My last start of writing on my personal blog didn't get too far. After reading the book, "Something Needs to Change" by David Platt, I know I need to change - so reflecting on this blog will be my goal.
Over the break from school, Perry and I decided to join our friends on their sailboat off the coast of Bonaire. Three weeks ago I didn't know where Bonaire was or anything about the island community. Let me back up....it's been a whirlwind fall semester.....
In September my father's house was flooded yet again - he had not flooded in Harvey when our house went under, but Imelda the tropical storm brought him several inches. Once again we moved furniture, pulled carpet and began renovations. This was number 4 in less than 10 years. Dad is now 89 years old and tired of going through this, however, we started the process and Dad moved in with my sister. Move forward to November just as we are finishing the renovations and Dad begins to mention moving to independent living. At Thanksgiving, my sisters and I begin looking at a place close to us all. Not much discussion. Thanksgiving happens and we invite a few realtors over to help us think about what to do with the house. The "flood discount" is high. Most of the realtors had sold a house with one flood - but 4 in 10 years and a fire - not so much. Just for grins, we contacted some "We buy ugly houses" companies....several responded. By mid-December we had a possibility, we had to clean out the house and take what we wanted, move the items the children wanted, hold an estate sale and move Dad to his new place before closing on the house. It was a true miracle that all was accomplished by December 22nd. Add to that the normal holiday activities and of course my job. All was accomplished. When we realized that it was all going to happen before Christmas, Perry contacted our friends and made plans for a trip to Bonaire the second part of my Christmas break. Everything fell into place - another miracle....
So...we arrive in Bonaire, Marilyn shares with me the book "Something needs to Change." by David Platt. I spend the first few days reading the book. I really couldn't put it down. I didn't want to be rude and not visit with our friends, but the book was all I wanted to read. As I read it. I began to change...I began to think about what I needed to change. I know that I won't be climbing the Himalayas and experiencing what David did...but I have my own mountains, my own pain, and my own shortcomings. I have begun the change by writing today. I want to somehow write what I realize I need to do. It's almost as if writing will help me put my thoughts in action.
It took going away. Getting away from routine. Letting my mind wander and listen to what God had to say. I realize that sometimes I take what God does in my life for granted. I know I have faith that God is there. That God will take care of me....as I read the book, I thought about how God took care of every obstacle that was in place with my Dad's house. He provided just enough time and extension of time. Until I stopped to reflect...I really hadn't noticed all of the things that fell into place. Only they didn't fall into place, God planned the way.
Add in one more little issue.....in late November and early December I had been working with the insurance company to acquire a drug I use for osteoporosis. This drug is not to be used when dental work is to happen. I had not been able to get the drug. Nothing was working. Then...the last day of school I broke a tooth. The root canal did not work; the tooth had to be extracted. It would not have been possible without risk (actually the doctor would not have done the procedure if I had taken the drug). One day before we left for Bonaire I had the tooth extracted and left the country without pain. God knew the plan. God made things work. I need to be aware of all God has done in my life and how he has taken care of me. Something has to change.
So, as 2020 begins, my clear vision is that I must proclaim Jesus as Lord. I must make Him the master of my life and realize what He has planned for my life. Something has to change. I challenge you to read the book. What are you missing out on that God has planned for you? I can't wait to see where 2020 will go.
And then...the sermon on Sunday and the lesson in Bible Study - it was all about sharing your testimony....It was like God was making a strong statement - Something has to Change and it begins with listening and allowing God to use my life. So...Something has to Change...it starts with a life-altering journey of obedience to Christ. I can't wait to see where 2020 takes me!
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
2018
It's been many years since I have taken the time to write on this blog. It's time I return to reflect on life. 2018....wow! January 1st of a new year - so much to think about, so much to do.
As I think about returning to writing a blog, I think about what I want to share. What do I want to spend time writing about each week? Last year I began a school blog that I write each Friday to share with the outside world all the cool things happening inside the walls of RCE. I have successfully kept up writing each and every Friday that school is in session - so - I am going to try to write each Monday a little something that is hopefully uplifting - or something I want to remember.
Right now...all of my thoughts are still with Harvey and our flood of 2017. So my first postings will most likely be something about what we've learned through Harvey.
School had just started - students had been at school for 4 days with the first day of school being the day of the eclipse, which started the year off in a most unusual way! We should have guessed with the eclipse happening on the very first day that the entire year would be different than any other year.
Thursday night of the first week of school, I was watching the news. A Hurricane (Harvey), was in the gulf. At that point it wasn't even a hurricane, but rather a tropical storm. It was headed towards the Texas Gulf Coast. The news was guessing on the amount of rain to be expected and all of the normal expectations of a hurricane...but it didn't seem like it was to be too bad...just lots of rain. Sometime around 8 in the evening, the school district sent out a robocall to cancel school for Friday in anticipation of the storm. It was unusual for the school district to call it so early. That should have been a hint.
