THE THINGS I'VE LEARNED IN......2002
***by personal experience!

1....To keep my mouth shut...at 'borderline crazy' remarks.
2....Fly by the 'seat of my pants' more!...(Thanks Dockie:)
3....Children are GREAT.....teachers!
4....My 'feelings' do count!
5....People all over the world laugh in the same language!
6....Nonsense.....often.....makes.....sense.
7....Some people will NEVER change!
9....I have the right to be right.....and wrong! (check numbers)
10..I need every person that is in my life in order to enhance the quality of my life and
.......character!
11..Cantankerousness, orneriness, and argumentative people are a 'known given' in life.
12...I don’t have to cry and ‘lament endlessly’ about others ‘wrong choices of life’.
13...Serendipity....is a wonderful word.....and experience!
14....Time heals.
15....People WILL let you down.....God NEVER Will!
16...Why Worry?.....When I can.....PRAY?
17....It is FUN.....to be....s i l l y!!!
19....Walking the beach alone.....is HEAVEN!!!
20....Friends that are crazy, zany, delightful, thoughtful and helpful are God’s answer
to prayer for me and my family....
21....It IS A Good Life!!!

Personal Commitment for......2003

Upon reading my morning devotional, one of them, which really caught my attention, was in regard to personal commitment in today’s generation.
It reminded us that on the eve of a New Year, that a lot of promises and New Year's resolutions are being made. These are a worthy way for evaluation and redefining our New Year and the priorities we choose for change.

The only problem is that for most of us the promises of today will soon be forgotten. We have good intentions, but we lack the commitment that will cause us to form new habits. I.e. lose weight, quit smoking, be calm, save money, etc.
My Southern Mom used to say....”The jail house if filled with people with ’good intentions’!

The generation we live in now is by and large a short-term commitment generation. We often begin our projects etc. with a definite idea of how we can excuse ourselves if things get too difficult.
Even newlyweds begin their marriages with the understanding that there is a legal backdoor that will allow escape when the relationship gets rocky!

.......Good solid relationships are based on love and often made stronger by.....trials. Each person gives and receives support in relation to the other.

I am going to be very careful this year about my commitments.....
to myself and to others....when I wish YOU a....Happy New Year....and I say that ...may “Your Dreams Come True”....I have promised a commitment to the place in our relationship by which I can do all that is within my means in order to ......pray for you, your dreams, your happiness etc. ....and when we have a personal contact.....to make the atmosphere and attitude of that relationship be one of which....you and I both......are.....HAPPY!!!

It is to this that I am committed.....God, Family, Friends and...... America!

.......HAPPY NEW YEAR.....2003

The Hardest Thing To Handle....
Is the Attention You Will Get!!!

As we wind down the year of 2002, there is a time for reflection....both good and bad. The memories of the year rush about in my head and heart!
I am filled with awe at how much ’living’ can be packed into a year....and how quickly that year can come and go....
In a sense, I’m still on hold for the computer glitches of the year 2000!!!
It never happened......but it seemed like yesterday.

Now we are approaching the beginning of a completely New Year!
2003.....is for me!!!
I truly believe.....that the year.....2003 will be a year by which....
.......Dreams Come True.....for a lot of people!
Over the last year, I have repeatedly heard from the lives of many of my family and friends....certain ’Dreams’ that have been reached for.....prayed for....worked for.....or forgotten or put on the shelf ’dreams’.....

In these dreams I hear a reoccurring theme.....”I wish or I‘ve always dreamed of....owning my own company, having a ‘perfect‘ mate, having a child, taking a trip to....seeing my children walk in healthy relationships, owning such and such a car, a new home, finishing my college education, bringing “Jesus” to the world, being debt free, being rich, retiring etc.”

But I warn you......having your “Dreams Come True”....can
and will......CHANGE YOUR LIFE!
I’ve seen it happen....both good and bad.....
There are many examples of people around me who.....had not the character to handle their.....Dream Come True.
For you see their realized dream were pre-mature to the developing of strength, character and wisdom in order to value and rightfully use the blessing of....Dreams Come True!

Look at the ’stars’ of Hollywood, Sports, Media etc.
Some use their position of influence to help others,..i.e. Warrick Dunn with the Tampa Bucs.....others use it entirely to help themselves.
The attention that many drew as a result of their “Dream Come True”.... intensifies the character within......and magnifies it for all the world to see. I have seen in my own family and friends....people change so much as a result of their ’dream’ that they no longer wanted the individuals in their lives that were instrumental in helping then achieve that dream!
How absurd.....how ridiculous.....how STUPID!
It happens every day!

Now I have to tell you that I, also, have seen dreams realized that changed the lives FOR GOOD of the individual and all those around them!
THIS is a Joy to behold. THIS is.....contagious....
Such sharing......ignites a fire of hope and joy and encouragement to such a degree that the “Blessed”......becomes a Blessing....

It is for this that I pray for all of you!
I am praying a Scripture from The Bible to support my New Years wish and prayer for all of you my family, my friends, my readers.

Proverbs 13:12 from the Living Bible....
........Hope deferred makes the heart sick....BUT WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE AT LAST.....THERE IS LIFE AND JOY!!!

THIS is my prayer for YOU and all those you hold dear.

*******HAPPY NEW YEAR....2003!

INNOVATION

Innovate in my dictionary says....to introduce new methods, devices, etc.
...change in the way of doing things...something newly introduced....

Having just been through one of the most beautiful and ’awesome’ Family Christmas’s, I am asking....”Who could ask for anything more?”
I can!
Continued enjoyment of this quality of life, every day of the year, requires new and innovative ways of living fully in this land of plenty....called America.

Our family had more than it’s share of ’things’ for Christmas...my new digital camera which seems like a toy to me...food galore, Charlie, Lynn and I made 100 pastelillos before Christmas but most of all we had the true meaning of Love.....given by the “Babe” at Christmas.
In addition, we were given the “Gift of Joy” in our hearts this Christmas....It seemed like the funniest things happened everywhere we turned...we were always laughing at ourselves or each other.
The day began with the lighting of the Christ candle, prayers and ‘Joy To The World’ singing. After the wonderful meal, sharing of gifts etc. we had a gift game called....”Dirty Santa Clause”...
Everyone had brought small under $5. gifts for this game and we each choose a number to pick a gift.
#1 opened gift of choice....#2 could take #1 gift and give #1 a wrapped gift....or open one so all could see. The true winner was the last number who could see all open gifts but the last one....then they...in this case Lynn, could choose from everything.....
Yet in our family....things are not always as they seem....several gifts had been rigged....by whom I’m not telling.....
A least desired gift...warm rainbow colored flannel socks....had a $25.00 gift certificate inside....an unwanted book that had not been opened contained a $1.00 bill in each page. The name of the book....”The Lord’s Prayer in 40 different cultures and languages...”
The game was a riot....the trading of unwanted gifts became another game.
Talking LeNails...versus a ’barrel of monkeys’.
After all was done.....the treasures came forth!
We had such fun with that silly nonsense and yes, .....we truly had a “Birthday” party celebration. Eighteen months old Joshua thought we were all crazy. He was clapping his hands in glee at the party atmosphere.
Of course, there were “Happy Birthday Jesus” decoration everywhere in addition to the sights and sounds of Christmas red and green.
We, also, read the President’s message, which gave us a time of rejoicing in the fact that we live in freedom as Americans and Christians.
We were and are blessed.
You may say....”She’s bonkers. All the ’needy’ around and they play ’games’.”
Guilty.....
365 days of the year.....All our family is blessed.....and we use those blessings to help others.....and each other as needed.
I could tell you tales in our family that would curl your hair.....but the bottom line is that we do enjoy life to the fullest....the good, the bad, and the ugly is a normal part of the reality of our lives as well as others.....
YET our true life is internal!
It is for this that we celebrate, have fun, enjoy those we love and give, give,
give. We are a generous hearted people....
We believe that we are blessed in order to be a blessing!
It is a responsibility that we take seriously all year.
Christmas is a time of recognizing this fact that we are all in HIS plan called “Life” together and we have earned the right to enjoy it to our hearts content. This is what makes It A Good Life for myself and my family and friends.

In the year 2003 I hope to discover innovative ways of living life fully and sharing the blessings of God with others on a daily basis.
This is my “New Year’s Resolution.”
Enjoy Life.....Today!

Quiet Comfort......

Kenny G’s Christmas music called “Miracles.. The Holiday Sound “ is playing on my speakers and a warm fire is glowing in the fireplace before me.
As I read my devotional it is entitled “It’s A Wonderful Life”!
I am in complete agreement.....Yes, It Is A GOOD Life.
But......a report is received that our pastor’s 18 yr. old daughter, Kelly Howard-Browne, is in intensive care with the disease cystic fibrosis which she has had since childhood.
Many people are praying for this beautiful Christian young lady.
Her father and Mother, Rodney and Adonica and their family and our church staff are still handing out gifts to needy children, and feeding a multitude of people as we do every day of the year in our church.
They and we are... all praying for Kelly but walking in the Quiet Comfort of faith in God to be IN CONTROL....when it ‘appears’ that life is ’out of control’.
That’s faith....

On Saturday I caught a glimpse of ‘The Christmas Spirit’ when I went to good ole Wal-Mart Super Store to return an item. The young lady that was working on my exchange turned to her fellow worker and asked ‘for the list of things that ‘the child’ needed....she wanted to shop during her break for her part of the contribution to a needy child.”
Here I saw a young woman, probably earning minimum wage, using her free break time to help make someone else’s Christmas!

My heroes are....home grown....all around me.

Christmas just brings out that which is already stored in the character of each individual. The Spirit of the Season acts as a laser beam of illuminating light...the good is blessed and multiplied....the bad is more obvious than any other time of the year....and is repulsive in light of family togetherness, Love, goodness, charity, compassion, gratitude and Joy To The World...

I take Quiet Comfort that the Peace on Earth which the Angels declared...still reigns in the heart of those who recognize and value the worth of the Babe of which we celebrate HIS birth this season of Love.
Yes, Jesus IS the reason for the Season. Therein lies my Quiet Comfort!

