Stressful or Stressfree

6 Dec

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

author of Window Wonders


The answer is in our attitude-
is how we view our life.
Do you let small things bother you?
That only leads to strife!
The proof is "in the pudding".
It doesn't happen overnight.
I, too, let things bother me-
That's why my hair is white!
Why did it take so long, Lord,
to recognize the need?
The Bible has the answers.
It is Your Word we need to read.
We all treasure love letters-
Their words we hide in our heart.
The Bible is God's love letter to us.
From His love He will never depart!

Deuteronomy 4:31 “For the Lord, thy God, is a merciful God. He will not forsake thee nor destroy thee.”

1 Chronicles 28:20 “And David said to Solomon, his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it.Fear not, nor be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God will be with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.”

Hebrews 13:5 “Let your manner of life be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have, for He hath said, I will never leave you or forsake you.”

P.S.  God honors His word even above His name.

Throwback Thursday

5 Dec

My Take

Onisha Ellis

On Facebook and Twitter, Thursdays have become “Throw Back Thursday. People post old photos of themselves, their family or places with fond memories. Then there is the Facebook page, You Grew Up In…. There is a lot of nostalgia going on, I wonder why that is?

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My thoughts linger on the past, remembering all my loved ones who have moved to heaven. I miss them and remembering makes me feel close to them. Sometimes I look back on my life with regret, wishing I had make better choices and been wiser but I am also thankful for how far I have come and the sure knowledge that even when I was distant from Him, God was not distant from me. He was just waiting for me to move forward.

Are we looking to the past, which has a safe, secure feeling because we subconsciously don’t feel secure about the future?  I have always loved Matthew 6:26

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Or as my mother would say, “What do you have a Lord for?”

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Isaiah 40:8

Our Trip to UK~Part 1

4 Dec

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Bill

Our Trip To The UK Part 1

By Bill Lites

 

In the first week in October 1991, DiVoran and I boarded a Delta Airlines L-1011 airplane in Orlando, Florida to begin a three week trip-of-a-lifetime to England, Scotland and Wales.  The occasion of this special trip was to continue our 34th wedding anniversary celebration, which we had started the month before.  We flew from Orlando to Atlanta, and connected with another Delta flight across the “Pond” (Atlantic Ocean) to the London Gatwick airport, just south of London.  What a delightful trip that was.  We were served a magnificent 3-course Filet Mignon dinner, with our choice of wine, and dessert.  After several sleepless hours, we were given hot towels to freshen up with, and then later we were served a wonderful full-course breakfast (Oh, for the good old days).  We landed in a typical English fog and mist, which gave us a taste of what we could look forward to in the way of weather, during our upcoming UK travels.

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The first big surprise was at the rental car office, where I discovered the car we had rented was “stick shift.”  Now, I can handle a normal stick shift transmission here in the U.S. where you drive on the right side of the road, steering with my left hand and shifting with my right hand.  But, since we were now in the UK, where they drive on the left side 2of the road, and steer from the right side of the car; that meant I was going to have to drive with my right hand and shift with my left hand, while trying to keep from hitting a pedestrian or running off the road into a ditch.  Are you beginning to get the picture?  All this, while trying to read the road signs and dealing with the “Round-A-Bout” intersections, that were new to both DiVoran and me.  I was going to have to retrain my brain if we were going to live to see the rest of the UK we had come to visit.  DiVoran and I agreed that she would remind me to stay on the left side of the road every time I started to stray to the right.  Leaving the rental car  agency parking area dumped us right into Charlwood city traffic, so it was white knuckle driving from the “get-go” with DiVoran yelling, “KEEP LEFT” – “KEEP LEFT” at every cross-street and round-a-bout.

By some miracle, we made it out of the Charlwood city area.  Then as we were heading south toward Brighton Beach, the windshield wipers stopped working.  We used one of 3those cool looking red telephone booths to call the rental car agency, who told us we would have to take the car to a Vauxhall dealer in the area to get them fixed.  Great!  Now we had to locate a Vauxhall dealership in a town we knew nothing about, and pray they wouldn’t give us a hassle reserved for “American Tourists.”  As it turned out, we were able to find the Vauxhall dealership without too much trouble, and they fixed the wiper motor, without as much as a, “And where are you from, Yank?”

