@bloganuary – Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography

2025 Bloganuary Daily Prompt – January 24 (Posting on 02/09)

Name an attraction or town close to home that you still haven’t got around to visiting.

U. S. National Whitewater Center

The U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, North Carolina has the largest the world’s largest manmade whitewater river and has outdoor activities all year long. Besides the Whitewater River area, the Center also has 1,300 acres of protected woodlands along the Catawba River. No matter your preference, the Whitewater Center offers a wide range of recreational opportunities to intrigue your interest for a
fantabulous experience in the great outdoors.

I have not done many water sports since my younger more limber and flexible days of my youth. What does perk my interests in visiting the U.S. National Whitewater Center are the forty (40) miles of trails designed for mountain biking and trail racing. You don’t have to ride a mountain bike or race on the trails to enjoy them. The 40+ miles of trails are a great opportunity for hikers as well. The trails are shared by hikers, runners, and bikers at all times.

The trails are natural surface and wind across the 1,300 acre woods of the Center. The trails run along the Catawba River and through hardwood and pine forests. The use of the trails are free not requiring an access pass, however, the Whitewater Center does charge $12 for a day parking pass and $40 for an annual parking pass.

I think Coleman and I would enjoy hikers some of the various trails at the Whitewater Center given the opportunity for warmer weather, costs and transportation to and from the Center.

For more information about the U.S. National Whitewater Center and what it has to offer click here .

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

The Lord, my Stronghold

The Lord is good. How do I know? The only thing I know is that He is good to me. He is my protector, my provider, ever present in my life.

He provides me with a place to lay my head, food for nourishment, (both physical and spiritual), keeps me safe no matter what my circumstances may be. Sometimes He uses people to assist with His provisions, allowing them to demonstrate love and kindness. I am grateful for everyone He has placed in my life. Some have helped me in times of need while others have just been there to show God cares for me. His love abounds much.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”
1 Chronicles 16:34

“The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.”
Psalm 145:9

“Be thankful to Him, and bless name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting.”
Psalm 100:4-5

The Lord is good. May He bless you with His loving kindness, comfort you, and fill your life with goodness 😊.

The Lord God is Good
My refuge and my Strength

Bridge Types: How many are there? What are they?

Swinging Bridge – Anne Springs Close Greenway

There are 37 different types of physical bridges with some types having sub-types enlarging the total amount of bridges. These do not include the natural bridges or non-physical bridges.

A bridge is a structure built to span a physical obstacle without blocking the way underneath. Its purpose is to provide passage over the obstacle, (eg. a body of water), which is usually something that is difficult or impossible to cross otherwise.

The three basic types of bridges used for transportation are:

Beam and truss bridges

Arch bridges

Suspension bridges

Truss Bridges:

Bridges perform an important role in connecting people, goods, and transports. The bridges pictures above are used for the purpose of allowing people, cars, trucks, and trains to cross over obstacles such as a body of water, valley, road, or rail. Some you can walk on in order to reach the other side and some you can walk under like the truss bridges.

There are many other types of bridges used for various purposes. There is the bridge game, a dental bridge, the upper bony part of your nose is also considered a bridge. The forward part of a ship is referred to as the bridge. In literature a bridge is a special kind of topic sentence. It can hint at what is about to happen in the next paragraph and it can connect two paragraphs together. There are also religious bridges that serve to bridge the gap between God and man by building a bridge of faith.

These types of bridges I will leave for a later date. For now, I will leave you to think on these things. God Bless. May our writings bridge us together. Stay Safe and let me know what you think.

DST: Spring forward – Like or Dislike?

Daylight Saving Time (DST), the practice of advancing clocks during warmer months so darkness falls later according to clocks. Do you like changing clocks backwards and forwards? Do you agree with the concept of DST? Did you remember to move your clocks ⏰ forward one hour?

History facts:

First proposed in 1784 by Benjamin Franklin. He suggested that waking up earlier in the summer months would save economically on the usage of candles.
In 1895, George Hudson seriously proposed a similar idea except he wanted to change the clocks by two hours every spring.
In 1907, William Willett presented the idea as a method of saving energy.
In 1908, First implementation of DST in Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦.
In 1916, the German Empire and Austria 🇦🇹-Hungary each organized the first nationwide implementation for their jurisdictions.
In 1918, the United States adopts Daylight Saving Time.

Do you like using DST? Like the back and forth of changing clocks ⏰? Would you rather we stayed DST or Standard Time year round?

Personally, I would prefer to stay on one time regardless of whether it is DST or Standard Time. I dislike the changing of clocks backwards and forwards. I dislike losing an hour of sleep ( I don’t sleep 💤 much anymore anyway), I need what sleep 💤 I can manage to achieve.

I know there are some benefits to having longer daylight hours, but that doesn’t mean necessarily that we constantly have to change our clocks twice a year. Do we really increase daylight or are we tricking ourselves by the changing of the clocks? Something to think about, anyway. What do you think?

Let’s list some of the advantages and disadvantages of DST.

Advantages of Daylight Saving Time:

Longer daylight promotes safety
Good for the economy – boosts
Promotes active lifestyles
Crime rate declines
Lowers energy consumption
Less traffic accidents
Increases recreational time: Ability to enjoy sunshine in the evenings – time for outdoor activities, bbq’s or an evening stroll.
Decrease in electricity consumption

Benefits of DST – Recreational Activities

Disadvantages of Daylight Saving Time:

Bad for your health – change in sleep patterns has negative consequences for your health
Drops productivity
Expensive
Children wait for school buses 🚌 in the morning darkness
Extra sleepy 🥱 the Monday afterwards
Increase in heart ♥️ attack risk
Some never adjust – causing decrease in their life quality and health
Greater risk of mood disturbance, mental health issues, depression
Increases evening traffic, increases fuel consumption

Cons of DST – Darkness, Tiredness, Traffic

Whether we like it or not, Daylight Saving Time (DST) is here to stay in one form or another. Some people and states would like to abolish it and some states have already. Would you like to see DST done away with? Why or why not? Would you like to permanently be on DST, like some states have already instituted? I like having daylight in the early evening hours but abhor the changing of the clocks twice a year. If it is better to have more daylight later in the day than early mornings, than I think everywhere should switch to permanently being on DST.

Just a few ideas for you to think over as you ponder about Daylight Saving Time. Hope you enjoy. Maybe relish a laugh or two.

I hope you remembered to set your clocks forward an hour last night. If not, you might need extra coffee on Monday. God Bless. Have a pleasant evening and use you extra daylight to have some fun outdoor recreation.

WordPrompt: Bridge – Inspirational quotes

All Bridges can be crossed,
so do not give up

Giving up is never an option. Christ is the bridge to resolve all your issues.

“Mistakes are the usual bridge
between inexperience and Wisdom.”
— Phyllis Theroux

We learn from our mistakes and gain knowledge from them. And hopefully don’t repeat them.

In this world people may throw stones…..
in the path of your success, it depends on you….. What you make from them…..
a wall or a bridge…..
http://www.suhanijain.com
photo, tibchris

Be a bridge and connect the world. You are amazing. Don’t ever forget it.

“Golden bridge, silver bridge or diamond bridge; it doesn’t matter! As long as the bridge takes
you across the other side, it is a good bridge!”
—Mehmet Murat ildan

Take the bridge to the other side, you’ll be glad you did.

God bless. I appreciate y’all. More about bridges to follow in later posts. Stay tuned. Don’t forget to like, comment, and follow.

Walk with Jesus: Part Five – Increase in the Knowledge of God….How do we gain the Knowledge?

**Increasing**
in the
**Knowledge**
of
**God**!

We’ve been studying Colossians 1:9-12 for the past few days. It is an interesting study. Going through this passage a section at a time has taken some time, but I think in doing so we are slowly learning about Walking with Jesus. We’ve learned that prayer is simply talking to God, sharing our hearts and minds with Him. We learned that Walking with Jesus is talking with Him anytime, anywhere, and while we are doing anything. We also learned about knowing God’s Will, that if we ask God will teach us what His Will is and how we are to do it. In our last post we discussed what it meant to Walk Worthy of the Lord. We learned that to Walk Worthy we need to be Walking and Growing in Christ daily, trusting Him to take care of us and guide us.

Why should we be increasing in the knowledge of God? How do we gain/grow in our knowledge of God? We’ll start by discovering why we should increase in the knowledge of God.

The Better we Know God, the more our love will grow for Him.
….. We will trust Him more
….. We will brag about Him more
….. We will experience eternal life with Him more
….. We will be discerning more
….. We will experience His delight more

Now we know why, but what about the how? What must we do to grow in the knowledge of God? To grow in Christ means to get to know Him better. The following are ways in which we can use to get to Know God better and grow in His knowledge.

Read God’s Word, The Holy Bible. Renew our Minds.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2

The Bible gives us spiritual wisdom and understanding.
God’s Word Reveals Christ to us.
Time and experience.
Submit to God’s plan
Keep our Eyes on God
Pray continuously
Spread God’s Love

Therefore, in order to grow in the knowledge of God we must read and study the Word of God, we must pray, talk to Him constantly, we must share God’s love with others. we must allow God to grow us into who He wants us to become.

God Bless. Walk with Jesus. Pray to God. Study God’s Word. Grow in Christ. Become more like Christ each day.

Walk with Jesus: Part Four – Walk Worthy of the Lord…..What does that mean? How do we do it?

**Walk** in a manner **Worthy of the LORD**

Worthy is having sufficient worth or importance worthy to be remembered. What does it mean to be worthy? Being worthy means that you are aware that you deserve respect and have self-respect for yourself. We all deserve respect and need to have self-respect. Value your time, your space, and your life. You don’t have to be perfect to be worthy. Everyone deserves love and acceptance and to be embrace for who they are flaws and all.

Now that we know what worthy means, let’s take a look at what Walking Worthy of the Lord means. In order to Walk Worthy, we must first understand the tremendous price God paid to redeem us and we must appreciate his sacrifice.

‘I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV (English Standard Version)

There are several characteristics that a person should possess in order to be considered to be walking Worthy of the Lord. These attributes are as follows:

Pursue the goal of pleasing the Lord in everything that you do. Behave in a way that you strive to please the Lord.
Constantly bear the right kind of fruit. Exhibit the Fruits of the Spirit: love joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.
Continuously increase your knowledge of God. Read and study the Bible.
Constantly receive God’s strength. I can do all things through Christ.
God will develop patience and tolerance into our lives. He will give us calmness to help us through any situation.
Always give joyous praise to God. Thank Him for what He has done and praise Him for who He is.

We are to Walk and Grow in Christ. We do that by keeping the faith, being repentant, and asking for forgiveness. We Keep the faith by continually believe in, trust God to take care of you, to give you the assistance you need. Repentant is expressing regret or remorse about a wrongdoing you have done.

