A Miracle and a Decision

I had a rough couple of days and then a wonderful thing happened. My husband and I wanted to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary (In September '09) by going to Hawaii. (We have been to the islands before...but it's been many years) We actually tried to go for a 20th anniversary but couldn't come up with the extra finances. Then we tried to go on our 25th anniversary, and the finances fell through again.

So we've been hoping to go on our 30th, but once again, we had to back out due to finances. I was sad, but figured if God didn't open the door...then we weren't supposed to go. Mozart and I haven't been able to go away together for many years due to various obstacles and because of intense family situations...so I was hoping--so much--we could get away.



While at the Auto Club, yesterday, I decided to see if they had any trip packages. First I'll mention, that we have our air fare covered, because we have been saving points on our credit card for about 7 years. I have enough for 2 free flights. But the problem is paying for the hotel and car.

It turned out the Auto Club had a special going on at the Sheraton in Kauai for about $750 for 6 nights including car. I wondered if Mozart would go for it. I couldn't call him because my cell phone recently went through the washing machine and never recovered. So I drove home and layed it out to him. "Can I put a hold on it? We don't have to pay until the middle of August. Maybe the money will come in by then."

Mozart said, "yes".
It may have helped that he was half asleep.

I drove back to the Auto Club and got there just before they locked the door at 5:00. I knew I had to do this immediately before Mozart changed his mind. Not that he doesn't want to go... but he is very practical and tomorrow he could feel differently. When the agent went back on-line to put a hold on the trip, she couldn't find the trip package. It had disappeared!

Oh...I guess it's not meant to be. I slumped in the chair. My eyes blurred as she loaded and reloaded various websites. Finally she got on the phone and called someone direct. From the conversation, it seemed the price had gone up already.

Then she said, "What? At that price?" "How can they offer it at that price?"

Her computer started working again, and she was able to verify the price.

I braced myself.

"The trip package for the Kauai Sheraton on Poipu beach is now $501."

I asked, "For TWO people?"

"For TWO people including an economy car...for 6 nights."

She added, "I've never seen it this low before. That's lower than the price for travel agents. She kept scratching her head. "That's amazing. I don't know how they can offer it so low."

I said, "It might be God. He knows we don't have any money."

"You must have angels or something!" she said.

There was no more time to talk as the place was closing and we were holding things up. So I was given a confirmation, receipt and all the pertinent stuff and ushered out the back door.

Mozart was so surprised...he had a hard to believing it, too.

Then Mozart emailed a friend of his who we have not seen for a long time. This friend has gone through a hard time in his life, but has ended up on the island of Kauai and has lived there for about 10 years. Today Mozart got an email back from his friend, who was very excited about our trip. And he said, "Where you are staying, is in walking distance from my home!" He wants to show us "all the secret places" of Kauai and have us over for "gourmet Hawaiian dinners".

Well...all the details are not finalized yet...and while I was finishing this post, Mozart just called out to me that the news is reporting "airfares are doubling"...but once God starts something...he usually finishes it. So I am hoping that this is God's project...and that we will end up in Kauai for our 30th anniversary.

NEWSFLASH on my boys.
My youngest is going to the prom on Saturday. It is being held at Sony Pictures Back Lot.
My oldest told me today that he is exploring the possibility of joining the National Guard. (!) Those of you who live near me and know my family...please don't say anything to anyone(or your kids) about this yet...for C's privacy...and it may not happen. but again...God might be in this...

I am holding this news delicately...because I don't want to sway him either way. I want this to be completely his decision. And I don't know if it's just a little whim or if he's serious.

I'd appreciate your prayers for him--for his walk with the Lord--and for this decision.

Have a good day. God is in it!

My First Pie

I made my first apple pie. (with a lot of help from google)
What would I do without the internet.

"Making Apple Pie"
"Pie Crust"
"Apple Pie Filling"
"Cutting Apples"
"Apples turn brown"
"Baking Apple Pie"







TA DA!








Chief pie tasters were my mother and my 93-year-old Aunt Elsie.
Aunt Elsie is a veteran pie-maker.
The pie passed her inspection. And my mother took an extra piece home!


Mozart is re-wiring his studio. So he decorated my back porch for Easter.


