Archive by Author

Five habits that must go during the pandemic

6 Jun

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Reblogged June 6, 2020

June 5, 2020

Finally, a visit to the park. But as hubby, grandkids and I entered, the picnic tables were blocked off. Rope also surrounded the playground. What to do?

But a distance away, across the green grass, under a tree, a bench waited for us. We settled in and a soft breeze caressed our face.

“This is the life,” my granddaughter said.

I agreed. Before the quarantine, we took so much for granted and now, this visit in the warm sunshine became a new-found treasure.

Suddenly, the sun went behind clouds, the breeze turned to wind. Then something brushed my arm.

“Something fell on me,” I said to hubby.

“It’s a leaf. Remember, we’re under a big tree.”

As the wind shook its branches, one by one, a few leaves landed on me.

I tried to ignore them. But with each tickle from the leaf on my skin, I lifted it and between my fingers, I noticed their texture and shape—some firm and perfectly formed, others bigger, dry and withered.

The leaves were a reminder.

Those fluttering leaves reminded me of all that fell in my life—trials, pain, then joy, peace and contentment—each with its own texture and shape to impact my world.

The same thing has happened to many during this pandemic. Leaves of adversity have fallen. Although unexpected, they don’t discriminate. They land on all—rich, poor, black, white, good, not so good. All are affected in some way.

But not all sink in defeat. Those who thrive, persevere, and end up better than before do so not because of what they do. But because they avoid these five habits that turn to dangerous traps:

Trap No 1.      Wake up with thoughts of what’s wrong, what they’ve lost or what they might lose.

Trap No. 2.     Count on government to be the provider.

Trap No. 3.     Ponder about what life was like before the virus, lamenting their broken plans.

Trap No. 4.     Agree with social media posts that emphasize the gloom and repeat the pessimistic view.

Trap No. 5.     Enter into the habit of listening to the nightly news and take to bed what they just heard.

These snares have carried many to anxiety, worry, depression and some, as statistics indicate, to suicidal tendencies.

There’s a better way.

Conversely, those who are riding this pandemic on the vehicle of hope, with optimism and expectation, have developed a healthier spiritual immune system, bounce back from illness, and become stronger.

We can all do the same by learning to read, believe, internalize and trust in these four truths:

  1. When feeling alone with our problems, our uncertainty and insecurities, God turns it to confidence: “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So, we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6)
  2. In the midst of a crisis, pandemic or diseases, “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)
  3. I will not be discouraged and will have restful sleep because as I go day by day, God made this promise, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)
  4. No matter what destruction may threaten me and my family, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” (Psalm 46:2)

Our faith has to equal God’s help, ever-present and unwavering. And with full trust in Him, we declare the best will come, His shield will stand and

Let’s Pray

Lord, how often I let the world dictate my view, my thinking, and my attitude. I will change my habits and will embrace a solid belief in what You say rather than the gloom that echoes in the world. In Jesus name.

What habits do you need to change these days?

Janet

______________________________________

Did you know I wrote a book filled with words of encouragement, uplifting thoughts and illustrations of real-life triumph to empower you? Its title, Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life. You can get it HERE.

CLICK HERE for a one-minute inspirational video.

Looking for a speaker for your upcoming event? A great speaker makes the difference between a so-so event and one that shines with impact. I invite you to view one of my two-minute videos HERE.

Please share: 

Feel free to share Janet’s posts with your friends.

Janet Eckles Perez

Some say she should be the last person to be dancing. Her life is summarized in this 3-minute video: http://bit.ly/1a8wGJR

Janet Perez Eckles’ story of triumph is marked by her work as an international speaker, #1 best-selling author, radio host, personal success coach and master interpreter. Although blind since 31, her passion is to help you see the best of life.

www.janetperezeckles.com

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Life During Covid-19 Part 16

5 Jun

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

As I said in my last post, plans are made to be changed. We planned to have lunch on Tuesday with friends we had not seen in 4 months. Well, Monday morning my husband woke up with a sniffleszx and sneezing. Of course, my first concern was is he coming down with the virus? I let our friends know we wouldn’t be meeting for lunch, because and I am not sure how this happened, but we are all in THAT age group.

He spent a lot of time outdoors over the weekend, tidying up the yard and installing a backup camera on the truck. It took three mowings to get the grass down. I decided to treat his sniffles as allergy and after two days he began to clear up.

Our lawn a combination of grass and weeds looks much better!

