Observations from Florida

11/27/11

1. Cockroaches are as BIG as they say. Even if they "call" them something else. They aren't fooling me.
2. Bad drivers (people driving cars, not golf clubs) should always be given the right of way and kept at a safe distance.
3. Southern hospitality still exists.
4. There are people who have NEVER seen snow. NEVER! I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't met them myself.
5. I come from the generation who says "google it" when needing to find something on the internet. I met an elderly gentleman who says "I asked my computer to find...". Seriously made me laugh as I thought of a scene from a Star Trek movie.
6. You hear the funniest conversations in stores. An elderly couple at SAM'S club was looking at the many choices of underwear available for her and the husband says "This kind looks like it won't give you a wedgie and has good rear coverage."
7. Apparently breakfast buffets are so popular here that they have them at the Chinese Buffet places. Who knew? A little odd but food was good.

If I have additional observations that aren't necessarily obvious, like the winter here is awesome!, I will add to this post.

11/28/11

1. Here's a weather alert I never saw while living in Kansas: "HIGH SURF ADVISORY". To which I say, "YAHOO! Ride 'em surfer dude."

Duh

A storm came through last Thursday evening. 70 MPH winds. I was awake when it hit and I heard this loud CRACK noise and then the lights flickered. No rain, no lightning, just wind. The rain and lightning came later. The lights kept going on and off and I started to worry that a branch fell on the wires coming to the house. Then I heard another CRACK and more flickering. This time I woke up Gary because it really scared me.

He looked out the windows and didn't see anything obvious. The lights had gone out but they eventually came back on. In the morning we saw the damage and learned the loud CRACKS were large branches breaking off trees. A neighbor's tree had half of it break off and fall into our yard. The houses across the street had no power. Luckily we did.

Friday night = round two! Another storm came through. This one was louder due to the numerous lightning hits and thunder. The kind of thunder that rattles the entire house. Then about 2:30 AM the lights went out. The stayed out for 24 hours. It is funny how much I depend on electricity for things. With daybreak it was easy to get light in the house, you just have to open the shades. But with evening we had to rely on candles and an oil lamp. No air conditioning and no cable and no internet. The latter was the hardest for me.

So I convinced Gary to go with me to Panera to get a drink and use their free wifi. We bought our drinks and sat down to learn that their internet was not working either. BUMMER. So we went shopping. We returned home about 5PM hoping the lights would be back on. But no. So we decided to go get some dry ice and see if we could save all our fridge and freezer things.

Then we went to a coffee house in the evening that has live music. I took my laptop just in case. YAY! They had free wifi and it was working! So I got my critical emails done and then enjoyed the music.

What was interesting was all the times we thought of things to do at home and then went "Duh, no power." Example was Gary knew we were going out shopping and that maybe we wouldn't be back in time for the football game. So he said "let me set up the DVR to tape the game". I laughed and said "Duh..."

Then later as the day heated up we knew it would be uncomfortable trying to sleep with no air conditioning. So I came up with the brilliant idea to use a fan to keep us cool. "Duh..."

It is hard to remember all the times that happened during the no power event. Sadly it happened more often than I would like to admit.

Another walk

GREAT walk today! Went out this morning about 9:30AM. Walked from my house (about 72nd and Metcalf) to 83rd and Mission (my favorite Panera is there). It took 1 hour and is about 3.5 miles. I really hadn't intended to go that far but it was just so nice out and I was having fun looking at the different houses.

As I got closer to Panera I had to stop at an intersection and wait for the light to change. This younger woman met up with me there as she was running and in much better shape than me. She had nice shorts on and a jogging bra/top. I was working hard not to be jealous when she started a conversation. She talked about how nice out it was and how she was so happy to be out running. She commented on my outfit (capri length exercise pants and a tank top that did not show my stomach). She said it was so color coordinated. I believe she was sincere.

