Hot

Hot, Hot, Hot and Hot Fun In the Summertime - take your pick, I am humming them both today.

Just about an hour ago I was hanging my laundry out on my nifty clothes dryer. I was roasting. Even for this relatively quick chore I had on sunglasses, hat and sunscreen. I got curious. Just how hot is it? According to my thermometer it read 125 degrees F in the sun and 120 in the shade on my back porch. You might be saying to yourself, as I did, "That can't be right!" Well, same thermometer is reading my bedroom as 79, my living room as 81. Therefore, I concede to it's general accuracy. "We're talking Hot, Hot, Hot!" Still, I wouldn't trade my hot lot in life with any of you who weather four distinct seasons. I love to visit such places but I wouldn't want to live there! And you, dear reader, probably wouldn't want to live here - but you'd enjoy a visit, more than likely.


My Mom graced us with her presence from a few days before Mother's Day until today. We will miss her and I am sure she will enjoy a bit of peace and quiet. The Chaos and Mayhem of our home can be quite loud!


Adam and Flora were delighted to see a 2 foot nurse shark near the mangroves that border the little dock area at the end of our street. I will be happy to spot one myself one of these days.





One of these mornings
You're going to rise up singing
Then you'll spread your wings
And you'll take to the sky


"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever."
-1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NLT

Speaking of summer songs:
The classic song "Summertime" by George Gershwin is one of my all time favorite songs. Since becoming a Christian the lyrics of it take on a biblical meaning for me. I highlighted that above in posting a verse of the song lyrics and the coordinating Bible verse. I have never been especially fond of calling the Lord Daddy or Papa as many do nowadays, but that's a personal thing. Many people find it comforting, and He is after all, Our [Heavenly] Father. But in this song, it has always been a picture of God's Fatherhood to His children for me. Let that blow through the jasmine in your mind for awhile.

I am exhausted. Yesterday, Big Daddy and I did a 13 hour (round trip) drive to Tampa and back. While I enjoy driving and riding (and Drivin' n Cryin' 80's babies) it was too much for my 40 year old lower back. We didn't have enough time to break it up with and take some time to stretch our legs. Mama's on Advil today. There's a lesson in that.

It was the first time I have ever been across Alligator Alley, and I enjoyed the vast view of the Everglades. Out to the horizon on either side: saw-grass, cypress and the big Florida sky! I find the clouds in Florida as expressive and changeable as human faces. I wish I brought our camera. I did not find it the Alley as lonesome and ominous as many have described it to me. Anyway we came up with a few blog ideas, so hopefully they will turn up here soon.

Of course we saw many alligators. And tourists.

My Fellow Bloggers...

You may or may not have noticed that I changed some of the links on my blog roll over there on the right hand side. Please don't take it personally if I removed your blog link, I was just doing a little spring cleaning. I really enjoy all the blogs I link(ed) too, but I noticed that a few of them were not active for 6 or more months. So in the interest of being interesting and current, albeit in my own limited way, I was just doing a little tidying. I have you all saved in my favorite bookmarks and will continue to check on them. And when there is some more blogging afoot, then I will link away (again)! I miss you guys! I have also come across some new blogs lately and I am enjoying them. What are your favorite blogs? Share a link if you like.

Big Daddy took this beautiful sunset picture the other evening. He really has a good eye, and it runs in the family because one of his sisters is a very gifted, self-taught professional photographer. (I also like to think that spending a couple of decades with an artistic wife has rubbed off on him a bit, too.) I think he is inspired by her talent because he is taking many good pictures of the children and their teammates at games. That is how his sister got started with becoming passionate about photography. I love it when we can inspire, learn and encourage each other to good works. It is a blessing that he now has a bit more time to do these types of things he loves, ministry included (and actually imbued in all he does), instead of working himself to exhaustion just to support us. I do believe he's enjoying this season of life, but I can't presume to speak for him. It's just a nice little thing I've noticed.

Movie Review: Okie Noodling

I can't exactly remember how I got interested in this movie. I think that years ago, during the short time we lived in wild, wonderful West Virginia Big Daddy told me a fish tail. He said that some men he worked with were talking about how some catfish lurked at the bottom of the Bluestone Lake and Dam and grew quite possibly the size of a VW Beetle! (Or at least the size of a man.) I was skeptical, but after watching the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet I now concede to the possibility. Kind of. I concede that there are some mighty, big catfish around.


Anyway, I somehow came across this documentary called Okie Noodling. The movie follows some brave and somewhat crazy men who fish for catfish with their bare hands. And they catch some big ones, not as big as a VW or themselves, but big nonetheless. When I saw that The Flaming Lips did the soundtrack for the documentary, I was hooked, or rather I should say this movie grabbed me. Sorry couldn't resist that.

As for my review, it is an interesting movie, an entertaining way to spend 45 minutes or so. There is just a tiny little bit of profanity once or twice. It's fascinating to see how some people go about following their passions and off-beat hobbies.

What I've Been Reading

Somebody on a message board asked, "What are you currently reading?"

I am doing the Bible in a year plan that I linked to in a previous post. I am currently in the books of Acts, Joshua and Job. I am delighted and amazed how the chapters I’m reading seem to be so apropos to something that is going on in my day or week, or somehow relate to some question I’ve had.

I just finished Heart To Heart with Pastors’ Wives by Lynne Dugan, and added A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce to my bag. Those are two books I’ve had around my home for years and years now. I have even picked them up a time or two, but never finished them. My plan is to finally read through the books I’ve collected before I borrow or buy another!

I have also begun (again and in earnest!) the book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. I have been doing my journaling as part of that book’s exercises, and in addition I have been sketching regularly in my sketchbook. This is a HUGE step for me personally, in overcoming the artist’s block I have been in for so long. I am so hopeful and pleased about this. Someone recently blessed and surprised me with a set of art pencils and other various supplies. God bless them! I have been putting them to productive use.

You might think it’s odd that I am reading two or three books at a time, in addition to a few Bible chapters. I never used to operate that way. I used to read one book until it was finished, often quickly if it was of interest to me, and then begin another. This new way of reading a couple at a time is helpful for my current condition. I like to read a ministry related or Christian theology type of book, and then a fiction or non-fiction book. I read a chapter or two at a time in each book. When I find myself a little bored, distracted, perplexed or even needing to ponder something in one book, it’s helpful to switch gears to another book. I keep a big tote bag with me, with my books, including the journal and sketchbook, and when something I read gives me an idea or an inspiration I can jot it down or draw it out. I am ready to make a note so I can study something I have a question about more in depth later.

I am trying to surrender myself more fully to the Lord in the areas of art, study, prayer and discipline. It is only by God’s grace I can do any of this. I was (and am) so sick of the procrastination and disorganization that plagued me for so long, I have been yielding to the Lord and trying to do better. I have been blessed with some quiet time on my job where I am able to read a little, and been making baby steps toward this end. So that is what I have been reading. What have you been reading?

Funny Commercial

This is a lot like me:

Easter Sunday

CHRIST is RISEN!
He is Risen, Indeed!