God’s grace makes you Worthy. There’s nothing you can do apart from Christ that can make you Worthy. Seek God. Talk to Him, His Grace is sufficient for you.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the Gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9

I encourage you to Walk close to Jesus, try to please Him, Study the Word of God and Talk to Him daily. Live a life Worthy of the Lord.

God Bless. Keep the Faith. Trust in God. Thank you! May God direct your paths, comfort and strengthen you and surround you with His love.

Walk with Jesus: Part Three – Filled with Knowledge of God’s Will…..How do we know it?

In Part One we discussed Pray/Prayer, what it means and the main types of prayer. In Part Two we deliberated over what it means to Walk with Jesus. We also determined that we can Walk and Talk with Jesus Anytime, Anywhere, and whenever we’re doing Anything. For Part Three we will discover the meaning behind Filled with the Knowledge of His Will.

As we continue to learn about Walking with Jesus, shall we decipher what it means to be Filled with the Knowledge of HIs Will? What do you think that means? Do you know? I can honestly say that I’m not totally sure what it truly means. It’s not that I haven’t read or studied the Bible before, because I have. I’m sure it was brought up before in church or in my youth group when I was a teen, but if it was, I do not recall what was said about God’s Will. Therefore, we can make this discovery together.

Let’s begin by defining God’s Will. The will of God is the concept of a God having a will for humanity. It is the omnipotence of a divine being, having unlimited power. God has a plan for us just as He has a plan for all creation. The will of God basically includes everything that God desires to happen in Heaven and on Earth. His plan is already laid out. Even though God’s Will has already been all planned out in detail, that doesn’t mean there isn’t any free will for us to decide how our lives will go. He has given us all free will.

How do we know what God’s Will is for us? Knowing God’s Will is a matter of gaining spiritual wisdom and understanding from God himself. Where do we gain this knowledge? From the only source possibly, The Word of God, The Holy Bible. We gain this knowledge by reading the Bible, living a life of obedience, and God’s will is taught, studied, and discovered. It isn’t magically revealed to you. You have to communicate with God as well as God communicating with you. If He’s the only one talking, it’s like He’s having a one-way conversation and that is not what He wants. He wants it to be a two-way conversation. He is willing, are you?

“Teach me to do they will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.”
Psalm 143:10 KJV

There are five known “wills of God.” What are the known “wills of God?”

Be sexually pure – 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, Avoid sexual immorality.
Be filled with the Holy Spirit – Ephesians 5:17-18, Be fill with the Spirit
Understand that believers will suffer – 1Peter 4:19, Those who suffer should trust God
Give thanks always – 1 Thessalonians 5:18, In everything give thanks
Submit to your government – 1 Peter 2:13-15. Submit for the Lord’s sake to every human authority

How do we follow God’s plan for our lives? There are five fundamental things you can do every day to insure you are following God’s plan.

Be in prayer. Talk to Jesus. He will let you know.
Be actively reading in the Bible.
Follow the commands He puts on your heart…. there are several mentioned in the Bible
Seek a godly community. Environment matters. Surround yourself with godly people.
Obey the Truth. The truth is in the Word of God.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Proverbs 1:7

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do HIs commandments. His praise endures forever.”
Psalm 111:10

In conclusion, we have learned that being filled with the knowledge of his will begins by getting to know God. By reading the Bible, praying, following His commandments, and giving thanks always to God. It is not only something we read but is done by living according to the instructions He gives us in His Word. Being filled with His knowledge is a lifelong journey.

God bless. Life is a journey. Walking with Jesus is a journey. God wants us to be filled with the Spirit. Join me on my journey of discovery in Walking and Talking with Jesus.

Thank y’all. I appreciate y’all. Feel free to like, comment, and follow.

Morning Hike with Coleman

We are still twelve days away from it officially being Spring, but we have been enjoying springtime weather here in the Carolinas. Since morning was so beautiful, my grandson and I went for a short hike in the woods near our home. My grandson, Coleman loves the outdoors. He would rather spend all day outside having fun than cooped up in the house when it rains. Coleman loves to hike, so into the woods we went.

I’ve been studying about Walking with Jesus and sharing my thoughts with y’all. One thing I’ve learned is Walking and Talking with Jesus can take place anywhere, anytime, and while we are doing anything. Walking and talking with Jesus while hiking with my grandson is natural and beautiful. Being in nature amazing and I Praise God for all He has created, the trees, the woods, the deer, the heavenly sky and even the rain when it comes. God created it all and I am in awe of HIs mighty power, His creativity, and His love.

As we began our journey today, we first encountered the chickens. The chickens and beautiful creatures, sometimes they can be noisy but not today. My grandson loves to stop and observe them anytime we go for a hike. I allow Coleman to lead the way. I try my best to keep up with him. He has so much more energy than I do. I don’t know where he gets it all.

Next up was a boat, a shed, and a solar powered contraction (I’m not actually sure what it was or what it was for), and a deer stand. We came across more than one deer stand as we traversed through the woods. Did I say Deer stand? Besides hiking Coleman loves to climb. Height is no problem for him, he seems fearless. Now on the other hand, I am fearful he might fall sometime when he is climbing, especially when he decides to climb really tall deer stands as shown in the next photo collage.

I’m not sure if you can picture the height of the deer stand, and I’m not sure what its height is, but it’s super tall. So, you can imagine why I might be a tad bit fearful of him falling. Thankfully he hasn’t ever fallen yet, and I pray it stays that a way.

My grandson loves to pick up sticks. He loves to use them as hiking sticks. He knows that I have a hiking stick I use when I go to State Parks or Greenways to hike. He mimics me in that aspect. I’m thrilled he enjoys the outdoors so much. I hope he will always love the outdoors and being in nature. I pray he will one day realize that nature, the outdoors if all a part of God’s miraculous design.

While walking and talking with each other and talking with Jesus I used an app called Relive. The app tracks our distance and records any pictures taken through the app. At the end of the hike, a video can be created of your hike or whatever activity of your choosing. We hiked just under a mile at 0.7 miles today. Not too bad for hiking with a two-year-old. The following link is the video created by the Relive app of our hiking adventure today.

www.relive.cc/view/vDqgM1LW7GO

God bless. I trust you have enjoyed our hiking adventures. Remember you are able to Walk and Talk with Jesus anytime, anywhere, no matter what you are doing, God is always willing to listen.

International Woman’s Day: Significant Women in My Life

International Women’s Day is celebrated around the globe on March 8th. Today is that day to celebrate.

Every Home,
Every Heart,
Every Feeling,
Every Moment of
Happiness is incomplete
without you,
**Only you can complete this world.**
Happy Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is being posted, blogged, and otherwise mentioned all over the internet and all over the world. What exactly is International Women’s Day? Why do we celebrate it? Do you celebrate it?

International Women’s Day, AKA IWD, is a global celebration dedicated to uplifting women and honoring their achievements. It is not just to celebrate female world leaders, women activists, or women of supreme importance to the world, but also a day to celebrate the women who have made a significant impact on your life. Besides bringing attention to the achievements of women, it also is a day to accentuate the struggles for equality around the world which still exists.

Celebration of Women’s Accomplishments
around the globe.

I will not go into details regarding famous or otherwise significant women, rather I will discuss three women that have made a significant impact in my life. 1) My maternal grandmother, 2) Edith Riffe, my youth pastor’s wife, and 3) Nancy Mehl, an author and my online friend.

My maternal grandmother, Myrtle Melvina (Tebo) Watson was born in Kansas. When she was a young lady, she went to work for my grandfather’s sister doing housework. On a visit from Ohio, my grandfather met her and with some persistence she gave in, and they began a courtship and later married. Now I know that doesn’t show how she was important to me, but if she didn’t meet my grandfather, I would not eventually exist. She was a strong woman. No matter where she lived, she grew her own vegetables, washed clothes using a wringer washing machine and hung them out on a line to dry. She was economical and managed her home long after my grandfather passed. She took a bus into downtown to work in a church kitchen prepare mails for others. She never drove that I know of, but that didn’t stop her from getting around. She had a strong faith in God and relied on Him daily. She passed her knowledge onto me, and I am grateful for her knowledge.

Edith, Edie the Sweetie, and Jerry Riffe
A True Proverbs 31 Woman

Edith Riffe, known to those who love her, as Edie the Sweetie, is a wise woman of God. She grew up a farm girl in Pennsylvania, went to college in South Carolina where she met her husband, Jerry (My youth pastor). She was his partner in life and in ministry. She is faithful to study God’s Word and passed on her knowledge by counseling and mentoring women. She is a fine example on how to live a Christ like life, not only for her daughters, but to everyone who was fortunate enough to know her.

Nancy Mehl is an online friend and author that I admire very much. She shares her faith in God through her writing and with her friends regardless, if she has met them in person or not. She is a Christian author and has written over thirty novels. She writes suspense novels and has written books for Guidepost’s Amish fiction book series including those in The Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries. She is a tremendously skilled writer with a passion to share her faith and she shares it fabulously through her writings. She also administers a group on Facebook entitled “Nancy Mehl’s Secret Sister Circle.” In the group she encourages everyone and prays for them. Her writings speak to me and her group ministers and encourages me.

Women are Strong, clever, compassionate, beautiful, and unique. Women inspire those around them. Women help change the world. We need to change the world’s perception of women. Know that you are wonderful, loved, and blessed. I have been blessed with these amazing women of God in my life and I thank God for bringing them into my life.

“I believe in being strong when
everything seems to be going wrong.
I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls.
I believe that tomorrow is another day,
and I believe in miracles.”
*Audrey Hepburn*

God bless. Thank God for the women that have made an impact on your life. Let them know how grateful you are for their influence. Remember you are strong. You are loved. You are empowered.

Walk with Jesus: Part Two — What does it mean?

To review, we discussed what it meant to Pray. We discovered that Prayer was simply talking to God. We are dissecting the verses in Colossians 1:9-11.

‘And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the LORD, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.”
Colossians 1:9-11 ESV

What does it mean to Walk with Jesus? Walking with Jesus gives us assurance of HIs presence and power in our lives. It means we need to keep in step with Him. How do we keep in step with Jesus? By modeling our actions after HIs and follow the instructions God has provided for us and obeying God’s commandments laid out in the Bible.

Walking with God means
Speaking to God anytime, anywhere,
while we are doing anything.

There are several verses in the Bible which refer to Walk as Christ walked. We find encouragement of becoming like Christ Jesus in 1 John 2:6.

“He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”
1 John 2:6 KJV

And in 1 John 1:7 it states:

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
1 John 1:7 ESV

Then in Ephesians 2:10 the Bible says:

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:10 ESV

The following verse comes from the Old Testament in Deuteronomy 5:33. It commands us to walk in the way the LORD God has commanded us to walk.

“You shall walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.”
Deuteronomy 5:33 ESV

You may say these verses are well and good, but how do I actually Walk with Jesus in my everyday life? I could give you a long list of ways in which you could begin walking with Jesus, however, I will list the three that you need the most.