As we waited she said she hasn't been running as much because the heat made it too hard since she is pregnant. WHAT!? I thought. I couldn't help but look at her tummy. REALLY!?  "How far along are you?" I asked. She smiled and put her hand on her almost flat tummy and said "Twenty weeks."

REALLY!? Is she sure? Was she pulling my leg? I bet if you asked everyone in their cars at the red light who they thought looked more pregnant, every one of them would pick me. Despite my age. Man that really stung.

Fortunately the light turned and we went on our way. Since she was running and I walk she was gone quickly. Whew!

A quick break at the Panera for a drink of water and I begin the walk back home. It was then that I realized that while walking out an hour was fun it required me to have to walk another hour to get back home. I took Mission to 71st and headed toward home. By now each step was work. When I neared Roe I hoped Gary would call and I could say "YES COME AND GET ME!" But no luck. As I neared Nall I had the same hope. But no. As I neared Lamar? No call. Gary wasn't home yet. Then I saw Metcalf and figured if he called now I might let him pick me up even though I was nearing home. But no call. Then I made it to Sante Fe. Next road is Conser and that means only one block to home from there.

I noticed some men on the golf course. Healthy athletic types. It was then I realized that no matter how athletic a guy looks there just is no way to make pink shorts look masculine. What was he thinking? I hope his friends gave him some serious ribbing for those shorts.

CONSER! YAY! Almost home. I can see my house and right at that moment I saw Gary pull in the driveway. If he calls me now I don't think I'll even answer the phone.

2.25 hours. 7 miles. Good weather. GREAT walk!

New blog site

http://morningdewbjg.blogspot.com/

I have started a new blog to post my devotional thoughts to. This blog will most likely be used for those thoughts and events that pertain to happenings or events rather than spiritual growth and development. At least that is my current plan. However, I reserve the right to change my mind.

Bookends - From sunset to fireworks

When I first scheduled a return flight on July 4th I was excited. Leaving at dusk heading west I figured I'd have the best fireworks view I've ever had.

This would indeed prove to be a memorable flight...but not for the reasons I expected. It started with an hour delay in a dirty crowded and very loud airport. Hungry I searched for something to eat and settled for an overpriced "sandwich?" that I have no idea what the ingredients were. After this somewhat suspect purchase I looked for a place to sit and eat - and wait. To my surprise I saw a few empty seats near a gentleman, I thought it strange that people would choose to sit on a hard floor when there were perfectly good seats open. As I got closer it became very clear why no one was sitting in these seats. The "gentleman", a young man from another culture, evidently was clueless - or did not care - that his body odor was so pungent that no one could sit near him. Including me.

Once I found a place to sit I called my husband to update him on my status only to discover my temperamental phone was going to keep shutting itself down. Eventually after numerous gate changes the boarding began. To call it chaotic would be an understatement. FINALLY in my cherished window seat I smell something that caused me to fight back my gag reflex and made my eyes water. Yes, the "gentleman" in the airport was in the seat right behind. With a full plane there was no hope of finding another seat. I opened the air vent as wide as it would go and blew it back hoping it would reduce the thickness of the scent finding its way toward me.

The sun had started to go down and as we waited to take off I decided to work on my crossword puzzle. I reached up to turn on my reading light only to discover it didn't work. The one for the middle seat did not work either. I noticed others having the same problem. After mentioning the problem to the flight attendant she pushed the button herself just to confirm it was not user error. She said "that's funny they worked on the way here". Somehow I didn't find that comment comforting and wondered what else might not be working.

Finally air born I looked out the window. The sky was orange due to the setting sun and the wispy clouds. The orange glow enhanced the beauty of the New York City silhouette it was the backdrop for. WOW - it was spectacular. However, it was during that moment that I realized if I leaned in to close to the window the odor from behind became much stronger. I've flown a lot and have never had to use an airsick bag. I began to wonder if that record would be broken on this trip. I thought, "at least I'll see some fireworks" only to discover that we were about to go through a cloud bank.