Sunday we attended church. North Carolina ordered churches to shut down (Unlike Florida which suggested it and the churches willingly complied) so our church began to hold drive-in services in March. I was looking forward to seeing friends and curious how it would be done.

Our sanctuary sits on a hill with parking on a lower level. A tent was erected with a pulpit. The congregation tuned their radios to a specific Fm station .

One of our members brought a visitor, and I must say the visitor was very well behaved.

Overall it has been a good first week back. My husband’s health and energy, aside from sniffles, has been great and he has enjoyed getting resettling chores done. Thursday he replaced the front brakes on the truck and still felt well enough to join friends for a night of card playing. I treasure the good days.

In a matter of three weeks, the county has gone from less than five cases of Covid to over 80. I sense a level of anxiety and resentment in their social media posts. The first case in the county was a visitor from New York and now the summer people and part-time residents (Like us) are invading .

I understand how they feel. South Florida’s Covid cases soared as residents from New York fled there to escape the virus and its consequences. I rarely see a New York license plate in our Florida community but I saw two within a week. I admit to feeling a moment of resentment. Our area had been doing well without these “infectors”. Awful, right? I confessed my unkindness to God and asked forgiveness and for my heart to change.

And then Sunday arrived our church was finally allowed to gather. As we waited for service to start, one of the greeters escorted a woman inside and introduced her to the pastor. I made note of where she chose a seat. It was on the other side of the sanctuary.

I felt compelled to speak words of welcome to the visitor and as this was to be our last Sunday before returning to the mountains, it was now or never. I made my way across the room, being mindful of social distancing and began a conversation. I felt a connection and hoped she would choose to attend our church She shared that she had only been living in the area a year. Of course, I asked where she was from…New York. And not just New York, but NYC.

God definitely has a sense of humor as he works on teaching me to love as He loves.

This is from one of the albums I played with my children. I think I am going to re-listen to them. Simple truths.

Ok, the trip down memory lane with the kid’s praise album made my heart ache a little for bygone days. My son was my instant gratification child. I not only played this song, I would sing the chorus to him as well. I think the message remains relevant and it is fun!

We rescheduled our lunch plans with our friends for today. Both my husband and myself have been checking our temperatures just in case our supposition that allergies caused the sniffles is wrong.

I'm a winnerAfter my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience.  Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites,  Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix

In addition to blogging, I work as the publicist/marketer/ amateur editor and general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  where we frequently host the best in up and coming authors.

My 2019 goal is to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media. You can visit Real Life Books and Media You Tube Channel if you would like to view some of the mini-videos I have created for our church, Gateway Community in Titusville, Fl.

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Finally Back in North Carolina!

2 Jun

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

We made it back to our home in the mountains! I’m not sure how I accumulate so much stuff over the winter but it seems that I will be spending days unpacking.

Our grass was really high.

I was pleased to see that the pansies I planted last winter are thriving amidst the tangle of grass. Hopefully my husband will set-up the moose fountain that goes on the pedestal.

Thursday I plan to have a full blog to post. But plans are made to be changed. Lunch with friends tomorrow that I haven’t seen in 4 months!

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You have what it takes to get through this season

30 May

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Reblogged May 30, 2020

May 22, 2020

I applaud my hubby. His creativity to fix anything in the house leaves me in awe. But his method is not to run out and get a new part or new material or a replacement. Instead, he finds a way to use what he already has within his reach and voila! Repair completed.

Our world also seems to be broken on many levels, but like my hubby, we have what we need to fix our own broken plans, to repair what malfunctions and to put together our confidence that’s falling apart.

It’s all doable because in Scripture, we have the blueprint to begin the mending. To work on a new start, overflowing with expectations and anticipation of something better.

That’s because the blueprint of God’s Word showcases details for us to follow, to count on and to sustain us through the worst of times. With these three steps, we can have the boldness to defy the gloom:

1.  No matter what we face—the dwindling of our bank account, the delay in our unemployment check, the virus with no cure, the uncomfortable change in our routine. All seem to be against us.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:29-31)

He’s for us. He’s on our side. And He fights the battle. He brings on the defense, the weapons and the victory. If God is truly with us, why do we worry about what seems to be against us?

2.  How often, in the silence of night some of us asked: Our plans are broken, Lord. What will tomorrow bring? 

Here’s His answer in Jeremiah 29:11:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.

“We’ll never go back to normal,” many say. But God’s promise for a future still stands. “Life will be harder when all this is over,” some complain. But God’s future could be better than we ever expected. And if that future God promises is His own design, why do we worry?