UPDATE.......


In receiving feed back from my blog readers, I recently received one from a reader who is in the United Arab Emirates.


If you have read my blog of Dec. 10 called, "Bring The World To....YOU!"
you will see that is exactly what is happening in computer real life today.
I am astonished that the world has actually become so small.....and communication so swift to the utmost parts of the globe.
Then I remember some verses in the Bible from the end of the book of Daniel (12:4) when the angel is giving Daniel prophecy for the future that says .......
,,,"But Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal it up so that it will not be understood until the end times,
........WHEN TRAVEL AND EDUCATION SHALL BE VASTLY INCREASED!"
The book of Daniel....remember the lions den?....was written approximately 535 B.C.

What an exciting time we live in as a human race..... as we approach the year 2003 A.D.
So I say to you.....wherever you are....Enjoy Life.....It Is Precious.....
Celebrate the Holidays with those you love and hold dear.
Remember.......Life is short.....Eternity is.....FOREVER!
Where will YOU spend it?
Reservations are being made NOW.
The choice is individually decided....on this earth.
As for me....I choose.....The GOOD LIFE!!!
Have a Happy and Prosperous......New Year!

A Performance You Won’t Want To Miss!!!

Just had an interesting conversation with my cousin, Yvonne, who lives in north Florida....
Yvonne is a nut.....but that is not really an adequate description because you will find over and over that description fits most of my family and friends....
Like mind......attracts like mind.....
And then there is family! More like minded than I care to admit!
Anyway, Yvonne and I don’t see each other very often since we both have very busy family lives.

Yvonne’s husband, James, is a heavy-duty big crane operator and spends months in various parts of the country. They recently returned from 3 or 4 months in North Dakota.
In January he goes to Maryland for a month or two.
It is said in the profession that James is so good that with a 300-ft. boom crane he can pick up a dime off of the sidewalk....
That’s a delicate performance for sure.
It is no wonder that at the age of 57, James has high blood pressure, hypertension etc. or it could be simply living with Yvonne is a greater challenge....
You see Yvonne is absolutely an astonishing person and......hilarious!
She called this morning at 5:55 a.m. full of life and fun.
As she related some of her recent antics, I found myself laughing my head off. Imitating family members and their nonsense leaves me fascinated by her exacting point of view and her general attitude of life.
She is ‘right on’ in life!

Yvonne......has no arms.
She was born that way.

Yvonne can do anything you or I can do....AND DO IT BETTER!
She is a worker.....a perfectionist, a motivator and has one of the best sense of humor of anyone I know.
She can cook a Southern meal for 25 people or so.....from food and vegetables that she has put into her freezer over the past year.
Her house is always incredibly clean as is their 35’ fifth wheel travel trailer.
Until recently, she had been mowing, with their riding lawn mower, their 5 acres of grass around their home. This she thinks is.....normal.
Getting a new home is why she quit ’that job’.
She also dresses with a flair and beauty that puts most women to shame.
A reflection of her general ’attitude’ was made very clear a few years ago when she and I went to get her some contact lens.
The young ’eye Doctor’ was kinda ’beating around the bush’ talking while trying to find out if she could adequately handle this new project.
He asked....“can you do this, can you do that.”?...
In her ‘be nice’ Southern lady voice she told him she drives a car, raised two sons, helps her family and friends etc.
He kept persisting that contact lens were awkward for everyone!
Finally she cut him off by saying, “Sonny, I haven’t seen anything that I can’t do yet!”
He burst out laughing with delight!
Upon receiving her new contacts, she along with 5 other new ’users’ were given a brief demonstration and then told to put them in for themselves.
They could not leave the office until it was proven they could do this.
Guess who was the first to get hers in?
Yep, it was Yvonne!
Yvonne is a class act for sure.
She could give one ulcers....or gray hair....or a different attitude of life!
Yvonne is what I call an “Electric Woman”.......
She has no equal!

A World of Difference

Yesterday the ‘prayer girls’ and I had our Christmas lunch at the luxurious Don CeSar Hotel’s Sea Porch Cafe on St. Petersburg Beach.

There were the four of us, Abby, Nancy, Taina and myself.
Before the meal was over....we had involved several of our fellow diners in our moments of hilarity.
Abby, being the clown that she is...informed us that she had gotten a ‘tattoo’. We believed her!
Upon revealing her ‘non existent’ tattoo, her punch line was overheard by another diner who was laughing along with us.
Nancy was not surprised by Abby’s antics.....they have much the same sense of humor. But Taina, the ever elegant lady and ‘proper’ Doctor’s wife image was a little dismayed when she understood what was happening ....was a joke.
Taina’s seriousness takes a shock at times with her ‘flamboyant’ friends yet she contributes in ‘first-class’ FUN to our enjoyment and has for seven years!
Then we decided to have our pictures made and our server plus another diner decided to ‘help’ us. Arranging our ‘best side’ look took much movement from one place to another but surprisingly enough even strangers ’got in the act’!

Part of our celebration was the sharing of gifts to and from each other.
We ‘ohed and awed’ as only females can do.
Had there been any males present yesterday.....they would have died of humiliation at the ’spectacle’ four grown women created.

But we had FUN and for us that was the idea.
For you see all four of us work very hard in our given roles of life and family. We take very seriously our commitment to that which is sacred.

When our meal arrived....we did the normal.
Bowed our heads together in a bond of love to God and each other.....and thanked the Almighty God for all of the many blessings He has brought into our lives and that of our families.
We also are thankful that He created us with a lively sense of humor!
We are made in HIS image......He knows how to laugh too!
Thank God!

Celebrate The Man!

Living in Florida, we are well aware of "The Mouse".
Walt Disney World is evident in most of Florida....just go to any gift shop in the state.
A survey of visitors at Walt Disney World in Orlando, revealed that many of the park's guests under the age of 15 didn't know that Walt Disney was a real person.
They thought that "Disney" was just a company name.
When corporate officials planned the celebrations commemorating the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney's birth, they made a special effort to highlight the life and impact of the real man.

With Christmas just a week and half away, we should consider how we can celebrate Jesus's birth in a way that helps others know that Jesus lived on this earth as a real man. The baby born in Bethlehem was the one and only Son of God.....A gift to mankind....
More than the gifts we give, it is how we live that will point to the realness of Christ this Christmas.
Yes, Jesus IS the Reason for the Season.....of Love!

Happy Birthday Holidays....It IS A Good Life!!!

Yesterday was a....bitter/sweet....day!
It was our family Brittney’s 19th birthday.
Britt and Ashley arrived at our house along with.....18 mo. old Joshua smiling from ear to ear with a soft fuzzy athletic sweatshirt on.
Ashley has just celebrated her 21st birthday and is in her 3rd year of college.
Both young ladies are dazzling in their looks and apparel.
Brittney, being a natural blonde with creamy ivory skin and dark haired Ashley whose perfect beauty makes you hold your breath when you look at her...both are EXTRAordinary. The Miracle of their looks is that the inside of each is more beautiful than the outside of their appearance.
These young ladies know.....L O V E.
They love their families.......and GOD!
Since we have the custom of lighting The Advent of Christ candles in our home, we also did this yesterday with the girls and 3rd yr. college student Matthew and Lynn..

Let me briefly explain the meaning of this ritual if you are not familiar
with it...
ADVENT means COMING...the Coming of Christ.
This was foretold.... prophesied....in the Old Testament and in the New Testament you will find reference to His coming....again.
It is an old custom and is started....four Sundays before Christmas....
A Family table is set with a wreath of greens or round candleholder that holds 4 candles with an additional larger white candle placed in the center of the wreath.
One candle is lighted the first Sunday (the Prophecy Candle) by the youngest child and left burning during the meal. That candle is relit the next Sunday plus an additional candle (the Bethlehem Candle) lighted by the oldest child. This is done each Sunday in Advent for the Shepherds and Angles Candle. Appropriate devotional is read and a simple family prayer is given. Then on Christmas Day....before anything is done.....the Center white Candle is lighted, others extinguished, to represent the coming of Christ, the Light of the World.
Each member gives a family prayer and then we sing....Joy To The World together.....
It is after this that our Christmas day begins.....For Jesus IS the Reason for the Season....and yes, we do bake him a Birthday Cake too....

Back to yesterday.....Brittney relit the Prophecy Candle and expressed her love and prayers. She had us all crying with her obvious caring and communicating that love to all of us....and God. Next Ashley relit the Bethlehem Candle and briefly stated her love and blessings for the New Year. Then Matthew lit the Shepherds Candle....and said nothing.
With all these crying females...what could he say?
His tender hugs said it all....
We broke out in song....Joy To The World....and Joshua was clapping his hands as he does at all “Birthday Parties”.

Later as we were talking, Ashley and Brittney were ‘lamenting’ the 'loves of their lives' that they thought ...did not value.....their love
There is a Scripture that speaks of this when St. Paul was speaking to the Church of Corinth and said,
2 Corn. 6:12&13 LB........”Any coldness between us is not because any lack of Love on my part......BUT BECAUSE YOUR LOVE IS TOO SMALL TO TAKE MY L OVE IN....Open your hearts! Return our Love!”

Bitter/sweet Love.....we all experience it to some degree at any given time in our lives.
This is the Season of Love.....and Forgiveness.
Feel Free.....to do both.....freely.
In HIS Love.
Amen

Dear Readers;
If you are new to my Web Site.......Welcome!

In order to send comments and your point of view....go to......

http://iwg2003@yahoo.com

May you have a Wonderful Holiday Season with all those you hold dear....
Enjoy Life!

Merry Christmas and.......Welcome to my Web Site called...a blog.

For you first time viewers, I have written my personal blog since Sept. 9, 2002.
Clicking on the archives and starting at the beginning of these posts will probably make more sense.....or less in some cases:)

What are blogs?

