As summer turns to fall.......

Ah, the invigorating changing of seasons!

Yesterday I found my way to the beach. It felt like an appropriate way to say "good-bye" to summer!

The beach was DEFINITELY different! Yes, there were a few brave people actually IN the water! My dear friend and I, however, were very grateful we thought to bring sweatshirts!

During the summer, sitting in our beach chairs brings a lovely sense of absolute relaxation as the sun warms us all the way to our bones. Yes, we walk the beach, but even that feels soothing.

Yesterday, there was NO sitting in the beach chairs! We simply walked, watching the birds huddled on the ground with their feathers all puffed out. I was absolutely energized!

So, I say "good bye to summer"......... and I rejoice in the coming of a new season. Yes the pleasures are different. Each day, and each new season, comes bearing its own gift. May we each take the time to "unwrap the ribbons!"

My first try at a MEME

Thank you for inspiration, Jayne!

I've never done a MEME before, and Jayne asked anyone who would like to particpate to play along.

1.How many songs are on your iPod?
I don't even OWN an iPod!
2. What music would you want played at your funeral?
I would like to end with a hymn that we sing in the Episcopal church..... and I don't know the title, but it has a glorious refrain "And I will raise them up, and I will raise them up, and I will raise them up on the last day!"
3.What magazines do you have subscriptions to?
"Ladies Home Journal", but I hardly read it any more. I also subscribe to "The Week", which is a pretty good weekly overview of what's happening in the world. Lastly, I subscribe to "Heart-Healthy Living".
4. What is your favorite scent?
Lavender
5. If you had a million dollars that you could only spend on yourself, what would you do with it?
Pay off my indebtedness (of course!), go back to college; buy a "downtown" home, so I could walk more than drive my car; buy a hybrid car, have massages and pedicures regularly, and travel regularly to see my far-flung family.
6. What is your theme song?
"Unwritten" ....... because the rest of my life story is still unwritten!
7. Do you trust easily?
Yes.
8. Do you generally think before you act, or act before you think?
Definitely think first, then think again, then question my first thought........ eventually, I act!
9.Is there anything that has made you unhappy these days?
I was unhappy when the household cat's kitten died. I'm also unhappy about the polarization in the United States, and the fact that campaigns seem to focus on personalities more than on policies!
10. Do you have a good body-image?
No.
11. Is being tagged fun?
Yes!
12. If you had more hours in the day, how would you spend that time?
Exercising, blogging, spending time with friends, cleaning and decorating my house.
13. What have you been seriously addicted to lately?
Watching political coverage on TV, and/or watching Hurricane coverage on TV.
14. What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is?
Jayne is warm, caring, artistic, and comfortable-in-her-own-skin.
15. What’s the last song that got stuck in your head?
The song I wrote about in question 2. :~)
16.What’s your favorite item of clothing?
My black palazzo pants.
17. Do you think Rice Crispies are yummy?
No. Give me Kashi Go-Lean cereal or good old-fashioned oatmeal any day!
18. If you had $100 to give away, who would you give it to?
The "Rector's Discretionary Fund" at my church.
19. What items could you not go without during the day?
My "nature sounds" alarm clock. It's so nice to go to sleep to soothing sounds, and to wake up to a cheerful bird chirping!
20. What should you be doing right now?
Relaxing! It's been a busy, stressful week so far! (And, this certainly counts as relaxation for me!)

I shall follow Jayne's lead and not tag a soul. Anyone who wants to play along is welcome.
Please let me know if you play!

Anyone hear Glenn Campbell singing "Galveston"?

I don't remember all of the words to the song, but in the past couple of days I've been hearing Glenn Campbell singing in my memory.

I've never been to Galveston, but today my heart sighs for the people living with their new reality.

The calm after the storm passes

Well, Hanna passes by my little corner of the world. Whew!

It's surprising to me, now that the rush of preparation is over, how tired I am! God gave us this wonderful gift called adrenaline, that enables us to keep going and going when necessary.

Not only am I tired, but I seem to have lost my sense of direction. Yesterday I woke up without a single notion of what I wanted to accomplish! I decided, with the help of a dear friend, to make it a day of recreation. Have you ever heard that word explained as "re-creation"? My friend and I ate a healthy breakfast together, and then got ourselves to the beach. Hanna left many gifts of shells on the beach. We enjoyed treasure-hunting!

Later that evening, I watched a movie I would definitely recommend for those who enjoy a good character-driven drama. It's called "Autumn Hearts -- a new beginning".

All in all, I feel ready to start the week, with prayers on my lips for all of those who may now be facing Hurricane Ike.

Ready or not.....

I live on the southeast coast, and my schedule has been VERY BUSY getting ready for Hanna.

I'm very grateful that we have the advance warning, and I cannot imagine how it must have been "in the old days" to have a storm like that arise out of the blue.

That said, the week leading up to a hurricane is SO stressful! In a way, it reminds me of the week before Christmas, when we're all so busy making preparations, and it seems like we're never REALLY ready.

Somehow, this time, I feel a sense of serenity through all the mayhem. I'm doing what I can, and then, it's time to trust in God that no matter what happens to my home and my possessions, my family and I will be OK.

Ready or not.............. here the storm comes! And, then there's Ike. Ah, the price I pay to live near the beach!

I just know I'm not alone.