Category Archives: Travel Log
April 16 Day 40 Richard M. Nixon’s Library
My day is always refreshing when it starts out at the gym. I am so thankful for my guest passes for this week. When I arrived home from the gym Betts was waiting for me at Linda’s house with a big bag of freshly picked oranges off her tree. Each orange is large and beautiful! Of course I ate one as soon as she left. It was big in flavor too. Oh so delicious!!! Never take for granted the beautiful, flavorful foods that God has designed for our pleasure. As I travel the country and see the great crowds of people (mostly in cars on the jam packed freeways) and go into so many grocery stores I am amazed that our world produces enough food for this country to eat. So many other places in this world are not so fortunate.
I did something today I should not have done. I went to a library and found they had a used bookstore there. Hmm…well of course I bought a few (MORE) books. Books are my downfall. All non-fiction, Christian related topics. Some I will actually give away because I already own them and just know that someone else will surely love the book as I do. Some I’ll keep. But the bottom line is that I have already bought too many other books that I do want to keep. I really go into the used book stores with one intention. I’m looking for all the books written by Norman Vincent Peale. Most are out of print and they are becoming more difficult to find. I already have several but would like to keep searching for more. If you haven’t read any of his books you might find him interesting to read. THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING was his first and most famous title. My favorite title that I have read by him is LIVE YOUR ENTIRE LIFE. His books actually gave me the courage to contemplate this trip I am on. One of Peale’s favorite verses is “I can do all things through Christ who Strengthens me.” Phil 3:14. I have adopted that verse as my travel motto.
I met a friend from over 32 years go for lunch at Chili’s in Yorba Linda. It was so good to see a familiar face from the past and get caught up on our lives. After we moved from Southern California in 1983 the friend Cathy that I met today traded homes with us for vacation one year. She stayed in our home in the San Francisco area and we stayed in her family home in Yorba Linda. Cathy loves the Lord and it was so wonderful to be able to just talk about the amazing grace of God in our lives and pray with one another.
We had the opportunity to meet a special lady in a booth across the aisle. She was eating a delicious looking lunch alone and I just felt I was supposed to hear her story. So when I saw she was ready to go I just started talking to her, and soon Cathy joined me and what a beautiful story she had. Her name is Lucille and she is 85 years old. She sounded and moved more like a 45 or 50 year old in good health. She was so interesting to talk to. I asked her if she would tell me her story. She opened up like a morning blossom and just radiated as she shared her life with her husband and children. She has been a widow for 8 years and had been married since she was 15 years old. She told how she and her husband built a garage on their property and for the next two years lived there with her husband and children as she and her husband physically built the house attached to the garage. She made a statement that took on a very deep meaning for me. She said “we lived in the house we built”. I heard that on a much greater scale. I saw the comparison to our lives. “We live in the house we built” meaning we live in the life we build around ourselves. I have experienced other’s lifestyles that are so different than my own and realize we all choose to live in different ways by the choices we make, by what we nurture and grow around us. We take it upon ourselves to “build” what we want around ourselves. We choose how we want to live, where we live, with whom we want to live and then wonder why life turns out like it does. Perhaps it would be better to live in the “garage” for a while and slowly with God’s direction allow God to fashion our house. As time passes our house would take shape, built on the foundation of God’s word. “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain” Psalm 127:1. “We live in the house we built”. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather live in the house that the Lord built, even if I find myself living in the garage for a while.
Yorba Linda is where we lived when both our children were born. We owned our house there for about 8 years. That was location where we had a mudslide that took all the hill below us right up to our yard. It actually sounded like a freight train going through our house as the hills above and below us gave way. Our next door neighbor lost his yard right up to his pool. That was an amazing and dark night! At one point that night Dave was trying to help the neighbor who lived in the house one street below us and became mired in the wet earth up to his thighs and could not get out. Well, eventually he did escape by lying prostrate and wriggling his way through the heavy wet mud. It was a frightening experience. We also had to be evacuated two times because of threat of fire. The homes in our neighborhood survived more than once because they were all stucco and had tile roofs. The homes in close proximity that had shake roofs burned. When I look back I realize it really was not a fun place to live. There have been a lot of changes in the “little town” of Yorba Linda in the last 32 years. It was way out of the way back then and we were there when the first four lane Highway was built. Now that same highway has 8 lanes. 5 lanes going one direction and 3 going the opposite direction. And that doesn’t include the turn lanes.
I guess that is enough of my history. Let’s go to today.
I actually went to two libraries today. The second one, also in Yorba Linda is President Richard M. Nixon’s library built next to his birthplace. The actual house and bed he was born in is on display on the grounds. Also the helicopter he flew in is on the grounds and we were allowed to go through it. A lot of famous people both from the United States and around the world at one time sat in those seats.
The library was beautifully designed and had interesting and informative displays both about his political career before his presidency, during, as well as a comprehensive coverage on the circumstances that led up to his resignation. Very interesting reading. I did not have the opportunity to see all of the library as my time was limited due to my overscheduled day. Days are never long enough for me. There is too much living to fit into my daylight hours. I thoroughly enjoyed the self-guided tour. I recommend seeing as many Presidential libraries as you have opportunity to do so. I always learn so much. Tomorrow Linda and I are going to President Ronald Reagan’s Presidential Library. I am really interested in going to his. The one thing I am going to try to do is to remember to take more pictures on my IPhone so I can blog more. When I take them on my camera I cannot put them on the blog. I did have one taken by my phone today and I have already put it on for you to see.
In the room behind me there is a home Bible Study taking place. It is on I Corinthians 13. I’m half listening and it is a very interesting discussion. My friends attend a Lutheran Church here in their “little town” of 137,000 people surrounded by millions. The city of Orange covers 25.2 square miles. In Orange County California you cannot tell where one city begins and another ends. The homes just keep going on and on and on…The area is laid out in square grids on the flatlands. Very easy to navigate. All you have to know is North and South and East and West. The highest recorded temperature is 110 degrees and the coolest recorded temperature is 22 degrees. When we lived in Orange County we often experienced 90 degrees on Christmas day. I would not recommend retiring here. There are just too many people. Wisconsin is looking better and better. I’ll take the snow.
Well, this is an overview of my day. It has been a fun one. And the good part is that it is not even 9:00 p.m. yet and I am finished with my blog.
Good night
April 15 Day 39 THE EXPERIENCE
At he end of every day it seems I want to start my blog with “OH WOW”. It seems like every one of my days are “oh wow” days. And today was no exception. Just knowing I had a gym to get up and go to made this one start out with an “oh wow”. Up early, left early, and arrived back home a little after 8:00 a.m. Ate some more food and then freshened up and changed to go someplace very special. This special place was to see some long loved friends. Chuck and Ruby are those friends. People I have known and cherished all these years past. Chuck was my first spiritual mentor as I became an adult. He instilled in me a love for the scriptures and a desire to study and learn more. Ruby influence me in ways I am she was sure was totally unaware. She taught me hospitality, and how to be a gracious host. Both she and Chuck always had room to help those who needed help. I was the recipient of so much of their selfless giving in so many ways. Both are retired now, Chuck from his law practice and Ruby from teaching elementary school. Chuck has a twinkle in his eyes, short term memory loss and more and more love for Ruby as time tolls on.