3. Thoughts of loneliness must be deleted. And notions of abandonment need to go into the garbage disposal of life because God says:

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So, we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

No government can bring the assistance we need. God is our divine helper. No amount of economic bounce back compares to God’s supernatural help. And no predictions from experts will provide the hope we need. God is the one we call our divine helper who will never abandon us…that’s why we cannot and must not fear.

Let’s Pray

Thank You, Lord for reminding me that in You, I have all it takes for me to live confidently, reassured and comforted by Your promises. In Jesus’ name.

How does this message apply to you?

Janet

______________________________________

Did you know I wrote a book filled with words of encouragement, uplifting thoughts and illustrations of real-life triumph to empower you? Its title, Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life. You can get it HERE.

CLICK HERE for a one-minute inspirational video.

Looking for a speaker for your upcoming event? A great speaker makes the difference between a so-so event and one that shines with impact. I invite you to view one of my two-minute videos HERE.

Feel free to share Janet’s posts with your friends.

Janet Eckles Perez

Some say she should be the last person to be dancing. Her life is summarized in this 3-minute video: http://bit.ly/1a8wGJR

Janet Perez Eckles’ story of triumph is marked by her work as an international speaker, #1 best-selling author, radio host, personal success coach and master interpreter. Although blind since 31, her passion is to help you see the best of life.

www.janetperezeckles.com

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Life During Covid-19 Part 15

28 May

Waiting on the SpaceX Demo-2

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I wrote last week about my disappointment that our return to the North Carolina mountains was delayed. Within frustration comes positives, especially if we are open to accept them and one of them was being in Florida for the historic launch of the SpaceX Demo-2 launch.

Foto: NASA clipset.20minutos.es

Our town is on the banks of the Indian River which is directly across from Kennedy Space Center and the launch pads. Due to Covid-19 the local media advised the locals to stay home and watch the launch from their yards. I was good with that idea. Our area has a low virus rate and the thought of mingling with people from all over the country kind of freaked me out. But…our daughter writes novels about the space program and she has followed the progress of SpaceX from its infancy and was determined to be at the river.

Our usual viewing involves parking at a church near the river, then walking to a good viewing spot. Once the launch is over, we quickly move to our car and beat the traffic.

We left home around 1 pm for the 4:33 pm launch. We had packed lunches, water and chairs. We drove past the park we love (photo on left) and it was packed with cars.

We continued driving north and ended up at large park. We easily found a parking place and backed into it.

HINT if you ever have the opportunity to view a crewed launch, back into your space.

And then we sat in the car for three hours. With no internet on our phones. And it rained.

I don’t know if you have noticed but there is a huge societal battle going on. To mask or not mask. Sitting in our vehicle my first thoughts when I saw people walking past with masks, were give me a break, people. You are outside with way more than 6 ft distancing.

After thinking on the masks for a time, I reverted to my usual wear or not wear attitude. People were here from all over the country and may be following guidelines to which they are accustomed to.

An extremely heavy line of storms moved in on us. The trees were whipping and the rain was coming down in sheets. Our cell phones were not able to access data so we didn’t have any idea what was going on. Once we were back home, I saw this on Facebook.

Mims is about 5 miles from where we parked. It was a small tornado

Finally around 3 pm the rain ended although the skies remained dark, although there were patches of blue. My daughter and I decided to venture out to the river bank and stake out our viewing space. My husband stayed in the car. He’s not rain tolerant. I was impressed that few people had left during the rain. There were a lot of soggy clothes but many had come prepared with rain gear.

A brave group of kayakers paddled past. A boat is an ideal viewing spot but the hassle of getting ones boat to a dock and out of the water afterwards is not worthwhile for us. Been there, did it once. Now the kayakers are brilliant. No boat dock needed!

In Titusville we have “The Bridge” It is a lovely bridge that crosses the Indian River and connects Titusville to Merritt Island on which the space center is located. “The Bridge” replaced an ancient structure that used a bridge keeper to open and close the draw and each side of the bridge has a generous walking lane. It is a thing to walk “The Bridge” ( Yes, a local boutique sells T-shirts bragging about walking the bridge)

For the launch, the bridge is closed to traffic and is a prime viewing area.

The rain held off and patches of blue peaked through and around the clouds. As the time of launch drew close, my husband joined us. We were ready for the rumble! Then, without warning, people around us began gathering their belongings. People began streaming off the bridge. The dreaded word, scrubbed, could be heard. We couldn’t believe it. The sky was almost clear. But not clear enough. Less than 15 minutes from life off and it was over.

