Home Again, Home Again

It's delightful to go away; it's wonderful to come home. I already unpacked the suitcases -- pretty proud of that. And now I've got to get off to church. I feel totally refreshed and ready to get back at it. I hope Tom and Gary and Deenie feel the same. We've got our memories to keep us warm and happy till spring. Right?

 

 Good memories, and....

"Gee, but it's great to be back home!"

Delays

We should be home by now, but not so. Did you hear? There's a snowstorm on the east coast.

Really? It's clear and sunny here in Sebring, Florida.But oh dear, our flight was canceled yesterday. So we must extend our vacation. I know, I know, it's pretty hard to take. Or as my friend Nadine said, quoting Brer Rabbit, "Don't throw me in the briar patch!" Unfortunately, it is cool here. Not cold, mind you, just cool.

I feel badly that we're inconveniencing people back home at church. Gary, Tom and I all had commitments this morning. Sunday school teacher, worship leader, and jr. church teacher...oops, we ought not to all go away together just in case something like this should happen. Fortunately, not a one of us is irreplaceable. But I know we put a few people out, I hope they will accept our apology.

This is the second trip I've made to Starbucks to use the internet. I can only use the internet at Dad's by using his computer...and as we all know, we're kind of attached to our own. There's stuff on my own laptop that, well yes, it could be transferred with a hot stick, but goodness, it's just inconvenient. Plus the atmosphere here helps me keep focused on my work...ummm, er, except for at the moment, I'm sort of blogging instead of working. So here I am getting back to work.  First a picture of Tom with his little baby hammerhead shark.

And then proof that I was indeed working...

And playing some too...with Deenie

North Captiva

Today was heavenly...really. We woke up to a very cool, cloudy morning. No sense going up to the crows nest to watch the sunrise because there wasn't going to be a sunrise. Well, I mean, of course the sun would rise, it does every day, but it doesn't make a spectacular show of it every single day. And this was one of those days. So some of us went back to bed and others turned on her (my) computer and finished my homework for my little writing job. Wouldn't you know, just as I finished my 60th venue for the week (that's my commitment, and my week runs from Thursday morning to Wednesday night...or very very early Thursday morning ;-) The sun came out. So off I went to the beach. I looked north and I looked south and I saw no sign of Tom or Gary and Nadine. I  chose south and had myself a fabulous walk with the wind in my face and the breakers off the shore and soft waves lapping my feet. Did I say today was heavenly?

We all met back at the beach house when our stomachs told us it was past lunch time. Then, well let's see... read for a bit on the deck, catch some rays way up on the crow's nest, walk up and down the sandy lanes to the pool for some invigorating laps. Yes, let's do all that. We did all that. And now the sun is going down. It looks like it'll be a beautiful sunset. So I'd better get my water shoes and the camera and head down to the beach. Life is good. The God who made all this for us is awesome.

Yesterday's sunrise. Good morning world.

And then, before you know it, and before you're quite ready, the sun sets.

Good night world.

Don't worry, the sun will come up tomorrow...again.

Gulf View

Church was wonderful...not like home, but lovely and inspiring. Charlotte Stemple actually presented the message at this huge church filled with lots and lots of retired pastors, pastors' wives, and missionaries. Charlotte and her husband, Woody (hello Grant! not the same Woody as your little cowboy friend) were missionaries in Viet Nam during the war years. What an incredible story they have. What an incredible speaker she is. I'd like to list her points to cement them in my mind...but I'll save that for my journal. Just now I have to get to work. This is a bit of a working vacation for me. So here I sit with my laptop and a view of the Gulf, and I really must get to work, which is not exactly a hardship.

Sanibel

When we left home it was 7 degrees and when we touched down in Florida its was 77 degrees. How can that be? I dunno, but I love it. So...we're here -- a couple of days at Sanibel (here's a sampling of Tom's fantastic photography) then over to North Captiva.

We're going to Shell Point Village CMA church this morning. I'm guessing it will feel like home.

I wanted to blog this on Sunday when my devotional for the day had a quote by C.S.Lewis. He said,

"There are 2 kinds of people in the world. Those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, 'all right then, have it your way.'"

It tickled me. I know both kinds of people. I've been both kinds of people. But what tickled me is that C.S. Lewis said it. This deeply spiritual, deep thinking, brilliant, literary scholar voiced this absolutely profound truth in such a simple, clever, entertaining way. That's what tickled me.

And because I've tried both ways, I know the first way always turns out better. ;-)

Totally unrelated, but do we need a picture? Oh yes, I hear my friend Beth saying, Oh yes. Two really attractive girls. One daughter-in-law and one to be. The birthday girl is showing off a brand new birthday scarf.













And one little birthday boy in big cowboy hat.

Relevant Still

... Americans, you may give your goods to feed the poor. You may give great gifts to charity. You may tower high in philanthropy. But if you have not love it means nothing.
- Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in his speech, "Paul's Letter to American Christians," Nov. 4, 1956.

Good Ideas Go Awry

I came to work an hour early today to blog. Instead I tidied, and sorted, and put things on bulletin boards and then...before I knew it...I was getting late for work. It's just like home. I really, really intend to write... but stuff distracts me. Focus, Betsy, focus!

Yesterday was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. A federal holiday in honor of a man who led our country giant steps forward in civil rights matters. My friend put this quote on her blog.I don't think she'll mind if I borrow it  because this message is the heart and soul of our Christian faith. The heart and soul of every God-fearing, God-honoring, God-loving faith.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
-- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Strength to Love, 1963

A Frosty Morning

We made a trip to the airport this morning before church. Nathan is flying back to California...should be there soon...which means he had a really long travel day. Here's a view from the car as we drove on the interstate.

It was a beautiful morning, but so very freezing cold!  Someone said to me, "Yep, it's beautiful, but I hate it." She laughed, but I think she meant it. It's a shame to hate something so beautiful. I love it, but check back with me in March.

Earlier this week our cute little dog made herself a path around the backyard. Nathan caught these cute shots.

Snow Days

The local schools took a snow day, but Tom's school only had a 2 hour delay. Which unfortunately means he goes to work 2 hours early. I made a valiant effort to go to work. Believe it or not I got out of this snow drift at home, but I couldn't get in the parking lot at church. It was plowed shut double time, once by the road plow and once by the sidewalk plow. I parked along the street, put my 4-way lights on and assessed the situation. Then I waded through thigh high snow and got a snow shovel. I made a little dent in the driveway entrance before my back reminded me that this wasn't a good idea. So I trudged back to return the shovel, brushed myself off and drove home. On the way home I thought of all the things I could accomplish on my snow day. But it boiled down to this. I shoveled a little of our drive so the mail person could access the mailbox. Then...the neighbor boy came on his snowmobile and made me a ski trail around the field behind the barn...so... I couldn't let his generous effort go to waste. I strapped on my skis and played in the snow. What fun!

Tomorrow I'm going to work. I'll do housework, write thank you notes, go to the church office, and then I'll type up some restaurant descriptions for my other job. That's what I'm going to do...tomorrow.  Promise!

"God thunders wondrously with his voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend. For to the snow He says, fall on the earth..." (Job 37:5-6)