Life Can Change So Quickly / Hurricane Updates

UPDATE 8.28.12:  Hurricane Isaac has passed us by but woe to the people who live in New Orleans and parts of Alabama, particularly.

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9.2.10:  Life can change so quickly, particularly here in the south where there are hurricanes.  I was talking with some friends last night and wishing that we could go back to the days when hurricane warnings were not even thought twice about.  I have lived in Florida since 1970 and never even listened to the news when something was mentioned about hurricanes.   In 2004 that all changed when Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Ivan came directly into our area. 

Our electricity (do you have any idea how MANY things run on electricity?)  was out for 8 days with Charley, 3 days with Frances and 1 day with Ivan in 2004.  We got a taste of what it must be like to live in a Third World country so it was good for that reason.   It also gave me more empathy for people when hurricanes, tornadoes,  earthquakes or tsunamies strike. I won't go into much detail about that time other than to say that it was pretty miserable with quite a bit of property damage and expense for us.

Needless to say, I was a little nervous when I saw news about these hurricanes brewing in the Atlantic Ocean yesterday.

I am greatly relieved that the charts indicate they will most likely go around us probably leaving us fairly wet this weekend.  There is a 4th storm called #10 brewing near Africa which could cause some problems.

Always something to pray for but trusting that God has our good in mind for whatever happens...

Rom. 8:28  

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good 

to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 

1Pet. 5:6-7  

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, 

that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him,

 because He cares for you. 

School's Out for Summer

Today is our official last day of school--homeschool 10th grade --for my younger son.  He actually finished all his home assignments  the first week of May but his Spanish teacher needed a few more weeks to finish the book.   In addition  I had signed him up for an intensive math review class (study skills, Algebra 1 and Geometry) during the month of May to start prepping him for the college SAT's  which he will begin taking next Spring in 11th grade.

My son's math class is quite a ways from our home and making the trip 2x a week this month really eats into the week (1 hour round trip; 2-hour class= 6 hours a week for 4 weeks).  He's got his learner's permit so I have been letting him drive this month and it has been a good talking and training time.  As a perk, we stop at Chick-fil-A on ONE of the trips and pick up lunch.  :)

I've been using the time that I wait for him (2 hours)  to hang out at our local seminary bookstore  (Reformed Theological Seminary) where I talk to the students, some professors and usually run into friends who either attend RTS or are visiting the store.  (The seminary is literally one street away from the math teacher's home.)   I also work on my Ebay listings, write blogs, balance the checkbooks, cut coupons or other projects while I'm there.    I took these photos last week in anticipation of writing this blog since the store is closed this week for inventory.  It's really quite nice, the manager is very friendly and they have GREAT coffee. I even have my own coffee card since I'm a "regular".

Here is "my"  table that I stake out each week. 

This is the  local woodpecker who flies into the window on a regular basis.

This week since the bookstore is closed I shopped at the nearby thrift store on Tuesday and bought several Ebay / Amazon  inventory items to resell; today I'll go to a branch of our local library and work on my Let Me Be A Woman series for this blog.  I'll end it on May 31 and begin a new series June 1, probably a practical book although I may write my thoughts on the men's book Wild at Heart.  I wish I'd read it when my sons were very young.  

School's out for summer for us after 12:30 p.m. today.   Next week I order all the books  my son will need for 11th grade and do our lesson plans early so that I can REALLY be on vacation until early August. :)  Have a great Thursday.

Earth Day / Miserly Moms Living Frugally / Alive at 25 Driving Safety Course / Yard Flags and Decor

From my windowsill:

Earth Day, April 22, 2010:

Recycle or Freecycle, Restore or Rebuild, Replenish or Replace, Reduce or Remove, Reuse whatever you can.  Remember though, to worship the Creator, not the creation.

Genesis 1:1   

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 

Genesis 1:29-31 Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;  and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so.  God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. 

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FOCUS ON THE FAMILY:

Here are two broadcasts from one of my favorite programs, Focus on the Family, that I heard this week.   My kids were raised indirectly by Dr. James Dobson, 

The New Dare to Discipline

and although he is no longer part of Focus on the Family's regular broadcasts, they still have some excellent podcasts which I save to iTunes.  I like to listen while I'm at the YMCA or walking in the mornings. 

