Fall in My Home Town :)

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It's fall where I live, except you don't see much evidence of it.  The days are still warm(mostly) and the colors don't seem to change much.  Mornings and evenings are crisp and often chilly with lots of ocean fog.  We have begun to put our blankets back on our beds. I have NO idea what it would be like to live where it snows.  I might expire :)

Some 8 or 10 miles away, there are remnants of the Day Fire, which took 21 days to contain.  We were covered with ash and the pungent smell of smoke.  Here in the autumn it is fire season. The risks are high this year because we didn't get enough rain last year.  Despite earthquakes and fires I think we live in one of the most beautiful cities and the most beautiful state.  I know you will disagree for various reasons.  But this is where the Lord has planted me and where I will joyfully stay.

Now that I have found (well, Rob found it) my camera, I will be taking a picture of that ring and my little crippled cockatiel for you to see.  More about my Sweetie bird with the picture.

I pray blessings upon you this day and evening.  I pray you experience a closeness with the Lord that makes all else look small in comparison.  It is God himself who made the trees, land, animals, birds and us.  My prayer for myself is that I not stray and for you, if you haven't discovered Him that you find Him this day.

                   

Thanks Deb for this wonderful tag!

                     

 

 

 

Breast Cancer Awareness

                   

This is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You can go here to see the website and more importantly, click to help fund mammograms for those who can't afford it.  This so important and each daily click is worth two regular clicks.  So go on over and click.  Tell your friends to click.  I know others before me have said this as well.  Tell me, did you go there? Have you had your mammogram?  Or are you like me and have put it off?  I had a breast lump removed early this year.  It was benign and I am grateful it has been removed.

Let's all pray every day for those who have breast cancer.  If you don't know someone who has or has succumbed to breast cancer, pray for all of them.  This is a disease that can be prevented.  It's up to us to be fully aware.  My dear aunt had breast cancer, was a five year survivor and got it again.  When she passed away 32 years ago, there wasn't enough known.  Today, she would likely have been a long-term survivor. 

Okay, off the soap box.  I hope you didn't get bored and leave. This is the 6th day of our anniversary week.  I got a present from Rob that was so wonderful I am still jazzed about it.  When we married 5 years ago, we had rings that we purchased in Mexico.  They were just right for us at the time.  Mine was a gold band and a solitaire engagement ring.  Some where during our second year, we promised each other to get new ones for our 5th anniversary.  I got his for him in April when we were flush.  When the budget got smaller, I realized that this wouldn't be the time for me to get new rings.  Then the impossible happened:  he got me rings anyway!  As soon as I find my camera, I will post some pictures of the set.  Am I boasting? You bet!  I have waited all my life for something this beautiful. I never really dreamed I could have them, but my honey gave them to me on Friday.  I still can't stop looking at my hand ::grinning:: 

I am so blessed to have Rob as a husband and our three girls to complete our family.  We don't expect to be rich, but will take all the Lord has to offer to us.  Thank you again, Lord Jesus knitting us together. 

Be blessed today, my friends.  I love you all.

 

              

            

BLESSED, BLESSED, BLESSED

                   Today is a Red-Letter Day - It's our  Anniversary -   5 wonderful years!    

           

This is a passion flower.  They grow in our front yard.  I show it here to remind us of the passion the Lord has for us . . . even to the desires of our hearts.  Even though His passion for us is greater, the passion for our marriage is great.  We love each other passionately and with that same passion we protect our marriage and family.

  

Rob told his pastor the first time he saw me: "Ooh, Pastor!  Look at her. I like her!"  To which his pastor replied, "Forget it Robert, she's way out of your league!"  I saw him and read the incredible story of his accident and survival (I will be happy to send anyone who wants it a copy).  Rob had been single a long time and wanted to settle down.  He talked to me and I talked back, but I just thought of him as a nice man.  I was widowed a year or two then and didn't want another man in my life.

The next year at campmeeting Rob and I talked a lot, but his interest in me went right over my head.  I could only think of serving the Lord in ministry.  My friend Arlene told me, "Penny, he likes you!"  I told her she was crazy.  How could a man like that even look a woman like me.  I acknowledged that he was good looking, but beyond that I couldn't see it.

