Free to be me Florida Christian Bloggers Retreat part 2

Good Day

Speaking of Good Days

My trip to Florida was full of them.

The nights...well this was the first evening.

After  we all gathered for a wonderful visit at Angie's home

we all went out to lunch.

It was a real nice easy visit and just getting aquainted time.

Those who were flying in all were together and it was time for a good rest.

My shelter was nestled in the midst of many and I was alone.

After my nap I had a little visitor in my room.

When I asked him to show himself a little mouse stopped in his tracks and looked up at me.

I ofered him an escape out the door but he choose to scurry off into the other part of the house.

I told my host who was concerned that I was alone in the home to be assured that I was not.

Telling them of "Henry" (the name the mouse was coined).

The others were all up in the house that the leaders were all staying in.

It was perfect!

For as per Angie's nurturing instructions, I took a nap.

After I unpacked and showered it was time for the next surprise of the day.

I had the privilege of  joining the leadership team at a wonderful estate for a supper.

The supper was served by the youth of a local congregation at the home of the sweetest hostess.

It was the best company and a wonderful meal.

It was the conversations that were more than just the icing on the cake.

Now sitting across from me was the most beautiful, graceful, poised woman.

This raging beauty began to express that she had a great distaste for frogs and lizards.

Well those of you who know me can just see it coming :)

So others laughed that just the afternoon at my nap I had a little visitor in my room.

This woman of the South with here delightful tone began to tell us all of her experience, with such, just recently.

She told of of these traps that the critter runs across. As it is terribly stuck in his tracks. 

Well being a woman of some level of compassion she could not stand to just look at this predicament her nemesis had gotten itself into.

So Like any well meaning demure woman might do

She pulled out her 357 Magnum and emptied the clip into this now vanished little critter and put it clean out of it's misery.

Henry ought to be grateful I am from out West
:)

Oh I laughed so hard for the summation of her tail totally caught me off guard.

The tables were set so lovingly

Now as we sat around this table tails of critter retaliations continued...

Next to me sat a wonderful woman who was so short a stranger that we were just close as could be.

Of course this hospitality of those Southern women was just that way.

Began she a tail of the SKUNK.

Well now Connie is a column of support a pillar of sorts

Like those stalagmites and stalactites that merge overtime deep within the caverns of the earth.

Connie began...

She was visiting in the city and a skunk was troubling the house.

It had sprayed the foundation and it was obvious that something just had to be done.

So Miss Connie went outside and formally addressed said skunk...

"now in the name of JESUS you die!"

Well she was witnessed by a daughter and grandchildren doing so.

Some time later a child was out in the yard crying.

A neighbor child thought to have found a pet cat on the lawn in distress...

Well they went out to tend to the girl and there before them

YEP!

feet in the air on it's back

the dead skunk!

 

Out of the laughter came feed bellies.

The supper was so wonderful and sweetly served us by such kind youthful hands.

 

We all choose boas and the fun was at hand.

Now at one point our hostess there to the left spoke up about the little frogs before mentioned.

She the lamb so woolly that a blanket could of been knitted to cover this crowd with the kindness she grew.

We all quickly attended the wall at her anouncment that said frog was on the wall.

I went over to him and said hello

Flanked on each side by my camera totting fellow bloggers.

I said "hello, now aren't you just the cutest thing" he turned his head and it was noticed by those around me that he was listening to me.

Just at that moment as I praised this little fellow. 

He jumped right on my cheek and those women armed with the shutters so fast caught his little self in mid flight.

We all just rolled.

Only me.

I love that I have this thing with the critters.

It was so wonderful that they got to know me a little better that this is just who I am.

Now at one point desert and a nice time of fellowship wrapped up the evenings beauty.

 

We all returned to our little paradise

and soon I was off to sleep .

 

This a full nights rest for me.

I alone in that little house.

All the others stayed up so late and felt it.

For me it indeed was meant to be a time of rest.

 

Sunrise the next morn and a trip to Angie's for a wonderful

start to the day.

We had a retreat to attend too.

We all drove over to the other church and began the set up.

Now ya know Angie saw to it I did very little.

She was determined I took it easy.

So I respected that.

 

Florida sunrise gives pause to this story.

It was the dawn of a wonderful new day.

to be continued...

Breakfast for my son

"Mom will you make me eggs please?"

"Sure honey"...

"Oh, I'll go check for eggs mom."

A few moments later "mom I need your help there are four eggs."

