Halloweens past and present

Ella's First Halloween - 2006

Cute little flower - 2007

Little Red Riding Hood - 2008

Little Miss Heffalump - 2009

Look!  I'm a bat. - 2010

 I thought you might like to see these.  I know some of you have known Ella from the start.  I've had so much fun each October being in Virginia and enjoying this time with her. 

Fall in Virginia

 When I drove up to Virginia two weeks ago, not much color could be seen.  There were some trees that had changed color and dropped their leaves, and people were not predicting a very brilliant fall.  I love coming this time of year since, being a Floridian, and not seeing changes in seasons like other folks do, this is always a delightful time of year.

 In the past week or so, the colors have arrived.  Last weekend, David took me for a ride and there was a hint of color.  Now during the week with some rain and change in temperature, the color has erupted.  This photo and the two following are in David's yard and the yard next door.

The day today is crisp and clear.  Ella had her costume parade at pre-school today  The little kids were all so cute in their varied costumes. (pictures to follow)

"As long as the earth endures,

seedtime and harvest

cold and heat,

summer and winter,

day and night

will never cease."



"I was glad when they said unto me, 'Let us go into the house of the Lord.'

For years I have driven by this little church in central Florida.  I told my new sister Sue that when I drove to Virginia this time, I was going to stop along the way and take some pictures.  This church was in my mind

when I set out this morning.

Three weeks ago I worshipped in a church that didn't "look like" a church...not what I'm used to.  But there I was, with about 3,000 other people, singing, praising God, and listening to the Word being preached.  What a great time it was.

I think of believers in closed countries who can't worship out in the open because of persecution, and I am thankful that I have the freedom to worship where I choose with a body of believers, the real church.

Meet the Axe Murderers

So I went to California to stay for a week with a couple that I had never met.  When I told people that I was doing this, they looked at me, wondering if I was in my right mind.  I even ended up on someone's prayer list, praying for my safety while I was gone.  I think they thought I might be meeting danger somewhere.

I guess it was a little crazy.  What if we didn't hit it off?  It could have been a very long week.  Sue is a blogger.  She has a wonderful photo blog, Photowannabe, and that is where I first met her.  I don't know how I ended up there, but the first photos of hers that I saw were from Haiti.  I just knew they had to be.  And you all know I have a deep love for that country, having lived there for three and a half years, teaching missionary kids, before I was married. 

We have commented on each other's blogs and known that we were both very interested in missions and just seemed to have so many things in common.  So one night when I was on Face Book, I sent her a message, asking it it might be possible to get together.  Reservations were made, and off I flew to California.

Dave grew up in San Francisco, so he took great delight in being my tour guide.  If you go down a few posts, you can read abut that day trip.  We also went to Lake Tahoe one day and then in to Sacramento one day for lunch. 

Sue and I just talked and talked and talked.  And we found that we do indeed have so many things in common.  We're just sorry that our paths didn't cross earlier. 

One other plus of the trip was being able to worship with them at their church.  What a wonderful experience that was.  There were only about 3,000 in the service, and they have five services.  Sue and Dave host a small group in their home each week.  I missed out on that, but I know I would have loved that too.

If you go to this post on Sue's blog, you can see what she wrote about us.  Scroll down near the end of the post.  The photo was taken when we were watching the salmon swimming upstream.

Well, they weren't axe murderers after all...just two very wonderful new friends.

A Way to Find Enjoyment

At one time, Bangkok television aired the American situation comedy LaVerne and Shirley. For whatever reason, officials there believed that a disclaimer was necessary for the Thailand audience, so this subtitle was added to each show: "The two women depicted in the following episode are from an insane asylum."

Personally, I'm thankful there is a little silliness in the world. And I don't mind not acting like everybody else. Like the "irrepressible" educator and speaker Leo Buscaglia once said: "I don't mind if people think I'm crazy. In fact, I think it's great! It gives me tremendous latitude for behavior."