I will try not to make this a book, I promise, but it IS my anniversary, so be patient.  In winter, I was scheduled to attend a servant's retreat. I spent all the money I had to repair my ministry helper's van.  I called the pastor and told him I wouldn't be there because of money problems.  I was sorely disappointed, because it had been a particularly rough 5 months - that's another story.  A couple of days later, I was having a meeting with leaders from YWAM and the phone rang. "Penny, can you make it to Ventura? We will cover the cost of the retreat"  I said yes, I could.  I hung up and began to cry right in from of my guests.  While I was getting the good news, Rob's pastor was convincing him to come to the retreat.  I still believe their wives put them up to it.  The rest is history.  God     changed my heart.  Look who He gave to me.  We were brought together by the Lord's own leading.  We have been knit together by His love for us.  Rob wanted a woman with a family.  He surely got one!  There were just 13 kids in the ministry when we married.  He had a quick lesson in parenting.  He is my best friend.

                He has had to learn about and put up with my chronic illness.  He hardly complains as he comes to my side to serve and support me.  How I love him!  If the tables were turned, I wonder if I could match is willingness?

This anniversary is a milestone for us.  There were many who believed we wouldn't make it through the first year.  Well, the first year was pretty stressful as we mixed Wasp with Chicano and also with Mexican culture.  Just about our first anniversary, the Lord changed our hearts again and from the ashes of our past, a firestorm if you will, came a wonderful marriage.

               I Love You, Rob!!!

                    

 

 

BY HIS GRACE . . .

                      

I sent out some e-mails this morning to people I care about.  One I sent to my step-grandchildren's mom.  I love her as if she were truly my daughter-in-law.  When I returned from church, there was a note from her in my mailbox.  I'll share it here:

Hi Penny,

I was just thinking about you.  I needed  to tell you that yesterday morning D was driving home and had a head on collision.  He is ok, and only by the grace of God.  His truck is totaled. It happened because K and D went to Magic Mountain Friday night with their church, they got back to the church at 3:00am, but they have an option to be locked in until 7:00am and just play games. He went to breakfast with K and some friends and then headed home to go to sleep.  He fell a sleep at the wheel just before turning onto Grand Ave. the busy street which frightens me.  He hit a Ford Explorer head on.  The Lord spared 6 lives yesterday.  There was 2 adults, a teen girl, a 6 yr old and a baby in that car, all walked away.

Well, tomorrow we leave for a 4 night cruise which is for K and D's graduation.  It was almost spoiled yesterday.

We have a lot to thank the Lord for. 

Talk to you soon,
Love
                                    

These young people have grown up before my eyes.  When I first met the family, my late husband and I were not married too long and K was a baby - she had the most beautiful eyes and smile.  Then D was born.  He was so cute!  Big brown eyes and a hint of a smile at all times.  It seems yesterday that they were babes.  This year they are both graduating from High School. K is 18 and D is about 1 1/2 years younger.  They are clean, responsible young people living a life for Christ.  I give the Lord thanks that our grandson is alive and well.  Yes, I did say our grandson.  These tall blondish kids love me as their true grandma and when I chose to remarry, they accepted Rob as part of the family and call him Grandpa.  We look a little wierd when we are all out together, They and their mom are quite tall - their step-dad (long story) is short, I am round, Rob is brown as are our girls.  Yet we feel the fellowship of family.  Praise God for his mighty riches!    

             and he carried my grandson and 6 others to safety yesterday.  I hope the rest of your Sunday is as blessed as mine has been.

                    

Just how evil am I?

I went over to Pam's (lanurseprn) journal to read the latest and I noticed she had this little quiz there. I was a little bit leery, but in the end, I decided to try. What the heck, if it was ugly, I'd never post it anyway . . .

 

How evil are you?   So . . . do you think I should dust off my halo now or wait until my head shrinks back down?  I honestly don't want to be an angel anythime too soon anyway.

Home is where the heart is

               

I'd like to paint a picture of where we live.  Our street is called "The Avenue".  Of course it has a formal name, but nobody ever calls it that. The street intersects about 3 miles down with Main Street.  Does every city and town have a Main St?  Well, the Avenue has a reputation of its own.  Once the center of a bustling new city, it is now relegated to "the other side of the tracks".  Where all the buildings were (and are) period pieces and beautifully made, they are now old and tired looking.

