Category Archives: Relaxing

Friendship Is A Beautiful Thing!!

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My dear friend, her family, and their dog traveled this summer to…

Door County, Wisconsin…

Let’s take a look at her beautiful photos!!

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Ahhhh…peace and quiet!!

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I see their dog feel’s right at home!!

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She snapped this photo for me…

The Italian!!

So I’d feel welcome, too!

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I love this beautiful 4th of July floral arrangement!!

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Vibrant colors in a background of lush green!!

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Deep purple…

The color of royalty!!

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Lilac-colored lollipop flowers???

Can we blow on these???

Or run with them in the wind???

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Cotton Candy, anyone???

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Pick me a big bouquet!!!

Genesis 1:31

“God saw all that He had made,

and it was very good…”

2 Corinthians 13:11

 “Finally, brothers and sisters,

rejoice!

Strive for full restoration,

encourage one another,

be of one mind,

live in peace.

And the God of love and peace will be with you.”

Amen!

It’s Time To…

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“Enjoy Your Freedom” by Holley Gerth

http://holleygerth.com/

photo by n11a11m

photo by n11a11m

For many years, freedom sat like an unopened present on the shelf of my heart. I looked at it a bit suspiciously. From time to time, I’d pick it up and shake it so I could try to figure out what was inside. But I never had the courage to open it.

Then God said it was time. He placed my hands on that box, helped me untie the ribbon, peel back the paper, and lift the lid.

And here’s what freedom looks like to me this summer:

Being able to laugh out loud.

Friends who accept me as I am, mess and all.

Sitting on the back porch watching fireflies.

A nap.

Knowing I can make mistakes and then try again.

Grace spread out like a picnic and God handing me a paper plate.

Freedom given is not complete. It’s only when we receive it, enjoy it, give thanks for it that becomes fully ours.

The fourth of July in America is a day for celebrating freedom–please do.

And let’s also celebrate the freedom God has given us every other day too.

Open the gift and enjoy what has always been yours, friend!

XOXO

Holley

***Now this is a great post! 

Thank you for permission to reblog this, Holley!

Check out Holley’s entire blog!!

“Heart to Heart with Holley”

Best-selling author of You’re Already Amazing

Who also partner’s with DaySpring

What does freedom mean to you???

Open your gift of freedom from God!!

And Enjoy!!!

Amen!

Galatians 3:22

“But the Scriptures declare

that we are all prisoners of sin,

so we receive God’s promise of freedom

only by believing in Jesus Christ.”

Don’t Stress Out!!

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Happy 4th of July!!

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Our Crazy Siberian and I are just chillin’ today!

While hubby’s watching the Yankee game…

And our son’s out of town…

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Our Precious Little Girl’s been feeling better lately…

And is actually letting me type this post!

Yipee!!

See?

She doesn’t look stressed out! 

Ha!

I received this e-mail this morning!

“A Great Lesson on Stress

(author unknown)

A young lady confidently walked around the room…

While leading and explaining stress management to an audience…

With a raised glass of water…

Everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question…

“Half empty???

 Or half full???”

She fooled them all…

“How heavy is this glass of water?”

She inquired with a smile…

Answers that were called out…

 Ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz…

She replied…

“The absolute weight doesn’t matter…

It depends on how long I hold it…. 

If I hold it for a minute…

 That’s not a problem… 

If I hold it for an hour…

I’ll have an ache in my arm…. 

If I hold it for a day…

I’ll have to call an ambulance… 

In each case it’s the same weight…

But the longer I hold it…

The heavier it becomes!”

She continued…

“And that’s the way it is with stress… 

If we carry our burdens all the time…

 Sooner or later,

As the burden becomes increasingly heavy…

We won’t be able to carry on!”

Here’s where I strongly disagree…

With the rest of this…

 Worldly attitude!!

As she continues…

“As with the glass of water…

You have to put it down for a while…

And rest before holding it again…

When we’re refreshed…

We can carry on with the burden…

Holding stress longer…

And better each time practiced…

So, as early in the evening as you can…

Put all your burdens down… 

Don’t carry them through the evening…

 And into the night…

Pick them up tomorrow.”

