Visions of Poetry

Saturday April 2 2016  SIMPLICITY AT ITS BEST

BIGGER ISN’T NECESSARILY BETTER.  Not in all things.  Take houses for instance.  I’ve always enjoyed the space of a larger home after Dave and I married.  As a child I grew up in very small spaces.  And when I say “VERY”, I mean very, very small.  Our first home after we married was about 1300 square foot.  I felt as if I lived in a palace.  I didn’t even have enough “stuff” to fill all the kitchen cupboards.  And, if I remember correctly, we got along superbly with just what we owned.  I had no inclination that the house was small.  Two years later we moved.

We moved “up” so to speak.  Our next house was about 2400 square foot.  It again seemed palatial.  The rooms were large, it sat on the side of a high hill and had an astounding view.  Again there were a few bare cupboards and several rooms that had no furniture.  Fast forward to 10 years later when we moved again.  By this time the house had two additional people living in it, lots of “stuff”, and no empty cupboards or rooms. 

That was a temporary move and we planned to back into the same house two years later.  Following those two years Dave was offered a job that would allow us to stay in the area permanently.  We had moved from HOT Southern California to the San Francisco Bay Area.  That area was my home stomping grounds so we decided to stay.

So time to buy another house.  This one was about 2900 square foot.  Again, extra room, more space, but no empty cupboards.  Actually we had a row of stored boxes that had not been unpacked since we moved to the area two years previously.  We lived in that house for two years. 

Our next move, 30 years ago, brought us to Wisconsin!  COLD WISCONSIN!  A few warm months a year and that was (and is) it!  I have never regretted our move to Wisconsin.  Again, another house, this one 4400 square foot.  Now that was a lot of a house and a lot of yard.  We were on five acres of wooded and groomed area.  It was like a dream come true!  Again, we had lots and lots of empty space.  Rooms we didn’t even use.  And lots and lots of boxes packed in one room that we didn’t even unpack for at least two years.  More stuff.

We eventually had the entire house used up.  More places to put more stuff.  And now…it is a nightmare.  It is difficult for me to part with the treasures of the past.  So I just fill another drawer, or another closet, The visual stays uncluttered but I know what is hidden.  And twenty years pass and our children move out and the house is quiet.  But the stuff still lingers.  And when I say stuff, I mean lots of stuff.  Some left behind by our daughter, however, most accumulated by me.  And here is where I am.  An over-sized house on an over-sized lot (we did sell two and a half acres), and lots and lots of stuff inside.

And as I sit typing this blog I am sitting in our daughter’s beautiful home in Florida.  It is serene, beautiful, nicely decorated AND UNCLUTTERED!  All 1100 square foot!  She is organized, particular, and amazingly self-disciplined when it comes to purchasing items that she does not need.  Nothing unneeded comes through the door.  Oh, how I wish I had learned that concept years ago!  It is so refreshing to be in an environment where everything has a place and is in its place when not being used.  Much due diligence is required.  Perhaps she did not want to repeat the mistakes of her mother.  However, I will say that we have about a roomful of stuff that belongs to her in OUR bedroom closet and shop.  Someday she plans to come to Wisconsin, go through it and take the rest.  Hmmm…I wonder if she’ll still want her Barbie bus and all her Barbie dolls.  And maybe I could encourage her to take all her baby clothes I saved for her.  On second thought, perhaps NOT!

Our marriage has been a 43 year journey with lots of stuff accumulated along the way.  Now it is time to downsize.  As I sit in the confines of Rebecca and Neil’s beautiful, well appointed home, I see how simple life can be without all the stuff to take care of.  I have come full circle to the fact that BIGGER ISN’T NECESSARILY BETTER!  Their home shows simplicity at its best!

TOO MUCH STUFF

By Kathleen Martens

April 2, 2016

Too much stuff

Becomes a load

When in the confines

Of your home.

Oh how I wish

I did not own

All the clutter

In places unknown.

It will be

Quite the surprise

When all displayed

Before my eyes

That which once

Was so dear

Now I wish

Was no longer here.

So, I will enjoy the presence of space while luxuriating in our daughter’s beautiful home!  Hopefully my stuff will still be there when I get back.  My hope is that I too will someday experience simplicity at its best!

Lord, thank You for loving me just as I am.

Lord, thank You this wonderful time away to visit our children.

Lord, thank You for all the “stuff” I have.

Lord, thank You for coconuts.

