What I Learned while traveling in europe

Well, here I am. Home again.
What an exciting time I had in London and Paris!
What a wonderful thing it is was to have my "girls" with me there!

What did I learn?
I learned that the people over there are not nearly so "mean" as everyone here in the states says they are. In fact, everyone was exceedingly kind and helpful.
This was especially noted and appreciated in Paris. They were so patient with me when I tried to ask questions or directions to places. Everyone was so helpful and kind.
I learned that these people drive expensive cars. I learned that gas is higher there than it is here. And I learned that they walk EVERYWHERE. That is why they are so thin and why there are only small sizes in clothes when you shop for them. ha ha
I learned that there are sales in paris and london, if you can find them, just like there are here.

And I learned that I was able to walk much further than I thought I could and that I could tackle all those stairs we had to climb everywhere. I felt a real sense of accomplishment in accomplishing that. I feel I am ready now to set a goal toward more walking, etc. and look forward to my first ever 5K in July. It is exciting to me to be able to do that!!

I learned that my "girls" are patient with me and helpful to me. I learned, too, that they are fun to be with. (Of course, I knew this all the time, but even when we are in foreign lands, they are so loving and kind....and funny). It seemed that the giggling never stopped.

I learned many historical things also and I never cease to be amazed at how much more interesting this history is to me when I am in the area than when I am reading it out of a book in the states.

I learned, too, that this country has much for which to be thankful....the cleanliness, the courtesy of people (talking about the shoving), the right of way as pedestrians, the prices, and the beauty of america...I know that London and Paris was beautiful...and the buildings that were so very old were wonderful to see and to be amazed at, but nothing beats the United States for all of this and more.

It is always wonderful to travel but it is even more wonderful to return home.

Blessings

How do I begin this post? How can I remember all the blessings I have received? I am not talking about the everyday ones...the great health I am enjoying, the many new friends I am making, and the old friends too and their increased closeness to me, the love of my family. All of these go on endlessly, it seems. I can'thelp but wonder why God is so good to me, even in the trying times. I can only deduce from this happening is that He wants me to share with everyone else, in any way that I can.. His name is always there in every conversation.
I am even becoming "braver" and asking strangers around me if they know my Jesus and what has He done for you today. I get amazing responses and so many times, they witness to me and I rejoice because God has taught me that they might not have done it otherwise. You never know what God has ready for you to do for Him until you just follow the Holy Spirit. What can anyone do to me when I broach the subject except to walk away or not answer...I have no fear. And I have not had any responses to the negative.

How can I help but tell the wonderful things God has done, is doing, and will do for me?? He is amazing! And it is an exciting adventure to be used by Him.

The latest things that have happened in my life is that my granddaughter won a State pagaent. She is such a beautiful, calm, and poised young lady. I am sure she gets that from my side of the family. ha ha.
Actually, I think she did it on her own with God's leading. That's for sure.

Then she was presented with the dancer of the year award and I marvel at her abilities.
I know God has a special thing picked out for her to do with her life and I know she will use His guidance and wisdom. She is a joy to me and to all around her.

Another blessing I am receiving is that my "girl" family...my daughter, my daughter in law, and their daughters and I are going on a trip together. I love it, not only for the fun we will be having, but for the joy of "bonding" even more than we already are. It means so much more for me to have my family grow together nowadays...maybe it is because I am getting older, aren't we all? But it is simply a joyful blessing when I see them all so close and so caring for and about one another.

I can't help but think of what "bops" would say. I keep bringing him into these "posts"..I can't help it...he is still so very much a part of my thinking and of my life, that I truly rejoice in how happy he would be if he could see us now. His family so close together. His granddaughter winning titles, his grandson in college and doing well, his older granddaughter and her new husband already buying their first house, his daughter finally starting her own health and exercise place, his daughter in law and son doing so well up in the home and both of them staying busy and healthy, and, lastly....me. Oh, how happy he would be to see me working on my weight, walking everyday, and setting a goal of a walk in 5K in November. He would be beside himself. I'm just sorry I did not do this when he was here. But what am I saying...he is always here. I know now what people mean when they say that they will always be with you.
But what a joy it is! To be so loved and to be so blessed.

I thank you, Lord, for your goodness and love toward me. Can't help loving my Lord. He is here with me all the time and I rely on His strength and wisdom.

bye for now.

Flexibility is an Adventure

You never know what life is going to bring to you.
You can worry about it and IT may never happen. What a waste of time and energy.
You can watch for IT and then you miss the other wonderful things that are happening and taking place in your life and all around you.
You can plan for IT, in case IT comes along, and when IT doesn't, you are almost disappointed and feel the sense of loss of time wasted.

Or you can simply learn to take each day and each happening as it takes place and accept it. And remember to be flexible in your acceptance of the events.

It is so wonderful when you finally let this happen.
This is not to say "whatever" and give up when things happen that we did not accept...nor to let them bring us down...but to look at IT as a thing of wonderment from the Lord to help you grow....to help you realize that He is still in control...because when the "bad" comes, that is when we lean on the Lord the most. When the good things come, it is the time when we need to remember to praise our Lord, not just for that blessing but for the way He has brought us through to receive it.