But as a Christian,

I must say,

“Lay those burdens down at the feet of Jesus,

And NEVER pick them up again!!! 

Wake up refreshed!!”

Psalm 68:19

“Praise be to the Lord,

to God our Savior,

who daily bears our burdens.”

Matthew 6:34b

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,

for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to Me,

all you who are weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you

and learn from Me,

for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For My yoke is easy

and My burden is light.”

Psalm 55:22

“Cast your cares on the Lord

and He will sustain you;

He will never let

the righteous be shaken.”

1 Peter 5:7

“Cast all your anxiety on Him

because He cares for you.”

Psalm 121:1-2

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from

My help comes from the Lord,

 the Maker of Heaven and earth.”

I John 5:3

“In fact,

this is love for God:

to keep His commands.

And His commands are not burdensome,

Savor these verses…

Let’s NOT stress out!!

Give it ALL to God…

He can handle it…

And leave us stress-free!!

Amen!

My Simple Everyday Prayer…

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Here’s a definition of my recent days…

Pulled in a thousand different ways…

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At a loss for words to explain…

The need to relax, and rest my brain!

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Lord, I come to You for peace…

Make all my cares, and worries cease…

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So many opportunities abound…

To share Your Love all around!

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Help me know which ones to choose…

(Please make them my passions, desires, talents, and gifts)

Not just my obligations, or “have-to’s!”

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Help me stand strong, and not spread my life too thin…

With commitments, and busyness where I can’t win…

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Help me to see that You’re in control…

When tempests come, and friends cajole!

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To trust Your Word, and Your Voice…

To find the path where I can truly rejoice!!

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Where do you want me five years from now?

What will I do to get there, and how?

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Help me fulfill Your plan for me…

No matter what obstacles I see!

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To be in Your Image I must not fret…

You have never, ever failed me yet!!

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Thank you, Lord!

I feel better already!!

Amen!

You Know You’ve Embraced The Florida Lifestyle, When…

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This is your “cloudy” day!

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This is your lunch guest!

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This is your backyard!

(With a pool an “expensive hole-in-the-ground!”)

Where a live alligator has visited you on your lanai after the hurricane…

Before the lanai screen could be replaced!

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This is you, everyday…

  Not just on your day off!

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You expect your year-round weather to be “not so hot,” “hot,” “very hot,” and “intensely hot”…

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Another baby boomer, who just retired, has just moved in next door to you…

And you know their grandchildren have already embraced the FL lifestyle, too!

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Your sailboat “dock ornament” is taller than your house…

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You look forward to March…

So you can see your favorite NY team!

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Play the FL favorite during Spring Training!

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You enjoy being with so many New Yorkers, again!

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And you wait for Joe Girardi to smile!

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“Cause his team WON!!!

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And you truly believe Jesus is a Yankee fan!

Some Days, Life Is A Walk In The Park!

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Like Today!!

Lunch with my husband and two other couples…

A walk in the park…

Along the Peace River…

Cool, crisp, sun-shiny day…

It doesnt get better than this!!

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“When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said,

‘I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness,

but will have the light of life.’”

John 8:12  NIV

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“Teach me thy way, O Lord;

I will walk in thy truth…”

Psalm 86:11  KJV

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“…Walk as children of light.”

Ephesians 5:8  ESV

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“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

2 Corinthians 5:7  ESV

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“Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.”

Psalm 119:105  ESV

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“Whoever says he abides in Him

ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.”

1 John 2:6  ESV

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“He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice,

and to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?”

Micah 6:8  ESV

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“If we live by the Spirit,

let us also walk by the Spirit.”

Galatians 5:25  ESV

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“…who walk not according to the flesh

but according to the Spirit.”

Romans 8:4  ESV

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“Trust in the LORD with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6  NIV

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“Let your eyes look straight ahead,

fix your gaze directly before you.”

Proverbs 4:25  NIV

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“Calling to those who pass by,

who are going straight on their way.”

Proverbs 9:15

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“…a man of understanding keeps a straight course.”

Proverbs 15:21  NIV

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“For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came

and testified to your truth,

as indeed you are walking in the truth.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

3 John 1:3-4  ESV

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“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar,

praise and extol and honor the King of heaven,

for all His works are right

and His ways are just;

and those who walk in pride He is able to humble.”

