THE GOD OF THE EVEN THE SMALL THINGS...

Recently I had the awesome experience of being part of a tour that took me, via a Hummer, on a hair-raising drive along many miles of oceanfront sand dunes in the Outer Banks to Currituck Island, which is home to almost 100 Wild Spanish Mustangs..  The original mustangs arrived via shipwrecks 500 years ago and numbered in the thousands.The opportunity to travel to see these magnificent creatures has been a dream of mine for years.

The trip required us all to sign waivers which included our date of birth.  I discovered why later as they loaded the vehicle with its passengers.  It seated twelve persons from rear to front by age, with the youngest in the back, since it required  climbing over rows of seats. I soon found myself riding in the shotgun seat up front, which in my mind was the formal announcement to all the riders that I was, in fact, the eldest person on the trip.
After marinating in self pity for a few moments of humiliation, well, maybe more than a few moments, I came to a realization.
I am an amateur photographer and had been assuming that I would not be able to get any good shots of the horses from the back of a Hummer, especially since I would be photographing moving objects out of a moving vehicle.  Now I had the best seat in the house and could even rest my lens on the door of the vehicle! I took every opportunity to take as many fabulous shots as I could from my perfect viewpoint.
This experience just reaffirmed my belief that God is not just the God of the “big” things, like tuning up the universe, but He also looks out for His “elders”, just like me!



Matthew 10:29  “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside of your Father’s care.”



Psalm 91:4  “ He will cover you with his feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

Photos by JHynd

TWO VERY, VERY SPECIAL GALS

When I count my blessings, I count two women in my life that are not just ordinary women.  They are special, and let me tell you why.  They are my granddaughter, Hannah, and her mom(although she looks more like her sister), Erin.  They are special in so many ways, but their crowning glories are having both been deployed at the same time to Afghanistan.  Siblings have done it, and fathers and sons, but I cannot imagine that there have been too many mother-daughter deployments.

This picture taken shortly before deployment, Erin (Mom) on left and Hannah on right

Erin is a First Lt. Moncrief Army Community Hospital Department of Behavioral Health Social Work Assistant Chief helping soldiers in the U.S. Army to deal with the mental ravages of war while Hannah is a Senior Airman Air Force Crew Chief in the 12th Air Combat Division out of Hollomon Air Force Base in New Mexico.  Hannah left the U.S. last September and Erin deployed in October.  Hannah recently returned to the states after her second deployment to Kandahar Air Field. To me this is such an amazing achievement since she joined the military at the tender age of 18.  Erin deserves tremendous credit for putting herself through school earning a masters degree while working full-time.  They are both incredibly strong and disciplined,  Although stationed at separate bases in Afghanistan they were able to spend a few precious days together over the Christmas holidays. These gals can manage to still look glamorous while wearing fatigues!

Hannah was quoted as saying "We are in different branches and complete opposite career fields, but coming together to support the same deployed mission.  The opportunity to serve together is incredible" She also stated "I know my Mom came into the armed forces later in life and partly because of my service and her brother's (my uncle).  She recognized the need for good mental health services for soldiers.  I am a reminder to her about military combat issues and she is a reminder to me about resiliency and mental health strength."

Erin will be returning soon to the states and this time I doubt whether their reunion will include fatigues.  I say kudoes and well done to these two amazing women.  May God keep you safe and protect you whenever and wherever you go. You make us all so very proud.

Article in military newspaper.

I CAN CHECK THIS ONE OFF THE BUCKET LIST!

Ever since I was a teenager I have been infatuated with outer space.  Even though life got busy and I put my interest on the back burner, I have always had a longing to see a rocket launch, live and in person.  I did not just want to see a rocket flying through the sky, I wanted to see it, feel it and hear it, up close, at least as close as they let you go.
Since we have been camping at Patrick Air Force Base on the central coast of Florida, it became possible for this dream to become a reality.  Last week we toured Kennedy Space Center, which I would highly recommend if you have not been there.  It is an incredible adventure, and you could spend a day there.  The bus tour takes you out to the launch pads and throughout the huge tract of land that is the space center.  You see the "crawlers". magnificent pieces of equipment that carry the rocket out to the launch pad, a two mile trip taking five hours.  You get to see many videos and displays that are so well done.  There are two Imax theaters and the icing on the cake for me was to see the actual Atlantis Space Shuttle.  Here are some pics from the visit to NASA....

