My hubby and I went on a four day getaway all inclusive vacation this week. We left Pittsburgh with 8 degree weather and landed in the Domenican Republic on Monday. Palm trees galore majestic against a blue, blue sky, and 85 degrees… one could easily get used to this!
We didn’t do much of anything. No sailing, no snorkeling, no excursions… we just walked the beach, sat on the beach, relaxed in the lobby of the hotel with nice drinks, danced lazily at night and had the time of our life. This one worker handed us a fresh coconut that just fell off the tree. He used his machete to cut the top and bottom off, and we drank thalf the milk right there and then… quite cool! Then we went to the bar and had the guy fill the coconut up with rum. We sipped on it all afternoon. Talk about fun!
Last night, we came back to freezing PA, but you know what? I’m ok with it. Life is good because God is so good to us. So we go on living, enjoying each day as the Lord gives it to us.

We are in the middle of a snow storm here in PA. It hasn’t stopped snowing, sleeting and freezing raining for over 36 hours now, and the landscape is absolutely gorgeous. Life kind of stopped: offices and schools are closed, people are taking life very slowly, sipping on hot cocoa after they go shovel for an hour or so.
The office where I work just called and is closed for the day. As much as I love my job, I am so glad I get to stay home and enjoy the view. Maybe I’ll finish my book, and spraypaint the rocking chair that’s been patiently waiting for me. Maybe I’ll take a nap in front of my huge window, looking at the snow falling. I’m so thankful for a day at home, and electric and heat!

···Do I do what I do for my pleasure or for His? Do I eat for my purpose (lose weight, feel good, deal with frustration) or His? Do I work for money or for His pleasure? Is it my story or His?···I have the privilege of being tucked into His story. It is His story, not mine. My every day life has to do with His pleasure, not mine; His purpose, not mine. Paul said it best when he said that his ambition was to be pleasing to the Lord. Yes, yes, yes!

This week-end, we went to Virginia to visit with Maelys. It was very enjoyable; we went out to eat at a Brew Pub, and did some retail therapy together–got some party buckets: you just add water and alcohol and put the bucket in the freezer before your next party. Should be fun. Then this morning, we visited another church with her, and it seems to be the right one for her. I cried because I can see how faithful God is to her!
Tonight, we watched the superbowl and we are getting ready for the new week. Lots of hours at work, and some other stuff going on, dinner with friends, plans for the new construction, taxes to be filed and so on… just the ordinary everyday stuff. But you know as well as I do that nothing needs to be ordinary. I am going to make a feast out of each day, celebrating the hours given to me, and even the minutes. When I wake up in the morning, I will smile and relish the moment. And when I lay my head on the pillow at night, I will thank God and relish the moment.

   We bought a French Press coffee maker this week to go with our week-end cups. Since today is Saturday and we happen to both be off, we inaugurated it. Talk about fun! We followed instructions. It took a few minutes to make the coffee, but the whole experience was fun. Then we sat in our living room with our week-end cups and looked out of the window. The snow is sparkly white, and since no one has walked on it, it looks like a luxurious carpet spread out there in the middle of nowhere, with thousands of tiny diamonds scattered throughout. Simply beautiful. That gorgeous view and a cup of hot coffee, that’s what I call enjoying the moment!