The title of each is:  Frugal Living in a Tough Economy.  The guest speaker is Jonni McCoy, author of Miserly Moms: Living Well in a Tough  Economy.  I'm always on the hunt for new ways to save money with continuing to be a mom at home as my primary goal.   When I stopped working in the corporate world almost 21 years ago we took more than a 50% decrease in our total income.  We cut back and cut back and of course, gave up quite a lot, but gained oh, so much more.  Being home with our two sons has been a blessing beyond what I could have ever imagined and I am so glad I did.  You can live on one income. It CAN be done. with patience, prayer, biblical counsel and a little imagination and resourcefulness thrown in.  :)  Also, by being frugal, you can surprisingly be quite generous.  Try it.

Miserly Moms: Living Well on Less in a Tough Economy

Part 1, broadcast on April 19

Part 2, broadcast on  April 20

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FREE DRIVING SAFETY COURSE:

From The Happy Housewife (one of my favorite blogs for moms):

The National Safety Council has created a program called Alive at 25 for parents like me. This program helps parents and kids work through real life examples that reinforce good driving skills. Midas is currently offering this program free to anyone who registers on the website. 

I signed up for this yesterday for my 15-year-old son who is learning to drive now.  For this safety-conscious mom, this was a no-brainer.  

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FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN YOUR OWN FRONT YARD:

Everyone loves to express themselves differently and I love to see that there are such a variety of people around me.  On a morning walk in our neighborhood I noticed how differently people's yard accents express who they are.  

These displays make me smile and also make me glad that my neighbors are not all just like me.

Some like the lazy days of spring and summer.

Quite a few had American flags on display to show their patriotism and not just on holidays.   We put ours up on holiday weeks.

There are the nature lovers.  Save the manatees...

the sports fans...

CLICK ON Read More to finish this article.

Pleasure in the Little Simple Things of Life / Spring in Florida / Lilies of the Field

From my windowsill:

I know I did a series on Contentment for the whole month of March.  I love this quote from my windowsill today though.  Sometimes I just leave this one up for a few days to remind myself of what I already have.

So far, I've walked three days this week in the morning and I'm scheduled to go tomorrow with a friend.  Getting up early and walking is not my favorite thing to do but I know it's good for me.  I try to put a little "spoonful of sugar" in things I have to do and taking my camera with me is so much fun.  So many lovely things are all around us if we just take a minute or two, pause and look:

Matthew 6:27-30

“And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 

And why are you worried about clothing? 

Observe how the lilies of the field grow; 

they do not toil nor do they spin,  

yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory 

clothed himself like one of these. 

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, 

which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, 

will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!"

Tuesday / Second Day of Spring Break / An Early Morning Walk / Sunrise Devotions

From my windowsill:

Day 2 of getting back into my morning walks.   My 2x a week walking buddy was sick this morning, so I went by myself and took my camera with me.  She did that once on a walk and I thought I might catch some pretty photos for the blog today.  Actually I got enough for a series of blogs, but today I'll focus on the sunshine. 


The first photo I took was in my front yard facing east as I left at 7:30 a.m.  Just beautiful to see the sun peeking through the trees..

Lamentations 3:22-23 

The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail. 

  They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness. 

I took lots of this type but this one was my favorite with the tree limbs framing the sunbeams.

Psalm 121:6-7

        The sun will not smite you by day,

Nor the moon by night. 

  The LORD will protect you from all evil;

He will keep your soul. 

Although I love the colors of bright flowers, the different shades of green are quite soothing. Reminds me of the verse:

Psalm 1:3 

He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,

Which yields its fruit in its season

And its leaf does not wither;

And in whatever he does, he prospers. 

I'm so glad we live in an older established neighborhood where some of the trees hang over the streets.  Very peaceful.  Time to pray for the day.

Psalm 121:4-5 

Behold, He who keeps Israel

Will neither slumber nor sleep. 

  The LORD is your keeper;

The LORD is your shade on your right hand. 

You don't see many of these fences  in our neighborhood.  A little bit of the country in the suburbs.   :)

These yellow trees--I call them rain trees--look like glimpses of the sun itself.  Even their petals that have  fallen on the ground look pretty.  

Revelation 22:14 

Blessed are those who wash their robes,

so that they may have the right to the tree of life, 

and may enter by the gates into the city. 

I ended up walking for over an hour since it was so nice and quiet and cool outside.  I'll share some of the photos of flowers, sitting areas and flags another time.  Have a great Tuesday.