Artistry in the Sky

As I look out my window right now to the Eastern sky, it is filled with bolts of lightning dashing and darting across the darkness. Thunder is ripping apart what was a quiet night, and the rain is blowing in the window onto my arm and cheek. As I write, the storm is getting louder and more violent, with four strikes very near my home. The elegant beauty of the night sky has changed from it's breath taking beauty a few hours ago. My hubby and I, and our dog, took in an amazing sunset at the end of a drive tonight. We watched it for about seventy-five minutes, in all it's amazing glory! We watched the sun and sky change from a glowing ball in an orange sky, to hues of pinks, purples, reds, blues, and peach. God definitely was showing His artistic side tonight as He painted the Western sky, and now is showing His power in the Eastern sky.

My last message as I close out this posting is this.....

Always wear protective eye wear when looking at the sun!

Family Gathering

We had a family reunion over the weekend. It was great to see everyone and catch up. Four generations of our family were represented.

There was a lot of great food, with my cousin as head of grilling.................

There were lots of stories being told.............

A lot of laughs were shared.....................

Hmm, wonder who the hats actually belong to???

Times to catch up......................................

Swimming, tubing, and boating were enjoyed....................

......by most...................

If you have never been on this type of tube, my husband is not the one to go with because he forgets to give instruction. I was on the tube, ready to go, or so I thought, and once the slack was out of the rope and we were verily moving, I flew right over the top of the tube. See, my hubby forgot to tell me that you have to shift your weight to the back at first, then move it a bit forward, until you get it balanced. After flipping on the tube, I kept trying to get back on the tube, but couldn't! My life vest was too big on me and kept trying to come up over my head. My hubby keeps telling me to get back on the tube, and I keep trying, but as I try, the life vest keeps going higher and higher, until the bottom is almost at the base of my neck. Not a good situation in 26 feet of water, when your feet keep getting tangled in millfoil weed! I finally swam to the boat, and climbed part way on the motor, and got on the tube. Oh, did I mention we have a ladder for the boat so it is easier to get in the boat from the water, except it was left on shore!!!! Yes, I thought it was a great idea too! I finally got my life vest changed, and actually was able to tube for a bit. I was happy to provide entertainment for my family as they watched my escapades!

By the end of the day, we were all tired, but enjoyed the times shared and memories made.

After two days filled with family fun, we headed home, with a very happy dog on board!

Life

Life has been overwhelming lately, both with stuff going on personally, and with things with family and friends. I can't even think about the mess in our country and world, or it would send me over the edge at this point. It even seems lately that people I've never seen before are coming up to me to tell me what's going on in their lives. I can't figure that one out, but I guess if it helps the person, that is what matters. In the past week, I have had three strangers tell me their story while in a store, and one while sitting in my car, looking over my calendar. The latest was from a young gal who, with her two year old clutching on to her, told me that her husband had been shipped to Iraq and had to leave immediately. He didn't get to come home to say good bye or anything-just a very quick phone call to say he was being deployed. My heart ached for this gal, whom I have never seen before. She was trying to be tough, but I could see the hurt and worry in her face as she stroked her little ones hair. I held back the tears for this stranger as she poured out her heart to me. You see, my car was parked next to her car, and my window was open. I looked at her as she came to her car and offered a smile, and she locked eyes with mine. She obviously needed someone to talk to. I guess you never know when and where you will be used to help someone get through an issue. I hope somehow, I helped her in those few moments.

Each day, its seems some new crisis is happening with someone I love or care about-untimely deaths; divorce; families being ripped apart in many ways; devastating disease; deep hurts, loneliness, and depression; losses of many kinds ranging from jobs, to homes, to health, to family members. I've had a kid pouring their heart out to me over the internet because mom left and has decided her family isn't nearly as important as her trying to regain her 'lost years' of becoming a mother too early on and "missing out on the fun!" So, while mom runs after her mid-life crisis, her two teenagers hearts break and their lives are being tossed around in a roaring sea of emotions. They don't know how to respond to her, except with disgust and pretty deep hate. They want to stay with their dad, and mom really doesn't care, except to get money for child support. So, they go from house to house, playing a game of ping pong with their lives. No, this isn't all from the teens perspective, most of it is from mine. At this point, the young teens have a much better grip on what the situation really is than their mom does. It breaks my heart.

It can be difficult to look past the circumstances when things are so overwhelming. It can be difficult to not get caught up in the muck and mire of the problems of each day. I read my friend's blog tonight Aspire to Lead A Quiet Life and it reminded me to focus on the blessings, not just the problems. There are still many of the things going on that I am trying to find where the blessing is, but I hope to look a little deeper over the next few days. I hope to adjust my focus and see things the way God wants me to see them. I am looking to get a renewed perspective, a new hope. I do have many blessings in my life and am grateful and thankful and appreciative. I also cling to hope in these tough times, because hope in Christ is all there is that matters, all that will keep us smiling and plugging along and caring for others, knowing He is in control and we have to place our full trust in Him.