Blogs are simply web logs....in this case a kind of personal journal that is made public.
Since many of you have read my little books of inspiration in the past, you will find yourself mentioned from time to time as we experience life together.
I will include daily happenings of interest to my family, our nautical friends, my prayer partners, and
any and all who are like minded souls.
You will see that our Southern/Spanish flavored family is quite 'crazy' and the abnormal becomes normal.
Adventure, Fun, Faith required Challenges, local home grown 'heroes' will become the norm as I present to you some of the most fascinating people on this earth....my family and friends....
Look carefully....for you will surely find....YOURSELF!!!

You Can Do Everything - Or Nothing At All!!!

Yesterday Charlie and I were at the Celebration Hospital near Orlando with Ann for my brother Dockie’s knee surgery. What a happening!
First of all, the hospital was NOT ordinary.
It is what I call a “Disney Resort Hospital” since it has the ambiance of a
5-star hotel. One of the nurses was telling us that most of the Disney land is leased to approved individuals but this 61 acres was sold directly to Florida Hospital specifically for the hospital care nearest Disney World.
Needless to say, the designing architect was chosen with care in order to extend the Celebration Community environment which personifies the Norman Rockwell era plus first-class resort living.
Inside....and out....you would never know you are in a hospital.
It was in this ‘unreal’ atmosphere that Dockie’s knee surgery took place.
His orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Doer, had performed over 1,000 of this type of surgery so he came well recommended with success.
Regardless, Dockie and Ann did their homework and ‘interviewed’ him beforehand since he was their ’second opinion’ Doctor.
Dockie also went on-line for his credentials.

Dr. Doer excelled yesterday. He said that Dockie's surgery was a success and he would be fine.
As we talked with him after surgery, it was amusing because he was flabbergasted at the size of Dockie’s bones. He said that the stainless steel connectors that he uses are calibrated in size from 1-7. He has never used over the 5 for all of his previous knee surgeries. He had to use a 6 for Dockie because of the size of his bones. Made the drilling tougher......for connection....so the nurse said.

Leave it to Dockie to ’set a record’.....now he really will be able to “leap tall building in a single bound” as says the message on daughter Cindy’s flowers to his room.
Anyone that knows Dockie.....knows he can do.....everything!
Dockie is an inventor, an author, a experienced boater, a retired Lockheed/Martin analyst,a house builder, a motivator......and is also famous for being.....an’ instigator’!
He also is a........Florida Gator!

The only real thing that he can not or will not do is.......
.......Nothing At All!!!
Now.....the next few days and weeks we will see if he can get some experience in this area of his life.
Ever heard the song.....’I’ve got a tiger by the tail it’s plain see!”..
Yep, that’s my ‘big’ brother.

Why Wait?

Do you have someone in your life that is......always there?
Someone that you perhaps are.....too familiar with?
One that you know the good, bad and ugly of life...on a daily or weekly basis? One that can really....’get in your stuff’?
This not only applies to a husband and wife relationship but can be
significant other,parents, children, adult or small, in-laws, relatives,
co-workers...anyone in our network of....close relationships!
We all have such:)

NOW is the TIME to identify their value to.......Y O U!
Search your heart.....if this person disappeared from your life forever,
what would be your ’parting’ words to them?
Or perhaps on another line of thinking.....YOU WON THE LOTTERY!
What would be their significance to you then?
Would you ’need’ or ‘want’ them in your life or would you like to.... as a friend of ours teasingly said.....’get a new set of friends’?

YOU would still be.......Y O U!

There is no escaping that.....people around you ‘serve’ a need in your life one way or other.
I can hear some of my friend’s say....”You’re crazy, girl. I don’t ‘need’ these rebellious teen-agers.”
Believe it or not......you do.
I can prove it to you.
Even the best of human love is insufficient to give us the security and significance we need!
A basic human need in all of us.....is to be needed!
Rebellious persons of any age....teen-agers are just more ‘evident’ in their need because they speak in behavior not necessarily words....and they are very needy.
Rebels say indirectly.....”I need to be validated by YOU and OTHERS.
YOU happen to be there.”
Your strength is needed, your wisdom is needed, your patience is needed, you steadfastness is needed, your observations are needed, daily, and most of all......YOUR LOVE IS NEEDED ENDLESSLY!
YOU ARE NEEDED in a way that no one else can replace.

Fill a need in others.....and you WILL BE FULFILLED!
Now I caution you....some of you, my friends and family know to whom I am addressing....DO NOT DENY YOUR OWN NEEDS AT THE EXPENSE OF THOSE YOU LOVE!
There can be great danger in being a completely ’self-less’ person.
You can loose... yourself...in the process!
Others will....use YOU up.......IF you let them!
They can become so dependent on your ‘meeting their needs’ that you become a stumbling block to their own growth and maturity.
YOU become fragmented in this process....and there is not much left of YOU for.......YOU!
There is a balance formula here.....called + The Golden Rule+
......DO UNTO OTHERS......AS YOU WOULD HAVE OTHERS DO UNTO YOU!!!

Expect others to meet your needs...as you meet theirs!
Define your needs to yourself......and others in your life!
****IMPORTANT****
Be specific. Remember....people are NOT mind readers!
Tell others, not only that ‘I Love You’.....
.........but also, ‘I NEED YOU IN MY LIFE!”
Some of them may drop dead from shock.....
but I guarantee it will BLESS THEIR HEART!

Now during this Christmas Season of Love I challenge you...
.....express and communicate to those dear to you one simple statement....
....”I NEED Y O U in my life BECAUSE...
.............YOU ENHANCE MY QUALITY OF LIFE!”
Why Wait?

Bring The World To..... Y O U!

If you have explored the Home page of my web page called Blogger Home you will find some interesting sites to visit. Some make sense and some don’t. Some are ridiculous!
You will also find that the blog home is international. I clicked on one blog, which was a young man in the Antarctic, and he had posted pictures of seals and such as was common to his environment. Then again I checked another out and it was written in Russian.
This is just a small way we can bring the world into our little piece of space that we inhabit on this earth. Within a moments click.... we have reached the other side of the globe....
Who would have dreamed such many years ago?

As a child I loved to read. I was enchanted by the books that told tales about the Great Wall of China, Sphinx at Giza near Cairo, Egypt, The Great Pyramids, Russia and the Revolution, Hawaiian Islands etc.
In books the world was brought to my doorstep so to speak.
Later in life as an adult and a military wife, I was able to see many of these worlds that I had only read about.

My husband, Charlie and our son, Chad,and I each rode a camel from the Pyramid of Knufu near Giza to the Sphinx, which was about a 20-minute camel ride. Talking about dreams come true and realizing that the world indeed is small.....this proved it.
Also, I went to Communist Russia in 1982 and prayed silently in Red Square near Lenin’s tomb. This was a prayer of intercession of good over evil that God had placed in my heart earlier. About six months later Billy Graham went to Russia (he was criticized severely by the press) and I knew that good would come, spiritually, of this faithful Man of God’s visit. Later I found out that there were many others like myself who had been actively interceding for this land.

Upon going to Israel.....again only reading about this land in “The Book”, Charlie, Chad and I were baptized in the Jordan River. Chad as a child, had always said that he wanted to be baptized where Jesus was.... and he had that dream fulfilled.
What a blessing!

Now I can sit at my computer and click to http://www.aish.com/wallcam/Place-A-Note-In-The-Wall
and have a personal prayer taken to the Great Western Wall in Jerusalem by a young Jewish college student.

How is that for ....Bringing The World To Y O U!

Dear Friends;
I would like to recommend my friend Nancy's blog....Web site....to you...
She inspires me!

Her address is:
http://mylifeisgood.blogspot.com

She accepted my challenge of Dec. 6 to start her own web page.
See how easy it is....
Now...I D A R E Y O U!

Experience The Difference!

In several of my previous writings, I have written about our “big” boat, The Milagro and our “little” boat The Go Gator.
There is a vast difference between the two boats - ask anyone in a 10-foot sea dilemma! A boater fully realizes, usually by experience, the difference between a 19’5” water vessel and a 33 “ vessel.

First of all, the mechanical requirements for movement of such crafts, the ‘horsepower’.....is the main criteria if you wish to travel anywhere by water.
The little boat has a 140-hp engine.
The big boat originally came with two 254-hp engines but now, years later, has been adapted for our personal need...slow luxury at minimal costs.
My brother, Dockie & Ann’s boat, ‘The Eagles Nest’, is the same size as our big boat. They have two 270-hp Crusader engines....in street lingo this is two 350 hp Chevy blocks converted to Marine use and called Crusaders....
With both engines running at about 10 mph - he generates 1 mile per gallon of gas.

This past summers trip to the Bahamas, Abacos, etc. The Eagle’s Nest new GPS recorded 650 water miles, round trip.
Part of these water miles was on the 100 mile crossing back to Stuart, Florida with 10-ft. seas!
Needless to say, both 270-Crusaders were “horsepower” required to meet the challenge.
Our friend, Kurt & Melissa, in the “Double Eagle”, same size boat....had mechanical problems and used only one engine on the return trip with 10 ft. seas.
There is a VAST difference in a 33-ft. boat and a 19”5’ boat in 10-foot waves.....A LIFE SAVING DIFFERENCE!

Experience knows what is required for certain types of water travel.
In real life sometimes we need a ‘big’ boat.... sometimes a ‘little’ boat!
Peaceful, calm water is delightful and preferable.....stormy seas WILL happen!
Faith is my anchor, which is the difference between sinking, and swimming in.....The Good Life!

Relish The Choices...I Challenge Y O U!

Several of you have asked me about the origin of my web site.
In our St. Pete Times the Monday edition has an insert called
Tech Times and is all kinds of computer info.
In September there was an article called...Blog Bonanza and part of the info is as follows:


Web logs, or blogs, are the personal pages that some say will change the way we communicate. But the digital diaries can range from insightful to insipid.
A blog is a personal Web Page. There are as many different types of blogs as they are different books on Amazon.con.
Blogs can be personal journals or they can be someone’s opinions on the news of the day. They can be used for business including sharing notes from meetings written as they happen. Groups with a common interest, such as computer geeks or journalists or fans of particular sports or TV shows, can share information through blogs. Most have links to other blogs. While blogs have been around for a few years, Sept. 11 spawned new interest, as people wanted to share information through blogs. One of the trademarks of the blog is that they are made up mostly of short items, easy to write and supposedly easy to read.
In short, blogs can be anything bloggers want them to be.
“Everyone truly needs a place on the Internet that they can call their home page, a place where they reside,” said John Robb, president and chief operating officer of Userland, which makes blog software called Radio. “It’s space controlled by the individual. No one has the ability to publish counterarguments. You won it. You own the space.”
“If people are interested in reading what I’m thinking, it’s passive,” Robb said. “They can come or not. They can read at their convenience.”