Begin each day in prayer. Spend quality time praising God, acknowledging who He is, and thanking Him for all He has provided you.
Have a daily quiet time. Designate some time each day to spend with God. Mark the time you schedule on your calendar and set a reminder so you will remember to spend quiet time with God. I know if I don’t plan it, mark it down, schedule it; I will not remember to actually spend the time alone with God each day that I need.
Study God’s Word daily. God has left us a wonderful instruction manual to live by, that manual is the Bible. The best way we can understand what God has planned for us is to read the Bible. It is the location to assist us in gaining His perspective and wisdom.

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

There’s no way we can truly understand what God has in store for us, for our lives, if we do not take the time to communicate with Him. Take time to talk with God and take the time to let God speak to you through His Word, the Bible.

I am the Light of the World
He that followeth me
shall not **walk** in darkness,
but shall have the light of life.
John 8:12

I will never walk alone…
for your love
is ever before me,
and I walk continually
in your truth.
Psalm 26:3

We never have to walk through this world alone. Jesus is more than willing and able to walk beside us and if need be, carry us. He will never leave us nor forsake us. Make time for God. Praise Him for who He is. Thank Him for what He has done for you. While talking to Him you can let Hime know how you feel, what you’re thinking, He already knows what you are going through, but He likes to hear from us anyway. God loves you! God loves me!

Have a Blessed day. Be sure to stay tuned for further adventures through Colossians with me. I appreciate y’all. Feel free to like, comment and follow. Thank You.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2019-11-0205-i-will-walk-with-jesus-sing-along?lang=eng&collectionId=2cc6b22d4bc885e9c17f1c165359d7b1dfb634d6

Daughters are Amazing: Love ❤️ my Daughter

“I’ll Be

When darkness falls upon your heart and soul.
I’ll be the light that shines for you.
When you forget how beautiful you are
I’ll be there to remind you.
When you can’t find your way,
I’ll find my way to you.
When troubles come around,
I will come to you.

I’ll be your shoulder when you need someone to lean on.
Be your shelter.
When you need someone to see you through.
I’ll be there to carry you.
I’ll be there.
I’ll be the rock that will be strong for you.
The one that will hold on to you.
When you feel that rain falling down.
When there’s nobody else around.
I’ll be.

And when you’re there with no one there to hold.
I’ll be the arms that reach for you.
And when you feel your faith is running low.
I’ll be there to believe in you.
When all you find are lies.
I’ll be the truth you need.
When you need someone to run to .
You can run to me

I’ll be the sun.
When your heart’s filled with rain.
I’ll be the one.
To chase the rain away.

Song by Reba McEntire

https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/rebamcentire/illbe.html

This song is, for me, about a mother’s love ❤️ for her daughter. Letting her know that no matter what she goes through or where she’s at in her life, her mother will be there for her.

I’d like to reverse it and have it be said that no matter what my daughter is there for me. In my highs and lows, she is there for me. She doesn’t always understand me or agree with me, that is true. However, she is there. She listens. Her love ❤️ never goes away.

I love my daughter so much. I don’t know if she knows how much I appreciate her, but I do. I should probably tell her more often how much I love and appreciate her.

Sitting on the porch steps
with my daughter and grandson

My daughter and grandson
on the disc swing

Walk with Jesus: Part One

“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.”
Colossians 1:9-11 ESV

In the first part of this verse it mentions not ceasing to pray. What does it mean to prayer? Do you believe in the power of prayer? I believe prayer 🙏🏼 works. I’m not sure if I fully understand how it works, but I know that prayers are answered. Maybe not the way we would like, but they are answered.

Pray means to talk to God. To give thanks or to ask for something. According to Wikipedia. Org, The Catholic Church believes there are four types of prayer 🙏🏼.

Prayer of Adoration/Blessing: Praise God for who He is and give glory and honor to Him.
Prayer of Contrition/Repentance: Showing remorse for sin, asking forgiveness and making a resolution to not sin again.
Prayer of Thanksgiving /Gratitude: Thank God for what He has done and what He has given you.
Prayer of Supplication/Petition/Intercession: Requesting God to fulfill a need, give you the desire of your heart ❤️ . It is not to demand but to plead on His kindness to provide for our needs.

Will discuss each section of these verses, over the course of the week. Giving my opinion on what is meant and what is meant by Walk with Jesus. Stay tuned for more updates regarding Colossians 1:9-11.

Primary Emotion: Which are you feeling right now?

Before the pandemic began, I felt happy. Since lockdowns in 2020, I have felt a mixture of emotions. I feel Fear, Confusion, and anger.

It is difficult during this time period to only discuss one feeling, one emotion. Especially when I am so mixed up and confused.

I am confused about the Coronavirus, CDC guidelines change frequently, it seems. Wear masks, okay not to wear masks. Stay six feet apart, social distancing is mandatory. We changed our minds, you don’t have to stay home. You can go out in group, Covid-19 is under control. While everything was supposed to be shut down, kids were still allowed to meet in groups and play sports ⚽️ or other activities. I’m confused regarding how that was safe when we were mandated to social distance and stay six feet apart. How is it safe for some and not for others to meet in groups?

Even when mandates were in place, some people ignored them. Nursing homes were locked down, but residents still died from Covid-19. People were told they couldn’t visit the loved ones not even when they were dying. The guidelines send us mixed signals, so I’m confused, frustrated, and angry.

I’m fearful the Coronavirus will affect my immediate family. I’m fearful that working family members will bring it home. I’m fearful that everything they touch or breathe on will be contaminated with the virus 🦠. Should I be? At this point I don’t really know. I’ve had older relatives die from Covid. I’ve had other relatives and friends that have had it. Some with severe symptoms and some with only mild symptoms. I am fearful about catching it, about how I would be affected by it. I’m fearful that my two year old grandson will come down with it from his parents possibly bringing it into the home. Should I not be afraid?

I continually see people going about the lives as if the coronavirus never happened, didn’t exist. It does exist and people are still dying from it. Maybe not as many as in the beginning, but they still are. The coronavirus has not been eliminated. It will be around fir a long time yet.

What should I be doing to manage my emotions? There are many things I might could use. The following is a small list of things I could or maybe should be doing.

Label the Emotion
Engage in a healthy coping skill
Fake it till I make it
See a therapist
Let myself feel whatever it may be

The Bible has several things to say regarding turning our concerns over to God. Let God know how you feel, tell God what I’m feeling. Sometimes I keep things bottled up inside, and talking to God falls by the wayside. I need to trust Him more and turn my fears, my worries, my emotions over to God. I need to believe He’ll take care of everything, that He is in control. Not me.

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4: 6-7 KJV

“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
Psalm 55:22 KJV

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
1 Peter 5:7 KJV

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV

Emotions are real. Your friends and family may not understand why you feel the why you do. That doesn’t matter as much as the fact that God understands. He cares about every aspect of your/my life. I need to remember that more, like every day.

God bless. Turn your emotions, your fears, your concerns over to God. He can manage them better than we can. Stay safe. I appreciate y’all.

NEED: What do you need? What do I need?

What do you need? What do I need? Needs and wants are different. We might want what we need, but we might also want things we desire and don’t truly need. Often times people say they need something when in actually it is something they want and not really necessary. What is the difference between needs and wants?

A need can be a verb or a noun depending on its usage. Basically, though a need is a state of being without something necessary, desirable, or useful. A want is to have a desire to possess or do something, something you wish for.

There are five kinds of needs. These types of needs are categorized in the following way:

Physiological Needs: Food, Shelter, Clothing, Water, Air, and Sleep for example.
Safety Needs: These include personal security, financial security, and health and well-being.
Social Needs: The need for love, companionship, friendship, and belonging.
Esteem Needs: Encompass confidence, strength, self-belief, personal and social acceptance, and respect from others.
Self-Actualization Needs: These according to Maslow’s hierarchy refer to the realization of a person’s potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences.

When you think about obtaining or purchasing an item you first should consider whether it is something you absolutely need or just something you desire. For example, you might need a car to get around, but you would not need a luxury car. A fancy car would be a want, a desire and not really something you needed.

Trying to find the right balance between your needs and your wants can be tricky at times. Your wants might be so strong they overpower what you really need. You might not get everything you want in life, however, if you have everything you need you should be incredibly grateful.

Have you ever been worried or afraid that you would not be able to possess your basic needs? Have you ever done without fundamental needs in order to survive? Have you ever known someone that didn’t have a home? Or enough finances to supply themselves with a minimal amount of food and water? These are basic needs but for some they found it difficult to obtain.

In a song by the Beatles, it states “All you need is LOVE. Do you think love is enough to survive, to live? It is a wonderful thought, but I think love is not the only thing one needs in life. Love doesn’t help to have a place, a shelter to stay out of the elements. Love doesn’t provide you food for nourishment. Love might help you feel better, and some might give assistance out of love but is that enough? Everyone needs to decide for themselves what they need in life and go for it. If you are able to achieve some of your wants, your desires along the way, you are truly blessed.

God bless. May your life be full of Joy, Love, and each other. Share the Earth. Share joy and love to others. And as always, I appreciate y’all.

Beautiful Sunshiny Day: Outdoor Time with Coleman

It was such a beautiful sunshiny day. The Sun ☀️ glistening over the pasture as deer grazed in our sights. God blesses us with wonderful views of nature and his creations right from our own backyard. Isn’t God great? God is Good.

Whether he’s running or swinging
he’s having a wonderful time
enjoying the beautiful day
outside in the bright sunshine.

My grandson, Coleman
you gotta love ❤️
his expressions

Whatever your day was like, I trust you had a blessed day. Know that you are beautiful. You are loved.

God bless. Remember I appreciate y’all. Feel free to like, comment, and follow. Thank you!

Good Morning: Beautiful Deer, Inspiring Quotes

Good Morning Sunshine
It is a Lovely Day…..

The sun is up and
the deer are grazing
isn’t it amazing.

Please do not disturb me
I’m trying to enjoy
my breakfast

Hey, let’s go this way
they’re watching us
let’s go

Happiness is
Being able to Admire
All the Beautiful
Things around
You

We can judge
the Heart of a Man
By his **Treatment**
of Animals
— Immanuel Kant

As the Deer
Pants for Water,
so my Soul
Pants for you
O God,
Psalm 42:1

It is God who arms me with strength,
and makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
and sets me on high places.
Psalm 18:32-33

“He makes my feet
like hinds’ feet,
And sets me upon
my high places.”
— Psalm 18:33

Peace I leave with you;
My peace I give you.
I do not give to you
as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts
be troubled,
And do not
be afraid.
John 14:27

God Bless. Be happy. Listen and Learn. Nature and Deer 🦌 are God’s creatures too. Learn from them. Do not be afraid. You are beautiful. You are Loved.

Fear: Do you fear? Are you afraid? Are they the same?

