Trekking with Me

Hello To those who read my blog!  It's been a few weeks since I returned from Costa Rica.  A new season has begun and I am getting my footing.  No longer a student, I am back to work (substituting) Monday through Friday, embracing what God has for me each day. My new normal is very nice so far.  I like the freedom, flexibility, and variety I have in my schedule.   I have a new appreciation for everything, odd, and random, such as: The order we have in our society.  If you have traveled overseas, you will understand this appreciation. Groupons!  I just returned from a two-hour kayak excursion from a groupon I purchased earlier in the summer.  It was great fun which I enjoyed with my friend, Shayna.  She works with the Navigators and I like her very much. This is her chowing down on her juicy peach for lunch on the water :-) We had a very deep conversation about our favorite fruits, and I most decidedly came to the conclusion that peac...

At this very moment, I am reclining on my bed, in the middle of the day, the sun is shining in my open window, a breeze is flowing through the house, as Pepper is all sprawled out and snoring under the natural light.  I hear birds singing in the trees... a delicious quiet stillness envelopes my house, my room... Sometimes, we just need to listen to the cry of our hearts... the little child inside of us... and allow them to tell us what to do. Reading homework on the swing in the back yard... Getting a soft-serve ice cream cone at McDonalds, eat it as slow as you possibly can with the sunroof open... letting the wind be your orchestra. Drinking a chai... savoring it's warm spicy calming complexities, as you walk through Lowes shopping with your favorite person. Enjoying a warm affectionate hug with your sweetie... in the middle of the pasta section at Publix... just because. Play... laugh, sing and dance. Matthew 18:3  Jesus said, "What I'm about to tell you...

I have been having some odd notions lately... odd desires to try something new (like trying a new sport/exercise), cook something different... odd dreams have been happening too. This idea hit me Sunday when I was trying to listen to the sermon.  It may have been the hunger building in my tummy as I had a hasty Sunday morning only downing a cup of coffee before I dashed out the door.  Or it may have been on account of watching too many $40-a-Day with Rachael Ray recently... bad show for me to watch as it only gets my travel itch irritated. Anyhow... though I have never made them, my brain started churning up images of crepes.  Go figure? Rachael Ray said they were simple and easy... hmmmm; my imagination had my pan heated in my mind before the benediction was said: amen.  Let's Get Home and Get some cookin' on! RR was right, they are simple and easy - AND unlike my report with pancakes they turned out beautiful the first try, and the second, and third...!! He...

You've seen this before... remember, back in the summer time? Here is what it looked like then:  Remember Waterford in the Fall ?  This would be Waterford in the Winter!!! Can you see ANY resemblances???  Reminds me of that picture game in the Highlights magazine... find the differences.... or in this case, the similarities! Practicing taking photos... not so bad, huh? This would be the Ice  part of the Snow Day #2 Marvelous color... . His Handiwork is breathtaking to behold!! A neighbors Christmas decor added some spice to this lonely lantern My friend's street... can you see my little furkid companion? The house behind  this tree is one of my favorite in the neighborhood; i love the silhouette of the tree... And this is another benefit of a Snow Day in South Carolina :-) That would be my feet in some cozy slippers.... these are not even my favorite slippers but these have a rubber sole in case I get motivated to crunch ...

This is what welcomed me this morning... !! Sasha was pretty psyched about this white stuff too!! Utterly.... beautiful... i love it. My little tree in the backyard... Some color... cool! Go ahead... just come out of that tree Squirrel!! I like this view...  Baby Kitty was not too happy about this snow stuff... she was hunting for a warm spot. Sasha and I went for a romp... we had a book to deliver, a good excuse to venture out! So pretty dressed in Snow :-) Kitty found her place.... Sasha just wanted to go on another jaunt! :-) I thought it was time for some hot chocolate....

An improved version of the previous post of this video... Enjoy!

