August slipped away on the winds of a storm

Yesterday was Hurricane Idalia day.

Early in the morning, I threw open the shutters in my bedroom. 

I didn't want to miss a minute of the action.

Come to find out,

there was not much action to see.

We had some gusty wind resulting in downed tree limbs and debris,

and some light to moderate rain,

but for the most part, we fared very well...

until the power went out.

After opening the shutters so that I wouldn't miss a thing,

I started a time outline of Idalia.

Notice that the power went off at 10:16.

Notice that the power came back on at 2:00.

Notice that I stopped writing my list.

I became disoriented.

I had managed to fix my lunch on top of my gas stove.

I was enduring the loss of AC and my overhead fans.

I was settling in for a long period of no power.

And then, surprisingly it came back on at 2:00 PM.

Hallelujah!

Not having power is off-putting in so many ways.

Everything you go to do requires power.

We take it for granted.

It just always works...until it doesn't.

The storm was at its worst from about 2:00 until about 5:00.

Very dark skies, and this was when the wind was the strongest.

Sometime during this time frame the power went off again.

Somehow I knew it wouldn't be back anytime soon.

By 6:00 Idalia had vanished.

It was eerily quiet.

I went outside and ALL of the heavy, tropical humidity was gone.

I went to bed and read by the light of a flashlight until I drifted off to sleep.

The power returned at 4:20 this morning.

I was awakened by the "coming on" machinations of my printer.

I was thrilled.

I could perk my coffee.

I could take a shower and wash my hair.

Thank you GA Power and all of the people who worked so hard to make that happen.

It is an absolutely beautiful day and I am so thankful.

Idalia only gave us a glancing blow here in beautiful Savannah.

 

things i bought for the hurricane

A new tire.

I had to drive down to this beach this morning.

On the way, I stopped to get gas.

You know, when a hurricane is coming you have to have a full tank in case you have to evacuate.

While there a sweet old man came over and asked me if I knew I had a flat tire.

Of course, I didn't know.

Bubba always dealt with that sort of thing and,

I never pay any attention to the warning things on the dashboard.

He said if I would pull over to the air dispenser he would fill the tire up for me.

I took him up on that because, of course, I don't have a clue.

He warned me to go immediately to have it fixed.

I decided to not heed his warning.

I made it to the beach and back home because he had filled it up with air.

I was very thankful it didn't go flat on the Tybee road.

After lunch, I ended up at Sam's.

David suggested that they do a good job and get it done quickly which they did.

I got a new tire because a nail had rendered the old one useless.

Now I will be able to evacuate if I need to.

While waiting for the tire to be fixed I chose these things for myself...

A really large rotisserie chicken.

I'll need lots of protein to withstand the storm.

My Broccoli ~ Cheddar soup which I still eat almost every day for lunch.

Two really long French baguettes.

And a huge bag of Skinny Pop Popcorn that I busted right into.

3 ~ 6 ~ 2 ~ 29 ~2020

Bubba, It's been three and a half years,

 I miss you every day,

But when I have to do things you used to do ~ 

The man things ~ 

It makes me miss you even more.

💗

 

cathy and the lost diamond

There was no reason whatsoever to think that I had lost one of my diamond earrings.

Bubba gave them to me many years ago and I've worn them ever since.

I wore them to church yesterday.

I took them off last night and placed them in my safe place.

This morning I was cleaning my bedroom, bath, and closet area.

I was almost done and it was time to vacuum.

My closet is carpeted and I started in there.

Quick job!

When I heard the machine suck up something hard I turned it off.

I've dropped my earring on that carpet before.

It's hard to find.

Had I unknowingly dropped it?

I turned off the vacuum and

went to make sure my diamond was where I put it last night.

It wasn't.

I immediately took the vacuum to the garage.

Assuming the hard thing sucked up was my diamond earring,

 I grabbed some plastic gloves,

took the vacuum bag out,

cut it open,

and started going through every inch of that disgusting mess.

Even though the mess was filled with sparkling glitter,

my earring was not there.

I stopped for lunch and went back to my sifting.

It still was not there.

Okay, I will get Archie over here when he gets home from school.

He'll find it for me.

He can fix anything.

Then I prayed.

"God that diamond is my treasure,

but it is an earthly treasure.

Jesus is my real treasure.

Help me keep a heavenly perspective.

I know You know where it is.

You can see it right now.

Would You take me to it?"

Then I walked to my safe place.

I decided to search one more time.

This place is filled with my jewelry.

There it was!

It was completely in a strange place,

nestled up against the side of a black velvet box.

