Road Trip

This morning I was up before sunrise.  Sitting in my rocker, looking out into the wetland, drinking my coffee, I was in awe of the full moon.  It was as if the moon was smiling back at me.

Today was the first day of our "Road Trip" to Texas.  I haven't traveled long distance by car in several years.  Due to the COVID situation, my husband and I felt "why not travel by car and see the USA".

If you have never taken a road trip, you need to.  It is a great way to enjoy the terrain, talk about the history of that area and just time to be with each other.

Before I talk about our 1st day of traveling, I want to share some trivia about the world's first recorded long-distance road trip by automobile.  It took place in Germany in August 1888.  The wife of the inventor of the first patented motor car traveled 66 miles, a speed of 10 miles per hour.  She traveled with her two teenage sons.  Her husband had no knowledge of this trip.

Her official reason of why she took this trip was to go visit her mother.  Unofficially, she intended to generate publicity for her husband's invention.  Her name was Bertha Benz.  The Benz's family eventually evolved into the present day Mercedes-Benz Company.  As Paul Harvey would say "now you know the rest of the story".

Kenny and I wanted to take the time to visit family in Texas.  Kenny's mother has three siblings that are living.  Uncle Frank and Aunt Loie live in San Antonio and Aunt Pat lives in Mars Hills, North Carolina.  Uncle Frank will be 92 in December and is still bowling and meeting friends for breakfast.  Aunt Loie will be 87 in October and keeps busy with her husband and children and grandchildren.  San Antonio would be our final destination in Texas before we drive back to Loveland.

The morning was busy packing the truck.  Knowing we had lots of room and we didn't need to worry about the weight of our luggage, we packed everything.  Kenny wanted to take boxes of books and turkey decoys for his brother, who would meet us in San Antonio from Houston.  We were definitely loaded when we pulled out of the driveway.

We would take I-25 South and then 70-east and then Highway 287 south to Texas.  Along the way, we would travel through areas that went through a lot of hardship during the 1920's and 1930's.  

As we traveled down the highway, the terrain continued to change.  We went from the mountains to the great plains.  Here we were traveling in our air condition truck with all the comforts.  I thought about the people that had traveled westward to discover new territories and new opportunities.  These people from the east set out on foot, wagon, horseback or train.  Their road trip was different than mine.

Driving along Highway 287, we saw an 18 wheeler that had been turned over.  Also, there was a guy on a Harley that was packed.  Lots of traffic on the road.  Everybody was going somewhere.

As we drove through the Comanche National Grasslands, southeast area of Colorado, I thought of the dinosaurs roaming the grasslands to the Mexican and American traders traveling through to the Santa Fe trail.  

Crossing the border from Colorado to Oklahoma, Kenny talked about the area and that the plains were the worst hit during the dust bowl.  The high plains experienced drought conditions for as many as eight years.  Passing through Boise City, Oklahoma, we discussed "Black Sunday".  Black Sunday refers to the dust storm that occurred on April 14, 1935.  It was one of the worst storms in American history and it caused immense economic and agricultural damage.  The combination of drought, erosion, bare soil  and winds caused the dust to fly freely and at high speed.  One begins to realize that every generation goes through something.  Every one stresses about the COVID pandemic, but what about the people who lived during the dust bowl.  Around 7,000 people died during the Dust Bowl.

Driving through the Oklahoma panhandle, which is a 38 mile stretch, we reached the Texas border.  It felt good to be back in "Texas".  We had another 140 mile before we got to Canyon, Texas to spend the night with friends.

After 500 miles and eight hours of driving, stopping twice, we finally reached our friends.  We were looking forward to visiting, as well as a great meal and a good nights sleep.

Tomorrow, we will see Palo Duro Canyon.  This has been on my bucket list for a long time.

As we passed this guy, I captured the moment.

Crossing into Oklahoma

Home Sweet Home

Comanche National Grassland - Colorado

A Storm is Brewing

As I looked to the south, I knew a storm was brewing.  A calmness came over me as I observed the spectacular colors.  The colors were orange, yellow, red, dark purple and so many other blended colors. These bold colors reminded me that I believe in a bold God.  Webster says that bold means "showing or requiring a fearless daring spirit".  That is my God, He is fearless.  He stands before others to protect me.

A I thought of all that is going on around the world, I knew that God would be there.  He provides refuge, security and peace.  There are days that I don't know where to turn or know how I will get through a situation.  Psalms 46 states "that God is a very present help in trouble".  God's power is thorough.  As long as He lives through me, He will protect me.