It was so good to see them this morning for a few hours. As I left the tears rolled down my cheeks as I thought this might possibly be the last time I see him on earth. I do not know if I’ll pass t his way again. Chuck and Ruby were two of the reasons I wanted to come this way.
After leaving their home I drove to another very important destination. Another person whom I have always been so much indebted to is Jeannie Jones. Jeannie was the first care providers for my children I am ever grateful for their home daycare they provided way back in 1973 for our daughter and then three years later for our son. Again I spent a few hours getting caught up with what was going on with their children and grandchildren. Just as most of the rest of us they have had their tragedy and their triumphs through life. It was just good to see them. Our friends are aging, as so are we, and to touch basis again with those who played important roles in my life has been a great EXPERIENCE for me on my journey. Everywhere I go God is teaching me something profound. I am so grateful!
I left Jeannie and Eugene’s place with just enough time to get back to my home destination, change clothes again and leave for the EXPERIENCE of a lifetime. And that is just what it was.
I mentioned previously about the awards my host family’s sons were awarded in regards to culinary expertise and skills. Well tonight was the true EXPERIENCE for me as I was a guest at THE RANCH RESTAURANT AND SALOON where one is the chief executive chef and the other is chief pastry chef. Oh my! When I left there I was a believer in their culinary skills and presentation. Not only was it beautiful but it tasted good too. I’m paying for it now however. I had a salmon creation that was out of this world. Along with the salmon the kitchen just kept sending us little taste goodies. One such plate was a beet salad recipe. Oh so delicious. We also tasted a whole artichoke cooked to perfection and seasoned delicately. Oh…how good good food is!
The Ranch actually has a ranch locally where they grow most of all that is served fresh in the restaurant. The fruits and vegetables were delicious. And the desserts were heavenly. One was “Popcorn ice cream“. Try to figure that one out! Truly it was delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Another dessert was a Peach crostata with a blueberry sauce and fresh blueberries. The last desert was Ice cream popcorn with a twist garnished with crumbled chocolate cookies. I did take pictures on my IPhone so I can post pics of the desserts. Forgot to take pics of the entrees.
And again today I was made aware that some lives truly are more busy than mine. As of yet tomorrow is unplanned. The rest of my days here in Orange County however and scheduled to the hilt. I shall sign off as I am ready to fall asleep here at the dining room table.
Goodnight!
April 14 Day 38 Life is different here
Everyday is so different. When you walk into someones life, their life must go on. So today I lived in the shadow of my friend. When we say we are busy what does that mean to each individual? My busy is different than the next persons busy and the next person’s busy is different than the next and so on…It was a busy, lovely shadow to live in because I was not the one that had to do all planning and work and schedule or deal with the traffic and rushing not to be late. So I just sat in the back seat during California rush hour traffic as Linda was busy maneuvering in and out between cars and constantly being certain that the exit she was taking was the right one. We left the house at 6:50 a.m. and arrived SAFELY (whew!) at 7:30 a.m. to the school where she drove her granddaughter so she could attend a class many miles away.
Today is Linda’s birthday and her driver’s licence is now expired. So…we drove down to San Clemente (where the crowds would be smaller) to go to the Dept. of Motor Vehicles so she could renew her expired licence. We stood in a long, long line for quite awhile (and that was before we got into the building) and by the time we got into the building, where the line was about three times as long as the line outside, it was time to leave so we could pick up granddaughter because her class would be over by the time we arrived back to the school. So no licence renewal today. Picked up granddaughter and then made a potty stop at McDonalds and drove to another school for another class. We drove around looking at multi-million dollar houses until time to pick up granddaughter at school number 2. It doesn’t take much to make a house be a million dollar house in this area. A normal three bedroom ranch in a nice neighborhood, probably 1800 to 2000 square feet will sell for about $500,000 plus. It is crazy!
Back to the busy day. Granddaughter was picked up after the second class and then we were off to do some birthday shopping for the birthday girl. The item she was looking for was not there so we left and drove back toward home to meet Linda’s daughter, (mother of the granddaughter) for lunch. Had a delicious Mexican lunch and left. I was dropped off at home because I needed to go and pick up another friend so we could continue to have a busy day.
This friend is a woman I first met almost 40 years ago. As I briefly mentioned in a previous blog post, our daughter Rebecca is adopted. This friend I speak of now is our daughter’s birth mother’s mother. My husband I first met her when we were interviewed by her daughter as possible parents for her unborn child. We found out later that no other couples were interviewed because once they (Carole and her mother) met us it was decided that we would be offered the position as parents to Carole’s unborn child. Well, to fast forward 30 years later we located both Carole and her mom, Betts. Through an amazing work of God our lives were reconnected. The entire story is awesome so if any of you who read this blog is interested in knowing more just let me know and I’ll write up the whole story. Well since we found Rebecca’s birth family, her maternal grandmother has come to our home every year in the summer to visit us for a short while. Needless to say we have become good friends. Betts is an amazing woman! She has given me much encouragement and inspiration in many areas of my life, one being the writing of my memoirs and the other, regaining my health so that I could be healthy and vital going into my later season of my life. She is true inspiration not only me, but to many others whose lives she’s touched. Betts is a published author and has accomplished many awards in her life for her outstanding works. She received the most prestigious award from China that is given to a non- citizen. I read a quote once that went something like this: “To inspire someone actually means to blow new breath of life into them”. That is what she did for me.
Well, I picked up Betts and we had a wonderful afternoon together. First we got lost in a construction zone and turned around and went the wrong way on a street that only went the other way. But we wove ourselves out of that mess and ended up where I intended we should go. We visited the first home my husband and I purchased 6 months after we married. Next we drove by the next house we bought 3 years later. The first house we purchase was $33,000. Now it would sell in the ballpark of about $600 to $700 thousand dollars. Yes, you read that right.
The second house sits on a high hill that overlooks the Anaheim valley area. When I say “overlooks” I mean it only overlooks the valley when you can see through the smog.” It was sunshine and hazy today. I could actually see the Anaheim hills a few miles away. While at the last house I introduced myself, explaining that we were previous owners of the house. We were invited into the back yard so we could see some footprints we made of our daughters feet in 1977 when my husband poured a concrete piece covering a drainage area in the back yard. There they were, little footprints and the date still clearly marking the slab. I’ll post a photo.
After leaving the Yorba Linda Hills we drove to Anytime Fitness where my friend works out. She was able to sponsor me for a guest past. When they heard the story of my trip and my 80 pound weight loss they offered me a pass for the days I would be in town. I thank you Anytime Fitness for your generous gift to me. And what a gym! Never was I so impressed. It is in a large mall. You enter on the main level and then go downstairs into a massive group of rooms filled with up to date exercise equipment of all varieties. After having the rapid heart episode in the mile high cities of Denver and Albuquerque and not being able to exert myself, this workup was my first true equipment work out in a couple of weeks. It felt good and I pushed hard. Hope to be able to attend each day I am here.
I took Betts home and then came back to my current place of residence and freshened up and changed clothes so I could attend a family birthday party for Linda. Pizza and salad. Very delicious salad. I took a bite of pizza but was too full to eat more. Now the party is over and I am tired after that one and a half hour workout without a hydro-massage afterwards. Bed beckons. There is always so much more I would like to write but must turn in as I want to get up very early tomorrow to work out, come back to the house and leave by 9:00 a.m. I’ll be off to see some more very important people in my life. Tell you more tomorrow evening if the Good Lord wills.
