Promises from God

Woke up this morning

with that nagging cough in full swing, 

drank some tea and sucked on a cough drop for a bit...

and thought I am so blessed that I have one of the easiest jobs ever that even when I don't feel well I can still do my job...looking at the positive!

Another perk of my job is that I can chat with friends while I sit and drink my coffee, they understand that "truck brb" means don't leave, I will be right back, need to go check in a driver and then I come back to the conversation and we just continue...I am blessed with friends who we just pick up from where  we last left it,

not just those I chat with on Facebook but in real life too...they are the best kind of friends...who love me for me, accept me for who I am and just keep on lovin' me.

My morning routine is usually to watch last nights news while doing the daily report and then watch all my shows I record from IDHD...yes, those murder mysteries...so easy to get caught up in them, shake my head in wonder of "how could someone do ????" and then I take a glimpse back at my past and I can understand...sometimes life's pains and hurts are just too much to bear.**see the bottom of the blog for the rest of my thoughts on this**

This morning I turned the TV off, turned on the worship music and opened my Bible

The picture reminds me of one of our first business cards we had for

"The Wandering Workentins"

as we wander through life though not alone.

In the RV lifestyle world, many of us say our plans are written in 

Jello

as life wobbles and weaves

like a bowl full of Jello!

God knows the plans He has for me/for us, 

He wants good and not disaster and He reminds us daily

my HOPE always lies in Him.

We can make all the plans we want, 

as long as we remember God's plans may not be our plans.

I have learned to be flexible when it comes to planning.

For those who have known me for a long time

can probably remember

the temper tantrums I've thrown when plans didn't go the way I wanted

(right JF!)

for flying ambrosia salad (right RW!) 

and many other occasions where the emotions took over...

BUT I am happy to say that I have learned, sometimes the hard way

how to be flexible and let go and let God!!

So keep making those plans,

I know I will,

just be open to wherever the Lord leads!!!

Next up,

I was immediately taken back to a Sunday worship service in

Federal Way where I was sitting next to Gene H.  He leaned over and said to me "do you know how to tell God has a sense of humor?"  I replied, "No" and he said oh so softly, "just look at the person you are sitting next to."  Well, needless to say I laughed out loud, which was not really appropriate to what what Pastor Dick was preaching on and got a surprised look from many.  After the service as Gene and I were walking out, Dick asked "what was so funny during my very serious point in the sermon?"  We both tried to tell him, but it just didn't seem as funny then.  

Laughter is good medicine for the soul, a broken spirit saps our strength...oh so true...I used to not laugh a lot, I hurt deep inside and I made sure others knew it, that meant it wasn't fun to be around me.  BUT I am delighted and blessed beyond measure that the Lord, through many trials and hurts led people into my life that helped me to see God's love for me and that the hurts were in the past and didn't need to continue through today.

I have learned to steer clear of situations, things, and people who cause destruction in my life and my home and my family.  

Is a verse that has guided me more and more,

sometimes I have to be reminded by others, 

pay attention girly, sometimes I need the signal (right ML!), to get back on track,

As I was reading and reflecting this morning,

so many people came to mind and I am sure there are many more who I can't remember

that have walked this journey of life with me and I am so thankful for each of you, you know who you are, some are still a major part of our lives and others were only in our lives for a season.

and with that two verses come to mind

and

which gives me HOPE for each day...

with the Lord I can do anything,

with the Lord I can have peace in my heart,

with the Lord I am blessed

and am 

What gives you hope each day?

*****************

By the way, one thing I think about when I watch those murder type shows is that anyone of those stories could be mine...

...and then I shout THANKS GOD for loving me

and bringing me through the fire!!!!

Reflecting and Rambling

After getting the daily report done this morning,

I took a nap.  As I was drifting off I thought about a few things...

...it's cold here today...29°

and I keep thinking this cold...there should be snow on the ground 

but then again, what a mess that would make in the trailer,

so I'm thankful we only have the cold.

