A Lesson

Sea BreezesWhat a lesson I learned last Sunday at church. First of all, I and I think many others learned a big lesson.
I walked into church and there was a man with a small dog on a leash. Humph! This was my first reaction. I thought, are you crazy, dogs don't come to church.
I was so busy judging this man and his decision that I never thought why he had brought the dog to church. I mean, he could have tied it to a tree, right?
Then came the peace where we all greet each other in the Peace of the Lord. The dog started barking, well I would bark too with all that mumbling about peace. I saw an usher take the man and his dog outside and thought, finally. The service continues and of all things here is this man again in church and he takes his dog to Communion. This was just a plain olde dog, no service sign on him, just a leash.
Well, by now, my judgmental self had reached world proportions. Some people have no class, thought I. I love my dogs too, but I would never bring them to church.
It was at the service's end, I learned my lesson. This man with the dog was poor and had come to the church for help the week before. He was invited to services and he had come, feeling welcome by most of the congregation. His dog barked when he was going to have a seizure within five minutes before the seizure happens.  The usher knew that and that is why when the dog barked during the Peace, the man was helped outside to have his seizure in a quieter place.
I felt low. I learned a lesson. I had sinned. I had judged another human being unfairly. I bowed my head and asked for forgiveness. So thankful that God forgives my my sins.
A man, a dog, a story.    

Prayers Answered

Sea BreezesPrayers have been answered. Harold has an awesome new job here in our community and we don't even have to move! Little did we know his job was in our own backyard. A miracle is such a shock to me, everytime it happens. I am sure that expectation creates an atmosphere for miracles, and I knew it would take a miracle to find the job he needed. He is happy and so appreciative to the Lord for his faithfulness.

In the meantime I have broken my back riding a horse and he has had to wait on me and take care of me, in addition to working on his new job. My man is everything a girl could want in a guy and I am one blessed girl.

Thank you Lord for undeserved blessings and undeserved setbacks which give forth to healing in all areas. Amen and Amen. 

Sending Love to You All

Sea BreezesHere I am again after a long hiatus. Life gets in the way for a writer, and a writer should just get in the way of life! We are still waiting on H to get a job; it has been almost a year of waiting, and hoping and praying. We are praying on our Christmas miracle this year that he will get his job and we can get settled into a new routine. I still dream of my little farm with the horses and chickens and maybe a goat or two. Heck, I don't even know if I can handle one goat. The furry English Cockers are wonderful. They keep us sane and laughing at the same time! I guess that is why I love animals so much as I love taking care of things. I am already planning next year's garden and it will be beautiful. O I have been trying to learn to knit but I am a kluz when it comes to knitting. I have a Scottish friend who swears she can teach me, so I will give knitting a try one more time. I love knitted things, homemade things. The older I get, the less stuff I need. That is a great thing that happens as your kids grow up. Christmas will be a bit sparse this year on presents, but after all we know that we have already received the greatest gift the world has ever known. The Christ Child will be born again in a stable to save the sins of the world. This advent season, we are getting read for Him. We put up a little tree this year and I made some homemade angels to decorate. It is humble, for this is a year for humility in the family. We have one child who has left the flock temporarily, but I know he will return, as God says He knows all our names and each little lamb is special. That gives me comfort. Blessings to you all this Holy Season and may the one who came down from heaven be with you and bless you. In the name of our Savior, Jesus the Christ, I send love.

Honesty

Sea BreezesHonesty is a hard word to define. Maybe it has to do with your real feelings or really what happened. I feel my blog is a place for honesty. The dear folks who take the time to read what this plain woman writes deserve honesty.


My husband still strives diligently to find a job, and I work diligently to support him with positive thoughts and actions which sometimes slip into fear and uncertainty....then prayer comes, and I feel strength again. The future looms like a monster some days, and then I am reminded that I am only to worry about today, that God takes care of tomorrow.


Two nights ago, a tree smashed our garage and both cars, one is fixable, both need replacing. Again, what if it rains, here that fear thing starts again, and all our garage stuff gets wet? God reminds me not to worry, just walk in today. So you have it, I am being honest. It takes the Lord to keep tapping me on the shoulder to remind me that His help is on the way. In fact, not only does He say worry is sinful, He tells me to "be thankful in all things!" Boy, I have some God....He has it covered. So, I am thankful that my husband is unemployed and that we have no cars to drive." There, that was easy. I feel better knowing I just have to walk through this with my head held high and trusting my Lord.


If you are walking through a storm, try being honest and doing what the Lord tells you to do. First of all it settles your anxiety and fear and opens up a whole new realm of possibilities in life. I worship a Lord who can walk on water and create a universe. Surely a smashed garage and a jobless husband is within His power!

The Poetry Reading

Sea BreezesWell, something planned for a year finally took place yesterday. The planned poetry reading while floating on Cheryl's pond drinking Sangrias finally came to fruition. Three passed middle aged women played like children on a lovely summer afternoon. We had a blast.


The pictures show it all. Marja is our friend from Scotland who tells wonderful stories of her homeland, Cheryl is in the bow of the boat and yours truly is pulling up the stern. We had smoked herring with cream cheese on crackers, fresh baked blue berry muffins (we picked the berries last week), cucumber sandwiches, and icy Sangria and Perrier water. We didn't go hungry on our pond pilgrimage. We read poetry to each other and paddled the pond for well over three hours. We laughed, told stories and read poetry. We made memories with simplicity. We don't care if we are all sixty something, having fun at our age is the most fun! 

We heard frogs, horses neighing, roosters crowing and the donkey braying. We heard the ripple of the pond and the wind in the trees. Try finding joy in the simple things of life, you won't regret it!

Receive the Joy

Sea BreezesLast weekend was wonderful. Our gang from Tennessee drove all the way down to see us. Grandchildren have grown so big and are so cute. Parents look great and we had a blast seeing them too, of course. We ate and ate and went swimming, laughed, went out to eat, their treat, walked in the Village on St. Simons and all together had a great time. I was having so much fun that I forgot to take pictures. Somebody send me some via email and I will post them.


Family love is so special. Your children's love and grand children's love is just the best. They love you regardless of your faults, and we all have those. I hope we are making wonderful memories for these precious children. I wish, so wish we could see them more often, we talk, think and pray for them all each day.


Blessings come in adult and child sized packages. If you haven't opened yours in a while, untie the ribbon and receive the joy!

Expect Miracles

Sea BreezeI am really beginning summer today and am at a loss for what to do. H is still job hunting and needs me to be positive and support him in prayer. I want to ride  my bike, swim, go to the beach, ride the big bay thoroughbred and love my dogs. I will do all those things. The most important thing to do is to love my Lord and love my husband. I am looking forward to spending time with my family as they come to visit.


Grand babies to cuddle and read stories to will  be so much fun. I am looking forward to my summer miracles. Remember, expectation creates an atmosphere for miracles!