10 Jan

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Reblogged 1/10/2020

1

Come Home It’s Supper Time

 

Seeking:
Father God, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, I hunger and thirst for familiarity with you.

Finding:
My Beloved Child,
Come home. I smooth your path by removing the rocks, grading the gravel, and filling the ruts. I take down gates that block your way to Me. I open trails so that you may experience the good things I have laid out for you along the way.
I give you peace. I fulfil all my promises. I never give up on you. I support you so that you will never give up on Me.
Stay on the path I created for you. Check directional signs and walk at a steady pace. Do not rush and hurry, instead let me give you my rhythm and keep you steady.
I bless the generations coming after you so they will know Me in ways I’ve never been known before.
You are my own people. My arms are open to you and to any friends you want to bring along. I provide light, fresh air, food and water. I have a place of rest for you. I will save them and preserve you forever.

 

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Memories Made for Savoring

9 Jan

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Thursday and Friday are my days to post announcements and a daily Scripture verse to our North Carolina Facebook page.  Since we have taken masses of photos of the mountains during vacations over the years, I have begun trying to choose pictures of the area rather than the free photos on Pixabay.

The scripture for today is Luke 14:23

And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

Today as I was scrolling through 2011 photos thinking surely I have photos of highways and hedges, I found pictures of a day trip we took with our grandchildren and son. 

In the summer we tried to go on an “adventure” once or twice per month. This particular day we had lunch in a picnic area with rugged stone tables, then embarked on a slow one way drive through the unpaved Heintooga Round-Bottom road. When we first discovered this drive, one drove over there stream on a concrete ford. In later years a bridge to cross the stream was built. We preferred the crossing but I am sure it was often a problem during heavy rains and runoff.

Description from the website.


This beautiful driving trail descends from the high altitudes of the Balsams down into the coves of Roundbottom and Cherokee. The road is accessible from the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Cherokee entrance of the Park. Continue all the way up to the mountaintop. Make a left turn at the Balsam Mountain Campground sign and continue until the paved road dead ends just beyond the campground. This is a one-way road so once you start there is no turning back. The first fourteen miles are bumpy, winding, and sometimes steep. When you come out of the woods, it looks like the road dead ends into the water. Actually, you drive right through the water on a concrete ford. Park here, take your shoes off, and enjoy the cool mountain water! From this point it’s a two way gravel road back to Cherokee. When you dead end into Big Cove Road take a left turn to go to Cherokee!

It was a good day filled with fun and laughter. Our “grands” are grown now and I miss those days but I am thankful for the memories. I savor them. Time passes quickly and circumstances change. Take every opportunity to make memories with loved ones and friends.

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My 2019 Great Lakes Road Trip Part 12B

8 Jan

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Day 12 – Saturday August 3 (Continued)

Now I headed some 85 miles southeast on SR-163/US-63 to visit the Airpower Museum located in Ottumwa, IA.  I found that the Airpower Museum is actually several miles west of Ottumwa, at the Antique Airfield which is near Blakesburg, IA.  The museum is housed in a small building with aviation displays, artifacts and memorabilia dating from the early 1900s.  There is also a single small hanger adjacent to the museum building that contains several airplanes in various stages of repair or restoration.

For some of you mini-series buffs, Ottumwa happens to be the hometown of the TV series “M*A*S*H” character “Radar.”  This loveable character played the part of MASH 4077’s company clerk, and pretty much ran the outfit, until he was shipped home and replaced by another MASH character “Max Klinger.”  I was one of millions of Americans who laughed their way thru 11 fun-filled seasons with all of the MASH 4077 characters.

Description: Image result for how long was the tv series mash?
Photo credit Fanpop.com

Next I headed northeast on US-63/SR-92/22 to visit the Old Capital Museum located in Iowa City, IA. This museum is housed in what originally was the Iowa’s second Territorial Capital building.  The first Iowa Territorial Capital was actually established in Detroit, MI as part of the Wisconsin Territory (1834-1838).  The first Iowa Capital Building was in Burlington, IA (1839-1841), the second was Iowa City (1841-1849), and the third was Des Moines (1849-present).  When the capital of Iowa was moved to Des Moines, the Old Capital Building became the first permanent building of the University of Iowa.  The university has expanded over the years, and the museum now sits on a hill in the middle of a four-block park-like area (the Pentacrest) of the University of Iowa campus.  The museum displays many exhibits, artifacts and memorabilia related to the early history of the capital building, the university, and the state of Iowa from as far back as the mid-1800s. 

Since I was going to spend the night there in Iowa City, I just had to take the time to check out the site of what is said to be the World’s Largest Wooden Nickel.  Measuring 12’ across and tipping the scale at 4000 pounds, this unique wooden monument is said to have been erected in 2006 as a protest against Johnson county officials’ decision to raise speed limits in the area.  The half-dollar size wooden nickel I have at home is a joke, but this roadside Icon seems like a good example of a non-violent protest to me.

