From the Heart
Louise Gibson
I woke up in the morning,
mind refreshed and full of hope.
There is so much I want to do-
all within my scope.
My spirit is willing, my mind alert-
I’ll spring right out of bed.
My mind is saying, “Go Girl”-
but my back says “Whoa”, instead.
Ego! Yes, ego is the culprit
in this aging game we play.
I don’t mind saying “I”m 86”,
But “getting old?” No way! “,
On the Porch
Onisha Ellis
I know now why March has been named March Madness and it has nothing to do with basketball! I don’t think I have caught my breath yet. I even set my alarm clock an hour earlier to pack more into my day. That is a big deal for me.
The disturbing part is that aside from doing first round edits on Rebekah’s upcoming release, Spring Dawn, I can’t tell you why is has been “mad.” Isn’t this how life goes most of the time, busy, busy, busy with little to show for it.
As I began writing this, the phrase “Be Intentional” came to mind.
.So I decided to be intentional as I think back on my March activities. I realized that I had accomplished more than I thought.
The best part was spending time and sharing laughter with friends and family. I think I will choose to be intentional and be thankful for the things I did accomplish and not fret over what I did not.
If you haven’t visited Rebekah Lyn Books stop by and see our new projects. On Sundays, DiVoran is sharing her serial novel, Go West. It is a historical western romance complete with original artwork. Wednesday is Promise Poster Day. You will certainly want to view them.
Rebekah Lyn Books is a part of an exciting book sale and giveaway March 16-20. One lucky reader will win over FORTY digital books and registration is very easy.
That’s all for now. Our time in Florida is over for a few months and while I will miss my precious friends and family, the beautiful western Carolina Mountains are calling my name!
PS I forgot to mention that Rebekah is giving away an autographed copy of Summer Storms. For a chance to win, leave on comment on the blog hop post.
Created this as part of my March Madness photo license free from bing images
A Slice of Life
Bill Lites
I wanted to save plenty of time for visiting the Submarine Force Library & Museum in Groton, CT before they closed. This museum is the only submarine museum operated by the U.S. Navy and is the home of the USS Nautilus (SSN-571), the first nuclear powered submarine in the world.
The museum also was a replica of the first submarine ever used in combat, David Bushnell’s Turtle, built in 1775; a WWII HA-8 Japanese Midget submarine and the Navy’s USS X-1 research submarine that was initially designed to operate using a special closed-loop hydrogen peroxide system to generate the oxygen the submarine’s diesel engine needed to operate while the ship was submerged.
I was impressed with the 50 foot model of the USS Gato (SS-212), first of that class of submarine built by the U.S. Navy (thus carrying the class name) and was one of the typical classes of over 250 submarines built and used by the Navy during WWII. This beautifully detailed cut-away model shows all the different parts of the submarine, from bow to stern, were the crew lived and worked.
Next I drove up the coast a few miles to visit the Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, CT advertised as the largest maritime museum in the world. The museum is located on 17 acres just south of I-95 on the Mystic River and was the first living maritime museum in the United States (1929). The museum re-creates a 19th century seafaring village, with its historic sailing ships, boats and over 60 period structures that have been carefully restored. I was impressed with one of their main attractions, the last surviving whaling ship, the Charles W. Morgan.
Since I was close to the town of Mystic, and I had looked them up on the internet as part of my trip research, I decided to try another lobster roll at the Ancient Mariner Restaurant in downtown Mystic. To my surprise, the town was in the middle of celebrating “Pirate Invasion Day” with people all over town (and in the restaurants) dressed up in Pirate costumes, running around looking for their next item in their Scavenger Hunt (or Geo Cache), and having a wonderful time, as the rain had finally let up. Then it was on up the road to the motel in Warwick, RI for a well-deserved rest after a 375 mile drive in the rain.
The next day was Sunday and I had planned to have a late breakfast and then attend the 11:00 service at the First Baptist Church in America in Providence, RI which was founded by Roger Williams in 1638. Williams had founded Providence in 1636 and had conducted church services in his home until 1638. For the next 60 years the congregation met outside, when the weather was nice, or in homes. The first service held in the current church building was in 1775 when the building was completed. Well, when I got to Providence some organization was having a 5-K Run right thru the area, and all the streets around the church were blocked off and the traffic was re-routed for blocks.
I finally gave up trying to get to the church, and headed for the Quonset Air Museum in North Kingston, RI where I found a small one-hanger museum with some unusual aircraft, not far from the Martha’s Vineyard Ferry landing. All of their aircraft were on static display, and not in what I would call beautifully restored condition. The guy behind the counter was very friendly and he told me all about the museum’s operations, after which we discussed our military service experiences at some length.