Blogs also are a lot easier to set up than a personal Web page used to be, when users had to learn coding and other tricks to
set up their page.
Most blogs can be set up for free.
The power of the blog comes from the fact that anyone can do it and use it for just about any purpose.
RaeAnneThompson, (www.paper-rose.diaryland.com/)a Spring Hill blogger says...“It is fascinating to read other blogs....”It’s definitely a way of seeing what’s out there” For me it is a writing release. Then, maybe someone will read this and know they are not alone. That I, too, have a husband who is a workaholic, that I, too, have teenage problems, that I, too, am a nut case.” She laughs easily about her blog and the friends who read it. “No matter where you live, we’re all just human beings,” she said. “We have the same fears, the same problems. We just help each other. And by sharing, that helps.”

WEB SITES FOR BLOGS:
Building Blogs:
www.blogger.com...A site where you can set up a blog for free.
www.diarist.net...Resource portal for online diaries
www.pitas.com...Free basic software for blogging
www.userland.com....Maker of Radio software for blogs
www.weblogger.com....A blog directory with paid hosting tools.

To my family and friends:
NOW I CHALLENGE Y O U.....If I can do it....anyone can.
My web page is completely free of cost and I use www.blogger.com as my server. Their format is so simple and easy like your word processing program. Just follow their easy steps to set up your page. They have template samples with all colors and shapes in their pages for you to choose from. After you get set up you can experiment more. I’m still learning...Also, you can just click on the above link in this page....where it says...Start your own blog spot....and it will take you exactly where you need to start! It is that easy!

One suggestion, their posting page does not have a spell check program....since it is free....so I write my blog on my Microsoft Word program in order to use spell check....and then copy it and paste it to my blogger page for editing....they do have a Blogger.pro format that is better for a small fee and it has a spell check program. It also allows for pictures, clip art, etc. but I have not fully investigated this program yet. Plan to in the New Year.

Start your own family information web page. Send me your address.....It is fun.

Relish the choices we have in America.....Unlimited....plain and simple.
Now I just have to go to these many choices in the stores...and choose my Christmas gifts......with JOY!!!

Give your family a free web page of Love....from Y O U....to them....DAILY.....or WEEKLY.
I D A R E Y O U!!!

Happy Blogging:)

Now, There’s One Thing Less to “Worry” About.

Yesterday while I was doing some Christmas shopping.....somewhere along the way my mood changed from ’heartfelt fun’ to.......
.......pure ....stupid....WORRY!
I found myself suddenly feeling frazzled, frustrated, and anxious because I could not find that one thing which I desired.
The fun had been taken out of my day.
I did this to myself....
Yes, my pleasure had turned into a...chore. So I quit shopping and went home.
Yet my ‘mood’ remained.
I had allowed anxiety and worry.....two giant enemies....to steal my joy.
Somehow I became convinced...erroneously...that in all of St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, Tampa, Mac Dill AFB etc. my 15 miles radius that I would not be able to find what I was searching for.
Can you imagine getting worried over such a trivial.... challenge?
How stupid could I be.....and still breathe as the ‘kids’ say!

Along comes Joshua.....our families 17 mo. old delight.
Joshua has not a worry in the world.....Joshua is ‘care free’....Joshua knows how to ‘enjoy life’, laugh, play and take others into his world.....because his attitude is.....contagious.
Joshua saw his Uncle Chuck’s big truck used on the Golf Courses and he went crazy. He was thrilled when Pops put him to the wheel and Uncle Chuck pulled the horn on the big diesel.
He laughed with pleasure.
My ’mood’ was transformed in a heartbeat.

Upon reflection I realized that I had violated one of my very favorite Bible verses. Philippians 4:4&6-8....says....
“Always be full of JOY in the Lord; I say it again, rejoice!.......Don’t worry about anything: instead, pray about EVERYTHING: tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank Him for His answers. If you do this you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in the Lord.”

Just the prescription that I needed in my shopping world.
You can bet that today and tomorrows shopping adventure will be covered in prayer before I even leave the house.
I might even take Joshua with me in order to remind me to....HAVE FUN!
Then I will have not even ’one’ thing to worry about!

Open Your Eyes?

Several of my friends and I had a discussion and it was a common consensus among us that.... certain projects and changes needed to be made in several areas of our lives and community. We each lamented about that particular thing that was of concern to us.....but being so heavily committed ourselves we felt.....’someone else should do IT”.
We just did not have the time, talent, energy or ‘wherewithal’ for the responsible ‘chore’.
So we.....gripped to each other.
Didn’t change a thing.......

.......Along came a verse from Ecclesiastes about this time that said...(11:4)...

“If you wait for perfect conditions,
you will never get anything done.”

Yep, we had a Divine Providence Fax.....
Made us feel......stupid.
Off we went to tackle our own project.... Humbled for sure!

.... Ecclesiastes 8:5b LB..... The wise person will find a time and a way to do
.......WHAT HE SAYS.

Doesn’t The Love Of Your Life Deserve The Best?

Who or what is the love of your life?
Is it your spouse? Is it your children? Is it your boat? Is it your car? Is it your bank account? Is it your career? or is it simply......yourself?

Whatever or whoever the love of your life actually is....you give the best of yourself to this object or person. Great energy, thought, time, money, and resources of life are expanded in behalf of what we love.

For example, go through your checkbook. Make a one month summary of your checks written. What percentage goes to family and the expenses associated with family living.....food, shelter, clothing, transportation?
This is true if we have a mate or if we are a ‘single parent’.
In today’s world merely providing for daily needs.......is a gift of Love.

One of my prayer partners is a beautiful 32 yr. old single mother of two.
Nancy Ramos is a success story that you would not believe!
Against incredible odds......Nancy excels daily....
She recently sold an older home in need of recycling (the buyer is turning these homes into a Georgetown/Hyde Park look) and with the years of equity purchased a beautiful home with swimming pool, tiled floors, large lot etc. a typical Florida Family dream home.
In addition, she upgraded her transportation to ‘like new ’ condition SUV.
Nancy did her homework in ‘best buy for value’ and sought advice from others that she trusted.
In all of these transactions.....she prayed continuously.
For you see......Nancy earns her money the hard way.
She went to school....nights etc. for a long period of time to get her license in the field of Nails and Body Care....a “Spa Experience” service.
In addition, to this she has spent the last few years helping family members walk through difficult times. Her Mother lived with her for a period of time during poor health days.....and now with Nancy’s help and encouragement has just closed this week on a small condo for herself.
Nancy’s sister also went through difficult times in the last couple of years during her divorce.....and she, along with her two sons, lived with Nancy, also.
Now her sister has purchased a small home and will be married in the New Year.
I can honestly say that the Love of Nancy’s life is.........her faith and obedience to God and His Ways......and Family.
Her entire life is directed to the walking out daily of this Love.
Nancy would prefer to have a spouse with a like minded priority.....
And we agree in prayer with her for this......dream.
But she does not ‘stop’ living until this prayer is answered.
Nancy lives.......for the Love of her life......God and Family!
She does not wait until Christmas to give....
Nancy Ramos gives 'Christmas like' all year round.....for she believes that ....
....The Loves of her life.....deserves the BEST that she can give....
....so help her God!

What a blessing!
Yes, my heroes of life are home-grown everyday EXTRAordinary people.....who are often NOT even aware of the impact of their lives......
...........until seen through the eyes of .....L O V E......
1 John 4:8b says.....FOR GOD is LOVE....

***Time is what we want most, but what we use worst....

This Was Made For....YOU!

Imagine if you can the mistake I made in assuming that I had....heard it all.
Just when you think you know something.....you find out how little you actually know.
As my Mom used to say, “A person who thinks they know it all....has a lot to learn.”
This is certainly the case in my life as I listen closely to family and friends and even strangers.

I heard someone exclaim recently ...”I don’t need or want anything for Christmas.”.....”Don’t get me one single thing!”....
I knew I was hearing either a Scrooge or a.....Could it be.... a contented man?
In either case.....
I would like to make a suggestion of a few things to give to the one who has.......everything.....who wants for .....nothing.

If you have someone like this .....
Write your feelings, thoughts, remembrances good and bad and put it on decorative paper and place it in a box and wrap it beautifully for the tree. Give them....Words....from your heart and life.

Find a small item, anything from a seashell to an antique key....and write a little story about how this item reminds you of the other person. You would be surprised how long they will keep this item.
(For example: a 10 yr. old boy gave a clock to his Grandfather.....to represent that....”You always have time for me”.)

Find a picture of you and this person.... especially significant.....any age.....have it reproduced and framed to remind the receiver that your view of them...is recorded happily in your matching copy which you keep for yourself.

Open your eyes to the ‘loves’ of their life....Make something by hand that takes thought and time....a labor of love is a priceless gift....
A simple note that says.....This was made....with love....by me....for Y O U!!!
Give what money can not buy....a part of Y O U.....

Keep Your Cool!

