sliver moon at sunset

We are home from our vacation.....

experiencing the letdown after being in paradise for a week.

I slept for two hours when I got home,

before unpacking.

I was so excited when I loaded these pictures 

and saw the shot I got last evening.

The weather was so beautiful all week.

There was not a drop of humidity the whole time.

Last night I had to shut the bedroom window

because the wind started howling,

and with the wind,

the humidity came back to greet us this morning.

So thankful for the gorgeous weather.

We stayed at Shorewood, on Hilton Head Island,

which was bittersweet for us.

This is the place where,

in the eighties,

we went for two weeks with our respective families.

So many good memories

 and pictures were made there.

Made me miss some people really bad.

This vacation was amazing in that

we hardly left the beach at all.

We did drive back for church last Sunday,

but after that I only left twice.

Our only eat out was crab legs with two special people

who came over for a bit on Thursday.

We had a wide angle view of the beach and the ocean.

Not even a tall tree to obstruct the view.

I spent much time on the porch

just gazing at the wonders of God creation....

relishing in all that beauty.

I feel rested and kind of sad.

Cannot wait to go back.

I came home with an amazing tan as well.

Thank you God for a perfect vacation!

the state we're in

I have this one thing to say tonight.....
after four straight days of doing absolutely nothing
but laying on the beach under an umbrella,
Bubba and I have entered into a state of total and complete
Relaxation.
Don't think I have ever been this relaxed before in my life.

#need to do this more often.  :)

sunset walk on the beach

No better time for the two of us to be on the beach
than when the sun is just before setting,
casting its golden touch on the sand and the water.

High tide,
lots of wild waves,
sand warmed from the sun,
gentle breezes,
these are things that make me love the beach so much.

Now its bedtime.
I will open the window
and be lulled to sleep by the waves breaking onto the shore.
When I get up in the night,
I go take a peek,
and yes, the ocean is right there in all of its glory.

#feeling drowsy after spending three glorious days on the beach.

nothing but the beach

This picture was taken early this morning.
The sun was rising over the ocean,
beginning its circuit to the other side.
Now as I write it is heading for its set.

Bubba and I are vacationing.
He made my dream come true to spend a week on the beach.
We are without children or grandchildren and it feels strange.

When we arrived on Saturday afternoon, it was 104 degrees.
Today,
when I arose from sleep and made my way to the porch,
I needed a wrap.
Felt like a fall day.

He and I spent the day on the beach,
under our umbrella,
enjoying the feel of a hot sun and a cool breeze.

I have to learn how to vacation.....
give myself permission to do nothing.
It is not easy, but I am learning well.
Already feeling relaxed and easy.

Waiting for a thunderstorm
and that high surf from hurricane Christobol.
Sitting on the deck is almost like sitting on the beach at this place....
truly, we are hanging over the ocean.

The beach is my best love!
Thank you Lord and Bub

Got a picture of the sun going down...
It just completed its circuit for the day.    :)

bye, bye

I'll be wandering around on the beach for a while,

but for sure I will not be lost.

God is very kind to allow us time away.

Very thankful for a respite,

a time to enjoy the beauty of the beach...

the place that most draws me to the 

wonders of His creation.

broken shells in a beautiful bowl

"Life is not the breaths you take, 

but the moments that take your breath away."

George Strait

saltwater is the cure for everything

Really, its true.

When someone gets the sniffles,

we hop in the car and drive to the beach.

If its warm,

you get in the surf.

If its cold,

you just go and breathe the salt air.

Saltwater heals cuts,

it heals and soothes tired, aching muscles,

and it melts my hurting soul.

Come with me and hold my hand.

Let us walk beside the sea.

Look out there upon the vastness of the ocean

and remember that God controls

its every movement.

Come, let us sit in the sand

and watch the sun pop up out of the water.

Higher and higher it goes,

bringing daylight out of the night.

Come, walk in the wet sand with me,

making footprints 

that will soon be washed away.

Listen to the pounding of the mighty waves,

watch them

 come and go and come again.

cc

The ocean never loses its appeal,

never fails to point me to God

full of praise and worship.

the last little bit of summer

What is good about the month of August?

It was my mother's birthday month.

And it is my sister's birthday too.

Also,

one of my best ever life-long friends made her debut

in the month of August.

When August commences, there is still some summer left......

it's not over yet.

The big topic of conversation is

Back to School.

The days begin to shorten noticeably,

but it is still hot, and very humid....

dog days of summer 

they call this time of year.

There is an ending implied, though,

and it hangs heavy on the hearts of those who love summer.

The shorter days are the first clue.

School starting is next,

Causing one to think of football and sweaters,

cooler temperatures,

falling leaves,

fires,

and golden days.

I hold on tightly to summer.

August brings the first tingle of sadness and loss to me.

I cherish dearly the last hot days,

 long evenings,

afternoon thundershowers cooling the air,

sandals and shorts,

fresh veggies ripe from the vine,

flowers growing in the yard,

newly mown grass,

swimming,

the last little bit of summer.