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU

Friday April 1 2016  TRUE BLISS

My daughter gave me the topic to write about tonight.  I love it when people suggest a topic.  It may be an idea, a health matter, a story, or even just a word or a few words.  In this case she asked me to write about what TRUE BLISS means.  So, first I looked it up in the thesaurus on my Word screen.  A list of words came up in the following order:

“ECSTASY

HEAVEN

PARADISE

ENJOYMENT

HAPPINESS

DELIGHT

PLEASURE

HARMONY”

So…these are the synonyms.  Before I even looked up the list of synonyms, the words “God” and “heaven” were foremost in my mind.  I was pleased to see those words on the list.  I wrote the poem below using each word in the order that they were listed.  It took about three or four minutes to write the little poem.  I think these words capture what true bliss really is.

WHAT IS TRUE BLISS?

By Kathleen Martens

April 1, 2016

ECSTASY of life on earth

Realizing HEAVEN is its worth.

God’s beautiful PARADISE,

ENJOYMENT for eternal life.

HAPPINESS surrounds my soul

To DELIGHT in such a goal.

True PLEASURE not yet known,

HARMONY dispensed from God’s throne.

I hope you enjoy my poem that utilized, in sequence, the thesaurus’ list of synonyms describing what the words TRUE BLISS mean to me.

My first example of true bliss is the poem that I wrote above.  Now to describe at least in part what true bliss would mean to me I would like to share the following.  I think I have achieved some of what I believe bliss to be.  First, and foremost, it would be Dave and I being retired.  I know I could dream to be young and beautiful and rich, but I am choosing to expound on true life situations of where I am today.   Secondly, it is the knowledge that I have achieved something I long ago dreamed. That dream was to have Dave by my side until we were old.  Well, we have achieved that portion of my bliss.  True, we have our physical challenges at this age, but we also have the precious years that we have lived which many much younger than us will never achieve.  We are never promised tomorrow.

When I look at the young I do not do so with envy and wishful thinking, rather I hope that they too will have the years that have been granted us.  But there is no guarantee.  So I cherish the years that have been, and have learned to live in the moment, enjoying what I have now. To me, that is bliss.

Time alone with God is also true bliss in my book.  As much as I love my family, being alone with self to enjoy God’s presence is the ultimate bliss.  All I need is a journal, a Bible, a few dozen good books, some music composed by David Hollandsworth, and I am in a true land of bliss; that place of ECSTASY, a bit of HEAVEN on earth, as if I am in my own PARADISE which creates so much ENJOYMENT and HAPPINESS in which I DELIGHT because I receive such PLEASURE and HARMONY within myself when I am alone with my Lord.

When I pause to be thankful for all the blessings God has bestowed upon me, true bliss answers my call.  There is so much for which to be grateful; the blessings of life, and love, and a husband, son, daughter, grandchildren and grand-dogs.  Another blessing is living in a beautiful place surrounded by trees and flowers and good neighbors, as is the joy of a wonderful church family and good friends.  Bliss is wherever I am, whatever I am doing, whether sick or well, whether rich or poor.

Most of all, bliss is realizing how much God loves me and my knowing how to love God and myself so I can love others.  Bliss is getting along with myself, having learned not to fret and worry.  Bliss is realizing that life on this earth won’t last forever and that I will someday meet Jesus face to face.  And the greatest bliss of all will be to run the race God has set before me, that I will be seen as righteous in the eyes of my Lord and Savior, and that Revelations 3:5 will pertain to me when Jesus said,  ^“He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”  NOW THAT, WILL BE TRUE BLISS!

Thank You Jesus that you intercede to the Father on my behalf.

Thank You for our children who have grown up to be responsible adults who love You.

Thank You for this blissful time away to have time to share in our daughter and son-in-law’s daily lives.

Thank You for the smile on my face.

Thank You for my shoe inserts so I can walk comfortably.

Thank You that I am retired.

Thank You for letting me grow old with Dave.

Than You for the smile in my heart.

REMEMBER TO WRITE SOMETHING IN YOUR THANKFUL JOURNAL TODAY!

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU. 

P.S. What is YOUR meaning of true bliss?

Thursday March 31 2016  A HOT DAY IN PARADISE

85 degrees today!  That is a bit hot for this northern girl.  It makes me realize why we usually travel to Florida in the winter!  The last day of March (so almost April) and it is already way too hot for me.  When our kids try to get us to move down here they always assure us that it really isn’t bad at all in July, August, and September.  But, when we are here in March and the temperature soars to 85 degrees AND the air conditioner conks out, then all of a sudden it’s a bit much even in March!  No one will ever convince me that Florida is the place I should live.

