An 'Eye' for Beauty...With a Creative Touch!

Kelly Jo certainly has an eye for beauty.
She is very creative....she can make 'something' out of 'nothing'...
Kelly is a hair dresser, an artist and a wonderful person who appreciates beauty...and hard work!
She has been my hairdresser and friend for years...
Every salon that she worked at she made a lot of money for the owners as her clientele always followed her as did I...
I kept telling her, "Kelly you need your own salon...you can be more creative and make
money for yourself instead of someone else...I'll pray for your 'dreams to come true"
I did, she did and God did!
The Psalms say in 77:14 (Message Bible).....
"You're the God who makes things happen!"

See Kelly's creative touches on her web page...Bridal Packages, on site....etc...
This girl certainly has a 'magic wand'.....it is called "hard work"....
http://www.creativetoucheshairsalon.com/

Contentment

This picture below was taken by Charlie's classmate and friend Bob.

Bob and Pat live in Durango, Colorado and they shared these beautiful pictures of their way of life in nature's beauty in Colorado....
How inspiring!
This is the kind of place where peace, serenity and tranquility produces....contentment .
I get that kind of rest....just looking at the pictures..
Thanks Pat and Bob....

Sometimes we feel like money will make everything alright.
We think that it can cure all our ills and make us whole.
There are many things that money can not do.
It cannot give us peace of mind, and it cannot replace human relationships.
We need other people, and we must love them more than money.When we serve money....instead of people, we lose our sense of all that is right and good.
It is much better to have little money and great happiness, than to have mountains of money and no peace of mind.........Dear Lord, please make me content with having what I need so that I don't go running off, chasing things that I do not need. Please make me content with my life as it is, keeping me from things that are really unimportant....Amen

Let's Laugh Now!

Having a phone conversation with a relative yesterday put me 'up to date' on the family news...
Some of it was 'prayer anxious' news which we prayed about together then she said, "O.K. now that we have peace about that.....tell me what is making you laugh 'now-a-day!'
That made me laugh!
Sometimes I actually have to 'seek out' the humor in situations or the day.
Other times the laughter is spontaneous and can not be contained and becomes.....contagious. Depending upon the person or persons I'm with, humor can be true, genuine and free flowing or it can be 'unnatural' so-to-speak .
A persons attitude of life has a lot to do with the enjoyment of laughter, fun and sometimes 'plain ole foolishness'....and truth be known.....there are simply some 'ole' grouches (young and old) who refuse to lighten up and not take themselves so seriously!
Our recent week-end with our scalloping group in Steinhatchee was such a time of refreshment because there was a light hearted, teasing, cutting-up kind of banter between all of us...
This kind of 'fun retreat' refreshes the soul.
Laughter is good medicine.....have you taken yours today?

Canal Zone Memory Poem...and A Night in the Tropics

Below is a poem that was in the Panama Society Museum at Charlie's reunion...
It speaks simply and beautifully of days gone by from the 'age of innocence'...

The Memories that we have of you
Will always be with us.
You were our home, but now you're gone
Remember you we must.
We won't forget the lush green grass
We ran through every day,
The mango trees, the majestic palms,
And places we would play
We won't forget the doodle bugs,
The giant beetles too,
The skating rink, the clubhouses,
And most of all the schools.
We won't forget the fishing trips
And going to the beach,
And picking mango's off the trees,
As high as we could reach.
We won't forget the cardboard sleds
And playing on the street,
We won't forget the theaters,
And bowling alleys too
The Post Office and Commissary
Or where we bought our shoes...
You see, there is so much of you!
That we will always cherish.
You were our home, our home sweet home
To us you will never perish...
You now belong to someone else
But the memories of you we own...
I'll say good-bye but I will never forget
The good ole...Canal Zone...
By: Celina Barkema Vargas

Many of Charlie's classmates spent their glorious youth in the Canal Zone...
One such classmate gave me a book he wrote recently called,
" A Night in the Tropics " by Louis Joseph Barbier
I enjoyed it tremendously.... (Thanks, Louis:)
kinda/sorta a W.E.B. Griffin (THE PRESIDENTENTIAL AGENT)
or Wilbur Smith tale of adventure...
Go to link below to see Louis's book...
http://www.geocities.com/barbier840louis/A-Night-in-the-Tropics.html
Classmates...consider the Jan.17-27, 2008...IN PANAMA REUNION....the rates are great....and a walk down memory lane is a guarantee!
Check your 'keepsake brochure' from the Orlando reunion for more details...
Sea Ya!

Check out Edens Passion News Page....it's new!

http://edenspassion.com/news.htm

Quotations worth Quotating!

The quote of the month is by Jay Leno:

"With hurricanes, tornado's, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance AND 'IN GOD WE TRUST from our money?"

Scalloping in Steinhatchee....Again!

Steinhatchee Fun!

Dockie, Annie P. & Cindy, Sam & Sally, Bill & Susan, Charlie & I...
had a wonderful time 'working' for scallops....diving was the
only way to capture them this year....but a 'good time' was had
by all.....

Congratulations to Balboa High School Graduates...You Are the Ones!

Charlie's Balboa High School Reunion...

Gator man celebrated his 50th reunion with many members
of his class from Balboa High School in the Panama Canal Zone.
The event was held at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in
Orlando, Florida on July 5-8th...
Needless to say, it was a complete success due to the hard work
of many people...a few people ...Jerry & Joan, June, and Danny
did a great deal of 'pre-work' which resulted in a special time of
Happy Memories for all....Thanks, guys, for a job 'well-done'!

Good Time People....Bob & Pat from Durango, Colorado
and Joan & Jerry....made it special and F U N
for Charlie & I...

The camera was always nearby...and Charlie was
constantly smiling....
Bob & Pat became new and delightful friends....

Charlie and Sweet Joan ....Happy Greetings....

Some of the group before boarding the
Rivership Romance in Sanford..

Panamanian Dancers at the Despedida on Sunday...
A wonderful, colorful and graceful cultural show!

This is the class that attended...youthfulness returned in
abundance when recalling the memories from
the 'days of innocence'....

Happy 4th with Family at the Grand Cypress...

Am I happy with my two priceless gifts?
All of these below were my wonderful presents of Love.

Britt and little Dylan and Gracie and I ...having F U N!

Gracie....our tropical delight girl....

These are our ' crazy hat' girls...MJ got the 'best' buy...

Our 'good cheer guys' Vinnie and Lil Chuck waiting for
watermelon contest.....

Part of our family enjoying the 4th of July at Grand Cypress...

Lil Chuckie loves his 'bacation' with our family....

Gracie, M J and I...enjoying the Good Life...

Enjoying the 4th and my birthday during the day...
and family personal fireworks at night... on the sandy beach...

Ash and Lil Chuck...fun buddies...below...wild surrey ride...

These look like the "Key West" Girls from Chad's B'day Party!

Happy 4th of July, America.....