Daniel 4:37  ESV

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“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord,

urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling

to which you have been called,

with all humility and gentleness, with patience,

bearing with one another in love.”

Ephesians 4:1-2  ESV

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“And, as shoes for your feet,

having put on the readiness given

by the gospel of peace.”

Ephesians 6:15  ESV

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“Observe the commands of the LORD your God,

walking in His ways and revering Him.”

Deuteronomy 8:6  NIV

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“Yes, LORD, walking in the way of Your laws,

we wait for You;

Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.”

Isaiah 26:8  NIV

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“When Abram was ninety-nine years old,

the LORD appeared to him and said,

‘I am God Almighty;

walk before Me faithfully and be blameless.'”

Genesis 17:1  NIV 

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“…Then Peter got down out of the boat,

walked on the water

and came toward Jesus.”

Matthew 14:29  NIV

Yes, walk straight into His arms…Amen!

This is why I need to live in new houses, because 10 years goes by before I realize I’m not keeping up with the cleaning!!

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Yes…

I convinced my husband…

To let me get the floor tiles in my house…

Professionally cleaned…

As I begged Santa in an earlier post called…

Dear Santa…I want!!

We’ve been in FL…

In this house…

That we had built…

For 10 years!

And I just realized I’m not keeping up!!

Ten years of dog hair…

Dirt…

Grime…

Cooking grease…

Powder…

And just plain GUNK and YUK!

So, my husband found Bob, the handyman in our neighborhood…

Who has been doing odd jobs around our house for several years!

He came yesterday…

Put down some bleach, used a broom-like thing…

And within an hour…

Our Master bathroom floor was sparkling clean!

Like it was 10 years ago!!

The fumes were bad for my allergies…

But I sat outside on my lanai with my puppy…

Then wore a mask all day while inside…

We turned on all the ceiling fans…

And my husband set up extra fans…

We’ll get the rest of the house done on Tuesday!!

Yipee!!

What a great Christmas gift!!

But, woe is me!!

How will I keep it like that??

Tell everyone not to walk on it???

Ever again???

Shave off all my Crazy Siberian’s hair???

Never cook again???

Don’t use powder in the shower???

My problem???

While I am a neat freak…

Since I can’t think in clutter…

And I do love to keep the house organized…

And decorated nicely…

And I’m good at keeping up with the paperwork…

That my husband refuses to look at…

Because it drives him crazy…

As far as the…

Deep…

“Get myself dirty-bend down-mop-move things-go behind-reach up, get a step stool to clean top shelves, wipe ceiling fans, and dust all my trinkets…”

Kind of cleaning…

I’d rather WRITE than do that kind of cleaning!!

Hey…I’d rather RELAX than do that kind of cleaning!

Hey…I rather do ANYTHING ELSE than  do that kind of cleaning!

Too much to do…

Too little time…

Too much effort…

Too much back-breaking work!!!

Where does the time go???

Let’s see…God & family & dog, teaching, drama team stuff, reading, writing, Dr.’s apts., hair and nails apts.,etc., etc.!

DUh!

Deep cleaning doesn’t seem to be on this list…

Or…

Even on my radar…

Unless you’re coming to visit!

Ha!

Then I’m frantic!

Oh…

If I’d only keep up!!

Lord, please help me!

Or else…

It just might be time to move to another brand new house!!

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P.S.   Yes, along with my new squeaky clean floors…

I got a new Nikon Coolpix L610 camera for Christmas!!

  And tickets to see my friend’s daughter in “Sister Act” in Tampa on Saturday!!

Okay, Santa, I’m going to hold off on the losing weight request…

And just pray to maintain during Christmas!

Ha!  Let’s be realistic!

Thank you, Santa!!

Get prepared…

I’m going to ask for a cleaning lady next Christmas!

Lord, I need you to…

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

Psalm 51:10 (E S V)

And help me keep it that way!

Amen!

“Christmas On The Beachside”

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I just heard this song on the radio last week…

I love it!

And if you’re from a beautiful tropical area…

You’re going to love it too!!