Celebrating Thanksgiving with my brother Dockie’s family was a.......hoot.
Having several small children around made the day ..... interesting.
Marina, their seven year old granddaughter, was the ‘in charge’ person of the ‘thanks giving’ aspect of our day.
She passed out little slips of paper and we wrote one specific thing, which we were thankful for. She collected these in her little decorated bucket and then as she read them we each guessed who had written them.
Watching the children was fun.....scene’s like little Kurt being bear hugged by Cousin Bryce until they both fall all over the floor....
Then later, macho three year old Bryce.....no shirt, no shoes....just jeans running around outside in the Florida sunshine.....until Mom, Nancy, with new camera decides she wants a picture of Marina, Kurt and Bryce.
Suddenly Bryce takes it upon himself to drop his pants for the picture.....much to Mom and Dad’s dismay.
Who would ever guess what goes through the mind of a three-year-old....having fun!
Neither Mom nor Dad could explain such..... for surely they in their dignified adult world.....both being in the ‘law enforcement field’.....had ever imagined ’their child’ could exhibit such outlandish behavior.....and to do so in the name of......’fun’.
But they knew.......Bryce.
His little personality is......daring.
Around the age of two.... in a public place... he pulled the ‘in case of emergency’ lever ....after having removed the plastic cover.....to the horror of his Mother.
Bryce is the family ’tester’ of .....Keeping Cool under all circumstances, come what may....

But then again, little Kurt who is almost three does the same thing but in a different way with his Mom and Dad, Nancy and Chris.
Kurt was born.....knowing things.
He analyzes, evaluates, observes......before he makes a move.
Riding the airboat with his Dad....until he falls asleep...is normal for him.
But when he asks a question? Watch out!
The adults in his life better have the right answers for it is recorded for all eternity in that ’little sponge’.
Kurt is brilliant as he questions his Mom about the difference between girls and boys.....
His Mom, Nancy, had to be ....equally brilliant....in her answer.
And she was.
Keeping Cool is an art that is being learned by these young parents....daily.
Yes, the Good Life is to.........be continued.

***For adult education, nothing beats children.

Gratitude is Essential to. .....HAPPINESS

Do you know of any happy person.... who is truly ungrateful?
I don’t.
Think of the unhappy people you know.
How many of them are grateful?
I would guess that few... if any are.
Happiness and gratitude cannot be separated.
Some years ago I read a statement that seemed illogical to me.
The statement, written by William Law, a seventeenth century English mystic, said this:
“If anyone would tell you the shortest, surest way to happiness and all perfection, he must tell you to make it a rule to yourself to thank and praise God for everything that happens to you.
For it is certain that whatever seeming calamity happens to you, if you thank and praise God for it, you turn it into a blessing.“
Saint Paul said this same thing in 1 Thessalonians 5:18..”Always be joyful. No matter what happens, always be thankful.”
St. Paul had enormous problems.... he was shipwrecked, beaten, imprisoned, and finally beheaded. But in the midst of all of these hardships, he was able to thank God for anything and everything. So when Paul says to give thanks in ALL circumstances, it is the voice of experience of real life...talking.
The early Pilgrims had similar enduring trials and hardships. They knew that through faith in God they could endure to pay the price for religious liberty - even in the face of adversity.
Their trip on the Mayflower shows the hardships they endured for their convictions.
There were 102 passengers who lived together in a space the size of a basket ball court for eight weeks. The lack of privacy goes without saying.
That first winter of 1620, one-half of the Plymouth colony died either from starvation or disease.. At one point, of the 50 that remained alive, only 6 or 7 were well enough to care for the rest. Also, about half of all who survived the first year were under sixteen.
With the help of Indians they planted their first crops. Having landed in December of 1620 there was a short growing season, which meant that they did not have that much production. Yet when the harvest came, the main idea in their minds was to give thanks to God for survival and for what they had.
They had a celebration, a time of thanksgiving for God’s blessing.
The first Thanksgiving was a.....Holy day.
Wouldn’t it be great if we in America would once again think of Thanksgiving as a holy day instead of just another holiday?
The Pilgrims believed that Almighty God who created them was over all and that men, women, and children were dependent upon Him.
Things have certainly changed over the years.
The prevailing attitude today is that we are masters of life.
We feel we are in charge of the world and don’t need this God so much anymore. We can handle anything ourselves.
It is much more difficult in 2002 for a person to be grateful.
Perhaps we have too much.
Or maybe in our abundance we simply ‘take things for granted’ in this now....Land of Plenty.
It is all right to have abundance.
God want us to have much but He also want us to be grateful for it, to share it and use it well, to appreciate it as a gift.
We need to share with each other our deep feelings of gratitude.
It is as helpful and fulfilling for us as it is for the people who receive our words of thanks.
We can make the most of Thanksgiving by writing or calling someone who has been important in our lives and telling those persons how appreciative we are for all they mean to us.
So to all of you.....and you know who you are......I thank God for you and your personal investment of love to me. That’s why I can declare so boldly day after day.......
..........IT IS A G O O D LIFE!!!
In Appreciation and Gratitude, I wish you a wonderful Thanks...Giving Day.....

Okay, I admit it: I’m Thankful....

Thanksgiving in America is a wonderful tradition and usually is a time of ....family reunion.

Food, Family and Fun.

In our family we take a special time to relate something profound that happened during the previous year of which we are especially gratefull. Last year as it turned out we found out that we were thankful for many.... Serendipity Miracles.
As we talked.....some were hilarious....a new mattress out of the blue....try explaining that......but with a bad back....a new mattress was something to be extremely thankful for as it was much needed.
Just ask my sister, Shyrl.
How it came to be was.....miraculous.

In our St. Pete Times newspaper we have a section that is run weekly called....Private Thoughts of The Teens.
One teens writings was especially significant and I would like to paraphrase it for you....
By: Cecilia Tucker:....”This year I want to let the people I love know how thankful I am for them. I often don’t act very grateful because being ungrateful seems to be the right thing to do for someone my age.
I am thankful for the way you have always loved me, even if it embarrasses me when you show it in public. In my heart, I know you love me when you get that look in your eyes, and you reach over and give me a pat on the leg. I even know you want to hug me and kiss me then: but you don’t always do that, because I push you away and pretend I don’t like hugs and kisses from you any more.
I never want you to stop reaching out to me, and I still am grateful when you try. (I really don’t mind the kisses...Remember it’s my job to act as if I don’t like it.)
I am thankful for the times you tell me “no” and set clear boundaries for me. I am grateful when you don’t always give in when I whine and complain about the rules. Or slam the door to my room.
I know you care or you wouldn’t bother setting those restrictions. My first reaction when you tell me no is to decide you really don’t love me or you’d do it my way. But I know that’s not what is going on. I know you make every effort to see things my way; but my way, in your opinion, isn’t always the best for me.
I am grateful you are my parent. This means I don’t want someone’s parent to take your place. It also means I am glad you don’t try to be my ’friend’. I do want to be friends with you someday, but for now I have friends my own age. I still need someone to make me follow the rules, and I am glad you know when to be the rule enforcer.
I am thankful too, for the role model you have been for me. Your behavior follows your values, for the most part (no one’s perfect, you know). I can count on your consistency and your integrity. I would like for my friends to think you are cool, but I really want them to respect you and value your opinions.
Lastly, I want to say thanks for all the ways you give to me.
Giving is the second word in..... Thanksgiving, you know.
I know there are times I act unappreciative, especially when I keep asking for more stuff. I know you could have traveled the world over at least three times if you hadn’t had me, but you chose me.
THANKS for being here for me and GIVING me all of yourself.
You are the best!”

“Okay I admit it: I’m......Thankful”!

Fax From.......God?
Yeah, Right.

As any of you who know me.....know.....anywhere I go so goes two things.....my cell phone....and my Bible!
I am known among the family, our nautical friends, my prayers girls’ etc. as the one that can always be reached on ’her’ cell phone.
My husband, Charlie, has his but often his can be found in the bilge of our boat, under working material of his latest project or simply.....not to be found. We often use my phone...to call his phone in order to find it!

My personal Fax Machine to God, my Bible, is, also, vital to me on a daily basis. Especially as we travel on land and sea enjoying...The Good Life.
For you see, the Bible is not a collection of fables or human ideas about God. It is God’s very words given .....through people....to people.
One Scripture tells this in 2 Timothy 3:16&17 which says in The Living Bible version....almost Southern style.....

....”The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. It is God’s way of making us well prepared at every point, fully equipped to do good to everyone.”

The Bible is the instruction handbook.....provided by the manufacturer, our Creator, for the express purpose of showing us the good, bad and ugly of human life. We have this priceless Book in order that we may choose, wisely, how to live this ‘Good Life’ on planet earth.....
As a result of the ‘right choice’ according to John 3:16.....we ultimately leave our ‘temporary state‘ and go to the “Real” life....for our “Happily Ever After”!.....

.....How did this Fax machine work before there were....Fax machines?
Laser beams of energy from the Creator to the created ones....Spirit to spirit as it is called......2 Peter 1:20*21 says....”For no prophecy recorded in Scripture was ever thought up by the prophet himself.
It was the Holy Spirit within these Godly men who gave them...
....TRUE MESSAGES FROM GOD.”

......This process is known simply as......inspiration.
The writers wrote from their own personal, historical, and cultural context of real life. But even though they used their own minds, talents, language and style, they wrote WHAT God wanted them to write.
Scripture is completely trustworthy because God was in control of its writings and its words are authoritive for our faith and lives....daily!

Have you ever experienced moments of......sheer inspiration?
Every person has a creative side of life.....This is expressed in many different ways.
Music expressing the heart of the singer or composer.....or ...listener. Art transmitting emotions felt and expressed in a tangible way in color, form and personal style by one so inspired. A writer taking thought forms and making them ’ speak’ to a reader..... by presenting a picture with words.....

Our Creator.....makes us.....the created ones.......Creative.
It is an ongoing process.....
My Bible is that Fax between He and I......prayer is the form of personal communication which entitles me to requisition the resources I need daily in order to live the Good Life that my Creator planned from the beginning of time....
Yep.....My Bible and cell phone goes hand in hand....

There is a little poem from long ago which says.....
...I sought to hear the voice of God and climbed the highest steeple
...But God said....”Go down again. I live among the people!”

Thank God....He is a.....People person!!!

Dear Readers;
If you are new to my Web Site....Welcome!
May I suggest that you go to the Archive and start on the Sept.8, 2002 beginning blog in order to fully understand some of these later postings.

In order to send comments and your point of view by e-mail......iwg2003@yahoo.com.