Goodnight.
p.s. Posting a photo of a quilt that Carole made for her mother. All the photos on the quilt are of Betts and family throughout her life. I even took a couple of them when they came to see me in Wisconsin.
April 13 Day 37 Goodbye avocado country…hello Orange County!
Wow! What a difference. During the last three days I have been on top of the world located about a half hour from San Diego. Oh my goodness, how beautiful it is there. From the top of the mountain I could actually see some of the ocean when it was clear. Hills and hills, and more hills. Palms and avocado trees, mango trees and persimmon trees on the property of where I was staying. It was like a paradise. No traffic noise or sirens, no city lights, no people. Well I guess there were some people because on Sunday I was awakened to a crew of pickers reaching tall poles up into the avocado trees with little baskets at the end to catch the avocados as they were snipped. Today a huge truck drove off the mountain laden with fresh beautiful avocados fresh from the trees. I wonder where they will end up. I would have taken a photo but I was not dressed and we had to leave for church after we dressed. I watched from the window.
Bill and Lisa and I had a leisurely morning, a leftover lunch from yesterday’s restaurant meal and I left about 1:45. About 45 minutes later going up I-5 toward Anaheim the cars on the freeway stopped. Total traffic jam! I could just see the next 50 miles taking about 5 hours. Well, fortunately I beat the rush hour traffic and the freeway stall was the inspection of all cars because of being so close to the border. Well, I must not have looked too suspicious because they just waved me through. I also had to stop like that coming in from Arizona as I crossed the California state line. I was waved through at that time also.
Only made one wrong turn on the way to my friends, Bob and Linda. Linda came to the aid and talked me “home” on my car phone. Home for the week at least. This is a busy household. One grandma, one grandpa (who are Bob and Linda) and two granddaughters, Madison and Alex and one very sweet boy dog named Bruno all live here! Also, Bob and Linda’s son, whom I have known since he was a toddler is here. His two boys are here and his wife will show up later. Linda is creating a dinner that will be a work of art to the taste buds. She is making my favorite dish that she used to make me over 40 years ago. What a friend! Her 1st son Michael is an Executive Chef at theranch.com. Though I have not yet been there I do know that there are 50 people who work in the kitchen and “The Ranch” is in the top 10 best new restaurants in the country. Mike won the award as Best Chef of the Year by the Southern California Restaurant Writers Association for 2015. His brother David won the same award for Best Pastry Chef of the Year at the same restaurant in 2012. They both won BEST CHEF and BEST PASTRY CHEF for 2014. The restaurant is called THE RANCH RESTAURANT & SALOON. I have been informed that I will be eating at The Ranch with my friends on Wednesday evening! Oh my, that sounds just great to me! I’ll let you know how I like it! Check it out online. The pictures and menu alone make my mouth water.
On Mother’s day my friend Linda will be featured in the Orange County Register regarding her two sons accomplishments in the culinary arts. She will be cooking each sons favorite meal. The interview and cooking takes place on Monday. That is the day I am to leave. I just might have to rearrange my take -ff day so I can stay and eat these two meals. I remember both meals because I have have eaten them before cooked by her hands and loving heart, meatloaf and taco salad. Easy words to say but they are truly the best meatloaf and taco salad I have ever eaten. The taco salad is my favorite!
Dinner is almost ready and I am sitting at the dining room table so I will have to close down. Tonight will be a time of family and friends, reminiscing and good food. After all, this is an Italian family!
See my new hat in the “Selfie” I took today. Lisa’s neighbor gave it to me before I left the mountain. I love it! Everywhere I go people have been so generous to me. My friend in Mesa gave me a selection of beautiful earrings, my friend in Willow Springs took the most beautiful stone necklace off her neck and gave it to me. And there are other gifts I can’t even remember right this moment because I am being shewed away from the table.
6:50 p.m. California time, bright and sunny and about 80 degrees. Most of you back home and out east have probably already settled down for the night. My day is still going!
By the way, I am in Orange CA
April 12 Day 36 Sunday Sabbath
Several Months ago my friend Lisa, with whom I am currently staying, told me of her church and the excellent spiritual teaching from her Pastors. I have been listening to the Senior Pastor, Bob Botsford, on my I phone for several months and have really enjoyed his teaching. Lisa and her husband attend the church where he is Pastor. The church, Horizon Christian Fellowship North County is about 1/2 hour from their home in San Diego area. It is a large church with an amazing campus and building. Before leaving home I had hoped that when I visited Horizon church I would be able to meet Pastor Bob Botsford. Lisa didn’t know if that would be possible as he was not usually available before or between service. Well we walked into the courtyard at the church’s entrance and there he was just standing there with a couple of other people. Lisa walked up to him and introduced me to him. It was my pleasure to meet him.
It seems as if everywhere I go I meet the nicest people. Today at Horizon Fellowship I met a lady named Kim. It is always delightful to meet and talk with somebody and hear a bit of their story. We first spoke in the ladies room and continued out into the foyer. Thank you Kim for your conversation and being so kind to me. When I am on the road there are times when I don’t talk to people for hours. I know that seems impossible coming from me.
Bill, Lisa, and I enjoyed a delicious lunch out and an entertaining afternoon looking at new homes in the area. This entire area is built on little mountains or maybe I should say on big hills. I don’t know which. All I know is I’ve never experience so many winding, climbing roads. It is so lovely to look out over the mountains and see the valley below. Right now you might say that I am on the mountain top of life. I love the views. Tomorrow I leave for Orange County which is less than two hours away (for most people). Let’s see if I can get there without getting lost.
What I haven’t told you about this trip is the fact that rarely is there a trip I take that I don’t get lost, turned around, or doubtful as to my correct destination at some time or another during the drive. God has bailed me out a few times and just so you know He is the best GPS ever. I actually have a mapquest direction sheet, a GPS, an Iphone google maps, state maps and God. I’ve turned the GPS off as she interrupts too often, I don’t use the Iphone because it is too small and too dangerous to operate while driving, the map is too cumbersome and doesn’t not cooperate. So…being a woman I just stop and ask. So far I’ve always made it.
We watched another movie tonight, “God is Not Dead” . If you haven’t seen it I highly recommend it. It was about putting God on Trial. I thought the movie was well done.
Very sleepy again, must go before I nod off.
Good night
April 11 Day 36 San Diego County
75 degrees, clear weather, blue skies, traffic jammed roads, and wall to wall people. But…I enjoyed every moment of it. Today Bill and Lisa took me to Old Town Temecula. Temecula is know for it’s wineries, old classic cars which is called the Temecula Rod Run, and Old Town Temecula. Lots of tourists, lots of restaurants, lots of places to buy things. I had a wonderful car tour of the area, viewed beautiful homes that Bill and Lisa designed and Bill built. Amazing structures of art and beauty, fully landscaped with exotic plants and palms and lots of flowering vegetation. My brain is still thinking about snow in Wisconsin. I know 5 weeks has probably made a big difference in the landscape there but in my mind it will perpetually be winter there until I return. I have been in a perpetual spring the last five weeks. It seems that every place I’ve been spring was just beginning and now in San Diego county it seems that summer is in full bloom. Fence rows of bougainvillea in crimson pinks and white and reds, Lily of the Nile, geraniums, nasturtiums, roses and bird of paradise. Up close and person I could see orange trees full of oranges, grapefruits hanging on trees the size of melons, lemon trees loaded with bright yellow fruit and avocado trees in the thousands, each laden full of avocados. Our main staple for breakfast lunch and dinner is fresh avocados. Literally!
