“Love yourself first and everything else will falls into line.” – Lucille Ball
Schedule your mammogram today if you haven’t already.
Love and blessings.
Category: thoughts
Hope
May the God of hope fill you with all the joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.— Romans 15:13
Today is super busy…seeking peace.
Blessings.
Sunday Thought
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables.
I miss Fall in Northwest Arkansas. Fall in Florida, well, it was 92 degrees yesterday. David and I went to the beach. It was beautiful, and I am very grateful to be able to live here. I really do love Fall here. It is still warm enough to enjoy the beach (even get into the water), and it is a lot less crowded than in summer.
The water was crystal clear, and a nice breeze. It was just nice to sit and enjoy the sound of the waves. This is something I normally do with Carmen. David hates the sand, and would rather stay indoors or go to the mountains. I don’t blame him. But I love it here.
I just miss trees that turn a color other than brown. I miss the crisp air in the evenings. I miss this… Oh, I know, that I should be grateful, and I am very grateful to live where most people come for their vacations. I just need to see this again in person. Fall. Trees with colors, yellow, orange, and bright reds.
Maybe next year we will travel to Northwest Arkansas for the turning of the leaves. I would love to do that again.
What is your favorite season, and why?
Blessings.
Clarity
“Past experience should be a guidepost, not a hitching post.” – unknown
“You cannot help others permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.” – unknown
Two things that are on my mind and heart today. Praying for clarity, and guidance for my words and actions.
Blessings.
Sunday Thought
“Be careful how you live; you may be the only Bible some people will every read.” – Unknown
Everyday I need a reminder of this. My walk, my actions are viewed by many. All of our steps are viewed by our loved ones, coworkers, and strangers. Our actions speak louder than any words you may say.
I struggle with this. Who doesn’t? But I am trying to be a better person. To my husband, children, friends, and just those small encounters with strangers. Don’t they deserve the best in us?
“This is the path I have set before you. As you follow it wholeheartedly, you experience abundant Life and Peace.” Peter 1:2 (Jesus is Calling) Are you walking the path set before you? Am I?
Blessings.
Carmen’s Thoughts – Guest Post
Hey, y’all! I’m Carmen, Jerry Ann’s daughter, and I have the pleasure of being today’s guest blogger!
One of the many hobbies I have when I’m not studying (which I need to do more of) is playing some of the Nancy Drew computer games. I started playing them when I was around ten years old, and was going through my closet this summer and found them, so I decided to replay (and finish) a few of them, and I got hooked again.
These games scared me when I first played them. I was/am a wimp. The first game I played, I wasn’t paying attention to clues (Nancy Drew No-No #1) or trying to pick up random objects that you might need for a later challenge (ND No-No #2), and somehow I blew up a high school because I couldn’t figure out how to fix a boiler and ended up dying. My brave ten-year-old self shoved the games in a box and never played them again.
Fast forward to the present, where people smarter than me figured out not only how to play these games, but made YouTube tutorials for them and online walkthroughs. I totally looked these up on my phone while playing, and I conquered not only the dreaded boiler room (maintenance elevators are Nancy’s downfall in many a game), but also caught the culprit. So much adrenaline, so many weird looks from my family when I jumped up and down.
Dad got me a few of the more recent games, and some of them scare me (am I an adult? that’s really debatable), but they’re so awesome. Much like reading the books when I was younger, I love finding out the plots and drama between the characters and the case. I always come back to a few questions though: why can’t Nancy go on a vacation without diffusing a bomb? Why isn’t she in the CIA or something yet? Is her dad okay with her going all over the world sticking her nose in other people’s business?
I would love to go into more details about the games, but I have exams to study for that don’t involve solving other people’s problems (wait…I’m in accounting…that’s EXACTLY what the exams will involve…). Until next time!
Sunday Thought
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” – Leo Tolstoy
I was in New Orleans for the U2 concert with Carmen over the last few days. Home now, and need to do homework, but first this post.