Since we had arrive at around 8:00 am, and the repairs hadn’t take long, we decided to go ahead and make the short trip to Brighton Beach to check out the Brighton Pavilion & 4Museum there.  The Royal Pavilion was built in three stages, beginning in 1787, as a seaside retreat for George, Prince of Wales, and was not finished until 1822, where it was used as a remote location for the discreet liaisons of the then King George IV.  The Brighton Museum & Art Gallery contains beautiful displays of Art Nouveau, Art Deco furniture and other decorative art.  There are also Sussex area archaeology relics and the history of Brighton.   The Booth Museum of Natural History, the Preston Manor and the Grange Rottingdean are short distances away, but we were getting tired and saved them for another day.

                                   

 

 

—–To Be Continued—–

 

 

 

 

 

 

Listening

2 Dec

My Take

Author, Poet and ArtistDiVoran Lites


 I hear the cardinal's, "Tu-tu-tu."
 I know exactly what he'll do.
 He calls his mate; they build a nest,
 she lays the eggs, and there they rest.

 I hear the chuck-will's widow sing.
 I know her song is praising Spring.
 I listen to her in the night,
 And all my fright takes off in flight.

 I listen to the dove's soft sound
 and sense that peace is all around.
 I'll listen to what God will say
 to me through birds (and you) today.

							

Aunt Jessie~Part 3

1 Dec

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

 

JUDY                                               

 My Aunt Jessie…..

Jessie was born in 1910, and died in 1990.  As you can see, she lived to be 80 years old – one of her goals in life.  As it turns out, she, her sister (my mother), and their mother (my Granny) all THREE died when they were 80 years old!  She had only one sibling, my mother.  I really enjoy these pictures of them as children.

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This one is one of my favorites.  When I showed it to a friend, her comment was, “Look at that – she’s mad as a wet hen, but still has a bow in her hair!”  Seems like Granny liked for her girls to look feminine – with bows in their hair a lot.

 This is also one of my very favorite pictures of Granny, Jessie, and Mother.  Someone must have said something really funny!

 

I’ve mentioned before her love of antiques.  This is an antique drop-leaf table that she treasured.

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For Christmas in 1955, one of her friends “wrought” a tapestry for Jessie that is truly amazing.  She had it framed and hung on the wall between the dining room and living room.  This picture shows just how huge it is!

Jessie had a really unique house in Albuquerque.  This window corner is in the kitchen.  When Granny was alive, she had pots and pots of African Violets in that East window.  She loved to tend to them.12  After she died, and Jessie couldn’t keep them up, she placed some of her knick-knacks and beer steins there, so she could enjoy them.

The upstairs bathroom was a neat room – the tile work 13was fascinating.  Actually this same theme was throughout the house wherever there was tile – kitchen (white with black), downstairs bathroom (green with black), etc.

The wall between the dining room and the living room was a “stair-step” affair, and she used it to advantage.  At Christmas, she would make candles, using waxed cardboard milk cartons.  She would literally whip some of the melted candle wax to make a foamy outer layer, and she would sprinkle sparkles in it before it hardened.  When the candle was burned, it glowed through the foam (and sometimes color) to make a delightful ambiance in the room.  I really loved those candles. (If you look in the background, you can see the “cove” ceiling I mentioned last week)

She had a real talent for decorating.  She loved Christmas and went all out to decorate the house for her – and our – enjoyment.

She was a delightful lady, and I’m glad she was in my life.

Philippians 1:3

 I thank my God every time I remember you.

Counting Our Southern Blessings

30 Nov

As we continue to celebrate and enjoy time with our famiies this Thanksgiving, I thought it would be fun to share a very Southern poem written by my author friend Bonnie Latino. If you are from the South or love the South  feel free to share this~Onisha

BLOG

via Counting Our Southern Blessings. – Venture Galleries.