First of all, it is flat!  I do not enjoy flat landscape mile after mile.  Secondly, there are far too many people in the populated areas, and it is virtually impossible to live in the unpopulated areas due to lack of amenities and roads.  Thirdly, well, I can’t think of the “thirdly” right now but I am sure another reason will surface when I have time to think about it.  Oh yes, HURRICANES are a good third reason! 

Now Florida does have one positive situation going for it.  Florida has a long growing season so the produce can be purchase locally and fresh for many months out of the year.  If you purchase at the Produce Stores it is actually quite reasonable.  If you purchase at the grocery stores it cost way more than it does in Wisconsin.  We shop at the produce stands, but at the same time, I wonder if any of it is organically grown?  I suppose if I must wonder about it being organic, then it probably is not.  The more I learn about how pesticides can harm the body and brain, the more organic produce I buy.  But, while I am in Florida I am enjoying the best that the local Produce Stores provide. 

Time to leave shortly to take my car in for an oil check.  My little Silver Fox is now over 4 years old and I have driven almost 50,000 miles.  She has performed well and is so comfortable to drive and ride in.  I know the Kia Soul appears to be small from the outside, but most people are always so surprised at how roomy they are on the inside, both in the front and back seats.  Mine has a supercharged engine so it has quick pick up.  I have to be careful or I am accused of having a lead foot.  It is not that my foot is heavy, it is just that the little car has a quick acceleration.  It is fun to drive.

Oh by the way, the air conditioner in the house is working again today after a service man arrived bright and early this morning.  But the unit is still tentative.  If it will last two more weeks I will be quite happy!  I find that I must wear a jacket in the house and sometimes a neck muffler.  It makes me feel right at home.

WISCONSIN: HERE I COME

By Kathleen Martens

March 31, 2016

A hot day in March

As the wind blows,

Sunshine and heat

Fair skin’s perfect foe.

An umbrella needed

Without the rain,

To cover my lily white skin

So blisters will abstain.

A jacket in the house,

Sweating out of doors.

At least two wardrobes needed

To protect my delicate pores.

Sun glasses shield my eyes,

A hat covers my head,

So the sun cannot kill me,

Otherwise I’d be dead.

Oh so happy to know

That to Wisconsin I will return.

And I can go outside again

Without a persistent burn.

But while here I’ll enjoy

The hours when not home.

Few things I love more

Than being able to roam.

So, I’ll take the heat,

And enjoy my grand-dogs.

And look forward once again

To Wisconsin’s cooling fog.

Thank You Lord for this time away.

Thank You Lord for the opportunity to travel.

Thank You Father for watching over me every day.

Thank You Jesus for preparing a place for me in heaven.

GOD BLESS YOU.  BE THANKFUL FOR WHEREVER YOU ARE.

Wednesday March 30 2016  SEARCHING FOR THE RIGHT THING

Life has a way of teaching, even when you don’t necessarily want to learn.  So is working in the domain of another’s kitchen.  I have cooked in a myriad of homes. It is my pleasure to concoct wonderful dishes, but it is a bit of a challange looking for what you need in a foreign kitchen.  “Foreign” in this instance has a definition of words found in the thesaurus to mean: “distant, far-off, extraneous, alien, external, and remote.”  There are several other definitions but these are the ones that best refer to cooking in another’s  territory.  It’s one thing if the owner of the home is present verses when they are not on the premise.  Pros and cons for both.

If the owner is close by they are usually helpful in finding a tool you cannot find.  Everything from spices, to graters, to certain pots and pans.  When they are not available for help a lot of rummaging must be done to locate (or not) the item for which you are searching.  The really negative side of not having knowledge of where everything is located, is the possible necessity of taking everything out of the lower cabinets and upper cupboards and then not having a clue how it all fits back in.  So that was my dilemma today.

For the last couple of days I have carefully spied Rebecca as she worked in her kitchen and tried desperately to memorize exactly where everything lived in her meticulously organized, perfect for her, kitchen.  Until you must get everything out of the cupboards to find what you are searching for, you have no idea of how much stuff can be “organized” into such a small area.  And for some reason it just doesn’t all seem to fit back in.  I assure you, even though I did get everything put away and out of sight (thanks to putting a lot of the dishes in the dishwasher), I know for certain that I probably didn’t get it all organized to Rebecca’s specifications.