 All manned flights to the moon left from this launch pad

 Crawler than takes rockets to the launch pad

 The size of the rockets is amazing

 Real astronaut boots with REAL moondust

The highlight of the trip for me..the Atlantis Space Shuttle

Although we were to leave Florida today for home, we extended for two days so that I could see the launch of an Atlas 5 rocket carrying reconnaisance equipment into space. ...yes, I would imagine that it is us they are spying on, :-)

I went armed with binoculars, iPhone, cameras and all I could carry.  Not sure why, I could only use one at a time!  I went to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, so that I could take pictures of the many birds there after the launch.  The beach was packed, as it is one of the more desirable spots for viewing the event.....as the time drew near, I was in awe that after 68 years I was really here.  The excitement was in the air for all of us.  Here are a few pics......

 Through the haze you can see the rocket in the middle of the picture between two towers

 Launch Time!

Gone in a flash

It may seem like a lot of effort to spend a day to see something that takes less than a minute, but it was a thrill for me.  That we live in a generation that has seen men walk on the moon, and live in a space station is incredible.  The few tears I shed while witnessing such an event are testimony to the blessing of realizing one of many lifelong dreams.

TELL ME IT'S NOT SO...ONLY 11 DAYS TO GO!

I cannot believe that our time here in Key Largo is almost over! We arrived here on November 1 and leave on January 2.  The time has just flown by and we have not done all of the things on our list of great things to do here in the Keys.  We have made new, wonderful friends and have fallen in love with the area (who wouldn't?...it is in the low 80s and sunny even now!).  The weather has been incredible and there is so much to do.  And Barklee has met SO many doggies here, but he is still the cutest of them all, of course.  John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is one of the most visited parks in the country, and no wonder why.  It offers beaches, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking and so much more.  And right down the road we find Islamorada and a bit further down, Key West.  Last weekend Tom and I took Barklee down for an overnight trip to Key West for our Christmas gift to each other. We are at Mile Marker 102 and Key West is at 0, so it is a leisurely two hour trip at 45mph to the Southernmost tip of the country. It was a great trip, even though it only lasted about 25 hours in Key West.  Of course the drive down there and back is as good as the destination.  Key after key, bridge after bridge, including the famous 7-mile bridge, which in so beautiful.  The weather cooperated and we were able to take some pics...here are a few:

 Coconut Pirates

 This dog is ready for Christmas!

 Marina at Key West

 Tom, Jackie and Ernest Hemingway

Tom just loves the ladies!

I am determined to try snorkeling before we leave, so it has to be next weekend since it is our last weekend here.  If I survive I will post some pics.  I think I can, I think I can....there is a snorkeling boat that they take out from the park and as a volunteer I can go free of charge.  It is something I would really like to do so....stay tuned.

From here we take a short drive up to Jonathan Dickenson State Park just north of Jupiter, Florida, for three months and then we return home to wonderful South Carolina.  This has been such an adventure and we have made the most of every minute.

We wish you all the most blessed Christmas ever and a prosperous 2014.  And always remember the Reason for the Season.  

