40 Years Today

I almost forgot that today is our anniversary. Because we were away last weekend to celebrate (and avoid being away on a holiday), it didn't occur to me until I picked up the cell phone to make a call and noticed the date. By that time, Dan and I had already been up for a couple of hours. We had sat together on our porch, me drinking coffee - he's a tea man - listening to the birds, petting the dogs and chatting. Ahhh. What a way to start the day.
My preacher husband has a favorite joke he's told many times. Goes something like this: Cheryl and I have been happily married forty years. She's been happy for ten years and I've been happy for thirty. Seriously, we have had a happy life together. Not without disagreements, testing, sickness, difficulty. But so filled with love; the blessing of children, and now grandchildren, who delight us; the opportunity to minister to others as unto the Lord; the privilege of those early mornings on the porch.
I'm so thankful to have been married to Dan four decades. He's a loving husband who has brought great wealth into my life. I'm a better person because of him.

Survey says...

The results are in for my survey asking what most people want to do after retirement. Six out of ten chose "travel the country." I know that's what I would choose if time and money were not a concern.

No matter where I am, at home or traveling, I am so encouraged to know that "the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." II Chron. 16:9

A break in the drought...

We have been without rain for a number of weeks in our part of Florida, and it is obvious from the condition of lawns and pasture lands that a drought exists. But today we experienced a short reprieve from all that. It rained most of the morning! And though my feet got soaked as I ran to make a meeting, I didn't complain at all. What a blessing to have rain.

Weekend Getaway

We just returned from a weekend in Orlando to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. How things have changed there during the past 4 decades! We were in Orlando for a couple of days on our honeymoon, pre-Disney days. Our motel then cost only - are you ready for this? - $12 a night. But it's good to remember that wages were also low back then. Dan's pay was only $75 a week. Puts things in perspective a little better.
We decided to go to the dinner show Arabian Nights, about which we had heard very good things. No matter where you are seated you have a good view of the show. The dinner was very good and the servers friendly and attentive. The horses are beautiful and the show appealing to all ages. You should go.
Our travels have brought us back to our little corner of paradise, and it's good to be home.
Papa 'n' Mimi

Opening day...

Like the beginning of baseball season, or the premier of a new movie or play, this is the first day that we have been "on the air" and ready for business.
This is the beginning of the busy season for Dan and Jared as they work the lawn business. The grass is still growing slowly due to unseasonably cool nights and dry weather. But they will soon be sweating a-plenty. I am busy with our travel business, teaching piano to the grandkids, and some responsibilities at church. We love our home in the country, our gardening and pets, and having our family close to us.
God is faithful.