Sometime days are just down days.  Not down in spirit but just a day to slow down, stay close to home, revel in the quiet, no hustle and no bustle.  Just a great “down” day.  That was today, for the most part.  And I loved it.  Paulette had several suggestions as to where we could go, things we could see, etc., but instead we chose to stay close to home until we thought of a movie we’d like to see.

I did go to the gym and when I came home I braved the post rain back yard and tackled picking lemons.  Yes, I said lemons.  If I had to guess I would say her Meyer lemon tree probably had 500 lemons on it.  And let me tell you, this lemon tree fought back.  It had great big, long, sharply pointed, strong, THORNS.  I mean they were like weapons and extremely sharp!  Ask me how I know! “Ouch”!  I wore long sleeves which helped but still had a few pricks elsewhere.  I picked lemons for a half hour or more.  After they were washed and dried and laid out I counted 80 lemons on the counter and in a bowl was about another dozen or so.

So, the photographer in me just knew there was a picture waiting to happen.  Paulette pulled down her beautiful baskets from the pantry and we loaded the lemons into them.  I arranged them in what I thought a was nice display and we not only took pictures, but, we did a talking video.  We had fun doing it.  I took some to the gym this morning, which I had picked yesterday, and gave them away to the people I spoke with yesterday.  Tomorrow I will take more.  I also plan to take them with me as I leave and hand them out to wherever I go to whomever wants them.  They are quite sweet lemons or could be mistaken for a very sour orange.  They look more like oranges, both outside skin and inside flesh.  This is a very forlorn tree.  It is sad because it is neglected and left to its own devices.  I heard the lemons calling out to me to please pick them so they could fulfill the destiny that God had intended for them.  That destiny was to be picked, eaten, and enjoyed, while giving rich nutrients to to those who ate them.  The picked lemons are happy lemons!  And I am quite happy for picking them, as well as helping them fulfill their destiny!  I called ahead and told Joyce I would be bringing lemons.  She said she had two lemon trees and didn’t need any lemons.  Oh well…Wish I could get them to my sister Velma.  She is the lemon lady!

So you see when I have a “down day”, and not much happening I have to “make” something happen.  So I did.  Quite exciting for a blog, right?  RIGHT??

Paulette and I went to see the movie “The Age of Adeline”.  It was quite a ways away but we both wanted to do something “exciting” so we drove out to see it.  I thought it done well, had an interesting but abrupt ending, but overall was an entertaining movie.  Paulette didn’t seem to like it as much as I did.  I don’t see many movies so maybe I don’t have enough to compare it to.  I especially like the actors (and don’t ask me who they were).

Paulette’s husband, Dave, joined us across town and we had dinner at a place called CHOPS.  Very nice upscale restaurant.  I put on my best behavior and tried to be quiet.  It worked for awhile.  I ordered my favorite food, BRUSSELS SPROUTS and a beet salad.  It was very good.  I thank you Paulette and Dave for the delicious meal.  I have enjoyed myself here in Folsom California.  I had a large suite to myself and I spread out like a 16 year old.  And that is about how my area appears at the moment, like a teenagers!  EGADS!   I am leaving tomorrow so will tidy it up in the morning as I pack.  It felt so good to just let it all hang out!  I would be embarrassed to take a picture of it.  I think I needed this respite!

While at dinner I asked Dave for his words of wisdom.  He responded quickly:  “As I age my priorities change.  There is nothing I’d rather do now that hang out with my grandsons”  I asked him if that was it and he said yes it was.

Paulette’s wisdom:  “Take the time to find joy in every day. Sometimes you have to find it yourself because it is not always going to bite ya.”  Very  well said!

And because I have a wonderfully peaceful, low-key day I will share a poem I wrote yesterday.  I have not had the opportunity to spend as much time in solitude with the Lord while on this trip.  I try when I can and have been quite faithful in writing my gift of poetry to God daily (missed a couple of days).  I had a quiet peaceful morning yesterday and spent in on the veranda deck and just enjoyed communing with my Lord.  Here is the simple poem that spoke how I felt.  After the poem are words I felt impressed upon my heart when I asked the Lord what words He had for me.

AND FOR LOVING ME ENOUGH

May 14, 2015

Here I am Lord

To offer my time and space,

To rest my heart in You,

In this peaceful time and place.

To be alone in myriad sounds,

To be refreshed from inside out.

My heart sings from within,

My soul longs to shout.

To proclaim Your love and mercy,

And Your tender loving care

That spills from my heart,

For inside me You’re always there.

Thank You for Your grace and mercy

And for the strength You supply,

And for Your freedom You provide,

And loving me enough to die.

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My Heart Sounds from the Lord:  IF YOU PURPOSE TO LISTEN

I am your rock forever and I give you true peace because you trust in Me.  Even in times of your absence in solitude My love will never leave you.  My promise of peace does not disappear because of your busy schedule or the hands on a clock.  When My children love Me I will bless them.  My face will shine upon you and you will become more and more like Me that others will see my countenance upon your face

Come and let us enjoy this interlude in your journey.  Pause and give time to reflect on all I am teaching you.  Write down your lessons that you retain them to look upon and continue to grow.  As you seek Me, my wisdom will come from within you.  Wisdom that comes from heaven is pure, it loves peace while considering others needs.  Look and see who I bring before you.  Step out in boldness, yet be submissive unto Me.  I will fill you with mercy and good fruit.  Judge not others and always speak truth in sincerity.  Be my disciple for I have called you to be my witness.  You are my beloved.  I love you with an intensity you do not yet understand.  Listen as I speak to your heart.  Through all the chatter and clatter of this word you will hear My voice if you purpose to listen.

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This has been a wonderful stay.  I feel refreshed and ready to look ahead to next week when I will be a student at a week long class at Bethel Church in Redding CA.

Good night.  7:55 p.m.

P.S.  We are going to watch a movie!