Description: Image result for world's largest wooden nickel
Photo Credit https://www.flickr.com/photos/alan-light

Now it was time for Greta (my Garmin) to take me to the motel there in Iowa City.  After I got checked in at the motel, I headed over to Jimmy Jack’s Rib Shack for a plate of their delicious (falling-off-the-bone tender) St. Louis Ribs with baked beans, cole slaw, and a slice of their homemade honey-butter cornbread.  Boy was that YUMMMY!  This was a meal to remember, and the best thing about it is, I will be remembering it again tomorrow evening.

Photo Credit jimmy jacks rib shack in iowa city

—–To Be Continued—–

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Waiting for the Library to Open

7 Jan

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Nerds of the World Unite.

At eight fifty in the morning

Before the Library Opens

People gather silently, one by one,

 To stand and wait:

Man in tee-shirt, woman in pony tail,

Care giver in scrubs,

 Grandfather and child.

Let us ring around the rosy and be merry, 

“Here we stand like birds in the wilderness,

Waiting for our food.”

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Happy New Year 2020

5 Jan

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

I can hardly believe that another year has passed by – and it’s 2020 already!!  Remember all the “hoopla” that was made over Y2K (year 2000)?  None of that came to pass, and now it is 20 years past that!!  Amazing.  My life is whizzing by!  And this year marks 20 years since I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  WOW!

In thinking of the new year, many random thoughts have come to my mind.  I would like to share some of them.

I wrote a post on December 29, 2013 (Memories of New Years Past) about the “watchnight” service that was held each New Year’s Eve at my home church in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Lovely memory of home.

First Baptist Church, Albuquerque credit Google Search

Another memory of New Year’s Eve watchnight service was when Fred and I were in Wiesbaden, Germany.  That New Year’s Eve, the little church we were in was having a watchnight service, and they wanted to do a skit.  They needed an “old year” grownup, and a “new year” young child.  They asked Fred to be the old year, and since our Karen was small, they thought she would be good for the “new year” child.  Fred had a fake white beard and wig to wear.  So as not to frighten Karen, we had Fred dress up in the wig and beard and then present himself to her.  She took one look at him and said, “Hi Daddy.”  So much for the disguise!  We were quite amused.  

Our church in Seaford, Virginia always had some type of watchnight service.  It wasn’t as elaborate as the one in Albuquerque – I don’t remember having a dinner or movie or games or anything.  But we did gather and prayed, shared thoughts for the new year, and frequently had the Lord’s Supper, or communion, as some call it.  Another sweet memory.  I do remember that the year Karen and Brian married (on December 30), that as we were sharing thoughts, I shared that I would have to learn to keep my mouth shut and be a good mother-in-law!

Seaford Baptist Church, Seaford, Virginia – oldest buildings

And that brings us to Orlando, Florida, where we now live. 

Because Fred and I have had such good memories of watchnight services throughout our lives, we wanted to have a service at our current church.  We really thought most churches have a service of some sort, so the first year we were in our church here, we suggested to the pastor that the church have a watchnight service.  He wasn’t very enthusiastic about it, saying they had never had one before, but if we wanted to sponsor it, he approved.  And so we spread the word, that the church would have a watchnight service, beginning at 10:30 p.m. on that New Year’s Eve.  We arrived at the church at about 10:15 p.m. and got the church ready for the service.  And we waited….and we waited….and we waited….11:00 p.m. came and went…..11:30 p.m. came and went.  And not one other person arrived.  So we went home.  And we’ve not attempted to have another watchnight service in this church since.  In a way, that hurts our hearts a bit, but then, we are now older, and enjoy being at home – and usually in bed asleep – when the clock hits 12:00 midnight each New Year.

I hope and pray that your new year is healthy and prosperous and full of the JOY OF THE LORD!

And so – HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020 from the Wills family!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

If you believe in miracles, why are you still blind?

4 Jan

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Reblogged January 4 2020

This isn’t the first time someone has asked me this question. When I write about the power of God’s miracles. When I speak on the faith we must have in His miraculous healing, why then do I still have no sight?

The question seems logical and obvious. My answer: God has healed me. And no, it’s not manifested yet. It may not be until I enter heaven.

But while here on earth, the issue is that we as flawed, limited-minded folks have expectations that mirror our human notion of what a miracle should be.

How God Heals

Luke 4 details Jesus’ healing of many, instantly and completely. He healed them from physical and mental disorders. He healed the blind. And I am among them. Though my physical vision didn’t come back, what God allowed me to see reaches far beyond the physical.