Flexibility is a funny thing. It is so much easier to accept (what you think) are shortcomings in friends or people around you when you consider them with your new flexibility....or new eye-sight. When you realize everyone, including yourself, has faults but God loves them and made something special in each person, it makes you want to search for that special something and you forget about the problems you are having with them.

I remember many years ago, I was a director in our church VBS program and my helper in that department was a lady that I really did not know very well. Her team was "building" the Jewish temple for the study and she was doing a fantastically beautiful and precise building. I was amazed. But I also knew that she did a thing that really, truly annoyed me...she was NEVER on time. It irritated me to death. I really had to watch myself or I would almost lose my temper with her when she came in each day.
Then one day, after much prayer and thought, I realized a solution.
If I went every day and picked her up for VBS and brought her in my car, and if I went a little early to get her, she would arrive on time. Sounded like a perfect plan to me.about m
I did that the next day. I went by her house three days in a row, always arriving early so that we would not be late to class.
And each day, we were late. She just was always late. There was nothing I could do to change that.
So, I thought about it and began to pray for her.'
I knew that God loved her. He had made something good in her. I had to be flexible enough to look for the good thing that God had done in her and dwell on that.
I did pray. And I did search. And it happened.
I found the good in her. I praised the Lord for allowing me to be flexible and to bend to His leadings, not mine.
I found the good, but I must tell you, she was still ALWAYS late. But that was alright now because God had made her my friend through my prayers.
I have always heard ....pray for your enemies and they will become your friends. And it is true. It happened to me.

So now, when I think about my way being the only way, and my way always being right, I always remember that lesson that God taught me about flexibility. Open your mind and your heart, listen, and be aware of His lesson on flexibility and this adventure opens up all kinds of possiblities of praise and worship each minute of the day. It releases the joy of His plan working in you and not your plan taking over. It is easier to remember THE LORD IS ALWAYS IN CONTROL when you remember to flex to His will and to His leading.

It is an excitement to be ready, to be flexible, and to live every day as an adventure with and for the Lord. He's got everything all planned out.

Birthdays and Chocolate

I have one of those birthdays coming up!
Dad Gum, I cannot figure out how the numbers got so high!
I look in the mirror as I pass by and I sometime wonder...who IS this white-haired woman I am looking at. And then I realize it is me!!

I never thought I would get this many years. I never really thought about it, actually.
I remember when I was nearing my 40th birthday, my daughter said that she would help me enjoy my birthday, even if she had to wheel me to the table in a wheelchair. haha

I don't really "feel" like that many years old, and most people comment how I don't Look that number but I think, secretly,they are lying and are being kind....of course, they tell me that on my good days. But I feel wonderful! And I feel like I am "wiser" and "smarter" about more things than I have ever been. I try to learn something new and I don't believe in being stagnant in your habits and your daily schedule. I like to be spontaneous. It's fun and it keeps you wondering what lies ahead. Of course, God is always my guide in these happenings and decisions. I am so glad He never leaves my side. I need Him.

Birthdays were always a big deal in my house when I was a kid growing up in Florida.
On your birthday, you could have any menu you chose for the supper meal and you didn't have to do anything..no chores...all day long. I don't really remember many of the presents but I do remember being able to pick what we had for dinner that night. Loved doing it. And I think I still have that love for planning what to eat. Woe is me on that basis.

And there was always a homemade birthday cake. My sis made the best cakes. And, of course, mine was always chocolate. Can't remember when I started eating chocolate and loving it so much; maybe it was when I was a baby and maybe they gave me chocolate milk to drink instead of white. I know I never cared for white milk when I was young...maybe that's why.

I remember the few times I would be able to buy my lunch in the cafeteria at school and I always tried to get the chocolate milk. Much to my regret, all the other kids loved it too and by the time I got to the milk selection, the chocolate was all gone. ha ha

Now my two kids are grown and it makes me feel older to tell their ages than it does mine.
Interestingly enough, though, is that the people I am hanging around with have the same age children and some even older. So I guess I have to look at those "old" people and know I am one of them.

But there is old and there is OLD. Man alive! I see some of the guys and gals that I graduated from school with and I wonder what happened to them. They are in such deep ruts...they don't even want to go a few extra (I'm talking 10 miles!) to try a new resturant, or they talk about the people they used to have dealings with and tell all the bad things about them (I think that is called gossip) and they complain about the food in the resturant, no matter where we are.
What in the world made them so negative and so OLD? I am not feeling superior to them by any means, but I feel sorry that they are missing so much joy in their lives by being so "shut off" and negative.

Life is to be lived in expectation of excitement and of something happening that brings us joy.....even when we have hard times or bad things happen.
It is supposed to be lived as though this is the last day of your life...lived to the fullest...with the most laughs...and the most love...and the wonderful positive things you can share with others.
This is what life is all about. And this is also a witness for my sweet Jesus...that's what He made us for...to talk with Him and to serve Him by helping to make someone else's life a little happier and thinking positive. It makes such a difference.