Today I went shopping.  It was the kind of shopping for which there were coupons sent in the mail and advertisements of "clearance sales".....so, off I went.  During one of my stops, the outlet of stores I frequent has now put on display an extremely large United States Flag....we're talking mammoth proportions.  As I drove towards the flag I simply couldn't take my eyes off the sight of the red, white and blue waving against the blue sky.  There's just something about the flag of the United States waving in the wind!  A word that seeps into my mainframe when I view it's magnificence is freedom! 

The lives that have been lost in wars to protect and provide freedom for all its citizens to keep that flag waving over our heads are numerous.  And the lives that continue to be given for the honor of this country to maintain our safety are reaching staggering proportions.  As I exited my car I stood looking up at that grand symbol.  Fifty states represented by its stars and the first thirteen colonies emblazoned in its stripes waving proudly for all to see that although imperfect, this country and its people maintain liberty.  We're a country other people try to emulate and others try to suffocate; but the fact remains, we are a democracy.  America was founded on a search for freedom and built on the solid foundation of belief in God. The American Flag....it continues to hold its head high as soldiers at attention and as veterans remember from days gone by.  May it forever wave until Jesus returns to take us home....let freedom ring!  God bless!

Hi, my friends.  Well, I worked yesterday....subbing at the high school.  It was a good day with teenagers and nice to be back with my teacher co-workers.  However, those 5:30 a.m. wake up calls are getting tougher now that I've tasted the retirement schedule!  This morning I awaken at 8:00 a.m....that's fast becoming my new "speed"....

We are getting ready for Gary's retirement party on Saturday night.  We are anxiously awaiting the dinner and the opportunity to visit with friends that span Gary's career with the Federal Government.  Isn't it wonderful to renew older acquaintenances and remember times gone by?  I'm beginning to think that's part of the beauty of the retirement phase.  You begin to remember and reflect on the good times and the pivotal people who participated in those adventures of life.  Hopefully, that means the old VCR recordings of the family will be updated into DVDs and order will be given to the mountains of pictures we have taken for the past thirty years!

As a note to my participants of the Bucket List Bible Study...the updates for the website are hopefully going to be posted later today.  It will give more specifics on how the study will work.  I am hoping you will click in and see the buzz and maybe join us for feasting at the table on God's manna!  God bless!

Gary and I have begun walking at our local Rec Center.  Since it is a small track it takes ten trips to reach one mile.  Sort of reminds me of gerbels on a wheel....round and round we go without really covering much ground!  However, during the winter months it provides safer footing than my beloved trail that is currently experiencing patches of snow and ice.  So we set the watch for one hour and began to walk.

Much observation occurs during these daily exercise periods since our little track is elevated above the main gym floor.  We've watched Zumba classes, basketball games of various ages and sexes, children playing with all types of play equipment and volleyball.  It makes the time go much quicker and it's interesting to be perched above the action.  

Today, however, the township maintenance crew was attempting to change the ceiling lights and replace all the burned out bulbs.  In order to accomplish this goal half of the lights needed to be turned off for obvious reasons.  One end of the mini-track was darkened and the other half was well-lit.  I imagine you can read between the lines of where this is going.  

Light is important....not only does it enable us to see where we're going, but it does much more for us emotionally and mentally.  Sunshine is extremely important to those of us living in Pittsburgh this time of year.  We go sometimes for days with overcast skies and no sunshine.  It works on you after a while.  Scientifically, individuals need Vitamin D to live healthy lives....the sun provides this element.  Even today with all the gloom outside my windows, if the sun were to break through I'd immediately feel an uplift to my spirit.

The Light of the World has come to bring us an emotional and spiritual high.  Jesus Christ is the Light, the warmth, the Bright and Morning Star which our created bodies crave.  I wouldn't be able to survive in a climate of darkness...I need the light.....I need the sun.....I need Jesus Christ.  What about you, my friends?  God bless!  

This has been a great weekend.  On Saturday, Kimberly and I met and attended a niece's baby shower.  It was fun being with the family and exclaiming over all the beautiful baby clothes and amazing baby items made for infants today.  Kimberly and I then headed for her home in Ohio as the family got together for yet another celebratory dinner honoring Gary's retirement.  It was a lovely dinner at Brasso's....if you've never been there...go!  There is a small circle that is placed on your table that is red in color.  When you are ready for the parade of fourteen different meats to be brought and carved at your table for your consumption, then flip the circle to green. 

I've never seen nor tasted so many different kinds of meats.  Parmesan crusted sirloin, top sirloin, lamb, chicken, ham...you name it.  Of course, I couldn't sample all fourteen, but it was definitely an experience in dining.  We so enjoyed being together....I think all this bonding since Hawaii has enabled us to maybe go back to Maui and all live together as three teachers, a banker and a retired guy selling coconut juice!  I'm game!

But this week we prepare for Gary's retirement dinner that is being given by his former employees on Saturday night. It will be a night of reflection and joy as various individuals attend the dinner that will span the more than three decades of Gary's employment.  Out of the 33 1/2 years of his work life, I've been around for almost 31 of those years!  It's been quite a ride and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. 

However, I think we're both getting ready for the big diet phase starting February 1st.  Our stomachs are crying for Weight Watchers and of course, sunshine and warmer temps!  God bless, my friends.  Please pray for little Kaylee Wooster....she has been diagnosed with a hole in her heart.  I'm sure God is taking care of closing that little space, but please pray for her and her family!

Today as I was checking out the vegetables at our local grocery store, one of the employees was tearing off the loose cabbage leaves and throwing them into a discard box.  One of the patrons came up to him and asked if the cabbage leaves were being thrown out or saved for other purposes.  The employee replied that the leaves were being discarded.  As I passed by the box I thought, this is incredible.  I should contact Franklin Graham or someone and tell them that a bunch of people could be fed several days with the vegetables being discarded in only one of the grocery stores in western Pennsylvania! 

