Glacier Bay National Park

One can't even imagine how Captain George Vancouver felt as he first set eyes on the small five-mile inlet that was Glacier Bay back in 1794. At that time the Bay was all glacier and no bay. And then eighty years later, naturalist John Muir came to Glacier Bay with a group of the native Tlingit. I am sure they were both in awe of the glaciers, as I was.

Here it is, 2019, and I enter into the bay on a ship with 3,600 other passengers. Everyone has on layers of clothing. The temperature is in the 40s and it is wet, cold and foggy. I could barely handle the elements. I would run up top of the ship and take photos and then go back to an area that was warmer. How would I have handled the temperature if I had been with Captain Vancouver or John Muir? I am sure they were not wearing thermal underwear.

Now days, the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve only allows two ship into the bay area each day. The only way to get to this park is by ship or plane. As I look at the glaciers, the blue coloring is so peaceful and relaxing. Why does the ice look blue? The Park Ranger said "when light hits highly compacted glacier ice, long wavelength colors(reds) are absorbed, while short wavelength colors(blues) reflect back through the ice to your eyes."

If you wondering how deep Glacier Bay is, it is very deep. It was carved out by a glacier and filled in with saltwater as the glacier retreated, creating a fjord. A fjord is a long, deep, narrow body of water that reaches far inland. Much of the bay is over 1,000 feet deep. About eight months ago, my husband and I rounded the Cape Horn and today we are entering into the Glacier Park. From one end of the world, to the top of the world.

As we cruise along, all I could think of was how desolate and barren that both Cape Horn and Glacier Park are. There is no one living in these areas. It was summer in both of these areas, but still everyone had on layers of clothing. What are the winters like?

Glacier Bay is over 3.2 million acres of forest, inlet and shore, mountain peaks rising over 15,000 feet and of course, the glaciers. The two glaciers that we saw were the Lamplugh Glacier and Margerie Glacier. Lamplugh is an 8 mile long glacier. The glacier was named for English geologist George William Lamplugh, who visited Glacier Bay in 1884.

Margerie Glacier is one of Alaska's most photographed features, and also one of the state's most active glacial faces. It is a 21 mile long tidewater glacier. This glacier is named after French geologist and geographer Emmanuel de Margerie who visited the area in 1913. While most of the tidewater glaciers in the park have been receding over the last several decades, Margerie Glacier has become stable, neither growing nor receding.

Humpback whales are most often seen in the Glacier Bay. I was sad that I didn't see any. There are over 400 National Parks in the United States. I am now proud to say that I have been to Glacier Bay National Park. The mission of the National Park Service is "to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." Find a park near you and enjoy the surroundings and reflect on the past and what each man has done to make this a better place.

Explore Ketchikan

As I stepped foot onto the pier off of the ship, I looked up and my eyes were in awe of the sighting of a bald eagle. It flew past me into the surrounding forest. It was early morning and there wasn’t much traffic in the area. Kenny and I were enjoying the sun and the 60 degree temperature as we walked toward downtown Ketchikan.

There were two ships docked at the harbor and three more ships were expected to dock within the next hour or two. It was early and there weren’t as many tourist wandering around. We headed to the downtown area. One of the first things that we saw was Eagle Park with a carving of an eagle which had been carved by Nathan Jackson. Across the street was the Welcome Arch which says “Ketchikan,

Ketchikan is Alaska’s First City on the cruise line and The Salmon Capital of the World”. There are five different species of wild Pacific salmon that are found in the Alaska waters surrounding this area. The different salmons are chum, sockeye, king, silver and pink.

Of course, let’s not forget the famous “rain gauge”. It had all the weather information that you would want to know about Ketchikan. Average rainfall is 12 1/2 feet a year; January average temperature is 32.6 degrees; July average temperature is 57.5. In 1949, this area received 202.6 inches of rain. With as thick as the forest is, an area would need this much rain.

As we walked around the area, we talked with the locals and we found out that the population for the city is approximately 8,000 and the surrounding area is about 14,000. Ketchikan comes from the the Tlingit Indians name for the creek. A lot of people also don’t realize that Ketchikan is an island. The airport is on another island and they have to use a ferry to get there.

From the Arch, we walked towards St.John’s Episcopal Church. It is one of the oldest buildings built in 1902. Two minutes from the church is Whale Park and Chief Kyan Totem Pole. The totem pole was carved in 1993 and is the replica of a pole raised in 1898 for a Tlingit chief.

