I am reading a lot of books this summer. This one is Believer and Rejoice. It is about the joy of a personal relationship with God. It uses an old-fashion word, relinquish which means to abandon, surrender or let go.
The word surrender reminds me of the old hymn that was played at the tent revival in Madison when I went down the aisle to become a child of God at age eight.
I surrender all
I surrender all
all to Him
my precious Savior
I surrender all
All to Jesus, I surrender
all to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him,
in His presence daily live
There is more to the song, but you get the point. Here it is 40 something years later and I am still struggling with the first promise that I gave Him in song. There a lot of dedication songs like " Just as I am," and " Trust and obey", and "I surrender All".
Just the titles are enough to challenge us. So, I guess our challenge for today is to read His Word and Sing to Him. But to make sure we listen to the words of the songs we sing and really mean what we sing. This is coming from a girl that can not sing, but my can praise and worship my precious Savior.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
5 hour road trip.....after all it's Ecuador
We decided to go on a 4 or 5 day road trip. We headed toward the coast over the caja mountains that circle Caunca. We had to go through the huge port city of Guayagill with crazy traffic. So, after a pleasant day and night on the coast with huge waves, great late supper, fishing villages, and lunch on the beach, we headed inland.
We stopped in a Jipijapa ( a large town) for snacks and headed out of town, the wrong way, around 3:00 p.m. Things went down hill from there. Our first sign that it was going to be a wild ride was passing wild burros on the road. Jim is driving as hard as he can all over the road trying to missing huge pot holes and speed bumps. We pass a few brahma cows. The later it gets, the worst the road gets. Jim wants to get off this mountain before dark. We pass through the jungle with the tallest bamboo and largest elephant ear leaves I have seen.
We think that we may find a hotel in the many towns listed on the map. We soon realize, these are towns in name only. A few adobe huts, maybe one tienda , clothes on the line and a few men hanging out. Now chickens are crossing the road. It is getting serious and we are getting a little silly. By the way, it has started raining and getting closer to dusk. There goes some dogs and hogs. The gravel road full of pot holes has become a muddy road full of pot holes. Mark and I are bouncing around the back seat, trying not to grunt too loud. The clouds and/or fog are making it hard to see. We are following a blue jeep. Now, we are passing a burro with a man and and boy and a bunch of bananas. There goes a mama chicken followed by baby chicks crossing the road. We keep passing buses going the other way, back up the hill, at this time of night. Where are they going?
As we ride, I am wondering why we did not stop back in that town with a big mall. Hind sight is 20-20. Each town looks smaller and dirtier and it is getting late. Amongst all this poverty, we pass signs advertising Direct T.V. We just passed a huge bon fire and stacks of bamboo and stacks of bricks and bags of ???something. I think that we are getting near a real town. There are small children playing on that big pile of rubble. Just went over two bridges with big holes in them. That's different. Now we are passing motorcycles with two or three people on them and no lights at 7:45.
Finally a real town with hotels. We ride around for a while and find a surprisingly clean hotel with the first A/C we have seen since landing in Ecuador. We walk to a nice diner in this wild west looking community and eat the traditional supper....chicken, rice and beans and go to bed.
Thank you Lord.. I think the guardian angels had to work overtime today.
Top ten reasons to go to Ecuador
10: The beaches with colorful rocks and fishing villages
9: The weather, not too hot or cold
8: The early morning walks, experiencing the local towns
7: The people in traditional customs
and of course the children
6: The bus, car, and train rides
5: The ever changing landscape
4: The museums and markets - learning about different cultures
3: The mountains
2: The cathedrals
1: The adventure of a lifetime with family that happens to be
friends or friends that happen to be family, both works
Now, to be fair I have to list a few travel warnings
10: The language barrier makes for interesting conversations
9: No ice
8: A lot of garbage
7: Poverty causing beggars and petty thief
6: Stray dogs everywhere
5: Food is interesting and can make you sick
4: Very old roads with pot holes and speed bumps
3: Big city traffic with too many cabs, buses and cars
2: Do not drink the water
1: Bano', no toilet paper or seats and you get to pay to go
So, there you have it, for us, the good out weighs the bad. If you want the comforts of home....stay home. This goes for Ecuador or any foreign travel. But, if you like adventure and want to learn about other cultures and broaden your out look on life. Then travel. Travel changes who you are and makes you more tolerant and open to new possibilities.
