Life is a Journey

Right now I am on a Journey and I do not know where it is taking me. You might as well come along for the ride. We will go back through my journals and I will tell you about some our adventures. Sometimes, in the middle of certain situations, I think to myself that I would probably kill my kids if they did what we are doing. Things like getting kicked off a train in Greece or hitchhiking in Italy. Maybe the time we drove down an unknown dirt road so far that the road just stopped and we had to turn around surrounded by huge drop-offs. Don't tell the kids about the time that we left all of the doors to our van open all night, or the computer outside the room of another hotel room. Our neighbors, that we spoke to while entering the room took it and left us a note when we got back from eating out. I've been locked out of my room at night because I wanted to see fire escape, somewhere in Europe. We have trouble with hotels. Climbing to the top of a temple with smooth steps and no guard rail was exciting but the next day someone fell to their death right there. We love to walk on beaches to see sun rises and sunsets. In the Bahamas we waded knee deep and started see shark and stingrays all around us. It was stimulating and scarry at the same time. Most recent adventure was a simple walk around a gorge in a state park too close too dark. But, I am also on another Journey-- a more personal journey a spiritual journey to develop a closer relationship with God. I journal everything so, here is a look a January. Jan.1 No resolutions this year to break. I will try daily to do my best . It is all about relationships with God, Mark, kids, friends, and even strangers that we meet along the way. Jan 4th I miss Hugh so much. He died at 57 and I was always so proud to be his baby sister. I still am. Please be with Mom today. This year I am waking up at 5:30 a.m. to start my day with bible study and pray. At 6:00 I am watching Joyce Meyers and then read Psalms and Proverbs and whatever Bible Study that I find . I bought a bible at a church Bazaar for 50 cents that has 4 translations in it. I am really enjoying it. Took kids to Stephen Foster Memorial in White Springs great park -take your family for hiking, biking museum and arts and crafts. Then we began our central Florida adventure that I already told you about. Then back home for family suppers and babysitting redheads. A quick 30 hour trip to Waycross to help Drew and back in time for Bible study. One day of taking all the cars and vans and R.V.'s to shop for tune-ups. Then a quick trip to Tallahassee for my sister birthday with mom. More babysitting with our favorite babies and a very nice moving church service this morning. That is a quick review of January which took two journals for personal and one for business. So if you want to join me for Feb.,then buckle up, it is going to be a bumpy ride.

Confession time

I am afraid of computers. They drive me nuts. I am still having problems "accepting friends".My oldest son could take them apart and put them back together when he was 15 years old. My oldest daughter lives on her computer, editing pictures, even my little grandchildren are growing up fearless about technology. The older two have won technology fair awards and I am sure Olivia is not far behind. She will probably learn before I do what to do with this computer thing. Carrie is the one who set up my blog so that all I have to do is push two buttons, one that says my blog and the other says publish post. I really don't understand face book. It reminds me of the partyline telephones of the 60's that I grew up with. There was a little neighbor lady that would listen in on your conversations. With six preteens and teenagers in my family, I'm sure we kept her busy. I hate to tell you young adults, but that is what my generation is doing. We are looking to see what is going on in our busy adult children and teenagers life. I am not as good as it as most because I can not remember how to get on most of the time. Today at church I told one of Sara's friends that I was very excited about her pregnancy and could not wait to call Sara. Of course, she told me it was already on face book. So, I guess that I am blogging because people seen to enjoy our travel adventure and I love to talk. Everyone that knows me knows that I love to talk. I do have a problem when asked to speak in front of a group of people. That does not scare me. When you speak, any mistakes that you make go into the air and are not remembered. Any mistakes made on this thing go somewhere and stays. When I push the "publish post" button, I am not sure where it goes. So, I am asking you to overlook my mistakes and see my heart. Also, do not be offended if I do not respond. I do not know how.......yet