About ten minutes up the road is the fish ladder. This is where the salmon struggle back to their native streambed, fighting lower falls and then using a concrete fish ladder to avoid the roughest white water. We continued to walk down the stream looking at the salmon jumping out of the water.

As we got down to the end of the stream, we entered into Creek Street Historic District. This is where the red-light district was back in 1902. There were more than 30 houses of "working girls" in this area. Bootleggers rowed into this area at night to deliver booze. The city outlawed prostitution in 1953 and the Creek Street became a residential and commercial area.

Our morning was filled with lots of walking. Getting hungry, we located a restaurant "Ketchikan Crab & Grill", which was close to the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center. The Discovery Center provides exhibits and activities about the ecology, economy and culture of southeast Alaska and its temperate rainforest ecosystems. The restaurant was very busy. They had two seats available at the bar and we sat there. Our seats were where the orders were being placed. It was very entertaining watching the manager make sure that all the orders were filled and everything was coming out in a timely manner. In talking with the manager, we found out that this restaurant is only opened from the first of May to the end of September. This is when the cruise ships are in town. The manager lives in Florida during those months that the restaurant is closed. By the time that we finished our lunch and started heading back to our ship, the town was definitely buzzing. All five cruise ships were in town. I would say that these five cruise ships had approximately 16,000 passengers on board. As soon as the ships head out back to sea, all these shops and restaurants close for the day.

This small town does have three grocery stores. One of the supermakets, Tatsuda's, has been in operation for over 100 years. At 18 years old, Kichirobei "Jimmie" Tatsuda, left his home in Yawatahma, Japan for America in search of new opportunities and adventure. He settled in Ketchikan and did odd jobs. He eventually opened up the grocery store. When WWII came about and the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Jimmie and his family were placed in a camp. The community of Ketchikan kept the grocery store going. When the war was over and Jimmie and his family returned back to Ketchikan, the people handed over the keys and every penny that was made during that time. The Tatsuda family have always been grateful for all that the community did for them during this time.

There is so much more to do, such as attending the Lumberjack Show; taking a sea-plane into the Misty Fjords National Monument and exploring the Rainforest Sanctuary. You definitely want to get off the ship when you get to Ketchikan.

North to Alaska

As I stepped onto the ship, a smile was on my face as I realized that I was finally going to see Alaska.

When you think of Alaska, what do you think of?  I think of bears, moose, whales, salmon, glaciers, mountains and lots of lakes.  Any photo that I have ever seen of Alaska has been spectacular.  Everyone that I have spoken to about Alaska, has had nothing put wonderful things to say about this great state.

Part of the excitement is knowing that after this trip, I will have stepped foot onto all 50 states of the United States.  Alaska is such a huge state.  You could fit Texas into Alaska two times and the population is only around 740,000.  It is ranked 48th in population with Vermont at 624,000 and Wyoming at 580,000.

The capital of Alaska is Juneau.  The original capital was Sitka.  In 1906, the capital was moved to Juneau because the gold rush had made it much more economically significant than Sitka.  On October 18, 1867, the Russians handed over Alaska to the United States at a ceremony in Sitka.  It had been the capital of Russian America since 1808.

Some interesting facts about Alaska.  Russia controlled most of the area that is now Alaska from the late 1700s until 1867, when it was purchased by U.S. Secretary of State William Seward for $7.2 million or about two cents an acre.  In 1942, two of the outer Aleutian Islands(Attu and Kiska) were occupied by the Japanese during WWII and their recovery for the U.S. became a matter of national pride.

The state bird of Alaska is the willow ptarmigan.  The state flower is forget-me-not.  State sport is dog mushing.

Anchorage, Alaska has a subartic climate .  The average daytime summer temperatures range from approximately 55 to 78 degrees F, and the average daytime winter temperatures are about 5 to 30 degrees F.

Interesting facts about daylight.  Even though residents of Barrow(the northernmost town in Alaska, won't see the sun for 67 days winter, the enjoy the midnight sun all summer, over 80 days of uninterrupted daylight.   On the shortest day of the year(December 21st), Juneau's sunrise is at 8:45 am and sunset is at 3:07 pm.

The places that we will be visiting in Alaska will be Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Anchorage and Denali National Park.  I look forward to sharing my photos and adventures!