We spent Friday exploring Cafe’ Du Monde, and Jackson Square. We had the famous beignets (and water not coffee), and wandered around looking for a cheap protein for me to eat. We found a cafe (that also had beignets), and ordered ham and cheese croissant, and a turkey and cheese on French bread. Carmen and I only ended up eating half of each sandwich (I only had the meat and cheese off of a half). It was a ton of food.
As we were sitting and waiting on the food to be delivered, we talked about the homeless and despair in the city. I had taken pictures of the inside of the cafe (ceiling tiles) and outside – just in general pictures.
I had noticed a guy sitting on the corner with a handwritten sign. What did it say? I don’t know. But the discussion of what was on it was typical. Don’t give him food, he will just throw it away. They only want drug money. Or they only want money for booze. I kept trying to read his sign. 
My heart was heavy. I had eaten half of this sandwich, and was unable to finish it. Carmen was unable to finish her other half as well. We were just going to throw it away. We didn’t want to carry the leftovers around with us. I got a to-go box, and placed both of our uneaten halves of food in the box. Well, I said, if he throws it away, I tried. I at least would give him the opportunity to eat. Something kept telling me to do this. No one else was noticing him. He was just sitting there. People kept walking by—avoiding eye contact. Most of the time with his head in his hands. Tired. Dirty. Hungry. I heard “you don’t know his story. it isn’t for you to judge. just love.”
As I walked up to him, I was bothered. I didn’t want to do this. I didn’t want to look at him. It was leftovers. I had touched it. …wasn’t my choice… all I could read of his handmade sign said… anything will help. Looking straight at him, green eyes. I asked if he would mind that it was my leftovers. “No, ma’am. I haven’t eaten in 3 days.” It’s not much, but I am happy to help. “God bless you.” I walked away sadder than I did going over with the food. I didn’t look back at first. I couldn’t. I didn’t want to know what he was doing with the food. I didn’t want to be proven correct.
By the time I got back to my chair in the cafe, he had already eaten one of the sandwiches per Carmen. He was very hungry. Eating everything in front of him. My heart was sad, but felt good about not just throwing away our food. Carmen and I needed more water, so we bought an extra. As we were leaving the cafe’, I noticed he was still there finishing off one of the sandwiches. I took over my bottle of water, and as I was walking towards him, his head was shaken “no.” “you have done enough” – I said not near enough, and I had given you bread, but nothing to drink. “someone kicked my cup and broke it.” I am not sure that I heard him correctly, but again, not for me to even think about what was being said —just gave him a small bottle of water.
Drugs. Alcohol. Dirty. Poor. I prayed for him then. I prayed for him on Saturday, and again this morning. I can’t seem to get him out of my head. My heart was heavy sitting there with a plate of food that I couldn’t finish. How many others did the same thing and ignore that man sitting there hungry? Something so simple. Not for me to judge, just love.
I had a great time with seeing a band that I love their music. But now, and for as long as I can remember, has a mission of helping others. Many may not agree with what they do, or how they go about helping, but they give. My heart always wants to help, but I have gotten burned but people that have abused that gift. This weekend, that man, helped my heart give willingly again even if it was only a leftover sandwich.
“That one day is today.” – Thega-Alem Berhe
God has a way…always. Sometimes we listen.
Blessings.
National Day of Encouragement
Today, September 12th, is the National Day of Encouragement.
Blessings!
Sunday Thought
“Let’s go out there and show the love of Christ to the broken, the numb, the mean, the addicted and the overlooked.” – Beth Moore
Show love today.
Blessings.
National Read A Book Day
Today is National Read A Book Day. Go grab a book, any book and read today!
Carmen always goes back to the Harry Potter series when she wants to read something. I like to pick new books to read for leisure. That is on hold right now due to my college classes and homework.
Share with me what you are reading today.
Blessings.
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