I did the best I could.  Maybe she’ll read this blog eventually and give a little pity to her “old” mother.  Besides, maybe she’ll even like it better the way it is now.  But I doubt it.  Oh well, the dinner is baking in the oven and I know it will be delicious.

Rebecca’s kitchen showed me a parallel to life.  Every day that I live it seems that I learn at least one more lesson.  I must draw on past experiences in order to deal with what comes my way.  When you really think about it, living each day is like living in a “foreign” kitchen.  When a dilemma comes along you must use past knowledge to put all the pieces together in order to concoct a solution for pulling your life back together. So it was with Rebecca’s kitchen today.  It was simple to get everything out (except for the weight of her heavy pots and pans), but once everything was scattered all over the kitchen it took all my organizational skills from kindergarten’s stacking lessons to all the puzzle solving methods I’ve learned over the course of my lifetime.

But, in the long run, I was certainly glad that neither Rebecca nor Neil were home during today’s escapade.  It is now 6:47 p.m. and Neil just came home.  Whew!  I was able to have everything looking serene and peaceful before he walked in the door.  I told Dave, “I’ll do the cooking, but I won’t do it if they are home”.  I’ll be safely asleep in bed before Rebecca arrives home.  Maybe she won’t look in the cupboards until tomorrow while I am working out at the gym.

KITCHEN DILEMMA

By Kathleen Martens

March 30, 2016

Pots and pans

And dishes galore.

Wherever I look

There are more.

Just the right skillet

Is a must

To make certain

There is no fuss.

The perfect size,

The perfect cup.

Everything measured

On what we sup.

A recipe is but

A science experiment,

But it takes precision

To make it coherent.

A little bit of this

A little bit of that,

And nothing will work

If ingredients lack.

So the mad scientist

Scours around

The entire kitchen

Until perfection is found.

But then there’s the mess

When all is done.

And putting everything back

Is rarely fun.

Everything multiplied

And now there’s no room

To put it all back

Before disaster looms.

But when it is finished

Not quite like before,

The counters are clear

As I close the cupboard door.

Now if the food

Turns out great

Perhaps my ending

Will have a better fate.

Thank You Lord for the food You provide for me to cook.

Thank You Lord for the oven to cook it in.

Thank You for my daughter’s home.

Thank You Lord that she still trusts me enough to allow me access to her beautiful kitchen.

Thank You Lord for pots and pans even if they weigh a ton!

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU.

P.S.  I’ll let you know how it all turns out tomorrow!

Tuesday March 29 2016  THE MIRACLE BED

There is always too much to write and not enough time in which to write it.  Yesterday’s topic was heavy on my heart and I needed to get it off my chest.  Perhaps you did not realize that I use my blog as an occasional dumping ground.  It is like therapy to me to release my experiences and thoughts in words and since this also is part journal, I do so within its pages. 

Sunday night when we were in Live Oak, Florida, Dave and I slept in a queen sized bed at a lovely Airbnb.  The bed had some sort of pad under the mattress pad.  It was about two inches thick and quite firm.  We both did not think much about it as we snuggled under the warm blankets.  Dave and I both woke up feeling absolutely wonderful and quite refreshed.  We felt better having slept in that bed than we do sleeping on our own bed at home.  I decided to take a peek at what kind of pad was hiding under the sheet and mattress cover.  Whatever it was, it was enclosed in a sturdy case that zipped closed around the entire edge.  I couldn’t figure out what it was.

Before leaving the Airbnb I asked Doris, the host, what kind of pad she had on the bed we slept on.  She told me it was a magnetic pad.  We know people who use magnet “therapy” so this concept was not new to us, even though we have never pursued it.  Doris wears magnetic shoe inserts and a magnetic back pad that tucks into her waist band when she works in the yard.  She could not say enough good things about her magnets.  After just one night of such interrupted sleep it might be something we at least investigate when we arrive home.  It was so amazing that we both realized the difference in our sleep that night without an inkling of what may have allowed it.

Our daughter is wonderful as usual.  Her husband is trying to survive her abuse.  It seems she has a talent for doing things like vacuuming up his toes or banging the washing machine door into his elbow.  She turns over in bed and punches her elbow into his head or doesn’t screw a lid on tight and as Neil puts his strength into opening the “tight” lid his brute force causes his hand to come flying up to his face and the lid gives him a good smack.  The list goes on but I must admit, it sounds to me like it must be all his fault by just being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Believe me, I did not make this up.  When Neil told me he had a twinkle in his eyes.  But, we love him anyway.