Between our little electric fireplace

and running our propane furnace we are able to keep our 

little home on wheels toasty warm.

When I woke up I spent some time in the Word and praying for our family.

how appropriate for today,

New Year's Day

I am not one to make resolutions

but I like thinking about new beginnings,

new month, new day, new week

and starting new things

and so today, I started a new devotional

I'm doing it a bit different,

I don't plan on doing one Proverb a Day.  

Instead, I plan to do one page a day which works out to about one proverb over 

four days.  

One of the things I read today was by Billy Graham

" a Psalm a day builds vertical relationships, between me and God,

and a Proverb a day builds horizontal relationships, between me and the people

I come into contact with each day."

Those are the things I want to work on this year,

my relationship with the Lord

as well as my relationships with those I see each day.

And I thought about my word for 2019

and how I want to be thankful, grateful and appreciative 

of the many blessings in my life.

and finally

where I am reminded

my heart rejoices in the Lord,

He is my rescuer and my rock!!!

and then I saw 

and my heart was filled to overflowing

as I think of the many  blessings in my life:

my Savior,

my Husband and Partner

our boys, their sweet wives,

five wonderful grands!!!

so many friends that I can't name them one by one,

What are you thankful for on this first day of 2019?

2019 has Begun!

The holiday season has been a bit different for us this year while we have been working as Gate Guards...we decorated our little home on wheels

Matilda the Flying Pig!

Making Gate Guarding Fun!

A different Christmas tree this year!

Mrs. Claus joined Santa thanks to Heather Peterson

We were able to FaceTime and Chat with our boys and their families,

which we always enjoy!

We fed 9 drivers Christmas Dinner...it was fun to see them get so excited about a home cooked meal and we loved making their day.  Also gave out numerous goody bags with fudge, homemade candy and cookies.

To close out 2018 I made my mom's chicken gumbo,

our grandson's call it hot dog soup because of all the different kinds of sausages in it,

and we ate on it for three days...which is good because the 2nd and 3rd days are the best!!!  Told Ron I think I will make it again towards the end of January as it not only warms the tummy but my heart!!

And today is 

January 1, 2019

We have enjoyed being together today,

I made a chicken/ginger/soy sauce dish, served over rice and green beans 

and watched a little football and a couple of recorded Christmas movies.

We are looking forward to 2019

and new adventures.

We are working on plans for our 2019 Summer Trip

which will actually start on May 20,2019

when we leave our jobs as Gate Guards 

and head to Waco to see "one of our boys" graduate from MCH

and then make our way to Florida and places in between.

What plans have you made for this new year?

Happy 43rd Anniversary!!!!

December 20, 1975

Las Vegas, Nevada

February 22, 1976

in the back of our little red truck

we dedicated our lives to the Lord

sharing

we have traveled many roads,

some a bit bumpy

and some a bit smooth

through it all we have trusted the Lord

and as a friend as told me time and again

"HE has never failed you yet!"

and that's the truth

December 22, 2000

Blaine, Washington

Celebrating 25 years of marriage

What a fun celebration that was,

we had 42 guests at our wedding

and 25 years later we had 42 guests celebrating with us!

And here we are today,

December 20, 2018

Gate Guarding just outside of Pecos, TX

Celebrating 43 years of marriage!!!

We have done things we would never have imagined all those years ago...

had babies,

buried our baby son

Celebrated marriages

 &  

and

Family

&

We are so blessed

for wonderful sons,

sweet daughters-in-love's

and five, yes five grandchildren.

We have worked and traveled 

with a carnival

and yes we got tattoos!!

well the ones that wash away!!!

we have sold Christmas trees,

managed campgrounds from Texas to Missouri to Utah

worked with oldies in Oregon and 

teens in Texas

And through it all

our love has stood

and we are so thankful for 43 years together

and look forward to many more!!!!

Happy 83rd Birthday Mom

Happy 83rd Birthday Mom!!!

