Days off Rock!!!

Most people take this for granted, but two days – in a row – off from work and volunteer obligations is a rare thing to happen to me. And I am very excited about it!! The last time I had two days in a row off, not counting vacation time, just two days in a row off, was….well I’m not sure I really remember.

But it is here now yesterday and today, count ‘em two days, back to back!!

My life usually consists of Monday off only. On that Monday any appointments that have to be made are made on this day, then there is laundry, groceries, bill paying, and if time and my energy (remember I am getting pretty old now) permit maybe some cooking and cleaning. But now here I am on day two, laundry done, groceries bought, bills caught up, and sleeping until I wanna get up!

Now what? What to do with all this time! Blog, I guess. What do you do with two days off in a row? Whatever you do, cherish it.

Gotta love vacations!!

This year's vacation was very different for us. Every year since we’ve been married we have gone to Emerald Isle once and usually twice, a year. It is hard to beat a free place to stay that is a block from the ocean.

We knew the day would come when that would not be available to us any longer and my time with grandma was unpredictable, which is why we went there as long as we could. Then it happened, grandma passed away in January of this year. It is funny how many things change when a member of the family passes, especially the ‘matriarch’ of the family, as some people referred to her as (but that is a previous blog). Anyway my dad and his brother inherited the property, and now they have renters. I am very happy for them, as it will help pay for the upkeep of the place and provide a little income also.

But I digress, back to today. So we went on one of the very few vacations so far in our lives together that did not involve Emerald Isle. As I sit here and write this, we are in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (aka the UP). I had forgotten how clear and gorgeous water could be. The Great Lakes are just spectacular!

We started our trip with a visit to The Henry Ford (as they call it now). Which consists of Greenfield Village and The Henry Ford Museum. I had been to the museum and was so looking forward to seeing it again, for it had been 100 since I was there. But to my surprise, I actually enjoyed the Village more! I found so much so interesting. You really do feel as if you have stepped back in time there, they do a great job of preserving that atmosphere, along with preserving all the buildings. There are actually people who work the land using the implements of days past. It is all beyond very cool!

Then we drove to St. Ignace, and ended up staying here for four nights (the original plan was two nights!). But we just couldn’t leave! Our hotel room overlooked Mackinac Island, and we watched the sun rise every morning, right outside the balcony. It just poured across the room and across the bed, what a great way to wake up every morning. Mackinac Island, lighthouses, waterfalls, and the most gorgeous cliff formations in the world, it is all there!

I won’t go into a lot of details here I will let my pictures tell the stories. But I have to say that this has been a wonderfully fantastic vacation. Ed fell in love with the UP, and wants to return some day. I fell back in love with the most gorgeous lakes in the world (I put my hand in three of the five Great Lakes while we were here).

Grandma being gone is very sad for me, but looking on one bright side, it opens up a world of possibilities of places to visit while I can still do it. I have so many ideas….where should we go next year?

What to blog about today...

Seems kind of silly to have a blog page and not blog much. I had such great expectations when I started all this. Now I am trying to recount what they were.

Was I trying to keep my family (and friends who read it) up to date on what is going on in my life? Maybe I trying to capture all my deepest thoughts in hopes of inspiring someone (yea, as if!)? Was it just to ramble on about nothing to practice my typing skills? How about just complain to the world and get it off my chest so I could feel better (after all it is all about me, right?). I got it! It is to document my life and thoughts in the cloud forever and ever! Um, I very much doubt that one!

Nope, still haven't figured it out yet. Maybe some day I will figure it out. I do blog better when on vacation, and that is just next week! So who knows, maybe something will happen then. I know you just can't wait, uh?

Dear Ed

It is our 12th anniversary! You are the best thing that ever came into my life. I know we don't make big deals of our special days (guess that's the way it is with two introverts), but I wanted to tell the world (well, you don't have to worry about the world hearing, not many people really read this) that I think you are the best.

You are the greatest husband, and I am so proud to be married to you. There aren't words to explain how perfect of a fit we are together. I have so much respect and deep love for you. It seems to get better all the time. I love making future plans with you (even if it is only to decide which room to paint next!). We work together and live together so well.

This is not one of those milestone anniversaries, so I don't have to feel bad about not writing something a little more profound. Just know that you are so loved, and I am glad to share my life with the best guy ever for me!

Betty, this one's for you...

May 14, 2011
Summa Cum Laude
Cincinnati Christian University

God answered your prayers. Thank you Betty, for never giving up.

A Tale of Two Dogs, and God's Lesson

Meet Shelby, great dog, the ultimate in obedience. Tell her to “come” and she does…everytime. She does anything I tell her to do. I can go for a walk with her without a leash, and I feel confident that she would “come” when I called her. I have the utmost confidence in her and can depend on her to do as I say.

Now, meet Gracie, great dog, but the word “come”? Not in her vocabulary…..totally clueless about it. If I had her out without a leash she would just wander away. If I called her, she might look at me, but certainly not obey. I can’t even bribe her to come, cheese, peanut butter, nothing works.

We are about the head out on vacation, and it makes me sad to think that Gracie (since there is no fenced in yard where we stay) will never be off a leash outside of the house.

Picture this we are walking along the ocean. There are these little birds there with little feet that are just too funny to watch. As you get closer to them their feet move quicker and quicker until they just take flight and leave anyone or anything chasing them totally abandoned.

Chasing these little birds is great fun for a dog, especially herder dog. Shelby will stalk them and try to herd them. Then in a flash they are gone, gliding effortlessly over the ocean and landing back on the beach about 100 feet away. It appears that they are taunting her, but she loves it. And she will give chase again and again. By the end of the day, she is totally exhausted but so happy. At times like this, she is living life to the fullest.

Then there is Gracie, she may try to chase once or twice and quickly realize she is on a leash. No such freedom or fun for her. I can’t trust her to come back when I call. You can take that scenario and find the potential consequences. (Not to mention a dog off a leash is technically illegal.)

If she would only understand that if she obeyed, she would be granted more freedom...if she had more freedom she would have much more fun...if she had more fun she could experience so many new wonders that are out there for her. But no, she will do things her way until….well who knows how long.

But I love them both, and would never give up on either of them.

I know is sounds like an oxymoron, but it is true. The same thing can be said for our walk with God. The more we seek His heart and His will and obey, the more free we are to experience all of the wonders that are out there, just waiting for us.

In His Name!

Our executive pastor spoke today, and something finally hit home with me. Thanks, Garry.

When you are an executor of someone's will, you are expected to do things according to their wishes. That means it is your responsibility to find out what that person has in their will, and then carry it out to the best of your ability. You will be honoring and obeying their request by doing so.

They gave you that authority over their will. They did so, not because you attained any kind of status, they just chose you...over everyone else they knew. They trust that you will abide by their desires on their behalf...in their name. (Maybe they just liked you!)

I never related that to the ending of a prayer when someone says "in the name of Jesus...."

Jesus is giving me authority to execute His will. Me! Not because I work at a church, not because I volunteer a lot of hours, but because He loves me, no other reason. I have been given the authority to execute His will.

Wow, all that finally sinks in! (I always said I was a slow learner!)

Now comes the hard part....now I have to be still, ask, and listen to what His will really is. No one said this would be easy! The question is, am I up to the challenge?