Feeling the Fog

Fog is an amazing thing. It captures my attention and quiets my mind and soul.

Yesterday, on Facebook, I posted a picture like this and asked my friends how fog affects them. Some said it quieted them and a couple commented on driving in it and how difficult it is. As I thought about that it made me think about my Christian walk…

Often when the outside world is fuzzed out and not in sharp focus my heart and mind are quieter, more at peace than when everything in my world is easily seen. That fog tends to insulate me from all the goings-on around me. I know it’s still all there and happening but it’s not right in my face. I like that. It’s soothing.

Then there are the times I feel like I’m living in a fog bank and can’t see anything at all. Sound and light are muted and I feel isolated from everyone and everything, even though I know they’re very close by. Like a foggy day, I find I reflect more and think about deeper life things that I’m often too busy to bother with.

While I like the reflection and peace the fog often brings, I tend to get disoriented and lost easily when I’m feeling like I’m living in a fog bank. And when I try to move forward it’s hard. I want to go my usual speed and hurry along but have to slow down. Sometimes the fog feels so thick I have to feel my way along. That makes me hold on to my Father’s hand tighter, relying on His vision and guidance. And that’s a good thing! It’s uncomfortable, often scary, and can make me chomp at the bit because I like to move fast and get there—but holding onto God and needing HIS guidance is good!

Maybe that’s one reason why He sends the fog our way sometimes.

So tell me, what comforts you when the fog descends on your life?

Not my Facebook friend? I'd love to be friends there!

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I've Missed You

Have you returned somewhere after being gone a real long time? You know that feeling of hesitancy? Nervousness? Even a touch of fear mixed in with the anticipation… Will they remember me? Will they still like me? Have our lives moved on so much that I won’t fit in or that we won’t connect like we used to?

That’s how I’m feeling.
I’ve been gone a long time. I never dreamed I would be gone…silent…for so long. During that time a lot of water has gone under the bridge (yes, a cliché. Forgive me?). We’ve both changed, grown. But friendships can survive time and distance. I hope ours can too.

I’ve missed you.

I’ve come to visit with you often, but like Zacharias, nothing came out when I opened my mouth, set my fingers to keyboard. There was so much I wanted to say. So much to tell you, but it was all too fresh. Too raw in my heart and mind. I didn’t know where to start. I didn’t know how to start. So I’d leave the keyboard, the blank page disappearing into the fog I was walking through. But I never forgot you. I often thought of you, prayed for you, my friends.

But now it’s time.
The burning in me is greater than the hesitancy, the nervousness, and the fear. I’ve remembered why I came here... Why I write.

Obedience.
And obedience leads to joy.
I can feel it returning even now. Joy welling up, clogging my throat and filling my eyes…

And now that I’ve started, the words are coming fast. Crowding, anxious to catch up with you.

I know I’ve changed over the time. My thoughts, my actions, my voice. Age and experience do that to us. But inside I’m still me. And I bet you’re still you, changed but still you.

Cookie, one of our newest additions to the family.

Remember the old nursery rhyme… Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been? Like the cat, I feel like I’ve been to London to visit the queen…only I’ve seen so much more than the queen. LoL. Family, fairs, fun. Mom-stuff, monkey-stuff, mail-stuff. More change than I ever, EVER would’ve guessed. But through it all: God’s presence and faithfulness. Always. In all circumstances and all situations.

And now? Now I manage a shipping warehouse. I have a wonderful, God-given job that I love. My boys go to the warehouse with me everyday and are able to finish their homeschooling even though I work full-time. The family is constantly in-and-out of the warehouse, visiting, working, eating lunch, hanging out. It’s wonderful. It’s like having my cake and eating it too. Something I’ve always enjoyed. ::grin::

So tell me, what have you been up to? What’s new in your world?
I’ve missed you.

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Beauty Instead of the Beast

Welcome to A to Z!

We'd love to have you join the fun, either blogging your way through the alphabet with us, or simply visiting. =) We dearly love visitors.

This week is the letter B.

If you're joining in the meme, be sure to link up with us at the end of this post. Since this is a blog hop, you can grab the code for the linky down there too. Find more info about the A to Z meme here.

