Serendipity

Day by day, I drive down the freeway, past the ocean and on to work.  We've only been here about a year and a half, but I haven't stepped on the sand once. 

As I drive by in the morning, I think how wonderful God is to have given us such beauty to see.  It's right there.  I've been to the pier, but not on the beach.

Yesterday, we remedied that for a while.  Our friends from SLO came to visit bringing their two kids and a couple of kites.  They invited us to join them for a time on the beach.  It was late in the day, but we decided just to leave the food cooking and have a little serendipity.

We drove to the beach by the pier and parked.  Wild margaritas and beach weeds were blooming.  The sky was crystal blue and the ocean calm.  We walked past the greenery across the thick and crunchy dry mud left from last year's serious storms.  I like to look at the cracked mud and think how much of it there must have been to last this long and finally dry out and wither.  Beth's bare feet felt the points.  The five kids raced through it as if it wasn't there.  Rob and I slowly crunched our way along, eyeing the sand just ahead. 

There is more beach litter than I thought there would be.  sticks, bamboo, branches of some sort or other and myriad rocks of all shapes and sizes.  We found huge rocks in a ring and a young boy putting the last one in place as we were arriving.  His task finished, he disappeared down the beach. 

The kids, except for Lupe, ran to the water's edge and back again, begging us to let them get wet.  Four weary parents said "not today".  Undaunted, the chased each other, put together kites that wouldn't fly and built imaginary forts and castles with rocks and sticks.  I took pictures.  Rob and I sat on some rocks for a while.  Beth and Mark (younger than we are) ran with the kids.  Kayla discovered some pretty rocks she wanted to take home.  I found a sandstone "skull" with round spots for the eyes and nose and the remnants of a sea creature making a beak-like mouth.  The sandstone took a ride home with me.  I loved how the iron pyrite in it made it glisten in the sun and the reddish and gray colors swirled around each other.

Tired, Rob and I called the girls to go home.  We hugged Beth and Mark, the kids complaining that it was much too soon.  Isn't it always when a serendipity comes along?  Daily life just has to step in to end it.

For your perusal I have added pictures above, without comment.  Just enjoy. 

God's blessings be upon you today. 

                

From Here to San Diego

             

On Tuesday we took off for Sea world.  It was a beautiful day despite predictions of rain. We didn’t get a drop. As you can see by the pictures I have attached, we had a wonderful time. We got to see 3 shows. First we saw The Pet Show with dogs, cats, some birds and a couple of pigs. It was wonderful. The girls got their picture taken with a Clydesdale horse.

Then we shopped and went to see the Shamu Show. I had forgotten how magnificent killer whales could be. There were lots of great "soakings" as Shamu spit and splashed water into the audience. Some weren’t ready for that much water and ran to higher ground. Rob and I were safe about 20 rows up.

Lunch was an all-you-can-eat barbecue which we enjoyed thoroughly. Rob filled his plate to the brim and ate it all! The girls had all the food and desserts their bodies could stand and I had some chicken, sausage and good salads.

After the Shamu Show, we got separated from Lupe and Andrea. With our hearts in our throats, we sent Kayla back into the stadium twice to look for them. The last time, she came back with a worker who took us to Lost & Found, where we reported them missing. I was nearly in tears as the call went out to every employee of the park. I was panicked, but made a call to our friend Ruth and asked her to pray for us. Not three minutes after I made the call for prayer, Rob saw the girls wandering in the area near where we were. When I finally had my arms around them, I cried with relief.

Next stop for the girls was in a water play area where they could swim and slide and play. While they did that Rob and I took the old folk’s ride to the top of the park and rode the sky ride for a panorama of the local area. We thought it was great, but the kids on the ride (not ours) classed it as BORING. Leaving the rides, we found three drowned rats shivering and asking for the backpack so they could change clothes. Only thing . . . they didn’t pack spare clothes for Lupe. They went to get changed while we scoured the shops for sweats and a sweatshirt to put on our girl. Luckily, we found just what she needed.

