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May 5 2015 Day 59 Another Desire Fulfilled!
God is so good!
So many wonderful experiences to remember. I just hope writing the blog will help me remember more than I forget. Any one else out there have that problem?
Today was a lovely, busy day. To just arise in the morning is always a joy to me, no matter what the weather, no matter where I am, no matter if I am to work or play. To just awaken again knowing I have the chance to live another day makes morning all worthwhile. The earlier I rise the better I like it. Someday I will awaken on my last day and perhaps not even know it is my last day. And even that day will have its own wonderful experiences. Perhaps not to remember but to be enjoyed while I have every breath left in me. And oh what an experience it will be to awaken in a new place and be able to stand boldly in the presence of the Almighty God. I actually look forward to that amazing experience but on the other hand I am in no hurry to make it happen.
So, back to my lovely, busy day. Early workout to start the day. And then…I actually walked into a Great Clips by the gym and gave a perfect stranger the privilege of cutting my hair. Now I know my hair doesn’t look like much (that’s because there isn’t much of it) but I only allow one person to cut my hair and that is my sweet hairdresser Angela back in Wisconsin who owns Bonjour Barber. She cut it very short before I left on my trip so I thought it would outlast my journey. I guess I should have had it shaved. My hair had crossed the line into shagginess and I couldn’t stand it one more day. God provided a superb lady named Jennifer the opportunity to work her magic. And magic she worked! It is SHORT again. Not quite as short, but short indeed. Jennifer was wonderful. Not only did she cut and style it, she washed it, (remember I was all sweaty from the gym), massaged my scalp, wrapped my face in hot towels and put me in a vibrating chair while I lay back for the shampoo…then…gave me a short shoulder massage with a hand held vibrator. Oh man…I felt wonderful when I left there. And the best thing of all Jennifer was in love with the Lord too. She was a good listener too. Hmm…does that surprise you?!
When I arrived back at home base my friend Wendy from High School was sitting on the door step. She was early and I was a bit later than I had intended. I changed and we high tailed it out of there like two giggling teenagers we once were. It matters not how much time passes between visits or phone calls, we can just pick up from where we left off and still feel the comradely feelings we shared as teens. We had an enjoyable time together, eating lunch out, driving around awhile on side roads and stopping at the Meadow Lark Dairy in Pleasanton again (for me again) for an ice cream cone. We had great conversation and we had to part. I wish I could share all our conversations but of course I cannot so I’ll just say that God was in them.
After Wendy left I readied myself for the next event which was to leave in a short while to go to Jeanette’s sister’s house for dinner. Linda and Ron live about 5 miles from Jeanette in Danville California. The homes in this surrounding area are all beautiful, well kept homes. The property values in this part of California are exorbitant. I suppose if something retains such a high value it is well cared for. The homes are close but not as close as they are in other areas. So many people have cultivated beautiful flower gardens in both front and back yard. So much warmth and growing season that much can be accomplished in the growing season. I saw flowers I have never laid eyes on. Ron cultivates roses and another exotic flower that he gets from Japan or China (Sorry Ron, I guess I wasn’t listening too well) which are one of a kind here in the states. He orders them and has a collection of them in pots in his side yard. His yard is beautiful! On the other end of his house he has a gorgeous rose garden with a collection of extremely exotic looking roses. Amazingly beautiful. I took a few pics on my cell phone so I could send you some. Most I took with my real camera because they will be beautiful on cards.
I told Jeanette this morning that I wanted to stop in some of the yards in the neighborhoods around here and just pick one rose from each bush (especially at one house I drive by everyday). I told her I would love to have a boquet of the beautiful roses I see. They are so huge and diverse in color, style of blooms, sizes, and smells. When I was admiring Ron’s rose garden he said I could pick any I wanted! WOW! WOW! WOW! There it was again! God just giving me another desire of my heart! Linda came out with the clippers and kept encouraging me to cut more. In the photos I posted I included the bouquet I brought back to Jeanette’s from their backyard. They sit regally in a vase behind me in the office where I am writing and the fragrance mixture of all the varieties smells like a lush wonderful fruit drink of some sort. Sort of lemony and subtle and yet spicy all in one inhalation. I shall sleep with them in my room and then place them in a communal area for all to enjoy while I am gone tomorrow. Perhaps I’ll even take one to each of my sisters whom I will see tomorrow. That is…if I can part with two.
Linda and Ron set a beautiful table and the food was delicious! I’ll try to remember to get the name of the dish Linda served. It was a bit different and ever so wonderful. It will be interesting to find out if anyone has ever heard of it before. Not only is Linda talented in cooking she is also very artistic and creative and prolific in the quilt making department. She showed me many quilts and pillows that she has made and they were all exquisitely and finely made. She does all the quilting herself. Some she actually uses a straight stitch sewing machine to quilt curved repetitive designs in the quilt patterns and they look beautiful. I posted a few of her quilt photos that I snapped this evening. Enlarge them and look at them closely. I shot a lot of the quilts with my real camera too.
I returned to home base, leaving Denny and Jeanette behind to watch a basketball tournament game. Don’t know what team, can’t remember the team name and don’t recall even seeing them on screen to tell you the color of their uniforms (which I don’t know if that even matters). Some pro games to do with basketball must be going on right now because everyone here is ensconced in it. I am happy for them. But…their team lost tonight on this 5th day of May. (I included the date because my computer is blogging things with the wrong dates attached. Even when I put the correct date on tonight tomorrow it will show May 6th. I change it or at least try.)
I will close with Wendy’s words of wisdom she would like to tell others:
“Do not gain weight. Do not let yourself go because it is so hard to get yourself back. Stay active and work on being healthy”.
Thank you Wendy for your honest words to others.
And thank you God for all your blessings on this day. I love my roses!
Oh, and thank you Linda and Ron for allowing God to grow them in your back yard. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. It was so good to see you both and look through your old albums!
Good Night!
P.S. Note to cousin Joyce: I’ll return your call tomorrow but don’t know when.
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 