Isn't it fantastic? Blogger finally added some wonderful features to help us blogging folks look a bit like we know what we are doing... well, i for one, am pretty simple in my knowledge about fixing a blog up but i do enjoy messing around with it, making it look like "me." So, they (who is "they?" the folks behind the blogspot machine) have changed some things with the set up and design and created it so it is easy to make it more unique and beautiful! I love it! So, what do you think? Do you like my new Spring look....? Fresh huh... Anyhow, i am pleased. Have a fantastic weekend ya'll!

IT'S SNOWING AGAIN!!! (I thought I was in South Carolina?!)

I am witnessing some SNOW flakes FALLING!!!!!!!!!!! :-) It is really beautiful too.... thank YOU Lord... it makes the gray clouds not so ugly. :-) 4:41PM - Still comin' down!!! So beautiful; hot tea brewin' ... tucked down in my red couch, my roomie in her comfy clothes, me in my favorite sweatshirt.... watchin' tv... like we are on vacation; that is what happens here in SC when it snows... everyone stops and takes it in! “He directs the snow to fall on the earth and tells the rain to pour down. Then everyone stops working so they can watch his power." Job 37:6-7 :-) 7:43PM - Snow covers everything!! It is getting colder so it will stick until the sunrise :-) BUT that means ICEEE!!! Watching opening of Winter Olympics :-) So SAD about the death.... so love the Olympics... ever since I was young, it has been one of my favorite things to watch... and see the World come together! Smell and hear my roommate trying her hand at popping popcorn the old fashion way...

It is HOT in South Carolina!!!! I think i have my first sunburn for the summer - but i did not get it at the beach! My dad is working on putting an irrigation system in my brother's yard - so since i am not getting much other exercise i decided i could sweat a little and help him do some digging....of course wearing my shorts and tank so i could get a little sun in the process! I wanted to put a quick note down to thank you all for praying for me. This week and in the next few weeks i will be looking for a job and a place to live. Please pray that i find just the right place to be! I have a few ideas but want to keep my expectations in God's hands. I keep hearing that verse in my head "He has gone before and behind me..." so i keep praying, Lord, thank you that you have gone before me!! He will make the rough places smooth! I had a chance to share with my church why i am leaving my sweet church family. I believe the Lord blessed me as i shared. It was a sweet...

Summer is coming! Summer in Florida is HOT - Summer in South Carolina is HOT too! But, Summer means travel, vacation, lemonade, a more relaxed schedule...well, for most of us! I will be moving...hopefully by the end of June I will be unpacking in a new place....i am dreaming of a place with a yard, wood floors, lots of windows and room enough to entertain! My students are ready for summer too - and i love the bittersweet goodbyes. All of a sudden, they come by your room, shuffle their feet in a quiet manner and shyly thank you for being their teacher....and then that wonderful light you KNOW was in them shines out, and i say YES! I see it! There is something VERY special about each one....something precious and worth waking up at 5 a.m., sweating over lesson plans and teaching from a full heart....YES, my students are worth it! Summer brings a new season...for me a new turn. I look forward with anticipation, and today i enjoy wonderful peace in my heart. I feel full. And i a...

I had such a wonderful time last night! I love the longer days Spring brings us - and i love living in Florida - and I love it when i get to look at the beautiful sunset sky, stand by a body of water and drink in LIFE and enjoy new friends! Last night i spend the evening with some new friends! My friend has two sweet precious little girls - who are full of life! Being that i don't have children of my own, i love it when kids smile and laugh and allow me to be a kid with them. In fact, the smallest of the two made me laugh as we played last night. We had meandered to a park by the St. John's river, it had a magnificent tree that just begged to be climbed! I scampered up the tree and the little one said, "Isn't if fun to be a kid!" (or something very close to that!) Yes, it IS FUN to be a kid...even when you are in your mid-30's! We enjoyed the fresh evening racing, and playing and picking up trash - as it was EARTH DAY, and we were doing our part in ke...

Hey all who read my blog...i have noticed some of you have a nice list of "favorite blogsites" on one of your panels. How/where do you create/find this widget?