GPS

My daughter Athena called me before I left to let me know Sprint has GPS (Global Position System) capability for some of their phones which might help me find myself when traveling. I checked that out, but my phone is not "java enabled," so I can't get it.

Richard pointed out that I have yet to learn how to manage call waiting or text messaging, so I might have problems using a more complex system like GPS. True.

I need GPS, though. My newly devised navigational strategy, which consists of a consecutive list of highways I am to take, has not worked so well after all. I was lost twice today. Once, I turned off I-10 to look for a ham sandwich and somehow never found the sandwich or the freeway. I wandered on a county road (CR2434 which is not on my map) praying to find any numbered highway... some time later, I was on another road and LO, there was I-10! Prayers answered!!

The next time, I am not sure when I left the freeway, I don't recall doing that, but I was on some road heading north. I had not gotten to whatever big city is west of Houston (I can't think of it right now) but finally, I found a numbered highway and made my way back down to I-10 about 50 or so miles west of the big city. Again, folks have been praying for me and God is hearing... I now have GPS God's Position System!

I am still in Texas. Tired but happy and very blessed. My little car now has over 102,000 miles and has never had a problem, well, only a small one once. This trip has been good. God has been good!!!

LOST

Whoa! I thought I had blogged daily but see I am way behind. I believe I wrote, but cannot now recall for sure. That's true of quite a few things in my life... oh well.

Right now, I am in a motel in Beaumont, Texas. I came here sometime yesterday afternoon, I think. I left home Thursday evening. I had planned to leave in the morning but getting ready required more time and help than I expected. That's also true of quite a few things in my life... oh well.

The trip has already been an adventure. I got lost in a rest area. When I came out of the building after using the facilities, I couldn't find the cars - ANY cars, not just mine. Being disoriented as I leave public rest rooms is normal for me, but as sometimes happens, I began to bog down cognitively and could not remember what I was driving (the car or pickup) or if I was traveling alone or with Richard... or maybe Donna was with me? I wasn't sure.

Then I found the parking lot after circling the buildings several times -- this was a large rest area with landscaping and a long walkway. The security guard had been eyeing me and now approached me. I didn't have my purse, so no I.D. I also didn't know what I was driving and he wouldn't accept multiple choice. I didn't know where I was, just on I-10, not which state just then. Plus I didn't know if I was with anyone. I was a suspicious character, indeed!

It occurred to me that I was about to "flood" (become mentally overwhelmed to the point of being unable to process or respond to people, info, etc) and that this guy might think I was on drugs and arrest me, or perhaps have me sent to some hospital for psychological observation.

In answer to silent prayer, I spotted my car and produced the keys from my pocket. I can't remember what happened next, but that seemed to make everything better and I was soon on my way. When my thinking cleared, I remembered I was traveling alone but checked the luggage just to make sure. I didn't want to have to go back in search of Richard or Donna nor did I want to have given them the scare of thinking I had forgotten them and driven away without them.

The Lord takes such good care of me! Cell phone conversations with Richard and Donna have kept me on "the straight and narrow" so I have remembered to do all the necessary things like sleep and eat and check road signs. Except for turning out of our community (because I forgot how to get to the freeway) I have not gotten lost on the highway and indeed have come up with a new and better strategy for navigating... but I haven't the time, energy or words to write it out just now.

Instead, here is a copy of my email to Richard:

I LOVE YOU!!!
I just woke up... Have probably slept 12 hours but am feeling refreshed and ready to start a new day. I have prayed and as always thanked God for the incredible blessings He has given me... Salvation... life... you are among the top.

I really wish I could express how much I love you, how deeply I respect you and admire your gentleness and basic goodness. I love the kindness that is at your core. I love it that you make me feel better about myself.....

I wish I were pretty; you call me beautiful (I love that). I wish my brain worked again (properly); you call me intelligent, smart.... and you are patient with me when I can't think or remember. I know it's frustrating for you; it's maddening for me. Thank you so for your amazing patience, especially as I was getting ready to leave and less able to think. When my brain gets overwhelmed and is beginning to be go under, no one is more expert than you at guiding me out of the flood and back to safe harbors.

I long to be witty and quick and confident that I could learn or do anything I wanted. Instead, although I am a million times better, I am still dull and slow. I shudder to think of the problems we would have had if the rest area security guard had tried to detain me as I was fairly sure he planned to do. At the time, I had it in my head to jump in the car and race away... now, I see it was a bad idea.

I know it seems impossible, but I see that I have forgotten to bring several things... oh well, as Donna told me today, there is always Wal-Mart. She reminded me to eat something besides the granola bars I brought and gave me her usual pep talk. I am so glad she will be going with me from California.

I miss you much already. Love our little dogs for me. Did I tell you that I love you? Well, I do!!!