Proverbs 13 = Guarding Your Lips

As I begin reading Proverbs 13, I realize that as I read these verses, I have read them in the chapters before.  These verses are just expressed in a different way.  What is God trying to tell me?

I have read in several chapters about my lips, my tongue and words that I say to others.  A wise person controls their tongue.

Proverbs 13:3 says "He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin."  Our words can either cut and destroy or they can encourage and express love.  What we say represents how we have self-control over our lives.  We all know people that explode with harsh words when someone does something to them or says something that they don't agree with.  When one is wise, one knows how to handle situations.  Do you control your tongue?  Or do you just spit out words to get back to others?  Stop and think before you react or speak.  If you can control your tongue, then you will be able to control other issues in your life. 

Even James 3:5 says "Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.  Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark."  So true.  We have all heard stories of how someone threw out a cigarette as they drove through a forest and that one cigarette destroyed the surroundings of the forest.

Just remember that is the same situation with our tongue.  One hateful word can destroy a friendship or a family.  What type of tongue do you have?  Is it controlling and/or caring or is it conniving and/or careless?

Also, Proverbs 13 talks about "He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded."  God wants us to listen to his instructions and do what he says.  The Bible is the manual for our life, just like our owner manual for our car instructs us on how to use everything in the car.  If a red light comes on in our car, we go to the manual to find out what is wrong and how we need to correct it.  The Bible does that for us.  If we would read it and obey the instructions, then we wouldn't have so many issues in our own lives. 

Proverbs 13 discussed so much more.  At this time, God is expressing to me that I need to be careful what I say and to listen to God's word.  As a friend always says "God gave us one mouth and two ears."  With the two ears, God wants me to listen at what He says!

Cross the Brazos at Waco

"Cross the Brazos at Waco" is a country music song sung by Billy Walker.  I have heard this song many a times growing up.  When I think of Waco, I think of the Brazos River.

I first crossed the Brazos in Waco in February 1959.  At the age of five, my mom had remarried a man from Waco.  So she packed my sister and I up in her 1955 Chevrolet and moved us to Waco, Texas.

Growing up in Waco, I learned a lot about the history of Waco and all about the different landmarks throughout this city.  It was only about six years ago that Waco was finally being recognized as a nice town to raise a family.  Most people remember Waco from the Branch Davidians incident in 1993.

The year 2013 changed Waco with the HGTV program "Fixer Upper".  This was an American reality television series about home design and renovation starring Chip and Joanna Gaines.  This show aired from May 2013 to November 2017.  The personalities of Chip and Joanna made the show.  Since the TV program, the Gaines have created Magnolia Market at the Silos, the Silos Bakery, the restaurant "Magnolia Table" and so much more.  Because of their popularity, it has given other individuals opportunities to create their own businesses within Waco.  Two of the main characters on "Fixer Upper" that assisted Chip and Joanna with the renovations were Clint Harp(popular craftsman) and Jimmy Don Holme(metal designs).  These two men have opened up shops in the Waco area.

People have traveled throughout the world to tour Magnolia Market and to find out about the city of Waco.

What some people don't realize that there is so much more to discover within Waco than Magnolia Market.  I would like to take you on a tour.

Let me share some history of Waco.  It was founded in 1849 on the site of a Waco(Hueco) Indian village near a Texas Ranger fort(1837) in a farming and plantation area.  After the American Civil War, Waco became a river-bridge crossing on cattle trails.  Later its economy was based almost exclusively on cotton and the coming of the railroad(1881).  WWII brought two large air-force installations(now closed) and the beginning of industrialization.  A violent tornado devastated Waco on May 11, 1953, killing 114 people.

Waco has three universities:
1.  Baylor University, which was founded in 1845.  It is the oldest continuously operating university in Texas.  The enrollment is approximately 17,217.  My sister attended this beautiful campus with huge trees and unique architecture buildings from 1975 to 1978 and received her Business Degree.
2.  McLennan Community College(MCC), founded in 1965.  Enrollment is approximately about 9,000. I went to MCC from 1972 to 1974 and obtained my Associate Arts Degree.
3.  Texas State Technical College, founded in 1965, with enrollment at 4,100.

First Baptist Church is across the street from Magnolia Market.  This spectacular church(built in 1907) with the dome architect and beautiful stained glass windows was where I attended church.  I thought all churches had large stained glass windows.