Rebecca informed me that I could be cooking while I was here, so today was shopping day.  We went to Costco, Don Victorio’s House of Vegetables, and the grocery store.  We are set.  The chicken is cooked, the broth is done, the refrigerator is stuffed and I must wrap this blog up quickly so I can prepare Dave’s favorite dish, homemade Ambrosia.  It is a recipe I made up by copying the entrée from a fine place of dining.  The cook even gave me the secret ingredient I needed to buy in order to get the wonderful flavor we so enjoyed.  Tonight it will be Ambrosia Pizza.  Everyone is getting antsy for me to get up and make it so I must close.

NOTHING QUITE LIKE BEING A GUEST

By Kathleen Martens

March 29, 2016

There’s nothing quite like

Being our daughter’s guest

And never being allowed

To take a rest.

I must cook

And slave away

So there is food

To eat today.

Just don’t tell her

What I confess.

That cooking is what

I like doing the best.

Today I thank You Lord for food.

I thank You for taste buds.

Lord I thank you for Your love for me.

Thank You Lord for our daughter.

Thank You Lord for our son-in-law.

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!

Monday March 28 2016  UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES 

WE HAVE ARRIVED!  Literally.  Our ultimate destination has been accomplished successfully.  And we are so thankful.  The world is moving faster and faster.  It’s as if, no matter how fast the speed limit is, it is just not fast enough.  If it is 55 mph  I might fudge and go 57 mph (in the slow lane) just so I can say I’m going over the speed limit and therefore not be considered “a little old lady driver”.  It seems as if other drivers are trying to push me off the road. 

My eyes were opened last year to the daring speeds of 75 mph and 80 mph on two lane roads with traffic signals.  I came close to being a statistic.  I was so thankful that Wisconsin only had 65 mph as their highest speed limit, that is, until I arrived home and found out it had been raised to 70 mph.  When it was 65 mph it was very usual for most cars to travel at 75 mph or 80 mph.  So, now that most freeways and highways are 70 mph it seems a high percentage take the leeway and travel upwards of 80 to 90 mph.  Even in the rain.

Dave and I shared driving off and on today to make the travel less tedious.  It was beautiful clear sunshine when we set out this morning from Live Oak, Florida, and I drove about two hours.  Dave took over and in no time at all the skies turned gray and the thunder and lightning began, along with torrential rains.  He drove about an hour and we stopped and traded seats again.  The rains stopped when I began driving.  Later Dave too over and again the rains came down. I kid you not, when Dave was driving it was raining, sometimes ferociously.  The roads were wet to the point that at one time the car hydroplaned.  He slowed down and drove between 60 and 65 mph.  What was so amazing were those cars that absolutely flew by at speeds that may have exceeded 80 mph and an additional few drivers that whizzed by so quickly that it actually startled us.  Finally the rains abated for a few moments while Dave was driving.  He again accelerated to about 70 mph so he wouldn’t be run over. 

I often wonder why people think they can get away with breaking the law so blatantly.  About the time I was thinking that, the rain had stopped and I noticed a string of cars on the opposite side of the highway which had been pulled over by several different policemen.  I smugly thought it was about time.  We noticed everyone slowed down.  About a mile past the string of flashing lights all the cars going in our direction started speeding up again.  It’s interesting how quickly the 70 mph speed limit can become popular, at least until the policemen are out of sight.  Stop and think about how you drive.  Are you the impatient dare devil, coming up quickly on the tail end of a car as the other driver is passing someone in the slow lane?  Is it you who hugs the car bumper ahead with only one car length in between going 80 mph?  Or perhaps you are a bit more courteous and follow the speed limits “even if everyone else is doing it”.  The “it”, simply means breaking the law of the land, putting yourself above all others, thinking you are more important than anyone else on the road, and you have the right to make other driver’s get out of their way, even when the speed they are driving is above the speed limit?  It’s as if no one stops to think about unintended consequences.  What about the “WHAT IF’S”?

