For Today

Sea BreezesFor Today

O God:

Give me strength to live another day;
Let me not turn coward before its difficulties or prove recreant to its duties;
Let me not lose faith in other people;
Keep me sweet and sound of heart, in spite of ingratitude, treachery or meanness;
Preserve me from minding little stings or giving them;
Help me to keep my heart clean, and to live so honestly and fearlessly that no outward failure can dishearten me or take away the joy of conscious integrity;
Open wide the eyes of my soul that I may see good in all things;
Grant me this day some new vision of thy truth;
Inspire me with the spirit of joy and gladness;
and make me the cup of strength to suffering souls;
in the name of the strong Deliverer, our only Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (from Forward Day By Day)

I share this lovely and poignant Morning Resolve with you. I have found that is freshens my spirit like donning a sun dried linen garment fresh off the line. A wonderful way to prepare for the day.

"This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad."

May your day be filled with love.

A Morning Resolve

Sea Breezes A Morning Resolve

I will try this day to live a simple, sincere and serene life, repelling promptly every thought of discontent, anxiety, discouragement, impurity, and self-seeking: cultivating cheerfulness, magnanimity, charity, and the habit of holy silence: exercising economy in expenditure, generosity in giving, carefulness in conversation, diligence in appointed service, and a childlike faith in God.
In particular, I will try to be faithful in those habits of prayer, work, study, physical exercise, eating and sleep which I believe the Holy Spirit has shown me to be right.
And as I cannot in my own strength do this, nor even with a hope of success attempt it, I look to thee, O Lord God my Father, in Jesus my Savior, and ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

..From "Forward Day By Day" author unknown-

I have begun reading this prayer each morning and am amazed at how powerful the events in my day have become in shaping my walk with Christ. I hope you will find it as strong and powerful for you.

Sapelo 2010

Sea BreezesSapelo 2010 was everything it had promised to be. We had a blast. We laughed, explored, swam, floated, beach combed, devoured scrumptious meals, went shell seeking, sang, golf carted, hiked, biked, enjoyed shell seeking and raft floating, learned more island history and sealed lifetime friendships. The Sapelo Sistas are a rare breed. We share the common love of this sea kissed beautiful barrier island, and once a year, we stop our lives and enter into the magical beauty of Sapelo island with its mystical charm, ancient history and ghostly loveliness. I will let the pictures tell my story. What happens on Sapelo, stays on Sapelo.

How does a friend loveth?

Sea BreezesI love this picture of these two beautiful girls, these two best of friends. The lovely little brunette with the brown eyes is my daughter, Katie,the sweet blond with soft blue eyes is next door neighbor best friend Jennifer. Their children are best friends. Their husbands have been friends since babyhood. They share life together on a daily basis, the trials, tribulations and triumphs. They call their homes "The Compound". They share laughter, joy, tears and all the hoopla that comes with raising young families. They share breakfast on a Saturday morning, advice for sick babies, and date nights with hubbies. They are both teachers, loving mothers and best friends. I hope they realize how special their friendship is. I think they do. I love them both. I love their beautiful children and cute hubbies . I love their friendship. "A friend loveth like a sister"

The Author of Love

Sea BreezesI have been thinking about love a lot this week after I just got home from spending time in Maryville, Tennessee with Blake and Tonya and grand baby gang. I love this family. They are my family. They are my gift from God. They are also gifts to each other in the form of marriage partner, children, sister, brother. They are a gift as cousins, aunts, uncles, children to other parents, grandparents, great grandparents, in-laws, friends, and church family...not to mention co-workers and everyone they come in contact with. That is a lot of love, in a lot of different ways. They are also loved by Annie the dog. Is love limited by form or person or relationship? Is love limited by degree or circumstance? Is love stronger or weaker depending on anything?

I learned a lot about love this last week when I attempted to be a help to Tonya and Blake as she endures the effects of chemo for her breast cancer.

I learned that the love of a mother for her husband and children is perhaps the strongest form of human love. A love so strong that it leads the battle and walks fearlessly into the war where living is the victory. This love is willing to bleed and suffer endless hours for its very life. Sure, it staggers and falters and falls flat when attacked, but this love gets back up and keeps fighting. This love will not rest until the battle is won and the victor, life, is crowned.

Tonya is living this love. Join with me in prayer and celebration that our Lord created and lived this love as He suffered and bleed, died, yet rose to live in victory for us, His children.

Tonya is not alone in her fight, nor does she fight without a general who has fought the battle before and won. She fights with the creator of the universe as her general and her fellow soldier.

She is fighting from victory. She will live and she will watch her children grow. She knows the author of love, Jesus the Christ.

Love those who He sends to you each day.

Smoky Mountain Family

Sea BreezesI am back from Sapelo. I will save those pictures from a later post. Sunday morning I flew out of Orlando to Knoxville. I am spending the week at Blake and Tonya's home. Such a treat for me to be with my grandbabies. Tonya is undergoing chemo, and I am trying to be an extra hand around the house for a few days. A young family household is a busy place with three little ones to care for, especially in the summer. Tonya is handling chemo with amazing grace and stamina. Although she is weak and hurting, she continues to be a caring and active Mommy. We continue to pray for her full healing.


Blake snapped the above shot as I arrived at the airport to be greeted by Lander and Paisley. Grandchildren are growing, active and of course, beautiful. What a lovely place to be as the Smoky Mountains rise all around us, providing a unique change from our low country vistas. I will get a picture of Henley when she will stop a moment in her busy day!

Here I Go-To Sapelo!

Sea BreezesTomorrow morning is the day. All of us Sapelo Sistas meet the ferry down at the Meridian dock. At 8:30 a.m. the ferry pulls out for the 15 minute ride to Sapelo Island. Most of the group are Brunswick High School teachers plus some sisters, moms, cousins and friends of BHS teachers. Our Sapelo trip keeps us sane during the school year when insanity rules. We email about Sapelo like crazy and share funny anecdotes and pictures of past island happenings. Several of us even have license plates that say "What happens on Sapelo stays on Sapelo. Our husbands think we are nuts. How could spending three days on a breathtakingly beautiful barrier island to explore with the only access by boat, in an 1800's mansion complete with bowling alley and three stories of history to explore, with a staff of 20 plus, a swimming pool, the ocean at your feet lapping at pristine beach with no sign of civilization in either direction, alligator pond walks, lighthouse exploring, birding beyond belief, nature walks through breathtaking marsh and island vistas, wearing our bathing suits like underwear, low country decadent meals, historical tours of Chocolate Plantation and 4000 year old Native American shell rings, golf carts and bikes available, 24/7 and laughing your head off with zany and dear friends be that much fun? Sometimes, it is just hard for men to get it. I have to go pack my bug spray and three bathing suits. Oh, I forgot, I bought a new float for the pool (which did I add was built by R.J. Reynolds in 1917?) We are off to play and frolic like kids and put our selves back in time for three days. I'll post pictures of the trip when I return. Harold and Pippin and Sappy, hold down the fort while Mommy is gone.

Yes, Sappy the porch cat returned after five plus weeks, very thin and tired. More on that later. I have a ferry to meet.