Vacation.

We're leaving Sunday for Florida. Each winter we spend two weeks at the end of the winter and two weeks mid fall in Florida. I don't want to live there. Actually twenty years ago I did live there for all of two years. But my family and friends are here and leaving them is unthinkable. My friend Deb got us hooked up to a time share thing and we're spending three nights in a resort. Now, call me hick but I have never in all my 50 years been to a resort. Neither has DH. So we're like two little kids eagerly anticipating the unknown.

After three nights there, we're going to visit my dad then hop on down to visit Dave's sister and her family. They are remarkable. They open their home to all us snowbirds and make us feel so welcome. Out of the whole trip I look forward to laughing and spending time with them the most. And when it's time to go home, I will miss their family the most.

Dave and I talked the other night about our favorite Florida moment. We agreed it's when we step out of the airport in Tampa and the air is warm and humid and did I say WARM? It's all about contrasts, I guess.

Dave is the easiest person I've ever vacationed with. He is so laid back and enjoys all things new, always ready to travel someplace different or try new foods.
This year I want to take him to Lithia Springs, a place I used to take my kids swimming. It's so cool cause you can see where fresh water and salt water meet. I mean there is a specific line where the streams separate. That always amazed me. Last year we went to see the Manatees at the power plant in Apollo Beach. They are so interesting. Dave doesn't seem to mind my off-the-beaten-track excursions. (WHO goes to a power plant on vacation?)

I'll take lots of pics and post some here over the next few weeks. I already know we'll have a great time because we're going together. I can't wait to visit the HSN warehouse and go nuts over their gaudy jewelry....and he'll go with me and only sigh a few times. (my patient, dear hubby...) I'm so thankful for this time to be together and make memories with my DH. He'll get a much needed break from carrying the mail every day and I'll get time alone with him. It's a win-win....

Oh, and we're taking our laptops so I'll probably post sometime from Florida. I know, it's only Florida, but vacation is still wonderful, even if we were only going to Ohio. (I live less than thirty miles from the PA-Ohio border) Time to relax and enjoy the days and forget the cares of home for awhile......Have a good week and the next time I write it should be from Florida...and hopefully about 40 degrees warmer...

Embroidery and such...

Three weeks ago I got my new embroidery machine. Oh my. It does everything but tie my shoes. Now if I can just figure out how to get it to do it's thing. I made monogrammed towels for mom and for a wedding shower present. I sewed dresses for my neices. (or is it nieces, I can never remember) I'm in heaven. Seriously, I have thanked God for a hubby who understands my creative bend and need to do these things. I crochet all winter and I think I'll be using my embroidery machine in warmer weather.



All of this brings me to the real message I want to share here. Did you ever stop to thank God for the not-so-obvious gifts? Lately I have been thanking Him more and more for my wonderful husband. For my precious family. For the few, amazing, priceless friends I have. Seems like no matter what storms occur in my life, this attitude of graditude remains. No rains can wash it away. No ice and snow can shake it. God is right here. Amazing. He loves me. Really amazing. I don't have to worry about those little mosquitoes that keep swarming around. He's my protector. Thankfulness. It's impossible to live this life without thanking Him for it's many blessings...well impossible for me.



So stop and say thanks. Here's my partial list.

Little things like the wonderful aroma of coffee in the morning.

The lilt of a song on the radio in the car that lifts my heart.

My favorite sneakers, comfy and snug, they make me feel secure when I take a walk.

The softness of my dog's fur.

The strength of my husband's broad shoulders.

Giggles from Nathan. (grandchild)

Lots and lots of phone calls from Mindie (daughter) and my mom.

Love from Deb...and feeling it each day in so many ways.

Books that make me think...my study Bible is my all time favorite.

New revelations as I study the Bible. I'm in awe that God is speaking to me!!

Full cupboards and fridge.

Checkbook with a balance, sometimes small but still in the black.

Air. Today smelled so good...like spring is coming.

Warm welcoming home. How Good is God that He provides this for me? Awesome and amazing.

There is so much more. But all I know (in my little world) is that I could choose so many negative things to dwell upon...so many people who could steal my joy. But instead, I choose this day to be happy...and to lean on the One who takes such good care of me...



Have a wonderful day, friends, and rejoice in the blessings of the day....they are many!!

loving my GPS

Probably most of you have one already. DH and I tend to run a bit late getting things, knowing we'll get there (the land of modern technologies) eventually. A few days ago we got a Tom Tom. Today I had the unbelievable pleasure of putting it to use. Oh my. It even beeps when I go over the speed limit. Not that I would ever do that... It not only got me safely to my destination, but by simply pressing "home" it got me back home. No wrong turns. No unwanted sight seeing. I am the queen of getting lost no more. So, today I am thankful for technology and the ease of using it. No more hurried prayers "do I turn here or there?" just a leisurely trip listening to "turn right in 500 feet." Sigh. I'm ready for a road trip.

cold weather treats

Today was a be nice to me day. I began by getting a massage. If you've never had one, oh, by all means try it. Nice warm lotion...just my back. I've been getting acupuncture and various alternative treatments instead of using traditional medicines to help this back pain. The jury is still out, but the massage is right up there with the best of them and seems to be helping a lot. Then I got my nails done. mmmm. Then a nice trim for my wild hair. Then tanned for ten minutes. Just long enough to warm up and put a splash of color on my cheeks.