EARLY MORNING WALK

Glass Bottom Boat

Kayaks Ready for Use

Kayakers

Beach 

 

 

Ibis

This is what I get to see on my early morning walk...right in my backyard!  Sometimes I can't believe I get to stay in such a beautiful place for two whole months!  And we have already been here two weeks..one quarter of our time here, hard to believe.
Tom and I work 20 hours a week each, three days a week.  The days are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, how lucky are we?  We have a four day weekend every weekend!  And we make the most of it, believe me.
Tom works maintenance and helps the rangers.  He does a variety of jobs, such as helping to repair and maintain racoon-proof garbage cans, clean up seaweed from the beach, clear out vegetation to make room to park cars, etc.  I think he is having a good time and meeting lots of nice folks.
I am working for the Park Specialist in the office and doing odd jobs as well.  I maintain spreadsheets recording volunteer work hours, I am working on a project to convert old VCR tapes containing ranger lectures over to DVDs and I am working on a big project scanning a huge library of slides and scanning them so that they can all be found online.  I really am learning a lot of new things and enjoy what I am doing although some days I would rather be outside!
We have met another wonderful group of workampers.  In the State Parks they are called Volunteers rather than workampers. We volunteer our time for the park and they provide us with a place to stay.  To get to live in Key Largo for two months isn't anything I would have ever thought I could do.  On our days off we take little trips to enjoy the surroundings and find new places.  We have driven as far south in the Keys as Marathon, just a little more than halfway to Key West.  It is incredibly beautiful and the weather is great.  Still in the low 80s.  Last week we got to visit with Todd and Hailey and next week Lisa and Gary will be down for some R&R in the keys and we will get to spend time with them then.  Looking forward to that and to having Todd and Hailey spend the night with us the day after Thanksgiving.
Hope all is well with you and yours and we will keep you posted.  Stay tuned!

PINCH ME......WE ARE IN KEY LARGO! AND ANOTHER MIRACLE!

On the road again, I just can't wait to get on the road again....Willie Nelson
Last Sunday we packed up our camper, our car and our dog, and left lovely Edisto Island, South Carolina and took off for sunny Florida. It was getting just a little too chilly in South Carolina!  We arrived on night # 1 in St. Augustine and spent the night luxuriously in a LaQuinta Inn.  The next two nights we spent in Ft. Pierce, Florida visiting two friends that we met while we were in Texas. They are workamping at Ft. Pierce at one of the nicest RV parks I have ever seen.  It was so good to see Jim and Monica and hope to see them again while we are in Florida.
We spent night #4 in Stuart, Florida with Tom's sister and her husband.  We love seeing Margaret and June.  They are the youngest 88 and 90 years olds that we know.  Margaret (88) takes no medications for anything.  She is amazing.  We also got to see Tom's niece, Jeannie and her husband Greg. We had a nice but short visit.
Last night we arrived in Key Largo.  It was a short three hour drive from Stuart and an easy one on the Florida Turnpike.  The weather was great and so was the drive. Coming over the bridge into the Keys is such a wonderful experience as the colors change into vivid blues and greens and the water begins to look like the Carribean. We pulled into John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park with our car, truck and 37 foot camper.As soon as Tom backed into the camper space, the serpentine belt in the engine of his truck broke.  This could have been a disaster if it had happened on the road.  This belt charges the battery, enables power steering, cools the engine with the water pump and supplies electricity to the truck through the alternator. The truck basically can do nothing without the belt.  It could have happened on the turnpike, a bridge or any number of places.  Again, God was in charge of the trip and kept us safe.  We can have the truck fixed here.  I am ever so grateful that He watches over us, always....
We have a few days to settle in and we start work on Tuesday.  Our workdays are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  Every weekend is a four day weekend.  How lucky are we?  The other workampers here are really nice and I think we are going to have a really nice two months.
I am including some of our first pictures  Hope you like them.

 Ibises

 Glass bottomed boat

Sunbathers

FRIENDS

Usually my blog is a little bit of a travelogue.  In this post, I digress.

Having just turned 68, yes, I found myself a little melancholy, thinking about my life before and my life after my birthday.  One does that when they get to be my age.

Having recently spent a weekend with two best friends, who came to Edisto Beach State Park to celebrate my birthday with me, I thought a lot about friendship and how especially important and meaningful it is.  