What is your biggest fear? What is my biggest fear? Is having fear the same as being afraid? These are questions that need time to deliberate and ponder.

What is fear? It could be an anxious concern, a profound reverence and awe toward God. One of the definitions is as follows:

Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.”
Oxford Dictionary.com

Is fear a false or a real emotion? When you perceive or experience a threat, your body stimulates your brain and may cause an increase your blood 🩸 pressure. Fear is a very real feeling and has physical manifestations.

From childhood through adulthood we face many fears. The types of fears you have as a child may going away in time as you face and overcome them. However, some fears maybe carried on into your adult life. Sometimes fears are hard to face. Sometimes you are too afraid to face them.

Let’s take a look at the basic types of fear we may face.

Fear of poverty…. Symptoms include worry, doubt, over-cautious, and procrastination. No one wants to be poor but worrying about finances isn’t the solution.
Fear of criticism…. often begins in childhood. We believe what we hear and imitate what we observe. If we hear negativity & criticism regarding what we do or say, we believe it. And it affects our self-esteem, our whole attitude.
Fear of ill health…. Worrying too much about whether you’ll get seriously ill. This probably became very true regarding the coronavirus. Being afraid of catching it, afraid of its effects on your body and how it would affect your life, work, and family.
Fear of loss of love of someone…. The loss of someone you love could be due to death or divorce. The loss of someone you love because of divorce is just as real as if you lost them to death. And go through the same coping mechanisms.
Fear of old age…. Apart of this is worrying about your health’s declining, losing your independence, finances, amongst other things.
Fear of death…. Being afraid of dying. May stem from anxiety and depression. Sometimes is due to worrying over projects or other things you haven’t finished. Sometimes you worry about leaving your loved ones behind, and how they will cope with you being gone.

There are many more things which people could be afraid of, including fear of the dark. Most children outgrow this fear. It doesn’t matter what kind of fear you have, the ways to combat them are pretty much the same. One must also know that Fear refers to the emotion being afraid whereas Afraid is used to indicate a state of fear. The following list are ways to help combat or rather get over your fears.

Take time out. When you’re overwhelmed with fear it is hard to think clearly.
Breathe through your panic…
Face your Fears…
Imagine the worst…
Look at the evidence…
Don’t try to be perfect…
Visualize a happy place…

The Bible speaks about fear in both the Old and New Testaments.

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
2 Timothy 1:7

When we turn to God, He is more than willing and able to help us overcome our fears. God is with us every moment of every day. Trusting God allows us to rely upon His strength to assist and guide is through every circumstance that may come our way. Our trust in God empowers us to have Faith over Fear.

God Bless. Faith triumphs fear. Releasing our fears to all mighty God may not come easy. We tend to want to do things for ourselves, but overcoming fears is not an easy task without God’s help. I know it is easier to withdraw into myself and not let others help or turn my fears over to God. That is a lesson I still need to work on. I will leave you with one last thought to ponder on.

Courage is not the absence of fear,
but the triumph over it.

I appreciate y’all. Feel free to like, comment, and follow. Have a Blessed day.

Daily Prompt: Would you rather go camping or to the beach? Why? Part Five: Conclusion

This is the fifth and final segment on “Would you rather go camping or to the beach? Why?”We’ve discussed the advantages and disadvantages of going to the beach. We’ve deliberated about the advantages and disadvantages of going camping. In this segment we’ll compare the advantages and disadvantages of going to the beach with those of going camping. And in conclusion I’ll let y’all know where I would rather go.

There are many amazing and exciting benefits of going to the beach 🏖 and of going camping 🏕. It’s up too you to decide which benefits are best for you. Now to see the comparison of the similarities between going to the beach and going camping.

The benefits of going to the beach and going camping are similar in the following ways:

Improves your health
Helps you to unplug from technology
Reduces stress
Lifts and improves your mood
Increase Vitamin D intake quickly
Change of scenery
Better sleep
Plenty of exercise opportunities

Similarities between the disadvantages of going to the beach and going camping are:

Expensive – Beach rentals and cost of food and Camping equipment and limited food
Dogs – may or may not be allowed. Need to plan ahead.
Chance of getting sunburned. Need to be sure to bring sunscreen.
Weather – Could be too hot, too cold, or rainy. Need to prepare ahead for possible weather changes.

Do the similarities make it more difficult to choose between the beach or camping or easier? If not, maybe the differences between to two will help you decide which you would prefer. The following is a list of differences that going to the beach has that camping does not.

Beach Benefits:

Improves overall well-being
Boosts your immune system
Improves breathing

Beach Disadvantages:

Overcrowding – too many visitors/people
Bacteria/viruses possible
Sand. Sand. Sand. – Let’s face it, it gets everywhere and sticks to everything.
Travel time. Might take hours to travel to a beach depending on where you live. For me it is a three-hour drive.
Trash/Waste. Not just ordinary trash left behind by people, but also animal or human waste.

What Camping has to offer that the Beach does not.

Camping Benefits:

Strengthens Relationships
Develop Life Skills
Get Closer to Nature
Affordable – Cost less than renting a hotel room
Improves Problem Solving
Food tastes better. Doesn’t everything taste better cooked over an open campfire?

Camping Disadvantages:

Bugs – specifically mosquitoes. They often come out at night or in heavily wooded areas.
Shared Bathroom facilities.

My list may or may not be similar to your list for the advantages and disadvantages of going to the beach as compared to going camping, however, that is perfectly alright. I encourage you to make your own lists, weight the pros and cons of each, and decide for yourself or with your family which is a better fit.

In conclusion, what do I prefer? When I was younger, I lived closer to the beach and went often. I used to play volleyball and go waterskiing. It was lots of fun. I often went with friends or met my church youth group there. My junior high and high school summers were usually spent at church camp. My youth group did not go to “Christian” campgrounds for the most part. Instead, my youth pastor took us to state or national parks. Those were some fabulous times communing with nature and being with friends.

I’m not so young anymore and do not live close to the beach. The beach is a minimum of a three-hour drive if not longer depending on the beach. There are plenty of local or fairly close state and national campgrounds with easy access for camping. I fell in love with the outdoors and nature as a teenager and that is the choice, I prefer to this day. And in case you were wondering, I still tent camp and love it.

I love to cook over a blazing campfire day or night. Cooking breakfast, lunch, and supper every day is terrific. It might take work to build the campfire and keep it stoked, but it so worth it.

God Bless. Go Camping. Go to the Beach. Just get away and get outdoors. Enjoy the fresh air and the night sky. Have fun.

Please like, comment, and follow. I appreciate y’all.

Andrew Jackson State Park: Camping 🏕, Hiking 🥾, Play

Andrew Jackson State Park is a wonderful place to spend outside whether it is for a day trip or for camping. It is one of 47 State Parks, Historic Sites, Resort Park, and Recreational area within the State of South Carolina. These areas are protected by the South Carolina State Park Service.

Statute of Andrew Jackson
The Boy of the Waxhaws
My grandson, Coleman, investigating

There are many interesting areas and fun activities to do in the State Park. From visiting an old schoolhouse similar to what Andrew Jackson would have attended, to various statues like the Boy of the Waxhaws. A museum is on site which includes the campground office and a small gift shop. There are 2 hiking trails with a length of one mile each. 1 trail begins at the meeting house and the other begins to the left of the fishing dock. The second trail is the one I use the most. It makes a loop around the lake with a moderate dirt path.

Map of Andrew Jackson State Park.
It shows the location of the trails and amenities. https://southcarolinaparks.com/andrew-jackson/trails#jump

Other activities that you could choose to do would be to go fishing, canoeing, row a boat on the lake, enjoy the gardens, and camp in one of the sites in the campground. There are 25 camp sites available to rent. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends. When I visited on Saturday with my grandson only a few sites were open for rent. Reservations can be made online and there is a discount for seniors 65+. There is also a playground children can use to play. I know my grandson loves to play on the playground.

The State Park has two picnic shelters that can be rented out to groups or family gatherings. The Friends of Andrew Jackson along with the State Park host an annual Andrew Jackson Birthday Celebration. The celebration is free with park admission. It is a day filled with reenactments, living history demonstrations, and a chance to learn more about Andrew Jackson, our Seventh President of the United States. For the past two years the celebrations had to be cancelled due to CDC guidelines and the Covid-19 pandemic. In years past, I have helped with the various needs and planning which takes place to make the celebration a success. This year it is taking place on March 19, 2022, from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

In November, Life in the Waxhaws Lantern tour is held in the evening usually beginning around 6:00 pm and lasting until approximately 7:30 pm. It is wise to bring flashlights with you if you plan to attend the tour. Tour groups are lead every 30 minutes. The Lantern Tour is designed so you can understand what life was like back in the 18th century. Each event gives you a glimpse of what it was like for Andrew Jackson and the events that helped shape the community.

While you walk or hike around the park you might have chance encounters with animals that roam the park. Bicycles are allowed on the paved roads throughout the park. Whatever your mode of transportation you choose, you’ll love getting around the park and enjoy the serene atmosphere of being in nature.

God Bless. Get outdoors and enjoy nature. Visit State Parks. Visit Andrew Jackson State Park whenever you travel through South Carolina. I know you’ll be glad you did. It is a wonderful experience.

I trust you enjoyed seeing my visit to Andrew Jackson State Park. Till next time, Stay safe. Stay Healthy. Enjoy Living.

Words and Photos are mine @gfpacificbee.

Daily Prompt: Would you rather go camping or to the beach? Why? Part Four

Welcome to Part Four of Would you rather go camping or to the beach? So far, we have discussed the advantages and disadvantages of going to the beach and the advantages of going camping. Today we’ll discover some of the disadvantages of going camping.

Camping will be fun they say…. It’ll be great, you’ll see. Nobody tells you in advance how much work goes into camping. First of all, you need to decide what kind of camping you are going to do. Are you going to be tent camping? Are you going to camp in a recreational vehicle? If you do not have the equipment or the RV, you’ll either need to purchase them or rent them.

Disadvantages of Camping:

Camping can be expensive.
Often low comfort level. Especially if you choose to tent camp. AIr mattresses are a plus, but you’ll still be on the ground.
Often, you’ll need to book your camp site in advance.
It might be crowded at the campground depending on the time of year you choose to camp. Campgrounds are more crowded on the weekends than during the week.
Back Problems, possibly due to sleeping on the hard ground, or doing heavy lifting.
Weather could be bad. Possibly rain, too hot, or really cold freezing temperatures. Of course, if you choose to camp in an RV, it won’t affect you as bad as in a tent.
You’ll need to purchase camping equipment if you do not already have them. Let’s face it, equipment can be expensive.
NO internet. But then why do you need internet if you’re out in the woods to enjoy nature?
Share a bathroom with everyone at the campsite.
Bugs. They could bite or be loud at night. You could also encounter other animals wandering into your campsite.
Limited Food. You’ll need to plan ahead on what food to bring. You may not be able to run to the store very quickly to pick up food you forgot to bring.