Lovingly,
iona

Grace

A simple Sunday that didn't seem like Sunday... Richard went to work early and I overslept and missed church. I worked on our family tree and history all day and we ate Dominos Pizza for dinner.

It's been three days since I had a headache and now one is upon me. I am thankful for the pain-free days. I am also thankful God isn't legalistic. Grace prevails, even for those who oversleep.

Family Duty

I spent most of last night and all day today digitizing family history and genealogy records. Relatives have entrusted me with these precious pages representing several lifetimes of research and work by various of my kin folk past and present.

I am scanning in all documents and converting some from image files to text files using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software. In proofing these text files I was amazed to find some very exciting facts about my family line. Seems that I am a descendant of a certain Michael Weigand who migrated from Germany to England and was sponsored by Queen Anne who gave him and his companions land in America in 1708. The home he eventually built became known as Hasbrouck House and was later used by George Washington as a headquarters for a time. COOL!

I have found all sorts fascinating tales and people in my past roots and am excited about an upcoming road trip to gather family info. I had planned to make a trip to Iowa and South Dakota last summer, but too much was going on and we moved in the midst of it, so now is the time to make the trek.

I will be visiting many folks who are in their 80's or older as well as a few younger folks. I have talked of getting the family history and records compiled for years and just have never gotten it done. It is something that really needs to be done and something I owe my children, so I am determined to finally work with diligence on it.

God deliberately placed each of us in a family. It was not some haphazard or casual choice. He had a reason for putting us in the family we have. Like all families, yours and mine, there are some good guys and some less honorable ones. I have often wondered about why God made the choices He did in my life, just as you may not understand His placement of you with the family you came from. One thing I know, though, He made the selections out of love and wisdom and has our futures in His tender hands as well.

Nail Begone

Hooray!!! I finished all the old filing and other paperwork that's been piling up since May. That sure feels good. What doesn't feel so good is my toe. As you might guess, with the nail half on and half off, it was constantly getting pulled, bumped or otherwise reinjured.

I agreed with Richard, the nail had to go. We also agreed that to cut off the lose part would leave the remaining nail to gouge the nail bed, ouch. So, we decided he should pull the nail out as I was too chicken to do it. Better in the long run, but really sore now. Good thing I got the paperwork done before we pulled the nail out.

So now, it's off to bed with me, hoping to sleep away the pain and awaken fresh in the morning. I haven't really slept well because I kept touching my toe and moving the nail with the bedclothes. Now, I shall sleep!

Good Day Anyway

My toenail is half on and half off. Better one way or the other, but I am too wimpy to try to remove it and so there it dangles and every move seems to make it worse. Doctor? I don't have a doctor here yet and going to the E.R.... well, let's just say, that is something I avoid if at all possible. So, I am praying and I am semi patient... I will wait for it to heal.

I did go to Red Hats yesterday and enjoyed the fellowship. Our table was the only one I saw where Grace was said.

Richard had the day off and wanted to tour around Epcot, so we rented a wheelchair and he pushed me around the park. It was a slow day over there and we didn't wait for a thing. We had fun together.

Today is Bible Study here in the Park and it's almost time to leave, so will head out, leaving a blessing for you along the way. May God fill your day with His presence and may you actually sense how close He is.

Toe Trouble

I had a wonderful day. Went shopping for Red Hat attire with two friends and actually found a store specializing in it, so I am ready to look garish at the luncheon tomorrow. Actually, I am usually ready to look garish any day of the week. I like loud colors and sparkly clothes.

After shopping, we went out to lunch at Appleby's and I discovered a new sandwich with a red onion and cranberry sauce that was quite the treat. When our food arrived, I asked my friends if I could lead them in a prayer. They agreed and one was very pleased about that.

It was Richard's first day working for Disney and he liked it. He now has all his official stuff, pin, badge, booklets, etc. And his card, "The Key to the Kingdom." Yet another thing to be thankful for.

All these bits and pieces of our days, Love Notes from God, combine to make us the most blessed people I know. So, when some little problem comes round, it only serves as a reminder of how well loved we really are.

This evening I ran into more toe trouble, literally. I was skipping into the bedroom to put something away and smacked my right second toe into the mirror stand, ripping the nail almost off. Hurts really BAD! Okay, you ask why a 67 year old total klutz dances and skips around a house that's overcrouded with furniture... Because life is fun, and skipping is a fun way to get around.

While Richard finished cooking dinner, I talked over human design features with the Lord. "I can understand why You put so many more nerve endings in our fingers, Lord," I whined, "but in the toes? Why so many nerves in toes?" God, no doubt smiled tenderly and whispered to me that my pain mattered to Him, but also reminded me that it is nothing compared to what Jesus willingly underwent for me.

