Hitting the Beach

Time to Fly, Part Four -- May 8.

A super late Sunday night arrival at our hotel resulted in a late morning breakfast in the hotel breakfast lounge.  Fernando wanted to fuel up on coffee for the day, which would consist of mostly relaxing--on the beach!

Less than an hour away, up and over the bridge, and into Cocoa Beach.

We passed the famous Ron Jon Surf Shop, and I snapped a phone pic and sent it to my heart-sister Lori, whose family served as hosts for a week-long trip to this same area a several years back.  Fun memories!!

Since we were still not publishing the fact that Thomas was with us (and was the main "star" of this adventure), I left him out of my photos as you can see below--only two sets of feet.  :)

One glorious day at the beach, and then back to our hotel.  The exciting stuff will start tomorrow...


Back to life,
Christine

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New Every Morning Part Eleven

The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23 NASB

Read previous segments here:

The Beginning
The Injury
The Furnace
The Waiting
Employment
The House
The Phone Call
The Truck
The Car
The Business

Nightfall

December 2, with eyes turned toward Christmas and the long winter ahead, I found myself at the beach, lying on a borrowed beach blanket, soaking in the 75-degree warmth of the sun, Fernando's caress on my arm reminding me I was not alone.  We came to California to be with family at the death of Fernando's aunt, and here we were absorbing the surreal summerlike scene before us.

It's hard to believe we're over two years into this strange, wonderful, confusing journey.  I've concluded that we're not simply on a detour; we're traveling an entirely new road, without a map.  And not just one twisty-turny road, but one marked with exit ramps on to new paths, through tangled forests and dry deserts, with rest stops and interminable stretches of just driving and driving, purposelessly but we know there's a purpose and an end...

But, for now we were at the beach, with a glorious view:  children searching for pretty shells, surfers seeking that big wave, and sandpipers skittering along the sand just out of the water's reach.  This day was made for rest, not only in the middle of a week spent with family, but rest from our waiting, and trusting, and wondering, and questioning.  Simply resting in Him.

Fernando has been filling out job applications--dozens of them--these past weeks, seeking an additional source of revenue since income from his business had slowed down.  He decided on this new course in order to secure steady work, while at the same time determined to work his business as a side job until it could become our main source of income.  And I determined to follow and support him, whatever it takes, in the words of my practically-a-sister and dear friend Tressey.

Fernando doesn't doesn't fret and worry about the future, how we'll make it, or what's going to happen.  That's what I do, deep inside, far away from the calm exterior.

I don't understand.  It seemed the Lord had opened all the doors for Fernando to start his business and begin earning a living.  Why did that end after just a few months?  What was the purpose of all that work?  A beautiful morning, a promising and bright blue day, and then so soon, nightfall.  I honestly don't know the next step from here.

As I sat there watching the sun go down, snapping an occasional picture and keeping an eye on waves encroaching on my camera and tripod, I felt the sun going down on this new road.  Was it already time for an unknown detour, another undetermined off-ramp to who knows where?

In the midst of all these questions, there was peace, and uncertainty, and hope, and a somewhat desperate trust.  I know the Lord holds my future.  I know His plans are sure.  I know He loves me with an everlasting love.  I know my future is certain in Him.  But I doubt nonetheless.  I am afraid.

But to Mary, to Zacharias, to Joseph, to the shepherds, to Jairus, over and over, He says,

Do not be afraid.

As the sun set, and the ocean waves grew softer through the lens of my camera, His Spirit stirred in me the same words that could calm a heart or a storm on the sea.

Do not be afraid.

Quietly, as the waves flowed in and ebbed, I breathed in, then out.  The night fell.  These words were enough.

And, just a few weeks later, the next segment is here for you to read!


Back to life,
Christine

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WWU--Be Still

This is the time to wrap up my week--the goings-on in my home, behind my camera lens, and in my heart--in words and photos.  To find out more, or to join, please visit CanadaGirl's blog.  You can also click on her button at the end of this post.

Tuesday's robin

My Home

I've just been trying to keep the house generally clean and my spirit calm this past week.  Fernando says--and I've said this before--that homeschooling is my #1 priority.  But I need to figure out how to balance everything else, or there will be no clean clothes, and no dinner on the table.