Just thought I’d let you know that I was applauded today. Lisa and I were walking across a side street at Old Town Temecula and a biker was stopped at the cross walk with loud pulsing music blaring from his Harley. Lisa and I started putting a little rhythm in our step in time to the music as we walked across the street. When we got across the street one of the cars full of young men inching its way down main street right beside us whistled, hooted at us, and applauded. Well actually I think it was me they were clapping for! I was doing most of the dancing. Maybe it was my big yellow glasses that caught their eye.
Bill, Lisa, and I had a wonderful afternoon of reminiscing, looking at old pictures of ourselves when we were young, eating a delicious dinner of wild Alaskan salmon, and watching the movie “What If”. Enjoyed the movie as I rarely watch any TV or movies. We just had a good old fashioned time of visiting, an art that is almost lost. It is midnight now and my hosts are finally turning in. I’ll finish writing this short blog and then turn in. My blow up bed is all blown up ready for me to jump into. I’m glad. Visiting takes a lot of energy. I think I could get used to being retired.
Tomorrow I will be attending the Horizon Christian Fellowship in San Diego North County. I like listening to this minister on my IPhone when I exercise so it will be fun to be able to hear him in person. I really enjoy the way He teaches the Bible.
Today was a fun day: lazy, slow paced, interesting,enjoyable and best of all another day to spend with my precious Lisa. There was quite awhile that I did not know if I would ever see Lisa again on earth. She has beat some serious odds against her survival of this awful cancer. Her story of the past 3 years is incredible. Please continue to pray for Lisa’s complete healing.
Good night. I pray you will have a wonderful Sabbath Sunday.
April 10 Day 35 California here I come, right back where I started from
In the desert this morning and according to my hosts, tonight I am in the best micro climate in the world! Ten miles from the ocean and the Pacific breeze sends it cooling chill across my knees as I sit here typing my evening blog. I left Mesa Arizona this morning and am now in Fallbrook CA. And, oh my, how beautiful it is. I took a few pictures outside when I arrived. Check out the uncategorized pics and you’ll see for yourself how beautiful it is. The more I travel, the more amazing this great big country of ours becomes. Perhaps I am just destined to see everything through eyes that sees everything beautiful. I took one farewell photo in Mesa New Mexico on my last walk this morning. Just posted it too. Notice the remarkable difference between my morning and my evening. It took about 8 hours for me to drive here because of all the stops I made.
One stop was strictly because the gas station advertised a FOSTER FREEZE. Does anyone out there remember the Foster Freeze from the late 50’s or 60’s? Nothing quite as delicious as the vanilla soft serve. Well, I wanted to test out the memory. And you know what? It was worth the experiment. I ate the whole thing. It was so nostalgically delicious! If I find another one, I just might need to experiment again.
Other than map quest taking me the longest most tedious way possible my trip was absolutely wonderful. Great roads, beautiful changing scenery, not much traffic. The driving hours of my trip is one of my favorite times of my trip. I love the solitude, the scenery, the peace in my heart, my conversations with the Lord, and the beautiful music on my CD player. Oh yes, and also on Sirius. I have heard Sirius (satellite radio) when they offer free trials to entice new customers. However, being frugal I refused to subscribe to it. Well, after a couple of days on the road I accidentally bumped the Sirius button on the console and there was Sirius playing beautiful soothing music. I had told Dave that I would have loved to have had it but would not pay for it. And there it was, as if God was giving me the desire of my heart AGAIN! I don’t know how long it will be on but I am enjoying it for part of each day as I drive. The other times I am listening to my favorite composer, David Hollandsworth, or the preacher Creplow Dollar, or just quiet solitude. But what a nice blessing to have Sirius for whatever time is allowed.
I arrived in Southern California about 5:30 p.m. I am at the home of dear friends that Dave and I have known since we married. They have been instrumental in our lives in so many ways. They love the Lord and are such a joy to be around. They are the ones who influenced us to buy our first home. We had a lot of good times together years ago as we were both newlywed couples. Lisa was diagnosed with carcinoid cancer also known as neuroendocrine, an extremely rare kind of cancer. She is doing better during this time but must still limit some of her social engagements. I am so honored that she felt comfortable enough to host me for a few days. She and my friend Lana were the two people that inspired me to begin this trip. Both fighting cancer and I so longed to see them. And the Lord granted me the desire of my heart AGAIN! Please continue to pray for Lana and pray for Lisa as well. This cancer is considered a terminal cancer but we know our God is greater than any cancer. Seeing my friends is the greatest gift this trip holds for me. I thank God for this chance to see everyone that have already seen and those yet to be visited.
As I write this bog Bill and Lisa are wtatching the book of Acts at the part where Jesus is crucified. It is interesting to listen to as it is the very same thing that my friends Lana and Tim watched while I did my blog in the kitchen of their home. It has been a quiet day; a peaceful day. I thank God for this day.
Good night
April 9 Day 35 Mesa Arizona sec
I am in love all over again. With the desert. Of course it is only April and I have not lived through a 110 degree summer day. Oh my goodness, is it ever beautiful! I logged a few pictures on the blog, probably all in the uncategorized section. I still do not have the hang of this blogging stuff but I am slogging my way through it. I love doing it. Time is what I run out of.
Back to the desert. Please look at the few pics I logged today. One is along side the street where I was doing my morning walk. That is what yards look like here as well as the wild areas. It is illegal to cut down the tall cacti that you see in these pictures. If you see any huge piles of rocks in the pics they are all natural occurrences and cannot be moved even to build a house. You must build next to them and incorporate them into your yard as they stand. They look so dangerous and unsteady to me. Unless a plant is native to this region it cannot be planted in the landscape. In Phoenix I noticed a lot of palm trees and suggested to my host they would be pretty in her yard. The city of Mesa does not allow them to be planted because they are not native to this region. I behold this rugged landscape as serene and beautiful. It is spring here and some plants have already bloomed and other native plants are blooming. Unfortunately most of those pics are on my camera and not my cell phone. I only know how to transfer pics from my cell phone at present because they are all still in RAW in the camera.
What a beautiful community this is. My friend JoAnn and her husband Brent who live in Madison part of the year are currently here at their winter home. This area might be worth looking into if you are searching for a place to retire and don’t mind the summer heat. Mesa, which is in the Phoenix area is surrounded by mountain ranges. The first and largest is the mountain range I traveled through yesterday, the Tonto National Forest on the north and east sides of the Phoenix area. The South Mountain Range is, by coincidence, South of Phoenix. To the West of Phoenix is the White Tank MountainRange. I am very well acquainted with the Tonto Mountain Range as I spent several hours yesterday maneuvering curve after curve. It seems as if they go on forever.