This picture is very reflective of my mom,

she always had a coffee cup in her hand or in front of her at a table,

It's been just over 15 years since you left us,

some days I think of you

and wish things could have been different between us

and yet other times

I think of fun times we had together,

We had a troubling relationship at times

and yet we laughed and cried together when we needed each other.

So many memories are coming to mind:

going out for breakfast at 2:00 in the morning,

asking for my savings only to find out you knew about the car accident all along,

you standing with us as we said goodbye to Royce,

you standing with us as Jamie was born,

Ron hanging up the phone on you shortly before Brandon arrived,

flying into San Jose when Grandpa died ~ you were not happy that I defied you but at the same time you told me you were glad I was there,

Christmas 1980 ~ you gave Ron a cowboy hat and me 50 $1 bills...it seemed like you gave us the world,

the money you sent each week for six months while Ron was unemployed,

telling me you hope I had a kid just like me...LOL

you forbidding me from driving your car

and how much you loved Ron!!!

Sees Candies....chocolate bordeaux your favorite

and

every Christmas Day

(by the way, we sent a bag to each of the boys family's this year)

I have my bag chilling in the fridge!!

Mom I wish you were 

for just one more phone call,

one more hug

and to share a cup of coffee together

the picture above, last time we had coffee together,

Fall 2014

thank you Aunt Joan for making that visit possible

the visit was awkward at times

but I am so thankful you convinced Mom to come to the ranch.

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Scouring the Scriptures

For my birthday,

Ron got me

I am so enjoying it....one of the things I like to do when I get a new Bible, 

my last one was 2012....

is to go through my old Bible

and underline passages from that Bible

in my new Bible

also while doing some reading.

Today I ended up in

Numbers 9:23

And when the Cloud went up, they got up and marched. They camped at God’s command and they marched at God’s command. They lived obediently by God’s orders as delivered by Moses.

and I reflected on a conversation I had recently

and she said 

Well, sort of. God called you to that life and you answered His call.

and it got me to thinking, some more...

and then I found Numbers 9:23

and how we live in our little home on wheels (Camper/Tent)

and enjoy traveling around the US,

seeing friends and family

and how sometimes we make plans

and things don't work out according to our plans 

but through it all,

we continue to keep trusting the Lord,

I keep trusting the Lord

and 

He Never Fails Me!!!

My scripture readings this morning were in 

Luke 2:8-20 & Matt. 2:7-12

yet I somehow ended up in

Matthew 7:7

and

Matthew 7:12

and what keeps going through my  mind

is that as long as we (I) keep being aware and 

seeking the Lord

and all that He wants for me

HE will always be with me.

And today

I feel like the Lord has confirmed to me

that I really am where I need to be,

right at this moment

to keep on keeping on...

doing what I do best...

loving on others and just sharing me...

the way the Lord made me!!!

******

and a prayer request...

Ron and I are both fighting colds/coughs,

please pray they don't get any worse

and that we will both feel rested and better.  Thanks.

It's Cold and Having a Cold = NO FUN!!!

Living in Texas we expect warm and hot weather...

...but it is cold here this morning

and yesterday morning and the morning before...

thankfully the days warm up.

Yesterday my reading was in Isaiah 

and again am reminded I am never alone

and that God can take anything

and make it beautiful.

Again,

such a time as this

for me

I'm finding time for me,

to read and write again,

For most of my life,

it seems I have been busy,

and always saying I wish I had more time for me,

and now I have lots of time for me

and for the past several months and for the next six months or so

I have time for me

and I don't want to just squander it away.

My prayer is

"Lord help your love to shine through me,

as I do my job here in Texas,

sharing our lives with the different drivers,

some who live locally and some who are here 

are a ways from home.  Lord help me to share YOU with those

I come into contact with.  

And most of all thank you for blessing me

in so many ways!!!

With a loving husband, 

two great kids and terrific daughters-in-loves,

five grandchildren

and more friends than I can count. Amen!!"