I hand him a basket and tell him "here you go sweet heart, watch out for the dogs so they do not knock them out of your hand"

A moment later..."mom can you please come to help me the hens are all upstairs and that sorta scares me mom"

So I go and get the eggs, Pearl is sitting on one that she has rolled back under and the kids tell me she pecks at us. I pet Pearl and lift the egg and tell her thank you. She pecks me and we all go in.

Dash has his four eggs fresh from the  hens, and all of the cherry tomatoes that were harvested yesterday with the fresh basil flowers.

"Mom in Russia do you think that they ever get to have organic Ketchup?"

"No son, I think that we sorta live like czars to them"

"yep, mom we are like czars aren't we?" 

Please pray for the children

This is a sticky post
scroll down to see post of the day

To many innocence and naive entertainment.
As the day is nearing I felt compelled to re post my testimony of what Hollows eve means to me.

Please pray for family's that are in the sights of the cults who practice all hollows.

If you find courage to know click here

Call to prayer

Please pray for Annette

Her brother passed away unexpectedly last night.

visit her here with encouragement if you please

The ledgend of the three trees for Lisa see all three parts

Obsidian

 Apache Tears



Obsidian lesson

from the center of the earth

a study in understanding

Free to be me Florida Christian Bloggers Retreat part 1

 Come away

 Come away

come away with me my love.

Song within.

To tell you all about the trip is a full, tall order of independence, rest

"Freedom to just be me".

Uninterrupted by the task of my parenting work a day role.

In Phoenix I was getting ready to board and was given favor.

The counter clerk called me up by name.

Because I had requested a wheel chair when I ordered my tickets on line

my seat assignment was moved only three rows from the door.

They were so kind it was just amazing!

After a long flight from Phoenix I was in Atlanta Georgia.

Hobbling off the plane, ever so slowly up that long ramp.

I made it to the top.

 I just stood there to let those poor souls behind this old turtle go by.

I was just standing there a moment trying to catch my breadth.

My knees were non to happy about being bent for so many hours.

A wonderful pare of kind eyes caught mine as I looked up.

I was shy of tears at that moment

 rather overwhelmed and a bit embarrassed.

His kind hand extended to me over the distance

I walked over to him we exchanged smiles that drew those tears away.

Now if you have ever been to Atlanta you will understand when I say that is the biggest airport in the states.

Mercy it is huge!

The dear soul pushed these heavy bones from the farthest terminal to the other end through the tunnel and the metro...and then had to go back to the other end only to see that error was made on the monitor.

The first place he took me was where I needed to be.

Oh my heart just felt so bad for this man.

How patient he was.

As he put it

"you just have to choose to be patient"

That man earned his $20 tip.

So sat I at the gate then the plane arrived.

Passengers de boarded I saw a sight that really set me back.

There were a full steep flight of steps down to the craft then a full set of steps up.

Well up is doable painful but can be accomplished.

Those steps down made my tummy turn.

It had been over a year

I was over due for the shots that stop my knees from being bone to bone.

Can you say..."don't trust em, ouch?"

 

 Once again another adventure in the humility of receiving help.

Now some are so stubborn proud and will force themselves to do those things they should not.

Me, well lets just say I am learning to do what is right.

Humility verses humiliation.

I was actually taken right down onto the tarmac via an elevator through restricted space.

It was very interesting seeing all the sights behind the scenes.

Arrived in Tallahassee it is very small airport.

The wheeled chair pushed up the ramp.

 I was able to walk the short distance to the arms of kind welcome.

Angie set up a time of rest.

Being a day early to the retreat I was the only one in the dorm.

I found a bed in the far corner that felt like a strong space.

It was a house full of little twin camp beds and it felt sorta selfish of me to take such a nice bed.

I accepted however all of the kindness that came my way.

It was like I was being taken care of.

So many months years of being the head of that role toward family and friends it was really what was needed to refresh my soul.

We stopped by a drug store and got some shampoo and little things I needed.

I only took a carry on so as not to have to use baggage claim.

When I was unpacking a tap at the door.

This dear sweet Mar ma had a half gallon of soy milk.

She went OUT OF HER WAY TO GO GET IT!

Wow!

Loved.

 

Now sweet Angie had me wrapped in a loving quilt from her own home

a wonderful checkered pillowcase made me feel like family.

Her hospitality generous.

Then I looked into the refrigerator...

Two large baskets of goodies and I began to sob.

It was the love, it just broke through the fatigue and was so amazing to me that I just became hushed.

 

 my room was to the right.

After we all had arrived we had a wonderful time together and a magnificent dinner out.

That will be in part two.