I had looked in there three times during my search and didn't see it.

When I prayed God took me right to it.

I couldn't stop thanking Him.

Not only did He show me where my treasure was, 

but He assured me that He hears and answers my prayers.

So much praise and worship is due to our God.

He is everything and all we need.

I have no idea how the earring got out of my safe place and into the place velvet box.

But it did.

 

the thing that isn't in our ocean yet

It's time to start watching the Tropics again.

It has been hotter than hot this week.

Heavy humidity,

So still.

Honestly, it just feels oppressive to be outside.

Time for the hurricane watches for sure!

There is a disturbance in the Yucatan Peninsula 

that the global models are forecasting to become a tropical storm in a couple of days 

as it moves toward Florida. 

 For coastal Georgia,

 it looks like nothing dangerous,

 just rain and maybe breezy.

 I'll take that but you never know about hurricanes.

 They have a mind of their own.

I think I mentioned Enki Research last summer.

It's where I go for all of my hurricane news.

He tells the truth without all of the hype and drama.

I love his posts, his pictures, and the great research he does.

Hold on tight.

Hoping for no bad storms for anyone.

God controls them you know.

 

Even so Lord Jesus, Come

 

the wonder of the written word

I have always loved books.

To read is to be transported to another place ~ another time.

It fills countless hours with wonderful adventures. 

Characters that you are introduced to at the beginning

become best friends by the last page.

I feel sad when a book ends

I want more.

I've been working in my library in the attic.

When I first moved into my new house,

 I unpacked my books and shelved them in no particular order.

At some point, I put them in alphabetical order by author.

This time I have perfected my work.

Biblical books are on one side,

fiction and non-fiction on another.

Some are shelved by topics ~ some by genre.

I have cookbooks and how-to books and decorating books.

Books to identify birds and gardening books.

So many!

I haven't done my classic children's books yet.

My attic doesn't get too hot so I can work in the summer.

Early mornings work best.

My favorite book is the Bible.

There is never a day I don't soak up the truths there.

I love historical fiction,

anything to do with World War II.

Weather disaster books.

I like biographies of Bible characters.

The whole Bodie and Brock Thoene selection.

All of Herman Wouk's books,

And many more.

The Biblical books side.

The secular side.

I'm not done yet...still much to do.

I love to sort and organize.

Needless to say...

I 💗 📚

 

mundane faithfulness

Nothing grows a Christian

 like a serious commitment to a single church

 week in and week out

 for years and years.

 Not conferences.

 Not social media. 

Not even personal devotions.

 The local church is where mature Christians

 are slowly forged

 in the fires of

 mundane faithfulness.

Micheal Foster

The gathering together of fellow believers

 for the purpose of hearing God's Word proclaimed, 

to sing and pray,

 to praise God,

 to fellowship and serve our brothers and sisters

 is a grace gift given to us from our heavenly Father. 

It is an essential part of our life "in Christ."

Never miss.

It is a huge blessing 

 to be a part of a local church that stands firm on the truth of the written Word of God

and to be with those who believe it is indispensable.

To God be all praise and honor and glory!

 

rainy saturday, walter, and ten for lasagna

Walter is a quick learner

We are focusing on two key verses from the Bible.

He is a good memorizer.

We are working on the "obeying" part.

The "doing what God says" and not just "hearing it.'

I think this lesson is for all of us.

As always,

the teacher learns more than the student.

It is so good to be still learning at age 75 and a few months.

I spent a good part of yesterday making homemade lasagna.

This is a huge task and it takes me forever,

but it is so worth it.

It smells so good while it is cooking and it is delicious.

I serve it with an Italian salad and breadsticks.

The small casserole is a gluten-free version I made for Lu.

Yummy!

Cooking a meal is such a good way to express your love for others.

This morning I made my Atlantic Beach Pie.

Always freshly squeezed limes and my fluffy, homemade whipped cream.

I'm serving ten this evening.

Can't wait to get it in the oven.

We've had so much rain this summer.

I love every drop.

My grass is green and lush.

So thankful that God rules over the climate.

He sends the wind and the rain in His time and for His purpose.

 

Bubba

 

A Mighty Fortress is our God

Fort Pulaski

Savannah, Georgia

The Savannah River is at the top of the picture.

This man-made edifice is subject to damage and ultimate destruction.

*(picture by Alamy)

God describes Himself as a "Mighty Fortress."

He will stand forever and ever.

We who believe that Jesus is God's Son are safe in Him.

God sent Jesus to this earth to shed His blood and die for our sins.

Jesus didn't stay dead, though.