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It's been raining here at my house for days and days. Even when I wasn't home it was raining. We've had everything from storms to drizzle. Constant drizzle to tornado warnings. 

Yesterday my daughter came out of her room and growled when she looked out the kitchen window. "See, this is why I hate winter! It's so dark and gray. It's awful." I know what she's talking about. Often the winter--the dark days become like a Beast in our lives, making it hard to see anything else. Thankfully, later that day God reminded me of something I need reminding of often...

My youngest son stepped outside for something and came running back in to tell me to come see.

Beauty had flooded the sky.

Often we're so focused on the Beast that we miss seeing the Beauty.

After snapping a few pictures (okay, lots of pictures), I turned around to go back to the house. This is what I saw...

More beauty, even if this picture doesn't show it well.

A double rainbow.

What a reminder that there's beauty all around us. Even on dark days full of storms and the constant dripping of drizzle.

Sometimes we just need to step to where we can see and then look around.

Beauty is there, if we'll just look.

So tell me, what's something beautiful you've seen lately?

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If you're joining us for the A to Z meme by posting on your blog this week about the letter B, be sure to add your name and the link to that particular post in the linky gadget here. Also, if you don't have the linky gadget on your site, click the link to get the code so you can add it.

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Learning. It's Worth the Investment

Oh.
my.
goodness.
I should’ve done this six months ago—not that I had time, but hey, better late than never.

I planned on setting September or October aside to learn how to use my very annoying computer (six months ago I was moved onto a mac—not my choice—and I’ve been going crazy ever since), and other things because I’m so sick of banging my head on the wall. I figured four weeks invested in learning all I could would eventually be saved in time wasted hunting and pecking and all the accompanying frustration. Since I found the classes I wanted faster than anticipated, AND I had a window of days open unexpectedly (God is so good!!), I started early, never dreaming how fast my frustration would end.

Last week I broke the piggy bank I’ve had in hiding and bought Joseph Michael's video course on learning Scrivener. It was worth it. I am in awe of all this program can do. But the part that currently has my mouth hanging open is the project statistics and settings. It not only keeps track of your word count, but you can set targets, specific DAILY targets, and it will track it for you. It even gives you a bar graph to show where you are in reaching your goal. No more mental math for me! A quick glance will tell me if I’m even close (cuz the bar graph is color coded: red to yellow to green).

No more clip boards and stray pieces of paper for me! I now understand why people rave about this program and say they’ll never go back. I'll tell you more about this tool as I dig into it more and gain more experience on it.

I’m taking other classes and I’m finally learning how to use my Mac, too. No more making applesauce with it! WOOT!

If you’re frustrated by things you don’t know, it’s more than worth taking the time to LEARN them. It’s worth the investment of the time and money. The return on your investment is often surprising. I know mine sure is!

So tell me, what's something that has you frustrated because you don't know how to do it?

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From Where I Am

You know how it is—you’ve been gone so long that your first time back is awkward. You don’t know what to say, how to explain your absence, or even IF you should explain why you disappeared.

Sometimes things just can’t be explained.
Sometimes the explanation is still too raw. Too personal. Too close.

We’ve all been there at some point. And if you haven’t, you will. Trust me. You will.

This is where I am.
Trying to figure out if it’s time to come back.
Trying to figure out how to break the silence I’ve been in. Processing the pieces in my hand even while enjoying and treasuring those very pieces. It’s an odd and unexpected combination.

I’ve been living by that old maxim “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Only I tweaked it, as I’m prone to do, to “If you don’t have anything upbeat to say, don’t say anything at all.” Being a downer isn’t my style.

Neither was it King David’s. And I need to remember that. David was not a downer. He shouted and danced in praise and worship. He led his people in devotion and worship. But he certainly didn’t feel like it at times. There was nothing easy about his life that would make him an upbeat person. Life threw him many curve balls and it never went as he probably thought it should have, how he planned for it to go. I'm sure things happened to him that left him gasping for air to breathe. He cried and we still see his tears today. He stormed about and we still hear his indignant stomping today.

But he always came back to praise.

O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; 

My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, 

In a dry and weary land where there is no water. 

Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, 

To see Your power and Your glory. 