I was outraged! Pre smart phones we would have been listening to transistor radios, then later, boom boxes, getting updates from mission control. All I can assume is the crowd overwhelmed the cell tower capacity.

The launch is rescheduled for Saturday. Hopefully we will finally be back in the mountains. It was fun being a part of launch day, even if it didn’t launch. One thing was missing though…conversation. Usually there is an atmosphere of camaraderie, sharing stories and launch experiences. I missed that. I hope social distancing does not become the permanent normal.

Our daughter is on her own for Saturday. I wonder if she might rent a bicycle. Post launch traffic is a bear!

I love this picture Rebekah took of children enjoying the rain puddles.

Hopefully, next week I will be writing from the mountains!

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Life During Covid-19 Part 14

23 May

…And We’re Still in Florida

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.

Last week I was confident I would be writing from our home in North Carolina but as Proverbs 19:21 explains, many plans are made but the purpose of the Lord will prevail.

Last Sunday we were all set to leave the following morning except for some final packing. Allergy season has been rough this year and Sunday afternoon, the wretched oak pollen destroyed me, sapping my energy.

Monday my husband awoke with breathing issues, so we pushed our leave taking until Tuesday. Tuesday morning our daughter informed us that during the night she had experienced nausea and well, you know, the other stuff. We decided a road trip with limited facilities available wasn’t a good idea until we could confirm her malady wasn’t contagious.Thankfully, she wasn’t contagious but she was quite ill and being a mother, I didn’t want to leave her on her own.

Now you know, this story has to come around to my hair.My long, unsightly hair.

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

At the end of the previous week my hair stylist texted me with an appointment date of May 21st. With great sadness I turned it down as we were not going to be in Florida. I decided to stop fussing about it and put God in charge of my hair. I felt excited about who I would meet in North Carolina to do my hair.

Wednesday, our daughter was still unwell so I decided to text my hair stylist to let her know I was in town and available, hoping she might have a cancellation. She replied with a date the following Thursday, May 28th. I really didn’t want to commit to staying another week. I asked my husband’s opinion and suggested we pray about it then see if we are in agreement.

All afternoon, I dithered. Leave on Thursday or stay another week. Groomed hair or cool mornings on our mountain house porch. Late in the day I decided that if I had put my hair situation in God’s hands, who was I to grouse over the extra days in Florida?

When I shared this with my husband, he agreed. And since we are staying longer, I was able to get him a doctor appointment that was cancelled due to the lockdown. Our daughter is recovering and returned to work. We will be able to enjoy being together in church Sunday after weeks of separation AND if the SpaceX launch goes as planned on Wednesday, we will be here for the return to manned space flight.

They say good things come to those who wait. I guess it holds true even if the waiting wasn’t the first choice.

Image by Alexas_Fotos from Pixabay

I'm a winnerAfter my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience.  Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites,  Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix

In addition to blogging, I work as the publicist/marketer/ amateur editor and general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  where we frequently host the best in up and coming authors.

My 2019 goal is to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media. You can visit Real Life Books and Media You Tube Channel if you would like to view some of the mini-videos I have created for our church, Gateway Community in Titusville, Fl.

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Life During Covid-19 Part 13

16 May

Corona Couture

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I wondered how long it would take before Corona Couture hit the stores. I made a quick trip to Beall’s Outlet this morning and found these shirts.

I confess that if the Faith over Fear shirt had been in any color except yellow, I would have taken one home. Faith over Fear is my personal mantra when I am feeling overwhelmed.

I only found one item I needed in the outlet store so my husband drove me to the Beall’s Florida store. I was searching for a bandana type protection mask. No luck, but I did see this box. I can’t tell you how exciting it is to me to see merchandisers realizing that people are not willing to live in fear.

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Life During Covid 19 Part 12

14 May

Leaving Florida

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

1 Peter 5:7

That sounds really spiritual doesn’t it? In truth, I am being part silly and part serious. You see, I have waited weeks for Florida to allow hair salons to open. WEEKS! We even delayed our return to God’s country, AKA Western North Carolina, hoping for an appointment this week.

When the anxiously awaited text arrived, my appointment was for a week from today. With great sorrow, I declined the appointment. You see, in my morning prayers this week I told God that if I didn’t get a date ( That I had been praying fervently for) this week, that I would give my hair care to Him. The Bible tells us that God’s ways and thoughts are higher than mine and I am banking on him having a better plan for my hair. I wonder who I will have the opportunity to meet.

So far, my hair salon experiences in North Carolina have not been positive.

