Boating
Before Autumn Falls
Take Me Away
Docked and ready.
Going Places
Traveling today? Whether by air, land, or sea…have a fabulous weekend!
THE WATERWAYS
There are oceans of fun out there just waiting for you. The following video includes selected vacation spots that my husband and I have enjoyed over the years. Whether the locations include lakes, beaches, springs, rivers or islands – fun and adventure still prevail. Springtime is near and the waterways await! Happy and safe travels.
Fun in the Sun
…and on the water! At Kemah Boardwalk, Near Houston, Texas
Being Alive
Paper or plastic? Walk or jog? Fly or drive? Orange or black? Read or sleep? Banana or peach? Choices, choices. Decisions, decisions. But, oh, how sweet it is. Simply being alive with the opportunity to choose. Well worth the effort. Try thankfulness. Enjoy your summer!
A Prescription For A Perfect Day
As I walked out of an amazing worship service last Sunday, I was feeling very inspired. We had just heard an encouraging sermon from the pastor. His message was entitled, “The Innkeeper”, taken from Luke 2:7. A couple of points he made were 1) The Innkeeper was very insensitive and inflexible, and 2) The Innkeeper missed a golden opportunity when he did not provide a room for Mary to give birth. We were reminded that there will be times when our day does not always go as planned; we might have to alter our plan. The sermon was masterfully delivered and spiritually motivating. My husband and I looked at each other as we reached the car and almost simultaneously said we had to find a way to keep this good feeling alive. We wanted to hold onto this extraordinary day – a day that was seeming to be perfect.
As we headed home, we discussed the need for a prescription that would assure us of a perfect day – a day that would end as wonderfully as it had begun. We thought if we headed to the lake, that would be a good start. Even though the weather forecast was for a rainy day, we decided to go anyway. After all, it was going to be a perfect day, or so we thought. However, by the time we reached the beautiful West Point Lake at the Highland Marina Resort, surrounded by the rolling hills of west Georgia in the city of LaGrange, the rain was falling. Realizing there would be no outdoor activities for us, we went to the store and picked up some items for dinner and other things we would need and then settled in for a balmy day at the lake. We stepped out onto the deck at the cabin and was transfixed, as we always are, by the beauty of the surroundings. It was extremely quiet. The usual sounds of boating and fishing along with the smell of food cooking on grills were missing. Everyone seemed to be “hunkered down” inside their cabin homes for a Sunday afternoon of lounging by the lake.
The rain was steadily pouring. So we accepted that there would be no leisure walk by the lake nor a game of volleyball. Instead, with warm blankets and lots of snacks, we cozied up for a day of watching sports. The remote control moved from football to golf. Our favorite team was playing as well as one of our most admired golfers. By the end of the day, both had lost to their competition. Also, by the end of the day, my husband’s minor cold had escalated to a more severe case.
The next day I was again sitting on the deck of the cabin and thinking how unrealistic it is to expect a perfect day. We should simply vow to make the best of each day and do our best every day. Our favorite teams don’t always win. Sometimes we will catch the unforgiving common cold. Altering our plans might be required at times. But we should always look for the beauty in our lives; the beauty of the lake, the outdoors, an inspiring sermon, families being together, or most importantly just being alive. How about that? I choose being alive for another day and all its imperfections, because there is no prescription for a perfect one. “Have a good day!”
A Spot On Day
As households across the land get ready to celebrate an annual tradition of thanksgiving, I am reminded of a scripture from Psalm 35:18, “I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.” As we gathered this morning listening to the pastor’s sermon, he expressed how important it is to appreciate what God has given us. He encouraged us not to worry about what we don’t have; not to let our situations dictate our appreciation. This season of being thankful is also a perfect time to appreciate our loved ones. My husband and I left church service this morning feeling amazing after hearing such a wonderfully spiritual message. With the day being absolutely beautiful – sun shining brightly and the autumn trees simply astonishing, we knew we wanted to take a long drive and embrace this precious time together. We ended up at one of our favorite places, Lake Lanier; nestled in the foothills of the Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains and located about an hour from our house. As the largest lake in Georgia, it is especially popular during the summer. Boating and jet skiing are popular sports at the Lake. Our outing this morning was a picture-taking moment. I hope you enjoy this optic as much as we enjoyed the actual view.
Later, we had lunch at one of our favorite spots, The Varsity, an Atlanta institution. This drive-in fast food restaurant is one of six satellite locations. Its main location in Downtown Atlanta is called, “The world’s largest drive-in.” With its curb side service, it is a hit with patrons who prefer eating in their cars. Today, we chose to eat inside and enjoyed some of their iconic features: chili dogs, onion rings and homemade peach pies. Not your typical Sunday dinner but satisfying just the same. We’ll stay on the treadmill a little longer and workout a little harder to justify the indulgence. Ha-ha!
The ride back home was quite gratifying as I reminisced about our fantastic visit to Lake Lanier and the delicious meal at The Varsity. I looked over at my husband and thought to myself how thankful I am for him. I also thought about our loving son and how much he means to us. Yes, I was feeling extremely happy…remembering to be thankful for what I have.
Harrispeaks 