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You. 

So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. 

My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, 

And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips. 

When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, 

For You have been my help, 

And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy. 

My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me. 

Psalm 63:1-8 NASB

A reminder for us as we hold the broken pieces pieces to make the mosaic of life.

It's time to let the praises ring. 

In spite of the tears.

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It's Not Just Saving

"You can have it if you'll use it."

That's a phrase I find myself saying sometimes--probably because it's been said to me several times. It's a phrase that is relevant to my life.

What's the good in having something if you don't use it?

Exactly. It's not much good at all.

When I was a kid in Ecuador, American candy was an extreme treat. Any time I had some, I kept it in a cute tin my older sister gave me (which I still have--does that tell you anything about me?). I loved it when the tin was full. I would open it, poke through the candy then close it and hide it away again. Rarely did I eat any of the yummies.

I didn't just keep the candy, I hoarded it.

After a long time I decided to eat  the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup that was hidden in there, along with a candy cane and several other tasty tidbits.

The peanut butter cup was awful. It was dry and had a funny taste to it. Hoarding it had ruined it. If I had just nibbled away at it--a little bite here and a little bite there, I would've been able to enjoy it, and enjoy it for a long time. But I didn't and it was ruined.

That's a lesson I've had to relearn many times in my life--including just recently.

Over the years I've come to love snapping pictures, and I've taken lots of them. But all too often they sit on my computer or phone, doing nothing but taking up space. In the past couple of months I've gotten involved on Instagram and I have to admit to loving it. It's a place to do something with some of my pictures. A place to share them for no other reason than that they make me smile or I found them interesting.

But Instagram is all about the insta. I still have all the pictures I take with my camera which, in my experience, are not insta. I can't click and post while exploring the creek or standing in line at the grocery store--both of which I tend to do.

So, I've decided to apply what I've learned.

No more hoarding pictures. That means if I have a picture I want to share just because it makes me smile, then I'm gonna post it. Here. On my blog. Even if it's not a real good picture. Even if I have no words to go with it because after all, a picture is worth a thousand words.

So tell me, are you hoarding something in your life?

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Choosing 2014

I have to admit, it doesn’t bother me at all that 2013 has finally come to an end. It’s actually a bit of a relief. In my forty-some years (I don't mind you knowing how old I am, but I don’t feel like doing the math to figure it out!), 2013 has been my hardest year in almost every area of my life.

Yes, I’m glad 2013 is done and gone.
But I’ve not been ready for 2014 either. I mean, I’m a little older and a little wiser now and look at all the potential for hard work and heartbreak it holds! This is the first time I’m not excited about the new year. And I don’t like it. Not one little bit. Normally, I’m excited and dying to get going, but not this year.

I spent the better part of two or three days trying to figure out why. It’s just not like me. Thankfully, I discovered what’s going on.

Worry.
And I’m not usually a worrier. At least not when it comes to this stuff. I love looking forward. I love dreaming. I love planning. I love seeing the potential.

But this time I was focused on the wrong stuff. I was tuned in to all that could go wrong.

I know better.

Focusing on the wrong thing will land you (ME!) in the wrong place. And it did.

I’m in the wrong place. Proof that my focus has been all wrong.

Usually by now I’ve looked back at the previous year, sorted and sifted through things, and have looked forward and set some goals for the upcoming year. I haven’t this year and it’s time to get my butt in gear.

It’s time to make a choice. Stay in this mud hole I’ve gotten comfy in, or drag myself out of it and move forward.

I choose to move forward.
I choose to turn my focus away from the stinking black hole I’ve been staring at.
I choose to focus on God.
I choose to obey and take the steps God has for me.
I choose to leave the outcome to God—regardless of how difficult that outcome may be.

This year will be another year of change for us. Last year brought huge, unexpected changes. Some of the changes are cool and are a natural extension of things already going on. Other changes, though, I still wrestle with at times. But throughout the changes to come, I’m resolved to choose to keep my focus on God, trusting Him to work all things together for good.

This I know, God is faithful. He will keep His promises. He will never, ever leave me.

The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. Lamentaions 3:22-25

God’s compassion is new every morning, and every year.
Let’s choose to move forward in 2014, trusting the outcome to God, knowing He is faithful.

