On Sunday, May 30th, our neighbors, the Abrahams, had a beautiful wedding for their daughter, Alexis.  It was a great occasion as all the neighbors came together once again to celebrate one of our kids' nuptials.  Gary and I have lived on this street for 24 years this July.  Most of our neighbors have been here at least that long or longer.  We have watched as the kids have grown from little people into mature, self-sustaining adults.  Several of the kids have moved away due to jobs following college, but a few are still living in the area. 

Last night we shared our memories of Trick or Treat times when the kids walked up and down the street gathering candy to present day when we don't have one little community person ringing our doorbells due to increased traffic on our road.  We remembered the bride, Alexis, when she was a small girl and her long, bouncy, beautiful dark curls that swayed around her little face as she ran hurriedly towards our house to play with our kids each day. 

We have walked kids to the bus stop, had picnics together, attended graduation parties in our backyards when they graduated from high school and now have started the wedding circuit.  It has been an awesome experience and one I wouldn't have missed for the world.  Our neighbors whom I lovingly refer to as "the street people" are some of the finest  individuals I know and have the pleasure of living next to. 

I have always dreamed of a neighborhood where you could go out your front door and yell out to the individuals that live around you and wave hello....and, fortunately, those individuals are living on Thomas Road in McMurray, PA!  God bless, my friends and enjoy the rest of the Memorial Day Weekend!

Kimberly and Luke came in for the weekend.  I'm always happy to have my kids around even it's for a short period of time.  According to moms it doesn't matter if your kid visits you for a day, a week or several months....you never quite think it's enough time.  Maybe it's the fact that Gary and I are newly retired and we now have more time than we did when the kids were growing up to just sit and really listen to what's going on in their lives.  It's not because we didn't want to sit and listen before, but we were multi-tasking constantly and probably listening with only one ear!

None-the-less, we had the opportunity to have ice cream cake together last night to celebrate Nicholas' birthday and then we had a family card game.  Those games have always been so much fun for us.  Of course, we all want to win, but we were good sports as Luke took us to task once again.  He has to be the luckiest guy when it comes to game playing!

So, Gary and I reflected on our time spent together and look forward to sharing his Italian sauce and macaroni for Sunday lunch after church today.  Gary has always prepared his special lunch every Sunday since we first married, therefore the kids always make sure they are present at the table for lunch on Sunday!   Fortunately for us Kimberly and Luke get a little extra time in town due to the Memorial Day celebration. 

Once again I am a proud and happy "mama" and am already looking forward to our next gathering and card game!  God bless, my friends and have an awesome day of rest and worship!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the men and women of our military, regardless of where they might be serving, for their willingness to protect our country's freedoms.  They are heros in every sense of the word and we take those freedoms for granted daily.  As I sit this afternoon on my porch with the sun shining brightly and my health in tact and loved ones around me, I am so thankful for those who currently are unable to be with their families, but are serving in areas dusty and dry in full uniform with a gun strapped to their side.  Whether on foreign soil of with your boots stateside, may God bless you, keep you safe, keep you healthy and bring you back home to your families and loved ones soon.  Thank you again for the provision you make daily and for putting your life on the line that I sit where I am today.

God, please be with our military personnel wherever they may be at this moment and grant them peace of mind and the ability to do their jobs and stay safe.  Remind them of their importance to each of us as Americans especially on this Memorial Day Weekend.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Hey friends!  I'm so excited to share with you that Gary has just secured a place for an October women's retreat sponsored by The Sounding Board Teaching Ministries!  It will be a weekend filled with spiritual teachings, spa offerings and lots of girfriend time to share.  The retreat will be held at The Country Inn in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia (google The Country Inn if you would like a preview of the facility).  Check your calendars as spaces will be limited and keep checking this blog for reservation information which will be forthcoming in the next few days.  I would ask for your prayers as we continue to follow our hearts with this ministry.  God bless, my friends and have an awesome Memorial weekend!

Well, readers...it's been another full year since I wrote about the birth of our son, Nicholas.  I simply don't know what happens to those 365 days as I get older, but once again the memories of that eventful day will roll around at 10:55 a.m. this Thursday morning as that was the day of the week and the exact time Nicholas was born.  Although the doctors had predicted his birth on July 3rd, I guess Nicholas decided Memorial Day weekend was better suited for his arrival than the 4th of July!

Life has never been the same since his arrival and I wouldn't have it any other way.  Although he thinks his dad and I live to embarass him on his "big" day each year, I have promised to be a good mom and keep it low this year.  I will refrain from tactics that are unbecoming of the mother of a 28 year old and be a good girl....I guess.  Who knows?  You see the one thing Nicholas doesn't realize is that it is a big deal for his dad and I to commemorate his birthday and that of his sister.  It is truly a blessing to have been given these children.  A blessing we don't take for granted.  We love you, son....have an awesome day....