Brent drove us up to the top of South Mountain today. The winding road, was perilously narrow with steep cliff drop offs. Brent was extremely adept at driving the roads and I did not once become concerned. Perhaps, because the road was so curvy that the speed was very slow. We SLOWLY made it to the top. And guess what I found at the top besides a splendid view? A photo op of course. There was a man standing on the window ledge of an old stone structure looking out over Phoenix. I asked if I could take his picture and he said yes. So I did. Actually, I took several silhouette photos of him as he stood there. It was awesome! I climbed onto a ledge at the back of the structure so I was almost level with him. I had the opportunity for some wonderful shots. I talked with him and he said I could post him on the blog. His name is Michael. And yes, he really was as muscular as his silhouette indicates. The last time I sent my husband a picture of a body builder at the gym in Arkansas he responded with “I THINK IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO GO TO YOUR NEXT DESTINATION”. He hasn’t yet responded to this one. Perhaps because he knows that as a photographer I really do see the body as a work of art.
The view was awesome as you can see in the background behind Michael. It was rather hazy and I do not have my zoom lens on my camera or on my IPhone. Look closely and perhaps you can see some of the mountains in the background. For some reason the camera just cannot capture enough to explain the true vastness of these mountains. I would like to relive everything in slow motion.
Lunch was at “Oregano’s”, an awesome Italian restaurant in downtown Phoenix. The downtown part of Phoenix is actually rather small compared to other cities of comparable size. Phoenix area has approximately 4,200,000 people. JoAnn and I orderd the special oregano salad, split it and took home over 1/3 of it. It was delicious. We finished eating about 3:30 and drove over to a resale shop. It closed in 15 minutes so we didn’t have much time to shop. I could have spent the day there. I’m still waiting to get hungry and it is almost 8:00 p.m. That salad was just too big.
It is days like today that are so awesome. Beautiful scenery, wonderful company, excellent food, and when we came home we just lounged under the lanai by the pool and listened to the waterfall spill over the “vanishing edge of the pool”. I enjoy each and every moment and live only in the present. Only in the present, in the presence of God.
I just had a call from my beloved and his words to me: “THAT BETTER BE A STATUE” relating to the silhouette photo of Michael that I sent him earlier. I said, “no, he was very alive”. Then Dave responds, “Oh, so now we know Michael really didn’t row the boat ashore, he carried it”.
A driving day tomorrow as I head out to California. “CALIFORNIA HERE I COME, RIGHT BACK WHERE I STARTED FROM”. Please remember to pray for driving protection for me. I thank you.
Good Night
April 8 Day 33 Arizona You are Beautiful
Albuquerque is behind me. The mile high city is behind me. Two mile high cities in a row. Tough on the body when it comes to exercise. So here I am in Mesa Arizona at 1,234 foot altitude instead of over 5,000 foot altitude. Tomorrow I will exercise and get back to routine.
The drive through New Mexico and Arizona was absolutely astounding. Everywhere I go I see more and more that amazes me. The first thing that took my breath away today was coming to the edge of the plateau from the mile high city and looking at the expanse before me. Miles and miles spread out in a panoramic view as far as I could see. Oh to be able to take pictures and drive at the same time would be awesome. I just tried to soak it all in as I descended the mountain. It was a straight road before me going down to the lower elevation. Then when I thought I was on the bottom, after a few miles a new view would await me as the altitude descended even more. The roads changed, the vegetation changed and the mountainous rock formations changed. By the hour the landscape just kept changing and changing. Just driving these roads made me wonder, not just about God’s creation but at the engineering and ingenuity of man’s capability to design such roads through the huge boulders and lava rock. This is a highway I would like to travel again, but slowly next time instead of at 75 miles per hour.
Once I crossed over into Arizona the terrain just abruptly changed to flat lands and more desert like conditions. At least for awhile. My first stop in Arizona was a necessity stop (restroom). Stops are few and far between so I take every advantage I can. This time it was at Tee Pee Trading Post. The shop was filled with native American authentic art and jewelry. I seem to meet the kindest people wherever I go. I was browsing and the cashier noticed my hands and asked if they hurt. I said yes and she showed me a little tin with an Indian remedy for easing arthritic pain. She opened it and gave me a sample on a little stick. I put it on my fingers. I don’t know yet if it works. I inquired about buying one but they were all out and she insisted on giving me the remainder that was in the little tin. I’ll use it and let you know if it works.
After awhile my ma mapquest directed me to go to a little less traveled road called Highway 87. If you want the boonies, then HWY 87 is it. For miles and miles there is absolutely nothing but small mountains and open spaces. I could tell the car was climbing but didn’t realize just how much. After about an hour or so I came across a small business, store/gas station, and a post office. A very small post office. I was curious so I took a picture of the post office and a man got out of his car and commenced to telling me that this post office was the smallest post office in Arizona and the 3rd smallest in the world. He introduced himself as the post master. He was proud to inform me that I was in Happy Jack, Arizona. The interior of the building was about 4 feet by 5 feet. I’ll post a couple of pictures of the interior. This little Happy Jack community was in the mountains and the population was not very dense. I couldn’t see even one house. A little before Happy Jack the forest began to thicken up and soon I realized I was really climbing. A sign told me that I was in the Tonto National Forest. I read later that this forest is the 4th largest forest in the United States and ranges from 1300 feet to 7900 feet in altitude. It is one of the most beautiful forests I have ever driven through. The vistas that I could see from the top were so breathtaking with the late sun dappling the huge jutting rocks on one side of the road and the drop off on the side of the road I was driving on. The road was so winding and the grade was steep, both up and down. Very good roads but very treacherous. Google Tonto National Forest pictures and look at some of the views I saw today. You will see why I thought they were so spectacular.
Once I climbed to the peaks of the Tonto range I could look out and see layers upon layers of more mountains. It seemed they were unending, one behind the other getting higher and higher. The views below were also amazing to behold. It was like looking down from heaven and seeing all the variations of color and trees and different heights that went on and on and on.
The fact that I arrived in Mesa Arizona astounds me. True, I followed the mapquest instructions ,one of which was wrong and sent me in the opposite direction but luckily I know North from South because my rear view mirror tells me, so I turned around. Once I saw a road sign to confirm I was going in the right direction I still wondered if I was really going someplace. There was no sign giving indication that I was headed in the right direction. I have never seen such a dearth of traffic signs as in Texas, New Mexico, and I found out today, in Arizona. You can go for miles and miles and not see a speed limit sign or notification of what highway you are on. It is confusing to me at imes to not have occasional verification as to what road I am on.
Tonight and tomorrow night I am staying with my friend JoAnn and her husband Brent. What a delight it is to be in their home. Can’t wait to take a better look at the area tomorrow. I am falling in love with the southwest. I think this may be my favorite place of all. Like I said, wherever I am becomes my favorite. Maybe that comes by being content in any situation or circumstance. Let’s see if I get along tonight with my bed that takes a stair way to climb into. I may be able to navigate 4, 300 miles to get here but let’s see if I can get up those three steps to the bed. It’s not the getting up I’m concerned with. Rather the coming down two or three times during the middle of the night. Don’t ask me why. Figure it out.
A lovely day! Some of my favorite times is when I am alone in the car enjoying the beauty around me. No TV, no radio, no headsets, no reading. Just living in that simple moment of time where I am, who I am. No demands on my time, no need to try to impress, no need to hurry, no consternation or concern about anything at all. Do you know how good that kind of living is? It is called a place of freedom. It is a place where I like to be. And it seems, looking back, that the closer I came to the Lord, the easier it was to live in the moment. It’s a nice place to live.