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The Trouble with Band-aids

My husband is a contractor and over the years, when it comes to home repair, he’s come across different kinds of owners.

• Do it right—these people want the problem fixed so they aren’t dealing with it again next year. They understand that sometimes it’s better to spend a more up-front than pay for it twice.
• Only what’s necessary—cash flow prevents most people from doing everything at once. Sometimes it demands that only what’s necessary be done now and the other things will go on the list for future projects. They break it down into manageable chunks and deal with it as they can or as they must.
• Bargain hunters—they search out great bargains on things that they think they can make work and end up spending more making their bargain work than they would have if they had simply bought the correct thing to begin with. Sometimes spending a little more saves you a whole lot!
• Band-aid appliers—they want the cracks caulked and the walls painted so the room looks good but ignore the foundation trouble that’s causing the cracks. The problem is that eventually they’ll have a house that may look good from a recliner’s point of view but is crumbling around them.

I’m sure mechanics and many other service providers see it too. Not only that, but I bet if we look at people around us they might fit into these categories too.

What's the trouble with band-aiding problems? (tweet this)

This is something I've been chewing on for awhile as I've watched Jim work with homeowners that are Bargain hunters and Band-aid appliers...

The big question for me here is, which category do I fit into?

Is it the one I want to be in? If it isn’t, what do I need to do to get into a new spot?

Sure, there are times when the best thing to do is apply band-aid. And bargains are fantastic—if it’s truly what you need or you know will work. Doing what’s necessary is a fact of life. It’s not often that we get to everything we want, as we want to. Usually we have to break things into bite-size pieces and that’s fine. The trouble comes when applying band-aids is such a habit that even when doing something right is an option we don’t do it.

And there’s the crux of this issue.

What’s your habit?

If the first thing you always reach for is a band-aid you might want to grab a flashlight, go below, and check things out. Chances are there are bigger problems about to spring on you.

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Listen to the Tears

Recently I was rejected.

No, that’s not true.

I wasn’t rejected at all, not in any way. One of my manuscripts was.

But that wasn’t the problem. In all honesty, at this point in my journey, I expect the rejections--they’re part of the process and I’m okay with that. The problem was what it led me to.

Rejection isn’t the problem. What we do with it is. (Tweet this.)

As I processed the rejection, I asked the Lord if I needed to set aside my writing and focus on the many other things in my life, or if I needed to simply stop writing altogether, if it was just a pipe dream or hobby that pulled me out of the rut I was in at one point.

The thought of not writing, of closing my computer and laying aside my pen made me cry. Not just cry, but it brought on the sobs and I am not a sob-er. Thankfully, it made me stop and take notice.

The rejection tears made me realize how important writing is to me, that it’s something I really, really want to do. It’s one of those things that I’ll keep doing in spite of rejections. Writing is therapy and sanity. It clears my head and helps me think and process. I hold my pen carefully—not clutching it so it can’t be taken from my fingers, but firmly enough to write with, and until God takes my pen or impresses on me the need to stop, writing is one of those things I’ll keep doing.

Listening to the tears saved me hours and possibly days of needless soul searching, trying to figure out what I should do. They showed me one of the things that is truly important in my life.

Think about the things that have brought on tears that feel like they’re being torn from your heart. What caused them? What can you learn from them and how can they change or simplify your life?

Listen to your tears—they can clarify the important things in your life. (Tweet this.)

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When I Grow Up…

My older daughter, years ago.

Have you ever noticed how hard it is deciding what you want to be when you grow up? Please, if you’re one who’s always known, don’t feel you have to tell me. At forty-mumble-something years old, I still think about what I want to be when I grow up. Oh, I know some things I’d like to do, but then I begin the second-guessing and then the doubt sets in. Next thing I know, a year has passed and I’m being slapped upside the head with a question that clears the glaze for a moment.

Sunday was one of those times. In Sunday School our teacher threw out a question and it’s been rattling around inside my head ever since.

The question?

If you had no restrictions (money, time, health, family issues, etc.), what would you like to accomplish for God?

