Summer Dreaming

This weekend we attended a wedding for a distant, longtime friend's son who lives in our neighborhood. Throughout the years we bump into each other and chat for a few moments and then wander out of each others lives. He is a single father and has raised his son to be a fine reflection of his own person. As I sat and gazed upon this child entering adulthood, I had a sweet smile remembering him as he was growing up and enjoying seeing whom he had become.
His father has always made us feel as if it were a privilege to be our friend and has made us feel our lives were special.

The invitation came later that expected and I wonder if we were put on the guest list as a last minute afterthought. In fact we would not have been at all disappointed if we had not been invited, yet when the invitation arrived, we felt that we should attend. There was a moment the week of the wedding I asked myself why we were attending and said to myself that they would not miss our presence, yet having had two of my children married, knew that it was quite improper to cancel after you have RSVP'd.

We arrived to this beautiful setting in San Marcos,the Twin Oaks School House, TWINOAKSWEDDING.COM ,and enjoyed the delight of color displayed in the floral decorations on the outdoor gazebo and the breeze that gently blew through the eucalyptus trees cooling a rather warm day. I was in wonderland looking at all the special places made for enjoyment, wandering through the grounds. We did not know anyone, so I felt that I had time to browse around.
There were grapewreath lined arches with clinging vines and wicker settings around a fountain
on the lawn, and a beautiful tent venue that had these great crystal chandeliers that resembeled jelly fish. The food was delicious and the table settings, beautiful.

We were seated with strangers, but quickly were deep in conversation. I had seen this woman sometime in my life here in town. I know that our lives have crossed. Isn't it interesting that we were brought together at this celebration?
The other man seated at our table happen to also live in our neighborhood. I was surprised when I realized who he was. A very handsome widower, an ex teacher. I never knew his wife, however, I knew of her and her life impressed me much in her walk with the Lord.

I wandered into the school house and enjoyed my exploartion along with being serinaded by the music being played within. It was such a pleasant expierence that I decided to sit and take it all in, as if this moment was made just for me. I don't know if anyone saw me, but I acted like I owned the room, closed my eyes and was just there.
What a wonderful day we had.

Summer Has Offically Arrived

My July-August issue of Victoria magazine arrived a week ago with the words "Create Your Own Summer Escape", with a beach scape on the cover, "Favorite Beach Finds" chalenges me to explore more than just my little town in Southern California, about 10 miles from the beach.

I feel as though the summer will slip through my fingers as the sand does when we grasp it , and then open our hands, not knowing if we will make any plans to escape to enjoy ourselves alone.

I feel drawn to the seaside as the article entices me,to sit and listen to the sound of the waves crashing and rolling into the shore. To feel the sun beating hot on my back and feel the sea mist depositing salty residue on my sun darkened skin, to read a book, and extend my polished toes into the warm sand, to dance with the tide as it enters and exits the shoreline, and at the end of the day, gather my belongings and walk hand and hand with my love to the local mexican restaraunt along the boluvard and eat a tostada in the shape of a huge bowl and experience the essence of summer in this beach town.

So often we just "live" our days repeating the everyday, tending to our handwritten schedules and miss the adventure of the moment.

I picked up a book, I am not sure where or how it appeared, but the title grabbed my attention, ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssAsssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss Year By The Sea, thoughts of an unfinished woman by Joan Anderson.
It reminded me of a book, Gift From The Sea, by Anne Morrow Lindburgh, whose words are
quoted in the chapter titles. I must read this one again. To be able to sit with the sea within sight and write one's feelings and experience what the shore delivers and presents to one'ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss would be delightful. Would it become a chore to do these things?

I dream of the sand and the surf and the sunshine on my skin and the freedom to do nothing but enjoy it all.

