you can find those locations as well. Use an atlas----not the internet.

Sermon Summary

8/14/11 “when life hurts most……” What a sermon topic for needy folks. What do you do when life throws you a curve? Where do you turn when bombarded with BIG troubles? How do you navigate life’s journey when the bumps in the road are minor compared to the pothole that has just pulled you under. Death of a child. Infidelity. Cancer diagnosis. Chronic illness.
Pastor Bob Cherry of Northeast Christian Church addressed these issues because he and his wife had just been delivered one of those “bombs.” Breast cancer. Surgery needed. Surgery completed. Prognosis unclear until week after surgery.
Throughout the last month he and his wife spent their annual time together and apart in FL seeking the Lord. This year there was a new development that threatened to cloud this normally time set aside for family and church goals. Only a few faithful prayer warriors knew the angst/fear/concern that they carried with them to the shore.
Where does a pastor turn when the BIG trouble comes? After tears, prayers, praise music, searching scripture and a CD from a fellow pastor’s sermon, he was clearly reminded to turn to the cross.
In John 16:33 Jesus’ words spoke clearly of the truth that in this world one WILL have tribulation. Trouble comes to all. But that’s not the end of the story.
These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
Those things Jesus had already taught in previous John chapters would lead to peace through Him. Abiding/remaining in Him. (John 15: 5) His love. (John 15: 9-13) Truth of eternity (John 14:1-4) Way to eternity. (John 14:6)
In times of BIG trouble, one needs the reminder of how much God loves us and how he can use the worst for eternal good as He gives peace along the way to those who reamin in Him.

Saturday sadness

8/13/11 Headin' north for more "birding" and a quick visit with familyand high school chum, Winslow. Yet, some disturbing news from a friend's diagnosis has my heart in Memphis. I've never even heard of the particular carcinoma that has been found---and I so understand her fears/concerns. But God.......already has her looking to Him and is covering her with His grace. How blessed to have the hand of such a God of comfort and hope.

Unable to sleep, I stood at the porch window looking out across the pasture as the sun rose. Four beautiful horses came to the fence and I began thanking the Lord for all He has created. I thanked Him for the life of this one who is "fearfully and wonderfully made." What an impact her love for the Lord and her life have had on me and others. Her teaching and her caring for her hubby, a blind paraplegic, are such testimonies to her love and trust in the One who anchors her soul.

Then I saw the quote, "Do not be afraid of tomorrow, God is already there."

What a great reminder. My Saturday sadness turned to hope and more prayer.

Disapointment, in a nutshell

8/11/11 Proverbs 13:12 speaks to unfulfilled expectations. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick,” rang true yesterday until I chose to see “change” as from God’s hand and asked Him to continue to direct our steps.
Nutshell synopsis:

• Difficulty enjoying the scenery-- Atlas needed to navigate as Mapquest didn’t have a clue, road signage was all but non-existent yet made the pursuit kind of fun.

• Nippersink Lodge on Lookout Mountain (long on my bucket list of places to visit) somewhat resembled a quaint but eerie lodge from a bygone era----think, “The Shining”---only a swinging saloon style door to “rustic” bedroom and NO AC

• 

• No lodging available in either of the only 2 options in quaint/artsy/adorable Mentone, AL & not a single picture
  

• Having to scratch next day’s brunch at the Wildflower Café

• No birds on the short birdwalk at DeSoto State Park in Fort Payne
  

• Dusk coming with no “safe” place to stay

The end result was acceptance----“flying by the seat of our pants “as hubby continued to drive “Miss Dotsy” toward Gadsden, AL, where Josh, from a CE classroom in New York secured us a hotel with a great, think “very reasonable price” hotel right on the road to our next day’s original destination. We became joyfully expectant to see where disappointment would lead.

8/10 Remembrances

8/10/11 No room. No birds. No energy to post blog. But God…… gave reminders of the good memories of the day, all part of a great trip, thus far. Today alone we had breakfast in North Carolina, lunch in Georgia and dinner in Alabama.

• 59° temps.
  
• Uncle Larry using his dictionary (like I do, according to hubby) to “hoist his own petard” as we all laugh and create verb forms for that noun.
  
• Saying good-by to Larry and Marge with lots of hugs and pledges to “do this again.”
  
• Sam & JoLynn considerately stopping for one more “Kodak moment” as we bid farewell to our Blue Ridge Mountain vista.
• Hugging Don’s neck, JoLynn’s nephew, & rejoicing in his “no cancer” report at his new restaurant in Blue Ridge GA, SISTERS. Then the plans began to go somewhat awry.

Grateful for remembrance of God’s word.

The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

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)