travel meals

The kids asked us this week if we deduct for our meals. We told them no, because you have to eat on the road as well as home, besides we do not spend much money on food while we travel. This is an example. While in central Florida, we bought bought a cooked chicken and ate off of it for 5 meals. The first meal was a piece of chicken with veggies and bread, next I put a little on top of a salad, then I made a BBQ sandwich. The day after that it was cold and rainy so I made chicken soup by boiling the meaty bones and with the rest of the meat that I had taken off the bone I made stir rice and zucchini. The chicken noodle soup and the fired rice was shared with a booth neighbor . When we were in central Florida I realized that a lot of the vendors were from the north that came down seasonally to sell. They live in there car or trailer or truck and send money back home I will never forget a man name Kevin. He was set up next to us and I only saw him briefly. He mention that he was grumpy because he had sent all the money that he had made to his wife back home and did not have supper last night and did not get breakfast until he sold something that morning. I was so sad that I did not know that. I had plenty of food in the R.V. This will never happen again . We will offer to share with all of our booth neighbors, and if 50 say no and one says yes I will be happy. Got to go fix breakfast for my precious redheads and Mark. Have a good day

transition

I am in a real transition time of life. For the 54 years of my life I have been in church almost every time that the door open. That change 5 years ago when my husband woke up burping. I thought he had acid reflux or worst so I made him promise he would go see a Doctor as soon as it open. @ hours later, I get a phone call that changes our life forever. Mark had a heart attack, emergency stint and 5 by-passes for thanksgiving that year. It got our attention. We decided that we had to make every day count . So, six months after his recovery we backed packed Italy and Greece. I had just had melanoma cancer removed from my face. I was glad to get out of the country with my scarred face. Today people say that they can not see it, but I know it is there.We bought clothes from yard sale before we left and left then at every hotel so that we could lighten our load and buy stuff to bring back for family. That began a whole series of travel.We discovered that travel was the only thing that we cared to spent money on. So we began this little business called travel treasures the justify our travel. We had 12 booths in antique malls in three states. We traveled around restocking booths, buying stuff. God has really blessed us along the way. He has also allowed us the privilege of blessing others. We spent one year that we visited a new church almost every week. I spend more time studying the word than I ever did when I was a busy mom with four children at home. I have found that there are different seasons in life. It is our job to thank God for them and to obey him . It may just be a smile or a hug, a not or a phone call. Listen for that small voice and he will tell you what to do. I still love church and go every chance I get. But God has put us in contact with a hurting world and we will spent time trying to bless others .

Staying home

start my study before my day beginWe are staying home for a couple of weeks, Which may be some kind of  record for us since retirement. When we stay home I try to jam in as much family time as I can.  Wednesday morning I got up and went through Thomasville  to visit a friend who was having sugery.  I would have seen her if I had not gone to the wrong place first.  I did see her husband. Next I went through Monticello to meet my Mom to go to Tallahassee to take my sister out for lunch for her birthday.  While I was in an antique store I got a phone call asking me when I could come to Thomasville check out some stuff to buy.  I told her three hours from now.  Mom and I talked all the way to Barbara's office.  Mom is remarkable.  She is 79 and has spent a life time taking care of other people.For now the top person on her list is her baby sister who is struggling.  She also takes care of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and for years has fed her church on wednesdays. My baby brother showed up for lunch and we ate in a samwich shop in a hue capital building where we had to go through security just to get in the building.  We took a very small red velvet cake and hid the matches so that we could light the candles and sing happy birthday. She seemed please and introduced to fellow employees. Took Mom back to oour meeting place and went back through Thomasville and bought one good piece from Pat maybe establishing a good working relationship where I the smalls from her estates sells. Today is a Granny day.  I need to get the kids up for school. go play tennis and then pick up my youngest granddaughter for the weekend. The one thing that I do like about being home is my morning routine. I usually wake up at 5:30 and do a bible study and then watch Joyce Meyers and one other sermon and then read Psalms and one chapter of Proverbs,  The one that matches the day of the month,  Today I will be reading 28th. When are in traveling I have more time to read and study because Mark does most of the driving and we do not have a T.V. in our R.V.  I do not want a T.V. because we spend more time reading and sitting by a fire and talking and walking.  The only channels we watch at home is the food and travel and history or we flip through a lot of nothing good on T.V. channels.  Have a great day, I have got to go fix breakfast and coffee for Mark