I will just give your sweet eyes a rest.

 

Chestnut tree

Sorta like a thick shelled pecan.

Synvisc Knee Injections

Some Pain will drive you to measures that to most would be unthinkable.

If you are suffering and need help with your knee pain this was worth it!

 

 My darlings took off work today and accompanied me so I would not have to suffer the pain of driving.

I would HIGHLY recommend having someone drive you.

 

 This is the image of great courage that I find so much comfort in.

It is at the head of the bed that I lay on.

The following might be hard to look at...

Folks this will be done every Monday for the next two weeks.

Three injections in each knee total.

The Synvisc is now available in ONE dose injection, but it is too new for me to risk it.

We KNOW for me this is working and has kept me able to walk freely for two years.

I say free...bone on bone pain relieved.

I have been very fortunate that it has lasted 12-13 months the last two years I have repeated this process. Some folks will only get 9 months or so.

Even so people you will be out of that horrible personality changing pain.

 

 

 The skin is frozen and it is hard at first to tell which hurts more the freeze or the entry.

When the needle enters the joint however you know it.

My surgeon is GOOD at this he puts it in a little slow as to not over come the soul I own.

 

 The needle enters the cavity of the joint and the syvisc entered into the knee joint.

I learned that it also aids the moisture absorption as well as provides a synovial type fluid.

 

 Last year my left knee entered into the process.

It is showing signs of the same issue of a lack of cushion.

Bone on bone is some very intense pain.

I know in a couple of days I will be like night and day.

 

This is a courageous thing to do for yourself .

Listen if your able to get pain free (relatively) it is worth all the corage you can muster.

All of this took less that 5 minutes to be in and done.

5 minutes of pain and I will have to do it twice more over the next two weeks.

So 15 minutes of intense pain...for a years relief of intense discomfort and irritability, loss of function and not being able to be active.

Come on You can do it!

The fear is the worse part.

Do not let fear take away your mobility!

 

Tonight I rest and use ice on my legs.

I sit elevated and know that It will be so much better real soon.

I recently took a trip to Florida in fact got home last night.

I was in so much pain by the time I got home.

Well...I was actually looking real forward to getting this process started so I could get my mobility back.

To Pedro Garcia Millan

Dear Sir
I did a translator on your comments and see that you have heart for a good cause...if your comments are translated into English I do not mind posting them. Unfortunately with my busy life I do not have the extra time to translate each one. On Google you can find an English/Spanish translator.
Good fortune to you. I was not able to to comment or respond to you on email.
Thank You

im home

Up up and away

Please pray...

This time of year is a challenge for me.

Having PTSD even as far as I have come can bite me when least expected.

I will be out and about traveling in unexplored territories.

Adventure my middle name.

Wonderful peace knowing the family is fine.

Made Steve some of my pinto's and the kids some Cole slaw...

Look forward to telling you all about my adventures.

better go get ready the rest of the way.

Over and out till Monday...

Be blessed and unstressed.

Always remember how much you are loved.

Salt of the earth...my mission

The other night Steve thought aloud about what my blog purpose is all about. I am not a minister or a teacher per intent...although we all learn from each other...

My husband said...

"your just a salt of the earth, that is just who ya are and what your blog becomes about."

So I am going to study on this and see if it fits me. I think in so many ways measuring up to such is a high thing indeed to pursue. A noble thing. It really touched me deeply that my husband called me such. I am a Christian although so many before me have humiliated and shamed that very title. I perhaps among them at times. This blog is not intentionally set to push that however but to just be me in all my faltering weakness and His amazing strength within me.

I find myself favored by the circle of wonderful Christians who purpose their blogs beautifully as a ministry to the body of Christ at large. We have those around us that give us that gift.

My heart is to simply be real...to the folks who may believe as I do or not. It is always my hope that all might see that Gods love for them is far greater than any of us have really come to know. Even those of us who have befriended him.

There is a battle going on in the spirit...it is real. I know that many have been so terribly wounded in the battle under the weapons of false love, false biblical teaching and just plain mean hearted folk that were far too pious to really love ya as they ought. Those are the folk that sadden me the most. For in those acts they have often left many thinking God is far from them or that he is some ogre waiting to pounce on everything wrong that they may do.