I took a Norco (usually used for my head pain) and thanked the Lord for chemistry. Then I felt better enough to read my email and some blog comments... God lifting me up through the love of others. I am so very blessed to have friends and family who love me!

Simple Joys

It's always a blessing for me to see Sunday roll around. Lots of folks, even some believers, don't like church. Too bad. They must miss the point.

I love church. The music might be bad; the sermon could be boring; some folks are probably hypocrites; the seats could be hard; people may not always be friendly, they might even be judgmental... no matter, I love church, anyway. God always does something in me at church.

I've been talking about "church" as the organized meeting of people to worship, serve and learn about the Lord, as in to "have church." Usually, but not always, these meetings take place in a building called a church. Then, of course, "church" is the term for the combined group of all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, also known as "The Body of Christ." I love "church" in all its connotations.

Yesterday, we attended the First Baptist Church of Kissimmee. While we were visiting at our daughter's house after church, some sweet folks from the First Christian Church (where we went last week) came by with cookies. They left them with our neighbor. It will be good when the Lord shows us where He would have us settle in.

While in Athena's neighborhood, she and I went shopping for purple clothing for me to wear to an upcoming Red hat Society luncheon. It was good to spend time with Athena who always soothes my soul. I never feel "judged" by her and yet she is well able to express opposing beliefs in a gentle, effective way without trying to destroy the person she disagrees with. I could (and hope to) learn much from her.

Before shopping, Richard, Brian, Athena and I had gone to Macaroni Grill for luscious Italian food. All of us took home enough for another tasty meal, so it really was a bargain. Then it was on to the pet store for dog food and gold fish. Brian had build a wonderful backyard pond for Athena and it was time to populate the waters.

Sunday was a great day all round... so good, in fact, that I forgot to blog, LOL.

Well, I finally wrote all the dear ladies who were contributing staff members of Handmaidens and/or other sites and told them I would no longer be laboring in those fields at this time. It was hard to come to that, and harder yet to announce it, but I was clearly not getting things done... and that alone was freezing up my ability to function elsewhere.

Having so written, I feel a huge sense of relief. Now, I just need to let the readers know... but I doubt they will consider it news since there has been no productivity on my part in such a long while.

Today was a lovely day as temperatures seemed lower. I visited with my friend Carol on the phone and was blessed. Richard and I swam this evening and ate cold cereal for dinner. A good day to be alive. God is showing me the joys of simplicity and increased silence as Richard and I do our own study of the book of James. I am working on controlling my tongue.

Doing Disney

We have long been Disney fans, but today we did Disney in a brand new way. This morning I went with Richard as he took care of the final paperwork as a new employee of Walt Disney World, the largest single site employer in the U.S. Richard has been hired as a bus driver. So now we have become part of the Disney family and are proud to be so.

We are so thankful for our stations in life and that God has always provided rewarding employment to both of us. I'm not able to work now but I hope that will one day change... you never know!

My brother called this afternoon. He broke a rib not long ago and shortly after that, his daughter Donna also broke a rib... this is the same Donna I often written about. Keep them in prayer as broken ribs are SO painful and there is really very little treatment for them.

We have made great strides with our yard and gotten all the plants set in the ground, the mesh anti-weed netting on and white rocks spread. It looks good. Just after we finished, the Lord added the final touches with a hearty rain shower and a cool breeze.

I was up late last night organizing all my digital photos. No, I didn't even come close to getting done. I have over 12,000 photos on my hard drive... it's way out of hand. But for now I want to get a good night's sleep in before church in the morning.

Oh, one more thought... after not being able to find it for some months, we found Pernell's Old Folks Country sausage at Wal-Mart today. We had sausage, scrambled eggs and biscuits for supper. Pernell's is the best sausage we ever ate... as they say in their ad, "It's Gooo-od!"

Crippled Plants

We've been working on our yard all week. Neither of us has a clue what we're doing but the previous owner must have known even less. Nonetheless, the work is sort of fun and the place is already looking better.

Yesterday, we bought plants to add to the some of what was here. I found some that were sad and dying, thirsty, droopers that needed rescuing. I bought them at bargain prices, and one was so bad they gave it to me.

Not exactly a recipe for gardening success, but where there is life, there is hope and in some cases (like Lazerus) there is hope beyond life. Anyway, Richard prepared the beds and tomorrow we'll set in the new plants. I feel really good about all this.

P.S. I have been reminded I promised to write about stealing trucks. Too tired for that tonight but soon.

Yesterday

Yesterday was the two-year anniversary of my accident at Wal-Mart. Richard called it a good day. I didn't mention to him that for me, it was bittersweet. Why should it be a hard day for both of us?

