Daily Archives: May 4, 2015
Monday May 4, 2015 Day 58 Roses and More Roses
Note to readers: For some reason my computer changes the date of each day’s entry when I post it. The entry below was written and posted on Monday May 4, 2015. Day 58
Yeah! I found another gym to work out at this week for only $10.00 for a week’s pass. The other was free for 3 days only and then $25.00 per day. No thank you! The new fitness center has a great gym, small and cozy but excellent equipment.
After our workouts Jeanette and I headed out for an adventure. We decided to do a tour of the local area’s Arboretums and Botanical gardens. We first went to the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek. When we arrived, to our disappointment we discovered they are closed on Monday. It looked like a really great place! From there we drove to another location in Walnut Creek, The Gardens of Heather Farm and that one was open. It was on the small side (probably one full square block which included parking). It was well worth going to. Primarily it was a rose garden (again, one of my favorite flowers) and a small like/pond that you could walk around. I’ll post a few pics if any turned out on my IPhone. We stayed quite awhile and enjoyed the roses. There were a lot of them for me to smell so it took awhile! I think I will post a lot of the pics I took today so you can enjoy the roses too.
After the Gardens of Heather Farm we stopped in Concord Markham Nature Park and Arboretum. That too was well worth it. It was a wild habitat with only native plants from the area. Very rugged with a simple beauty. We got a little carried away with the hiking and realized we were in dangerous overly rugged territory and turned around and made it out safely. Actually going down was a bit more dangerous than the going up had been. Jeanette had a hip replacement just two months ago and I certainly did not want to hurt myself and need a hip replacement. Not much light in the woods so don’t have many pics. Besides, we had to watch every step carefully so we wouldn’t fall into the almost empty waterway and I couldn’t focus on photos.
On the way home we stopped at Costco so I could stock up on a few things. Picked out what I needed only to get up to the register and Costco would not take Visa. I did not think I would have enough cash with me. However, when I got my money out I had exactly enough dollars (and not a dollar more) to pay for my items. How is that for cutting it close. My cash was elsewhere and I didn’t have it with me.
Once home we prepared a dinner fit for a king! My kind of food! That’s why it was so good! Shh..don’t tell Jeanette!
It is even earlier than normal and I’ve already finished my daily blog! WOW! So…I will use a little of my time to share something I wanted to share way back when it happened. For about three weeks when my trip was young I did not have WiFi and thus got very behind in writing. I want to tell you one of the stories that happened then. There are three main stories in sequence I will tell over the next few days.
Story #1 THE MIRACLE
On March 19th Russellville was in my rear view mirror and Euless Texas loomed ahead. It was a long drive to Euless where my cousin Janet and her husband Chuck lived. I was driving there so I would have a stop over on my way to San Antonio Texas. It was a very short overnight stay at Janet’s before I was to leave for San Antonio. On the 20th when I preparing to leave I receive a call from Peggy and Dave who were my next destination. Rain and flood warning were being issued for the areas I would be driving through and the news stated that if you didn’t have to travel it might be best not to get on the road. This put a pondering in my thoughts. I called the emergency road condition number for the Texas Patrol and was told if I stayed off the interstate and went the back roads it would probably be safer for me. I called Dave and he told me to ask the Lord and do what the Lord directed. So I did just that. I prayed and this was what I believed the Lord impressed in my heart:
“You can do all things through me for you have My strength. Trust Me-allow peace to reign in your heart. Use wisdom and continually ask for more wisdom. The more you give love to others and do My work, the more evil will rear its head to fight and try to stop you. I call My angels to do My bidding–fear not the wars that rage around you, for your strength is in Me and My blood covers you. Speak in authority and the evil one flees. Trust! Stand firm. It is going through the perils of life that make you stronger. Fear not, for I am with you. My rod and My staff will comfort you. Go with a brave heart. You are my beloved and I am with you.”
So I decided to go.
