I’m going to take a monstrous break and just share a few thoughts as they come to me.

First-I’m enjoying my walks, every day walks, just like I did two to four years ago and beyond. It feels especially good to breathe in the air, look around me, at the trees, sky, moon, homes, and whatever. I love looking and listening, feeling and breathing. God made this world, and He did it swell. Sometimes I pray when I’m walking. There is so much to tell Him: thanks, praise, and joy. I stay to the positive when I’m walking.

Second-Some of my family is near me, and I’m blessed. My third son, Forrest, is finished with his Mercy Ship (similar) adventure. What a fine time he had. My first son, Josh, is here. Right now he is going to college and also participates in the Air Force reserves. LaVonne is quite busy with her family of nine. I go over once a week for dinner. She is quite gifted in making unusual dishes, which I love! Second son, Thomas, lives in Texas but comes here frequently (he’s my computer and whatever helper)…. Glori (my last child) and Mitch are busy redoing my Chico home and working. They plan to live in my home once they’re finished. She just finished her bachelor’s degree. She plans to go on to get a Master’s Degree.

Third-I’m doing lots of reading!!! All the books I’ve read before, but it’s been a while. Every day I read a portion in a C.S. Lewis book, and two other books. I take time while I read because I am absorbing the authors’ points. I am enjoying them but I am also applying what strikes me. I have so many books, but it’s been quite some time since I’ve read them. I’m also reading again Love Revolution: Rediscovering the Lost Command of Jesus by Gaylord Enns (a truly remarkable book). God has a lot to teach, refresh, and uplift my soul. Truly, it is an invigorating time.

Fourth-Reading God’s Word is a habit I had before my stroke. Now I’m getting back into the habit. This time I’m reading in Psalms, Proverbs and Mark. I take the time to absorb what I am reading, and that’s a powerful good thing. The Psalms always speak to me. Proverbs keeps me on track. And Mark refreshes me and puts me into the story. I try to imagine being literally there in the gospel when Jesus is speaking to the people. I love it. I cherish the lessons. I’m challenged. God convicts to me. There is much more He wants me to see and believe.

Fifth-Praying is a daily exercise. I used to pray frequently. I’m taking it up again. I love to pray but I couldn’t pray when my stroke took my voice and my will with it away. It feels especially good to talk to God again. I hope that I will continue to get better to make my path one that is close to my Father again. I know He understands. I trust Him. Obey Him. Follow Him. Listen to Him. He is a particularly and meaningful good Father.

Sixth-Cooking at lunchtime is a challenging occupation. You see, I was barely cooking when my stroke hit. Then I couldn’t cook worth a darn after I sat on the shelf. I couldn’t, or didn’t; I’m not sure which. Now that my sons are here, I cook a meal at lunch time for whoever is here. That sounds easy, but it’s not. Regardless, I’m getting back into the swing of it.

So you see, I’m getting back to normal. After months of sitting of the couch just looking at YouTube videos, I am taking myself on a journey back to my old self! I’m still not driving very much. We’ll wait and see if that happens. If not, LaVonne is quite willing to take me around where I need to go. I am very blessed.

So, there you have it. I’m glad I’m back. I almost quit, but I didn’t. I hope you are doing fine. God is truly a most stupendous manager. I am thankful for Him. Be happy.

What’s it like in Florida? you may ask. How’s it different than California? Have I made a few new friends? Is it nice being around my grandkids (of course)? How do I like the weather?

Yes, there are many questions. In this blog this week I will attempt to answer the questions I think you may want to ask. Now that I’m getting in the rhythm of Florida, I am able to answer the questions more astutely. First, I am getting used to the weather changes. In a day the weather changes quite a bit more than I was used to in California. It’s still hot for the most part. But there is often a rain sometime during the day. The thermostat is kept on cool (where in Chico I had it off most of the time). There is more moisture in the air over here. LaVonne says I will be changing it to warm pretty soon.

I like to work outside in the morning, as I did in Chico. The morning is nice for outside work. It is a little warm in the afternoon. I spent quite a bit of time setting up my house. It took some ingenuity but I got it done. Thankfully, my stroke hasn’t left me with any significant changes, so I am able to get most things done on my own, and that is a blessing! Getting my buffet set up meant a good deal to me. Once it was in place I could get to work in other areas. It’s feeling more like my place every day.