Buscaglia knew how to laugh. And I think knowing how to laugh and have fun is an important part of living.
Someone asked me what I do for fun. I felt I should answer with something others enjoy, like golf or skiing. But my idea of fun is not usually associated with entertainment and recreation. It is more about squeezing as much enjoyment into every day as I can.

Instead of looking for something fun to do, I try to make whatever I do a little more fun. And if I can't always do things I enjoy, I can learn to enjoy more of the things I do.

I like the word "enjoyment" because it has "joy" inside of it. So does the word "rejoice." And rejoicing is a way to find enjoyment of life.

Speaking of Leo Buscaglia, he used to tell a story about his mother and their "misery dinner." It was the night after his father came home and said it looked as if he would have to go into bankruptcy because his partner had absconded with their firm's funds. His mother's response was to sell some of her jewelry to buy food enough for a grand feast. At first, other members of the family scolded her for it. But she told them that "the time for joy is now, when we need it most, not next week." They learned to appreciate the hopeful
attitude that lifted them out of fear and into joy.

I want to learn to be happy even in those difficult and trying times. I won't be happy FOR them (who likes problems?), just IN them. I need the soothing medicine of laughter when it hurts. I want to learn that the time for joy is now, when I need it most.

Maybe it sounds silly, but I want to learn to rejoice in all things.

And If I'm doing that well, it really doesn't matter what I like to do for fun.



-- Steve Goodier

Update on "Just Because"

Thank you all for you concerns for Ella.  I talked with my DIL just now, and she said she has been much better the last four days.  She is taking prednisone, which, as most of you know, has some crazy side effects, but it does ease pain, inflammation, helps one breathe better, and a whole bunch of other things.

For Your Sunday

Just Because

I haven't posted many photos of Ella lately, but I don't want you all to forget what a cutie she is.  This photo was taken this summer when her mommy's family was together for a birthday celebration for Sabrina's mom.  It happened to be around Ella's birthday too.

You can see she still has her cheeks which everyone has often commented on.

She's going through a bit of a rough time lately...not her cystic fibrosis, but something else which has caused her to have pain and swelling in her joints and intermittent fever.  She started pre-K this year and loves it so much, but on days when she's hurting so much, she isn't able to go.  Say a little prayer, or lots of prayers for or Ella the Bella.  Through it all, she told her mother, "I'm a tough girl."  And she is.  I guess the rest of us need to be tough too.  It really hurts to see a little one hurting.

I didn't see this in Florida either

I didn't see this sign in Florida! I saw it in California upon entering a restaurant. I must say I smiled when I saw it though. Someone said this morning that if the beautiful weather we're having right now were year round, our roads would be crowded all the time. So, I guess hot weather is a blessing after all.

Lunch in Sacramento

 On Monday, Dave suggested we go into Sacramento for lunch.  Well, we were all for that.  We arrived in Old Sacramento around 1:20, parked, and walked over to Joe's Cr*b Shack.  It reminded me a lot of B*bba Gump Shrimp Factory.

 We thought we were all set for free crab, but, oops, we'd have to come back tomorrow.

 On the way to our table, we were greeted by these old guys, who apparently have been around for a while.

 Every forty-five minutes, the servers did a little floor show.  Our server seemed quite shy about doing it, but she came to our table and tried to get us to join her...we did not.

 Since we had come after the lunch hour, there were not many people in the restaurant.  We did wait to have a table by the window, so that the tourist could look out the window!

 Checking on us during our meal was this fine, feathered guy.  He pranced all around the top of that column and even went down in.  I don't know what he found.

 The bridge is quite interesting.  Instead of a draw bridge like we're familiar with here in Florida, you can see how the bridge span was raised for the boat to pass under.

Sue and I had been talking in the morning about not liking coconut, and what did we order?  Coconut shrimp, and they were good.  The folks at the table next to us were sharing this dessert.  It did indeed look yummy.

What a fun lunch it was!

On to Lake Tahoe and surroundings

 After a day in San Francisco and a day of just hanging around and talking, Sue and Dave took me to Lake Tahoe.  When you have lived where it is flat most of your life, the hills and mountains were very refreshing to see.  It was such a pleasant drive from their house over to Lake Tahoe.