I do hope that you agree with me.....IT IS A GOOD LIFE!!!
May yours be BLESSED during this Thanksgiving Season of Family Togetherness as we live in the good ole U.S.A. or as I call it....
LaLaLand.....the Land of Plenty!!!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

The “Everyday” Bible

I am a reader of the Bible.
I have many of the new modern versions as well as some very unique and rare antique Bibles. Some I have inherited from people who love me and know that I love the Bible.
About a year or so ago, Guideposts Magazine put out a New Century Version of the Bible and called it.....the “Everyday Bible”.
It is, almost, written in Southern style words because of it’s simplicity to read. The ’Thee‘s and Thou’s’ are written as ...you and me.
Yet the poetic flowing of the Psalms are the most prolific in the King James Version.
Guess what?
God can and does speak to me from the words of inspiration in ALL versions.
Because the TRUTH is the TRUTH.

There is a verse in the book of Job that says this clearly.....
....“Just as my mouth can taste food and my ears choose the sound I want to listen to: so does my mind know TRUTH when it speaks .”

Subtle Changes

Years ago I remember my Mother telling about the first time she saw an airplane as a child. She said she heard the sound and thought the world was ending. Over her life span, 1911 to 1995, she saw many, many changes.
When Mom was 80 years old we had a special day and invited all her friends to dress in a ’ridiculous’ way at what we called a ’tacky party’.
The women came dressed from Victorian with antique rhinestones as Lexie did, to being totally ridiculous.
One thing we did, was to play a silly game I called “I Remember”. It was very enlightening to me and I was intrigued by the many changes this generation of women had lived through.
Mom really cracked me up when her time came as she said, “I remember when women wore clothes and men told the truth:)”
These women had to change progressively with the upheavals of their day in order to live in their......changing world.
Yet I saw in this group one common thread of success.

They were very independent and strong minded ‘pioneer’ type women who knew nothing about the “Women’s Lib” agenda for they in their minds and lives had always been......equal to anyone on earth.

Perhaps their ‘times’ were slow in the recognization of their value and worth but that did not deter them from accomplishing anything their hearts desired.
Just to listen to their delightful conversations convinced me that life had been and still was a challenge to them.....and that each of them had whatever it took to successfully meet that challenge.
I have the video that I made that day.....talking about progress....that reminds me of the need for changes.....subtle changes....in myself....in order to know fully what these women already knew......
.....that all men....and women....are created equal....and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights...that being.....
....Life....Liberty...and the Pursuit of Happiness......

Mrs. Veal, Mrs. Sullivan, Lexie, Mrs. Taylor, Thelma, Lucille.......Mom, Mrs. Makinson, Aunt Hattie, Aunt Callie, Aunt Ethel and many others like them in their generation .....ARE MY HEROES of The Good Life!

***The reason history keeps repeating itself is because we were not paying attention the first time....

A Step Above...A Step Beyond

ExtraORDINARY...
Not ordinary or mediocre....or average.
Some people just stand out this way as being a step above their peers.....a step beyond.....average.
Our son Chuck’s son.....Carlos III or ‘Pipo’ as we call him happens to be one of those extraordinary individuals.
Pipo is in Marine Boot Camp at Parris Island now.
He intends to go into the Reserve as he finishes his college education. He has already shown himself to be ’above and beyond’ in most of his boot camp ratings....
No one in our family is surprised.
From childhood. Pipo climbed the highest tree, raced the fastest motor bike, excelled in sports and worked the hardest at jobs while still in school. In addition to this, he always helped with the children in Junior Church, worked in church camps in the summer and anything the family was involved in their community and life. He couldn’t wait until he was 18 to qualify for a tandem Skydive jump.....which he did.
Pipo always seemed to .....push it to the limit ....much to his Mother and Father’s dismay.
I received a letter from him yesterday and he said “It is easy here but the one thing I didn’t count on was missing my family this much.”
Getting up at 4:00 a.m., marching, training, ‘having his butt chewed’, excelling, etc. he calls easy.
Doing without the ones he loves.....is hard.
......I know....I miss him terribly because he would always light up a room in our family.
Yes, Pipo is a step above and beyond......ordinary!

***There is no person living who isn’t capable of doing more than they think they can do....

Side Splitters

Have you ever laughed so hard that your sides actually ache?
I have.

There are some people who are so ‘free’ that they can do anything or say anything ridiculous and absurd ....and get away with it...
My Aunt Hattie was one of those people. Her sister, Aunt Callie, is also.... one of those ....but Aunt Callie doesn’t ’clown’ as a rule .....her ’side splitters’ are in dead-pan serious humor. She is hilarious with some of her ’in earnest deliveries’ of insane humor.
What a delight to be with someone like that:)
Our pastor, Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne, is another side splitter clown.
He uses his absurd humor to make a point....
Just this past Sunday he was speaking about self-righteousness in the Church instead of “God-righteousness”.
His answer to this problem was true Scripture, which he says would produce a ’spiritual enema’ in order to clean out the system of ’useless crap’ that gets in the way of ’being free’. His face features left no doubt to the point he was making. We were all ’cracked up’ with laughing since we have had experience with such people and churches. Or better yet, needed this therapy for our good!

Laughter is a great ’enema’ for the soul.
Silliness can be such fun and produce a lighter heart and mind.
......I have found that a person must be very ’’healthy minded’ in order to be so ’free’. They know and do not care if they appear.... Ridiculous....for you see they are ’having fun’ while living the “Good Life”!

***You grow up the day you have your first real laugh - - -
---ON YOURSELF:)

Fine Dining In an Elegant Setting

A few years ago when my husband and I celebrated our 25th Anniversary, being the romantic that I am, I wanted to have a “Special“ event dining experience. This was to be in addition to our typical family style celebration of the event. Our children provided a ‘mock remarriage’ with each of them being in charge of certain parts of the ceremony.
It was very meaningful......and hilarious as well as I now reflect.

But for the special ‘dinner out’ we chose to dine at The Don CeSar Hotels King Charles Dining and Ballroom located on St. Petersburg Beach.
You have to understand the history of the Don CeSar in order to appreciate the setting.

The “Don” is referred to as ‘The Pink Castle on Florida’s Gulf Coast”
It opened in 1928 during the Great Gatsby era and was built to resemble the Royal Hawaiian in Waikki Beach for $1.2 million....it was 300 percent over budget.
The resort reigned as ‘the’ hot spot for high society from F. Scott Fitzgerald, Clarence Darrow, Lou Gehring and Al Capone until the Depression, World War II and the founder, Thomas Rowe’s death.
When Thomas Row died without signing the will, which left his ‘pink lady’ to its loyal family of employees, his estranged wife of 30 years became the heir. In less than three years, “The Don” lost its glowing personality and charm, which gave it standing among prominent resorts.
In 1942, the U.S. Army bought the property for an “assessed value” of $450,000. and turned it into a convalescent center for battle-fatigued World War II airmen. After the war, the VA stripped it for use as a regional office and later moved out in 1967, unable to afford necessary repairs.
The abandoned “lady” soon became a graffiti canvas and doomed for the wrecking ball.

But lo and behold, a diligent preservation group rescued “The Don” and located a buyer who shared the original vision of grandeur of Thomas Rowe, the founder.
In 1973, “The Pink Lady” re-opened as a luxury resort with extensive renovations which transformed the ornate Spanish interiors with light woods etc. and created a pastel Continental look.
In 1994 an additional 4,000-sq.-ft. full-service Beach Club and Spa changed the lady to ...The Don CeSar Beach Club Resort and Spa.
It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has had a Four Diamond rating for 22 years while serving delectable “Floribbean cuisine”.

In this elegant setting we had a wonderful, superb......dinner.
Our meal was accompanied by music from a huge floor standing harp played by a young lady with long blonde hair in a flowing white dress.
She sure looked like a Florida angel to me.
We, also, had a million-dollar view of the aquamarine Gulf seas from our table as well.
How romantic could you get?
I’m sure Thomas Rowe would have been well pleased that others were able to enjoy the elegance of the Love of His Life......his “Pink Lady”.
Dreams Realized.....
What a Blessing!

***Enjoy the little things for one day you will look back and realize they were....the big things:)

WHERE DO I GO?

My Mother was very wise woman.
Her Southern genteel ways and good common sense wisdom made her a wonderful person to be around.
People loved her greatly.
One thing that she did was to offer good advice as needed.
Mom could really ’help with a problem’ and generally did with everyone around her.
Her balance and stability came from her steadfast faith....
She lived her faith in God, family, love, forgiveness and blessings.
After Mom died a few years ago, this left a huge emptiness in our family and the community as well, since she owned a ‘nursing home‘ in the same small town for years.
Upon reflection, I can see that in many cases, Mom’s ’students’ have now became the ’teachers’ in their own lives...and the community at large..
These ’Mom clones” now dispense help, advice, prayers, encouragement and good common sense to others as needed.
The Circle of Life has become.......Complete!

***If it is free, it’s advice.
.....If you pay for it, it’s counseling.

Help A Kid

Children fascinate me.....maybe you can tell!
They learn so easily, accept others freely, express love simply and are so very innocent.
Unless misguided adults teach them otherwise....

Investing in a child, time and money, is one of life’s BEST investments.
Let me give you one example from my own life.
This happened a few years ago.
I know a young girl who was 12 yrs. old at the time and she was convinced that she was....ugly.
I never, ever saw her smile.
She always looked and acted like her life was not important and ‘not interesting’ and others treated her this way.....
I was really drawn to this young lady and in a sense I emotionally adopted her. Every time I saw her at our big family gatherings I would seek her out in order to get to know her. She began to trust me with some of her intimate views of herself, her life, her family, school etc.
In the process, I discovered how very creative, talented and ‘quick witted’ she really was. I pointed these things out to her from time to time and because she trusted me.....she knew that this was not ‘flattery’ but that I was telling her the honest to God .....truth.
But I could not get her to smile spontaneously and certainly not laugh.
Knowing that she was earning money by babysitting I challenged her with a normal teen-age reward....I told her, “If the next time I see you, anywhere or anytime, and you are smiling....I will give you $25.00 cash immediately!”
Sure enough six months later I arrived at a family gathering and was hugged fiercely from behind by my young friend saying, “Where is my $25.00?”
Laughingly I paid her and was delighted to do so as I could see that it was not a ’paid for’ look on her sweet face. Her smile came from beyond, inside, and transformed her features to such a degree that she had become a truly beautiful young lady.
How thrilled I was.....and still am today!
She wrote me for awhile and then family members, over the years since, keep me informed of her marriage, children, etc. and she is still very Special to my heart.
Did this happen because of my $25.00 interest?
Absolutely not.....
She was transformed as she began to have faith in herself and as her life began to validate that truth....
I, also, was praying for her constantly, as were others as well.

