My Dreams. God's Plan.

So good to see my sister! Kathy has lived in Oklahoma all of her adult life. Having just a tiny amount of time to sit and talk and laugh with her was delightful.

We are now a party of two. The move of my mother took place last week. She's safely with my sister, and hopefully settling in fine.

"A man's heart is right when he wills what God wills."

Saint Thomas Aquinas, 1225-1274

During our drive to Illinois, where we met my sister and her husband, I played some mind games. I hadn't done that in a long time and it was fun. Here's what I decided:

Five states I'd like to live in: Tennessee, around the Smokey Mountains. North Carolina, around the Smoky Mountains. Colorado and those Rocky Mountains. New Hampshire and those Green Mountains. West Virginia. "Take me home, country roads, to the place, I belong, West Virginia, mountain Momma, take me home, country roads." Yes, mountains and country roads are where I like to be.

Five places I'd like to go on vacation: Alaska. Nova Scotia. Montana/Wyoming. Canada.Oklahoma (to see my sister and drive all those dirt roads).

Five vehicles I like: Volkswagen Beetle. Ford Taurus. Ford F-150 Pickup. Jeep. Recreation vehicle.

Five Foods I like to eat: Sirloin steak. Prime Rib. Meatloaf. Pizza. Ice cream.

Five jobs I'd like to have? Wildlife Photographer. Sewing/Quilting professional. Best selling author. Creator of designs. Successful baker.

My neighbor, Norma, has a Hummingbird nest in her backyard. You can barely see it on the wires near her house in the back yard. It's just to the left and higher to the feeder. To my thrill, the eggs hatched, and I got to see them when I went down to thank her for watering my flowers while we were gone. As if that wasn't enough, the mother came and fed them while I was there. I was sitting about 20 feet away and so excited I got the snaps!

It was fun to pass the time thinking about my favorite things. My dreams. But God's plans are so much better!

"I know the plans I have for you, "declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11


I may not be a professional photographer, but I love taking pictures and enjoy my serendipity travels to find good snaps. I enjoyed sewing early in my life, and have now learned quilting and can create simple pieces that make me happy.

I may not be a best selling author, but I enjoy writing and encouraging others with my words. I've created many designs on the internet and have fun making cards and bookmarks. I'm famous for my chocolate chip coffee cake that many people enjoy.

For all my dreams, God made it possible for me to enjoy them at different times in my life with my skills and desire.My only goal in life as a young girl, was to be a secretary, and God made that possible. I enjoyed 40 years of work in the secretarial field.

God's ways are always better. I'd rather have His ways anytime! But Nova Scotia would be nice.

What's your dreams? How is/has God answered?

"God will either give you what you ask, or something far better." 

Robert Murray McCheyne, 1813-1843

My friend, Kathy, just returned from a trip to New Hampshire where she enjoyed the abundance of beautiful lupines. Thanks for sharing Kathy!

A Second Chance at Retirement

 The other week I spotted another bear during my early morning drive through the forest. There wasn't much light shining through at 5:45 that morning, so I couldn't get a good snap. But the bear did stop for 4 or 5 seconds and look at me before walking out of sight. It could almost be a painting rather than a picture, but I'm glad I got it!

A second chance at retirement. Yes, its been awhile since I retired in October 2011, but the reality is I was only retired for 10 months. In August 2012 my mother came to live with us because of declining health, and we've been care givers for almost 6 years. It's finally coming to an end.

Next week we'll be moving my mother to Oklahoma to live with my sister and her husband. Jerry and I had to make the decision that we couldn't care for her in our home anymore because of Jerry's health and my emotional and mental burnout. I'm thankful that my sister and her husband stepped up and offered their help. They will be in my prayers as they take on this responsibility.

I've enjoyed looking at the blooms on this Martha Washington Geranium plant. The flowers are gorgeous!

It's been a long 6 years of having someone live with us where relationships were not good. So why did we do it? Because God's Word says children should honor their mother and father. Period. I'm not looking for any accolades here or pats on the back. It's just a fact. Since we try and live according to God's Word, it was a responsibility we had to take.

Honoring your parents doesn't rank high in society today, as I listen to many friends share heartbreak and sadness because of separation with their children. I admit, I don't like my mother, but she is my mother, so I've tried to do what I believe God would have me do in regard to her.

My childhood home was without warmth, hugs, kisses, and expressed love. There was bitterness in the home, with lost hopes. There had never been a loving relationship with my mother, so caring for her was very difficult. I couldn't have done it without Jerry's help. He was the one who stepped up and said she would live with us when the situation arose, and he did all he could to make it easier on me.

This was the reality of an unloving and dysfunctional family.

It may be that I'll never see my mother again. She has a critical heart valve and the days of her life are definitely numbered. I feel sad for her, from what I perceive of her life. I hope the years we gave to care for her will bore some good.  It's always best to do the right thing, even if your heart isn't in it. God will provide a way through, and release you when His timing is right.

So retirement begins anew for me. A weight has been lifted from my heart. I am set free from a weary season of life. Jerry and I can try and find our life together once again.

I'm going to miss my favorite deer spotting place again this year. I never failed to find deer and fawn! Snapping this picture through the fence rail was fun! Mommy Doe wasn't concern at all!

A Right Catchy Title

 A right beautiful morning the other day and I just had to snap apicture of it!

Recently I visited the Gaither website and happened upon Gloria Gaither's blog, Love Song to my Life. She had an interesting post about a book she'd read back in the 90s. Her blog post title was: Girls with Grandmother Faces.

I loved the title and enjoyed the read. Most of my girlfriends now have grandmother faces. And yet, I still see the young face of my girlfriends, some of sixty years ago.

An excerpt from her post: "Sometime in the 90’s I came across a book called Girls with Grandmother Faces, encouraging women to stay connected, curious, and active after being widowed, having the kids leave home, or transitioning from the busy career years.  It was an interesting book, but it is the title I most remember because when my closest friends first entered my life, we all sort of still considered ourselves 'girls' . . . Over the years we shared laughter, pain, secrets, disappointments, betrayals, the death of spouses, and some great vacations with our families in tow.
 
"Gradually, we all got 'grandmother faces', but we were still the same 'girls' we’d always been—only better.  Better because we’ve known and loved each other through more than four decades and have been the Keepers of each other’s memories.  We all knew how important this well-earned trust would become in the coming days, for we knew there was a good chance some of us would be losing some memory of our own."

 Most of my friends are now in their 70s or very close behind. I've known them for 20, 30, 40, 50 and some for 60 years. And I still see them as the girls I came to know and love all those years ago. We may have "grandmother" faces, but our hearts identify with each others as the girls we once were.


And yet, I look at my older sister by two very loooooong years, and think, "she sure looks old." Some things never change. 😊


 If you care to check out the book, it is written by Frances Weaver and titled: The Girls With the Grandmother Faces.