What a beautiful morning! The sounds of the morning come rushing in as I open the windows and patio doors to let fresh air come in. The sounds of the lawns being mowed, people driving to work, people on the street below us walking to different places, sometimes, even hearing a siren go by. It reminds me that in the normal daily routines or our lives, those “sirens” of unexpected occurrences are “sounds” that we do not like to think about or experience!

Yet, as we go about our day really not usually stopping to think anything about the “sirens” that are happening to others, we get so caught up in what we are doing or thinking about what is next on our lists of things to do, or our own troubles, that we forget that those sirens mean that another persons life has been interrupted and is experiencing an unexpected bend in the road! Today, as we go about our daily routine, let’s ask the Lord to place on our hearts a softness for people who we know who might be experiencing that unexpected “siren” in their lives! Let’s remember that we are here to pray for others , to bear one anthers burdens and to be a “light” to those in need.

During this time when we are in a brand new place, far away from home and trying to make this as “close to being our home” as possible, God has sent me comforting messages through the church bells across the street! After my morning devotion this morning, I was having a little pity party thinking how much I missed my kids and grandkids and was just struggling to put a smile on my face. I had even snapped at Randy this morning. When Jodi, my daughter called she and I both broke down and tried to talk this “move to California” thing out! It was then that I heard the church bells across the st ringing out “Great is Thy Faithfulness” and then “Leaning On The Every Lasting Arms”. It reminded me that God is faithful and hears our cries and we can lean on Him for every burden! It was such a comfort to me to hear these old hymns that have comforted me through the years! God is faithful and a few minutes later a new friend called to see if I wanted to meet her for lunch on Friday. It was just what I needed today. Thank you Lord for your sweet blessings. It was enough to put a smile on my face and I went walking to town to eat outside and stop at the grocery store before walking back! This week look for a new way of how God is trying to bless you and write down the different ways He uses to give you a blessing! It will bring a smile to not only your face, but to your heart.

We did it! We drove 1475 miles in two days and as of today I have Internet service and can write on my experience of moving here in California from Dallas! I would like to say that i made my first homemade meal at our corporate apartment last night of chicken stew with lots of veggies and it tasted so good! Of course after two meals of In and Out burgers over the weekend, veggies tasted good to us.
We had a very bad experience at the movies on Saturday! Don’t know if I’m going to like it here! Randy and I walked up to the window where Randy handed the nice (i use that word”nice” very loosely) and asked for two senior tickets for the 2:55 movie. The “nice” young man said,”sir could I see your ID please?” to which I replied, “oh honey isn’t this great, he doesn’t believe we are seniors, ” the “nice” young man quickly responds, “oh no mam, I’m just checking his ID for the credit card.”! maybe all the sun we have had the last 2 days has already aged our youthful glow. I think I had better go back to Dallas where the youngsters are a little smarter and have better vision!

I saw this in a magazine the other day and am going to use it. It was just so different and so pretty. Buy however many pears as you have people coming for a holiday dinner. But pretty holiday ribbon and white poster board or gold. Cut 1×3 in pieces of the poster board for the name cards. Write each person’s name on a piece and then cut the bottom of each pear to where it sits on it’s side. Cut a slit on the top and place the place card in the slit. Tie a ribble bow on the stem and set at each person’s plate. After the dinner, cut the pears and use in a cobbler or fruit salad for the next meal.

For the last few weeks, our Bible Study has been on Stepping Out of the Boad and Walking on Water as Peter did. Well, Randy and I are experiencing some of what Peter must have felt when he left the comfort of the boat to walk toward Jesus. We are leaving our comfort zone of Dallas and moving to Los Angeles for Randy to work for a different company. When most people our age are retiring and moving closer to family, we are moving 1500 miles away from family, from wonderful friends and from precious memories  which we have truly meant  so much to both of us.

I wanted to share with you how we came to this decision. It was not impulsive, nor is it just about a new job. We had prayed that if God continued to open the door for Randy to take this position, it would be for a higher purpose, other than just us moving and starting in a brand new place. We had ask the Lord to only allow this if He was going ahead of us and if He had a purpose for us doing so. This has been going on for the last 6 months  or so, and the word we kept getting from the Lord was, “wait on God”. We never got to the point of signing any papers or the official offer never came, when we expected it to. For monhts we kept wondering what was taking so long in any decision being made by the company and why were we still being asked to wait to find out if we were moving or staying. It isn’t that we really wanted to move, but just knowing that it might happen caused us to wonder what our lives had in store the next year or so. When at least we felt that it was never going to really happen, we got a call from Randy’s new boss asking if he would consider taking LA instead of San Francisco. That was music to our ears. We had been a little hesitant about moving to San Francisco, as he had been told that was where they wanted him. When we got a phone call from theh company they explained that the man who had been manager for 20 years of the LA area was retiring and would Randy consider  taking his place. We are familiar to LA, having lived there before and know several people there. After much prayer and seeking counsel from several precious Christian friends and ministers, we knew in our hearts that God was allowing this for both Randy and I. We don’t know what this new season of our lives holds, but we do know that God has promised to go before us and He will be faithful to lead us and to guide us, no matter how uncomfortable “getting our of the boat” will be for a while. We know that He will lead us to a church home where we want to be in service to Him. It might be in a totally different way than it has been here, but that’s ok. We are ready to have our “comfort zone” expanded and our hearts are ready for this new season. It will be hard leaving the comforts of home and family, but we also know that walking on water can be life changing……..The time here in Dallas has been such a precious time for both of us and God has blessed us in so many ways. We anticipate that the blessings might come in a different package, but they will come.