LaVonne has her children take turns coming over; one per day. They come for about 15 minutes. Each one has a specific afternoon they come over. Today my granddaughter, Hannah, was here. We looked at pictures of the kids from back when my mother was alive and they lived in Colorado. Those were fun days. I’d go to Colorado for visits and to be of service to them. It amazes me how fast the time changes.

I eat one meal a week with LaVonne’s family. She always surprises me. She is quite a cook! Her meals are quite different than mine. She makes something unusual every time. They’re delicious, nutritious, and spectacular. I never know what she will make that is different. It is really and truly delectable!

Best of all, though, is the time we spend together. They are willing, able, and considerate. When the kids come over, the first thing they say, all of them, is how can I help you? And they mean it too. I am not used to having help…and it has taken me awhile to come up with things. But they’re willing and I appreciate it. Shane is also a super guy. He makes their family complete. It is wonderful to see such wisdom and grace in a father.

Now, about you. You have grandchildren, children, friends, and acquaintances. Make your day count by doing things to please them. It may be big or it may be small. You are communicating I care to them. We don’t have to do much either. It’s the thought that truly counts. And, if you really want to, you can write me back in the comments section.

I want to say I am sorry my blog took so long. We were without electricity for quite some time. We are back in business now and I am grateful. Today we worked on a broken tree (it knocked down parts of three fences) and a leaning palm tree. Almost done! I’ll write more next time.

I think I need to get back into my routine… Oh yes, I need to do my old things the old way I used to do them. But. But there’s a new way to do them as well.

A little refresher to get things up to speed.

I spent a month packing my things before moving to Florida. That meant I went through everything (almost). I’m a writer, with that in mind I keep anything and everything that catches my eye. I kept a tall metal bookshelf where I put ideas that I could use or that caught my interest including stories from way back. I slowly went through the stack to sort out what I wanted to keep and just to read the articles. That sort of things takes awhile. My sister came to my house and helped pack, and my son helped pack, and people stopped by to talk. It took over a month.

When we were done packing into one pod, we watched it leave my house. Then we were on to the next adventure. It was both hard and good at the same time. Hard to say goodbye to the house I loved so much. Hard to say goodbye to the people I loved so much. Hard to say goodbye to almost all I knew. However, I was ready to say goodbye. I was ready for the next adventure.

Next, we drove for five days. I wanted to go this way. It was all of interest to me. We ate at Chico’s In-N-Out and then the three of us, Marilyn, Josh, and I, headed south. Once we reached Bakersfield we headed east. We saw many interesting things on our journey east to Florida. It was quite an adventure. Josh did all the driving.

I had my work to do after we arrived in Florida. It started off slow while we waited for the pod to arrive. I enjoyed all of it. Marilyn left. Josh lives here in Florida now, so he was a gracious, willing, and a super help to me.

Unpacking became my next project.

Now, I am enjoying my new-to-me home. I love being close to my daughter, SIL, and seven grandkids. The kids come over, one each day, and I’m enjoying my role as grandmother. Also I am getting used to Florida. I do miss Chico. That’s to be expected. Of course, I miss my best friends, my church, my California relatives, and my former home. I’m learning to use my phone to make contact…I had basically stopped using it when I found it so difficult to talk. Yet, I’m learning to go with the flow. In fact, I like all of it!

It just goes to show that what matters most, above everything else, is that you can be what you want to be, love what you choose to love, bring happiness to those you want to share life with, and help those who need and want it. These past 3+ years I have learned a lot about coming up from a place of silence (from my stroke) to becoming more involved, more like I used to be, and much more intentional. It has not been easy…but it’s been good.

I’ve learned a few things I am thankful for…

• 1) to listen better
• 2) to be more supportive
• 3) to notice the positive actions of others
• 4) to try harder
• 5) to let discouragement go
• 6) to encourage others whenever I can

I am thankful that God still walks and talks with me. God makes the day better. God is my help. God cares. I am saying this to help you, others, and myself. It is all about God. He makes life better. If you are discouraged, look up to God. He will help you. He keeps you. He is everything. You may be discouraged. You may have hard troubles coming at you. You may feel God cannot help you. I must say, you need to keep on. Cry out to God. He will help you. Although, there is one thing I think I should tell you: God waits for you to be ready. Stop. Wait. Listen. Tell Him about it. Trust Him. He will come. He will nurture you. He is the answer to your prayers.