I had left my computer at school, knowing that Thursday night I hadn't planned to do any work....but with the school closing for Friday, I thought it would be a good idea to have it so I could finish off the training videos I had put off watching. So off to school I went.
The weather was calm. No hint of what was to come. Skies were clear. I walked into the building, picked up a few things to put them up, and picked up my laptop. That was the last time I would be in the building for two weeks.
Once home, I picked up some stacks of paper and washed a few dishes. But over all - I thought why - I'll be home all day on Friday with nothing to do. I dropped off to sleep with little worries of the next day...
I woke up on Friday with one thing that had to be done. I had to go to the doctor to get a shot. It was scheduled at 10...so I picked up a few things and ran off to the doctor.
I got to the doctor only to find out I could not receive the shot, I was running 102 degrees of fever. The moment they said I had a high fever - I felt bad. I drove home and went straight to bed - grateful for a day off from school to be able to sleep off the fever.
I had the TV on as I slept. The breaking news kept repeating that Harvey was gaining strength and would possible hit the coast near Corpus Christie at a category 3. I just decided to sleep, hoping that I would feel better in the morning.
Saturday morning the weather was beginning to turn gray. The news now had the storm coming in closer to Houston and possibly more than a Category 4. Perry began to put things away. We had planned to pull honey from our hives, but I was too sick to work with honey. I went to bed early knowing that the rain was coming. The news had told us that we were on the dirty side of the storm and there would be a lot of rain. No worries - we had water, we had food...we were ready for the rains. We knew the street would flood...but we were ready to stay put for a few days. I went to bed early as I was still suffering from a fever. The rains had started, but nothing amazing yet.
Evidently, it had rained hard most of Saturday night. The storm was coming in near Rockport (closer to Houston) and with more rain and wind than expected. Sometime around 2:00 Perry woke me up to ask for help to move the bee hives...they were under water. We suited up and moved the bees.
(To be continued...)
As I think about returning to writing a blog, I think about what I want to share. What do I want to spend time writing about each week? Last year I began a school blog that I write each Friday to share with the outside world all the cool things happening inside the walls of RCE. I have successfully kept up writing each and every Friday that school is in session - so - I am going to try to write each Monday a little something that is hopefully uplifting - or something I want to remember.
Right now...all of my thoughts are still with Harvey and our flood of 2017. So my first postings will most likely be something about what we've learned through Harvey.
School had just started - students had been at school for 4 days with the first day of school being the day of the eclipse, which started the year off in a most unusual way! We should have guessed with the eclipse happening on the very first day that the entire year would be different than any other year.
Thursday night of the first week of school, I was watching the news. A Hurricane (Harvey), was in the gulf. At that point it wasn't even a hurricane, but rather a tropical storm. It was headed towards the Texas Gulf Coast. The news was guessing on the amount of rain to be expected and all of the normal expectations of a hurricane...but it didn't seem like it was to be too bad...just lots of rain. Sometime around 8 in the evening, the school district sent out a robocall to cancel school for Friday in anticipation of the storm. It was unusual for the school district to call it so early. That should have been a hint.
I had left my computer at school, knowing that Thursday night I hadn't planned to do any work....but with the school closing for Friday, I thought it would be a good idea to have it so I could finish off the training videos I had put off watching. So off to school I went.
The weather was calm. No hint of what was to come. Skies were clear. I walked into the building, picked up a few things to put them up, and picked up my laptop. That was the last time I would be in the building for two weeks.
Once home, I picked up some stacks of paper and washed a few dishes. But over all - I thought why - I'll be home all day on Friday with nothing to do. I dropped off to sleep with little worries of the next day...
I woke up on Friday with one thing that had to be done. I had to go to the doctor to get a shot. It was scheduled at 10...so I picked up a few things and ran off to the doctor.
I got to the doctor only to find out I could not receive the shot, I was running 102 degrees of fever. The moment they said I had a high fever - I felt bad. I drove home and went straight to bed - grateful for a day off from school to be able to sleep off the fever.
I had the TV on as I slept. The breaking news kept repeating that Harvey was gaining strength and would possible hit the coast near Corpus Christie at a category 3. I just decided to sleep, hoping that I would feel better in the morning.
Saturday morning the weather was beginning to turn gray. The news now had the storm coming in closer to Houston and possibly more than a Category 4. Perry began to put things away. We had planned to pull honey from our hives, but I was too sick to work with honey. I went to bed early knowing that the rain was coming. The news had told us that we were on the dirty side of the storm and there would be a lot of rain. No worries - we had water, we had food...we were ready for the rains. We knew the street would flood...but we were ready to stay put for a few days. I went to bed early as I was still suffering from a fever. The rains had started, but nothing amazing yet.
Evidently, it had rained hard most of Saturday night. The storm was coming in near Rockport (closer to Houston) and with more rain and wind than expected. Sometime around 2:00 Perry woke me up to ask for help to move the bee hives...they were under water. We suited up and moved the bees.
(To be continued...)
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