"Friends are hard to find.  In a lifetime you only find a few.  And when you find them, you always know them by sight and heart alone, you always grow a little taller in your soul, and you know you have been blessed just to know them"........Ashley Rice

"A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same".......Elbert Hubbard

A local pastor, Shawn Wood, in a recent message, said that in our lifetimes, most of us find it hard to name five CLOSE friends.  Sad to say, most 40 year old men cannot name one REAL friend.  Are we too busy?  Are we too removed?  Has Facebook and texting taken the real meaning of true friendship out of our lives and made most of our friends relationships that we only talk to electronically?

"I value the friend who for me, finds time on his/her calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult his/her calendar".........Robert Brault

Pastor Wood went on to say that if we get our friends right, our lives will be richer.  Show me your friends and I will show you your future.  You are the average of your five friends, should you be lucky to have them.  

"A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same".....Elbert Hubbard

I would like to introduce you to six of my dear friends, the real kind.

Here in South Carolina, I met Vicki and Patricia through Seacoast Church.  We have become the closest and best of friends in the last ten years.  We have been through good times and bad, sickness and health, the death of close relatives, family sicknesses and all of those times that you truly need friends.  And we have had many, many, many good times and have shared lot of laughter. No matter what we do, we have fun, and laughter is great medicine.  Each of us is only a phone call away.  We would do just about anything for one another.  These are the gals who came here to celebrate my birthday with me.

 Making a birthday dinner!

Bible Study on the back porch

We rented a cabin here at the state park and had a really nice time that included an educational boat ride with the Department of Natural Resources, taking in a Shrimp Festival, sitting on the beach, enjoying good food and just enjoying each other's company.  I truly love these gals.  

Friends # 3 and 4 live in Pennsylvania, where I moved from 10 years ago.  But our friendship did not end there.  We met as coworkers at County National Bank in Clearfield, PA.  In fact, Lois was my boss! We had a really close friendship for about 15 years, and still do.  I was blessed to be able to meet up with them this past August following Tom's family reunion.  We had not actually seen each other in years, but felt like we could pick up right where we left off.  That is true friendship, you can feel so comfortable with them even if you can't be together as often as you would like.

Linda, Lois and myself along with another great friend, Dan.

I cherish these gals and have so many joyful memories of times we have had together.  We visited Dan on several occasions when he lived in Palm Springs, CA.  He was also a County National Bank employee. I love these friends despite the distance...distance does not diminish real friendship.

And finally, I cherish Ann and Anita.  Ann and I met when we were both 12.  Do the math.  OK...it't really big numbers, I will do it for you.  It is 56 years since we met.  Could that be?  We were neighbors and schoolmates in Pennsylvania.  Closer than peas in a pod until we graduated high school and went our separate ways.  After 20 years we rekindled the friendship at a class reunion and have become close again, doing a lot of traveling together both with and without our husbands.  The unique thing about our friendship is that we are total opposites, in so many ways.  But we put friendship beyond personal differences and I would do anything for her and I believe she would do the same for me. Not to mention the fact that she lives in Arizona and I live in South Carolina. She is a special woman and I have treasured her friendship over all the years.

Anita is my newest dear friend.  I met Anita when I moved to Del Webb Charleston and we became immediate friends.  Our common love of books and God immediately sparked a close friendship. Anita is a tiny little ball of endless energy and she has been blessed with a tremendous gift of encouragement.  We love to get together and talk about books and our families.

Well, I have rambled on enough.  I could go on and on about all the wonderful people that God has brought into my life, but this post would go on forever.  You know who you are and I am so grateful for your friendship.  With friends like you to grow old with, I have no fear.  God is so good and I thank Him for you.  If I am an average of all of these friends, I am truly blessed.

"A friend loves at all times".....Proverbs 17:17

"Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down".........Oprah Winfrey

PS.....Although I have highlighted the women in my life, I would certainly not want to neglect to mention my five best male friends .....my sons Terry, Jeff, Todd and Jason...and hubby Tom