Help a Kid discover their worth and you will be rich in the things that money can not buy.
It will be the BEST INVESTMENT YOU WILL EVER MAKE.


***You can give without loving,
.......but you can’t love......without giving!

Down The Road

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to see....
...down the road of life’s journey.
To be able to see 5 years from now...10 years from now etc.
Would we really want to?
Perhaps we would like to see the ’good’ happenings
but not the bad.
Suppose 10 years back you could have seen where you are now, Today...... in life.
Would it have made you happy or sad?
Some parts of my life I am so glad that I didn’t see in advance.
It would have scared the life right out of me because I would have thought I could not live through it!
I, also, have experienced some profound and extraordinary times of life of which I would not have even dreamed in my wildest imagination.
There is one thing that I do know.
It is choices at any given time in our life’s journey....that makes our future whatever it will be....
rich or poor
full or empty
happy or sad
meaningful or wasted
Our daily choices.....make our future!
It is vital TODAY to use our time wisely and choose to live a rich, full, meaningful and happy life which will give us, more to come, of.....The Good Life!
....As Abraham Lincoln once said......”Most folks are as happy as they make up their mind to be....
My mind is made up.....I WILL BE......H A P P Y:)
I have a choice to.....Don’t Worry + Be Happy!!!
TODAY!

The Lighter Side of Life...

I love to......L A U G H :)
Our family’s baby, Joshua is 16 months old and he makes me laugh.
Joshua reminds me of an ’old man...set in his ways’.
His ritual when he comes to our home is much the same. He usually picks up the small glass and crystal items that are forbidden to him....and brings them to me.
Then he wants to go out back by the pool and retrieve the ’big riding car’ for a few minutes of fun and games. All the time he is ’exploring’, he is speaking in a language known only to him but is constantly laughing, smiling and being delighted with all he is doing. He is especially thrilled when his “Poppa Charlie” takes him to the garage and lets him stand in the seat of each car. He pretends to drive.
He is laughing constantly and moves so quickly that it take several adults to apprehend him speedily.
Happiness and joy emits from his pores and is very contagious. He and I play a ’silly laughing’ game together which makes everyone else around.....Laugh!
What fun it is to have such a carefree child teach us how to enjoy.....The Good Life.
Yes, the greatest aid to adult education....is children!

Veterans and Your Families...
I Salute...You!

Today is Veteran’s Day. Nov. 11, 2002

What a debt we owe to the many unsung heroes of the armed forces. I would be redundant in almost anything that I say in tribute. So I will reflect on a significant moment in time which was very profound for me as an American.... overseas.

Being a military family and visiting many of the War Memorials all over the U.S. and Europe, I found one place that really spoke to my heart in a way that even today, I find......breathtaking.

My sister, Joyce, and her husband, Blake and two children, Jenny and Jason, were, also, a military family. In the 1980's, they lived in Belgium since Blake was stationed at SHAPE Hqs. and we were stationed in Germany about 5 driving hours away. Consequentially, we visited each other often.
We toured Belgium Rug Factorys, awesome stained glass churches, Lady Godiva Chocolate Factory, Waterloo Monument Site, etc.
When we were on our way back from the rug factory, we happened to stop at the Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial in the town of Waregem, Belgium which is 46 miles west of Brussels.
The cemetery occupies a six acre site. At peaceful rest there are 368 American military Dead. Most gave their lives in liberating Belgium in World War I.
The site was dedicated on Aug 8, 1937, and is the only American World War I cemetery in Belgium. The use of the land, even today, was granted by the Belgian Government free of charge or taxation....in perpetuity, as an expression of its gratitude to the United States.
Blooming red poppies among the many white marble headstones of Stars of David and Latin Crosses....are a sight to behold.
I remember standing in that sacred and hollowed site and literally holding my breath to enhance the privilege of the moment. The spirit of ’happening’ was made very real to me and I searched my soul for the true gratitude that was due to these brave and forgotten ....heroes.
It was only in entering the Memorial Chapel that I found the words already written which expressed for me, so eloquently, my true feelings.

Above the Chapel’s bronze entrance door, which has the central portions, gilded with pure gold leaf, this is engraved;

GREET THEM EVER WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS...

On three of the other walls, this dedicatory inscription appears in French, Flemish, and English:

THIS CHAPEL HAS BEEN ERECTED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN MEMORY OF HER SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT AND DIED IN BELGIUM DURING THE WORLD WAR. THEIR GRAVES ARE THE PERMANENT AND VISIBLE SYMBOL OF THE HEROIC DEVOTION WITH WHICH THEY GAVE THEIR LIVES TO THE COMMON CAUSE OF HUMANITY.

Beneath the three versions of the inscription, sculptured bas-relief figures symbolizing Grief, Remembrance, and History each appear.

Also, on the altar in black and white marble is a quote from the book of Hosea in the Bible.
It says...
“I WILL RANSOM THEM FROM THE POWER OF THE GRAVE, I WILL REDEEM THEM FROM DEATH.”

On another side of the chapel are panels of rose St. George marble framed in bronze molding and carry the names of 43 American soldiers who lost their lives in Belgium and sleep in ’unknown’ graves. Above the names is the Great Seal of the United States and this inscription:

IN MEMORY OF THOSE AMERICAN SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT IN THIS REGION AND WHO SLEEP IN UNKNOWN GRAVES.

Their headstones scattered among the Crosses and Stars of David read...

“Here Rests In Honored Glory A COMRADE IN ARMS Known But To God. “

The absolute beauty of this chapel can not really be described....The spirit inside the chapel can only be experienced in order to convey genuine meaning to its being.
I loved it....true and simple and as I now write the same intense emotions of the moment overwhelm me.

As a child I had to memorize a poem, which was about the dead speaking to the living, called Flanders Field written by John McCrae.
Visiting the site gave the meaning to the poem...it became alive to me then......and is still so today, Veteran’s Day 2002.
May it speak to you as well.

FLANDERS FIELD
IN FLANDERS FIELD THE POPPIES GROW
BETWEEN THE CROSSES ROW ON ROW
THAT MARK OUR PLACE, AND IN THE SKY
THE LARKS STILL BRAVELY SINGING, FLY
SCARCE HEARD AMIDST THE GUNS BELOW,
WE ARE THE DEAD... SHORT DAYS AGO
WE LIVED, FELT DAWN, SAW SUNSET GLOW,
LOVED AND WERE LOVED; AND NOW WE LIE,
IN FLANDERS FIELD.
TAKE UP OUR QUARREL WITH THE FOE,
TO YOU FROM FALLING HANDS WE THROW
THE TORCH - BE YOURS TO HOLD IT HIGH;
IF YOU BREAK FAITH WITH US WHO DIE,
WE SHALL NOT SLEEP, THOUGH POPPIES GROW,
IN FLANDERS FIELD....

A reply to this poem was written by C.B. Galbreath and is given to every visitor to the site.

An Answer TO...IN FLANDERS FIELD
IN FLANDERS FIELD THE CANNON BOOM,
AND FITFUL FLASHES LIGHT THE GLOOM,
WHILE UP ABOVE; LIKE EAGLE FLY
THE FIERCE DESTROYERS IN THE SKY;
WITH STAINS, THE EARTH WHEREIN YOU LIE,
IS REDDER THAN THE POPPY BLOOM,
IN FLANDERS FIELD.
SLEEP ON, YE BRAVE, THE SHRIEKING SHELL,
THE QUAKING TRENCH, THE STARTLED YELL,
THE FURY OF THE BATTLE HELL,
SHALL WAKE YOU NOT, FOR ALL IS WELL....
YOUR FLAMING TORCH ALOFT WE BEAR,
WITH BURNING HEART, AN OATH WE SWEAR
TO KEEP THE FAITH, TO FIGHT IT THROUGH,
TO CRUSH THE FOE, OR SLEEP WITH YOU,
IN FLANDERS FIELD.

Is not this the same cry today in America on behalf of our Twin Towers fallen heroes?
I can only answer for myself.
YES....

The Spice of Life

I have a friend that is quite hilarious.
A stranger meeting her would probably think that she is a very sedate, serious, no-nonsense lady.
That is true.
But if you spend any time with her in a relaxed atmosphere you will find that she has a totally awesome sense of humor.
She can become, at a moments notice, a cute little girl with winsome ways. Silly and fun at the same time.
Challenged by other witty individuals, her ad lib remarks are spicy and clever.....sometimes salty.
Provoked she will ‘set you straight’ in a heart beat.
Yet, she has a heart of gold and a faith that’s admirable with a generous spirit that always wants to give.
My friend is very reluctant to receive and I am working on that since my motto is....the other half of giving is to....receive.
She is a ‘Woman of Excellence”.

Sally, dear....I appreciate, value and LOVE you.
You make me feel.......normal!

No Bones about It!