Both my sons were gone. The youngest had to work. And the oldest went out of town with a friend. I missed them....but we still had a wonderful day. My dad was here, too along with his cousin Larry.

My dad spotted my old bike, and he proceeded to take the wheels off and stash the whole thing in the trunk of his car. He said he has some bike tires laying around his garage...and a few other things and he's going to fix it up. I'm so glad I still have a dad...at age 52!

I hope you all had a pleasant Easter. He is Risen! And Risen in our hearts. Today at church I was reminded of the power of the resurrection. That same power is with us every day. God is with you as you start your new week.

Easter

On my bedside table I've placed a picture of an event that I do not want to forget. There are many people looking toward the front of a large room at the YMCA. That's where our church met, many years ago. In the front of the room the pastor is reaching for our first born son. He is about to pray for him.

Twenty-one years later I find myself reminding God about that event often. And I know the Shepherd will not give up searching and calling for my lamb.

Easter is a reminder that God is in control. Through His son Jesus we are saved from sin and death. Good has triumphed over evil. The snares and pot-holes my son falls into are not too big for God. Waywardness, confusion, illness...and even death itself is not beyond the hands of God. He has overcome it all. He will faithfully call our loved ones back to Himself. He will do all...give all...to show them the way back.

And we pray...unceasingly.

Happy Easter everyone. Or should I say Happy Resurrection Day?

My friend and I are going to a Good Friday service in the evening. Our pastor, who likes to teach us with "visuals" said that the lights in the service will dim, and gradually at the end, it will be dark. He is looking forward to the contrast with Sunday...when the lights will be bright and "we'll party and celebrate!"

After church, I'm hosting a family pot luck at our home. I'm looking forward to the day!

I'm making my first apple pie. (don't laugh...it's true. I usually buy pies.) I'm making the crust from scratch. Tomorrow I have to go get more apples. Five isn't enough...

April Days

Meet Mrs. L.




Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday you will find Mrs. L and I busy with shopping, walking, gardening, gaming (Scrabble) and gabbing. She has taught me how to fix a sprinker, make a pumpkin pie, Dutch cookies, care for roses and how to be patient in most circumstances.


Daffodils are Mrs. L's favorite flower, and we stopped to admire these while on a walk.









Meet D.

D is my youngest son and he recently invited friends over to celebrate his 18th birthday. No girls...just gambling. His friend S, brought over a poker table top. I did not know they made such a thing. But it kept them busy for quite awhile. In fact this was the easiest birthday party that a mother ever had.


The boys made their own food...barbecued chicken. (D is closest to the camera)



My son is finishing his Senior year at high school and is currently working at Ralph's market. He likes to play the drums, and helps out with worship at church.

Easter is going to be at our home this year, and I'm not sure how many I'll be having yet. But my garden is waking with bright orange California poppies...and it feels like its time for company. I also have beautiful green weeds everywhere!

That's it. Short post today. We have Saturday church today and it starts at 5:00. I'm still trying to get used to the shortened Saturday, but its really worth it! It's so nice to attend church with Mozart.

Life

Yes, my blog has been quiet. I'm not sure why I don't feel like posting. I think life sometimes saps all the creativity out of me.

So I'll forget the creativity and just catch you up...real casual.

Our oldest son, C is still here at home. We haven't booted him out. Yet Mozart is usually close to it. He is looking for a job...or is supposed to be looking. But if he found one, he would not have any transportation except for a bus. But it can be done.
C is starting to work on his car. This will be good because it gives him something to do. However he won't be able to drive it when its finished due to reasons that are too long to explain here.

If you are inclined to pray for young people, please pray for the bottom line. That C will invite the Lord back into his life so God can help him climb out of the abyss he is in.



I had a nice time at a "tea" last weekend at my mom and dad's church. My mother and I drank peach tea out of china-flowered cups and enjoyed scones and finger sandwiches while listening to harp music. We wore our Sunny Shiny Things bracelets (created by my good friend Sunny)and felt quite pampered and elegant. Earlier in the day, my dad and I went on a long bike ride and ended up bumping down a dirt rode to an expansive bird preserve that is near their home. (My mom was out playing tennis.) And before that, my mom and I took a walk on the beach down to the tide pools.

