Second Greatest Gift

God’s greatest gift to me is His son, Jesus Christ, and salvation found only in Him. His second greatest gift is my husband. After four months of waiting before leaving New Mexico and four months in Tennessee without a home, Kenn suggested a trip to the beach for the two of us before our closing.

He planned a five-day vacation starting in Miami, traveling to the Florida Keys to spend a night in Marathon, and ending back in Miami. Since I have a story idea that takes place in the Everglades, I suggested we visit there again even though we’d spent time there in December 2019. Kenn agreed without hesitation.

He carried my extra lens as I took photos of manatees, gators, turtles, and the prettiest grasshoppers I’ve ever seen. And since I want to stay close to reality in my story and not exaggerate or add coincidental happenings, we found a ranger and asked him a few questions. When I realized my storyline needed tweaking, Kenn offered great ideas for changing it to express truth within my fiction.

My current project includes scenes that take place in Key West. We hadn’t planned to travel to the southernmost tip of the United States because we’d traveled there two years before. But when I asked about revisiting the area, hubby was eager to please. While there, I paid close attention to our surroundings, which I hope will spill out onto the pages as I continue to write Ben and Becca’s story.

In Key West, we sat along the edge of a wall while waiting on a table at a beach café. Kenn stepped away for a few minutes while I stared at my phone. A squawk sounded in my right ear, causing me to shriek. A rooster stood on the wall within a foot of me. After he jumped down, I chased him so I could grab a picture.

Another highlight for me was our visit to the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. I’ve enjoyed butterfly exhibits in the past in Phoenix and Chattanooga, and this one was no exception. I took several photos of their vibrant colors.

Our getaway turned out to be an informational trip for my books and a relaxing time with my second greatest gift. Kenn puts my needs and interests before his own, considers my feelings, and treats me with kindness and respect. He’s a good example of a Christ-like husband, and I thank the Lord for blessing me as He has.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Philippians 2:3-4

A Grateful Heart

The waiting has ended. With a grateful heart, I can share that we found a house in Middle Tennessee, thirty miles from downtown Nashville.

Our good news came two days after my birthday—a grand gift from the Lord. We will move into our new home in early June. Ours wasn’t the highest bid the sellers received, but they chose ours because of other factors for which I am thankful.

At one of my favorite houses (offer number seven), I walked to the edge of the backyard and peeked over the fence. Down a hill lay three cows. I shouted a big hello to them. One stood and stared up at me. I was ready to make an offer because I loved seeing the cows. God knew that, but He didn’t give us that house.

I loved the small-town feel of another one of my favorites (offer number eleven). My husband and I were excited to find a state park nearby. We love to hike and walk trails surrounded by trees and wildlife. God knew that, too, but He didn’t give us that house.

When we drove out to visit offer number twelve, which was in a subdivision out in the country, we commented on the lush, green farmland we passed. We arrived at the house with our agent and while on the back patio, to my left, cows grazed nearby. Another special feature of this house’s location was its proximity to another Tennessee state park—larger and closer than the one near the small town. God gave us this house.

I hope to see the cows often while I sit and relax on my patio or as I gaze out my dining-room window. And I look forward to seeing wildlife when I trek along the trails at the state park with my husband.

Although we had to wait longer than we expected, the Lord gave us a home with both cows and hiking nearby. With a grateful heart, I can say it was worth the wait. And because of our large fenced-in backyard, maybe I can talk my husband into buying me a cow of my own!

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart,
I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
Psalm 103:1-2, NLT

Take The Time

Have you ever wanted to slap someone upside the head? I wanted to do that to myself earlier this week. We drove to one of my favorite places in Nashville—Radnor Lake—and met our son and his family there for a hike. I’d taken my camera with me two weeks earlier when we visited, but it rained before we’d walked far, and I didn’t get many good shots. This week, just before we pulled into the parking lot, I groaned. I’d forgotten to bring my camera. I didn’t take the time to plan well for our outing.

While we walked, we found many photo opportunities, but I needed to use my cell phone. I knew my pictures would not look good. We saw deer, squirrels, turtles, ducks, geese, a turkey, and a chipmunk. That’s not all. One of our favorite sightings was a bald eagle perched high in the branches across the lake. Without my zoom lens, I had no possibility of taking a quality photo.

 Toward the end of our hike, I mentioned that there were owls in the woods, although I’d never seen one. Within five minutes, my son spotted an owl in a tree about twenty feet away.

 Twenty feet! And me without a camera! Why didn’t I think about that before I left the house? How could I forget something so important to me?

 Do you ever do that? Do you forget things that are important to you too?

 As I get older, I forget things more often. On mornings when my routine changes, I sometimes forget to have my quiet time with God. I focus on getting out the door and later realize that I skipped my time with Him. Time missed for prayer, to read and study His Word, and to thank Him for His blessings. On those occasions, I make time later in the day, but I prefer to start my day in communion with Him.

I love those special moments of quietness in the morning when I lean upon Him and find comfort in His Word. As situations arise throughout my day or I read of someone’s difficulties on social media, I’m ready to go to prayer for them because I’ve already spent time with Him.

Remembering to take my camera when I go hiking is important to me. But remembering to spend time with the Lord brings greater benefits for myself and others. I hope I never make a habit of forgetting to take the time for those special moments with Him.

I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.
Psalm 119:16, NLT

The best I could do with my cell phone.

The best I could do with my cell phone.

New Beginnings

When I think of Spring, my thoughts go to new beginnings—trees budding and blossoming, daffodils and tulips erupting from the ground, and warmer temperatures. Here in Middle Tennessee, Spring also brings plenty of rain.

We lived in New Mexico during Nashville’s floods in 2010, but during the weekend of March 27, we experienced the area’s second largest rainfall with over seven inches. One of our favorite places to walk has been closed because of flooding. We are thankful another location reopened and that it didn’t flood where we live with our daughter and her family.

My 2021 verses, as I mentioned in an earlier blog, A New Year Filled With Joy, are 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
(NIV)

Give thanks in all circumstances. Besides keeping us dry through the downpours, God has blessed us with precious time with our daughter and her family, along with our son and his family. He kept us safe and warm during several days in February while stranded at the house because an abundance of snow caused a slippery subdivision.

I’m keeping a gratitude journal this year to remind myself of God’s goodness. Every day I add something for which I am grateful. Often, it’s sunshine since Tennessee isn’t as bright and cheery as New Mexico. Other times it’s something to do with my writing or a church service we attended. I’ve also noted thankfulness for God’s Word and how it strengthens me and fills me with hope. I’ve been grateful for simple things too—café mochas, walks along the river, holding my husband’s hand, laughing with family, watching birds outside my window, and a good night’s sleep.

Although it may seem odd, I often thank the Lord when our offer on a house isn’t accepted. God knows what we need and if it doesn’t work out for a specific house, then I believe it’s not where He wants us. He has a plan for us, and I trust Him with that.

My verses say to be thankful in all circumstances. I believe I am. New beginnings are all around me. In His time, a new home will belong to my family and me too.

Photo by Laura Ockel - Unsplash

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