Every decision we make has a consequence, be it intended or unintended.  Just entering a toll road is a decision.  You want to get from point A to point B.  Going faster than the speed limit is a decision.  You want to arrive sooner rather than later.  But, do you ever think of the unintended consequences that could happen because you are in a hurry?  Do you ever think about the unintended consequences that could happen just because you enjoy the thrill of speeding, zigzagging between the traffic and riding the bumper of every car you come upon, even in the rain?  Maybe there is a reason there are laws and rules.  Maybe those reasons are intentionally designed to make the world a safer place. 

Today I witnessed an unintended consequence.  The roads were wet.  The rain still coming down sporadically with cars whizzing by at breathtaking speeds.  By this time we were a couple of miles past the string of speeders who had been pulled over.  The traffic was again picking up speed.  I was in the passenger seat and was looking off to my right.  At first it was hard for my mind to register exactly what I saw.  There were two cars that had flown off the side of the freeway, one wrapped around a pole-like tree and another car close by.  The one wrapped around the tree had hit it head on, creating a crumpled mess of broken car, fiberglass, and caved in front seat area with thick billowing black smoke coming out of every opening.  The other car off the freeway had not hit a tree and came to rest in an upright position.  A woman was standing by the car with her head in her hands with an expression of disbelief.  We could not stop safely, but I called 911.

I do not know how it happened.  I don’t know who may have been at fault.  All I know was that what I viewed was definitely UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES for all those involved.  I don’t know how many passengers were in that decimated vehicle or what the condition the occupents may have been in.  I do know the car hit at high speed due to the crumpled mess and I do know with certainty that it was on fire.  I immediately prayed for those involved.  I DO NOT BELIEVE ANY OF THOSE INVOLVED WILL ARRIVE AT THEIR ULTIMATE DESTINATION TODAY, NOR PERHAPS WILL THEY EVER.  Did the driver ever once think about the unintended consequence of driving so fast in the rain?  Dave and I did, all day long.  We were cautious without being dangerous to other drivers.  We drove in the right lane of the two lane tollway.  We passed other cars when it was safe, and lowered our speed to match the slow lane of traffic once the rain began.  And we prayed.  We prayed that we would not meet unintended consequences as we continued our miles. 

Please give thought to what I have written above, especially if you may fall into the category of the law breaker.  I believe we are instructed in God’s word to obey the laws of our land.  So, is it a sin to blatantly speed and not give thought to other’s safety, even if you don’t give thought to your own safety?

It was very sorrowful to see that car in flames, knowing that someone was still inside and the 911 responders were still far away.

Don’t Rush, Even when Late.

By Kathleen Martens

March 28, 2016

Unintended consequences

Not for the faint of heart.

But perhaps one should think

Before their journey starts.

The decisions we make each day

Have great bearing on our fate.

The moral of the story goes,

Don’t rush, even when late!

I do not mean to end this blog on a down note, but what I saw today really shook me up.  THINK BEFORE YOU “DO”.  Use wisdom before you act.  Wisdom can be described as using your knowledge to make the best decision possible for each circumstance.  SLOW DOWN ON THE HIGHWAYS and maybe you won’t become a statistic on the billboard above the Interstate!  Better yet, maybe you won’t be the cause of someone else becoming a statistic!

Thank You Lord for loving all those who You created.

Thank You for safe travels this day.

Thank You God that I believe in who You are.

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU WHO READ THESE WORDS.

RESURRECTION SUNDAY March 27 2016  THE BETTER DRIVER

We are driving in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia on Easter Sunday Sabbath.  Speed limit is 55 mph.  Dave is driving a daring 60 mph and we are being left in the dust.  Or perhaps I should say, left in the pouring down rain!  The freeway is seven lanes wide going in one direction.  We are headed right into the heart of downtown Atlanta.  I hope the freeway stays intact until we reach the other side. 

I asked if Dave would like me to drive in the rain because I am the “better” driver but he said, “No thanks”.  You see, he thinks HE is the better driver!  I must pause now to view the city so I can say I’ve been to Atlanta!  Georgia is a beautiful state!  Kentucky and Tennessee all win blue ribbons in the beauty pageant.  This is by far the largest city we have gone through since leaving home. 

Time has passed and we survived going through the city (all on the freeway) but it seems the outskirts just do not end.  I do not think I would like to live in a city this size!

Dave and I have an ongoing sparring match as to who is the best driver.  It’s all in fun.  It is just amazing how he really does think he is the better of the two of us.  Especially since I know I am right!  Actually I have it figured out.  When he drives I am a bit on edge because he doesn’t react to the driving conditions like I would.  And I think he is on edge because I don’t react to driving conditions like he does.  So perhaps in our own eyes we are both correct.  I am not concerned about him when he drives alone, so why should I be concerned about his driving when he is doing the driving and I am a passenger?  So I choose to be quiet.  Overall he is an excellent driver.  And what he just said about me is that I am just not a very good passenger.  Just for the record, that is not true.