There is the Dr Pepper Museum which is down the street from Magnolia Market.  This has history and memorabilla of soft drinks in the 1906 bottling plant.  It is the oldest major manufacturer of soft drinks concentrates and syrup in the United States.  Dr Pepper is America's unique flavor and was created, manufactured and sold beginning in 1885 in Waco.  In 1904, Dr Pepper was introduced to almost 20 million people attending the 1904 World's Fair Exposition in St. Louis.

The Suspension Bridge which crosses the Brazos at Waco was completed in 1870.  It was the only suspension bridge west of the Mississippi.  Waco, Texas was the proud owner of a bridge that would be the forerunner to the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, both to be designed by John A. Roebling. Magnolia Markets hosts the Silo District Marathon each year.  The Suspension Bridge is part of the route for the 5k.

A few blocks from the Suspension Bridge is the Alico Building, which was built in 1910.  In 1909, an insurance company was formed that embarked on a mission of which changed the face and skyline of Waco, Texas.  The Alico Building was a pioneer in the quest of the latest up-to-date technology in building construction to be taken to the outer edges of Western civilization that would withstand the test of time.  When it was built, it was the tallest building West of the Mississippi and South of the Mason-Dixie Line until 1929.  It withstood the tornado that devastated Waco in 1953.  Today at 282 feet tall(22-story office), it is currently the tallest building located in Waco.

On the banks of the Brazos River is the Texas Rangers Museum.  There are artifacts, artwork and archives relating to the Texas Rangers(a legendary symbol of Texas and the American West).  The rangers were founded in 1823 to protect the settlers.  It is the oldest law enforcement agency in North America.

A few blocks away from Baylor Campus is the Baylor Mayborn Museum, a Natural History Museum.

For those individuals that enjoy poetry, there is the Armstrong Browning Library on Baylor campus.  This museum is dedicated to the study of the lives and works of Victorian poets Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning and houses the largest collection of Browning material and other fine collections of rare 19th century books, manuscripts and works of art.

For those who enjoy nature, there is Cameron Park.  It is one of the largest municipal parks in Texas. More than 100 years ago, William Cameron donated the park to Waco.  The park is an oasis with towering trees, two rivers(Brazos and Bosque Rivers), breathtaking cliffs and a National Recreation Trail System which consist of 20 miles for bicycling and hiking.  The 400 acres park has always been used for parties, festival and sports.  I have fond memories of having church picnics there, as well as high school reunions.  The park offers "Jacob's Ladder and Rock Shelter".  This was supposedly built in the early 1900's by a family living at the top of the bluff.  The aged structure is still usable because of its periodic renovations and now includes nearly 100 zigzagging steps to the top.

Driving through the park, one of the beautiful cliffs to visit is Lovers Leap.  One of the many legends of this cliff, is that a young Indian couple from different tribes wanted to get married.  There family did not approve of the marriage.  They wanted to be together forever so they jumped to their death from the top of the cliff.

Within Cameron Park is the Cameron Park Zoo.  This is an award-winning natural habitat facility that is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.  Visitors can explore the Asian Forest, experience the African Savannah and its 50,000 gallon saltwater aquarium.  When I am in town, I love taking my nephew and niece to the park to enjoy the tigers, lions, elephants, giraffes and so much more.

In elementary school some of the field trips that we would take would be to tour the Historic Homes.  Earle-Napier-Kinnard House was built in 1868 with a Greek Revival Style.  The McCullough Home, also with the Greek style, was built in 1866.

The East Terrace((Italianate style of architecture), which is located on the Brazos River, was built in 1874.   With the East Terrace so close to the river, it flooded many times.  Once the water rose as high as four feet in the residence's ground floor.  The story is that the water rose so high and the family rescued one of their cows and had it in the boat with them.

The Fort House(Greek Revival style) was built in 1868.  This house is located about 2 blocks from Magnolia Market.  The Gaines have purchased this house.  It will be interesting to see what they do with it.

Another spectacular site is that Lake Waco is a reservoir located within the city limits of Waco.  The construction of this lake began in June 1958 and the impoundment of water began February 1965.  What is so nice about Lake Waco is that the residents can be at the lake within five to 10 minutes.  If you lived on the further side of Waco, it could take you 15 minutes.  I have fond memories of the lake.  In the spring of 1966, dad would take us fishing and the crappie fish were biting.  We caught about fifty crappies within an hour.  Dad would bait our hook and we would put the hook in the water and the fish would bite.  Growing up, I thought all cities had a lake right in the middle of town.