The plane had TV screens on the back of each seat. For $6 you can rent a movie and for $8 you can use headphones. REALLY? I don't think so. Plus if there is any turbulence watching that screen will give me motion sickness. Why would I pay for that? However I found that they don't go off even if you aren't using them. The screen stays on and with the low light the constant flicker concerned me. Having just gotten rid of a 3 day headache I had no interest in letting this screen cause me to get a migraine. After looking all over I found no off switch. The brightness control worked just as good as the switch to turn on my reading light. So I asked the flight attendant how to turn it off. She explained they don't go off but suggested I turn down the brightness. At this point I'm starting to wonder if the guy in the seat next to me is wearing a t-shirt that says "I'm with stupid" since she seems to find it necessary to ask me to try the obvious. I explained it doesn't work so she reached over two seats and tried it herself. Then she said, "sometimes they don't work". I spent the next two hours holding a magazine over the screen. When my arm would go numb, I'd switch to the other arm. I decided sore arms and shoulders would be better than a migraine.

Just when I'd given up all hope of surviving this flight the clouds cleared. FIREWORKS! Fireworks? I hadn't really factored in the thought that at 38,000 feet in the air they just aren't quite that impressive. Have you ever had that test in the eye doctor's office where you sit in front of something and wait for these little quick flashes of light and then push a button? Well looking out the plane window at the "fireworks" below reminded me of that. Occasionally when we passed populated areas there would be perhaps hundreds of flashes. The pilot announced the various cities as we flew over: Fort Wayne Indiana, Chicago Illinois, St. Louis Missouri. Bigger displays had a longer flash but the ability to see a distinct firework shape was rare. Yet I began to admire the view. I was reminded of twinkling lights on a Christmas tree. Ninety minutes into the flight as I watched out the window there was this very large flash. I waited for it to happen again. When it did I saw that it was not coming from the ground but rather from storm clouds miles away. Each flash lit up the entire cloud making it visible in the night sky. Then a streak of lightening raced across the entire cloud bank. WOW! God's fireworks dwarfed man's fireworks even more. I was mesmerized by the view. My favorite Christian tunes played in my ears (thankfully I had my mp3 player with me) which briefly allowed me to forget how trapped I was feeling.

Then my eyes began to water and I realized I had stayed to long so close to the window and the odor from behind me began to overtake me. I leaned back in my chair content to listen to my tunes and look out the window from a distance.

It was now almost 9:45 PM the fireworks twinkling below were fewer and fewer. The plane began its descent. As we got lower I was able to see hundreds of fireworks displays. The lower we got the more I could see. Now the entire explosion was recognizable and the colors vivid. WOW! Very cool. It was impressive and worth waiting to see. In the distance I could still see the storms clouds putting on their own display as well. And above those clouds were more stars than anyone is able to count.

Yes this turned out to be memorable flight.

Written 7/4/2011 on flight from New York City to Kansas City.

Between The Clouds

There is this place between the clouds where heaven and earth seem to meet. I look out the plane window and see below me; rivers, lakes, green mountains that seem to go on endlessly and the view is enhanced by the sweet little popcorn-puff clouds scattered here and there. Above me is endless blue sky with wafer thin clouds that streak across like long white ribbons. And right where I am - flying at jet speed - it is perfectly clear. I'm between two worlds. The one below me, while beautiful, will not last forever. The one above me has no limits. It goes on to eternity.

So high above the earth it is easy to forget about all the needs and opportunities that are there. I see roads and buildings; evidence of civilization. Yet up here - between the clouds - I'm sheltered from its noise and its demands.

The plane begins to descend. The two and a half hour flight has been too short. I've just begun to shake off life's stresses. I just started imagining having the ability to go even higher. To go up where the sky is no longer blue and the stars would be all I could see. Far above the wispy ribbon clouds.

I will miss this place between the clouds where nothing is expected of me. Where I can just be. Where it is peaceful.

