MORE BLESSINGS

Almost one week on the road.  It has been a fabulous experience.  I packed soothing and inspirational CD’s.  Some, which are by my favorite favorite artist, David Hollandsworth.  When I listen to the music Hollandsworth creates, it’s as if I am listening to part of heaven, exciting, soothing, peaceful and inspiring.  I only have three of his CD’s but with the other three CD’s I brought I don’t seem to tire of any of them.

To update my travels.  I had a marvelous time visiting with Kathleen and Matt.  I like Kathleen’s philosophy of retirement.  The first night I was there I asked her when she got up in the morning (trying to be a considerate guest) and she replied, “when I feel like it”.  Oh, so I asked  her what time she went to bed and she replied, “when I feel like it”.  Hmmm was my thought response.  So I ask, well what time do you normally go to bed?  “Oh between 1:00 or 2:00” (that would be A.M.).  Okay, I’ll  just follow suite I decided…when in Rome do as the Romans…  Well they kept me up until almost midnight that first night and I’ve been paying for it ever since.  Up late, sleep late and my day is about gone before it gets started.  So…I think I like my way best.  Early to bed, early to rise.  That way my day seems much longer and if there is anything I like doing less than sleeping I haven’t discovered it yet.  I don’t like to give up one minute of my day to resting or sleeping.  I have too much I want to do.  So…here I am on the road, fitting in to all kinds of schedules, sleeping in all kinds of beds, travelling all kinds of miles and loving every minute of it.  I am learning something everywhere I go!  I’m asking everyone for their very best advice for my life.  I listen and enjoy what is said and then, unfortunately, before I get to my next blog time I forget what was said.  So maybe I should start recording it and collecting all the sage advice, some from those even older than myself.

The time at Matt and Kathleen’s was restful, peaceful and lots of fun.  We played many card games, ate lots of good food (most of which I brought and prepared), planned a destination trip to ALDI’S (yes the discount grocery store), worked out at the Y, and attended the ladies Bible study.  Great study it was too, and of course, I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. We then went to lunch, went back to Matt and Kathleen’s, packed my bags and hit the road toward Branson.  I thought I left on time because I was going by my car clock, only to find out when I hooked up my GPS for the first time, that the times didn’t coordinate due to the fact that it WAS NOT 3:15 p.m. but 4:14 p.m..  I had forgotten to move the clock an hour forward last weekend.  Oops!  Very seldom do I wear a watch or look at the time.  For me, that is a beautiful place to live.

I have experienced blessing after blessing since leaving my home.  While in Willow Springs I walked into the YMCA to work out.  My friend is a member there and she said they offer a free pass on the first day.  I mentioned this and Hannah asked me how long I would be staying.  I told her I would be coming back two more days and knew that I would be paying for those days.  As I spoke she wrote out , not one free pass, but three free passes that I could use.  I was so surprised.  When I was in Rolla the most reasonable quote I received on the phone for a day pass at private clubs was $10.00.  Sorry, but that is a little too steep for me so I worked out in the home where I was staying.  It was so refreshing to receive a gift of the three passes from the Y.  When I left the third day I thanked the personnel and met two wonderful people, Logan and Terri.  I shared a little of my story and asked them if I could mention them in my blog.  I got the okay.  So…Terri, thank you for the generosity of your club to allow me to stay healthy a little bit more affordable.  I appreciate that  your YMCA reached out to a stranger and made me feel so welcome.  My hat off to the OZARKS FAMILY  YMCA in Willow Springs!

I found Willow Springs to be a delightful interlude of life in the slow lane.  Probably no more than 2,000 to 3,000 people.  I stayed in a house on the hilltop that overlooked one end of town and a beautiful park.  The train rail was very close and I could hear the comforting sound of the trains going by all times of the day and night.  Didn’t hear much of them at night as I slept so deep and peaceful.  Every where I have gone I have had deep, relaxing, refreshing sleep.  I took a couple of pictures of some buildings while in Willow Springs.  I will log them later.  When things get boring I want to remind myself to tell you the story of the “house on the hilltop”.  Quite interesting!

I hope I blessed Kathleen and Matt with my short stay.  I know they blessed me.  I packed a lot of food before I left home and was able to share some of what I made last summer from the vegetables I received from a from a local organic CSA farm.  We have been members of WHOLESOME HARVEST  CSA for several years and we love what we receive.  I was able to help with most of the cooking while at Kathleen’s and Matt’s and delighted them with yummy lunches.  Kathleen made me take pictures of food I prepared because the presentation so delighted her.  I so enjoy working with live food and creating wonderful dishes. It was actually a blessing for me to do it.  And…for the most part, they liked it.

Before I left, Kathleen showed me the beautiful quilt she is in the process of making.  Oh my!  My head just spun when I saw all that when into it from the design, piecing, sewing it all together, quilting and finishing.  Not my cup of tea.  It actually made my brain go haywire.  It was also my privilege to sleep under the very first quilt she made.  It was beautiful.  I think I might have a picture of that too.  While she was showing me her quilt I was admiring a beautiful necklace she had on.  I complimented her on it.  She reached up around her neck, unclasped it and said, “here, I want you to have it”.  I tried to refuse it but she would not take no for an answer. So,  again I have been blessed by something I never anticipated.  Now it makes me hesitant to give a compliment.  But…maybe I will still do so.

I am in a time crunch and must leave quickly.  Will proofread this after it is published and make corrections.  Know that when I am doing these blogs I am usually squeezing them in between the actual “living” part.  I know I have more to tell you about today ( BECAUSE IT IS ANOTHER BLESSING) so I put “part 1” on today’s date.  Look for part two at a later date. Bear with me as you stumble through all my mistakes, but must get it published before I walk out the door so I can turn my computer off.  More later.