In February 2019, the Gaines also purchased a gorgeous historic home called Cottonland Castle.  The Castle was built in 1906.  Just like the royalty in England, the Gaines now have their own Castle in Waco, Texas.  I have such fond memories of the Castle.  In 1970, some good friends of the family purchased the Castle and renovated the house.  It was interesting to watch all the renovations that took place.  Part of the renovation was adding a swimming pool and pool house.  I went to many parties there at the Castle in the early 70s.

I could go on and on and on about the many interesting landmarks throughout Waco.  Due to the popularity of the Gaines, there have been new landmarks such as the various murals throughout the city.  At one of the well known restaurants, George's, there is a unique mural of famous Georges.  The Georges are President George Washington, President George H. W. Bush, President George W. Bush, George Strait(country western singer), George Foreman(boxer) and  the George Lopez(comedian/actor).  On another building, there is the Van Gogh inspired "Starry Night" mural.  At this time, there are about fourteen more throughout the city.  Every time I visit Waco, I discover another mural.

I hope you have enjoyed this tour of Waco, Texas.  It was a delight to share some of my growing up experiences with you.

Starry Night

George's Restaurant

Alico Building

Suspension Bridge

Silos in the early morning

First Baptist Church

Proverbs 12 = Wise Learners

As I continue to read Proverbs, I am in awe of all the common sense that proverbs teaches you.  Proverbs is concerned with the learning of wisdom.  You either want to become a wise learner or you refuse to learn and become a foolish failure. The best direction in life is to make the right choices.

Proverbs 12:1, "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid."  If you want to be taught, the sky is the limit.  If you don't want to learn, then all the years of schooling will teach you nothing.  So many people go through life and never listen to the wise teachers.  This verse is not talking about physically punishing someone, but using discipline in a constructive way.  Knowledge is gaining facts, information and skills through experience and/or education.  A person who refuses constructive criticism has a problem with pride.  When we have pride in our lives, we aren't willing to listen to others.  Once again, the choice is yours!

Proverbs 12:19, "Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment."  Truth is "something that has been proven by facts or sincerity." 

Tom Hanks said this about truth, "truth is, I'll never know all there is to know about you just as you will never know all there is to know about me.  Humans are by nature too complicated to be understood fully.  So, we can choose either to approach our fellow human beings with suspicion or to approach them with an open mind, a dash of optimism and a great deal of candour."

The truth is that the Bible has withstood the test of time.  Because God is truth, you can trust his Word to guide you.  No one trusts a person who doesn't speak the truth.

There are twenty-eight verses in Proverbs 12.  So much knowledge and truth to read about.

Take the time to read this chapter and to allow God to speak to you and to show you what He wants you to learn.

Proverbs 11 = Righteousness

Proverbs 11 talks a lot about being righteous.  Webster says that righteous means "acting in accord with divine or moral law; free from guilt or sin".  Some synonyms of righteous are decent, ethical, good, honest, honorable, moral, true, virtuous and so much more.

The antonyms of righteous are bad, dishonest, evil, immoral, unethical, wicked, wrong,,,,,

Proverbs 11:5, "The righteous of the blameless makes a straight way for them, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness."

Proverbs 11:8, "The righteous man is rescued from trouble, and it comes on the wicked instead."

Proverbs 11:19, "The truly righteous man attains life, but he who pursues evil goes to his death."

Proverbs 11:30, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life and he who wins souls is wise."

Being righteous doesn't mean that you will be excluded from problems or struggles.  If you allow God's wisdom to be a part of your life, then God can rescue you from these troubles.  We will suffer, but we have hope in knowing that God is with us and that we will have eternal life.

As we have discussed, our mouths can be used as a weapon to destroy people or a tool to encourage others.  How will you use your words?  Will you be the one who shares a meaningful life or the one who destroys one's soul? 

By being righteous, you will be in touch with God and you will understand what it means to be faithful. 

Wisdom is so much more than being smart, it is all about understanding what God wants you to do with your life.

As I look at the hot air balloon displayed on my porch as it twirls with the wind, I know that I want the Lord to fill me with Him so that I can spin about life sharing the wisdom that has been given to me.

