Wait. Vacations are for RELAXING??

I started my vacation from work today.  And I've been working all morning!  I have a list that is pathetically long of things that I have neglected and need to get done this week. 

First on the agenda, weed the landscaping in the back.  This is the "before" photo.  I am so embarrassed to even post this!!  We are lazy pigs around here and here is the evidence. 

I spent 2 sweaty hours out there and here is the finished product.

Yes, I even filled the bird bath and bird feeder!  But, what happened to all the rocks?  It needs filled in.  Where did they go?  They disappear like socks in a dryer!

Well, as you can see, I still need to do some work in the trees outside.  But we think that is our neighbor's property.  We're not sure so over the years we have done little trimming jobs, nothing too noticeable! 

We did have a vole problem, but the dog and I, working together as a team, got rid of them! We each killed 2! 

I am still working on the Creeping Charlie.  I got rid of most of it in our yard, but the neighbors yard is almost ALL vines of that vile plant.  I try to casually pull some of them from their yard...What?  I ended up in YOUR yard?  Hehe!  I also "accidently" sprayed their creeping charlie when I was spraying ours. 
I should start a blog about our neighbors!  Ha! 

Well, I think that is enough work for this morning.  I think I'll have lunch with Jacob and maybe do something fun this afternoon! 

God makes me laugh! :-)

God is awesome and hilarious!

 I've had a new buddy lately. Anxiety. Anxiety has been sticking close to me and I've had some very dark days. I've fallen face-down before God and pleaded for peace and joy. (Note to self: don't fall face-down in the bathroom again unless you've cleaned it first...ick. )

This came out of nowhere and hit me hard. I just wanted to stay in bed and cry all day. I totally did NOT want to do anything. God knew I would need help during this time so He created Jacob, our second born son. Jacob caused me to think about someone other than myself and to get out and do things. Hubby Greg also helped me get through this.

Today, I feel.... happy! I have been productive: went to church, treated Jacob and myself to lunch at Avanti's, went to the library book sale and bought a bagful of books for a shut-in who I deliver to, cleaned our closet, picked up the dog poop in the back yard, made cookies, and am in the process of doing laundry and making supper. Whew!!

But...I have got to tell you about God and His amazing sense of humor! You're gonna love this! Sometimes He and I just have a good ol' belly laugh together and I love it! This is one of those times. I hope I can convey the story properly in "print".

One day last week while I was delivering medicine for work, I was driving around town praying. Out loud. I was talking to God about my anxiety and all the things that are heavy on my heart right now. I have this "secret" plan for my life. A plan that I had hidden from God. Because we all know we want GOD'S will for our lives, not OUR OWN....right?? Riiight. I tell God I want HIS will and HIS plan for me but do I really?? I have to constantly give my life to HIM. It's a struggle against my own wishes! And believe it or not...I can be stubborn!! Hehe!

 Alright, so I'm driving around and I decide to "come clean" and tell God my "secret" plan for my life. I lay it all out. God, here's how I would like to see my life go from here on out.... (God probably had a great laugh at that one!) Here's my (partial) list:
 A promotion for Greg so he'll be happy at work and will get a raise and a company gas card. (the gas for his commute is KILLING us!)

 A full-ride scholarship for Jacob to Wheaton

Donations over and above what is needed for Ben's internship in Czech

My anxiety to go away

 and on and on I went.

Then, as I am listing off my wants like a spoiled ungrateful brat, I hear the music on the radio start to filter through my brain. It was Francesca Battistelli singing....

"I’m letting go.. Of the life I planned for me

And my dreams

Losing control

Of my destiny

Feels like I’m falling and that’s what it’s like to believe

So I’m letting go"

 I just laughed and laughed!! I said, "God! You are hilarious!!" And we both laughed! Leave it to God to gently and musically remind me that my plans mean nothing and I truly DO want what God has planned for me. Oh, I just LOVE Him!

And He loves me.


"When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. " ~Psalm 94:19

Lord of all things! Even elevators!

This week, while delivering medicine for work, I found myself on the 12th floor of Woodhill Towers. After dropping off the package, I waited for the elevator to take me back down to the first floor and out the door to continue on my way. The elevator came, there were 4 other people on it; a young mother and 3 little girls.

I was wearing the t-shirt I bought at a Michael W. Smith concert. It says "FAITH....HOPE.....LOVE.....SERVE". The lady on the elevator said she liked my shirt. I pushed "1" on the elevator and we started talking about my shirt. She said we have to be willing to serve. I agreed. She said actually, we have to be willing to do all 4...willing to have faith, willing to hope, willing to love AND be willing to serve. Just about then, the elevator, which is in between the 6th and 5th floors...stops! We're like..."hmmm". Then a few seconds later it sort of drops a few inches and stops again. I had a little tiny flash of anxiety but as I looked over at the little girls, I realized the need to remain totally calm.