 We stopped along the way to take some pictures.  I am always amazed at the giant boulders and the way that roads have been cut out of mountains. Be sure to click on the photos to see more detail.

 One pleasant surprise was to see salmon who were swimming upstream to spawn.  These fish, the Kokanee, were so interesting to watch.  There were large groups of them swimming together.  We were close enough to them to be able to wade in in touch them.  Of course, no one did.

 I didn't see any swimming right against the current here, but this is the direction in which they were headed.

 If some of them got off the beaten path and laid their eggs, they would not survive because of the mud.  Despite the screen to keep them out, there were a couple of fish in that area.

 Guess who else had been around.  We didn't see any though.

 If you click on the photo, you can read more abut the fish in this area.

 What a beautiful sight.  When we first arrived at the lake, the area where we were going to have our lunch had been blocked off so we drove to around until we found some good viewing areas.

 This photo and the two following were taken at Emerald Bay, which is part of the lake. 

Can you tell I had a good time?  Since I've been home and have told friends about the trip, they all say the same thing, "You really sound like you had a good time."  And I did indeed, many thanks to Sue and Dave.

The Occasional Blogger? The Lazy Blogger?

 I thought for sure when I did the first post from San Francisco I would do one a day.  Well...As my title suggests, perhaps I should rename this blog "The Occasional Blogger" or "The Lazy Blogger."  I mentioned in the previous post that we went to San Francisco on Thursday of last week.  There are several bridges to cross to get there.  This particular bridge is the Oakland Bridge that was damaged in the earthquake of 1989.  The crane in the water beside it is massive.  I don't know when the completion is scheduled, but the traffic moves along quite nicely.

 My wonderful hosts took me to the top of Twin Peaks to see San Francisco from above.  There was quite a UN there, must have been a tour bus of French tourists.  I loved listening to the French, wanting to say "Bonjour" or "Comment ca va?"  We even talked to a fellow who had been in Tampa for a while working, so we gave up a thumbs up for the Rays.  You do know who the Rays are, don't you?  They have clinched a spot in the playoffs...go Rays!

 Then on we went through a lovely park until we came to this lovely Dutch windmill.  There was a lovely garden there.  A gardener was pruning and trimming the hollyhocks.  He said in another week those would come out and a new planting would go in.

 Then on to lunch we went at the Cliff House.  In my previous post I put a link to the Cliff House that tells the history of it.  We sat right by the window, overlook Seal Rock and the Pacific.  In the distance we could see container ships in a row waiting to come in to port.

 The last destination of the day was the Golden Gate Bridge.  I guess no one could go to San Francisco without seeing it.  We took a ride under the bridge where Fort Point is located.  Dave's father was with the army in San Francisco and was responsible for the fort being part of the park system, preserved for future generations to be able to visit.

As you can see from the poster and the photo, it is a quite imposing structure.  The cannons and cannonballs are there as they were years ago.  I believe Dave said that they were never fired.  It reminded me of the fort at St.Augustine, not in looks, but its purpose.  I have photos of David as a little boy sitting on the cannons at St. Augustine, but these all had signs requesting that no one sit on them.

As we came out, this sign was pointed out to me.  Runners like to come and touch their hands here so that their fingerprints are there and they can prove they've been there

And, of course, the dogs run too, so there is a place for their paw prints.

It was neat to see this all with someone who had such a personal interest in this city, and in particular, the fort.  I even came home with a piece of the bridge.  Dave said when work was done on the bridge and rivets were replaced, they would drop the old ones into the fort.  His dad picked them up and stored them.  I was given one of them as a reminder of my trip there.  So, I didn't leave my heart in San Francisco. I brought a little piece of it home with me.

Thanks, Sue and Dave, for a most memorable day.

San Francisco

The other day on FB I mentioned that I was giving myself a birthday present of a gift to California.  For some years now, I have been a follower of Photowannabe, a delightful lady who lives near Sacramento.  Through blogging comments and photos, we have realized we have so much in common and we talked about how nice it would be to get together.