Will post a new recipe tomorrow, and let you rest from all the reading I have been posting, I promise.

Just walked in the door from attending the Cox Family Reunion, held in Ooctober of each year. We went this year, knowing that it would be a little emotional, because Randy’s dad, Howard Cox had passed away this past December and there would be a time of the family members remembering Howard and telling memories about him. It was hard to watch different family members tell different stories about Howard and see them tear up remembering what a strong man, both spiritually and physically, he was. But it was also very comforting, knowing how much he was loved and that his life made such an impression on so many. It made me think of how Randy reminds me of his dad and how blessed I am to have a husband who loves his family, who loves the Lord and each year, grows more and more devoted to Him and to our children and grandchildren. I saw Howard today, in Randy, in so many different ways, that I had not noticed before. But as stories unfolded from different cousins, in-laws, aunts and uncles, it was evident that the family resemblence goes on, the quietness in Randy and his dad’s voice. The “no-need” to talk, unless there is really something to say. Their love of a great bargain, having to have the latest electronic device……these are just a few of what made them father-son…We rode home talking about how much I was seeing Howard in Randy and watching him, driving while I was telling him…..I could see the proudness in his eyes. We were on the way home, in some ways glad to have the reunion over for another year, yet, so glad that so many relatives care enough to put together old pictures, stories and a great table of family recipes for those of us who are just growing up (finally) to realize just how important family traditions are to us.

It is the PERFECT day to go to the fair. Weather is gorgeous and Randy is taking half a day off for us to go experience the sounds and taste of the Texas State Fair! We will arrive around 4 and dive immediately into our yearly traditions of corny dog first and head on over to the bird show. If any of you have tasted any of the new “fried foods” that are there this year, let me know. Last year, we tried the “fried butter”, just to be sure we got our share of the most highly concentrated dose of cholestrol that day. We tried the fried oreo and the fried snickers, but we have gotten smart in our old age. We do our “tasting” early in the afternoon, so we have time to digest all the grease and take our TUMS with us instead of having to hurry home to swallow a whole bottle of them before hitting the bed. Otherwise we would be up all night with heartburn and wonder why we tasted all the “fun new tastes of the fair”.

So, we will be off……….riding the ferris wheel at night to take in all the beautiful lights of the park, coming home with an additional 5 lbs each and telling ourselves we will never eat that much again, well….at least until fair time next year!

Just got back from Houston last night after being there for 5 days. I went to see dear friends that I have known for 30 yrs. All of us have gone through so many trying times, illnesses, divorces, prodical children,  job changes, house buying and selling, shopping for Christmas, new fad diets, having grandchildren, some of our parents dying and many other topics. We don’t see each other as often as we would like, but when we do, it is like we are together every day of our lives. It just never takes us long to feel the closeness or the loving friendship which always is such a blessing, especially to me. Cindy and Cathy are twins who have adopted me as their “sister” in more than just the name. They treat me like I am a part of their family. The laughter and the love which abounds is just something very special. Since I am an only child, it is wonderful to have these precious “sister’s” in my life.  They love it when I come down and just automatically begin to arrange their furniture, in fact, they expect it. Cathy felt slighted when I didn’t walk in and begin to arrange.  Before leaving yesterday, my eyes began to roam around the room and Cindy said, “oh no, she is getting in her arranging mood, I can just see it” and sure enough, whilel Randy began to carry suitcases to the car, I started moving counces, chairs and tables. I just couldn’t leave without changing something. Of couse, Cindy had to go get the Pledge and dust cloth so we began a “room makeover” before leaving. The 3 days before, we had sat and made 28 wreaths while munching on brownines and ice cream! Once, on the road to home, I began to think of them and all the memories we have had over the last 30 yrs. Each year becomes a little harder to make time, but each time we do see each other, also becomes a little more special. These are just precious friends who mean the world to me and who continue to open their hearts to not only me, but to our family. God has blessed me in so many ways, and I just want to thank Him for the blessing of their friendship……..they will never know what a blessing they are to me, thank you Cinday and Cathy for your love, your hearts and sharing your lives with me! Can’t wait till next time.

This time of the year just gets me in the mood to stay in the kitchen. Even though the temp outside is still in the 90’s, in my mind, it is fall and the fall decor has already found it’s way into my house. The fall trees are up and the mums and croton’s have taken the place of the begonias outside. If you are like me, and just enjoy having a little more time with the extra lights around the house, let me encourage you to go ahead and get those little Christmas trees out of the attic and get them decorated with fall swags, leaves, pumpkins and fall flowers filling in between the branches. They sit right inside our front door and even the neighbors have told us that they enjoy driving by and seeing the lights up. I was just never satisfied with the 3 or 4 weeks of Christmas lights. So now I have them from Sept through Christmas, just changing out the decor around Thanksgiving.

Today, I am preparing lunch for some ladies tomorrow. I had promised them a real Southern meal of Paula Deen Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed potatoes, green beans and chocolate cream pie, so that is the menu tomorrow. Just finished the chocolate cream pie with whipped cream and since we are having a few  more than expected, am headed off to bake a chocolate sheet cake, just in case.