—–To Be Continued—–
Janet told me that watching the video, “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead” inspired today’s blog.
From the Heart
Louise Gibson
When we wake up in the morning
there is promise in the air.
We don’t know what the day will bring,
but the expectancy is there.
The time to be happy is now.
We have this day to explore.
Every day is a special occasion-
What are you waiting for?
“This is the day that the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24
A Slice of Life
Bill Lites
My friends from Boston and New York had advised me not to use the George Washington Bridge if I could help it, but that’s the way “Greta” took me on my way back to the west to visit the Aviation Hall of Fame in Teterboro, NJ. So, it was across the Throgs Neck Bridge, thru the Bronx, over the Hudson River on the G.W. Bridge to the museum. As it turned out, it must have been my lucky day for that crossing, because that trip was pretty much of a breeze and I made it to the museum in good time. This museum, located at the Teterboro Airport, displays historic aircraft and spacecraft equipment, artifacts and photographs along with a model aircraft collection, honoring the many New Jersey men and women who have helped make the aviation industry what it is today. There is a room filled with medallions honoring the over 160 inductees to date.
I woke up to rain the next morning. Up until now the weather had been perfect and I had just assumed it would be the same for the whole trip. Silly me. What was I thinking? Well, it rained that entire day as I sloshed my way toward Connecticut. I figured “Greta” would have routed me back across the G.W. Bridge and up I-95 to Bridgeport, CT before turning north. But I wasn’t ready to try my luck getting across the G.W. Bridge again, especially during the morning rush-hour traffic in the rain. So, I decided to take the northern route, using the Garden State Parkway, and then crossing the Hudson River at the Tappenzee Bridge. Well, wouldn’t you know, I missed the exit for the bridge. I stopped at a service center and asked how to get back to the bridge exit and the guy said, “Just take the next exit and do a “U” turn.” Right! It was 20 miles to the next exit and it ended up taking me 30 minutes and another 30 miles back to the bridge exit (all this in the pouring down rain).
I finally made it to the right exit, across the Tappenzee Bridge, then thru Danbury and Hartford, CT to the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, CT. That ended up taking 1-½ hours longer than I had planned. What a waste of time that was! The museum displays over 60 beautifully restored aircraft and related artifacts/equipment in three hangers. As I followed a group into the B-29 hanger, I overheard someone say that the small group was honoring their 95 year old uncle who had been a navigator in B-29s during WWII. The elderly gentleman was overwhelmed by the occasion and the size of the aircraft. I heard him say, “I don’t remember it being so big!” What a nice thing for a family to do for their uncle. While I was in the area, I had planned to visit the American Museum of Aviation in Stafford Springs, CT but I discovered that visiting the museum was by appointment only. I was behind schedule anyway, so I just headed south to my next stop, at the New London Customhouse in New London, CT which is operated by the New England Maritime Association. This turned out to be a very small museum, so I didn’t spend much time there.
—–To Be Continued—–
On the days when nothing makes sense, I pray this verse. How much better if I started my day confessing this truth!
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)
We all get comfortable, don’t we. I like my comfort zone.
From the Heart
Louise Gibson
Life does present its problems,
Skies are not always blue-
But when you turn your eyes to the Savior,
He will always see you through.
In times of suffering we must make sanctified
choices to walk in the light;
We have to mind our attitude by minding our thoughts
and trust God to make it right.
Keep the sunshine in your mind.
Our thoughts control our emotions.
Problems seem to solve themselves
when you take time for morning devotions.
Footnote:
Sunshine on your face.
The psalmist said, “They looked to Him
and were radiant.” Psalm 34:5
On the Porch
Onisha Ellis
Yesterday my husband and I were discussing Netanyahu’s speech to Congress the previous day. The leader of Israel was asking for support against a nuclear Iran. Meanwhile Iran is in talks with the United States and other countries promising peace. My husband pointed out how similar this seemed to the 1940s when Japan was talking peace while planning for war. He voiced his concern of how history repeats its self and we never seem to learn.
This brought to mind, our former pastor, Peter Lord, who taught me lesson of the mountain. God loves us so much, He will allow us to repeat our mistakes and keep going around the mountain until we learn what He is trying to teach us. Is it painful? You bet but I am grateful he is patient and doesn’t give up on me.
History repeating itself, over and over seems to fall into Pastor Lord’s going around the mountain lesson. Time after time, mankind has the chance to make good choices and time after time we have not. I wonder what the world will choose this time turkeys or Eagles.
Old Things R New 