But once beneath the clouds I will join the human race again. With all its challenges and all its joys. I will look toward the heavens and be reminded that while my time on earth is short, my real home is with the Lord.

Written 6/30/2011 on flight from Kansas City to New York.

I saw God today

I saw God today through the miracle of technology allowing me to be in Florida and watch my son do a webcast concert LIVE from Manhattan - NYC. The miracle for me was watching my mother-in-law watch it too. Ailing health, failing eyesight and hearing, in pain most of the time; there is little that brings her true joy anymore.

But the look of joy on her face as she watched her grandson play his saxophone was a moment I would have hated to miss. Some wouldn't consider this technical link a miracle but I do.

We also used our webcam capabilities for her to talk and visit with her granddaughter who lives in Singapore. I was again amazed that for a woman whose eyes have slowly been letting her down she was able to recognize her granddaughter and saw and commented on her beautiful smile. Grandma still can't believe she was able to talk with someone she loves so much who is living on the other side of the planet.

Then we also got to use the computer to connect with and let Grandma see her great-grandson who lives in Jersey City. Now 2 years old he was exceptionally sweet. Grandma had her face so close to the computer to see as much detail in his face as she can that I'm sure all he could see in return was the top of her head.

Yes, for this aging sweet lady these events were miracles she never imagined she would see in her lifetime. Yet it was made possible through current technology. I cried tears of joy with her each time she saw a family member she thought she'd never see again.

Yes I saw God today in how He used technology to fill the deepest longings of an aging woman who experienced moments of love via the internet. Thank you Lord!

A Poemless Easter

I started writing Easter poems years ago. One every year since...oh I don't know...the late 80's or early 90's. I thought about writing one again this year but no inspiration came.

Occasionally the flicker of an idea would come but when all done the paper I was writing it out on got crumbled up and tossed in the garbage. Maybe, there is nothing more to say about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Maybe after 2000 years and thousands of generations its all been said, in a hundred different ways.

No Easter plans this year. Did the usual. Went to church and really enjoyed the music and the message. Drove home and as I did I went past a different church. I saw all the cars in the parking lot and thought about the pastor who was preaching there. Someone I know. I paused to pray that his message would reflect his heart. Then I thought about all the pastors I am blessed to know and have known over the years.

My job gives me the unique opportunity to get to know clergy from different Christian denominations. Not just to know they are there but to really know them. The person. Yes, I am blessed.

I continued my drive home thinking about taking some time to write a poem. An idea began to form. But I was so surprised the weather reports were wrong and happy to see blue sky that I chose instead to take a walk. I took a good book and had a great "walk and read". If you've read my blog for any time now you might remember I like to do that.

When I got home my husband was also home so we got a bite to eat, did some chasing, and then came home to continue the never ending task of cleaning items still in the garage that were contaminated by the "vermiculite tragedy" as it is now being called. I believe we are down to one more tub of clothes that have to be done and then the house is clean. So we will move on to work on the garage and the basement. UGH!

So back to the poem. I have decided I can't tell the Easter events any better than scripture; so this year I will quote from the Bible what I heard this morning at church.

1 Corinthians 15:3-6
"I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died."

Real? Myth? A nice story?

Many lived in Jesus times. Many were crucified on a Roman cross. Only One died for our sins. Only One rose from the dead.

do ALL things

Today I did a Bible search on “do all things”. Recent events have had me “doing all things” which as I recount them I wonder how I did any of them. Well, I haven’t done “all” yet. I still have to file my taxes.

Anyway, five Bible verses returned from my search. Job 42:2, 1 Corinthians 9:23, 2 Corinthians 12:19, Philippians 2:14 and Philippians 4:13. It is the Philippians verses that held my attention this morning.

Let me provide you with a little background on me. Some “dirt” so to speak. You see…I am not now, nor have I ever been, the “June Cleaver” type. If you don’t know who June is let me just say that housekeeping and home cooking are not my forte. That doesn’t mean I don’t do them. I just don’t like doing them. I do them grudgingly. I think it started around the age of 13 when I was old enough to be assigned “chores of importance” at home. Chores like cleaning the bathroom and ironing. ICK!