What I see is His grace that covers me when life turns dark. What I see is His hand at work when I run into walls of opposition. What I see clearly is His compassion when I fall into the ditch of my mistakes. And He gave me 20/20 vision to see His forgiving nature when I don’t deserve it. And what I can’t help but see is His promise for a future rich with His ever-lasting love.

So, has God healed me? A resounding yes. But we, human minded, with limited vision only see the miracle according to our limited expectations.

I admit it; initially, that was my expectation, too. I prepared for one day to wake up and have full sight. Had that happened, I would have danced with gratitude, and from the rooftops proclaimed the miracle. But that euphoria would have waned in time. And I might have gone back to being the same young woman, looking for fulfillment, searching for a way to feel whole and seeking the richness of life.

God Knows Best

God knew, that’s why He restored my spiritual vision. And now nearly 30 years later, I still see that abundance is not found in possessing physical sight, or enjoying the ability to walk, to live in a cancer-free body, or to enjoy a sharp mind.

The richness of life is found in spite of our limited abilities, recognizing the limitless power of God at work.

He’s at work in your life right now, too. He may be preparing a miracle, not in the way you expect, but beyond. He may have the answer but different and better than you hoped.

And as we wait, here are five truths to consider;

  1. Our expectations have a limited realm; His delivery has a profound result.
  2. Jesus didn’t come to heal only physical ailments, but to uphold His promise to renew our soul.
  3. When we’re afraid, Jesus was born so our fear could die.
  4. Our worry vanishes in the wonder of His promises.
  5. If we seek God first, we don’t have to look for miracles, they’re all before us.

Knowing these truths, we don’t need new year resolutions, God gave the solutions: faith in what He does, trust in what He says, and hope in what we yet don’t see.

Let’s pray:

Father, I praise You for knowing what I long for more than I do. You see what I need more than me, and when I think I’m asking for something good, you give me the best. In Jesus name.

What miracle did you overlook lately?

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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A Great Light

3 Jan

Meditation Musings

DiVoran Lites

Reblogged from Rebekah Lyn Books

Painting by DiVoran Lites
Painting by DiVoran Lites

Beloved,

Look what is happening! A great delight has come into your life. Once you lived in a shadowed land. Now you have a light to guide you. You have a right to ask for help. You have the amazing counselor, the one and only God, the loving Father, the Prince of Peace, the host of wholeness living inside of you. Angel armies hover all around taking care of you. You no longer have any need to worry. I have made my home in your life. From here, we go along together, forever.

Your heavenly Father,

Isaiah 9:6-7

His Banner Over Me is Love

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My Always Resolution

2 Jan

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

We had an exciting New Year’s Eve. We met our daughter in Orlando and went shopping at Ikea. We were home by 6:30 pm and in our PJs by 8:30. Then I spent the rest of the evening listening to sporadic fireworks.

The pop, bang and sizzle of the fireworks reminded me of New Years Eve, 1974. That was the night this inexperienced and nervous mother brought her first child home from the hospital. She had been fussy all afternoon and into the evening. When she finally fell asleep I blew out a sigh of relief. Unfortunately the relief lasted for maybe an hour. Then the fireworks began and you guessed it….they woke her up and she was up for hours, or so it seemed. Hmm… she never became a good sleeper. Coincidence?

Did you make some new resolutions for 2020? I use the term new because sometimes we seem to recycle the same ones year after year. That can be depressing.

I didn’t make a single one. I could have chosen to lose more weight, begin an exercise program or read more non fiction, all good things, but also guilt producing if I failed. Many years ago one of my Bible teachers gave each lady in her group a tiny easel with a verse chosen for them. It has become one of my life verses.I think I’ll stick with it as my always resolution.




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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My 2019 Great Lakes Road Trip Part 12A

1 Jan

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Day 12 – Saturday August 3

My first museum this morning was the John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum there in Waterloo, IA.  This is a large museum filled with tractors, all kinds of farm equipment, and engines of all types and sizes dating from the mid-1800s.  Starting with his first steel farm plow design in 1837, John Deere improved his plow and farm equipment designs, and expanded his company, to include farm tractors beginning in 1907.  The company has continued to grow and expand its product line, over the years, to include all types of farming and harvesting equipment.  In 2019 the company was listed as being ranked the 87th American company in the Fortune 500 list.

Before leaving Waterloo, I swung by the Grout Museum to see what it was all about.  This small museum honors the military service and sacrifice of all Iowa veterans from the Civil War to the present.  The museum has an impressive display honoring the five Sullivan brothers, who hailed from Waterloo, and who were all sailors on the USS Juneau (CL-52) during WWII.  Unfortunately their ship was sunk during the Battle of Guadalcanal in November of 1942 with the loss of 687 crew members, including all five Sullivan brothers.