My tent I used in June of 2019 at Andrew Jackson State Park

My view of the Lake at
Andrew Jackson State Park

Before you go camping, you’ll need to decide if the advantages outweigh the disadvantages and if it is the right thing for you to do. You’ll also need to plan ahead. Decide which type of camping you’ll be doing, what equipment you’ll need, and what food to bring along with you. You’ll also need to decide if you’ll be going alone or bringing family and/or friends along. Whatever you decide, plan on having fun.

God Bless. Get Outdoors and enjoy nature. Have fun and don’t forget to bring the sunscreen. Please feel free to like, comment, and follow. I appreciate y’all.

Daily Prompt: Would you rather go camping or to the beach? Why? Part Three

Camping is an outdoor activity which involves staying overnight away from home. One could camp without any shelter or use basic shelter such as a tent or a recreational vehicle. A person or group of people could camp for one night or several nights, possibly a week or longer.

Camping as a recreational activity became popular around the early 20th century. Campers tend to frequent public natural resources such as national and state parks, wilderness areas, and commercial campgrounds. Campers leave the cities or other developed areas to spend time in nature and to pursue activities that provide enjoyment for them like canoeing, hiking, nature walks, or just relaxing and soaking up the atmosphere.

My grandson, Coleman, in a friend’s kayak

The health benefits of camping are extensive for adults and children alike. The following is a list of benefits you can gain from camping.

Stress reduction: while camping you are not tied to a strict busy schedule. One can unplug and enjoy a peaceful non interrupting period of time. Thus, reducing stress and relaxation you can’t find elsewhere.
Fresh Air: The ability to breathe in the fresh scents of the outdoors, smell your meals cooking over an open fire.
Relationship building: It helps build and strengthens relationships. Better able to talk and visit without distractions, any time of the day or night.
Physical fitness: Time spent camping is physical time. Setting up a tent, gathering firewood, going for a hike or other activity depending on your location. Engaging in physical activity increases your heart rate unlike the sedentary lifestyle we tend to live in our homes.
Lack of alarm clocks: You can sleep late or wake up to the sunshine, it doesn’t matter. Who needs a schedule when you’re camping, unless you’re at a group camp? Waking up to nature is a delightful experience you should try at least once.
Unplugging: This may be hard for some, but camping is a fantastic opportunity to unplug and not be on your screens 24/7. Unless you’re in a glamourous luxury RV, you won’t have television, computers, tablets, or other electronics while camping.
Great food: Food prepared in the outdoors just tastes better. Especially food cooked over a campfire. It helps to plan your menu before you go and don’t forget to bring the marshmallows and chocolate for smores.
Connection with nature: While you are camping, you get to commune with nature, embrace wildlife up close, and enjoy the stars in the night sky. They are much more visible out in nature away from city lights.
Development of new skills: Everyone participates in the help of setting up and taking down of your site. It doesn’t matter if you’re putting up a tent or balancing an RV. Building a campfire or learning to cook over an open fire maybe new skills that you would develop.
Family connections: Camping is a terrific time for families to bond together. Your family unit will become stronger, and you’ll feel more connected to one another.

Campfire I enjoyed at Andrew Jackson State Park

There are many other benefits of camping, regardless of whether you go camping by yourself, with your family, or a group of friends. Camping simply stated makes you happier. I know I am much more relaxed when I’m camping than when I’m cooped up in a home.

Ducks cruising the lake at Andrew Jackson State Park

God Bless. Stay tuned for the next segment of Would you rather go camping or go to the beach. We’ve discussed the advantages of camping, therefore, next time we’ll elaborate on the disadvantages of going camping. No matter what your choice is camping or the beach, get outdoors. Enjoy the sunshine, commune with nature, bond with your family. Be sure to unplug occasionally, you’ll feel better for doing so.

Lindsay Pettus Greenway

The Lindsay Pettus Greenway located in Lancaster, South Carolina is a fairly new greenway having opened to the public not quite two years ago on November 21, 2020. The Greenway is honored to be a segment of the Carolina Thread Trail. The Thread Trail is a developing network of regional greenways, trails, and blueways reaching millions of people in 15 counties across North and South Carolina. The Thread Trail is committed to preserving natural areas and is designed to be a place for exploring nature, culture, science, and history.

The Greenway was established to enable residents a safe space to enjoy being outdoors. It was envisioned as a place for accessibility to public art. It has a tunnel underpass with an exquisite “Nature’s Delight “ mural. I was not able to see the mural on my visit this time, but plan on seeing it on my next visit.

Currently the Lindsay Pettus Greenway has three trail access points. Comporium Communications Trail Access is located at 459 Colonial Drive. Parking is available across the road to the entrance in the Lancaster High School football visitors lot. This is the trail access point that I used on my visit Saturday with my grandson.

My grandson, Coleman, at the entrance to the Comporium Communications Trail Access.

Lindsay Pettus Greenway
Walk Run Ride
Directions to the various areas along the trail.

The Founder’s Federal Credit Union Trail Access is located at 610 E. Meeting Street. Parking is available behind the Barr Street Learning Center. This access has a tree canopy, covered bike rack, and a family friendly rest area.

There are also Neighborhood and Downtown Access Points which make connection to local businesses, schools, and downtown. These access points, however, do not contain public parking. This access points are:

Survey Street – Legacy Brick Plaza is featured
Almetta Street
Clinton Avenue
Independence Park
Colonial Avenue and Roddey Drive

Phase One of the Greenway is fully open to the public with additional phases in progress. This first phase is 2 miles in length. It mostly consists of pavement and boardwalk. It has 0.3 miles of natural path that you can walk. The path is 10 feet wide and is easily accessible to everyone of all abilities.

Greenway’s are excellent areas, located in local communities, to get outdoors and safely go for a walk, jog, or bicycle ride. The only motorized vehicles allowed are motorized wheelchairs. They are areas to explore nature and learn about the environment without needing to travel a great distance. They encourage physical fitness by providing accessible paths to enjoy.

I encourage everyone to get outdoors and enjoy nature. Visit a Greenway near you soon. God Bless. Stay Safe. Enjoy Life.

If you find yourself near Lancaster, South Carolina feel free to come visit, walk, run, or ride on the Lindsay Pettus Greenway. You’ll enjoy the views and get a fantastic physical workout at the same time.

Daily Prompt: Would you rather go camping or to the beach? Why? Part Two

What do you think would be major problems or hindrances of visiting the beach? As you might assume the pictures above are a clue. Overcrowding at the beach can be a problem. It might be difficult to find just the right spot for you to set your belongings down and stretch out.

The disadvantages of visiting the beach include:

Lots of visitors... Visitors to the beach can be good for tourism, however, if you go to relax and enjoy the peace and tranquility you might want to go during off peak seasons. Otherwise, lots of people on the beach is too many.
Weather… the weather is not always sunshiny and beautiful. Hurricanes often occur near or on the beaches.
Staying in the water or playing in the sand can be unhealthy. Bacteria linger and could cause infection and viruses.
Garbage is dumped by people every year. Cigarette buds, bottles, food wrappers, and all sorts of other trash that people tend to leave behind instead of carrying it out.
Something we probably don’t think about is the human waste in the sand and water. Bacteria lies in wait in these environments.
Having to get up super early to travel to the beach, find adequate parking, the traffic driving there, and trouble locating the right spot to enjoy yourself. For me, it would be a three-hour drive just to spend a few hours at the beach.
Sunburn and the need to use sunscreen. The sunburns hurt and are damaging to the skin.
The sand. Sand can be annoying. It gets into everything. It sticks to you when you walk back from the water. Nobody likes being sprayed with sand when someone shakes their towels or blankets out.

There could be other disadvantages of going to the beach for a visit, but I think this list is enough to make us think about them. Each of us has to weigh the pros versus the cons and decide for ourselves which is better for us.

God bless. Have fun. Consider your options and take precautions if you decide to visit the beach. Please feel free to like, comment and follow. I appreciate y’all.

Now that we’ve discussed the advantages and disadvantages of going to the beach. My next installment, part three, will begin with discovering the advantages of going camping. Hope you come back for more of our discussion of going camping or going to the beach.

Warming Up: Outside Play

The weather is warming up and spring is approaching. Are you enjoying spring like weather? Or perhaps where you’re at you’re still in the midst of crazy winter weather. No matter which I hope you’re able to enjoy some quality outdoor time.

Collage of yesterday’s outside playtime.

Outside watching my grandson enjoy playing is a wonderful thing. I love ❤️ to see him enjoying himself. The smile 😊 on his face, his energetic enthusiasm, lifts my spirit.

God bless. Be energetic. Be full of life. Have fun.

Please feel free to like, comment, and follow. I appreciate y’all.

Deer 🦌 Grazing: Today’s visitors.

Deer come a traversing through the yard almost every day here. We enjoy watching them, at least my grandson does. He can sense whenever they’re in the yard and runs up to the sliding glass door yelling Dee, Dee. He doesn’t quite day deer 🦌 yet but he tries.

Hope you enjoyed today’s deer 🦌 sittings.

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Daily Prompt: Would you rather go camping or to the beach? Why? Part One

There are advantages and disadvantages for both; going to the beach and going camping. First, I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of visiting the beach. Next, I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of going camping. And finally, I will discuss which I prefer and why.

What are the advantages of spending time visiting the beach? Beach is an area of sand or small stones near the ocean or another area of water such as a lake. Going to the beach, for me means a three-hour drive. It is nice to visit a beach occasionally, but I do not like the long drive to get there. What are some things you might see at a beach? Seashells are common things to see, and some people like to collect them. You can also use seashells to decorate various items such as picture frames. You might possibly see jellyfish, starfish, seaweed and or fish.

Now to list the benefits of visiting the beach in reverse order.

10. Breathing in ocean air if good for your lungs. There’s been as study that has discovered sea air appears to clear out the lungs. It is possible that the salt particles kill off microorganisms within the lungs.
09. Sunlight reduces depression. Exposure to sunlight is believed to improve the brain’s release of serotonin, which helps enhances your mood and makes you feel calmer and more focused.
08. The Beach helps you sleep better. It is believed the beach has a relaxing affect and allows you to release stress and sleep better.
07. It takes away from screen time. Most likely when you’re walking along the beach shore, you are not scanning your emails and text messages. Too much screen time is unhealthy. Being near the water improves your mood and encourages you to experience life with all of your senses.
06. The smell of the air is soothing. The smell of the ocean has a soothing calming effect on our brains.
05. Walking on sand is a great workout. Since you have to work harder to move through the sand, it is a better workout than walking on cement or pavement.
04. Grounding helps you absorb energy of the Earth. It is basically, walking barefoot in nature, it is noted to help improve chronic pain and reduce fatigue.
03. It increases creativity. The beach makes you feel happier and increases your creativity by increasing innovation and insight.
02. The sea water can reduce symptoms of arthritis. Fewer symptoms are due to the effects of the salt water which dehydrates inflamed cells in our bodies. This can also be accomplished by taking a salt bath, soaking in saltwater reducing swelling and pain. I use Epsom salts to soak in a relaxing tub for the same reasons.
01. You get the benefits of Vitamin D. The natural source of Vitamin D is sunlight. Spending time at the beach, unless it is a cloudy day, you are bound to soak in the Vitamin D. It helps boost your immune system and is important for bones. It also assists in fighting some diseases and aids in weight loss. Whenever you spend lots of time in the sun be sure to apply SPF, suntan lotion to protect your skin.