More tomorrow. But first I have to get there.
Goodnight
April 7 Day 32
Still in Albuquerque. A nice relaxing morning with Lana. Packed up all my paraphernalia and it is ready by the front door. Few things left until morning. I have a load of washing finishing and just hope all the hanging clothes will be dry by morning.
Well, can’t remember if I told on myself about leaving my clothes (some of them) in Denver. So today we went shopping. First, however we walked along the banks of the Rio Grande. It was beautiful in a very brown sort of way. The plants here are all so different than in Wisconsin. It took a bit before I could see that in their own way they are really quite beautiful. Even the brown earth hold a certain beauty. Perhaps I just had to live long enough to appreciate it. The ground is dry and sometimes powdery. Other places are full of boulders and stones while other areas are beds of lava rock. Went through a mountain pass that was carved out of layers and layers of black lava rock. Of course, being in the car going FAST I couldn’t take a picture.
Albuquerque has a population of about one million. It stretches out a long long way. I will say the roads and highways are very well done. Population density is about like Denver. This density would again take some getting used to. Lana lives high up on a mesa. The climb is pretty steep but the top is flat. Everyone has walls and walls surrounding their houses. A lot of what would be a beautiful view is blocked by the cinder block walls on three sides. Landscape is rocks of various colors and maybe a tree or two. That’s a big maybe as I was told it is quite expensive and time consuming to keep a tree alive. Pots are scattered around which I assume will hopefully hold some colorful flowers. Everything here is brown. The dirt is brown, some reddish, the houses are brown stucco, the cinder block walls are brown and the Rio Grande is brown. And if you drop you jacket in the street, like I did, it is brown. At first the monochrome world was very “homely” to me, to put it nicely. Now it has kind of grown on me. Lots of the houses are very square flat topped roofs and look the same. Inside they are as beautiful as many houses I’ve been in at home. The interior decor is quite different. I think I understand why. Inside, homes are filled with color and art and bright hanging rugs and tapestries. The pots are colorfully painted with mosaic patterns. The colors are stunning and bold and bright. Might as well as enjoy all the color at home because when you walk outside your world is brown again.
Now back to the shopping trip. I love going to resale shops and of course that is where we ended up. How is this for a good buy? Purchased three pair of very nice cropped pants, one dress, one sweater, one book, and one long pair of jeans for $36. And all fit!
Home again and more packing and laundry. A wonderful dinner with one other guest besides me. Met a colorful fellow named Michael who has a heart for the Lord. He travels around the country in his motor home ministering and witnessing to those he meets. He hands out books of the Bible from THE PASSION TRANSLATION, translated from the Greek and Aramaic texts by Brian Simmons. I have read the translated version of the Song of Songs. It is so beautifully done. Well, Michael gave me two copies of the book of John that has also been translated. He gave one to me and one to give away. If you have never heard of this translation (it is still in process of being finished) you may be interested in checking it out. I recommend that it be read slowly and out loud to really appreciate the beauty of the transalation. We had a great time of prayer and Michael was then on his way. I have been blessed by so many people praying for me in so many new situations. It is so wonderful to meet so many God loving believers along the way. There are so many people I haven’t told you about due to time and space. This is a trip I will always remember. Michael’s word of wisdom: “I WISH I HADN’T WAITED SO LONG TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES IN MY OWN PERSONAL LIFE SO THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER PARENT AND MORE USEFUL TO GOD”. Michael is older than me so I guess he has lived a good many years. Take it to heart young people (if there are any reading this blog). If you have “issues” get to the base of them by giving them to God, get your head screwed on straight, and take care of what needs to be cleaned up in your life so you too can the best person you can be and accomplish much for God. The latter statement was my wisdom to you…and…”you’re welcome”.
When I asked my son for suggestions as what to name this blog he answered rather too quickly “THE OPINION YOU DIDN’T ASK FOR”. Well as you can see I did not name the website that name…HOWEVER…I looked up the domain name and it was already taken. So I looked up “THE OPINION YOU DID NOT ASK FOR”and it was available. I reserved the domain name and hope to start that blog when I get home. As most of you know I always love giving my opinion..free! And..you don’t even have to ask.
Good night…and get to bed!
P.S. Tomorrow morning I leave for Mesa Arizona to visit my friend JoAnn and her family for two nights before heading to California on Friday. It will be a long drive so please remember me in your prayers.
April 6 Day 31 An Interesting Day
Well, things are happening! Especially at this house. I’m back at Lana and Tim’s in Albuquerque. Tim is cooking dinner. Oh my, that means it will be quite a treat. He is making brussel Sprout Hash. Yeah!!! Here is his brussel Sprout Hash recipe: Sliced brussel sprouts saute’d in coconut oil and Ghee (clarified butter). Add pine nuts or macadamia nuts (tonight it is macadamia nuts), chopped green onions, sea salt to taste. Sprinkle parmessan or feta cheese on top of the hot dish. We had this the other night with pine nuts and it is now one of my favorite dishes. Of course the reason may be because brussel sprouts and coconut oil are my two most favorite foods to eat. Let me know if you try it.
After being up so late last night after losing my May 5th blog I took the liberty of sleeping in late this morning. It was so nice. My friend Len who tutored me so I could administrate my own blog came to my aid again. After I lost the blog I emailed him and asked him to check and see if it was possible that it still existed somewhere. How he found it I will never know, but this afternoon I found it in my text box. I was so very surprised and happy. Thank you Len for your help. I do so appreciate it. So please note that yesterday’s blog was downloaded again today and should be accessible. Len was an excellent teacher, I just didn’t learn all I needed to learn.
I had a very interesting experience this morning. Our daughter Rebecca, who is adopted, found her birth parents in 2006. That story alone is just amazing but I must stick to today’s story that is part of part of my blog story. Rebecca has met her birth Mother Carole, her husband Dave and her three siblings. She also met her birth mother’s mother, her birth father, her birth father’s mother before she died, and her birth father’s father and his wife. She also met her birth aunt Laurie and her husband. I too have now met the entire gang (except for her birth father and birth grandmother who died). Today I met her birth grandfather (her birth father’s father). His name is Leonard Koel and his wife is Lydia Broussard. Leonard is author of many books and I found out today that Lydia’s daughter is also a prolific writer. Leonard and Lydia live within driving distance to Lana and Tim and invited me over for a visit. It was such a beautiful day and such a pleasure to meet them both. I’ll include some photos. That was my highlight of this day. I asked Leonard what his words of wisdom are. He had just one word, “MEANING”.
My friend and current host, Lana, was diagnosed with cancer 5 years ago. She has been doing well through nutritional eating and supplements. She received news today that her cancer markers are up. This was not good news for her. She is praying and believing in healing. Please remember Lana in your prayers. She may have some big decisions to make in the near future regarding surgery. She asks for prayer for “direction, peace as we follow God’s direction, healing, and provision”. Thank you for remembering her in prayer.