Who do you want to be there for you?  Remember the people of Judah?  When they allowed God to live among them in the city, the city was invincible.  But when they abandoned God, He no longer protected them and Jerusalem fell to the Babylonian army.

May I stand quietly before the Lord.  May I honor His power and His majesty.  I will take time each day to proclaim His name.

When the storm is brewing, I know He will be there!

 

 

A New Season

Hard to believe that we are at the end of August.  Four more months and a new year "2021" will begin.  As we all know, life has been different this year and the year is not over.  I reflect on the words of King Solomon.  "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." 

As I look out on the wetland area, the yellow flowers remind me that a new season is before me.  I need to find satisfaction where I am at.  God created those yellow flowers and He created me.  There is beauty all around me.  I just need to continue to keep my eyes open and to trust Him as He guides me through each season of life. 

As the life cycle of the yellow flowers will end, also the year of "2020" will also come to an end. 

May I not rush "2020", but enjoy each day that He has created and to listen as He teaches me about the cycle of seasons and life!

Turning "90", A Milestone

What milestone have you reached lately?  We all have landmarks or turning points in our own personal life; graduating from college; retiring from work; getting married; having their first born; travelling or having a special birthday.

My dad will be reaching a milestone on August 28th.  He will be turning "90".  

Worldwide, the average life expectancy of a man is 71 years.  The current life expectancy in North America of a male is 78.93 years.  And the odds of living to 90 is a 30% chance.  Dad has beat the odds.  He probably needs to go by a lotto ticket this week.

Just recently, dad told my sister that he has had a good life.  He graduated from high school, went into the Navy; got married and had a family and was successful at managing a wholesale plumbing company for almost 40 years.  For the past 30 years, he has enjoyed fishing, traveling some with my mom and just going to the lake and sitting on the dock and looking out into the wide span of water.

In the past 10 years, his hearing loss has been a challenge.  Even with his hearing aids, he is deaf.  It is very hard for him to communicate with family and friends.  His body is beginning to slow down and he enjoys his naps.  It is tough getting older, as you are not able to move as fast or think as fast as you use to.

Dad's daily schedule consists of sleeping, eating brunch and dinner, channel-surfing on the television, waiting for the mailman, writing checks for those bills and balancing the checkbook.  Not bad for being 90.

About a week ago, one of the deacons from church, Jim expressed to me how much he missed seeing dad at church and assisting him with the offering.  Even before COVID hit, dad hadn't attended church in almost two years.  It is a challenge for dad to get in and out of the car and to walk distances.

Jim looked forward to seeing dad each Sunday.  Jim knew that dad would have a twinkle in his eye and a tale to tell him.

Dad's keys for a long life are a sense of humor; marrying a good woman; fishing; things were either black or white(no gray); attending church weekly; paying your bills on time; being somewhere on time and enjoying happy hour each evening.

Since 2020 is the year of "COVID", there was no way that we were going to have a party.  So instead, we decided that dad needed to be showered with cards.  His enjoyment in life is watching for the mailman daily(except Sunday) and my sister and I thought, he should have something good in that mailbox daily.  Back in July, my sister and I put together a flyer of photos representing dad of his 90 years of life.  Of course, we had a photo of him with a mask.  We began to ask family and friends to start mailing him a card.  We wanted his birthday to be celebrated for days, weeks and months.  Dad started receiving cards back in July.  Every time, he received a card, he said "it isn't my birthday yet".  

With dad not being able to hear us explain why he has been receiving cards, I wrote him a letter.  I told him that we were letting everyone know about this great milestone that he was about to reach and it was something that needed to be celebrated.  We wanted him to be flooded with cards from all over the world and especially from the United States.

I explained that "90" is something to celebrate.  People 90 and older now comprise 4.7% of the older population(age 65 and older), as compared with only 2.8% in 1980.  Ninety is a number of humanitarianism, compassion and idealism.  It is a number of philanthropy and tolerance.  

It was also interesting to find out the various celebrities that are turning "90" in 2020.  Here are a few celebrities:

Clint Eastwood = May 31st

Sean Connery = August 25th

Gene Hackman = January 30th

Buzz Aldrin = January 20th

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor = March 26th

Robert Wagner = February 10th

John Astin = March 30th

Joanne Woodward(Paul Newman's wife) = February 27th

I let him know that he was in good company with people turning "90".  Dad knew he was in good company, as his sister will be turning "93" in September.  Longevity definitely runs in their family.