The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you. Psalm 8:9-10

For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13

David wrote: O Lord, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God! Do not let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat. No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love, which you have shown from long ages past. Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord. Psalm 25:1-7

Addiction Issues

It's hot out early this morning, and will continue to be really hot according to the weather forecast. I try to get out early to pick the raspberries, peas, kale, spinach, lettuce, kohlrabi, and beets, but there's this problem right now that delays me. I have an addiction issue keeping me from my morning routine. I have to admit, I am addicted to the Tour de France. I don't know why, but I am. I remember a few years back when my dad first started to watch it, I wondered why my dad was watching cycling!! Then, I started to watch it, and became addicted to it as well. My sleep has been very much altered this month because of the Tour. Yes, it runs all day, over and over, but it's not quite the same if you don't watch the live version, for some reason. Although, the past few days it has started at 3:30 am so I must admit to not watching the first 90 minutes live.

It's very inspiring to see Lance back after four years off, in his upper 30's, keeping right up with the young guys, and surpassing many of them. It's also neat to see a brother duo work together to bring victory for Luxembourg. There have been times when teams have done amazing together, showing that we all work best with someone by our side, or helping us. There have been some horrible wrecks, and some great victories in each stage. I will get to sleep again in a few days, but for now, I enjoy watching the Tour and cheering on my favorites!

Adventures in Boating 101

Sunday afternoon, we met my parents and headed out to the lake. I had noticed as the morning was progressing that the winds were picking up, but thought it would be ok on the lake. Last weekend, my hubby and I did the same trip we were planning to take my parents on and it was windy then, too, but once we got out of the bay, the wind calmed down. I kept assuring my mom, who doesn't swim, that the winds weren't as bad as last weekend. However, once we got out on the lake, they were definitely worse, as were the waves! We left Farragut and went along the shoreline, checking out old mining sites, trying for to catch some fish, and looking for mountain goats. We stopped at a small campground along the way, and stretched our legs, went for a swim, and skipped some rocks as the beach was loaded with perfect skipping rocks. My hubby rode behind on the tube for aways down the shoreline. The week before, my hubby and I saw a couple of goats, but not so lucky on this trip. I would guess they were smart and were hiding from the wind, unlike us. It was a hot day as well.

After we got part way across the Green Monarchs, my dad and hubby said to go across lake, it wouldn't be so bad because the wind would be sheltered over there. So, I crossed over to Garfield Bay and as I did, the waves became much worse. This started to remind me of when my dad ends up with the idea to take a short cut. Somehow my dad's shortcuts always end up longer, or without a road, or very narrow road, or something interesting and adventurous, just as taking the boat across the lake to the other side did! As waves pounded our boat, water sprayed across all of us, at times totally drenching my mom and I. At one point, when the waves neared the three foot swell stage, and we were doing about 4 mph and still having a difficult time not sinking, at least in my opinion, I heard a chuckle. I quickly turned around so as not to crash the boat, since I was driving, to see my dad shaking laughing. Evidently, he was finding the entire situation quite humorous, but trying not to laugh too loud so that my mom and I don't throw him over into the tumultuous waters. At one point, we saw a sailboat that had flipped over, and another boat was trying to help them back up. Since I had white knuckle syndrome, I pulled off at a beach. The waves seemed much calmer, having gone down to about one foot waves. The thought of hiking straight up, and finding out where it came out at the top was starting to intrigue me, compared to heading back out in the high waves. I started to hum in my head, 'just sit right back and you'll hear a tale...with Gilligan, the Skipper, too'....however we had been on the lake for five hours, not three like Gilligan and the Skipper. While on the beach, my dad and husband found a piece of driftwood they really liked, so guess what? Our already full boat, gets to add a fifteen foot piece of driftwood! Yes, the piece is beautiful, and yes the eagle my dad carved us is going to look amazing on it, but a fifteen foot piece of driftwood in a sixteen foot boat that has a weight limit of 800 pounds that already has four people, food, fishing and swimming gear, a tube to pull behind the boat or as I was starting to think of it, a life saving vessel if the boat capsized, ropes, ice chests, and an anchor, in roaring waves, and we still had to make it back to Farragut State Park preferably without sinking. Within a few feet, the water turned amazingly calm. My mom said she had been fervently praying for the waters to calm down, and I'm sure that we would not sink, as I know I had, so God heard those prayers. We had calm waters all the way back to the edge of Farragut Park where they stirred up some, but nothing like we had been in earlier. After I drove through the Garfield Bay Hurricane, I feel confident to drive the boat through most anything. I was a bit timid before in driving the boat across big wakes left by big boats, but now, I can face those with confidence! We had a great day on the lake. One that definitely left a lot of memories for all of us.

Some of these pictures are from the week before, when it was calmer on the lake! That day, we went from Farragut State Park to the Clark Fork River Delta. Fun times, both times!

This was the depth and temp of the water at one point!