Use What Talent You Have

29 Nov

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

author of Window Wonders

Don't allow yourself to be intimidated
by the talents of others.
God created you to be unique!
He gave you special gifts of your own-
You are far more talented than you think

We are all actors on the stage of life.
Study the script, my friend.
Notice that even the brevity of parts
doesn't determine the end!

Do your best to honor the Lord-
serve honestly and be fervent.
In the end you'll hear the Master's words,
"Welcome to the joy of the Lord,
good and faithful servant"

Quote by the Rev. Oliver G. Green:
"Use what talents you have-
the woods would have little music
if no birds sang their song
except those who sang best."

I Decided to Change Thanksgiving

28 Nov

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

This year, I decided to change Thanksgiving. Every year since my parents passed away and my Thanksgivingbrother’s chose to not spend the holiday with me, I have mourned, cried, tried denial and even went on a Thanksgiving cruise. Nothing has worked to chase away the Thanksgiving blues.  This year I am changing things up.

First, I am working on my attitude. To be truthful, I have tried this every year and haven’t been successful. I would be fine up to “THE DAY” but would find myself in tears as my heart listened to the echo of years past, of kitchen banter, sharing recipes, children stories and just being family.

Secondly I needed to find something new and challenging on which to place my focus. I decided instead of roasting a whole turkey or even a turkey breast, I would purchase fresh turkey breast in a half-breast size. I chose four; each between two to three pounds and each adult in the family would be responsible for seasoning one. I seized the opportunity to try brining a turkey.  I plan to rub it with poultry seasoning and garlic infused oil before popping it into the roaster. I can’t wait until my son and his wife arrive to find out how they are seasoning theirs. I think the mixture of flavors will make the house smell delicious.

Why am I, a woman who knows she is truly blessed sharing this story? Because very few people have perfect lives. At some point most of us will face sorrow, loss and possibly rejection. This is my way of coping and I wanted you to know that this Thanksgiving I will be praying for you, that your heart will be made whole and maybe you could do the same for me?

 

Update Friday November 29,2013

Thanksgiving was so wonderful I don’t have words to express it. Thank you for your prayers.

One of our turkey breasts was brined with red pepper, garlic powder and peppercorns, one used A1 dry rub and the last one was brushed with rosemary and lemon infused oil. Everyone was eager to test each one. They were all delicious but hands down the brined one was the favorite.

My Southwest Adventure Part 6

27 Nov

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Bill

While I was taking pictures of the VFM’s aircraft, I saw a C-47, painted with D-Day Invasion stripes, fly over a couple of times, and wondered where it was landing and 1taking off from.  I walked down the street a couple of blocks, and came upon the entrance to the AOPA 2013 AirPortFest.  I couldn’t believe my luck!  I ask the people at the gate if there was a fee to enter, and they said “No” so I walked in and spent a couple of hours checking out all the latest in General Aviation aircraft.  What a great show that was!  And of course, that’s where the C-47 was giving rides around Ft. Worth, if you had the price of a ticket.  I didn’t ask.

 2One of the most interesting planes I saw there was actually a glider.  The German built Stemme S10 MotorGlider has a retractable Rotax 914 F2/S1 supercharged flat-four engine in the nose, providing 113.5 hp for takeoff and climb, retractable landing gear, and a range of over 900 nautical miles; all for that special low price of $390,000 (US) when “you” pick it up at the factory in Strausberg, Germany.  Of course, you have to go by yourself as there is only room for the pilot.

The next day, before leaving Ft. Worth, I tried to visit the Hawk Field Flyers R/C Club field, and the Golden Triangle R/C Club field, but they were both closed.  It was Sunday 3morning, and I guess they must have all been at church (?)  So, I drove down to the Ft. Worth Stockyards Station and played the part of a tourist, while taking in the sights.  Most memorable was the video story of the western cattle industry development, how Ft. Worth became the rail yard hub for that industry, and how the cowboy was instrumental in making all that happen.   Then at 11:00, there was the real Longhorn cattle drive down Main Street.  What a sight that was!  Of course, back in the late 1800s, there would have been a lot more than 40 Longhorns running down a dirt street kicking up a lot of dust or mud, depending on the season.