It’s by Austin Adamec, and featuring Lindsey Ciresi…

It’s called “Christmas On The Beachside”

I couldn’t find the lyrics…

So I listened to it a thousand times!

  Ha!

  I hope I got them right!!

“Christmas on the Beachside…

Gotta love the Beachside…

It’s wintertime…

And it’s so far from snowin’…

The palms are swaying…

And we’re jumpin’ in the ocean…

The sun shines on the waves in December…

The Birthday of the Savior…

We celebrate together!

Christmas on the Beachside…

Underneath the blue sky…

No need for sleigh rides…

The surf is just right…

Christmas on the Beachside…

It’s the Salt Life…

Because Jesus is the reason…

No matter what the season…

On the Beachside…

Fire from chimneys…

Presents near the fire…

It’s getting hotter…

Soakin’ out the weather…

Snuggies and comfy Christmas sweaters…

Can’t compare when you’re…

Breakin’ in the water…

Though the Holiday may fade away…

We will always find a way…

Red & green may dissipate

We will Always Celebrate

Christmas on the Beachside!!”

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Is This Asking Too Much!?!?

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Photos by JC

We had a great, calm, fun-filled Thanksgiving Dinner at our friend’s house this year…

But I’m remembering other Holidays, Vacations, and Special Occasions of ours in the past…

So, in anticipation of the upcoming Merry Christmas get-togethers…

I feel the need to vent!!

I like “NICE” on Holidays,  Vacations, and Special Occasions!!!

I want EVERYONE to be NICE…

Talk NICE!

And to be on their BEST Behavior!!

Why get together if everyone is going to “air their dirty laundry…”

Be grouchy…

Judgmental…

Snotty…

Impatient…

Intolerant of others’ routines…

Negative…

Condescending…

Arrive late…

Or leave early…

Mope around…

Be moody…

Create tension…

For goodness sake…

Don’t make me thank God every day..

That I don’t have to live with you…

And, if I do live with you…

Don’t make me thank God every day…

That I have you to go to places with…

But, that I can go by myself,  if I want to…

Please everyone…

Make me want to spend time with you…

Make me happy to see you!

To BE with you!

“Put yourself under…”

As one of my family members used to say…

When I was a young adult…

Meaning…

THINK OF OTHERS FIRST!!!!

Above yourself!!

Before yourself!

This equals:

JOY!

Jesus…Others…You!

In that order!

A Holiday, Vacation, or Special Occasion…

Is supposed to be NICE…

FUN!!!

HAPPY!

LOVING!

LIVELY!

FESTIVE!

It’s not a time for “BLAH” as usual…

Mundane…

Boring…

Or, your opportunity to bark at people…

 And, not the time for ranting about your least favorite things…

But, it IS about being with your most favorite people!!

In this special way…

At this special time…

To enjoy this special moment…

Together!

Laughing, loving, and sharing…

Talk about controversial issues over coffee on a normal day…

Rehash heated family issues with a trusted counselor…

Not at the dinner table!

It makes me nauseous…

Or makes me have “agita” as we Italians say!  Ha!

Interesting fact from “The Word Detective”…

thehttp://www.word-detective.com/121800.html

“‘Agita’ is not a standard Italian word, and linguists are not certain where came it from.  One possible source is the Italian word “agitare’ (‘to agitate’ or “‘to trouble”‘, which in turn came from the Latin ‘agitare,’ which meant ‘to stir up.’  To be ‘agitato’ in Italy is to be very excited, and a musical score marked ‘agitato’ is intended to be played at a frenzied pace.  But it’s also possible that the source is ‘acido’ (pronounced ‘AH-chee-do’), Italian for ‘stomach acid,’ which then possibly became ‘agita’ (‘AH-jih-ta’) over time. Whatever the source, ‘agita’ seems to have arrived in New York with Italian immigrants around the turn of the century, and has been in constant use, especially in places like New York City, ever since.”

See what I mean??

Be NICE while driving to see family and friends…

Or, while spending time with others…

Compromise!

Relax!

Enjoy the quality time together….

Life is so short!!

Too short to be hostile…

Let it go!!

BE Nice!

I don’t want “AGITA!!”

With my Holidays!

Is This Asking Too Much??