The story goes that at the time, a standing naval policy was in effect restricting siblings from serving in the same unit.  However, the Sullivan brothers had refused to serve (I don’t know how they got away with that) unless they were all assigned to the same ship, and the policy was overlooked by their commanders.  Following this family tragedy, the U.S. Navy was mandated to strictly inforce the policy for all siblings.  

Now I headed southwest on U.S. 63/30/65 to visit the State of Iowa Historical Museum located in Des Moines, IA.  This museum’s Historical Collection of over 80,000 items includes artifacts, memorabilia, and displays, related to the state of Iowa dating from the early 1900s.  These items are housed in the large State of Iowa Historical Building, along with the State Historical Library Collection and the State Historical Archives Collection.  Way too much for me to see in one visit.

As I was passing thru Des Moines, on my way to the next museum, I drove by the Iowa State Capital Building and decided to stop for a photo of this beautiful edifice.  I’ve learned that the building’s location in Des Moines was the third location considered for the Iowa State Capital after Iowa City and Monroe City.   The building was constructed between 1871 & 1886, and is the only 5-domed capital building in the U.S.  The building houses offices for Iowa’s Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, and Auditor, as well as the State Senate and State House of Representatives.

—–(This day’s activities will be continued next week)—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 61 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.  

Bill  

One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is:  John 10:10

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A Florida Christmas

30 Dec

My Take

DiVoran Lites

According to legend the explorer Ponce de Leon discovered the Fountain of Youth as a spring near what is now DeLand, Florida. Each day a million gallons of water surge from deep caverns, fill the pool and make a wide stream that runs into the St. Johns River. DeLeon believed that if you swam in the spring you would live forever. It may be true, although DeLeon only lived to age 45, Bill and I are still kickin’ and my mother, who swam in it when she was eighty lived to be ninety. She took great joy in believing, even though she didn’t particularly want to live forever, which is probably wise. 

I’m so fond of that place that I decided to use it for the setting of my first novel, “Sacred Spring.” It is a place which is full of history.

This year we decided to go to the Old Mill Pancake house for our special Christmas. We customers sit at long tables. Each table has a griddle in the middle upon which to cook pancakes and eggs. The waitress brings crisp bacon and savory sausage. It’s hard to choose from the half dozen syrups. Everything tastes as delicious as ever. 

We have six members of the immediate family and sorely miss the other two of our immediate family of eight. We talk and laugh about things that had happened over the decades and told family stories that our 27-year-old grandson has never heard. He and his uncle had a brief discussion about computers since both are involved in them at work. Too soon we feel we should give up our table for the many people who are crowding in at the door. 

What should we do now? Our son’s choice is a four-mile hike. That will be puny for him and overwhelming for me. Fortunately, it is still cold and a light rain falls.  Outside, we stand under an eave and talk about trying to find a place where we can sit and talk…maybe a mall with tables somewhere. We couldn’t come up with anything so we get in our cars and head south. We are an hour and fifteen minutes away from our home and a bit more for our daughter and her husband. Our son’s house is half an hour from where we were. As we tootle along I have a serendipitous thought. Why not go there? I call him and he says, “Yes, do come to my house.” I call the car behind us, and our daughter said they could come too. 

When we walk in it is sad to realize once again that those two are not with us as they have been for so many years. Somebody wants coffee and the coffee choices appear. Some want hot chocolate which is hard to find ingredients for. Finally, they appear tiny-mini chocolate chips, milk, cardamom and cinnamon and leftover syrup from Cracker-Barrel. I tend the increasingly chocolate milk spoon a sample and sigh. Just right! 

Our host asks if we’d like to have a fire in the fire-place…lovely thing for a sharp-aired, rainy day. The flicker of the fire and the smell of the burning wood remind us of camping trips of old. The ancient red dog of our grandchildren’s childhood follows us wherever we go. No-one turns on a TV or sits down to hide behind their phones. The daughter fiddles with getting the best picture with the finest background possible.

And now it is time to call the away ones…our grand-daughter and her mother who complete our circle. Both work currently in what to us are far away places. Son made the conference call and all eight of us had time together as we have for so many years. It was wonderful to talk with them. Finally, it was time to get in our cars and head on down south.

Author, Poet and Artist

DiVoran has been writing for most of her life. Her first attempt at a story was when she was seven years old and her mother got a new typewriter. DiVoran got to use it and when her dad saw her writing he asked what she was writing about. DiVoran answered that she was writing the story of her life. Her dad’s only comment was, “Well, it’s going to be a very short story.” After most of a lifetime of writing and helping other writers, DiVoran finally launched her own dream which was to write a novel of her own. She now has her Florida Springs trilogy and her novel, a Christian Western Romance, Go West available on Amazon. When speaking about her road to publication, she gives thanks to the Lord for all the people who helped her grow and learn.  She says, “I could never have done it by myself, but when I got going everything fell beautifully into place, and I was glad I had started on my dream.”

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