Some of the ladies knew their answer without having to think about it. One lady would love to match resources with needs for a mission board or church ministries. Another wanted to be able to pray for and with people, and yet another wanted to rescue babies.

Same girl but not too long ago. ;-)

I wanted to slide under the table. There was no way I could admit to wanting to become a hermit who split her time between her comfy-cozy cave on a deserted island and the hammock in the palm tree—on the deserted island.

Too often I feel like I don’t even know what I want to be when I grow up, and knowing what I want to accomplish for God is tons bigger and far more important than that. What’s a girl to do? Hide in the willows and wail?

Okay, so that’s what I want to do, but it’s not the right answer.

So tell me... 

How do you figure out what you want to accomplish for God? 
What would YOU like to accomplish for God?

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Life in Limbo

Me and Toby.

That would be where I'm currently at. Limbo. My least favorite place to be. This time around is different though. I'm okay with not knowing what's coming next in my life--it's become normal for me. I'm okay with being between things--one thing has ended and the next hasn't yet begun. It's a stage--temporary, like the doldrums.

But this is different...

After a life of being in church, I've missed attending for the better part of six months. The first months I was in Arizona, twice, then I was sick for the whole month of January, and then we worked the monkeys every weekend in Cincinnati (five hours from where we live in southern Illinois) and church wasn't an option. I'm so thankful that God gave us the Bible--His Word to us that we are free to read any time we want. I'm also thankful for my commentaries, especially good ol' Warren Wiersbe. His commentary filled the gap left by missing all those sermons at church.

But missing church stinks. I missed the preaching, the corporate worship, my friends. I feel totally unplugged.

In Sunday School, our fabulous ladies' class teacher talked about all the jobs there are in the church and how God has equipped each believer with a spiritual gift so that together we can do what needs to be done. We talked about those jobs and the spiritual gifts that would be useful in those positions. Later, before the evening service, I was caught by one of the men on the nominating committee (it's that time of year in our church) and he verified that I needed to be taken out of my spot. It hurt.

Why did I need out? Because there's a good chance that being in church every Sunday like we once were isn't going to be the norm.

Playing with Toby.

After being so plugged in and involved, becoming a spectator... almost a visitor ...is hard.

Our Sunday School teacher left us with this challenge for the week:

How am I using the spiritual gifts God gave me?

To be honest, I wanted to cry. I don't feel like I'm using my gifts at all. I've not been in church, I've not been part of a ladies' Bible study, and I've not been writing or blogging--all ways that I contributed to God's family in the past. All things that I miss greatly. So I've been doing some heavy duty thinking about this. During this season of not being plugged in at my local church, what can I do use the spiritual gifts God has given me to use for Him?

So tell me, how are you using the spiritual gifts God has given you?

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Open and Willing

Confession: The word focus can give me the heebie-jeebies.
No, not the focus on a camera, although I’ve been known to have trouble with that too. I’m talking about the word focus when it comes to blogs.

I’m kinda auditing Edie Melson’s course on blogging. I love Edie’s teaching and always learn something from her. She really knows those fine points, those little details that I love discovering, so that’s why I’m buzzing through her lessons and some of the responses. I want to learn. I want to stay somewhat on top of what I love and do.

But of course there’s that focus word…

How things look with the wrong focus!

I knew I’d see it. I expected it and was braced for it.
But I still wasn’t prepared for it.

After reading through several lessons, I had to leave the computer. I needed space and time to think.

What’s my focus here?
That led to… What’s the focus of my life? That one was easier. Obedience. I want my life to bring glory to God.

Does that tie in to my blog?
Yes.

I thought about the things Edie told us to—LoL, the very same things I’ve taught on here…
I thought about posts and comments and what others have told me in relation to my blog because I care about my readers and their thoughts and what they like and don’t.

And I kept coming back to how my personal focus affects and ties into my blog focus.
Is it a platform? After all, platform is often a key reason for blogging. No. In many ways, I don’t really care about a platform. I mean, if God wants me to stand in a corner and whisper to myself, I’ll do that.

Then I stop and think about THAT.

I’ve pulled away from my online commitments—the blogs I contributed to, and dearly love. This year could be a year of silence for me. I thought about Amy Carmichael, who spent time in silence, not that she chose to but because God chose it for her. I could be lining up for a modern version of that. Could I…would I…accept that?