I pretty much emptied my car today to start my packing all over again when I leave on Wednesday. I wish I had not brought so much. I am learning how little I really use. I end up wearing the same things over and over and washing frequently so little is actually needed. Well, today I had on my very favorite black pants as I worked. I was close to the garage and corner of the house leading to the front door. I cut the corner too sharply and caught my knit pants on a piece of sharp stucco and ripped a whole in the front thigh area of my very favorite pants. Well, I passed another test because I didn’t even get mad or upset. Maybe it is because the pants originally cost me $4.23 at my very favorite place to shop. Oh well, I’ll just wear them with the hole. Then, as I was organizing my clothes for repacking I realized I was missing some. Yep! I left them in Denver. Sort of like the song “I left my heart in San Francisco”, but rather my lament is “I left my only blue jeans in Denver”. As well as my jean jacket, my red shirt, and white blouse. But I remembered to bring my salad.
Well, I guess my load is lightening.
Dinner is over and was as delicious as I thought it would be. Everyone is settling down and I still sit here trying to be diligent to my self commitment to blog in real time each day. And my computer has frozen up and will not let me go up or down. Will I lose this blog tool Maybe I should close up and get it published if I can figure out how…WHEW, I published it, it worked. Then I closed my computer down and reopened the administrative window to edit all the typo errors. And it worked. If you find any errors now please know they are the fault of a tired brain and not the malfunctioning computer.
Good night 9:50 p.m. Albuquerque time.
P.S. I’d like to say hello to Carole! And ask her: Is this better?
April 5 Day 30 I HIT THE WRONG KEY
Oh my goodness. I just spent three hours logging this day and somehow hit a key as I was making a correction and lost the entire blog. It may be impossible for me to tell it again with all the fervor I told it the first time but perhaps tomorrow will lend a new light on my loss and I will recover from this grave error of hitting a delete key without realizing it. So no new post today after all. It is 12:20 a.m. and I must go to bed. Oh my, it was a good blog too! Even if I do say so myself.
April 4, 2015 Day 29
Okay guys out there in Blog-land here is the scoop. I am 16 days behind in writing this blog and I don’s seem to be able to get caught up as quickly as I’d like. I write a bit daily in long hand in my diary so I willremember what was happening but can’t get it blogged. So rather than write retrospectively I am first going to write about about “real time” and then bring you up to date on the last 10 days. So, today is Saturday Sabbath of the Holy Week, April 4, 2015. It is about 9:00 p.m. Denver Colorado time. And how do I know that? It’s because that is where I am at the present. I am at my dear friend’s home in Centennial, Colorado who are Cynthia and Chris and their two beautiful boys. One being only 2 weeks old. Oh my goodness are these boys precious.
I arrived in Denver on Thursday coming from Albuquerque. It should have taken me less than 6 hours but by the time I arrived after several stops it was over 8 hours. The drive was awesomely beautiful. I didn’t realize how many mountains were in this area. Most of the day was traveling either uphill or down hill. The mountain range is called the FRONT RANGE OF URBAN CORRIDOR. Just to let you know, just as I pulled up to my friend’s apartment complex it started snowing! I woke up to a white morning the next day. Tomorrow it is supposed to be in the high 70’s.
After arriving in Denver I learned a lesson about
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Thursday March 19 DAY 13
Before I start my trip away from Russellville, Arkansas I must reminisce a bit more. Yesterday was my last day here to see all those I love. My dear uncle Buddy, now up in his 90’s was able to visit with my sister and me for awhile. Uncle Buddy is my mom’s brother. My mom was the oldest of thirteen, twelve of whom lived to adulthood. Ten girls and three boys. You can not even imagine the stories that each of those children could tell. Well one of my Aunts did tell her story in an awesome book “A BAKER’S DOZEN” by Anne Chaney. A thick book, but a fast read. Contact me through this blog if you are interested in ordering one and I can give you the info to do so.
Well, Uncle Buddy is the last surviving son. He outlived both of his younger brothers. I dearly love uncle Buddy. He is a gentle spirit who suffered the rigors of World War II with lasting affects. He has been a widower for many years and has one son. Uncle Buddy cannot hear . We communicate with him by his speaking and the rest of us writing on a tablet. His mind is sharp and can hold his own in a conversation. Very interesting to listen to him. He loves to read and is familiar with a lot of current books. Recently he was fitted with a hearing aid that connects directly with his TV. I suppose he has been cut off from all source of TV news for awhile because he was concerned about some of the new laws that he is learning about regarding Medicare now that he can hear what is being talked about. Never take your hearing for granted. It is a powerful and wonderful gift, given as a tool to be used for a lifetime. Take care of it. Many hearing disorders are caused by being exposed to high volumes of UNNECESSARY sound. Living in a family where hearing loss is prevalent you early realize how precious it is.
I said goodbye to Uncle Buddy, again realizing it might be the last opportunity of seeing him on this side of heaven. It is with joy I see my loved ones and I carry these memories with me in a special place in my heart. It is sort of like saying goodbye to my own past. Our children our our future, our parents are our past. Should I live a long life there will be a time when all those who knew me as a child will be gone. Their stories will be gone. As long as I have my memories they will live in my heart.
On the morning of March 19th I worked out, came back to Aunt Esther’s and packed up to leave. Only then did I realize I had not driven by the old country house in Center Valley where my grandparents lived for over 50 years. I could not leave without another little trip down memory lane.
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Monday March 16 through Wednesday March 18 at Aunt Esther’s house
Oh dear, I thought this might happen. It is so long past the days I am writing about that so much seems to be lost. Oh the perils of an older mind! Oh well, I do remember the highlights.
I have a sister who does not like her name mentioned. Those who know her will recognize her by my story. Those who don’t know her might be interested in what I have to say. My sister has been deaf for many years. Very frustrating to be a hearing person and lose your hearing due to family heredity. Well, on Jan 9th of this year she had a cochlear implant in one ear. On Monday the 16th I met her for lunch along with Aunt Esther and Aunt Vela. When we greeted each other there were tears in both our eyes as she spoke to me and said “I hear your voice”. It has been so many years
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Saturday March 14 and Sunday March 15 Days 8 & 9
Day 8 of my trip took place on Saturday March 14th over two weeks ago. Either no WiFi or no time to Blog since then. I promise to try to do better. I fear so much is lost when I don’t do it within one or two days after the events happen.
Saturday March 14th was a great day! Spent the morning with Rita and Jerry going to second hand shops (my favorite places to browse). I discovered a plethora of Sermon CD’s by a minister that I never heard of. Bought one, listened to part of it and went back and bought 13 more sets. Each case has 3 to 5 CD’s in each set. The speaker’s name is Creflo A. Dollar. Very interesting Bible teaching. I have had opportunity to listen to several of the CD’s and find them to be enlightening and extremely interesting and in line with the scriptures. The CD’s were my big find for the day. I left Branson Missouri midday when both Rita and Jerry left for work.
I drove down to Russellville Arkansas to visit more family. To my delight my cousin Dale and his wife Judy came to visit me that evening as I was staying with Dale’s mom, my mother’s sister. Just a short comment on the drive from Branson to Russellville. It goes through the Arkansas Ozarks. Very winding roads with severe drop offs on one side of road. In the past my husband and I actually drove around a sharp curve to realize that the road was no longer there.
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On the way to Arkansas Day 8
So much I wish I could post Arkansas’ post but my time is up and I must come back another day. People waiting. Places to go and things to see. But just so you know, on this 8th day of my trip I was heading to Arkansas. Now I must go and head out to church with my current hosts. Will blog more later.