#counting the days 

until our late summer vacation begins.

flowers from my garden

I am constantly reading books....

trying to learn all I can about God and His ways.

I guess you would say

I seek after Him.

I am especially interested in heaven.

What is heaven like?

Will we know each other there?

Will I still have an ocean to enjoy?

Things like that.

This made me pause....

They rest from their labors ~

"That which makes everything laborious is sin....

the opposition of Satan and the world,

and the drag of our old nature.

Some believers have a constant struggle with Satan.

He is standing at their right hand to resist them;

he is constantly distracting them in prayer,

hurling fiery darts at their soul,

tempting them to sin.

Their whole life 

is labor.

But when we die in the Lord,

we shall rest from this labor,

Satan's work will be done.

The accuser of the believer will no longer annoy."

Blessed are the dead

R. Murray M'cheyne

I am thankful that when we die in the Lord,

we are completely free from this weight of sin.

We will soar,

we will fly away from the heavy burden that

has weighted our souls down

and kept us tethered to this earth.

Praise God 

for what lies ahead 

for those who trust in the Lord.

I love you.

I always have, I always will.

before & after

The above picture is the "before."

Harry had gone to the nursery with me

to get my new flowers in the spring.

Gus is the

overseer of the project.

This is the "after."

How they look now.

Obviously the deer do not like these flowers.

They never once even took a nibble.

Someone asked the other day,

"How are you getting along with the deer?"

My reply.....

I more or less gave up.

No matter how much I sprayed the deer repellent,

they still ate the flowers they love.

I was always losing the battle,

so I let them eat.

Deer are in such abundance out here in the woods,

that there is no real way to control them.

Bubba was sitting out on the porch

in the rocking chair

early one morning last week

 and a huge doe walked right in front of him.

They pretty much own our yard.

We are going to get a fence.

I think that will help.

Will start over again next spring

a whole lot wiser in all things flowers.

This afternoon I am thankful

for the things that did grow,

for the joy of having a real backyard

with green grass

and the beauty you see above.

back to school

Jake ~ 3rd grade

Eli ~ 2nd grade 

               
                                                                        Lucy ~ 4th grade
                                                                         Harry ~ 1st grade

My little loves are growing fast.
These four started back to school today.

"Train up a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6

Jesus is the way

Celebrities,

they come and go.

They are worshipped and adored,

imitated and idolized as if they were gods.

Many times their lives end in tragedy

and one would ask....

Didn't they have everything the world could offer?

Couldn't tons of money and fame

make them happy?

No,

because those things don't bring real joy.

God created all of us

 to worship Him.

There is a great big hole in our hearts

that can only be filled by Him.

Nothing of this world

 can satisfy our deepest needs and longings....

only our God who made us.

There is no way we can know a person's heart.

But we do know the way

to spend eternity with God......

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life,.

No one comes to the Father (God)

except through Me."

John14:6

The truth, pure, simple, and undisputed.

One thing needs to be cleared up though.

People do not get to heaven 

and commence to

tell jokes, 

or drink shots of liquor together.

Those who arrive in heaven,

get there because of  what Jesus did.

They will be on the ground

worshipping  and praising the One who died for them.

as close as it gets

Reservations have been made.

My dream is coming true.....

a week at the beach.

This is the view from the porch of our beach house.

I will definitely be able to hear the waves pounding on the shore

from the pillow where my head will be laying.

I can sit and stare,

walk by,

swim in,

 read by

that big, beautiful ocean for a whole week.

A true gift from God,

a little time away.

For this and so much more I am a thankful girl tonight.

to eat a peach

I love peaches....

tis the season to enjoy.

Gonna make some homemade peach ice cream very soon.

Thinking so much lately about the 

persecuted Christians all over the world.

Praying for them,

that God will provide that inner 

peace and joy

that only comes from knowing Him.

Satan, the ruler of this world,

is doing his best to squelch the Truth of God's word.

It is happening here in Savannah 

as well as in the darkest places on this earth.

We can only watch in horror

as people are being tortured and killed,

just for believing the truth.

The apostle Paul was in chains

when he wrote the book of Philippians.

He had experienced persecution at its highest level,

and yet, 

he had learned to be content in all circumstances.

How can that be possible

in the midst of extreme pain and suffering?

This is how he worked out his argument....

"1.  Circumstances are always changing,

therefore,

I must not be dependent on circumstances.

    2.  What matters supremely and vitally

 is my soul

and my relationship to God.

This is the first thing.

3.  God is concerned about me as my Father,

and nothing happens to me 

apart from God.

Even the very hairs of my head are all numbered.

I must never forget that.

4.  God's will and God's ways are a great mystery, 

but I know that whatever He wills 

or permits is, of necessity,

for my good.

5.  Every situation in life

 is the unfolding of some manifestation of God's love or goodness.