A couple of weeks ago, I took the bull by the horns and wrote her and asked if it would be possible to come out so that we could meet.  She agreed it would be a good idea, and so on Wednesday, I flew into the Sacramento airport and met Sue and her husband. 

Let me tell you, it is a long ride from Tampa to Sacramento.  On the flight from Atlanta to Sacramento I had a window seat which was not my preference, but that was all that was left, except for middle seats, and I surely did not want one of those.  I guess the Lord knew all about it because the little lady sitting beside me was barely five feet tall and little.  Thank you, Lord.  I was quite interested to look out the window at the cloud formations and the topography of the land.  What a beautiful, varied country we have.  This delightful couple had spent years teaching in Lutheran schools, and since retirement, have spent much time in Thailand teaching English as a second language. We found that we had so much in common, and that helped the time to pass more quickly that it would have otherwise.

If you have had the good fortune to meet a fellow blogger in person, you know how you start talking to each other as though you've known each other a long time.  It's a wonderful experience.  I highly recommend it.

When I spoke of coming, Sue asked me if I would like to go to San Francisco for a day and maybe Lake Tahoe for another.  Needless to say, my answer was a resounding yes.  So yesterday we went to San Francisco.  Sue's husband grew up in  the city and has been a tour guide so I had a wonderful tour.  I saw a few places that the regular tours would not go.

We had lunch at the Cliff House, right on the Pacific.  Seated by the window, we looked out at Seal Rock.  I didn't see any seals, but lots of birds.  If you click on the link, you can see photos of the Cliff House and read about its remarkable history.

After driving down the very crooked street, Lombard Street, we passed by Fisherman's Wharf.  Our final destination was the Golden Gate Bridge.  I like the particular photo above since it shows one of several container ships that we saw pass by while at lunch.  More to come...

Reflective - Thematic Photographic

This is, without a doubt, my favorite photo of Ella.  Many of you have seen it before, but it will be new to some.  I'm so glad for a reason to post it again...Carmi's theme "reflective."

Do It Again, Lord

I was at a video conference on September 15, just a few days after the day that we will never forget, or I hope we will never forget.  It was a seminar on being successful in your business, but at the end of the day, John Maxwell invited Max Lucado to speak a word and pray for our nation.  The following is that prayer.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do It Again, Lord

by Max Lucado



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



We’re still hoping we’ll wake up. We’re still hoping we’ll open a sleepy eye and think, “What a horrible dream.”



But we won’t, will we, Father? What we saw was not a dream. Planes did gouge towers. Flames did consume our fortress. People did perish. It was no dream and, dear Father, we are sad.



There is a ballet dancer who will no longer dance and a doctor who will no longer heal. A church has lost her priest, a classroom is minus a teacher. Cora ran a food pantry. Paige was a counselor and Dana, dearest Father, Dana was only three years old. (Who held her in those final moments?)



We are sad, Father. For as the innocent are buried, our innocence is buried as well. We thought we were safe. Perhaps we should have known better. But we didn’t.



And so we come to you. We don’t ask you for help; we beg you for it. We don’t request it; we implore it. We know what you can do. We’ve read the accounts. We’ve pondered the stories and now we plead, “Do it again, Lord. Do it again.”



Remember Joseph? You rescued him from the pit. You can do the same for us. Do it again, Lord.



Remember the Hebrews in Egypt? You protected their children from the angel of death. We have children too, Lord. Do it again.



And Sarah? Remember her prayers? You heard them. Joshua? Remember his fears? You inspired him. The women at the tomb? You resurrected their hope. The doubts of Thomas? You took them away. Do it again, Lord. Do it again.



You changed Daniel from a captive into a king’s counselor. You took Peter the fisherman and made him Peter an apostle. Because of you, David went from leading sheep to leading armies. Do it again, Lord, for we need counselors today, Lord. We need apostles. We need leaders. Do it again, dear Lord.