Wow, who would have thought.....a visit to my dentist would bring forth a devotional?  But it happened this morning and I am anxious to share with my readers the devotional thought for next week of what I learned while sitting in that dentist chair!  I also am so excited for my friends that work at the dentist office...congratulations to Julie who is expecting her second child the end of the summer!!!  We've waited a while to hear this good news and we thank Jesus for hearing our prayers!  The dentist himself and his wife are awaiting the arrival of grandchild number one the end of the summer as well.  We both had children marry last summer and exchanged our various experiences of wedding plans and it was so exciting to hear the latest developments concerning their son and his wife.

So on we go, teeth are cleaned and more spiritual lessons have been gleaned.  It's time to work on the back porch and ready it for guests and good times throughout the summer....of course, we are getting nearer to our family birthday rounds!  God bless, my friends and have a great day!

 

Yesterday I had a rare opportunity....I spent the afternoon....ALL afternoon....diggin' in the dirt!  I love diggin' in the dirt every Spring.  It soothes the soul to be able to put on a pair of work gloves with a small shovel in hand and dig away at the soil to plant flowers and pull weeds.  Today my back is very sore, but the spirits are high as I once again go out to "dig"....

So it is with my spiritual life.  I love diggin' in the Word of God.  There are so many benefits to the dig.  I experience "nuggets" that I would not have uncovered unless I removed the ground surface.  I am able to plant within the unveiling of soil a beautiful flower for enjoyment, but only if I keep the weeds pulled and the soil watered and fed with the proper nourishment.  It is also very rewarding at day's end to sit in the swing on my deck and enjoy the fruits of the hard labor.

God is so good and He continually teaches me through nature lessons for the soul.  I am so excited to get out there again today and start diggin' in the dirt!  (Sue, this one is for you!)  God bless, my friends!

Gary and I arrived home late last night from time spent outside the US.  Since there was no food in the house, we used a gift card for Panera's and headed out for a bagel and coffee this morning.  As I began fixing my cup of coffee with creamer a young man walked up to me and asked, "Do you know of a good preschool teacher around here?"  As I glanced up and was trying to decide what answer I would give, I looked into this handsome face and remembered it was one of my former students, Robbie Madore.  I actually screamed out his name and gave him a big, big hug.

What an absolutely delightful surprise!  This young man has spent years away from home pursuing his dream to become a professional hockey player.  I taught Robbie in preschool and again later when I began teaching full-time at a nearby Christian middle school.  I simply couldn't believe he would take the time to speak with me and reminisce about old school days, especially since he is only home for a few days and this morning was spent with his mom and grandmother.  That, my friends, is the ultimate blessing of being a teacher. 

I have met and been re-acquainted with so many of my former students and I'm not a 30 year career teacher.  But by the grace of God, He has sent my way outstanding young people that are incredible Christian men and women of today's society and afforded me the opportunity to see and hear what is currently happening in their lives. 

It makes me more aware of how I need to continually pray for these young people.  They are spread far and wide throughout the States and each person they meet is a seed to be sown.  May we as teachers, by profession or by example, strive to be the best witnesses for Jesus we can be....our seeds are being carried by every student whoever sat before us into places we will probably never go.  God bless my former students wherever they may be and thank you again, Robbie, for remembering me.  You made my day!  Have a good one, my friends!

Gary and I have been on numerous trips since he retired the first of the year.  I think I have become a weary traveler.  I long to be at home, in my lazy boy chair and attending my home church on Sundays.  I long to speak with my children and our parents by phone since that mode of communication has been cut off these past seven days.  To hear their voices and those of friends and loved ones and to be updated on the daily happenings in their lives.

As I ponder those things I miss and look forward to experiencing them again, I think about my heavenly home.  Do we thirst and long for the days when we will be in the present of our Creator God?  A time when we join in with the heavenly chorus and sing praises to the One who gave His life that we can live forevermore?  A time when we exchange conversation with the saints whose names have been written in the Holy Bible for us to learn more about their lives and adventures? 

It's Sunday....a time to give glory, honor and praise especially to our King....our God....our Lord!  God bless, my friends!

As we walk along the beaches, take in the surf and sand one more day, Gary and I are ready to fly home tomorrow and step up to the bat!  There is much God has given us to do and we are refreshed, relaxed and ready to roll.  I hope each one of you have a wonderful weekend and are equally renewed for Monday morning.  I'm so excited about what God has for me!  God bless, my friends!