Therefore, 

my business is to look for each special manifestation of 

God's goodness or kindness

and to be prepared for surprises and blessings.

6.  I must therefore regard the circumstances and conditions of my life 

as a part of God's dealing with me in the work of

perfecting my soul and bringing me to

final perfection.

7.  Whatever my conditions may be at this moment,

they are only temporary,

they are only passing,

and they can never rob me of the joy and the glory

 that ultimately await me with Christ."

The Life of Joy and Peace

Martyn L Jones

I would say that Paul woked out this argument to perfection.

These things  (1~7) above,

are what the Lord has been trying to teach me for the last 11 months.

I am a slow learner, but willing.

To God be all praise and glory!

beach birds in flight

This picture kinda goes along with last night's blog.

Bubba and I were on the beach.

I saw this configuration of birds heading my way,

pointed my camera at the sky,

and shot.

I could not even see these birds in the viewfinder.

When I got home,

I had gotten this shot.

So amazing!

I love taking pictures of

 God's creation.

I may have this one made into a canvas.

Yesterday was water aerobics.

We work out in an indoor pool.

As soon as I got into my swimsuit,

the fire alarm went off.

Thinking it was a false alarm,

I delayed my exit.

Regretfully.

 the alarm was real,

there was a fire in the building,

I had to get out asap.

This is the humiliating part....

I had to exit through the lobby

and stand out in front of the building in my bathing suit.

Now, 

I cannot say enough about how mortifying this was.

As soon as I could,

 I scrambled into my street clothes 

and made my way home.

No 66 year old woman should have to go through that experience!

I never saw a fire truck or heard any sirens.

I think someone

 played a mean trick on us.

2,124 blogs

Who would have thought,

way back in 2007

when David said to me,

"Mom, why don't you start a blog?"

that I would still be writing.

Every time I start to think,

"Maybe I should stop with this,"

someone will tell me how much it means to them,

how much they love it.

So,

 I keep on writing.

The blessings of older age are so wonderful and unexpected.

When the grandbabies started coming along,

I got my first camera.

I have grown to absolutely love

photography.

To be able to write and share pictures is such a joy!

My blog is really just my journal,

things that happen in my daily life that are funny or sad

or just plain mundane.

My hopes and dreams,

my love of God and His word,

my family

my life as it is lived.

Thank you for reading,

for encouraging me,

for giving me a reason to do what I love.

cathyc

a week at the beach

I told Bubba,

all I want to do this summer is to spend a week at the beach,

just him and me.

I think its getting ready to happen.

I want to open my door and step onto the beach. 

I want to hear the waves while I sleep. 

I want to get up early and watch the sun rise over the ocean.

Later,

I want to take a chair down to the edge of the water,

a good book,

and a bottle of water,

I want to sit and read,

Uninterrupted.

I want to ease out into the warm waves,

I want to float on my back,

and dig my toes in the sand feeling for sand dollars.

I want to feel the wet salt water on my skin,

and the sticky lush of it drying in 

the hot sun.

I want to eat shrimp and crab legs

I want to sit on the deck and eat breakfast.

I want to read God's word with the ocean before me

so that I can meditate on the wonders of His grace.

I want to be on the beach as the sun goes down,

lingering as darkness falls

to see the stars in the big expanse of heaven

and the moon, the lesser light,

reflecting on the water.

hmmmm, I think I know just the place!

dark and billowy

Bubba took me down to the beach this afternoon.

We walked along the shore,

and I took pictures of the clouds.

I like this one.

Last night

while we we sound asleep,

a storm came by 

and literally rocked us out of the bed.

It was wild and wonderful 

with endless lightning and thunder.

Just when we were drifting back to slumber,

our cell phones started blaring a flash flood alert.

It was 3:30 am.

He gave up and got up,

I turned over and went back to sleep.

Sometimes it is good to be reminded.....

"For I am persuaded

that neither death nor life,

nor angels,

nor principalities,

nor powers,

nor times present nor things to come,

nor height,

nor depth,

nor any other created thing,

shall be able to separate us from the love of God

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:38~39

Thank You David.

The sermon this morning was riveting.

May all who heard be blessed

by the hearing of God's magnificent word.

lovely poohism...

"Underneath the same sky,

even though you're not close by,

It feels as if we're right beside each other...."

archie report

For all who have been praying....

thank you.

Archie went to the doctor yesterday and got good news.....

he can get up and play again.

Still no swimming,

but playing is a great first step.

We had a Yummy dinner last night

to celebrate with him.

His gift was the belt he is wearing.

He has wanted a big boy belt for so long,

and it was promised for

after the surgery.

He couldn't wear it for very long though,

it hurt his newly unbandaged stitches.

O the joy of a boy well on his way to recovery!

Our God is the One who heals.

We give Him all the glory this morning.

We are also thankful for doctor's

skilled hands

and nurses loving care,

and friends who bring food,

and every one of you who have prayed.

One question....

Where did July go?