Upon further probing by the patron the employee explained that the leaves were once given to someone, but that individual became ill and the store went through quite an ordeal so now the excess is discarded.  I became appalled and saddened.  What type of society have we become?  What would have happened if Ruth had not been allowed to glean the fields after the workers had completed their task for the day?  She and a lot of other individuals would have starved....but the kindness of Boaz gave many out of work and down on their luck the chance to feed themselves and their families.  Are we doing all we can to help Americans stay fed during these hard economic times?  Instead of blaming the politicians, let's get out there and find the surplus being thrown out each and every day and aid the homeless, hungry and those who are suddenly finding themselves without a job and/or benefits to stay fed.  I think that would make Jesus very, very happy.  God bless, my friends.

If you have an idea relating to the information in this blog, please share it as a comment.  If we work together this can become a reality!  

Okay, so the title is a familiar comment my grandmother used to sing when we would return from a trip.  That "trip" might include a quick run to the grocery store, but "Tata" (my nickname for Grandma) would sing the jingle anyway.  I felt the same way when Gary and I drove into the garage this afternoon....home sweet home never looked so good!
The next best thing....sleeping tonight in my very own bed!

Hope all of you are enjoying this Friday....I'm still wondering why the sun shines brightly in other areas of the country and seems to overlook western Pennsylvania, but I will look forward to feeling the sun on my face soon.  God bless, my friends!  Happy, happy birthday to my niece, Cherie!!!

Hi my friends....well, we have driven the nine hours, complete with four stops and have finally arrived in Hermitage, PA,  It's been a long day, but the highlight of the day was hearing from my dear friend, Cathy and to receive a picture on my phone of her new granddaughter, Kaylee Ann!  Kaylee was born this morning at 10:20 a.m. and she is a doll!  Kaylee has a big brother, Wesley David and her mom, Shelly, is my daughter, Kimberly's age.  It seems like yesterday when Cathy and I gave birth to these girls and now they are moving on in the natural stages of life.

So that's about all the news for today. God blessed us with a great day of travel and we're almost home.  I will be so happy to get back to 113 Thomas Road tomorrow and to sleep in my own bed tomorrow night....oh. the small pleasures of life!  Also, Jan, Dave and Billie have safe travels to Winston-Salem and give my best to Jeff!  God bless, my friends!

As you know, Gary and I are currently on a trip with approximately 50 senior citizens in Atlantic City.  It's been a real eye-opener, to say the least.  Simply put, I have learned that I'm not ready to join the legions of AARP groups traveling great distances on tour buses.  I have eaten more food in the past 48 hours than one stomach can hold because of free coupons and we must not let them go to waste!  Seniors are delightful, but they are serious about getting their money's worth and using all freebies they have been awarded.

Having experienced retirement for many years, seniors are carefree, stress-free and enjoy gathering as a group to share their latest adventures.  They are proud grandparents and great-grandparents and many are widows and widowers using these tours as a time to escape the loneliness of finding themselves single again.  Among our group are several veterans who proudly wear caps and sweatshirts that proclaim their patriotism of this grand nation of America and oh, the stories they can tell.  There is probably a history book of information traveling on this tour that would be shared if only asked!

So tomorrow morning we will gather and mount the tour bus and head home.  Fifty-two of us, approximately four stops and nine hours later we'll hopefully be pulling into the parking lot in Hermitage, PA.  It's been a privilege to experience the life of a group of seniors for several days.  Gary and  Tomorrow I'd like to share an unexpected surprise I encountered on this trip.  I wanted to hear from God while on this trip and He never ceases to amaze me!  God bless, my friends!  

Gary and I are currently in Atlantic City....a trip we had promised to take with Gary's mom and a bus full of senior citizens.  It's different to climb on a bus on a Monday morning (a regular work day) and head out of town.  What's more...we are with a bunch of senior citizens...of which we are fast becoming! 

Traveling for hours on a bus with seniors is an eye-opener.  Gary doesn't usually stop while we are traveling unless your bladder is almost bursting.  Senior citizens have stops every 90 minutes in order not to fill up the "pottie" on the bus.  At each of these stops they usually obtain some sort of snack.  Do you know how long it takes to unload and load an entire bus of 52 people??? 

The activities on the bus are endless...movies, games, toot-a-roots (if you've never seen or heard of this it is a toilet paper roll that is used as a musical instrument while other music is being played...each individual receives one of these paper objects for their playing pleasure) and eating.....lots of eating and snacking.

At one point as I looked over at Gary and saw him playing his "toot-a-root" I thought....where in the world are we headed on this journey of retirement???  At least the stress has lessened, the rest is returning and we're laughing a lot more.....it can't be all that bad, right?  God bless you all, my friends....I'm looking for an opportunity of witness this week.....one example:  a young woman who reads palms called out to me and asked if I'd like her to do a reading for me.  I smiled and replied that God does all my readings....I think I surprised her!

Hey friends....Gary and I are heading out of town tomorrow for several days.  We are accompanying his mom on a tour bus going to Atlantic City.  Yes, Atlantic City....it was good to hear our pastor talk about sometimes we are called to be a witness in places we would normally not plan on visiting.  So I'm planning on writing and blogging from Atlantic City this week.  I'm praying for opportunities of witness and spreading some "good news" to those I come in contact with this week.

So, I ask that you pray for me as I journey this week.  May lives be touched, not because I happen to be in Atlantic City, but because I was a vessel God used for His glory!  God bless, my friends,.