On the third day, He rose after defeating sin, satan, and death.

He is now in heaven again,

 seated at the right hand of His Father.

He is coming back soon to get His people.

"Even so, Lord Jesus come!"

"I am the way, the truth, and the life,

 No one comes to God but through Me.

John 14:6

💗

We are watching the extremely quick demise of our beautiful country.

Who would have thought it would have happened so quickly.

Evil is everywhere.

satan is having his heyday,

his last stand,

his final moments of glory,

Jesus defeated satan at the cross.

Evil will not prevail.

This world will end.

(read Revelation)

Would you consider Jesus?

Salvation is for all.

As long as you have breath you can call on Him and He will hear you.

There is no sin that you have ever committed that is bad enough for God to turn you away.

Repent, stop sinning, and follow Jesus.

Read God's word.

Learn all you can about what God has done and is doing for us.

God's people have a future.

Don't miss it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

a few more and done

Sunrise!

Three teens on a jet ski!

Frankie, Robbie, and the kids getting ready to pull a tuber.

Jake and Gus coming up from the dock.

Ultimate relaxation!

My family minus Mark and Harry who were getting the fire going to cook dinner.

I 💗 all of them so much!

One of God's richest blessings to me!

Opportunities to have fun together, PRICELESS1

more camp pics

Erika and Amanda are taking off to parts unknown.

Harry was our master firebuilder.

Some may say,

"How can you have a fire in this hot weather?"

Ambiance.

When you camp you have a fire...

...and, without a fire how could we make smores?

Jake sitting on the porch talking to his Gram.

Notice the sunlight shining through the leaves of the tree.

Some tubing was going on.

Erika and Walt.

Walt is eating his smore.

Smoky from the fire.

I have a few more pics but I need to go to the kitchen.

Got folks coming for dinner tonight and it's raining and getting very dark outside.

I hear thunder too.

Another afternoon thunderstorm is headed this way.

I 💗 them!

 

happy birthday erika

Erika had a birthday a few days ago.

We "partied" like it was 1969.

The "party" was sent from her sister and her mom in North Carolina...

a big box filled with balloons and party hats and blowers and such.

We went out for steaks and came home to a birthday wonderland.

Exhausted from our time at the lake,

we mustered up enough energy to party big!

Lucy made creme brule'.

Here she is torching the sugar on top.

It was an amazing afternoon.

Many more Erika!!!

🎂 🎉🥳

 

random pics from RBR State Park

Amanda and Harry chatting on the dock.

Notice the shade we erected.

My brother taking excited kids out in his much loved Stingray.

Noodle races.

Harry always wins because he's the fastest at all races.

Grammy, Jake, and Daisy.

Our little rustic cabin is in the background.

I displayed some of the treats on the mantle above the fireplace.

 

keeping a kid for one night

Walter is keeping his Gram company today and tonight and tomorrow.

Today is his Mom's birthday and his Dad is taking her on a short getaway.

We went to church and Panera.

We came home for a Sunday afternoon rest.

We read for an hour.

Heavenly!

Now I'm thinking it's about time to start playing Uno and Spot It.

It's what grams and grandkids do you know.

It's too hot for any outside activities.

Hopefully,

 very, very soon, 

we will have a discussion about the virtues of self-control.

What makes an eight-year-old think they can do anything they want without impunity?

Surely we will soon get to the bottom of this important question.

I'm guessing it's that sin nature we are born with.

Grams are also useful in imparting the truth of God's word to their grandkids.

Never ever let a "teachable" moment go to waste!

Here's to summer and grandkids and getaways,

To card games and pizza and sleepovers.

Here's to endless talk about absolutely nothing,

To laughter, and everything wonderful about children.

Here's to engaging in the magic of reading on a Sunday afternoon,

to getting lost in fantasy and wishing it would come true.

I 💙 the mind of a child!

 

cabin campers

Just back from a trip to Richard B Russel State Park ~ 

Elberton Georgia.

Frankie and Sally, 

my brother and his wife,

 invited all of us up for some lake time.

He has a boat and a jet ski and he thrilled this group with rides on both.

We stayed in a rustic cabin a stone's throw from the water.

We cooked all of our meat outside on the grill.

We spent most of our time on the dock and it was a great time.

There was a huge screened porch with rocking chairs facing the lake.

Each day I was up early to watch the sun come up.

Such a relaxing and serene place!

More pictures to come soon.

I'm still trying to unpack and put everything I hauled up there back in place.

It requires a lot of food to feed 12 people.

The teenagers eat twice as much as they used to.

Thankfully I brought plenty!