We were busy much of the day and as we went from here to there, I had internal dialogs with the Lord. We got a pickup load of white rock for our yard makeover and God reminded me that in His sight I am pure and white, enabled to be in His presence... but He also showed me that to make me clean, Jesus, the spotless lamb of God had to be broken like that rock. Compared to His pain, mine is nothing... a mere inconvenience.

I watched two shows of Monk on TV (they were having a Monk marathon). I can't quite follow the story line, but I like the characters. As I enjoyed the comedic antics of Monk's brain, God reminded me that even though my own brain doesn't work quite as well or predictably as it once did, it is still serving me fairly well and, like Mr. Monk, I have someone to help me, someone who takes my oddities in stride and works around them.

Richard and I played Canasta over the internet (ain't technology grand?) and even though it's hard for me to keep track of my turn, etc, I still have fun, and God reminded me that it is He who created me and gave me the capacity for fun and love and joy, none of which were lost when my skull impacted first steel, then concrete.

Finally, an old friend sent me a chat message and words of encouragement he couldn't have known I needed to hear on this particular day... but God knew! He always knows!!

More Like Home

After my morning swim aerobics, Richard and I picked up a load of boxes from our rented storage unit. Except for one, all the boxes were full of books, Now almost all the books are in bookcases. Only 40 or 50 paperbacks still need a place to belong, and we'll probably buy a media stand for them and our videos, DVDs and software discs.

One box we brought home was labeled "Rocks." I couldn't imagine what rocks we might have packed up and moved with us, and this box hadn't been unpacked since we left Dothan, Alabama over two years ago. What a pleasant surprise to find large mineral crystals. Some were specimens given me by my brother and some I had found on my own... gorgeous "rocks!"

This evening after we had our Bible time together, we went across the street for a visit with friends over coffee and pie. They've been here five years and love it. Tomorrow, I go for breakfast with a group of ladies from the community and then will head over to the Apple store in the mall for Mac lessons. When I get home, I plan on some serious house cleaning.

It's good to be alive. God has taken very good care of me and every day here makes me feel more at home.

Theme Park Church, Family Ties

We attended church in a theme park. A small Baptist church holds Sunday services and a mid-week Bible study in the Shofar Auditorium of the Holy Land Experience. It is far enough away that we were not attending with the idea this might become our home church, but merely out of an interest in the concept of church in a theme park.

The sermon was from Genesis 49 and the delivery presupposed in its hearers a good deal of Biblical knowledge. I had expected a more evangelistic message since the web site had invited tourists and other visitors and (to me, at least) seemed to intimate an introduction to the Gospel, but enjoyed the sermon anyway.

After church, we drove over to my brother's job site where he is the Punch Man on a construction project building an Olive Garden restaurant. We picked Donnie up and drove over to Brannigan's for a family meal and a good visit.

I love my brother so deeply. We shared a happy childhood in a somewhat dysfunctional family where we were loved unconditionally by parents who had problems, not with each other or with us, but within themselves... even so, I wouldn't trade places with a queen!

Mama was agoraphobic and Daddy had his own rose-colored view of reality and a unique amoebic morality with a nonetheless concrete core. Life was interesting for us all. Our parents were not perfect but we both still love them almost stubbornly. Tomorrow, I'll tell you about how my dad taught me to steal trucks.

Okay to Be This Way

Yesterday, we enjoyed an inspirational afternoon at the Holy Land Experience. We would have stayed for the live dramas but got rained out. But since we bought annual passes for a mere $70 each, we'll go back another day. It is quite a place and we look forward to visiting many times in the next 12 months.

My brother was supposed to come over early this morning on his way to do something for his job, but that didn't work out for him. After he called to cancel, we went to town to pick up my meds and look for a U.S. flag for our house. We got the meds but will have to continue our flag search some other day.

Our son David called this afternoon and we visited almost an hour. He is happy in his new job and I am thrilled for him. He has satellite radio and likes it a bunch. I have trouble with the idea of charging for TV programming and cannot imagine I would ever pay for radio... but who knows? I pay outlandish money for TV that I almost never watch!!! How dumb is that? I should be on a Vonage ad. (I love the Vonage ads, LOL).

When I was in California, I asked my doctors for a blunt prognosis and was told by both of them that my constant fatigue (after any conversation or activity), night time insomnia, and recurring intense headaches will probably be with me life long and that, except for small improvements and setbacks, I had reached my level of recovery. In other words, this is it, kid.

You know, I'm going to be okay with that... I think. It will take the Lord's help. It has meant a lot that I have people who love me and support me even on my worst days... This morning was a bad brain time. Richard was sweet and got me going in the right direction. The other day, Athena send a *hug* and welcomed me back to Orlando.... Today, my husband, my brother and my son said. "I love you." Yep, it's going to be okay to be this way.