Now to the reason for this wonderful day.  It is a day of remembrance and rejoicing because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I touched on this topic last week.  It is the story that changed the world forever.  The first, being the day he was born on earth earth, and the second being His death and resurrection to atone for the sins of man.

The beauty of Christ’s death and resurrection is that not only are our sins forgiven if we but ask, but that He promised to send His Holy Spirit back to earth after He ascended to THE FATHER so that His Spirit would abide within us as our comforter and friend.  And so today we celebrate and rejoice and remember. 

We had three Calvary Chapel Fellowships picked out to attend so we could match our time on the road to coincide with their service time.  We decided to travel almost three hours before stopping in Chattanooga TN in order to help break up our nine and one half hour trek.  We were right on target with plenty of time to arrive in Chattanooga before the 11:00 a.m. service.  We both looked forward to our Easter celebration with a “church family”.  We had already left the other two church areas behind us.

About 45 minutes before arrival time we realized that Chattanooga was in a different time zone (something we had discussed before we left home).  But, on this day, we forgot!  Another senior moment.  We would be arriving an hour late because we forgot to change our clocks one hour ahead.  We looked and looked for other churches along the way, but by this time most service were well underway, or over.  We eventually stopped at a rest stop, changed out of our Sunday go-to-meeting clothes and put on our comfortable duds.  And here I am finishing up my blog.  Originally I planned to share about our church experience today.  There is just something special about joining in worship with a southern church body.

ALLS WELL THAT ENDS WELL

By Kathleen Martens

March 27, 2016

Two hundred and twenty two miles

Left to drive today.

Let’s hope we don’t get lost

Like we did yesterday.

Nothing quite as exciting

As arriving after dark

Especially without an address

Which creates quite a lark.

To be lost is one thing

But when you know you have arrived

It becomes exasperating

When the house seems to hide.

But all is well that ends well

For we finally found our stead

Filled our tummies, and went to sleep

And slept on half a bed.

I must explain the above poem.  When we received our information from Airbnb.com regarding our reservation we were only given the name of the subdivision of our designated location.  We found the location of the subdivision through google.  We thought perhaps it was the only house as the location was named BOYER FARMS, only to find out that there were dozens and dozens of houses that all looked quite similar.  I called, left messages to the owner but we did not receive a response.  After an hour of searching up and down the streets, stopping strangers on the street to ask them if they recognized the picture of the house on my cell phone which I received from Airbnb, knocking on doors which had porch lights burning, we were still house-less.  So I scrutinized the picture of the house to see if I could figure out what might be different from the others in the neighborhood.  Finally, I discovered a design difference in the walkway that led up to the front door that no other house had.  So, I kid you not, (after stopping at a construction site so I could use an outdoor latrine with my cell phone flashlight) we examined each house in order to find the nuance the picture characterized.  Would you believe it, we actually found it.  It had no porch light burning and only one light was on in the house.  By this time it was almost 9:00 p.m.  I have used Airbnb on many occasions but it was Dave’s first experience.  Not a great first experience for him.  The lightbulb on the porch had burned out.  There is a lot more I could tell you but I will refrain.  So now you know what the poem is referring to.  There is even more to the story.  Maybe someday I will tell you about the bed.  I am smiling and I am still learning.  Wherever I go God so graciously teaches me something. 

Thank You Lord that we finally found the house last night.

Lord, Thank You for providing a bed for Dave and I to sleep in last night.

Thank You for bringing us safely to our destination this day.

Thank You for washcloths.

It is now 2:36 p.m.  We are through Atlanta as well as Macon Georgia.  We are on our way to another Airbnb in Live Oak FL.  And the miles yet to go are now 192 with an ETA of two hours and forty five minutes.

GOD BLESS YOU ON THIS BLESSED RESURRECTION SABBATH!

P.S.  I cannot publish my blogs until night comes and I have access to WIFI. 

P.S. Again:  It is still pouring down rain!

P.S. This is the last one:  We arrived safely to Live Oak, FL.  Lovely accommodations!  It poured bucket all afternoon as we drove our leisurely 70 mph.  And we were in the slow lane, in pouring down rain.