Overhearing a conversation recently, the speaker made this remark. “That’s the God’s truth and there’s ‘no bones about it’....
Of course, it was a ‘Southerner‘ speaking and being a southerner myself; I got the point of the conversation.
But would a ‘outsider’?
I’m not sure. The reason why is because many of our cultural colloquial remarks are founded in our long-ago southern history and may relate to events that we now know nothing about. We say them because we have heard them for years and years from our ‘elders’....some we know the origin and others we haven’t a clue.
I often hear our families beautiful 19 year old, ultra Barbie look, Brittney, exclaims, “If that don’t beat all!”
Her glamorous looks are out of character with her speech ....except in the ‘real’ antebellum South.
She has absorbed so many of her Mom, Grandma’s and “dear Granny’s” sayings that I’m not sure she is even aware how ‘unique’ her vocabulary has become.
Ask me about it and I will say, ‘I’m delighted!”
For you see many years ago in Nuremberg, Germany where my husband was stationed with the 1st Bn., 22nd Field Artillery, a very wise woman named, Ginger, gave me some personal advice about my ’accent’.
Ginger declared that if we changed everything about ourselves in our usage of cultural expression in order to ‘be like everyone else’.....then we would all sound the same and it is in this ‘differences’ that we are interesting and unique as individuals and as a society.
This is not to give a license to ‘poor grammar’ but allows the use of colloquial terms along with ‘proper’ speech.
That settled it for me once and for all.
Now I’m delighted to hear the revival of Southern phrases and expressions and even have started the documentation of some of these expressions for our family. Spelling them is another thing altogether!

So I say to you of any culture....be proud of your unique heritage and as far as expressing your culture in your speech....as one of my Southern friends, Patsy, always says.....”suit yourself.”

Yes, Southern life is to be continued!

The Best of the Worst.....

Yesterday was my regular time for prayer group.
Only three of 'my' girls were present.
Nancy, Tiena and I were, again, thankful and grateful for all of the wonderful blessings from God in our lives.
As we began to talk to God about several family members and friends we saw they were, of their own free will, choosing to live in ’rebellion’ to what they “know” is right.
In Proverbs 12:15 it says....
”The way of the fool is ’right’ in his own eyes.”

In prayer we asked God to be the....’judge’.
The “best thing” that could happen to them or others who deliberately choose wrong over right living....is that someone cares enough to ’pray’ seriously for them.
Our loving God, who can see all things clearly, will answer such prayers of the heart.
Direction and clarity for others is our hearts cry.
That’s why we pray.

Yes, believe me...or better yet....try it for YOURSELF.....discover that.......Prayer Works!!!

Join The Classy Crowd

As I recuperate from my recent boat excursions and vacation to “The Florida Keys ”, I am enthralled by the various accommodations we experienced.

The boating marina’s we rated from adequate to luxurious. Generally they were resort grade with all kind of amenities. Cost was minimal for services received.
Where else but in America....LaLa Land....can one spend a few dollars and live like ‘royalty’?
There was one 120’ ‘mega-yacht’ for sale at the Fisherman’s Village Marina. The statistics were listed...
.....the fuel capacity was 8,200 gallons.
Marina fuel was costing approximately $2.00 per gallon. In order to fill the mega-yacht fuel tanks, it would have cost...$16,400.00.
Our small boat tank capacity was 20 gallons. Our big boat capacity is 160 gallons.
$40.00 in gas in the little boat, plus dockage, bought us the same view and marina services as the mega-yachts.

Yes, in America....‘class’ is still a bargain!

Voting Day in the U S A.....

Today we have a privilege. Many people around the world would like to have the opportunity to vote that we have in America.

I will vote today
This is the American way
Democracy is so fine
And it gives me peace of mind
My voice can be heard
Without speaking a single word
Put ‘them’ in...take ‘them’ out
Certainly that’s a lot of ‘clout’...
Invisible power across the land
Is given to every woman or man
Who takes the time to heed the call
Registering and voting costs not at all....
So come on now....do your ‘thing’
Let us hear “Ole Liberty” ring
Celebrate by voting today
In the good ole.....U S A!

A Little Bit “Eccentric”

On our recent boat trip, as we were docking in the Marina, a strange thing happened.

A woman came out of her sailboat and started ranting about ‘being rude’, ‘ we don’t do things this way in Canada’, etc.
All of us were astonished because we were simply laughing as we docked, teasing each other and having good clean fun. Never had we been greeted in such a manner before.
Our response to her was....”God Bless You, Honey.”

Upon talking to her later, I found out she was a 71 yr. old woman who had lived on her sailboat in the marina for a year. The boat had been transported by truck from Canada to Florida. She said that she sailed on Lake Erie for 30 years but that she did not sail by herself any more.

I surmised that she was a very lonely individual and somehow we appeared “absurd” to her ’ dignity’ of life.
It was a sad encounter.
She was my idea of an ‘eccentric’ person.
Then I went to my dictionary and this is what I found;

...eccentric.....deviating from the norm, as in conduct, out of the ordinary; an odd or unconventional person.
....Yep, that’s what she was......
.....Do you suppose that is what she thought of us?



11/04/02...by Faith

Island Hoppers Yacht Club.... Enjoys The Good Life!!!

My greetings to you after a weeklong trip on the Florida waterways.
There were six boats of us...
.....and we covered approximately 300 water miles.
We traveled in.....not our ‘big’ boats but our ‘little’ cutty ’sleeping’
cabin boats.
There was the 19’5’’ Funliner named, ’Go Gator’ with Charlie and I.
Dockie and Ann in their 23’..... ’Nubbin’.
Patsy and Kenneth in their’little’ 23’ Sea Ray named the “Why Knot?’.
Bonnie and Buddy in their.... “Lucky Lady”.
Sally and Sam in their.....”Sea Hawk”.
Mary and Ronnie in their 26’......”Almost Heaven”.

The trip was perfection with only a few minor glitches.
We left Taylor Creek on the north end of Okeechobee on Sat. in the early morning of Oct. 26......
Traveling 30 miles across Lake Okeechobee and then turning west down the Caloosahatchee River and traveling another 70 miles or so, we reached the City of Ft. Myers Yacht Basin around 3:00 pm.
The next day, entering the Gulf, we traveled the Matlacha Pass and went to the north end of Pine Island to the Four Winds Marina at Bokeelia. The Pass was quite tricky with the low tide and the Sea Hawk had a mechanical mishap requiring repair. We left it for repair and traveled in the five boats to Captiva Island’s ‘Tween Waters Marina’ for a two day and night stay. It was wonderful resort living, swimming pools, Gulf Beach access, restaurants nearby and......Florida’s invisible pest called the ’no-see-ums’.
They were wicked, to say the least.
Yet I have found my favorite Marina so far.....‘Tween Waters Marina’ or Hotel Inn is ideal to visit. It is Tropical Paradise at its best...
After our two-day stay, four boats headed up Charlotte Harbor to the Burnt Store Marina and the Go Gator took Sea Hawks Capt. Sam to pick up his boat at the Four Winds Marina at Bokeelia, which was on our way.
All six boats arrived at the awesome 450 slip Burnt Store Marina at around 11:00 a.m. having come across a choppy Charlotte Harbor. Waters being choppy we had decided against going to the Fishermen’s Village Yacht Basin by boat and instead rented a van and took off by land to the Village in Punta Gorda. Had a grand old time, as usual for our group. Returning the van the next morning with twelve people in a 7-passenger van, we made some remarkable discoveries involving the hilarious sense of humor by those involved. For Sally, Bonnie and Mary Faith, everything came out all right in ‘the end’.
Thursday morning we retraced our previous route thru the Matlacha Pass. This time at a higher tide and with no mishap. We arrived back to the City of Ft. Myers Yacht Basin around noon and were ready for another rest. We met a very ’eccentric’ neighbor on our dock....will relate more later. Next morning around 8:00 am. we again headed up the Calooshatchee River to Clewiston to the Roland-Martin Marina for the night. The end of the trip was in sight and the entire group was complaining about so many ’dirty clothes‘. Food supplies were still plentiful though.
Saturday morning arrived with a very high wind factor and the consensus was to load out our boats in Clewiston rather than go across the Ole Unforgiving Lake Okeechobee. For my vote, it was a good move. Sally called her son, Gary, and he graciously drove over and picked up the 6 boat Captains and took them each to their vehicles and boat trailers in Okeechobee. Soon the men were back and we were all ready to load out and depart to our various homes around the state.
Seven days and nights, six boats, twelve people of diverse experiences....with one thing in common.......to have good clean fun on the waterways and thus share the comradre of the ’Good Life’ with like-minded people.

Mission Accomplished!
11/04/02...7:00:04AM by: Faith

All Aboard - Aye Aye Mate!

The boat trip that we are about to take....beginning tomorrow, promises to be a fun filled adventure. I always have a sense of ‘giddy anticipation’ on our boating trips but in the past some have been......very distressing.

I wrote a little book of inspiration in February called....”Cheer Up! Things Can Get Worse!” The book was about a week long trip in the ‘Big‘ boat when simply everything went wrong.
At one point I was sitting on the fly bridge talking to my ‘famous’ brother, Dockie, on the Ship to Shore, GPS in the other hand and my Bible open in my lap reading the Psalms for reassurance. The depth finder was falling between 2 to 3 feet of water on draught striken Okeechobee and we required about 2 1/2 feet of water for our 32 foot boat, The Milagro.
It had been chaotic like that during the entire week of boating. Time and again we faced one obstacle after another....either mechanically or environmentally.
At the end of the little book about that week my summary was simple.
The abnormal had become.....normal.
We survived.

Now you may ask, why would any sane person subject themselves to such risk?
I can’t answer that sensibly.
All I know is when a trip is planned....Big or Little Boat.....and the call of....”All Aboard” is heard....
....I always answer with a Smile, “Aye. Aye Mate.”

See ya in a week, mates:)

P.S. You could pray for us!

Welcome to my new Web Site called...a blog.

Blogs are simply web logs....in this case a kind of personal journal that is made public.
Since many of you have read my little books of inspiration in the past, you will find yourself mentioned from time to time
as we experience life together. I will include daily happenings of interest to my family, our nautical friends, my prayer partners, and
any and all who are like minded souls.
You will see that our Southern/Spanish flavored family is quite 'crazy' and the abnormal becomes normal to us.
Adventure, Fun, Faith required Challenges, local home grown 'heroes' will become the norm as I present to you
some of the most fascinating people on this earth....my family and friends....
Look carefully....for you will surely find....YOURSELF!!!