Travel treasures

Mark retired 9 months ago from a 30 year career. While he was gainfully employed we traveled a lot.  Mark won trips to many places all over the world.  We were really blessed.  Now, that  he his retired we are traveling all over the U.S.A in Freedom 1 and Freedom and a van with all of the seats taken out to make room for stuff. We started a business buying and selling antique glass and pottery as an excuse to travel. Freedom 1 and Freedom 2 are the names of our 2 1985 R.V/'s.  They are old and have problems, and have to go see the "Doctors" on Mondays after most trips,just like us but we love them.  Our business is called Travel Treasures, it turns out that the treasure is the travel and the people that  we meet and the many times that God takes care of us just when we need help in what some people would call coincidences.  I don't believe in coincidences. They are what I call many mini blessings that God does for us every day.  It is up to us to notice them and to thank God for them. I will attempt to tell some of stories of what happens to us as we travel.  Since retirement, we spent 18 days in 15 states traveling and buying in the New England states in July.  We are already plannin to go back this July for our 34 anniversary.  We spent most of August heading toward Denver Colorado to visit our son. Almost every weekend of the Fall months we were at festival selling stuff. Our adult children would probably like to commit us , but the can only find us by cell phone.  We do come home from time to time so that we can get hugs from our precious redheads,  We have three beautiful grand babies which is what draws us back home.  December we stayed  home for two weeks to do all of the family holiday things.  But on January 1 we back at an auction to buy stuff.  We even stayed up until after midnight because we were baby sitting Becca and Riley and pricing stuff for our next sell.  We spent two week in central Florida camping, buying selling, with two quality days in Deland while Freedom 2 had to have a transmission transplant.  We are very experienced at being broke down.  This is what we do.  We have fun. The first night we stayed at the station in our R.V. and checked out Deland.  We found a bowling alley, stores and even a donut shop.  The next night we checked into a nice hotel where I took a hot bath at night and the next morning, ate a breakfast that I did not cook and went for a long walk.  We walked toward the airport and watched sky diving.  When we got back Freedom was ready and we got back on the trail looking for stuff to buy and sell.  We are home now planning our next escape.We have 2 of the redheads here tonight and will have the other one here tommorow,  We have the best of both world.  Granny and Granddaddy one day and travelers the next.  Monday  was suppose to be a stay home day. Mark was cleaning carport and I was washing tons of clothes from the Florida trip.  Drew calls.  He is our number child who has just moved from Denver to Savanna and needs some furniture for his new apartment.  He wants to drive home and return in time for work.  Mark has a better idea, we pack and meet him half way in Waycross.  On the way we buy a dresser to go with the bed, bike, two tables,lamp blankets, chair and other items that we think he may need to get started. We get there in plenty of time for Mark to take a nap, while I read, get up take a long walk and pick up chinese for supper.  Drew makes it to the hotel just in time to eat and get back in the car and go to a small auction that we found  on a monday night.  Next morning we get up at 5:30 eat breakfast with Drew and make back to Moultrie in plenty of time for my Bible study group after stopping by my daughter studio and my son's church to drop off things that we bought at the auction.  That is what we call a 24 hour retirement day.  We have learned that we may not be able to add more time to our life, but we can add more life to our time. Try to bless someone everyday and you will be blessed.  Happy traveling from a fellow traveler in this journey called life.

This is the first blog of the rest of my life...

Hello, world!  I've been writing for years and years, but I'd love to share my thoughts, experiences, laughs, prayers, and lessons with you.  I hope you enjoy reading along as much as I enjoy writing it all down!