Thanks Tevie and Jim for a great experience
9: The weather, not too hot or cold
8: The early morning walks, experiencing the local towns
7: The people in traditional customs
and of course the children
6: The bus, car, and train rides
5: The ever changing landscape
4: The museums and markets - learning about different cultures
3: The mountains
2: The cathedrals
1: The adventure of a lifetime with family that happens to be
friends or friends that happen to be family, both works
Now, to be fair I have to list a few travel warnings
10: The language barrier makes for interesting conversations
9: No ice
8: A lot of garbage
7: Poverty causing beggars and petty thief
6: Stray dogs everywhere
5: Food is interesting and can make you sick
4: Very old roads with pot holes and speed bumps
3: Big city traffic with too many cabs, buses and cars
2: Do not drink the water
1: Bano', no toilet paper or seats and you get to pay to go
So, there you have it, for us, the good out weighs the bad. If you want the comforts of home....stay home. This goes for Ecuador or any foreign travel. But, if you like adventure and want to learn about other cultures and broaden your out look on life. Then travel. Travel changes who you are and makes you more tolerant and open to new possibilities.
Thanks Tevie and Jim for a great experience
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Technology
The more I learn about technology the more I realize I do not understand technology. We just got home from Ecuador. We did not take our computer, just Mark's tablet and my I-phone. We realized that we could not use them as a phone over there, but could use them as clocks and cameras and other things if I could figure it all out.
So, when we first got Ecuador we met the Tillmans' knew puppy, Dixie and I sent Carrie a picture from my phone on e-mail or text or something like that. Then I got brave and sent some pictures of volcanoes and cities and mountains and such on facebook or blog I think. I was thrill when Carrie responded because that meant it went somewhere. Then I tried to do a blog on my phone about the first week in Ecuador. I was not sure if it went anywhere or not. It seems that the we got internet in some places and not other places. We needed it for some things but not other. I could read e-mails and messages but not facebook.
When we were trying to leave Ecuador, it got serious. Jim and Tevie dropped us off at the airport with plenty of time to board the plane from Caunca to Quito. Mark received a message on his tablet from the airline telling us our flight out of Quito was delayed to 1:00 a.m. We were dreading a night in the airport when it changed to 4:00 a.m. Everyone in line is talking, rumors are flying, (as opposed to planes flying). By the time we get to the front of the line, they have change the flight to 3:00 p.m. the next day. Delta set us up at the Hilton hotel with food vouchers and a free shuttle back and forth to the airport. Mark used his table,hooked to the hotel internet to try to let the kids and his sister know we were delayed. Then he used my phone to try to e-mail, but could not tell if anything was going through.
The next day, when we finally make it through another 2 hour long line, we realize our ticket says leaving at 11:00 p.m. We can not go back and check it out because we are stopped by security who found the cute little rollings pins that we bought and thought they were weapons. The time is ticking by and we are stuck . Finally they come and take us to the front of the line and hand check all of our bags and have us throw out stuff like toothpaste and bottle water and medicine. We put all the rolling pins in one bag and have to check that bag instead of carry-on. We board the plane with tickets that say 11:00 p.m. at 3:00 p.m. , hoping that they do not kick us off the plane.
Mean while, back home the kids are calling each other trying to find the parents. Being the high tech kids they are, they start to track our flight on line. As we are flying into North America, my phone gets a message saying welcome to North America from Carrie. We are amazed and the stewardess tells us that we are not suppose to have the phone on. The kids finally get our messages today after we are home.
Anyway, we are back home and I still not not understand technology.