Just so you know, Janey’s words of wisdom that she told me today on the phone is:
TRUST IN THE LORD EVERY DAY!
To Cousin Rita’s House Day 6 and 7
Be aware that what I am writing today on March 21 happened on days 6 through 8. It is now day 15 but I want to post about the days I was in Branson MO. My cousin Rita and her husband Jerry are creating a beautiful sanctuary of the home they purchased a while back. When I think of Rita I think of color. And..I think of purple color in particular. Her husband is one of these people who have been gifted with boundless energy and no moment is to be wasted if he can fix, restore, or create. It will be fun to see their home in a few years with all the color and artistic talent that lives there. I have permission to share some of Rita’s artwork hanging on her walls. Also, I was blessed to sleep under another beautiful quilt at Rita and Jerry’s. This quilt was made by her mom, my dear Aunt Vela. I think I recognized some of the scraps that were part of the quilt. In days gone by there was never any waste. All clothing were made by hand and all the scraps were saved to make warm, beautiful, and sometimes crazy quilts. If it were not for quilts while growing up,the nights would have been cold. We didn’t even know that blankets existed. I can still remember the first blanket I came in contact with. Oh how soft it was and it seemed one had to be so rich to have a blanket. Little did I know about all the love and toil that went into the quilts that kept me warm. I know now. Fortunately I have been recipient of several of my mothers quilts, many made with my leftover scraps of clothing worn as a child.
Again, I came with lots of food and cooked up some chicken broth and quinoa and salads to take to my next destination which would be Aunt Ester’s house. But that is another story. Rita was so gracious to let me use her kitchen and fridge. And speaking of food…I was invited by my cousin Janey (or maybe I invited myself) to come for a Friday night dinner with her family at her home in Springfield MO. My contribution was to be a bag of salad greens. Okay, that sounded easy. Well, here is the story of the salad greens.
Again, I located a gym where I could work out. It is connected to a resort hotel and to say the least it needed a little update. Lots of the equipment did not work, and no, it wasn’t me not knowing how to use it. But I did find out later that the reason the treadmills didn’t work was because they weren’t plugged in. I didn’t know I had to plug my equipment into the electrical source. Go figure. Well, after an exasperating workout experience I headed out to find the store that Rita told me about. Which, by the way, was no where to be found. I asked someone how to get to a market, was given instructions, and followed them. I got there, but let me tell you, Branson is not an easy trip with all the out of town people there. But, I got there. Because I was working out I did not take my purse but put some money in my pocket to pay for the $3.50 fee for working out and some for the salad greens. No more money in my pocket except for $6.50. Surely that would pay for a bag of salad greens. Well, there I was looking at the prices in this grocery store and realizing I probably needed more money because I thought Missouri charged tax on food. I asked the man next to me if that was the case and he said yes. So I spoke outloud (what’s new) that I hoped I would have enough to pay the taxes. Food in Missouri is more expensive than in Madison. This man (named Gary) said he would follow me and pay for anything I was short. I tried to confirm that I thought I had enough but he wouldn’t take no for an answer. He told me, as a matter of fact that he was going to pay for the entire bag of salad. I would not let him as I had enough. He said, no, swiped his card, and said that the lady that was with him (by the salad area) was helping him get his B/P down so he could have surgery on a tooth that needed to be removed and he wanted to help someone else. I asked him “Do you have the love of the Lord in your heart?” and he answered he sure did. I thanked him and told him now I could do something nice for someone else but first I would like to pray for his infected tooth and B/P problem and consenting, we went over to the liquor aisle and had an opportunity to pray together. He left and I left. I was going to go out one door when I felt something tugging at me to go out the exit way at the other end. So I did. As I was walking by I hear this woman try to get my attention by speaking loudly. I turned, thinking she was selling Girl Scout Cookies and didn’t really want to be engaged in having to say no. But…it was a lady asking me if I would support Teen Challenge. There was a table full of things they were selling to raise money for their Teen Challenge Ministry which helps drug uses get clean and on their feet while feeding them spiritually.
I said yes, I do support Teen Challenge and would like to tell them a story. I told them about the salad bag incident and reached into my pocket and gave them the $$6.50 I had on me. I did not want to buy anything but what I had, I believed, was for them. As I was walking out of the store I had been thinking, hey, that was really nice that I didn’t even have to pay for the salad. It was not planned so came as a nice something that had happened to me that day. Well, after leaving the Teen Challenge table a realization popped clearly into my head. I felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit within me saying “That was a test”. I turned my thoughts to God and knew I had passed the test. I know this sounds like a little thing, but for me to realize that God is with me always and what I do even in the little things is an important aspect of my walk with Him. I don’t tell you this to tout me being so good, rather the opposite. It would have been so easy for me to just wave off the Teen Challenge young lady and not give any more thought than, “whew, I got away from that one”. I truly believe that that $6.50 belonged to Teen Challenge.
We had a wonderful time at Janey’s that night and the salad was great! We got lost on the way (Rita was driving) and were about 45 minutes late. Going home I drove. It was raining so heavily and was so dark that I could only drive by seeing one or two lines on the highway in front of me to the left of the car. I actually do not realize how we got home in one piece. I have had people sending me emails telling me that God has actually awakened them to pray for me at certain times. Well, I want to tell you, your prayers are working! I have an incident I will tell you about that happened yesterday when I get to yesterday’s blog info that will show you the power of prayer. And I promise I won’t forget this story because I already wrote it in my journal.
We enjoyed visiting with Janey and husband, son, daughter in-law, grandson, and daughter in-law to be. Ate a delicious dinner and took lots of pictures.
Janey is my dear Aunt Esther’s daughter. Janey is believing for healing from cancer that she has. I ask that all who read this will pray that God will answer the believing prayer of His saints and heal her. Also, please pray that she will have peace and joy restored to her.
Willow Springs Part 2
Okay, I must confess. It has been days since I have been able to connect with WiFi. I read my last post and I can’t remember what was so great that I wanted to tell you. And…I can’t seem to find any notes in my journal. You out there in the world of reality have no idea how much time it takes to live in the never never land in which I am living. Every moment seems to be packed with places, and people and sights and sounds, and learning and sleeping and eating and NO WiFi!!!! So, I’ll try to take better notes of what to tell you.
Back to my time in Willow Springs. It is a place of slow living, peaceful atmosphere, friendly people, and a southern drawl. Perhaps not the place I would choose to retire as it takes a lot more action available for me even though I like quiet peaceful living. I enjoyed some of the artwork around town painted in larger murals on old brick buildings. I will post a couple of photos. The library was like walking back in time. It just had the flavor of the old library tables and rows and rows of real books and card catalogs. Don’t remember if I saw any card catalogs there but could not testify that I didn’t see them. Sat at a table that filled up with teenagers. Interesting. I think teenagers are about the same everywhere, searching for life, silly, learning to experience “love”, just waiting for their school days be be over so they can do as they want. Interesting what you can learn just by listening to one side of a telephone conversation. It will be a long time before they learn the true art of living which to me means living in the moment. AND I LOVE EVERY MOMENT I LIVE. I’ll post this and a couple of pictures and then tell about my Branson stay.
March 13, 2015 Day Seven (Part 1)
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.
Visions of Poetry 