The speed limit in Texas is 75 mph on most roads. Some highway speed limit is 80 mph. And that is on highways with light signals. Go figure that one out. Well, that particular day it was raining cats and dogs. The highway was divided and the speed limit was posted at 75 mph. To Texans I don’t think heavy rains means slowing down one little bit. If anything they keep pushing the speed limit and continue going 80-85 mph. I kid you not! They drive like maniacs. Well, I drove 75 mph just so I wouldn’t get run over in the slow lane. The road was divided and it slowed down periodically to go through little spread out towns. Then of course in the country part of the driving there were occasional light signals that allowed traffic cross. I saw one such light a ways ahead as it turned yellow. I had plenty of time to stop, nothing was following me closely and I was in the right lane of two lanes going in one direction with a high earthen berm separating the oncoming traffic. As I approached the intersection the light turned red just as I stopped. The yellow light is rather longer that usual yellow lights (perhaps to compensate for the 75 mph speed limit). I was sitting at the light approximately 3 or 4 seconds when a double cabbed, large pick-up truck pulling a large, loaded down trailer behind it, zoomed by me on the right (where there was no lane) out into the intersection. He was trying to get control of his truck and trailer, in the rain , on wet pavement, and it wasn’t going to happen as long as he was applying his breaks. I did not see where he came from, nor did I see him approach. On the right side of me there was a cement raised area where a light pole stood. This truck went by at about 60 plus mph, did not scratch my car, did not hit the light pole and I could swear there was not enough room for that big truck and trailer to sidle by me. It was amazing.
Since he couldn’t not stop the vehicle and the cross traffic was coming over the berm, the driver had to accelerate and keep on going. As soon as he swooshed by me I was so shocked I just spoke out loud, “Why’d he do that?” in a very perplexed tone of voice. In my heart I thought I actually audibly heard the answer, “Because he could not stop” in a very matter of fact, purposeful answer. Followed by the words “Now do you trust Me?“. Whew! that was a close call. I had no fear or adrenaline rush as I never saw him until he was already past me. All I know, it was a miracle for that large truck to get between me and that light pole, gain control of his vehicle and trailer on wet pavement, and have no one hurt or killed.
That morning before I pulled out of the driveway of my cousin’s home in Euless Texas I prayed a very diligent prayer that God would put double the angels around my car and place on duty his biggest and strongest angels. I said a lot more of that but that was part of what I prayed. After the above situation took place a laughter bubbled up within me as I imagined His angels surrounding my car and just directing that truck right around my little Kia Soul and through that narrow gap beside me. God protected me in that moment. I trusted Him before I left. I trusted Him even more in that moment! Just to retell this story to you again renews my trust in His love and protection over me. Thank you to all who are praying for me on this trip.
I arrived in San Antonio Texas safe and sound! And that is when the stories start getting even better. Remember, as God’s children we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!
Here is the poem I wrote after that miracle.
WHY’D HE DO THAT?
Each hour unknown as what is to come,
As to what will happen going to and from.
All I know is I’ll pave the way
By taking time each morning to pray.
Just as yesterday I prayed God’s will
That I be in His presence, busy or still,
To watch over me and protect my well being
From all that can happen which I am not seeing.
I ask for His angels to take extra care
That wherever I am they will be there’
In the authority of Jesus, Angels are at His call,
Whatever He commands, they do it all.
Their protection I felt; as disaster was averted,
The power of Jesus was definitely asserted.
A horrible collision did not take place
As angels guided the driver through a narrow space.
I sat in silence as angels swarmed my car
As the truck zoomed by not missing by far.
I asked out loud “Why’d he do that?”
And the answer came, “Because He could not stop”.
And then I understood the power of God’s force
That he could change a driver’s course.
Because of my prayers and my trust in Him
I am whole today in life and limb.
Thank You Lord for the protection you give
In all my hours of the life I live.
Your glory reigns within my heart
As my every day, with You starts.
by Kathleen Martens
March 21, 2015
I thank God for His protection. And believe me, I do trust Him.
Good night. It is now 10:28 and time for bed!!!