To end the day, the girls went to the 4-D Haunted House while we rode up front to get the pictures taken as we entered the park. They turned out great, and as you can see above, we are presenting our first family picture for your perusal.

Ruthie had supper prepared for us when we got home. We were tired but fulfilled after a great day at Sea World.

Wednesday morning, we had a leisurely breakfast with Ruth and family and set our for San Diego Harbor. It has been a long time since I’ve been on the waterfront there. In the late 80's, I rode my bicycle there, training for the R.A.G.B.R.A.I. That is a bicycle ride across the state of Iowa which is sponsored by the Register Newspaper. But that’s another story . . . .

We found a parking place right away and offloaded right onto the waterfront. Our first stop was to watch a street magician. He was funny and did some wonderful tricks. Lupe watched in awe as things disappeared and reappeared. He told us he was from New Orleans, and that he wasn’t going back anytime soon. I can’t say I blame him.

We continued our trek down the waterfront and looked at the Navy ships there as well as the ferry that will take you over to Coronado Island. We turned around, thinking we would go into the maritime museum, but the smell of freshly cooked fish overwhelmed us and we put thoughts of eating our packed lunch right out the window. It was a good meal. Rob had oysters on the half shell, Lope fried chicken, Andrea shrimp and crab cocktail, Kayla had chowder and I had a shrimp basket. Before we left the restaurant, Kayla felt sick to her stomach. Walking along, Lupe began to say her tummy hurt. Swell. We didn’t go into the museum, rather took pictures of the 3-masted sailing ships and purchased a couple of trinkets from the gift shop.

We next stopped in Balboa Park to go to the Museum of Natural History. By this time, I was feeling a bit sick myself. We still can’t explain it, Rob ate the leftovers of our food and he didn’t have any ill effects. Maybe that’s because he has a cast-iron stomach. Or we girls are just too delicate for words.

The museum was wonderful the girls got to explore 3 levels of natural history and see a movie about the Vikings. They got bored toward the end of the movie, but Rob and I found it very interesting. We left after the movie because I was very sick to mystomach.

Back at Ruth’s we shared the adventures of the day, everyone but me scarfing down our lunch sandwiches. I went to bed and the girls watched DVD’s with Ed & Ruth. Kayla got two new aunts and an uncle, as did Lupe. Judy and Kayla formed a bond that will be there forever. It was wonderful time of visiting and seeing new things.

Guys, we had a wonderful time!  We felt like we had gone home when we arrived at Ruth n' Ed's house.  The Lord had his hand in all of it.  On the way home, we got to stop and visit with our daughter-in-law Dixie and grandkids Keri and Doug.  Keri will be 18 at the end of the month and both she and Doug are graduating from high school this year.  Isn't God good?

Blessings to you out there in J-Land and special prayers for Cliff and Donna and John and Krissy who have medical trials right now. 

              

Monday, Monday

                                     

This is early Monday afternoon and already I've had a full day.  For the girls, this is the first day back to school after vacation.  For Andrea, it was shots first and then school.

Unfortunately, when I got Andrea's passport in Mexico, they kept her immunization record.  When she had the citizenship physical, they gave her new immunizations and the first of 3 Hepatitis B shots.  I called for the second shot, telling them that I no longer had the receipt.  They told me no problem, we have it in the computer, just bring her in.  Last week, however, we received a note from school stating that she must update her immunizations and finish the last HepB shot. 

We returned to the original clinic this morning for the shots.  The computer lady remembered us, but said they could not give the 3rd shot without the receipt, that any further shots would also require an office visit fee.  Much to my dismay, their fees added up to over $300!!  I asked them to look up the receipt (we paid an additional $80 at her physical to complete the HepB series) and she said that it would take at least a week. They had a copy of her shots on file as well (somehow the card has gone missing) but they could not even pull that up for us.  I was so angry that I started to cry.  I hate when I do that.  We walked out.  Poor Andrea!  She had steeled herself for the needles and they didn't happen.  She thought my tears were her fault.  I reassured her that they weren't.