The most important people in the city no longer walk the avenue and frequent the shops.  In fact, a single look would suggest that these are the least desireable in the city.  We have a lot of homeless people walking around because the river community where they sleep is close by.  Some of the homeless are those who are apparently not sick enough, emotionally or physically, for the state or government.  There are some VietNam vets as well.  We help a guy named 3 Dog whenever we can, and a deaf redhead we have always called Big Red. 

The area has also been quickly taken over by hispanics looking for cheaper housing.  Most of the houses are very small, 1 or 2 bedrooms.  Some of these people don't speak English and are not here legally.  As I have seen in Mexico, most of them walk to get where they are going.  Unfortunately they are also exposed to the seedier side of society just by living near the avenue.

Our church is called Avenue Community.  I translate for Spanish speakers there.  The church regularly has outreaches to reach the people of our community.  There is a bus to bring any child that wants to the church on Sunday and for activities.  It's a wonderful church with members from all walks of life.  A couple of weeks ago, we had a woman come in wearing a pair of blue flannel pajamas and carrying a Crown Royal bag for a purse.  She had the shakes.  Several people came up to welcome her. When she got too shaky and went out to the patio, A member went to see to her needs; got her some coffee and something to eat. 

There appears to be a lot of drinking and drug activity on the avenue.  The people involved always seem to be on a mission to either get drugs or sell them.  They cross in the middle of the street.  Many are dressed in clothes that would make myself or my hubby self-conscious. 

Farther up the avenue, a newer yuppie-type settlement has begun - beautiful condo's , a gated community of single family homes.  Some are on the avenue, some are just to the east or west of the avenue.  It is those up-and-coming young people who want to put a new face on the avenue.  They want to move any industrial or warehouse type businesses father up the avenue and the want to restore the former glory of the avenue.

My family and I live farther up the avenue in the warehouse and industrial district.  We live near the oil fields.  We actually live above a body shop.  The industrial area is all around us.  Our landlord has lived here for many years.  He often tells us stories of how the avenue used to be when he came and the changes.  He loves this part of town.  So do we.  In Mexico, we were on a ranch in the middle of nothingness.  Nothing but agriculture.  We loved it there.  Our neighbors to the right are businesses, surrounding us for the most part is the body shop, and the equivalent of 2 doors away a home, then our landlord's home.  One home is across the street.  That's it folks.  Our little bit of nothingness at the end of a fairly large city.

We love where and in what city we live.  Just 3 1/4 miles down is the ocean.  And not just a peek at it, but ocean, fairgrounds, fireworks on the 4th of July, a large mall and wonderful old downtown shops are close enough to walk to (if we were walkers).  Well, the mall is a stretch, but old downtown has the flavor of a small town.  The shops are wonderful and disparate.  There is a tiny knife shop, a small red and white 50's looking cafe, a thrift shop or two, specialty clothing, a rare book store and some antique stores. 

I won't diminish the avenue by saying that's all there is.. There is a family feel to the avenue.  Hispanic families walk hand in hand, the homeless get to know our faces and the workers in the shops have begun to call us by name.  After so many years in Mexico, we came back to a place neither of us have lived and found "home" here.  That's saying a lot for our little piece of the world.  This city is one of the jewels of our state, bordered by hills and mountains on one side and the awesome Pacific Ocean on the other.  Welcome to my world.

May you all be richly blessed by the Lord today,

                                

IT'S YOUR SPECIAL DAY!!!

My precious daughter . . . little did I know when you were born how our lives would be.  We loved each other, you loved/hated me and I gave up on you.  All that has come full circle in the past 15 years or so.  We love each other so much.  I would give my life for you. 

As you celebrate the 10th anniversary of your 29th birthday, I want to tell you publicly some things I have already said to you;

I am so proud of you - you have pushed on when others would quit.

You are a good mom and have not given up on your children even though you may have wanted to.

I am so happy you are attending school again - I did it late, as you remember and graduated from a two-year college with my tearful mom looking on.  I'm coming to your graduation . . .I hope I don't cry too much.

I'm going to see you on February 14, 2007- whatever it takes to get there.  I miss you so very much.

Although we've not always agreed, I am so very, very proud to be called your mom. 

                        I pray that your day is as fun-filled as it is for these guys:

                

I Love You, my daughter/friend

            Mom