Another thing some friends have been chatting about is letting go.

Am I willing to let go of my voice here on my blog?

I recently unclenched my hands—letting go of those online commitments. Sometimes it feels like my hands are empty even though they’re still so very busy.

Now it’s time to be open to the things God puts in my hands.

Even if that is silence.

My point is this:

Am I willing to be obedient even if it means silence?

What about you? Are you staying open and willing to what God has for you this year?

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This Season

Change is simply part of our lives. If we ever quit changing we become stagnant.

I learned a lot in 2012. The hard way. A year ago I wasn’t willing to do what I suspected I needed to do. In fact, I dug my heels in and resisted as long as I could. The results weren’t pretty. You know how it is when you have to pry something forcibly out of a child’s hand? Well, that was me. And I know better. Much better.

But God is faithful and merciful. And ever-so loving.

Last week I unfisted my hand. As my fingers extended, relief, peace and great joy came flooding back.

Why did I wait so long?

Toby's view as we travel.

This season of my life will be full of change. Not only are the kids getting older but we might be on the road more with Toby and Fonzie—working with them. After traveling this last fall, first to Puerto Rico to visit my sister, then to a fair in Missouri to learn the monkey business, then to Arizona to see and help my parents, then back again with the family, I realized that keeping up with my online responsibilities and commitments would be impossible. As it is, the computer time I had in 2012 was spent mostly in meeting online due dates and fulfilling responsibilities there. I did very little real writing, even though I had both fiction and nonfiction things I wanted to work on.

Because I had fisted my hand around those online commitments, I wasn’t able to write (not even to fulfill those commitments!) and I was frustrated and felt like I was living on a stationary wheel in a gerbil cage.

Thankfully, I did learn something last year, albeit the hard way. It’s time to let go.

The girl who loved to blog has set it all aside.

I’ve officially withdrawn from the sites I contributed to, and loved contributing to and from ALL my online commitments. Oh, I’ll still be here on my own blog—as I can…if I can. No posting schedule unless it’s a series that is completely written and scheduled ahead of time, before it starts, and no pressure on me.

My hope is that this year, as I focus on our family and jump starting the monkey business, that I’ll take the computer time I have, whether it be chunks of time between trips or slivers of time squeezed amongst the other things, that I’ll invest them in working on my fiction and nonfiction.

I still love blogging. I’ve missed it greatly while at the same time I appreciate the breaks I took in 2012. They helped me see some things I needed to accept, and the determination to take action on them.

Now that my fist is uncurled and my hand is empty and open, I’m excited to see what God puts it in.

How about you? Are you clinging to something you need to let go of? Now is a good time to unfist your hand.

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A Year for Learning

Welcome to this week's a 2 z
and the letter L. If you're joining in the meme, be sure to link up with us at the end of this post. Find more info about the a 2 z meme here.

This has been a year full of learning for me. Learning from some very unexpected places...

Our garden. I was out-voted 6 to 1 and we had a large garden that did well, despite the drought. I learned many lessons from this garden I didn't want.

One was how much I had forgotten about canning. LoL.

Canning was another lesson all its own... one that's not done yet.

Then I was able to visit my sister in Puerto Rico... Wonderful discoveries turned into lessons--object lessons, the kind I remember longer. Sea glassing was one. Blue glass has always been my favorite and each little piece I was able to find and hold onto is special.

And shell hunting was another learning time for me. What a treasure to find the beach loaded with Sea Urchins.  These things have long fascinated me, and to find them, whole, on the beach amazed me. What amazed me even more was how they came to be on the beach, and then their wholeness, in spite of it all, amazed me even more. Yes, what I learned is a post all its own...




And this fella has taught me many things. I'm constantly learning him.

After 30+ years of wearing glasses, I went a week without them (hence no glasses in the pic above) because a wave taught me yet another lesson when it crept up on me and stole my glasses. Really made me feel silly because I KNOW how waves are prone to do that, even when you're only in up to your calves. It was another lesson I learned while sea glassing.

So tell me, what are some things that you've learned from this year?