So, how about it? Am I the only one feeling like I need to do something like this to pull myself through this never ending winter? Did it work? I think so. Sure feels nice to take good care of me today. Now does that make me egotistical? No, I believe God intends us to take good care of those we love. But that also includes ourselves. I sort of forgot me for the past few months. Time to cook some supper and nurture DH and my son. Have a blessed day. Spring is coming!

What a day!

Today I am rejoicing. For the past two years I have been in and out of the hospital with my back. Numerous doctor visits, anxiety over finances, it's all been a daily part of my life. Yesterday my attorney emailed me with the news Worker's Comp has agreed to pay my medical bills related to my back...for the rest of my life. And to pay a monetary settlement for lost wages. I was in tears. Incredulous. Then last night when Mr. Insomnia was in full bloom, I read the Psalms. Ones of praise. Ones of faith. And the tears then were ones of joy for a Father who loves and cares for me in ways I could never imagine. I may never know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future. And He is my friend. And I am His. Today I am in awe of His kindness to me. Blessings to all....

Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea

It's almost 12:30am and I'm wide awake. So, I just fixed a cup of tea. On the side of the box I read the most interesting quote by Henry David Thoreau. I thought I would share it with you.

Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.

To everything there is a season. This is the season of insomnia (among other things) for me I guess. Sigh.

confessions of a modern day woman, I'm not superwoman.

I suffer depression. It's not a big secret, but I NEVER say it to myself. Somehow I would rather have three noses than be a commercial for menopausal, whiney, drab, depressed women.

It's not a hard thing to figure. Women are under tremendous pressure to never age, to make more money, to have perfect children,to have perfectly decorated forever clean houses, to cook like Rachel Ray. And on and on and on. Then there is me. I'm real. About as real as anyone gets.

Over the weekend I fixed my new clock up with family pics. It's one of those that has a slot for each hour to put in a picture of someone. Of course it's a grandchildren clock now. But the darned thing wouldn't start after I put in a new battery. My son and my husband both walked in the room and said at the same time, "she put the battery in upside down." Did I? Yup. I sure did. I'm so perfectly imperfect and so hysterically funny in my ding-iness, even I laugh at me. Laughter which of course causes major eye corner wrinkles. Oh well...

Back to the depression thing. There are days it's a struggle to get dressed. Going outside requires a lot of willpower. I see someone. He's a great doctor and I have every belief that someday I'll be ok again. All I really need is a little psychotherapy and some estrogen and some chocolate.

So now that Deb has opened doors for self evaluation, I wanted to be real. Sometimes I think I'm alone, but then I realize I'm not. The world is full of women like me who battle inner demons. It's so overwhelming to realize Our Lord is bigger than all of them. So, for today, I'll suit up, grab my cape and carry on. How about you???

so long, good bye...

Today at church we did the neatest thing. Everyone wrote down things they want to give over to God on a slip of paper. Things like selfishness, anger, unforgiveness, etc. The pastor then nailed it to a plain wooden cross. We prayed and sang and when we went home, we left it there. The paper with our burden clearly spelled out...the one we want to give to the Father who loves us and longs for us to trust Him with our every care. I am so blesssed with this type of visual thing. In my mind I will see the Pastor nailing that paper to the cross and me leaving it there for God to deal with and find strength in knowing I cannot keep going back to the same old problems over and over again. I also loved when the pastor said we can't use the old Flip Wilson excuse, "The devil made me do it." any more. Plain and simple. Not new, but it's those plain and simple words I need to hear to encourage me. I guess when you boil it all down, I need to hear simple encouragement and words of faith repeatedly.

He commented about the often stated, "we are living in the worst of times." But, because we live in a land where we are free, we can openly worship Our Lord. We can openly support each other in our Christian walks. He said we are living in the BEST of times. What a great way to look at life. Starting today I will work harder to cultivate an attitude of gratitude and thankfulness. I usually am fairly thankful and positive, but not enough. I think it's just the plain meat and potato(e) sermon I needed to hear. I am uplifted...and smiling.

God is good.

Wowza!

1 Samuel 17:45-47 (English Standard Version)
45Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand."

Oh my!! I read about David and Goliath New Year's Eve Day. Of course I have always known the story, but the above verses jumped out at me. I reread them about three or four times and laughed out loud. Excited..like wow! In today-speak, I translated it to..."World, you come at me with your lures and anti-Christian trash talk. You defile the Living God. He is going to deliver you into my hand and through Him, I will strike you down and cut off your head. (those of you who know me well are probably laughing by now at the visual of meek mannered, peace making me and heads rolling...eek!) When I stand firm in the Name of The Lord of Hosts, Goliath might as well take to the hills."

It is impressed upon me what an honorable God we serve. What a warning to those who defile (to make foul, dirty, or unclean; pollute; taint; debase, to violate the chastity of, to make impure for ceremonial use; desecrate, to sully, as a person's reputation.) Our God, He will wreak the worst vengeance. The little skirmishes in life may go to the evil one, but the Battle is His...and so I am reminded once again..Hallelujah!!

So, I'll keep studying this and keep claiming it as my very own message from God to begin 2009. I just had to share it with you. God is so wonderful and awesome. All we have to do is be obedient and KNOW WHO WE are in HIM! Something to get excited about...Happy New Year and may God bless you and your families richly as you continue in your walk with Him. Talk about a New Year's Blessing....