May 3, 2015 Day 57 Sunday Sabbath
Note to readers: For some reason my computer changes the date of each day’s entry when I post it. The entry below was written and posted on Sunday May 3, 2015 yet it show it as posted on May 4. I am sorry for the confusion. I don’t know if having it in another time zone caused the mix up. I now have the time zone corrected. Let’s see if the blog I write tonight will be correctly posted. Kathleen
A new Sunday. A new church to attend. And it was interesting. My cousin Lynette attends First Presbyterian Church in Livermore. I was planning to spend the day with her so decided to drive up early to meet her at church. I am trying to attend as many different worship services as possible. I am enjoying the diversity immensely. I learn something at each place I go. One sentence today that impressed itself on my memory is: “Be more ready to listen than to correct and speak”. That is so hard for me to learn. I always have something to say. Perhaps that is the reason that when I asked my son what I should name my blog he so quickly responded “The opinion you didn’t ask for”. Well, as I said before, I couldn’t get that one but I did reserve the domain name “The opinion you DID NOT ask for”. But that will only happen after I arrive home. Sorry, but you’ll just have to wait.
This cousin (I only have about 150 or so if you count first cousins and their children) is the daughter of my mother’s brother. Her name is Lynette, and her husband is John. I really do not know John well as we’ve never really been together except at family reunions over the years. It was a delight to get to know John and renew my connection with Lynette. John and Lynette treated me to a wonderful Mexican restaurant for lunch. Afterwards my cousin and I strolled the downtown in the town of Pleasanton where she lives. Very well laid out and planned city. Lots of trees and businesses to entice the shopper. And…they even had a resale shot named something like “Classy Seconds”. Can’t remember for certain and I don’t want to have to go dig out my receipt to see the name. YES…that means I purchased something. I always know that God has plans for me and they are good. And I think my purchase was the reason I was supposed to stroll down that street. That, and the Dairy that served soft serve vanilla ice cream. Oh my, it was so good!
We finally ended up at Lynette and John’s lovely home. Impeccable. I wonder if anyone will ever be able to say that about my home? It was so refreshing to be in the quiet and peaceful setting of her home after the busy busy street strolling. In case I have mentioned it, there are a lot of cars here in California and if there are a lot of cars that means there are a lot of people! I enjoy the crowds but I enjoy the quiet even more. We talked and talked and it was good. Found out a lot about each others lives when younger. It is so interesting to see how we each remember the same events differently. As kids our parallax is limited and often impaired because of lack of experience. Very rarely do we ever see the same situation with the same perspective. It was interesting for me to listen to Lynette’s perspective of how she remembered so many things. We shared poetry. She read me some of her Father’s poetry and I read them some of my poems. That was a lot of fun. My uncle was a very gifted poet. She gave me a copy of the poems she had typed up for him. Can’t wait to find time to read them.
We all posed for our tripod timed “family shoot” (that means I was in the picture with them). Not too long afterward I packed up for home as I wanted to arrive at Jeanette’s before dark. I made it.
My day was uneventful as far as excitement is concerned but it was a lovely, slow, and intentional day with a sweet cousin in the confines of her comfortable cozy home. I will even post the bedroom I would have slept in had I stayed the night. She must awaken early and leave for work. Since she is only about 5 miles from where I am already staying I decided that I would just go up for the day instead of sleeping at her place. Smart move on my part because I didn’t need to haul my belongings around with me. Lynette sent home two exquisite roses from her yard. I think she said that one of them was “Lavender Lace”. The other is a tiny small yellow rose. I think it an old fashioned rose. Thank you cousin Lynette. I just want everyone to know I REALLY DO LOVE ALL MY COUSINS!
Came home, ate, and wrote this blog. Going to bed ASAP as I almost fell asleep here at home front while typing. Oh how I enjoy days like today. So quiet and peaceful!
One last thing I would like to leave with you is the wisdom that John and Lynette gave me.
Lynette: “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
John: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of the heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17
Wishing all of you a great night and blessed tomorrow!
Sincerely,
Kathleen
Visions of Poetry 