Most of all, do again what you did at Calvary. What we saw here last Tuesday, you saw there that Friday. Innocence slaughtered. Goodness murdered. Mothers weeping. Evil dancing. Just as the smoke eclipsed our morning, so the darkness fell on your Son. Just as our towers were shattered, the very Tower of Eternity was pierced.



And by dusk, heaven’s sweetest song was silent, buried behind a rock.



But you did not waver, O Lord. You did not waver. After three days in a dark hole, you rolled the rock and rumbled the earth and turned the darkest Friday into the brightest Sunday. Do it again, Lord. Grant us a September Easter.



We thank you, dear Father, for these hours of unity. Christians are praying with Jews. Republicans are standing with Democrats. Skin colors have been covered by the ash of burning buildings. We thank you for these hours of unity.



And we thank you for these hours of prayer. The Enemy sought to bring us to our knees and succeeded. He had no idea, however, that we would kneel before you. And he has no idea what you can do.



Let your mercy be upon our President, Vice President, and their families. Grant to those who lead us wisdom beyond their years and experience. Have mercy upon the souls who have departed and the wounded who remain. Give us grace that we might forgive and faith that we might believe.



And look kindly upon your church. For two thousand years you’ve used her to heal a hurting world.



Do it again, Lord. Do it again.



Through Christ, Amen.



© 2001, Max Lucado. This prayer was originally spoken at America Prays, a prayer event held September 15, 2001 by InJoy. Title: "Do It Again, Lord"

Author: Max Lucado

Publication Date: September 18, 2001

Transportation - Carmi's Photographic Theme

Would you like to travel on this bus?  In the three and a half years that I lived in Haiti, I never did board a bus quite like this.  It didn't cost much (for me) to travel like this, but I chose not to.  If I remember correctly, three people were seated on one bench seat, and then a jump seat was That wouldn't go with any safety code here, would it.  And if you will notice, there are riders and livestock on top of the bus.  The more the merrier.

I lived about 120 miles from the capital of Port-au-Prince, and, depending on the condition of the road, it could take up to twenty-four hours to travel that distance.  Whenever I went to the capital, I chose to go by air.  When I was there in the early 70's, the airline consisted of DC-3's, big propeller planes that were very reliable.  On our end, the airport was a cow pasture.  When the plane was approaching, the person in charge would get out on the field and blow a whistle for farmers to get their cows off the field.

I posted this photo before in another blog post.  This motorbike meant freedom.  Because of the condition of the roads and the cost of a four-wheel drive vehicle, almost all of us had a dirt bike which we used for traveling. I probably never traveled more than forty miles from my home on the bike, but I loved every minute of it.  Sometimes it was very challenging.

I would never get on a motorbike here in the States...well, maybe on a trail, but surely not on a main road.  I must confess I enjoy the comfort of my car.  I used to say that a car was simply transportation.  One didn't need all the bells and whistles.  But...with the few that I have, I surely enjoy them.

For more photos on the transportation theme, visit Carmi's blog.

Just for Today

Just for Today ...

.. smile at a stranger

.. listen to someone's heart

.. drop a coin where a child can find it

.. learn something new, then teach it to someone

.. tell someone you're thinking of them

.. hug a loved one

.. don't hold a grudge

.. don't be afraid to say "I'm sorry"

.. look a child in the eye and tell them how great they are

.. don't kill that spider in your house, he's just lost so show him the way out

.. look beyond the face of a person into their heart

.. make a promise, and keep it

.. call someone, for no other reason than to just say "Hi"

.. show kindness to an animal

.. stand up for what you believe in

.. smell the rain, feel the breeze, listen to the wind

.. use all your senses to their fullest

.. cherish all your TODAYS

~ Author Unknown

Taken from Pastor Tim's website, http://www.cybersalt.org/.

 

A Tale of Two Babies

A newborn Ella

Two babies have joined families that I know in the last month.  One of the babies, Samuel, was born to a couple in our church who have been married for ten years and have desired a child so much. Our whole church has been so exited for this little life that has joined E and S.  Samuel is going to have lots of "grandmas" to love on him. His mom told me that because she is 39, she was considered a geriatric o.b. patient.  Oh my.

