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)

 

Happy (day 3 of the) New Year

A puffy, fluffy winter wonderland here. It's pushing 3 feet of snow. We managed to get to church this morning. Tom plowed this afternoon, but you can't really tell. Now it's time to fret about whether it's safe (or possible) to get kids to school tomorrow. We've heard the buses are pretty much snowed in; just getting them out of the lot will be a huge project. So, who knows, we might be taking a snow day tomorrow. If there's no school, I don't have to go to work at the church do I?

It's a beautiful pure white, clean slate, start to a new year, a new decade. We're looking for better days, or at least if not better, may our troubles in the new year be as short-lived as our resolutions. (Typed with a wink and a smile and thanks to Curtis, from whom I stole that line.) Happy New Year!