The lights on the number panel then went out. One of the little girls is saying to use the emergency phone and call someone. The mother and I are looking at each other and at the number panel and just wondering what to do. We chatted a little bit more about my shirt and faith. I'm starting to wonder if there is an escape hatch in the ceiling of the elevator like on tv.

Then this lady says "Ok, Lord. We are ready to go now." As soon as she said "ok, Lord" the elevator starting moving! We were all four totally amazed! Looking at each other with smiles and joy in our hearts! I said "Thank you Lord!!", they all said it too! We bonded and praised God that moment! What a feeling! I pray that those 3 little girls remember that forever; living instant proof that God answers prayers. I know I will.

But then, the weird thing, we walked off the elevator into our "normal" lives. Only those 4 strangers and I understand the intensity of those few moments in the elevator at 104 E Wood street.

As I left that elevator, I said "You are Lord of ALL things...even elevators!!"

"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

I will deliver him and honor him.

Psalm 91: 14-15

Crocs in the Wildlife refuge! (Blair Witch Project Style)

We went to the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge. It was late in the afternoon but it was still pretty hot so we didn't see too many animals. We did, however see some crocs! Better than that, we filmed a video of them for you to see!! It's soo cool, you won't believe it!!

Tonight, I was sitting on the beach burying my toes in the cool sand, watching the mighty waves and feeling the soft salty gulf breezes on my face. These lyrics from a Steven Curtis Chapman song kept ringing in my head:

"You spoke and made the sunrise, to light up the very first day.

You breathed across the water, and started the very first wave.

It was You.

You introduced Your glory, to every living creature on earth.

And they started singing, the first song to ever be heard!

They sang for You.

You make all things new!"

'swonderful....'smarvelous...!

Captiva Island Day 2:

We hung around the beach/resort most of the day. Then we headed off to the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge.

Greg made me laugh when he took my picture!

Then we went to Island Cow for dinner. Greg says he had the best cheeseburger he has ever had

tonight!

Greg loved Island Cow!

I saw a crab on the beach!

We are going to get up at the crack of dawn tomorrow...we have a big day planned! First of all, and possibly most important...we are going to eat breakfast at Waffle House in Fort Myers! Yay!! I LOVE their fried egg whites and hash browns...ooooo, they have fantastic waffles also! Their sweet tea is to die for!! :-)

After that, we are heading to the great Florida Keys for the day. It is a long trip, apparently. Mapquest puts it at 5 hours one way. Wow!! We are going to be 2 worn out puppies when we get "home" tomorrow night! We are thinking about taking a glass bottom boat ride out to the reef off of Key Largo. We'll have to see if it fits into our schedule!

....missing my kids and pets!

Planes, No Trains, and Automobiles...(we made it here!)

Well, here I am, sitting in our hotel room. We are on the northern tip of Captiva Island. Our room is nice...a suite I guess. A separate kitchen, which is very small, bathroom, bedroom, living/dining room, a walk in closet in the bedroom, and a screened in balcony. The Gulf of Mexico is right outside our balcony.

The plane ride(s) here were wonderful and blessedly uneventful. (Thank you God!) As I watched the earth go by outside the plane window, I felt God tapping my shoulder and standing there wanting to show me his wonderful creation. I paid attention. We had a wonderful time, me and God.

Anyway. Tonight after we got to the resort, we went to eat at Matzaluna. A very yummy Italian restaurant on Sanibel. Greg had a delicious Chicken Parmesan and I had Fettuccine Alfredo with grilled chicken. Oh, soooo goood!! I was so full, I passed on the Snickers Cheesecake and believe me I wanted that cheesecake!! I brought leftovers back since we have a kitchen!

I still haven't been out to the beach. :-( We were so tired from getting up early to get to the airport and traveling just seems to wipe me out. Tomorrow. Tomorrow we will spend on the beach and in the room just taking it easy and enjoying being here. We stopped at a Publix in Fort Myers and stocked up on groceries. Oh! That reminds me. On the plane....you know how they usually only have coke products? (That's right Teri, I purposely did not capitalize it...heh heh!) Well, I asked for a Pepsi, just because I was feeling ornery. The "flight attendant" gave me a WHOLE CAN of actual PEPSI!! If the overhead bins weren't 5 inches from my head, I would have given her a standing ovation. I was so excited... Greg rolled his eyes at me.

I miss my kids and my pets. And my cell service is bad here. I got a text or two from Jacob but he had sent them way before I got them. And I had to go stand on the balcony to get enough service to send him a reply. That's annoying.

Well, I'm off to bed.