Another baby boy was born about six weeks ago to a teen mother who already had one child and didn't want this one.  My daughter has a friend, who with her husband, have desired to have a baby join their family. The only thing is that a few years ago H. was in an accident that left her in a coma and her insides badly messed up.  After many surgeries, she survived but was left unable to carry a child.  They prayed for a child, just as E. and S. did, but their son arrived  a different way.  The nursery was ready, waiting for the little life who would join them.  Two days ago, the young mother called and said, "Come and get this baby.  I don't want him."  Needless to say, they went and got him, and now they have their baby.

I'm so glad that this teen mother did not choose to abort her baby.  She could have, but she didn't and now B. and H. have their little boy.

Catching up

Last week, or maybe two weeks ago, I asked what you do when you can't sleep.  There were lots of suggestions or ideas.  I'm not sure what has happened, but I'm beginning to sleep better.  I am very grateful for that.  The leg pain is diminishing.  I'm able to walk a good distance now without pain.  Standing still is difficult.  I have a few more sessions of therapy, and then I think they will discharge me.  I went to a pain management doctor who wanted to inject me with cortisone in my lower back, but I decided not to do that.

Our town was quite excited this past weekend when one of our local high schools (my alma mater) played their first football game of the season against a team from Tampa and beat them quite handily.  The exciting thing was that it was telecast on E*PN.  I had a ticket for a play at the local theater so I didn't get to go, but I would have been there otherwise.

Now we are all excited by our Tampa Bay Rays who will be playing in the post season unless something horrible would happen.  I've been to quite a few games in St. Petersburg during the season and hope to make it to some of the post-season games.  A ticket or two for the World Series would be fun.

For the past three weeks I've been helping a dear friend get settled in her new home at Il Villagio (formerly known as Bradenton Missionary Village.)  Winters in New York have been harsh, and so her children thought a move here would be good.  Moving to Florida in August is not ideal.  The weather is hot and humid.  We've had fun buying some living room furniture for her apartment and taking care of lots of other things.  It has been hard for her to make such a move at 85, but she's a good sport, and I know that once winter comes, she'll be glad she's here.  I know I'm glad she's here.  We've been good friends for a long time. In fact, I taught a couple of her kids when I was in Haiti.

I wish you all a good week ahead.

Did you hear about...

the Senior Prom that took place this past week at a baseball game in St. Petersburg?  It took place on Wednesday.   Perhaps you saw this commercial.

The player in the Rays shirt is Evan Longor*a, one of many stara on our home team.  He suggests in the commercial that they might have a senior prom for senior citizens.  The Rays picked up on the idea and this past week there was indeed a senior prom after the baseball games...not for high school seniors, but for senior citizens in the community.  Now if you know anything about St. Petersb*rg, you know that there are a lot of senior there. 

I heard once that when folks retired to Florida, they moved to the east coast and sent their parents to the west coast.  As I myself grow older, I look at the seniors with a great deal of admiration.  When I had my knee replacement and was in rehab for a short while, I remember watching people who were much older than I was who had double knee replacements, and they were so diligent about working hard to get those new knees working right.  But I digress.

"For Wednesday's game against the Texas Rangers, the staff booked an oldies band and a Frank Sinatra impersonator; bought boutonnieres and corsages for all the seniors; crowned a king and queen of the prom; and offered group discounts for everyone over 55."--taken from an article that I will link to.

More than 2500 seniors bought tickets for this game.  I wish I had been there.  A writer for the St. Petersburg Times wrote this article about the senior prom and one dear old gentleman who attended.  Please click on the link and read the article.  It will put a smile on your face.  It will be a good way to start your day or finish it nicely.  If you can't find the link, it appears that it isn't there, but look in the sentence "A writer for the St. Pete Times wrote...then there is a space.  The link is there.  It looks like a blank space.  I don't know how to make it appear.  I will work on this template and try to fix it.  Thanks.