Birth Month Musings

As many of you know, June is my " Birth Month".
I decided that I enjoyed celebrating with my friends rather that having "Birthday Parties".
It has been my pleasure to entertain and gather with those I call friends and whom I love.
It has turned out to be a fun time of enjoying each others company and a delight for us to gather.
On my "Birthday" my daughter invited me out to breakfast with my Grand daughter to "Thyme on the Ranch", a place in Rancho Bernardo in a cute little setting with delicious entries.
We enjoyed our muffins,fruit and tea sand cappuccinos, but the most fun part of the breakfast was watching my Grand daughter play and enjoy the flowers. My daughter's friend met us with her new daughter and it was fun to be able to meet her baby and visit.
My daughter's present to me was a beautifully handcrafted personalized crown made by another girlfriend, who has a business making these lovelies and more!
I was so thrilled when I opened the gift and there was the lovely crown. You may see me around town wearing this crown. Don't hesitate to ask me about it, I love it!
It has been a great year and I am sure that this year, even though another year older will be great too, because I am loved, feel loved and love all of you and that is what friendship is all about!
Call me and we will have tea! ~M~

The Most Precious Gift

Today at church, Pastor presented the beginning of a five part message on the Holy Spirit.
Today he spoke on how the Holy Spirit desires to dwell in His people.

Without the Righteousness of God , we are merely lumps of formless clay. When we receive Jesus and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, we receive the promise of becoming a child of God. Jn1:12
God's original plan of creation was to create and dwell among us. We are made for His pleasure.
Sin changed all this. We made our own choices, thinking only about what is pleasing to us.

At the perfect time, God sent His Son to redeem us. The Holy Spirit gently nudges us to recognize we are not living the life as God created us to live.
We are not content, at peace,nor fulfilled.
We are given a choice, recognize our Creator and turn to Him through Christ's forgiveness and receive all His promises, or go it on our own in a dry and desolate land as the adversary would have it.
Once we make our decision for our Savior and to walk in the Lord's will, we become transformed;
"We are called out of the darkness we walked in and into His wonderful light"! 1 Pet2:9

Do you remember who you were in your darkest moment?
Your lifestyle, your language, your attitude towards others?
It is a dog eat dog world out there.

Christ calls on us to "love one another as He has loved us". Jn 15:12

The most important commandment is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and strength. The second is to love your neighbor as yourself. There is no greater commandment than these." Mark 12:29-31
We are instructed over 13 times in His word to do this.

If we love the Lord as it is commanded, with all of our heart,soul,mind and strength, and are to love our neighbor as our self, I see that I am to be going about the Lord's work, helping those who are in need as He reveals this to me.

I struggle at this point, because it is not something that I always want to do, or the time is inconvenient,( Or it is something that will take me away from my schedule or my fun time.)
But, isn't this loving your neighbor as yourself? Being called upon in a time of need?
That is our design and purpose once we become a child of the Kingdom.
Our mission is to become Christ-like. Ask your self, WWJD? What is Jesus asking you to do for Him and the Kingdom?

People at churches everywhere are looking for theirpurpose and ministry. What has God chosen for you to do for Him? They don't know, they can't quite put their finger on it. I have discovered it is right in front of our noses! Reach out, get out of your shell, help in ANY way possible. It is through doing the Lord's work, you will find your purpose and ministry.

Before church, a friend presented me with a book as a gift. It is a delightful book. She chose the perfect book in illustration and font, as this is exactly what I love. It is me!
The book title is "Savor this Moment, Embracing the Goodness in Everyday Life", by Karla Dornacher.
She showed me how cute the book was with the darling pull outs and places to journal,. (I'd like to think that this is how she sees me ,because it IS ME, in my spirit, and as I see myself.

We then sit for the sermon.

To reflect back on our lives without our Salvation, the purpose that God has for us, and who we were and what we would be now without His forgiveness and guidance through the Holy Spirit, and then realizing the beautiful transformation that I have become through the Holy Spirit.

I gaze back through the pages of my life and look ahead and see His miraculous work and blessings upon me and those my life touches. Tears flowing, knowing where my purpose is and when the task is given, how I need to respond. I am being requested by the Lord how do I respond?

Later in the day I sit and open my beautiful gift, the book.
I savor this moment of Love, savor this moment of Affirmation, savor this moment of Gratitude, of Influence, of Hope, Rest, Joy, Beauty, and Comfort. The whole day and message has been tied together as a bouquet and handed to me by Him, the one that I love and who loves me.
All of these qualities I need to have as reminders I am where the Lord wants me.
He is soooo good!

After church, we go up in front to pray for those in need of prayer.
One of my ladies faithfully comes forward for prayer before her weekly chemo treatments.
What a privilege to be called upon to pray for her healing. He has placed me here.
I am watching God's work in progress. ~MK~