Pay it forward

I love sharing food with others while we travel, I have a bad habit of cooking too much food, It comes from having a large family. We shared breakfast and lunch with a new friend and she really seem to appreciate it. We told her goodbye and went to another market place. We set up tables and plan to get a shower and then go back and cook. It has been a long day and we are tired, We walk by a group of people who invited us to eat with them. They were all standing around a grill. So, we ate our first bbq wild boar and cabbage soup. These people were from several different states and that is what they call each other ,West Virginia Hillbilly New York couple, Florida Wild boar man ,captain, chief cooked. I am afraid that I did not get any of their names, but I really do appreciate the good supper and fellowship. Mark and I love it when we happen up on special situations. We do not believe in coincidences, we call them many mini blessings that God provides for us daily. There is a good book called, When God Winks. You can buy it at Dollar General for 3 dollars. The title comes from the Author's granny who would wink him and he would know that every thing was alright. God blesses all of us every day. We just need to acknowledge them and thank Him for them

Man cave waiting room

Most people go to Florida to go to beaches or Disney World. Mark and I go for flea markets and antique shows, auctions and quality time at mechanic shops. In January we spent 2 quality days in Deland getting transmission for Freedom 2. When we came back in February, the brake/steering thingy went out as we were driving to Mt. Dora. Mark had to pull over and put fluid in it just to make to Rennegers. We set up our booth and covered it up, ate supper, and went to bed early. The next morning we found a mechanic shop just 2 miles from the campground. That is where I found the man cave waiting room. Mark was talking to the nice mechanic while I looked around. The white walls were decorated with one 1956 car ad and a map of Mt Dora. On the back of a beige leather couch was a puzzle of an old mechanic shop framed. There was a locker with a race car uniform and red cap with #8 hanging on it. I saw a book shelf full of mechanic/car magazines and one of those half cups that said, South Carolina was so expensive that all I could afford was 1/2 cup of coffee. Boots were on the floor and jackets slung over a black stool. There were two huge beige lamps, one on a wicker table and the other a metal stand that looked like arrows. A God bless America poster with an eagle on it was leaning against the wall. Two desk style rolling chairs and one big beige leather recliner with a cardboard box as a side table. On it was two remote controls and an ash tray. On the floor beside it was a roll of paper towels. The focal point of the room was the largest, state of art, most expensive,wide screen T.V. I have ever seen. It was flanked on either side by a rusty fan and a power vac. On top of the huge T.V. was a VCR and speakers and a picture of a snarling bulldog, and an empty sprite can. On the very top, seeming quite out of place. was one of those bright yellow and neon green smiley face flowers with a long curly stem. Now, you can't find all this at Disney world.

Pinky

I bought the most wonderfully,typical and maybe tacky Florida item at a flea market in central Florida. She is a pink flamingo, and I named her pinkie. Now kids, don't worry, I am not going to put in my front yard. I think that might be illegal in Georgia. I will not even put her in front of my R.V. when we travel to Florida. She is hanging in the bathroom, next to the mirror in Freedom 2 to put toiletries on and she is perfect. So, I now have my first pink flamingo. That is good for a Florida girl who has been a Georgia girl for 34 years.

4:00 A.M God's gift list

After reading the book that June gave me, I woke up and made this list. After naming Mark ,Mom and the rest of my family and friends my list continued.-communication-opportunities-love-laughter-security-antiques-booth neighbors small acts of kindness-rain-sunshine-nature-animals-clean sheets-food-veggies-meeting people-babies-little fingers and toes-soft skin-kissable lips-vintage clothes-history-my life-memories-cousins-you God-sleep-rest-work-exercise-walking trails-hiking-bible study-church-preachers-teachers-home-R.V.-freedom-USA-mountain top experiences-beaches-the woods-prayer-listening talking-friendship-ice cream-computer-blogs-facebook-phone-interruptions-ability-dependence-rest-peace-endurance-butterflies-ladybugs-real dogs-toys-games-pen and ink-paper-brain-sound mind-heart-body-candy-kindness-stuff-blessings-clocks-retirement-getting old-young people-children-medicine-tennis-feeling-feet-good shoes-your presences-stars-night-the moon-heaters-sunrise-sunset-money-neighbors-Hugh-Daddy-sunbeams-Valentines-humor-female speakers like Joyce,Beth,Priscilla,Kay-my sight-trials-growth-close encounters-"coincidences"-many mini blessing-near misses-revelations-help-helpers-schools-music-quietness-Mark's snore-time- cameras-pictures-photo albums-scrap bookers-Daddy date night-mother/daughter outings-vacations-staying home all day-presence-teeth-toothbrush-pain-recovery-feeling better-exercise-sleep-early morning-quiet time-worship-praise-loving God-little blessings-discipline-inspiration-wisdom-old friend-new friends-poetry-stories-love-siblings-the news-information-sky diving-birds in flight-baby animals-God-Jesus-Holy Spirit-Prayer-bath houses-hot baths-washing hair-sunscreen-being with people-love songs-sound of music on radio-preachers 0n radio...........and then I went to sleep.

