Saving Drafts

Sometimes I get interrupted mid blog and have to save my work as a draft. That's been happening a lot lately. I never posted the one titled "New Friends" from our recent trip to Florida.

We met my Aunt Roselyn's golfing buddies, Diane, Mary, and Jean Anne. They call themselves the Link Drinkers -- no round of golf is complete without a stop at the 19th hole, the watering hole. And in their honor we went out to dinner one night at Sebring's own The Watering Hole. Cute name for a restaurant/bar. The Watering Hole's claim to fame is that it's home to a great big alligator named Bully. The gator is caged -- certainly not the greatest digs for big ole Bully, but I suppose he's well fed.

Also, while in Florida, Dad and Mom had a planning meeting for an upcoming "Pennsylvania Day" event. We met people who hailed from different parts of PA. The Centre County connections were most fun for us, that being our old stomping grounds and all. Then on the plane ride home I sat beside the nicest woman. We chatted for the entire 2 hour flight. I may never see her again this side of heaven, but when we both get there, I'll know her and she'll know me. We share a kinship in spirit, one Lord, one Father and all like that.

Which leads me to another saved draft entitled "Eternity". I'll neither post it nor summarize it just now. But I will say, today is one of those days when I long for my heavenly home. I'm not sad or overwhelmed, I just have a keen longing to see my Savior face to face. Won't that be a glorious day? It'll be a happy reunion with all those lovers of God who have gone on before. But then I think of everyone I know and love here on earth, and I'm perfectly content to stay. I'll hang out here as long as God sees fit to use me. Then whoosh, I'll be off to eternity.

Eclipse

Wednesday was a beautiful night for an eclispe of the moon, until it got cloudy. But before that happened our friend Steve got a fabulous picture.

Another Planet

Being in Florida in February is like visiting another world. How can we possibly be swimming and sunning and walking in shorts today while people at home are bundled up against the blustery cold? Soon enough I'll be back to that reality. Tomorrow rather than swimming laps in Dad's pool, strolling through the development admiring the gorgeous landscaping and colorful blooms, I'll be strapping on my skis and looping the back field. Back in that world the lay of the land is white and the trees are bare. A different kind of beautiful. And underneath my heavy coat I'll have my sunburn to keep me warm. That and the memories of a wonderful mid winter vacation...
Ta-daaa, me and my adorable little niece splashing in the Gulf
Florida house #3 for Mom and Dad. Sebring house #2. We like to walk and count the houses they used to live in.
The lap pool and jacuzzi, house #5.
The 'rents on their lanai.

Everyone Loves MySpace

Here's an update. My space just keeps getting better. If I had this wonderful spot a year or so ago my novel would be finished by now. ;-)

Davey boy's been home, he thinks it's great up here. Tom's come up to keep me company and marveled at how cozy it is. I let him take a nap on the bed.

It's my sanctuary -- and I hate to leave it to go bask in the Florida sun. Snow or Sun? Single digits or 75 degrees? I'm packing. See ya.

Snow and Sonshine

The weather map says it's 3 degrees outside, but feels like -16. I'm not going out to check if they're right. It's nearly zero and that's cold enough to keep me in. Along with that...

It was a hard week in Lake Woebegone, my hometown. The 'Lake Woebegone' isn't true. The 'It was a hard week' part is. In my hometown, and in my current stomping grounds, tough stuff, sad situations. Our preacher reminded us this morning that God is in control, He knows, He cares. And I know that and believe. God will indeed handle everything. So there, I've got that off my back.

I wrote my woes and prayer requests to a friend. She answered with this, "Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed - for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness."

Praise God, I can say with the apostle Paul, "We are not among those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved."

This will be a better week. Cold and snowy does not a hard week make. Even if there is no sunshine, there is always Sonshine. We'll be okay.

3 Days

When I had the second-try biopsy it was the same routine. My doctor's office would call me with results in 3 days to 3 weeks. Well here it is 3 business days with a weekend in between and I got the call. All's well. I've still got a lumpy thyroid, but the lumps (nodules) are benign. I'm fine and dandy. Now back to the more pressing stresses of life.

Kidding! I don't have any stress. Kidding again. I have 4 kids (plus). Of course I have stress. But that reminds me of a real life story. Back in the sixties when my parents were raising seven children our family had a reputation. My parents' marital bliss was a marvel, and we, their offspring, were known as those nice Bruce children. Mom and Dad were lucky to have such good kids.

Then came the seventies and a move from our rural/suburban neighborhood to a university town. A friend of mine from grade school days came to visit me at the university. She went home with a great story to tell. She had been a little hellion whose exasperated parents implored, "why can't you be like those nice Bruce children?". So she delighted in telling her parents the end of that story. "Half-way grown up now," she gleefully reported, "let me tell you about those wonderful Bruce children. One's a hippy, one got married at 18, one has truancy issues, and on it went. Yes, we all gave Mom & Dad fits in one way or another...indeed, those wonderful Bruce children. Seven children underfoot was nothing compared to seven teens sprouting wings. And the teen years were nothing compared to adulthood. In turn, we each contributed to Mother and Dad's sleepless nights, chest pains, grey hair and wrinkles.

But of course that wasn't the end of our story. Surprisingly we eventually all became responsible citizens. Through the seventies, eighties, and nineties we all married. Some married more than once. Most had kids. I know we brought a lot of joy, happiness and blessing to our parents. And we brought trials, countless worries, and bouts of sadness. They loved us through it all -- each and everyone of us. That's part of the parenthood deal. They're yours, gotta love 'em. Truth be told, you can't help but love them.

Losing one of them, which my parents did, is the ultimate grief. I can't even imagine and hope I never know that kind of sorrow.

My life is good. I've got the blessing and bane of 4 (plus) children. And I love them. I wonder if they know how much.