The next day I drove the 35 miles on I-30 into Dallas, TX where I visited the Frontiers of Flight Museum which is located adjacent the Dallas’ Love Field.  Dallas being the headquarters for Southwest Airlines, I guess it’s appropriate for the FOF Museum to use a Southwest Boeing 737, which is nosed halfway into one wing of the museum, and allows you to enter and explore the entire plane.  Quite a novel idea I thought.  Then I made the short 20 mile trip North on U.S. 75, up to Addison, TX where I visited the Cavanaugh Flight Museum.  After that, I drove another 30 miles on the  Dallas’ “Loop” Hiway system over to Denton, TX where I visited the  Hanger 10 Flying Museum.  Luckily, “Gretta” my road Garmin was with me all the way.

 

After a substantial breakfast the next morning (I wasn’t expecting anything but peanuts all day), it was back to Dallas Love Field to turn in my rental car and wait for my Southwest Airlines flight to Houston, TX where I would change planes for Orlando, FL.  During my layover in Houston, I called my friend Leon’s sister, Mary, and had a nice talk with her about my great visit with Leon, and how he was doing. 

Amazingly, most of the people on my flight out of Houston to Orlando were dressed completely different from those on my flight coming the other way just 11 days before.  I didn’t see a single man wearing a 10-gallon hat or a pair of boots.  It was mostly shorts, tee shirts and jeans.  There must be something in the air or the water that makes people dress the way they do, but then that would be a subject for someone a lot smarter than me, and for sure in a different blog.

6I arrived in Orlando in time to take DiVoran to a delicious Baby Back Rib dinner at one of my favorite restaurants before heading home to Titusville, and my own bed.   Have you ever noticed how much better your bed at home feels compared to any motel bed?  It’s just not the same comfort level is it?  At least not for me, it isn’t.  Now don’t get me wrong, I love to travel, visit museums and see the sites, but it’s always nice to get home to the one I love and to my own bed.  So, until next time, enjoy each and every day God gives you and let’s “Keep ‘em Flying.”

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—–The End—–

Rhythm Band

25 Nov

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Author, Poet and ArtistIn our Sunday school class, we have two drums. One is a Remo lollipop drum on a stick. I bought it at a consignment shop. It has a wonderful sound, and is beautiful with red, green, and blue stripes going around its face. I played it one day in church because it went with my bright red top. The other is a frame drum made by the same company. It would remind you of a tambourine with a drum top but no little cymbals. It also has a strong sound. Every Sunday during the Sunday school, but not in church, children play rhythm instruments and sing while the church music mistress plays the keyboard. Bill comes in to sing and pray with us and the assistant teacher is there too.

The two drums are always the first instruments the kids pick up. We have two ankle bracelets with big bells on them, a crow call, a stick tambourine, a wheel thing that makes a nice sound with metal ball chains, two sets of maracas. Something I’ve never seen before that my friend/associate teacher got at a thrift store is a bunch of plastic bubbles on a stem that hit together when you shake it. We have a triangle too. It is metal and has a metal mallet that makes a clear, ringing sound.

The only problem with the drums and crow call is that the ball on the end of the mallet of each gets such a work out that they take to popping off and having to be chased across the floor (not far) and stuck on again. Bill glues them, but the kids are so enthusiastic that they soon come loose again.

It’s fun to see how the newbies are usually at a loss as to how or when to play, but as the weeks pass, they become more and more integrated and sometimes we all play the same tempo and end at the same time. It must do a lot for us to learn to play together that way and to become cooperative and aware. It’s fun anyhow. Rhythm band anyone?

Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered together, there I am in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20

Does that mean even when we’re making a clatter? I believe it does, don’t you?