June's book

Wednesday- My cousin June gave me a book to read and to discuss. The name of the book is "One thousand gifts", by Ann Voskamp. After reading the first chapter and half of the second, I was about ready to give up, there was so much sadness and the author is a deeper thinker than me. But, when I came across the word Eucharisteo meaning thanksgiving in Greek I was hooked. In the third chapter, she accepts a challenge to list 1000 gifts from God to be thankful for. In chapter four, she discuss time, in chapter 5 grace, in chapter 6 longing to see God, chapter 7 expecting to see God,and in chapter 8 belief and trusting and gratitude.
Saturday I am on chapter nine. I am so glad that June gave me this book,because I have underlined a lot of it. Every point that jumped off the page There is so much more to this book and I am not even finished with it yet. All I know is that when I woke up at 4:00 A.M., I got a piece of paper and started listing things to thank God for. My list was now nearly as poetic as hers, but it came from the heart. Chapter 10, I am blessed, I can bless, serving God, by serving others. Tuesday, I am on the last chapter, all about having a relationship with God and living fully. This is a very brief review of a very good book that I feel like you will enjoy. Thank you June for giving me this experience.

Grumpy Jerrry

We met Grumpy Jerry and he was. well, grumpy. The last time that we were just outside Ocala, we were looking for a flea market to sell our low-end stuff before we go to Mt. Dora and Webster. We are inside talking to a beautiful Zsa Zsa looking lady about a spot and somewhere to park our R.V. She is telling us that it will not be a problem, when a man comes out of the back room. He is complaining, telling her that they do not have room for an R.V.. Our space is too valuable and they are too much trouble. She told him that she knew a place in the back and it would not be to much trouble. He spoke again and she shushed him and told him again that she would take care of us and that he could watch the store while she took us outside to find a place. Mark and I standing there, torn between being offended and laughing. He concluded his part of the conversation with I don't mean to be grumpy but.....we are out the door. While we are walking out the door, she is saying, Aiee, it is so hard running a business with that man. If it were not for me, we would never fill a space. Marked her if that was Grumpy Jerry and she said yes, my husband of 51 years. The name of the flea market is ..............Grumpy Jerry, we have been seeing that sign for years.

Heart of gold or The 8 week Journey

This journey begin with my husband waking up burping. That was his only symptom. Before the day was over, he had been given that liquid gold shot to bust up clots, twice, a ride in an ambulance and an emergency stint. We look at the screen, 5 majors blockages, some called widow-makers. It is the Friday before Thanksgiving and I am thankful that he is alive, but we have a long way to go on this journey. He has 5 by-passes before we leave the hospital. The staff was great, especially the nurses on the cardiac floor. Friends and family all came through for us in so many ways and God blessed us. Back home I think that the worst is over, but it is not. Almost losing him was hard enough, but the pain in his chest is causing so much pain that he can not sleep or get any relief and depression is setting in. I can not stand seeing him with his head in his hands saying things like, it was not worth it. Early in January, I was reading my bible through again ,so I was in Genesis reading the story about Abraham's servant and felt like I would not get any answers here. There it was, on Sunday morning, scripture jumped off the page and it knew it was for me. The servant prayed for his master and I needed to pray, and ask my sunday school class to pray for him. Next, I picked up my lesson book, and it said that life begins at 50. Mark does not like a lot of attention so I had to come up with one sentence. Please pray for Marks chest to stop hurting so that he can fully recover. I noticed Monday that he did not complain about his chest. Then, on Tuesday he said that he must be getting better because he was thinking more about his belly than his chest, lets go for a walk. We have been walking ever since. The date was January 16th, 5 years ago, the day that I got Mark back. So, now I have 2 anniversaries, June 16 and January 16. Mark is a new man and appreciates every day.