Our anniversary was on Sunday, a wonderful day to have an anniversary on!  Celebration--part of which will be a surprise to Fernando--to come tomorrow afternoon!!


Homeschool and College

We're still trying to sort out schedules and get into a smoothly flowing routine.  Jacob missed most of his late-start Psych class which started on Tuesday, because he thought it started next week.  Then, he somehow thought his 7:30am Thursday class started at 8:30am.  After double-checking his schedule, he grabbed a nectarine for breakfast and tore on out the door.

Danny had his first on-line chemistry class.  It was strange to hear voices--especially girls' voices--emanating from the basement throughout the late Wednesday morning hours.  I'm still not used to this whole internet/headphone/voice online class thing.  Good grief, I used to get up and walk across the room to change the TV channel!

Thomas and I are getting along famously in school.  He is pretty much keeping me on track.  He won't leave me alone.  I can't blog when I want to.  (This is a good thing.)

Experiment in physical science

My Kitchen and Garden

I picked several more tomatoes this week--yay!  And there are lots of jalapeños still growing; I'm leaving them there until I'm ready to try making green tomato salsa.  Since this weekend is packed, hopefully I'll be able to grab a few hours one day next week.

I was able to snag some time on Friday to (finally) bake some bread.  Hopefully the eight loaves will last through next week...

Double-long loaf of whole-wheat bread

The Lord blessed me with a suribachi!!  It is a Japanese mortar and pestle, unique in that the inside of the unglazed bowl has a ridged pattern helpful in mashing garlic and herbs.  I had read about them, then researched a little, and by God's grace, found this one for only $10.

My new suribachi

Am I the only one who thinks a birthday salad is great??  I used farmer's market lettuce, and tomatoes, green pepper, carrots, and onions from my garden.  I topped it all with homemade creamy garlic herb dressing, and my tummy sang "happy birthday to me!"

Stick a candle in it!!

My Project Desk

On Friday I wore a French blue blouse which I bought at Goodwill.  This week I sewed hooks/eyes on to prevent gapping, and I took in the sides so I look like I have shape.  Because I'm broad-shouldered and, um, blessed up top, I need larger blouses.  But then they look like tents on my waist!  So I developed and cut out a template, which I used to take in the sides so it flares out a bit at the bottom and gives me shape.  Photos to come later, I hope.  :)

I also made a wedding card (and a bookmark) for Tim & Evy's wedding this afternoon.  I took apart their wedding invitation and used several pieces to make it.  The pocket which holds the pull-out "card" is a section of the invitation.

Tim & Evy's wedding card

Behind the Lens

I'm sooo happy to have my camera back.  I took so many pictures last week!  It was great to be able to take Ellie to downtown Chicago on Sunday to capture Elliot's baptism and some artistic photos at 12th Street Beach.  Besides Sunday, I've been taking pictures all week, of anything and everything!  I'm also trying to capture images specifically for my blog.  Any excuse to use the camera!  Here is my favorite photo from downtown at Lake Michigan.

Grace in motion

My Nightstand

In all the busy-ness of this week, in all the driving around seemingly for no purpose, in all the frustration of mounting laundry and what's-for-dinner, the Lord desires that I stop, and still my heart, and focus on Him.

"Cease striving and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth."

The LORD of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Psalm 46:10-11 nasb (emphasis mine)

CanadaGirl is the lovely hostess for our Weekly Wrap-Up.  Please click on her linky button below to visit her blog, to read more, and to participate.

Thanks for stopping by!  Now it's time to get ready to go to a wedding!!

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

Twenty-Three

I married my sweetheart on September 12, 1987.  Twenty-three years later, I still thank the Lord daily for my husband.  He is the Lord's best gift to me.  He is an ocean of treasure, into whose depths I sometimes feel I have barely dipped my toes.

Daily surprising, annoyingly spontaneous, always special.  Yeah, we fight.  But not much.  He is my Googly-Bear.  (Pamela, you're right--sometimes love is mushy-gushy!)

My rock, standing on the Rock.

The man said,

"This is now bone of my bones,

And flesh of my flesh;

She shall be called Woman,

Because she was taken out of Man."

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother,

and be joined to his wife;

and they shall become one flesh.

Genesis 2:23-24 nasb

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne