Happy Birthday Otto

Wishing my hubby and best friend a wonderful birthday week!  Celebrated last night with taco salad, carrot cake, a glass of wine and a movie (Star Trek) with neighbors!  Now, off to Tucson!

O and Jess are riding the century at el Tour de Tucson!  Now, we've all done long rides before and I loved the experience but I don't think I ever said, "for my birthday this year, I want to ride 109 miles in a day"!  Well, that's what he and Jess are going to do!  We are preparing a 'carb up' meal Friday night, and grilling a celebratory steak dinner Sat night.  While the boys are riding on Sat, Cindy and I plan to work on our bible study music and address lists, stuff we need to do but don't seem to find the time.  We are staying at a resort outside of Tubac, so should be the perfect scenery for some meditation, soul searching and relaxing!

Join me, in praying for a safe ride for the two of them and a restful, relaxing weekend for Cindy and me!

Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart

How do you give thanks? Do you show others how grateful you are for them? Or, do we take all we have and those we love for granted?   I don't think I show enough appreciation for those I love and all I have.
As I think of the upcoming day of thanks I am searching for the right words to say thank you, but none come to mind. 

This month I hope you all focus on the blessings God has bestowed on you and show your appreciation for all you are close to. Give thanks with a grateful heart!

Happy Thanksgiving.

Cast All Your Cares

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.1 Peter 5:6-7

A good reminder, this popped up in my InBox today -

I've realized that my anxiety has often blocked what God has intended for me to do.  I get so preoccupied trying to work it my way, that I miss what it is He really has in mind for me.

Do you ever do that?  Well, this scripture is certainly a good reminder, first to be humble, second to remember that it is in His time, not ours will we be lifted up.  We may be going through a troubling time for a reason and must find a blessing in whatever it is.  Also, the final reminder in this scripture is to cast all our cares/anxiety on him, because he cares for us. 

Casting my cares on him is one of the hardest things for me, and I struggle with this daily.  I look at it like this.... I am fishing and I cast my line out and instead of waiting, I get anxious and reel it back in.  Otto always gets mad at me and tries to encourage me to be patient and leave my line alone.  But, time after time, I cast and reel it in without a thought. 

Well, I am going to post this message and commit it to memory to help me when I get frustrated and lack patience, or try to go off in my own direction instead of the one he wants me to!  Hopefully, it will help me with patience and waiting for God to do what he has intended instead of what I want.

Who knows, maybe it will help me on my next fishing trip as well!

Vacation

Just returned from a week in Florida on Cape San Blas ~~ what a glorious time we had.  First stop last Friday night was New Orleans, unfortunately our luggage was in Tampa - oh well, off to see the town. (our luggage finally made it Sat around 1:00 .m.) We headed to Bourbon St. for a Hurricane at Pat O'Brien's, dinner at the Old Coffee Pot for Jumbalaya and Gumbo, then on to Frenchmen St for some jazz.  Headed back to Bourbon St. for some live music at the Funky Pirate and saw Big Al (all 375 lbs. of him) sing some blues.  New Orleans is about what I expected, dirtly, rowdy drunks and lots of old, old bars.  Frenchmen St. did have some good jazz and clubs, but very crowded!  We had to listen outside some of the bars as they were so many people jammed in :(
Sat am - off to Cafe du Monde for beignets and cafe au lait - the site has been a coffee stand since early 1860's, such history!  That was awesome!  Still no luggage so we couldn't head to the beach yet, decided to check out some cemetaries, crazy they are above ground and sooo old!  we saw one gravesite that had over 12 family members buried there.
Picked up rental car and back to the hotel to wait for luggage and grab lunch before getting on the road to Florida!
Arrived at Mexico Beach about the same time as the Hanson's so stopped to pick up two kids for the remainder of the drive to the beach house for 7 days with the fam!  Wow, the kids are getting sooo big!

It would take a few pages for me to describe the fun the next six days held for us -- here are some highlights!

Beach, more beach, shelling, jellyfish stings, sting ray, bob fetching, dolphin and jumping fish sightings, bonfire on the beach w/ s'mores, raw oysters, great pizza, lighthouse, more beach, body surfing, more shelling, floating, family trivial pursuit, giggles and tickles, cribbage, steal my pile, fish, pictionary, scallops and fish tacos, early am beach runs, coffee w/ chicory, chocolate pancakes, skim boarding, fishing, catfish stings, sand dollar find, treasure island, rain, lightning, sunsets and sunrises.  But, the best of all the kiddos 24/7!!

We had a wonderful time with the Hanson's and Horel's at Pass View on the Gulf!  Thank you so much for all the memories!

Just for Today

Just for today, I will....
try to do better than yesterday
be the best wife I can be
be a good sister, aunt and friend
glorify God

This doesn't mean that I will only do this today, but today I WILL do these things!

Crazy Hair Night

Kaya goes to a bible study on Wednesday for teen girls - last night was crazy hair, check out her do....

God is Good

Tina needs dental work
We prayed
God answered
She starts tomorrow!
God is good, prayer is powerful!

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Well, it is that time of year too. But, really are you ready for the Fall, or Autumn, whatever you call it. I love this time of year. Of course, I love a good football game too, but I like that it cools down in the evenings here in AZ, the air smells fresh and the sky is, well, bluer!

I feel refreshed. I'm not sure if hot weather is stifling, or I stifle myself, but fall invigorates me! I feel I can take on the world, waking up to a little fall breeze where the trees barely move, cooler mornings with coffee on the patio! That really gets me going.

I feel renewed. Renewed with a sense of purpose, dedication and discipline to study God's Word - I guess this year I thought of summer as a break, like from school. Not that I wanted it that way, it just happened. I hiked a lot this summer, meeting friends early, 5:30 am some mornings. What a way to start the day! Yes, you think. But, I took a break from my daily quiet time and got caught up in the world. I guess my 'L' needs to take a hike! Not that it was bad that I hiked, but I still needed to focus on the Word, and I didn't.

So, what do I do now? Keep trudging up that I failed? NO, I am not doing that, just moving forward and taking it one day at a time.

Just like a fall morning, new with each sunrise, God forgives me if I ask, and I move on with renewed purpose!

Encouraging Others

Started up our women's study in AZ last night, what a wonderful evening connecting with ladies that I haven't seen in awhile and immersing ourselves in His Word! It's amazing how I feel at ease with other women of faith, how the words flow and the conversation is seasoned by each of our experiences. We are doing a topical study on encouraging others; last night we explored the scriptures of how God encourages us through our lives so we can encourage others.
I treasure and value this time that God allows me to be in the presence of other women, praying and encouraging as we each run this race.
Today, my cup is full. Thanks to God for filling me with encouragement and allowing me to encourage others as we walk side by side on our journey through life.
I can hear my Lord cheering me on now -- Atta girl, way to go, you can do it!

Life is Good

You've seen people wearing the hats, t-shirts, using the coffee mugs and displaying the phrase on anything and posted everywhere in recent years. But, really it is, isn't it? Life......is.....Good....
I am in a real thankful mood this morning and after a vigorous hike taking in God's beauty on earth I am grateful that I get to live life!
Well, if life is good, then God is great, isn't He?
Just my thoughts on this Wednesday.