Magnolia Market at the Silos/Fixer Upper

I love Texas!  Texas is home to me.  Even though I don't live there at this time, I head back to Texas every few months to see family and friends. 

Last week I was in Waco, Texas to visit my parents.  Every time that I am in Waco, my eighty-four year old mother wants to head over to the Magnolia Market to see what is happening.  For those who do not know about Magnolia Market, it is a retail store created by Wacoans Chip and Joanna Gaines.  They are the couple that created "Fixer Upper"on HGTV.  It was a series that ran for about three years.  Chip and Joanna remodeled homes for couples and individuals that were wanting to purchase a home in the Waco area.  Joanna has the vision to preserve and highlight the character of each home.  Chip goes in and reconstructs Joanna's vision.

"Fixer Upper" put Chip and Joanna and Waco on the map.  Waco is now a destination for so many people throughout the world.  One day, mom and I were at Magnolia and there was a young lady with family and friends from Colorado and Kansas.  They were having her Bridal Party at Magnolia.  On that same day, there was a young lady getting food from one of the food trucks.  She was from California and was celebrating her 30th birthday in Waco, Texas.  I chuckled at the thought of Waco being a place of destination.  I graduated from high school in Waco in 1972 and I could hardly wait to leave.

With Waco now being a place that people want to visit, every time I am back in Waco, I have friends that want to come visit me.  Everybody wants to come to Magnolia Market.  So last week, some friends from Tyler drove over and met mom and I at the Silos  That particular day, it was about 100 degrees with the heat index around 110.  It is amazing the things that we will do.

Even with the heat, the market was crowded and there were children and families playing soccer, bean bags, etc out on the lawn. 

Mom and I and my friends sat at a small round table with a huge umbrella with a mist of water in the air.  We enjoyed eating sandwiches from one of the food trucks as well as enjoying a 16 oz mason jar filled with Alabama Sweet Tea and ice.  We finished our meal with a delicious cupcake from the Silos Bakery.

The landmark for Magnolia Market are the silos.  These two 120-foot-tall-silos were completed in 1950.  Waco owed a great portion of its success to the cotton industry.  In 1900, cottonseed was second to lumber.  These silos have remained even when cotton was no longer in demand.  Chip and Joanna love to take old homes and restore them back to life.  This is what  they have done with the Silos.  These silos have been empty since the late 50s.  Who knows why these silos were never taken down?  Here we are almost seventy years later and these silos are now once again a part of something great in Waco, Texas.

Take out your "Bucket List" and put "Magnolia Market at the Silos" on that list.  You will be glad you took the time to visit this cute city and discover everything that it has to offer.

Proverbs 10 = Finishing Strong

The next 14 chapters(Proverbs 10 - Proverbs 24) are written by other individuals, but were collected by Solomon.  These chapters will give each person practical wisdom so that they can enjoy each stage of their life.

As I read Proverbs 10, I am reflecting on my own life and my own walk.  How do others see me?  Will I finish my life strong?   Will I keep my faith?  Will I have encouraged others to make the best choice in their own life?

Within the past week, I have talked with several friends who have lost loved ones.  One friend, her mother was in her 90s and has been in poor health for a while; another good friend lost a cousin, who was 65, to cancer and one of my cousin's forty-seven year old son died due to heart issues.  Each person was at a different stage in life, but they each have left a mark on this earth.

Proverbs 10:2, "Ill-gotten treasures are of no value, but righteousness delivers from death."  Some people do bring unhappiness on themselves.  How sad to think that you are alive, but dead due to your own unhappiness.

The rest of Proverbs 10 contrasts the righteous person with the wicked.  How are we using the life that has been given to us?  Are we wasting it away and letting life slip away?  Each day is a gift from God and we need to seize the opportunities to live life for Him.

Proverbs 10:20, "The tongue of the righteous is a choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value."  As we all know, our tongue can be our worst enemy?  How do we speak to others?  Are we being honest?  Are we speaking the truth?  Are you listening to others, as they speak words of wisdom to you?  "The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom..."  Proverbs 10:31.

With wisdom and insight, one does not dread death because we know that there is eternal life.  But the wicked person dreads death because he/she does not believe in an eternal life.  Due to their uncertainty to life, there is no hope. 

As we read through Proverbs, we are given a choice.  You can live in fear and reject God or you can accept God and follow him.  The choice is yours!

My life has eternity written all over it.  With the wisdom that God has given me, I will "finish strong"!