He is not like that...at least in my friendship with him I find Him very fair...if we thought about what we really deserve. But there are those things in life that are not fair, some have nothing to do with what we may or may not have done wrong...just hardships that will either give us the ability to love or to turn our hearts to harden. It is unmerited that favor shown us. Simply believing in Jesus is what the word said. To bring those from afar near to God. When were walking close to Him it just makes us want to do whats right from the inside out. It is not Gods way to have us fear him like he is going to punish us for our error or sin. We punish our own self through the consequence of our own choices. We are given that free choice and need to own the results pleasant and not so pleasant. When we do not own them...we blame God. Gravity is a natural law...

"Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? it is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Luke 14: 34-35)

"For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another." (Mark 9:49-50) 

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." (NKJV)

"Salt is good [an excellent thing], but if salt has lost its strength and has become saltless (insipid, flat), how shall its saltiness be restored? It is fit neither for the land nor for the manure heap; men throw it away. He who has ears to hear, let him listen and consider and comprehend by hearing!" (Luke 14:34-35, Amplified Bible)

Salt in the Old Testament

The Hebrew people harvested salt by pouring sea water into pits and letting the water evaporate until only salt was left. They used the mineral for seasoning and as a preservative. In addition, salt was used to disinfect wounds.
Salt also had a significant place in Hebrew worship. Salt was included in the Levitical offerings, since salt was emblematic of permanence or loyalty. In Leviticus 2:13, God commanded that "And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt." Salt was cast on the burnt offering (Ezekiel 43:24) and was part of the incense (Exodus 30:35). Part of the temple offering included salt (Ezra 6:9).
Salt was also used to ratify covenants. In Numbers 18:19, God promises to provide, through the offerings of His people, for His priests forever: "All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer to the LORD, I have given to you and your sons and daughters with you as an ordinance forever; it is a covenant of salt forever before the LORD with you and your descendants with you." Salt cannot be burned or destroyed. Perhaps because of salt’s durability, God used it as a metaphor to indicate that as salt keeps its flavor, so the Lord’s covenant with the priesthood was durable. More likely, however, is that the "covenant of salt" (or, in some versions, "inviolable covenant") refers to a practice that rendered contracts irrevocable during the time period in which the Bible was written. In biblical times, men carried pouches of salt on their belts. When a pact, promise, or contract was made, the men from each of the participating parties would intermingle the salt from their own pouches with the salt from the pouches of the other party. This reminded the men that they could not retrieve their own salt from the other pouch, symbolizing the fact that they could not go back on their word.^{[citation needed]}
Another reference to the use of salt to ratify a covenant occurs at 2 Chronicles 13:5. At the beginning of this chapter, Abijah, King of Judah and rightful heir to David’s throne, is at war with King Jeroboam, who has taken control of Israel. Before Jeroboam’s destruction, Abijah speaks of the Davidic Covenant: "Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel: Should you not know that the LORD God of Israel gave the dominion over Israel to David forever, to him and his sons, by a covenant of salt?" Here, salt refers to God’s irrevocable pledge and intended loyalty in fulfilling the Davidic covenant and God’s desire for the loyalty of David’s lineage to Him if the people are to enjoy the blessings of the covenant. The preservative quality of salt represents the fidelity or loyalty intended in keeping the covenant.
Newborn babies (because of what the Lord commanded) were rubbed with salt to promote good health. A reference to this practice is in Ezekiel 16:4: "As for your nativity, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed in water to cleanse you; you were not rubbed with salt nor wrapped in swaddling cloths."
In the Book of Genesis, chapter 19 the wife of Lot was turned into a pillar of salt when she disobeyed the command of God and looked back at the city of Sodom whilst fleeing from its destruction. Some Christians see this to mean literal salt whilst some think it refers to rock salt.

[edit] Salt in the New Testament

The Salt and Light metaphors in the Sermon on the Mount include a direct reference to salt: "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot." (Matthew 5:13). This verse is paralleled in Luke 14:34-35: "Salt is good, but if salt itself loses its taste, with what can its flavor be restored? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear." Similarly, in Mark 9:49-50, Jesus says that "Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another."
It is unclear whether Jesus is referring to the use of salt as a seasoning, as a preservative, for sacramental purposes, or some combination of these uses.
Perhaps Jesus is simply saying that everybody has inherent value. Keep God’s gift of inherent worth inside yourself (cherish God's gift) and you will have peace with one another.
The salt that has "lost its taste" or "become insipid" may refer to a type of salt common in the Dead Sea area that is contaminated with gypsum and other minerals. It has a flat taste and is ineffective as a preservative. Such mineral salts were useful for little more than keeping footpaths free of vegetation. That may be why Jesus said that it is good for nothing but to be "trampled underfoot."
Jesus calls his disciples (and, perhaps, the crowds listening to the Sermon on the Mount), "the salt of the earth." He may be exhorting them to usefulness, or to fidelity, or referring to their role in purifying the world.
In Roman times, salt was an important item of trade and was even used as money. Roman soldiers received part of their pay in salt^[1]. "Salt of the Earth" may, in this context, refer to the listeners' value.
The reference to his followers being "salted with fire" in Mark 9:49 may refer, in part, to the purifying effect of salt in Jewish liturgical use.
In Colossians 4:6, Paul exhorts, "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you know how you should respond to each one".