I do believe in miracles so I am hoping for my stylist to have a cancellation. We need to pray for all of the barbers and hair stylist, you know they are going to be worked to death! Not only do they cut our hair, they have to heavily sanitize between each client.

So, it seems Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise, next Thursday I will be writing to you from North Carolina. I’m not sure if they have toilet paper in the stores but I do know that one of the distilleries is making hand sanitizer. I plan to buy a gallon!

Remember how we once laughed at our Depression era parents who saved things? I absolutely understand now. I can imagine once I am gone, some stranger going through my things will ask with scorn why the old lady kept all those yucky bottles. And don’t get me started on paper products. I’m thinking we may need to add a paper products room to our house. Or failing that, I am sure my husband will be happy to give up his workshop. LOL

Another area of Coronavirus induced understanding is church attendance. In the last century people would pack lunch and load up the wagon or car and take the family to church for the WHOLE day. I couldn’t imagine that. Now I can. For the most part people in the past were rural and didn’t have much interaction outside the family. Church was a time to join together in worship and friendship. With all of the staying at home, my heart grew hungry to be with my brothers and sisters in Christ. It was thrilling to attend service last week, even socially distant. Smiles and nods only.

Our North Carolina church has been having drive-in services and I look forward to attending. The Governor might have closed the sanctuaries but he hasn’t quenched the desire to worship together.

We will be without a friend when we return to our North Carolina house. The parents of Gus, our beloved porch dog, have sold their house. We hadn’t seen him on our security cameras and worried that he might have been in an accident. We are pleased he is ok, but will miss his sweet presence on our porch. He enriched our lives.

If we had to be stuck at home, I am thankful we were with our daughter. We made memories on our Sunday drives, suppers on the patio and savoring frosty whipped coffees.

I am going to miss my friends…a lot. We have friends in North Carolina too, and I love them, but my Florida friends are the ones who have shared my life and I cherish them.

Okay, getting too mushy, time to wrap up this blog piece. It’s not like this is the first time we have made this transition. I will blame it on Corona. To the mountains we go!

Webcam at Newfound Gap North Carolina/Tennessee line.

A Mom’s Confidence in the Midst of Chaos

10 May

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Reblogged May 10, 2020

I invite you, dear friends, to step away from the chaos and take a little time to relish in the oasis of God’s Word. Here’s a clear instruction, direct guidance and a beautiful promise. They’re all tucked in these verses:

“The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And tSleflhe peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

Did you know the best way to enjoy sweet peace and confidence is by exercising your memory?

I did that recently. I remembered what God had done for me during that dreadful episode of my life when my eyesight closed in.

Here’s what happened.

I sat at the kitchen counter, wrinkled tissue in hand. I thought I had no more tears to cry. But they still flowed. With no warning, an incurable retinal disease robbed my eyesight. I sank in a dark pit of gloom and desperation. With no treatment surgery or medication available, hope vanished along with my motivation to continue with life.

At 31, that life had turned upside down, tormenting thoughts about my inability to care for my 3-, 5-, and 7-year-old sons kept me awake at night.

I dabbed my tears with the edge of my pillow case and asked God for answers. I begged Him to heal my blindness and for a hint of hope to come back.

He answered. He granted what was important. And He did so in an unexpected and a beautiful way.

One morning, I ran my fingertips along the side of the bed to find my way out of my bedroom. I followed the wall toward my 3-year-old’s room. His whimper echoed in the hallway. “I can’t find my puppy,” he said.

Once in his room, I extended my arms toward him, and kissed his chubby cheek. “We’ll find him.”

I lifted his blanket and my fingers found the soft stuffed animal.

But finding a simple item didn’t compare to the needs my sons would have as they grew up. They needed a Mom who could see.

Lord, help us, I prayed.

God had listened to my cry.

The day after that incident, Mom came to visit. She sat beside me on the couch. “This is what we’ll do,” she said. “I’ll move in with you.”

She squeezed my hand with her thin fingers. “I’ll be your eyes.”

Mom

Her words caressed my heart with gratitude.

She left her comfortable condo and moved in a room in our house. With her loving flexibility, we established a routine. Years swept by. Her hair is now snow white, and at 90 lbs. and 4’9” tall, her love is as big as the city we live in.

Selfless Love

More than taking on some chores for the family, she taught me the value of selfless love.

She just turned 91 and hasn’t lost the spark in her voice that exudes confidence in the Lord. It’s more evident now as we face the current circumstances that shake our world.

Her mind is sharp, and her faith is strong. Her trust, peace and joy remain.