I also am not the nurturing type. I love intensely but caretaking is just not my natural bent. Because of this I felt I had a valid reason for not doing these things with my whole heart or in a way that seemed loving and caring. It was more…“just get it done”. At least for the last 40 years or so. Then God did an amazing thing. He allowed strife into my life that I never could have imagined or thought could happen. One thing is an issue with my home, the other is an issue with my husband’s health. One requires extreme cleaning; the other requires gentle caretaking. Hmmmm…

Not once with either did I say to myself “I’m not cut out for this” even though I know it to be true. I have felt overwhelmed and even felt like running away. At least in regards to the house. But all that changed the day I took my husband to the ER. Running away was no longer an option nor a desire. Staying and fighting, which is my natural tendency, was also not my desire. No, I found myself in this place where just doing the next thing was enough.

My home is about 1,000 square feet of living area. Small by today’s standards in the U.S. but if you think about having to clean every square inch, two to three times (or more) it feels like 100,000 square feet.    (I wonder what 1,000 square feet cubed is?)    Each surface had to be vacuumed, wiped with a cleaning cloth, then dried. Repeat again and again and again if necessary. Then every item removed from the home had to be examined and cleaned in the same fashion. Some things just have to be thrown out. During the examination phase I look at every item I own and decide “what is this worth?” Is its value to me worth the time it will take to clean it? Some things the answer is yes but most the answer is no. It is just stuff. When this first started I told my husband “I guess we’ll find out how important our stuff really is to us”. After being unable to be in our home for three months I found out that most of it isn’t that important. However, my personal space was and still is of great value to me. That is what I missed the most. Even though we had awesome friends who let us stay with them during this time. They truly went above and beyond to make us comfortable. I will be forever grateful but I still missed “my space”.

I would go “visit” my home and work on the unending task of cleaning. At first it was done with a begrudging attitude. Then a couple weeks into it something changed. I was there alone cleaning one afternoon. It was quiet. I had no distractions. I stopped focusing on why did this happen since I couldn’t change that and started wondering what is God trying to teach me through this. I saw so many applications in this for others but really, what was God trying to teach me? Endurance? Faith? What? WHAT????

After a few hours of this mental exercise I decided to just still my thoughts and wait on the Lord. Then something happened that is hard to explain unless it is something you experience for yourself. I realized that each sweep of a rag, each stroke of a mop, each time I bent down to pick another speck of debris that escaped the vacuum, rags and mop…each and every movement I made was not housecleaning. It was not work. It was an act of love. Suddenly the job did not seem to be so overwhelming. In fact, the idea that it would never end did not even bother me. Because it is an act of love. Today and always. Love for my house that would once again be my home, love for my husband and desiring he would again be comfortable in our home, and love for our marriage as I found I regretted all the decades of cleaning where this simple thought had eluded me. I watched my hand and arm move across another surface as it cleaned and saw an act of love. This repeated with every motion I made.

Then the trip to the ER. “Blood clots”. “Potentially life threatening.” “Lucky you came in.”

What? Can this really be happening? Now, when we are so close to getting back into our home? For a brief moment I went numb. Then my eyes met with my husband’s eyes and nothing else mattered. After 33 years of marriage, the fact that we were together was really the only thing that seemed to have any significance. Nothing I was hearing from the nurse or the ER doctor, the enormous task of getting back home, the pharmacist explaining the meds, the deadlines at work, the bills waiting to be paid, the contractors I had to follow up with – no; none of that held any importance at all compared to just being there with the love of my life. If God gave us one more minute or 33+ more years I knew each moment was a gift. All that was important was caring for my husband. Whatever that meant.