Mom has had as much fun as dad has in receiving cards daily.  She has recorded each person that has sent a card and what state or country that they are from.  He has received cards from Canada, France and Japan.  Mother has draped the cards all over the house so that dad can see them everyday.  As of today, one week before dad's 90th birthday, he has received "110 cards".  Wow!  Thank you to everyone who sent a card.  Your card made a difference.

It has touched my parent's hearts to see people take the time to send a card and letter to someone that they don't know.  I have always said that mankind is "good" and they want to do "good". 

Milestones are important.  I encourage you to take time to recognize those landmarks, achievements, anniversaries and breakthroughs.  Also, if you know of someone who is reaching a milestone, help them celebrate.

Capturing the Moment

Early morning walks are the best!  Here it is the first of August and I can already feel the change of the seasons.  The mornings are cooler and there is a crispness in the air.

This morning was even more special as I walked down the road observing all that God has created.  The new dawn light was hitting the yard of my neighbors when out of the corner of my eye, I saw a hummingbird flash by. 

I carry my I-Phone with me so that I can capture those unique moments.  Today, it was the hummingbird.  He wasn't frightened by me.  He just wanted to get the nectar from this plant.  I watched him and took several photos while he went from one flower to the next.  After he got what he wanted, he was gone.

As I continued on my walk, I thanked God for that moment.  How many times are we too busy or preoccupied or upset over something and we didn't "capture the moment".  The Bible talks about how we don't need to live in the past, but we need to live now.  We need to focus on what God is doing at that moment and what He will do in the future.

If I hadn't been looking, I would have missed this shot of the hummingbird.  Remember when Moses took the Hebrews out of Egypt.  They were always complaining.  They weren't looking at where they were.  God had performed miracles in Egypt, but the miracles would even be more spectacular in the future.  They just needed to keep their eyes open and look all around at all that God had provided.

Isaiah 43:18-19 states "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See God is doing a new thing."

Open your eyes and look at what God is doing for you even during this pandemic time!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

I love the sound of rain.  To me there is something comforting about the clouds and hearing the rain fall to the earth from the sky.  Studies show that rain is like a lullaby that can help people to relax and to even fall asleep.  The pitter-patter on the roof or as it hits the windows gives you a sense of calmness.  

As the rain ended and I stepped outside to feel the cooler temperature, I looked to the east and I was in awe as I saw a complete rainbow.  The colors of red, orange, yellow, green and blue were striking.  I wondered if the pot of gold was waiting for me at the end of the rainbow.

With a smile on my face, humming "Somewhere over the rainbow", I enjoyed a leisurely walk around the neighbor.  

The rain and the spectacular rainbow renewed my spirit.  God's promises to Noah after the flood reminds me all that God does for me on a daily basis.  God promised Noah that never again would a flood do such destruction; that seasons will come as expected and a rainbow will be visible when it rains as a sign that God keeps His promises.

There are so many promises written in the Bible.  Begin to find them and see God's faithfulness to each of us.  The pot of gold is what God gives us if only we will ask.

What Do Bees Tell Me?

Watering the flowers today, I was amazed at all the bees flying from one flower to the next.  It is interesting to watch nature.  If we look and listen, we will learn a lot. 

Bees teach us about working as a team to get something accomplished.  Everybody has their role and their responsibility.  Of course, there is the Queen Bee.  She is usually the mother of most, if not all, the bees in the beehive.  The bees will follow and fiercely protect her.  The other bees will collect the nectar, which is for everybody.  There is so much more to learn about the bees.  One thing is that they have a good memory.  They travel long distances, but they know how to get back to their hives.

It is interesting to note that bees pollinate the crops.  The bees collect nectar and pollen from the flower of a plant.  When the bee visits the next flower or crop, some of the pollen rubs off into the plant and reproduction is beginning.  Without bees, we would not have apples, almonds, cherries, avocados, blueberries and the list goes on.  So as you can see we need the bees.

In the Bible, God talks a lot about bees and honey.   Proverbs 16:24 says "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."  Haven't you heard the phrase "you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar."

As bees are important to the environment, our words and how we speak are just as important.  Are we we speaking words of encouragement and joy or are we speaking words of destruction?  Our mouth is powerful.  What words will you speak today?

As the bees buzz around pollinating our crops to produce the various vegetables and fruits and flowers.  We also need to be buzzing around speaking words of life, encouragement, wisdom, affirmation and hope.

Bees are needed to produce crops.  People are needed for each other.  Bee that special person!