And what remains in my heart is the desire to give that same gift to my own sons. In the midst of adversity could I imitate my Mom and live out Philippians 4:6?

My prayer has changed. Asking for healing of my blindness isn’t my main priority anymore. I placed these requests before the Lord instead:

Lord, grant me enough faith so my sons can see me praising God even when all falls apart. Help me to express gratitude for big and small things. Show me, Lord, how to erase fear and worry with my words that echo Your promises even when I cannot see tomorrow, will you show me how to embrace Your peace for today. And as my sons grow up and lead their own families, will You remind them life is not about seeing our surroundings, but allowing others to see the love in us.

I pray this Mother’s Day you find happiness in the gift of being a mom.

How can you find a way to change a prayer of despair into one filled with hope?

Janet

______________________________________

Did you know I wrote a book filled with words of encouragement, uplifting thoughts and illustrations of real-life triumph to empower you? Its title, Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life. You can get it HERE.

CLICK HERE for a one-minute inspirational video.

Looking for a speaker for your upcoming event? A great speaker makes the difference between a so-so event and one that shines with impact. I invite you to view one of my two-minute videos HERE.

Please share: Feel free to share Janet’s posts with your friends.

Janet Eckles Perez

Some say she should be the last person to be dancing. Her life is summarized in this 3-minute video: http://bit.ly/1a8wGJR

Janet Perez Eckles’ story of triumph is marked by her work as an international speaker, #1 best-selling author, radio host, personal success coach and master interpreter. Although blind since 31, her passion is to help you see the best of life.

www.janetperezeckles.com

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Life During Covid-19 Part 11

8 May

Another Sunday Drive

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Before I begin to recount my week, let me say that Thursday was a beautiful Florida day. The temperature didn’t move out of the 70s and there was a nice breeze. These days are rare in May and I savored it.

Sunday began as usual during this pandemic. I woke earlier than the family as I wanted to catch one of our local churches 8:15 am service. It’s very contemporary and I don’t think I would enjoy being in attendance at the service, but I do enjoy the pastor’s messages and I admire how the church serves our community.

My husband wasn’t feeling the best so we didn’t make any plans for the rest of the day. The milkweed our daughter planted last year had been visited by caterpillars this spring. We think Sunday was the coming out day of a beautiful monarch. According to fellow blogger, Melody Hendrix, a newly emerged butterfly will remain motionless on a leaf as it drys its new wings. Rebekah was able to get a beautiful photo.

Rebekah’s gardenia bush is blooming and was visited as well.

Late in the afternoon, my husband perked up and we decided to explore Peacock’s Pocket, a road in the marsh that we missed last week. The road was a lot wider and less rough than last week…at least in the beginning.

This drive took us quite close to Kennedy Space Center and we had several views of the VAB-Vehicle Assembly Building, where spacecraft from Mercury to the space shuttles were processed.

Peacock’s Pocket road ended at the Indian River with a wide turn around area. Several people were fishing and one family complete with a dog had set up a canopy for shade and were hanging out together.

We have lived near the banks of the Indian River with its view of the space center for 49 years and I haven’t tired of it. I appreciate the blending of nature and space technology.

We couldn’t end the drive without a father/daughter photo. The sun was shining in their faces and I was not their favorite person at that moment. I think my husband has decided to not shave until the travel restrictions are lifted!

Monday our daughter received an email announcing the opening of one of her favorite shops. She needed a throw rug for the kitchen floor she and her father had installed and was happy to get the news. I went along to the store as well as her decor consultant. Since it is a small store, I wore a mask and armed myself with hand sanitizer.

And that pretty much sums up my week’s outings except for Wednesday grocery shopping. For reading, I finished a cheesy Regency audio book ( my antidote to the toxic political climate) and started book two in a mystery series written by a local author. I’ve begun a new evening devotional read titled, Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson, The 40 Day Prayer Challenge. I had been wanting to read it for quite some time. I am on day 8 and am enjoying the insights on prayer.

I would like to wish a happy Mother’s Day to each of the moms out there and if your mother is alive, cherish her and make he feel special. Trust me, you will miss her more than you can imagine when she is gone.

I'm a winnerAfter my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience.  Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites,  Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix

In addition to blogging, I work as the publicist/marketer/ amateur editor and general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  where we frequently host the best in up and coming authors.

My 2019 goal is to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media. You can visit Real Life Books and Media You Tube Channel if you would like to view some of the mini-videos I have created for our church, Gateway Community in Titusville, Fl.

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