I have learned through this that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). I have learned that “all things” includes those things I say are not my strengths. And that sometimes I say that because it was a convenient way to get out of doing them, an excuse. I have learned that nothing is impossible and while I may try and justify not doing something because it isn’t how God “gifted” me, that it is really self justification to get my own way. This is a hard truth to learn. It is a hard truth to share. I am; at the core; selfish. As a good friend puts it, “I am the queen of all I survey”.

I am learning to do all things…ALL things…without grumbling or disputing (Philippians 2:14).

I now believe that everything I do, every word I speak, every thought I hold on to is an act of love. Something to cherish, something to enjoy. And in that process I am blessed.

Test of Faith?

James 1:3
"For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow."

When is your faith tested? When is mine? I often wonder this. When facing hardships and trials I typically turn to God for strength and support. When faced with joy and blessings I again turn to God with thankfulness, awe, and wonder.

Since becoming a Christian I've never questioned or lost faith. Yet trials come, it isn't always a smooth or easy ride. But the Bible says our faith will be tested. So maybe I don't understand what that means.

Recently and currently I am facing things that could be considered "trials". My patience has been tested. My ability to not bite off the heads of those I'm forced to do business with has absolutely been tested. My endurance is being tested. But a new trial has been added to my burdens and I briefly wondered if my faith was being tested.

After prayer and contemplation my answer is "no".

My faith remains as strong as it has always been. But I feel "tested".

Last night as I hugged my husband and the release of the day's stress surfaced I cried and knew...my faith is strong. Then I wondered how strong my trust and love for God was? Is it all it should be? Is it all it can be?

Psalm 66:10
"You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver."

Through the testing one is purified. Purification is a process that requires intense heat and must be watched very closely by the Purifier. It is during the trial and the testing that God holds us closest to His heart. He watches and knows that as we are refined and purified we grow closer to Him. He knows the process hurts and pain is involved. He desires only the best for us and wants the best in us.

Father God,
Hold me close as I endure this time of testing and trials. Be my strength when I am weak. Be the treasure that I seek. You are my all in all. AMEN

Putting God First - Separation Anxiety

When I was a new parent I remember how intense certain feelings were. Those early days and years with a new son or daughter are so precious and go by too fast. Looking back I remember most the times when it was just me, my baby, and a rocking chair. I would love to have the ability to time travel and go back into one of those moments. What a great mini vacation that would be!


I also remember the first time I had to leave my toddler with a new sitter. I can still see my child’s eyes filling with tears and terror as I walked out the door – my heart breaking because I too was experiencing those same feelings. That heavy feeling would stay with me all day as I wondered how my child was doing. Were tears still flowing or was it just me? I couldn’t concentrate and all I could think about was that moment when I would return home and get to hold my child in my arms once again.

Did you ever think that God gives us those moments as parents to perhaps teach us about what He experiences with us? After all He is our Heavenly Father. We are His children. Does He experience “separation anxiety”? And what would that look like?

Sometimes we let the world babysit us, don’t we. Things like TV or facebook or whatever fills your time becomes your babysitter. It watches you as much as you watch it. And while you are busy in those things God is still there, waiting. Waiting for you to decide to spend time with Him. He misses you. His heart aches for those precious moments He remembers where you turned to Him and it was just the two of you.

Father God, forgive me for all the time I waste on things that pull me away from you. Hours spent playing video games without even taking five minutes in the day to open my Bible to study. I am humbled by the realization that You miss me. Hmmm. Abba Father, draw me to You. Guide my thoughts as I plan my day so I include You in it. Thank You for loving me, waiting for me, for teaching me, and for dying for me. AMEN

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?

Double Deckers!

This post is for Linus. We have been seeing and experiencing many "double deckers" while in Singapore and Hong Kong. Here are a few of them:

Electric tram car in Hong Kong

Ferry we took across the bay

Lots of double decker buses

Double decker tower in Singapore

Double decker 380 air bus we rode from Singapore to Hong Kong.

See the windows above Singapore Airlines? That is where we sat!