Category Archives: Uncategorized

Happy Birthday, America!

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On this day, in 1776, two hundred and thirty-six years ago, a new nation was born.  It’s name was the United States of America, and it had brave visionary men and women who stood fast to see the new nation come to be.  As far as nations go, America is still a baby country, but she has seen her share of good times and troubles through her two centuries of existence.  I love all the nations of the world, and I love traveling, but America is home, and long may the flag of liberty and justice for all still wave.  And may God bless America, and may we remember from where our blessings in this country come and never take them for granted.  Because God is so good to us.

Have a wonderful day celebrating, wherever you live today.  🙂

Slainte, Lisa

“A Living Worth Scraping”

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Something different for today’s blog.  I saw this video by Mickey Smith, a surf photographer from Ireland, and it was amazing.  I had to post it for all of you to watch.  I could never do what he does, but it sure is awe-inspiring to see the power of the ocean and the waves.

DARK SIDE OF THE LENS from Astray Films on Vimeo.

A couple of quotes from the video that I liked:

“If I am to scrape a living, at least it’s a living worth scraping.”

“My heart bleeds Celtic blood.”

“Ma always encouraged us to open our eyes and our hearts to the world. Make up our own minds by experience and be inspired.”

“See life in angles and lines of perspective. A slight turn of the head, the blink of an eye, subtle glimpses of magic…”

Live life today, looking for glimpses of God that are all around you, just blink & look.

Slainte, Lisa

Stuck in the Gooey Gumdrops

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So I played “Candy Land” with my 5 year old over the weekend.  And got stuck in the gooey gumdrops and the molasses swamp repeatedly.  Once you land on those dreaded black dots, you have to wait for the yellow card or the blue card to be drawn in order to move again.  So I continued to draw and wait, while my child laughed gleefully at my predicament and advanced towards winning.  (And she did win, twice in a row.  🙂  )

Later, I thought about how life is so much like that game sometimes.  We get stuck, or mired, or obsessed with some goal or object that we feel we have to obtain in order to move on.  And then we’re stuck in the gooey gumdrops.  Life continues to swirl on around us, while we’re just sitting and waiting and hoping for this thing that we think will make us happy.  When we finally draw the right card, it makes us happy, but usually only for a little while.  The only lasting thing that can make me happy long term and forever is Jesus.  He’s the only thing I need to get me out of the molasses swamp and into the abundant life that He longs for me to have.

Slainte, Lisa

Peace in the Storm

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We had a huge set of thunderstorms roll through last night.  Thunder, constant lightning, rain, but mostly wind.  Wind gusts up to 70-80 mph.  After losing power and restlessly going to sleep in the hot house (Virginia was around 104 degrees yesterday), we heard a crash outside, and my husband said, “There went a tree.”  We awoke this morning to sun, blue skies, and an intact house.  There are leaves and branches down everywhere, and one small tree came down in our side yard, but God was good.  No major damage.

As I was laying in bed last night, listening to the winds howl, I felt strangely fatalistic and amazingly peaceful.  I know that God controls the winds and the rain, and I also know, I’m not sure how I know but I do, that He loves me also.  I just kept singing in my mind, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus…”  and somehow I fell asleep.  Now I know compared to storms that others have gone through, this one was a small one.  But at the time, it was scary.  And Jesus was my peace, my calm, in the midst of it.  And I am thankful for that this morning.  Praying that all of you are safe and secure this morning.   Slainte, Lisa

“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.”  (Mark 4:39)

 

On the Edge of Ireland

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My husband felt like he was falling off the edge of Ireland as he got this shot, especially with the fierce wind pushing him in that direction also.  But isn’t it amazing?

Near Bray’s Head, County Kerry

Have a wonderful weekend, filled with long walks, air conditioning if you live near my part of the country, swims, bike rides, great conversation, amazing food, and topped to the brim with lots of God’s love.  Slainte, Lisa