If you're joining us for the a2z meme by posting on your blog this week about the letter L, be sure to add your name and the link to that particular post in the linky gadget here.

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Fun with F

Welcome to this week's a 2 z
and the letter F.If you're joining in the meme, be sure to link up with us at the end of this post. Find more info about the a 2 z meme here.

Yes, I'm late posting. Here's why...

I was able to spend a long weekend with my sister in Puerto Rico.  We had soooooo much FUN.

We went to two beaches every day--beach combing, NOT tanning--and found lots of cool stuff.

The flowers in PR are gorgeous. I love the colors!!

Yesterday, after running through Old San Juan, I flew home and got in late, late last night...

If you're joining us for the a2z meme by posting on your blog this week about the letter F, be sure to add your name and the link to that particular post in the linky gadget here.

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A Day Together

It's not every day I get to visit with my sister, Cheryl. In fact, our visits are too few and too far between. But that means when we get together we soak it in and savor it.

Right now we're in Puerto Rico, where she's been living for a year.

It's been such a good day I wanted to share it with you...

Waking up at my normal time meant getting to enjoy early morning on the coast. What a treat to fall asleep listening to the surf.

A room with a view AND a breeze.


The simplicity of this house is wonderful. It's on the cliff and open to the beauty of the sea.




After a leisurely morning, we took off for the beach...

Cheryl took me to Crash Boat Beach--such a cool name!! --where we swam and had lunch. It was the first time I've been swimming in the ocean for 25 years--I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed it.

After lunch we hit another beach to search for sea glass. I have to admit, if I had to choose between the two (and could only do one), I'd choose searching for sea glass. Such a fun treasure hunt!

Late afternoon found us relaxing in the hammock--talking and reading. It was my first time to be in a hammock. Pretty neat! It provided some laughs as we eased in and out, hoping we wouldn't flip.

Then I grabbed my camera and went exploring...down the stairs that scale the cliff and take you to the shore below the house. I only went part way. We might tackle the jungle at the end of the stairs another day.

Since I was only wearing flip flops, and because I'm such a chicken at heart, I went down very slowly. Farther down there were big, dead leaves covering the stairs, but here, here's what I spotted....

A tiny hermit crab! He wasn't even as big as my pinkie fingernail. So cute!! There was another one half his size, but the thing was fast and I couldn't catch his picture.

By the time I went back topside, the sun was setting fast. Since I love silhouttes, I had fun playing with the light and the palm trees and feet. Silly sister fun. The best kind!

Of course, there was more kicking back, talking, and playing on the computers too. A perfect day. Together.

Want to see me and my sister? Head over to SeaLevel320 where Cheryl has a fun collage posted of our day.

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Bench Time

For the first time in over two years, I'm not teaching Bible study. I really needed the break. My husband knew it. My bff knew it. My study group probably knew it. But I was in denial. I didn't want to accept that I needed the break. When my husband asked me to take the summer off, I did, and I'm glad.

But I'm ready for the summer to be over! LoL.


Here's some things I've learned while sitting on the bench this summer...

The bench is a good place to rest and regroup. 

I played basketball in high school so I knew that from experience—but I needed to experience it again. I was worn out emotionally, spiritually, and physically from trying to keep up with all I was doing.

Room needed to be made for other work and other things I needed to focus on. My priorities were way out of balance and this summer on the bench has helped me get them closer to how they need to be. We've also had things come up that I couldn't have handled if I wasn't on the bench. God knew that and sidelined me for my own good. Not only did I not teach Bible study this summer (and part of this coming fall) but I went mostly offline. I've been absent from here on my blog, from Facebook, and even from some of the loops I'm a part of. And it's been sooooo good for me.

Whining will land you on the bench. 

More than just for resting and regrouping, I landed on the bench for discipline and instruction.

I had begun to whine about everything important. Seriously whine—not the tongue-in-cheek whining we often do as we laugh about something. My perspective was skewed and it affected my attitude and my service. More about how God brought this home to me later.

When God gives you a spiritual gift, you better use it. 

If you don't, you'll feel unfulfilled, frustrated, and even miserable at times.