The beach was almost deserted and a lone life guard stand stood beckoning on the sand. I glanced at the ladder and immediately knew it was too high for my 78 year old mom to climb. My mom noticed my glance.

"You want to go up that?"
"I'll do it another time, mom, when I'm by myself. I don't think you could get up that."
"Oh yes I can."
A minute later we were seated on the life guard stand. It was cool and breezy. We sat close together for warmth and leaned our backs against the wood. We talked about friends, God and life.

You are probably wondering where the pictures are. My camera is broken, and I didn't have my son's camera with me. (This is another reason it is not fun to post...I miss my camera!)

So life is hard and life is good. And the good moments seem even better when the bad moments have been bad.

Another good thing is that Mozart and I have discovered the Saturday evening service at our church. It's an smaller more intimate service than the giant church service on Sunday. Mozart never attends the giant church service on Sunday...but he likes this one. It's so nice to sit in church with him! And he and the pastor are getting together for coffee soon. That's another story.

I'll try to post more often. Yet I may have some silent days coming up again. There has been a potluck scheduled at my home on Sunday (have to clean house and cook)...and then next week I have to go through a medical procedure that will not be pleasant.

I'll be coming by your blogs soon!

Have a great rest of the week.

God's Gifts

My favorite place to walk is the Arboretum. Last Sunday I took a walk at the end of the day. I try to carve out some time on Sunday to do something fun. Many times, its simply working in the yard. Other times, it's talking a walk with a friend. But on this day, I could not find a companion, so I took God and my camera. Note: for some reason my "notes" around the pictures are split...with part of the note on the side of the picture...so my captions are broken up and don't make sense(sigh).



I thought of you...my blogging friends. I wanted to show you how beautiful Southern California is at this time of year.



I know many of you live in beautiful places also.



On the north end is the Australian section. All the trees are natives from "down under".



















Bright yellow and red Aloe Vera


Those Orange Aloe Vera plants (3 pictures above) are about 8 feet tall!

This One-hundred twenty-five acres of beautiful land lies in the center of city and suburban life.

I'm lucky to have such a beautiful place to come to. One day I brought an older woman friend, (Mrs. L) to the Arboretum. She can't walk very far, which posed a problem.

I really wanted to show her everything. I thought we could take the sight-seeing tram, a long skinny open air bus that departs every hour. But it was out being serviced. After additional inquiry...and using some of our female charm...a golf-cart type open air vehicle pulled up and a young man invited us on board.

Mrs. L and I received a free tour of the entire arboretum via the golf cart. And because the driver was young, we found our hair flying in every direction. He was very knowledgeable about the trees, plants, the history and geology of the land. He stopped many times to point out details. What a ride!

Home Life

Oldest son C has been surviving at home. So far so good.
When I got home from work today, Mozart called me over.
"I wanted to tell you something. Last night C and I laughed together over something on tv."

That was a gift.

I'm becoming increasingly aware (and looking for) the good things in a day. I take strength from them. Life is tough and challenging for most of us. But there is beauty, and there is encouragement if you look. God is there. And He will never leave us or forsake us.

Sunday Greetings

You almost went on a beautiful walk with me through the Arboretum. What I mean is...I have just spent an hour putting up a post, only to lose it all. The first picture was of an 8 foot Aloe Vera plant. Well...check back and hopefully I'll get it up in a few days.

The Arboretum is place where I love to walk. The Aloe Vera garden is blooming, and I want to take you there. Spring comes early to Southern California, and there is a lot of color along the pathways.

I hope to be back soon with my pictures.

Things are going okay with my oldest son, today. One day at a time.

My youngest son just had his 18th birthday. I'll post a picture of that soon.

I cleared some weeds in my garden today. Oh so many weeds! Some of them are growing underneath our motorcycle trailer and there is no way I'm weeding underneath it. I typed into google "natural weed killer" and came up with a vinegar solution. (vinegar,salt,dishsoap). I sprayed it on the weeds. We'll see what happens.

Later today, I sat outside for a little while, in my chaise lounge and sun hat and read the Bible. I'm trying to stay in the Word. I was tempted to put the house in order instead, but I am learning I MUST stay in the Word if I want to be strong enough to walk the road I'm on.

I love the longer days. I'm so glad its staying light longer now!

Have a good week!