Today I listed the benefits for you of visiting the beach. Tomorrow I will list for you some of the disadvantages of visiting the beach in Part Two: Would you rather go camping or to the beach. Beaches are beautiful but there are also hindrances and things you might dislike about going to the beach. Stay tuned for more on the subject.

God Bless. Have a Sunny day, at least on the inside. Feel free to like, comment, and follow. Remember You are wonderful and are appreciated.

Secrets and Lies: Are they Good or Bad?

Do you think it is good to keep secrets? Are there times when keeping secrets from someone could be wrong or even dangerous? A secret is something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others. Do or did you tell your parents everything? Are there things that you do not tell your friends? By keeping secrets are you hoping to keep a little bit of yourself private?

Perhaps you are in a fairly new relationship, and you want to enjoy the newness of it for a while all by yourself. Maybe you know something about somebody and you’re dying to share it, but you don’t want the word to be spread around to everyone. Conceivably, those types of secrets might be tolerable for the short term.

A secret becomes a bad thing anytime that someone is or could be in danger of being hurt. Why does it hurt to keep secrets? Secrecy has an impact on our well-being, our health and our relationships. Keeping secrets may increase anxiety, depression, and bring on unnecessary stress. A secret will linger in the back of your mind, you will think about it so much so that you might lose sleep over it.

One should not keep secrets in a relationship. Hiding a secret may harm a relationship. The more you try to keep a secret or the relationship a secret the greater the possibility of your lying about it. A habit of lying can manifest as heart burn, panic attacks, and possibly insomnia. The continual habit of lying to keep something secret brings about increased anxiety and guilt. Therefore, keeping secrets are bad and harmful to you and perhaps to others as well. Also, when you keep secrets in a relationship you undermine the trust the other person has in you. It is best to be open and honest. Avoid the temptation of telling lies to keep something hidden, secret.

A lie is an untrue statement with the intent to deceive. It creates a false or misleading impression about a person, thing or situation. For example. In a book I just recently finished reading entitled, “Their Secret Courtship” by Emma Miller one of the main characters enters into a friendship with someone she believes her family would disapprove of, so she doesn’t completely tell the truth about seeing him. Instead, she lies and tells them she is going to visit and help his sister. In doing so she is deceiving them about her budding relationship. The more she tries to keep the relationship a secret, the more she worries about what her mother would think causing her to stress over the situation. In this instance, her keeping secrets and telling lies is definitely unacceptable.

In some instances, keeping a secret could be considered good. One example would be when we cast our vote in an election. Our vote is kept secret, so others do not know how we voted. When someone plans a surprise birthday party (or any other surprise celebration), we keep the plans a secret from the person being honored. These types of secrets are considered harmless and are alright.

Before you decide to keep a secret, you must be honest with yourself. Ask what and why you want to hide something? Will keeping the secret be harmful to yourself or another person? If the secret could hurt someone then it is better not to keep it secret.

Therefore, secrets might be good depending on the circumstances surrounding it. Telling lies to keep something hidden or secret is never good.

God Bless. Stay healthy. Build trust, not lies and secrets. Thank you for listening. Please feel free to like, comment, and follow. I appreciate y’all.

2-22-22: Happy Twosday

Every where you see people saying or posting about 2-22-22. Why are are people posting Happy Twosday? What is so special about it?

2-22-22 is a palindrome. It doesn’t happen often. Wonder what a palindrome is all about? A palindrome is something that can be read backwards and forwards. It says the same thing either way.

How rare is the occurrence of 2-22-22 on a Tuesday? According to the National Weather Service, “Twosday” won’t happen again for another 400 years. This Twosday is actually a part of an eight-day palindrome. That means each day this week are palindromes.

Did you know that palindrome dates only occur in the first few centuries of each millennium? That means they only happen every 1,000 years.

2-22-22 is not only a palindrome, but also an ambigram. We already discovered it can be read backwards and forwards. However, did you know it can also be read upside down. It says the exact same thing no matter how you read it. Now that’s an interesting fact I hadn’t known before.

I’ve had some enjoyable days on 2-22 in the past few years. From visiting the USS North Carolina Battleship in 2017 to being on a Royal Caribbean cruise in 2020.

Businesses and a lot of people are on the 2-22-22 bandwagon. Giving discounts, posting memes or other images, texting happy Twosday. Have you jumped on the bandwagon?

The only part of 2-22-22 on a Twosday that has meaning to me is the 22. 22 veteran commit suicide everyday. As an individual we can pray and support our veterans. As a government, more should be done to help our veterans. They need better assistance especially for for the basic needs of healthcare and shelter. Mental health is a tremendous concern. When other needs are not met, the mental heath tends to decline. We must not forget about our veterans and what they sacrificed to serve the United States of America.

http://www.tilvalhallaproject.com A company run by veterans to support and give back to veterans.

Have a blessed Twosday. Enjoy your day. Do what you can to give back. Feel free to like, comment, and follow. Thank y’all!

Nice Day: Swinging – Sliding

It was such a nice day to be outside with my grandson today. After so many freezing cold, wet, and dreary days it felt terrific to feel the warmth of the sun. My grandson really likes being outdoors. It is extremely difficult on him when he has to stay indoors. He was relieved to be able to go outside run around, climb on his swing set, slide down, and swing on his green disk swing.

How does it make you feel when the weather is cold and dreary? Does it get you down? Does it change your mood? Changes in weather do have an effect on how we feel. When we are cooped up inside, it plays on our emotions. At least it does for me. Being outdoors is so freeing, it makes me feel alive.

My grandson is always so full of energy. It was relieving to be able to allow him the freedom to enjoy playing outside today. It brings me joy and happiness to watch him enjoying himself.

Hope you were able to enjoy your day. Take time, when possible, to enjoy the outdoors. Feel alive and free. You are appreciated. Be sure to like, comment and follow. I’d enjoy hearing from y’all.

ADVICE: What would your advice be to your teenage self?

If you could go back in time, would you? Would you go back and give yourself some advice? Would giving yourself advice change the outcome of how you live is right now? Yes, we have all made mistakes in our lives, but I believe we have all learned from them. I, at least, hope I have. Going back in time and giving advice to oneself could be a dangerous thing. Why? If we took our own advice, did things differently, our mistakes would not necessarily be the same. We would still make mistakes no doubt about that, but the lessons we learned would be different and the transitions we’ve gone through in life would not be the same. Therefore, we would be in an alternate universe so to speak. Plainly speaking, we would not be where we are today. At this point in time, if we listened to our own advice and made changes to how we lived. Then again, only God knows what the outcome would be.

Giving advice would mean that we were giving ourselves guidance, opinions, or recommendations regarding our future actions and conduct. Would that be a good or bad? Giving advice to yourself after everything you’ve lived and experienced might hinder yourself from taking the time to look inward and listen to yourself. To learn on your own, at that particular time period, who you are and what you want out of life. Advice should only be given if it is sought after. Even though we have learned that we probably should have done some things differently when we were teenagers, we might not have listened to the advice we gave ourselves if we went back in time to give it.

Now we are at an impasse. Do we give ourselves advice? What would be the best advice to give ourselves? There is not just one specific piece of advice I would give myself, but several suggestions would be made. The following is a list of some of the suggestions I would advise myself.

Never Give Up….You are stronger than you think…You can do anything.
Never try to be someone else…you are perfect exactly as you are.
Stay true to your faith…. Live your life for God
Take time to know yourself…Learn who you are.
Worry less…live in the present
Don’t make assumptions…. they’re usually wrong
Be courageous…. Step out of your Comfort Zone
Trust yourself… Have faith in your abilities
Smile… Laugh… Be kind… your life will be different by doing so
Always be the best person you can be.
Do not judge… you never know what someone has been through

The list could go on forever, but I won’t. Always choose your words wisely, they can never be undone. You can beat the odds. Know what you are meant to do and don’t let anyone, or anything prevent you from doing what you know in your heart you are meant to do.

God bless. Be the best you can be. Stay true to yourself. Keep the faith. Please feel free to like, comment, and follow. I appreciate y’all.

Superpower: What’d you like yours to be?

Did you watch Superman or a different superhero growing up? Did you ever dream of having your very own superpowers? I watched Superman growing up, never actually imagined myself having any superpowers though.

Before one can decipher their superpower, we must first define what we mean by superpower. Most commonly superpower is referred to as supernatural abilities like flight, enhanced strength, invulnerability, or enhanced speed. Probably the best definition though is a Power that is superior or very great. Your superpower is your contribution, the role you are supposed to fulfill here on Earth. It is what you do better than anyone else. A superpower is not a skill, but a perspective, a mindset, a way of working that enhances everything you touch.

A few examples of superpowers are:

Endurance, strength or resilience… you enjoy challenges and use them as an opportunity to preserve.
Observation…
Speed…
Agility…
Sensitivity to what other people are thinking and feeling…
The power to influence your environment… You have strong persuasive skills and enjoy leading others.
Flying… You are willing to take risks and enjoy seeing things from new perspectives.

There are many other examples of superpowers that one might have. Some types of superpowers that are being taught to children in some areas are:

Courage
Openness
Humor
Authenticity
Creativity
Gratitude
Compassion

The list could go on and on. I never considered these abilities as being superpowers before. Have you?

I think it is fantastic that children are being taught that they have superpowers. Would you have that to teach your children they have superpowers? That humor, the ability to make others laugh, is a superpower. That Love, the ability to love unconditionally and easily, is a superpower. I think teaching children they have superpowers would help uplift their esteem, build their self-confidence.

As a leader you have superpowers as well. A leader’s “superpower” is their most positive and impactful personality asset. It is the part of oneself that influences, persuades and inspires others to follow. What make you shine?

Using the above list, I would determine that I would have more than one superpower. I have Compassion, Empathy, Kindness, Love, Gratitude, and Love of Learning as my superpowers. I have an appreciation for all these abilities; however, I believe I am not influential in them at this time period in my life.

Stop and take the time to consider what your superpower might be. How would you use your superpower? Be sure to use your superpowers positively and for the benefit of others. We all have superpowers, we just never realized it. Embrace your superpower.

God Bless. Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate y’all. Would enjoy hearing from y’all, so please like, comment, and follow.

Nana’s Boy

My favorite subject, my grandson. He’s a handful, but gotta love 💕 his antics and expressions.