Never in my life would I guess how much I've come to love teaching. I still don't like being in front of people, but I've accepted and learned to deal with the fact that it's par for the course if I'm going to teach. That's where stepping into my persona has come in handy.

Recently I've hit the point where if I don't get to teach something soon I feel like I'm going to explode—and it still cracks me up. Who'd a thunk? But still, I needed this time on the bench, and not just because life overwhelmed me.

In many ways, it's not been an easy summer. May was an emotional tsunami for me. June slammed into me with family... stuff. July brought big changes in my routine and life. Not bad, but enough to leave me standing in the middle of my kitchen staring at buckets and trying to remember how to do things I used to do all the time, all the while juggling my “new” life. It's been interesting! God knew all this was coming and He prepared me for it—even though I didn't necessarily like how He did it at the time.

Being benched isn't fun, but it's necessary sometimes. And I've learned to be thankful for the bench.

So tell me, how do you use the time when you're on the bench?

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Where, oh where

I haven't been online much at all these past two months. I took an unplanned hiatus out of necessity and my presence here may still be spotty. Not because I want it to be or plan for it to be, but because of this stage of life I seem to be in.

Priorities and balance have been on my mind and on my agenda recently and I've been doing some restructuring because they were out of kilter.

Often I end up focused on things that I shouldn't, unintentionally, but it's still the wrong focus--like this picture of a squash blossom. I was trying to focus on the blossom, but ended up focusing on the dirt instead, ruining the picture.

This is how I need to be. Focused on the right thing.



So what have I been doing? Lots of work here at home, helping at church, writing and preparing a pitch, poking around in our garden (hence the pictures--I have lots more too!), and just hanging out with the family.

It's been good.

So tell me, what have you been doing?
I miss you guys!

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Cccrashed

Welcome to this week's a 2 z: Take 2

and the letter C.

Okay, it's Confession time:
Due some Carelessness on my part, I've let a few things slide here and I'm now running like Crazy to do. See, the accountability I've set up here helps me tremendously, but unfortunately, I don't have similar accountability in home and family things and there are several chores I've crashed and burned on. Sooooo, now I'm playing catch up. And it's not fun. Maybe this time I'll learn my lesson.

But you guys can still have fun without me. =)

If I can get my act together here, I'll be back on Thursday with another Take Flight Challenge. IF...

So tell me, what are some things you put off doing?

If you're joining us for the a2z: Take 2 meme by posting on your blog this week about the letter C, be sure to add your name and the link to that particular post in the linky gadget here.

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Along the Way

Welcome to a Take Flight idea challenge! This week's idea jump starter was to Stop, Look, and Listen.

Stop and take a picture (or 10) of something interesting or curious and blog about it.

We take several back roads on our way to church and there's a few interesting places, and one I've wanted to stop at. So, I went to "the cat house" and took some pictures...

Oops. Okay, so that picture is at the four way just before the Cat House, but still a shot I've wanted to take for years. LoL An empty barn or garage. The house is long gone.

Here's across the road from the Cat House...

A home with an old attached garage with the pick up still there. The door is ajar and it'd be so cool to tiptoe through the house. But I won't. Not only is it not our land but it's posted, No Trespassing. Bummer. I'll just have to use my imagination. hehe.

But this car is what I *really* set out to get a picture of. It just makes me smile.

Can you imagine the stories this car can tell? I want to know why it was parked at the edge of the yard and left. And when. And what was its last trip? So many stories, just sitting there...

In case you're wondering why I call it the Cat House--it's where all stray cats are welcome. This only shows three cats, but we suspect two dozen are in residence. The home owner is no longer there, but people faithfully come and feed the cats and make sure there's a cat house or two somewhere close by. There used to be a pair of peacocks, but I've not seen them for a couple years. They were gorgeous, but always startled me with their screech when I drove past.  They would perch on the peak of the small barn between the house and the car. Now it's just the cats and the car. This little place, off the beaten path, is a reminder to me that God takes care of His creatures, just like it says in Matthew 6:26... Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you lnot worth much more than they?

God takes care of all these cats, even after the home owner is no longer in residence. He will take care of His children!!

So tell me about a curious or interesting place near you...

If you're joining us for this episode of Take Flight, link up with us!!

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