I think the biggest anger I felt was the greed at that particular clinic.  It is the clinic where most of the Mexicans in that town go.  These are people who are legal or illegal aliens working in the fields.  My blood was boiling.

What has happened to us?  Is the almighty dollar so much more important than health care or caring at all for that matter?  I don't know why I am so dismayedtoday.  I guess I just hadn't seen it to this degree.  The rates they gave me were the discounted costs.  I know that the cost of living has risen everywhere, but we were treated so harshly.  It wasn't necessary.

Next stop was the little county health facility where we were told that they no longer had a clinic there.  She was pleasant and quick to give me the address of the clinic in Ventura proper.  She even gave me the phone number in case I got lost.  I bet she gets paid about the same or less than the women at the other clinic.  She was just so sweet, apologizing that we would have to go to yet another place.

Andrea's arms were tense as we drove on back to Ventura.  Poor kiddo - out of the car twice for anticipated needle sticks. I expected the larger facility to be crowded, but it wasn't.  We waited just a couple of minutes and the receptionist called us up.  I explained our plight and she said they could do the immunizations there, but needed the shot record.  My face fell, but she explained that I could go to the school for a copy of what they had and bring it back, no problem.  I asked how much the shots would cost.   "$15" she said.  "Each?" I wanted to be prepared.  "No for all of them."  I felt like crying. 

I called the school and asked if they would have a copy of her record for me to take to the heath center and they said they would.  True to word, Peggy had it on her desk and ready when we came through the door.  Back to the health center.  I paid my $15 gladly and we sat down to wait for the nurse.  Andrea didn't have 4 shots as we thought, she had 7!!!  

The nurse was so nice.  She put 4 shots in one arm and 3 in the other so quickly that Andrea had no time to cry or complain.  She made us a new card and an official record for the school and told us she needed 1 shot in a month and 2 more in six months. 

I learned a lot today.  Stuff I guess I knew before but forgot - where you go is often more important than anything.  I've been to county offices before in my life and have never been treated with such respect.  I give this county and their health care staff an A+.

Still on the agenda is some work in the laundry room, more bedroom revamping and getting a chance to rest.  After I make dinner, of course.

Please pray for Rob.  His back and leg are hurting terribly.  I forced him to take it easy, but I would like for him to be out of pain.  While you are praying, lift up our friends here in J-Land who are ill or in need and lift up our Pam's grieving family.

Be blessed in Him today, 

                                  

 

Photo Scavenger Hunt #71

This week's Scavenger Hunt by  Krissy is asking for a tree or a bush.  While we were in San Diego last week (yes I am going to do a vacation entry), we saw this beautiful tree in front of the Museum of Natural History.  I really love trees!

   

Be blessed today, Penny

Do Not Disturb

                 

It's lovely here today.  The sun is shining, the air is crisp and we are getting ready to fellowship with our church family.  I really look forward to going every week.  We have really bonded with this church family since we started attending about a year ago after church-hopping for a few weeks.

Yesterday, 3 young people from the church came over to do some yard work for us.  They have been working odd jobs to pay for a leadership camp they will be attending this week.  Not only did they do a great job, they were a good example for our two girls.  They lovingly and gently corrected them when they began to discuss the "popular" stuff they were learning at school.  It was much better than we could have done (we have tried!).  I thank the Lord for them.

I was playing a little Pogo this morning, watching the conversations over in the chat box.  I rarely join in on that.  I've been pretty quiet this morning.  Reflective I guess, and not had much to say to anyone.  Coffee didn't perk me up.  I just buried myself in the game and read along.  One comment stuck.  "I'm in on of my 'do not disturb' moods this morning"  That's me today! I'm not angry or frustrated, just pensive and want to be left alone to my thoughts.  You can guess that I'll steal that expression and use it from time to time.  My long-ago friend Harvey says that if you use an expression 3 times, its yours.  I'm claiming it.