So, when we first got Ecuador we met the Tillmans' knew puppy, Dixie and I sent Carrie a picture from my phone on e-mail or text or something like that. Then I got brave and sent some pictures of volcanoes and cities and mountains and such on facebook or blog I think. I was thrill when Carrie responded because that meant it went somewhere. Then I tried to do a blog on my phone about the first week in Ecuador. I was not sure if it went anywhere or not. It seems that the we got internet in some places and not other places. We needed it for some things but not other. I could read e-mails and messages but not facebook.
When we were trying to leave Ecuador, it got serious. Jim and Tevie dropped us off at the airport with plenty of time to board the plane from Caunca to Quito. Mark received a message on his tablet from the airline telling us our flight out of Quito was delayed to 1:00 a.m. We were dreading a night in the airport when it changed to 4:00 a.m. Everyone in line is talking, rumors are flying, (as opposed to planes flying). By the time we get to the front of the line, they have change the flight to 3:00 p.m. the next day. Delta set us up at the Hilton hotel with food vouchers and a free shuttle back and forth to the airport. Mark used his table,hooked to the hotel internet to try to let the kids and his sister know we were delayed. Then he used my phone to try to e-mail, but could not tell if anything was going through.
The next day, when we finally make it through another 2 hour long line, we realize our ticket says leaving at 11:00 p.m. We can not go back and check it out because we are stopped by security who found the cute little rollings pins that we bought and thought they were weapons. The time is ticking by and we are stuck . Finally they come and take us to the front of the line and hand check all of our bags and have us throw out stuff like toothpaste and bottle water and medicine. We put all the rolling pins in one bag and have to check that bag instead of carry-on. We board the plane with tickets that say 11:00 p.m. at 3:00 p.m. , hoping that they do not kick us off the plane.
Mean while, back home the kids are calling each other trying to find the parents. Being the high tech kids they are, they start to track our flight on line. As we are flying into North America, my phone gets a message saying welcome to North America from Carrie. We are amazed and the stewardess tells us that we are not suppose to have the phone on. The kids finally get our messages today after we are home.
Anyway, we are back home and I still not not understand technology.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Jekyll Island
Carries's birthday was this week and we have not seen them for four weeks. I found out Friday morning that we are leaving for Ecuador on Monday morning, ( instead of Tuesday as I have had on my calendar for three months.) We had a party planned for Carrie Monday night. So, we finished VBS, packed a bag and headed to Jekyll Island to see my baby and her babies.
We have been to Jekyll Island many times over the years with Farm bureau. It has changed a lot . We discovered many new places, to walk, fish, ride bikes, hike, shop, and picnic. There is a water park, a bird sanctuary , soccer fields, 4 -H camp, a turtle museum , a huge fishing dock, lot's of shops, local hang outs ,and drift wood beach.
Drift wood beach is nature at it's best. Last night, Becca and I walked down the beach from the fishing dock to find it, but had to turn around because it got too late. This morning we tried again. But this time we parked closer and found "her tree" on drift wood beach. This tree is a wonderful huge gnarled, uprooted tree that is great for climbing , thinking, dreaming, praying and sitting on to enjoy the ocean. While Becca enjoyed her tree, I watched her and my daughter.
Carrie was down the beach a little way and I had the privilege of watching her work. She is great with children. She is taking pictures while the kids are laughing, playing on the beach and chasing pirates and mermaid and fiddlers crabs, climbing trees and splashing in and near the water. What a delight., She is chasing and squatting and sitting on the wet sand, and getting great shots. The kids do not realize that that have just had a photo session. They just know that they have found an adult playmate to enjoy the beach with them.
We have been to Jekyll Island many times over the years with Farm bureau. It has changed a lot . We discovered many new places, to walk, fish, ride bikes, hike, shop, and picnic. There is a water park, a bird sanctuary , soccer fields, 4 -H camp, a turtle museum , a huge fishing dock, lot's of shops, local hang outs ,and drift wood beach.
Drift wood beach is nature at it's best. Last night, Becca and I walked down the beach from the fishing dock to find it, but had to turn around because it got too late. This morning we tried again. But this time we parked closer and found "her tree" on drift wood beach. This tree is a wonderful huge gnarled, uprooted tree that is great for climbing , thinking, dreaming, praying and sitting on to enjoy the ocean. While Becca enjoyed her tree, I watched her and my daughter.
Carrie was down the beach a little way and I had the privilege of watching her work. She is great with children. She is taking pictures while the kids are laughing, playing on the beach and chasing pirates and mermaid and fiddlers crabs, climbing trees and splashing in and near the water. What a delight., She is chasing and squatting and sitting on the wet sand, and getting great shots. The kids do not realize that that have just had a photo session. They just know that they have found an adult playmate to enjoy the beach with them.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Amazing God
We left Vacation Bible School with Olivia in her car seat. From them back seat, we hear her loudly say, "Amazing God", which happens to be our theme this year. I love our Grand daughter and I loved VBS.
Brother Sam
Brother Sam is retiring as choir director of First Baptist Church Moultrie
Did you know that he was the first person to invite us to church when we moved here. He and a very pregnant Diane, came to our house near Funston to invite us to FBC. What a welcome to our new town.
He gave me my first scary ride in a bus around a mountain as a ski trip chaperon.
I can not sing, so I am not in the choir, but I still appreciate all that he has done for this church and community
.
He played music for the preschoolers and taught them what a real firefighter looked like so that they would not be scared.
He made every Senior feel special and drove them all over for many adventures
He smiled at everyone that entered the building with a kind word and gentle spirit
He is a man that has worn so many hats that the church can not hire enough people to do all that he has done for our church and community.
Red cross, volunteer fireman, friend, bus driver, day camp leader , mentor, just to name a few. Called on to welcome new babies and to put people to rest when their time comes.
Our church is not only losing a choir director, we are losing... Brother Sam.........nuff said.
Brother Sam, and Diane, Enjoy retirement, traveling and the twins.
Did you know that he was the first person to invite us to church when we moved here. He and a very pregnant Diane, came to our house near Funston to invite us to FBC. What a welcome to our new town.
He gave me my first scary ride in a bus around a mountain as a ski trip chaperon.
I can not sing, so I am not in the choir, but I still appreciate all that he has done for this church and community
.
He played music for the preschoolers and taught them what a real firefighter looked like so that they would not be scared.
He made every Senior feel special and drove them all over for many adventures
He smiled at everyone that entered the building with a kind word and gentle spirit
He is a man that has worn so many hats that the church can not hire enough people to do all that he has done for our church and community.
Red cross, volunteer fireman, friend, bus driver, day camp leader , mentor, just to name a few. Called on to welcome new babies and to put people to rest when their time comes.
Our church is not only losing a choir director, we are losing... Brother Sam.........nuff said.
Brother Sam, and Diane, Enjoy retirement, traveling and the twins.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
I became a Mother
Most little girls have dreams. While other girls played with barbie dolls and paper dolls, I played with sweet little baby dolls. My dream was to become a wife and Mother. I got married to the man of my dreams who is now my best friend July of 1976. June the 6th, 1979, my other dream came true at 8:27 A.M. after staying up all night in the hospital.
Happy birthday Carrie.
Thank you for making my fulfilling my dreams. I could not ask for a better big sister for the other three who came along in the next five years. I remember the first time that you looked into my eyes and I fell in love. I wondered why the hospital would allow me to take this precious one home when I was so clueless. I know that I made mistakes, but I loved you and did my best.. I loved to dress you up and take you up town just to show you off to every one. I loved to talk to you and play with you and watch you grow. I still love you and I admire the wife, mother, friend and business woman that you have become.
Have a wonderful day!
Happy birthday Carrie.
Thank you for making my fulfilling my dreams. I could not ask for a better big sister for the other three who came along in the next five years. I remember the first time that you looked into my eyes and I fell in love. I wondered why the hospital would allow me to take this precious one home when I was so clueless. I know that I made mistakes, but I loved you and did my best.. I loved to dress you up and take you up town just to show you off to every one. I loved to talk to you and play with you and watch you grow. I still love you and I admire the wife, mother, friend and business woman that you have become.
Have a wonderful day!
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