The Simple Womans Day Book

FOR TODAY...October 19th 

Outside my window... is 70's with some of the annuals in the earth and all of the other things planted life is in a hushed cover under the blanket of the fertile soil awaiting the morrow when I'll go out and water.

I am thinking... It was a wonderful thing today to give almost all of my time to my son.

I am thankful for... gratitude in others...it is a beautiful thing to behold.

I am wearing... Tan caprice and a white t shirt with Winnie the poo around the boarder in a fall scene.hair pulled back with no shoes nor jewelery...

I am remembering... my daughters laughter

I am going... to Florida  to re fresh and re charge and have fun!

I am reading...the book of Proverbs

I am hoping... To Relax through the airport



On my mind... packing and the things I yet want to do. A manicure and spa time...Remove the wall boarder from above Doves bed before I go.

From the learning rooms... Planting by moon phase. A study in self compassion.

Noticing that... everything is coming together.

Pondering these words...  wonder what it will be like for me Mom? her first infatuation.

From the kitchen... a mess, Dove did not get her dishes done so the morning will arise with a mess

Around the house... Order...peace and family unity.

One of my favorite things~ being a mother


From my picture journal...

I hear there are hickory nut trees ...

The former monastery where I am staying has them all around it.

There are woods there.

Two more days...

Tackle it Tuesday

I tackled it!

"Send help Scottie"....said the captain (Star trek)

Well now we thought we might just build another wall in the hallway and just enclose all the toys but...I kept hitting my elbows on the wall.

5-6 hours of toy sorting!

Ever single thing was individually touched by me!

This nice stand was found at the good will.

These are the bins I used during the infancy and homeschooling days.

I gathered them from all corners of the house and set them to task

Did you ever see a boy with so many LEGO

My dear friend gave us at least half of them when Dash was 6 years old or so.

Dash builds, and creates this kid is very mechanically minded just like his Mother and Father.

the last of it for tomorrow

The big box is yet to get cleared out of trash and papers.

It has large things I think in it.

The bag is stuff to sort into the other sites that it belongs in.

The plastic bin also things that go else where.

Embraced round the hip "thanks mom for cleaning my room" hugs and humility gratitude gushing like a sweet candy center. Comes he to me after a while...

"O.K. here the deal mom...cause you cleaned my room you ask anything of me..anything mom and it is yours...do you need help with anything I got you covered.."

"Keep it that way is all I ask son...that was a lot of work child...I touched every single thing in all the bins..."

"woe , mom..."

"It's a deal, you got it mom"!!!!!!!

Growing up Mondays

  Tending souls like a garden
Last night my boy so sleepy with his tiny little boy sticky hand resting on mine.Soil tender ready for the seed.Your my favorite boy in the whole world...The earth sucked it up like rain on a tilled furrow.Satisfied and content in it's rest.

Lying beside my girl...she giggled with a memory of a scene in a movie where a man drops his bags as his eyes fall upon a beauty a love at first sight infatuation..." I wonder what it will be like for me Momma?"I say..."Baby, beyond all of that my wish for you is a man that loves God.That infatuation stuff fades on those days when your mad at him...if he love God too...then you can go to God and say.."hay God"! ... Tilling the soil tell her I... "funny thing child it often be that God lovingly turn that finger back at me and said "yes..but you..."Then I am soft toward him and loving...He then often come to me and said "I am sorry"That is what I wish for you daughter...a man that loves God.

She giggled in the sunshine like a flourishing vine...Well I hope if he drop his bags they don't have glass in them and the bubbling brook then giggles and the bed jiggles...smile she there in the dark Man I hope his bags don't have metal in them cause if they drop on my toes it would really hurt!
Earth tender and the garden thrives...
Ya know life began in a garden.
Till the soil with the understanding that the choice to love goes way beyond that...

spiritual sunday

I wanted  to post ...son needs attention to go to sleep, he a little stressed mommy leaving soon

daughter stressed over the friendemy issue at school she has to face in the morning.

I am where I am to be...and blessed to get to do so.