Turkey 🦃 turkey

Nature’s wild animals enjoyed from the comforts of own backyard.

Life lesson: NEVER GIVE UP

What is a life lesson you feel everyone can benefit from? There is an abundance of lessons you go through in life. What we learn from them is up to us. Life lessons are sometimes referred to as valuable experiences. A life lesson is something from which useful knowledge or principles can be learned. Have you ever learned a lesson from your life you wish you could pass on to others? Perhaps, so they will not make the same mistakes, or possibly for them to gain insights from lessons you have learned.

Types of lessons one can learn in life are numerous. Most of our important life lessons we tend to learn the hard way. We often make mistakes, make choices we later regret, but if we learn from them then it becomes valuable. The following is a few examples of the possible lessons we could learn.

Walk your own path…be yourself
Don’t hesitate when you should act…take the risk
Experience what you have learned…
Good things do not come easy…
Never fail to try more…. keep trying
Take care of your health early….
Make every moment count…. Don’t waste it
Live and let live….

One of the lessons I am continually learning comes from the Bible. That is to always trust God.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And he shall direct your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6

What does that mean, to trust in the Lord? It basically means that we/I should not depend upon ourselves, on what we/I know, but trust God with all our hearts. We might not know what his plan is, however, it is usually better than any plan we develop ourselves. I need to include God in everything I say and do. In doing so, he helps give me the right words to say or lets me know what the best course of action I should be taking. Our/my mistakes, wrong choices are often made when I leave God out of the planning and don’t trust that He knows everything. His wisdom is far greater than mine.

Other lessons I feel everyone can benefit from are:

Never Give Up.…you may struggle, but never quit. Keep trying
Stay focused on your dreams, who you want to be
Be strong when you are weak, Brave when you are afraid, and Humble when you are victorious.
The most valuable relationship one can have is with Jesus Christ.
Alway be grateful for the good things in your life.

Thomas Edison stated: “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
pixelsquote.net

Enjoy living your life. Remember to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love; it is a privilege to be alive. Pass on what you learn to others. Be an inspiration. Have the courage to let go of the past, you cannot change it. You can only change yourself. You cannot change the world, but you can be a small influence in someone else’s life. The world will change by the small ripples we create.

God bless. Trust in the Lord. He will never fail you. I appreciate y’all. Be sure to like, comment, and follow.

Who inspires you? Why?

Who is someone that inspires you and why? Before we/(I) can decide who inspires me, I must first decipher what inspire means. Inspire means to fill someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something creative. It can also be to create a positive feeling in a person. Do you think you have inspired someone? It is a possibility to inspire someone and not consciously know it. For instance, a letter, a Facebook post, or even a blog post might inspire someone in a positive way, and we might never actually know it. Some might say that when we inspire another person or when we are inspired it is by divine influence or action. What do you think? Does inspiration come supernaturally?

In the Bible it states, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV)

So, is only the Bible inspired by God or does all inspiration come from God?

Have you ever wondered why inspiration is important in life? I’ve always known that the Scriptures were inspired by God, but I never considered that inspiration is important to our lives. Why is it important? Inspiration can transform the manner in which we perceive our own capabilities. It can awaken us to new possibilities and expand our experiences beyond what we ever imagined. Inspiration won’t change our past, but it can help us change our ending.

Our inspiration can come from many different types of sources. We can be inspired by something we read in a book, or come from a mentor, a family member, an author, or literally anyone. Our inspiration, however, doe does not have to come from a person. It can be found in nature, in technology, through random occurrences, and even from within ourselves.

One of my favorite places to go is to Andrew Jackson State Park. I look over the lake as I walk around it and feel inspired. It brings about an inner peace within me. And I am thankful for God’s creation. It draws me nearer to God and helps me to understand that I can do all things through Jesus Christ.

I can be inspired through the words written in a book by one of my favorite authors. Sometimes their words seem like God is using them to speak directly to me. Their words can make me realize I am not alone; God is right there with me giving me the strength to get through any and every situation in my life.

In the past, I would have said that I was inspired by my youth pastor. I say this because he was the major influence who encourage me to study and memorize the Bible. He also instilled in me a love of nature, the enjoyment of camping and hiking.

Nowadays, I am inspired most from the novels written by Christian authors and by observing nature. I love to combine by love of reading with my love of nature. It is so relaxing and inspiring to read while relaxing at a park, or by a lake. I am also inspired by friends in a group I’m in on Facebook. My friends have gone through numerous experiences, overcoming difficulties, rejoicing with loved ones, and yet they never give up. They know we are all there for each other and that God will see us/them through any and all circumstances.

I leave you with this thought, be an inspiration to those around you. Be an encouragement. Build one another up. Let us all seek to inspire others to create, to grow, to change, to make a difference.

God bless! Be sure to like, comment, and follow. I appreciate each and everyone.

World Cancer Awareness: CANCER SUCKS

All Cancer Sucks – http://www.tilvalhallaproject.com

The prompt I’m answering today is: What is a cause you’re passionate about and why? If you haven’t figured it out from my title, I’ll simply state that one of the causes I am passionate about is Cancer. This being World Cancer Awareness Month I believe it is appropriate for me to discuss it now. World Cancer Day was February 4th.

Most of us have heard about or been affected by Cancer, either personally or known a friend or family member that has or is affected by the disease. What is cancer? According to cancer.gov, Cancer is a disease caused when cells divide uncontrollably and spread into surrounding tissues. It is caused by changes to DNA. Most of the changes occur in sections of DNA known as genes are referred to as genetic changes.

There are many different types of cancers which effect various organs of the body. The type of cancer that is discuss and commercialized the most is Breast cancer. However, there are quite a number of other types of cancers ranging from prostate cancer to bone cancer, to liver cancer, and the list could go on and on. Cancer affects people of all ages and races worldwide.

Cancer is a deadly disease. Research continues throughout the world and yet it still exists with no end in sight of it ever going away. I wish all cancers could be cured. That would be miraculous. The deadliest types of cancers are Lung, colorectal, breast, pancreatic, and prostate. For survival, early diagnosis is best. Some of the risk factors you can control and some you cannot. The risk factors that you cannot control are family history and genetics. Risk factors that you can manage are environmental and behavioral triggers.

Enough about what cancer is and what factors influence whether you are likely to develop cancer. Instead, let’s talk about what cancer patients want and need as they progress through their journey. Does everyone with cancer have the same needs or desires? Usually, their main concern is not the cancer itself. It is more about how their cancer will impact their ability to maintain a job, will they still be able to pay their bills. When considering treatment options, they worry about what possible side effects they could develop. Cancer patients care needs to address their psychosocial needs, which include emotional and practical concerns. Some of those concerns involve financial assistance, transportation obstacles, and anxiety issues. Concerns can be as diverse as racial and ethnicity. We all desire to be of one race, but in actuality, we are all different and are needs and concerns are not all the same. Other concerns are about how their diagnosis of cancer will affect their families. Will it put a hardship on their finances? Will their lives be emotionally uprooted? Cancer does not just affect the patient alone. It affects their whole family.

Family members can be extremely supportive, but they can also feel worried, angry, or even afraid. Daily routines will change and the whole family will be impacted by them. Whether a family member needs to take time off work to drive you to work, or perhaps another member needs to take over or help with cooking or other chores that become difficult for you to do. The cost of cancer treatments can put a strain on the family. If the cancer patient cannot work, other members of the family may need to pick up the slack. When others have to take over some of the items that you normally took care of it might make you feel less independent and cause you to have stress or anxiety.

Friends and other family members may desire to help. Allow them to assist you in some way. It might be difficult for you to do, but it will allow them to feel better. They truly want to be supportive in tangible ways. Let them know that you can still do things for yourself but appreciate some assistance and their prayers. Remember, asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It takes a lot of strength and courage to admit and accept help.

Why I am passionate about cancer awareness? Even though I have not developed the disease personally. I have been affected by it. I have last family members and friends to cancer. I lost both of my parents to cancer, as well as other family members. I have lost close friends and neighbors to cancer. The genetic risks exist for me. I have no idea if someday I might develop some form of cancer or not. However, having both parents die from cancer, it is a possibility. So yes, I think cancer sucks.

My (ex)husband, my children’s father. June 2018.

God bless. Pray for those around you affected by cancer. Be a friend. Offer a ride, a meal, or just be there for them. Hope that one day a cure will be found for all cancers.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Is it for Romance or for everyone?

Valentine’s Day is celebrated worldwide, most commonly on February 14th. Did you celebrate? As for today, I did not celebrate it. I did, however, send Valentine’s Day cards to a few friends.

Valentine’s Day is celebrated to honor the 3rd century Roman saint, Saint Valentine. It began as a Christian festival. The festival was an alternative to a pagan Roman festival called Lupercalia. It was held during the middle of February. A fact that I had not previously known was that there were more than one Saint Valentine. Did you know that there were two Saint Valentine’s that were martyred?

Growing up, Valentine’s Day was celebrated at school, at least in elementary school. We would decorate lunch bags with hearts and other designs depicting Valentines. All the students would pick out their pack of Valentine cards they wanted to pass out to their classmates. Carefully sign their name to all the cards, enough for the whole class, including the teacher. Some packs were funny, others more general, and still others had candy attached to them. It was a fun time apart from the normal studies. Generally, cupcakes or other treats were sent by parents to help the children celebrate Valentine’s Day. Did you celebrate Valentine’s Day in school?

There are some fascinating facts surrounding the holiday.

It originally was not a romantic holiday. That did not come into play until around the 14th century.
The 1st Valentine was written from prison.
Candy hearts were initially medical lozenges. They were not heart shaped until later.
Pink and Red are considered the colors of love.
The heart shape wasn’t always about romance. The heart was believed to be the human’s center of memory. A place where feelings of love were registered, preserved.
Most men and women prefer to receive candy instead of flowers.
The majority of gift giving is done by women. Women tend to give themselves a gift or gifts for Valentine’s Day.

One of the best ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day is to remember the love of God. Know that it is a time for giving, not just for lovers. It is a time for everyone to show those we love how much we love and appreciate them. It is a time to show our friends how much we they are valued.

The Bible has several verses throughout the Old and New Testaments that refer to love. One of the most common verses about God’s love is:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 (NIV)

There are other verses that speak of God’s love for us, and some that command us to love one another. The following are a few examples:

“We love because he first loved us.”
I John 4:19

“A friend loveth at all times.”
Proverbs 17:17

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your Hod with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
Matthew 22: 37-39

Valentine’s Day is a day for everyone to celebrate, it does not matter whether you are a part of a couple or are single. Each and every one of us can show our friends and family that we love them, appreciate them, and let them know they are valued. I do not know a single person that wants to be left out. Some might think the holiday is not for them. However, I think they would appreciate hearing from a friend reminding them they are loved.