I do have some cool news to report:  we are leaving tomorrow morning for our trip to San Diego and Sea World.  Also on Tuesday I will celebrate 30 years of sobriety.  It should be a great week for us all.  Please pray for traveling mercies for us and for an upcoming challenge that my Rob has in his life. 

One more thing.  I have been drinking twice-daily "cocktails" of Ageless Xtra and am feeling sooo good most of the time.  It's put a little spring in my step.  Along with the loss of 25 unwanted pounds, I am truly making progress in my challenge to be present as much as possible for the girls as they grow up.  You can go visit Darlene and she will tell you all about the Ageless Xtra. (by the way, it's not a weight loss drink!  Rob and I are dieting together!) Rob is also drinking it.  WooHoo!

I am off to church now with Rob and Lupe.  She looks like a little doll this morning.  Be blessed this day,

             

                                                    

 

Thursday Thirteen

Good Thursday evening, friends.  It's the end of a pretty long day for me.  Life around our house is much busier now that we have 3pre-teens.  I just found out that Laura from Adventures in Juggling has a Thursday Thirteen meme. I guess you can write just about anything you want for it.  I'm going to look backwards at my day and let you know.

1. Get up early to help 3 little girls get ready for school.

2. Check e-mail and drink coffee while girls get ready.

3. Girls, Rob and I take time for a song and prayer together.

4. Andrea and Lupe run to catch special ed bus while Kayla gets in car with Rob for ride to school.  I drink 2nd cup of coffee.

5. Play 15 minutes of Pogo (well, maybe a few minutes longer.)

6. Get ready and head for work.

7.  Call friend Ruth to confirm plans for our stay with her while visiting Sea World next week.

8. Get to work, run mail through stamp machine and go to post office.

9.  Open office and get ready for the day.

10. Look frantically for Lupe's lab slip so I can make an appointment. (Left it on the bed at home!)

11. Add a program to work computer, rent two units call software support and field calls from customers.

12. Receive call from Lupe's lawyer about her placement here, settle some things and ask for death certificate on Angie.

13. 6:05 pm - lock up office, jump in car for ride home, letting Rob know by cell that I'm on the way.  Arrive home, check homework have supper and slide into bed for a little R & R with the 'puter.

There's a lot of stuff inbetween, but I get so lost in the details that I forget to count.  Laura has always been one of my favorites and I just don't have the time I used to for visiting blogs and leaving comments, etc.  Go on by her blog and see how she juggles her life with work, husband, 5 kids and a lot of joy.

Be blessed tonight,

        

From the Mouths of Babes

                        

Before this Sunday becomes blurred into the rest of the week, I need to tell you about last Sunday's worship service. 

            

The kids were sharing an interpretation of the songs we were singing.  As we sang "You died upon the cross . . ." their arms were outstretched.  I caught this photo and a few more.  Andrea is in the pink and Kayla in brown.  What you can't see is Lupe in front of the church trying to copy them.  As they danced, she danced.  It was wonderful.

After the children were finished, we had a time of prayer, first with a partner then calling out a prayer if we had one for the Lord.  The music was playing softly in the background as member after member spoke their love and petitions.  Then suddenly, a small and hard to understand voice rang out: "Thank you for my mommy and daddy, bless my mom . . ." Peoples voices hushed, the music stopped and a little girl poured out her soul to the Lord.  I caught my breath and began to cry. I'm told many others did as well.  It was our Lupe.  Tears streamed down my face as she shared her thankfulness to Him.  It was like the sound of a perfect crystal bell, full of resonance and lacking any trepidation.

Sometimes we get so involved with the day to day stuff and we sort of ignore what Lupe is doing or thinking.  She doesn't say much during our twice daily family prayer.  Apparently she knows deep in her heart that the Lord hears her whether she speaks aloud or not.

I pray today that you will allow your voice to ring out as a sweet perfume unto the Lord, knowing that no matter what, He is always there.