I want to express my appreciate for each and every one of you. I want you to know God loves you and so do I. God bless! As always please feel free to like, comment, and follow. Have a blessed day. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Assumptions: Right or Wrong Part Two

In review, I discussed what assumptions are, how wrong assumptions can hurt people, their relationships and their friendships. Today, I will discuss different types of assumptions and ways to you can use to stop making assumptions.

Among the different types of assumptions are:

Paradigmatic Assumptions, also known as Worldview Assumptions, relate to how you see and order the world.
Prescriptive Assumptions are what you think should happen in each given situation or circumstance.
Casual Assumptions are connected to how things work and how you can impact those processes.

By these types of assumptions, we can see that we make them based on what we see, what we think, and what our possible impact. Assumptions come from our past experiences stored in our brains. We call upon our assumptions to assist us when we are confused, afraid, or surprised and are unsure of what we should do. They clarify our understanding of our situation.

Now that we’ve seen what type of assumptions we often make, let’s see how we can stop making assumptions. According to http://motherhoodcommunity.com there are 7 steps we should follow.

Acknowledge they happen. …
Connect to your heart’s intelligence daily and regularly. …
Ask Questions. …
Listen with your full attention. …
Bring mindfulness into your daily life. …
Breathe through emotional reactions and uncomfortable assumptions.
Meditate to work out your thinking muscle. …

What do people incorrectly assume about me? My son-in-law thinks I’m a control freak, that I’m unlovable, and homeless. I am none of those things. I take care of my grandson 24/7, so he thinks I’m controlling. I currently live with my daughter, but it is not because I could not have another place to live. She wants me here to care for her son.

I asked friends what assumptions they made about me, and this is what they said.

Organized, computer literate. I try to be organized, but don’t see myself as computer literate. I took a computer class a few years ago, otherwise I learn as I go.
A kind and caring heart, excellent writer with a great imagination, intelligent. Kind and caring heart I agree with. I’m not stupid, but I do not see myself as intelligent either. I strive to never stop learning. I try my best at my writing, but I am far from being an excellent writer.
Christian lady seeking to live out a genuine Christian life, good sense of humor, observant.
A beautiful person inside and out.
A great friend, woman of God, a helping hand to those in need. I try to be a friend to all, do what I can, and show Christ’s love top everyone.

As you can see not all of these assumptions are negative. Positive or negative assumptions that are wrong still affect a person’s outlook of themselves. I think, negative assumptions hurt worse and can cause emotional and psychological pain. Let’s look at ways to deal with assumptions.

Discuss assumptions you have made. It does not have to be with a partner, it could be a close friend and confidant. Analyze how angry you were by someone’s behavior. How badly did it affect you? How should you/I react to inadequate assumptions about us?

How would our lives be different if we didn’t make assumptions? How would it be different if our reactions to assumptions was more loving and positive toward others? Let us all look for the good in everyone. Let’s respect each other. Let us love one another unconditionally.

Always remember that it is always best to ask questions rather than assumptions. Learn about a person, or situation. Try to understand and not judge. Remember we all have feelings, try to be respectful and not hurtful. And always think before speaking.

I might be silent and appear calm inside, however that does not mean I am unaffected by your words, your assumptions. I am not weak, my strength comes from my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Thank you for listening. I am here and willing to listen to what you have to say as well. God bless. Please like, comment, and follow.

My daily view – Backyard Deer

Assumptions: Right or Wrong? Part One

One of the Bloganuary daily prompts was What do people incorrectly assume about you? Before I discuss that I would like to ask, What do you incorrectly assume about others?

What is an assumption? It is a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen without proof. Having an opinion about somehow someone is different than having an assumption about something. Opinions are personal views about a fact, a true statement, whereas assumptions are beliefs without any proof.

Assumptions are usually wrong and can lead to broken relationships, broken friendships. When we assume we probably interpret a situation or circumstances surrounding a person inadequately. It is best to ask questions and communicate with others instead of making assumptions. If you what to know something, just ask. If you need something clarified, ask don’t assume.

Pause and Remember – quote by Jenni Young from SimpleReminders.com

Like it or not, we all make assumptions. We make them based on our past experiences whether they be good or bad. We use our belief system to make assumptions. These assumptions help us form judgments, make meaning, and draw conclusions about what is happening around us and what others are thinking.

Tomorrow, I’ll discuss part two. What kind of assumptions do we make? How to stop making assumptions. What assumptions are made about me and whether they’re correct or not.

Comfort Zone: Step out yes or no?

What do you think about when you hear comfort zone? A place? A feeling? A person? Or perhaps an object? A comfort zone can be different for everyone.

According to the Cambridge dictionary, a comfort zone “is a situation in which you feel comfortable and in which your ability and determination are not being tested.”
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/

A comfort zone is psychological, behavioral, and emotional state of mind whereby a person operates in familiar anxiety/stress free environment. You are comfortable, at ease and in control of your circumstances. In a comfort zone little risk is exhibited. It is where you feel most comfortable, not doing anything new or challenging.

There are 2 types of comfort zones which include:

Habits of Action – examples are eating your certain foods, never missing your favorite tv show, or yelling when you are frustrated.
Habits of Thinking – include focusing on the negative, feeling grateful for small things, or finding fault with others.

There are some habits that exuberate both action and thinking. Samples of these consist of repeatedly playing caretaker, being the expert, being the free spirit, and/or playing the martyr.

People, especially in work environments, often say you need to step out of your comfort zone. Is stepping out really necessary? Often times we stay in our comfort zones because that is where we feel safe. Other times it is simply out of habit, routine. Staying in our comfort zones could mean we are avoiding doing something that might actually be beneficial for us. It can also prevent us from reaching our full potential.

Where do you stand? Where do I stand? Before Covid-19, I think sometimes I resorted to staying in my comfort zone. Why? Being afraid of trying something new or going to new places hinders me from the excitement or adventures that exist out in this world. I used to be more carefree, now I hardly go anywhere. I see people traveling, being around lots of people, but I am not at the point where I feel safe from COVID.

It is said that life begins at the end of your comfort zone. The assumption is that you are not truly living if you remain in your comfort zone. There are varying lists of suggestions to assist you in stepping out of your comfort zone.

Changing your daily routine. For the past two years my routine, my schedule basically stays the same. I take care of my now 2-year-old grandson, and he needs to maintain a routine for stability. However, a change in the walking route is makes is not so dull or boring.
Trying a new hobby. This I have not done for a long time, maybe I should.
Setting a major goal. A goal I have is to become debt-free. That is difficult, but not impossible to achieve.
Saying “yes” more.
Exploring more. This I need until I developed cataracts and depend on others for rides. I do occasionally try to explore the woods with my grandson.
Confronting a fear.
Showing others your idea.
Keep Learning.
Never Give Up.
Enjoy what you do.

The lists are numerous. The lists contain excellent suggestions for stepping outside of your/my comfort zone. When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone?

I believe the last time I stepped out of my comfort zone was 2 years ago in 2019. I had recently retired and on an impulse, I accepted an invitation to go on a cruise with my sister-in-law’s sister. The cruise sailed out of Galveston, Texas. I traveled by bus from Charlotte, North Carolina to San Antonio, Texas where I was picked up by Monica. I then stayed at her home for a couple of weeks before the cruise. The stay at home was not exactly as I had imagined it would be and was ready to leave rather quickly. However, I did not leave. I stayed and kept my promise to go on the Royal Caribbean cruise with her to San Marcos and Cozumel, Mexico. I am glad I did. I enjoyed myself. Show some fantastic entertainment, ate some delicious food, and saw sites I would never have seen otherwise. Was I afraid? Skeptical? Yes, I was. Even so, it was well worth leaving my comfort zone.

God bless. Feel free to like, comment, and follow. I would enjoy hearing about when you last stepped out of your comfort zone.

;IGY6

No matter what you are going through, you are not alone. Never give up. Be strong when you are weak. Brave when you are afraid. Don’t face your demons alone. Keep moving forward. ;IGY6 – I Got Your Six, I got your back.

Emoji’s

What emoji(s) do you like to use? What is an emoji? It is a pictogram, logogram, or smiley embedded in a text and used in electronic messages and web pages.

What is the purpose or function of an emoji? It is to fill in emotional cues otherwise missing from typed conversations. The word emoji is Japanese in origin. The “e,”meaning picture, and “moji,” meaning character. I did not know is was of Japanese origin before. Guess one can learn something new every day.

My favorite emojis to use are: These are my most used emoji’s 🎈📫📚🙏🏼🎂🎉. The 🙏🏼 is most often used to signify praying. However, it was originally intended to express an apology or to show gratitude for a meal.

Every emoji has a mean. I do not know all the meanings for every emoji. I only know what I intend by the ones I use. I use the 📫 when asking if something is in the mailbox 📫 or ask my daughter to check the mailbox 📫 for a package. I use the 📚 to refer to reading or books 📚 I want to share and recommend to my friends. I use the 🎈🎂🎉 to celebrate someone’s birthday.

What are your most used or favorite emoji(s)? How do you use them? Do you know the meaning behind the emojis you use?

Let me know what you think 🤔. Have a blessed 😇 day.

Laughter

What makes you laugh? What makes me laugh? What is laughter? To laugh is to show emotion with a chuckle or an explosive vocal sound. To laugh also implies finding amusement or pleasure in something.

Do you find things to laugh about easily? I use to be able to laugh easily, but not so much anymore. Especially not since Covid-19 and it’s mandatory protocols have been in place.

It is said that laughter is the best medicine. Do you find that to be true in your own life? I wish it was that easy to laugh. Sometimes life’s circumstances just make it more difficult to happen.

What are the benefits of being laughing? There are several benefits divided into three categories which include Physical, mental, and social.

The physical benefits include strengthening your immune system, boosting your mood, and diminishing pain. Laughter relaxes the whole body, burns calories, protects your heart, and triggers the release of endorphins.

The mental benefits include easing anxiety, adding joy, improves your mood, lightens your burdens, inspires hope, and keeps you focused and alert. It also helps to release anger and enables you to forgive more easily and sooner.

The social benefits consists of strengthening relationships, enhancing teamwork, and aids in defusing conflict.

What are some ways that you can encourage laughter? Just a few ways involve watching a funny movie, reading a funny story, laughing at oneself, and not dwelling on the negative.

The Bible mentions laugh, laughter, and joy in several places in both the Old and New Testaments.

Genesis 21:6 “Gos has brought me laughter, and every who hears about this will laugh with me.”
Proverbs 17:22 says, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”
Ecclesiastes 3:4 (ESV) “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;”
And in Philippians 4:4 (ESV) it states, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, Rejoice.”

In conclusion, we learn that the Bible states that we should laugh & it us good medicine. We’ve learned that there are many benefits to our physical, mental, and social well-being for laughter. We’ve also learned that we should look on the positive aspect of our circumstances and take time to laugh at ourselves, a movie, a book, or with a friend.

Take time in your day to laugh. Keep a positive outlook. God bless.

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