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.
Parking legend & Off Leash Facility Trail Map
I think Coleman and I would enjoy hikers some of the various trails at the WhitewaterCenter 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.
Describe an item you were incredibly attached to as a youth. What became of it?
The item I am most attached to from my youth is a stuffed monkey. Yes, I said a stuffed monkey. It is not just any ordinary stuffed monkey. It is a vintage red and white Mr. Bim The Monkey rubber face plush toy. I’ve had him since I was about five years old, (I really do still have him.)
The Mr. Bim The Monkey was a plush toy made to resemble a real chimpanzee from the 1947 children’s show Howdy Doody. (As a sign note, I still have a 45rpm with the Howdy Doody song.) In the 1950’s the Rushton Toys Co. produced a chimpanzee plush named Zippy Zip, which became popular with children. Mr. Bim Monkey stands roughly 18 inches tall. The majority of the 1960’s Mr. Bim the Monkey plush toys were black and yellow with red suspenders with a yellow banana in its right hand. The red suspenders had bells attached on them.
Above shows Coleman holding my Red and White Mr. Bim The Monkey. He is over fifty (50) years old. His suspenders have broken due to lots of love and play. His bells have long since vanished and he is a little dirty from lack of cleaning. However, he’s been a faithful companion throughout the years.
Write about your first name: its meaning, significance, etymology, etc.
דבורה
Currently I go by Deb more often than not. It is a shortened version of my given first name of Debbie. The name Debbie is a nickname for Deborah. However, it is not a nickname for me, but instead it is my given name.
The above name is the Hebrew spelling for Deborah/Debbie. In Hebrew it is the name Dēvōrah, which means “bee” or “swarm of bees.”Another meaning for Debbie/Deborah is one who has strong desires and aspirations.
Debbie embodies qualities of diligence, social connectivity, and a vibrant spirit. Historically’s, the name Debbie is associated with women’s empowerment. Biblically speaking, Honey and honeybees are used as images to convey God’s love, strength, wisdom, things of great worth, and even references to Christ. In the Bible, Deborah is the name of a prophetess and judge who led the Israelites to victory over the Canaanites. One can learn more about Deborah in the book of Judges in the Old Testament.
[As a side note, when I was in college I knew several people who were studying Greek and by assisting them while they studied I learned to spell by name in Greek, Δεββι. Afterwards I would often spell my name using the Greek lettering instead of the English letters. I liked the way Debbie looked spelled Δεββι.]
The name Debbie/Deborah gained usage among English Christians following the Protestant Reformation. In particular, it became significantly popular among the Puritans. The name became a popular choice for American parents and also for fictional characters. In the United States, the name was extremely popular between the 1950’s through the 1970’s.
Personality wise, Debbie would signify you are strong in material matters, determined and stubborn. ( I guess this means I come by my stubbornness naturally.) You have a good business ability. You are a good worker, steady and practical, a builder who takes responsibility well. You are a doer, down-to-earth, serious-minded, reliable and self-disciplined. (I’ll need to remember all these personality traits if I ever decide to apply for another job.)
Personally, even though I’ve always known Debbie was another form of Deborah, I always hated being called Deborah/Debra while I was in school and would insist that that was not my name.
Do you play in your daily life? What says “playtime” to you?
Do I play in my daily life? Probably depends on what is meant by play. What says “playtime” to me? I am not sure and haven’t really thought about what “playtime” in my current state of my life.
According to Merriam-Webster, playtime is a time for play or diversion. Play has several different meanings ranging from playing games, recreational activities, to toy or fiddle around with something, and/or to act with special consideration so as to gain favour, approval, or sympathy.
When I first thought about the aspect of play in my daily life, I thought about playing games like solitaire, monopoly, rummy, and that sort of thing. However, play can entail more than just games people play whether they’re children’s or adult games.
Realizing play is more one tends to ponder more intensely and wonder whether or not some behaviours could be construed as play. Do you play with a person’s emotions? I think we all might whether we intend to or not.
I know I’ve sought to gain approval for work I’ve done, sought affection by seeking attention from those I care deeply about.
Now concerning “playtime,” for me “playtime” can be hiking with my grandson, playing catch with him, or simply spending time collaborating on a puzzle or a relaxing activity like visiting a museum or a Greenway.
How does play/playtime differ in your daily lives?
This quote from medishare.com implies that the greatest gift we can ever receive is salvation, but that is not all we receive.
I agree that Salvation is not the only thing we receive from God. He freely gives us love, grace, mercy, understanding, compassion and many many more intangible gifts.
Still others would tell us the greatest gift we can receive is love.
“Love is the greatest gift that God gives us each day when he loves us enforcers His Son Jesus Christ to die for us.”
The greatest gift is your love is an expression that emphasizes the value, significance, and importance of love in our lives.
This reminds me of a song from the mid-sixties called “What the World Needs Now.” It was first recorded in 1965 by Jackie DeShannon and by Dionne Warwick in 1966. It has been recorded by many artists over the years.
“What the world needs now is love, sweet love It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of What the world needs now is love, sweet love No not just for some, but for everyone.”
Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David (genius.com)
What more can we give to others than what God gave to us, His love. We can spread the love to everyone we meet and share God’s love to the World.
What colleges have I attended? I have attended several colleges over the years. My first attendance at a college was the fall semester after I graduated from high school.
The first college I took courses at was San Diego Mesa College. It is a public community college located in Clairemont Mesa in San Diego, California. It first opened its doors in 1964. The college offers 196 associate degree and certificate programs. When the college first opened it offered education to 1,800 students and now it enrolls more than 20,000 students each year. I attended Meda College beginning in the Fall of 1974 and attended through the spring semester of 1975 before transferring to another college. This first college I enrolled in general education classes and had not declared a major.
When I transferred from San Diego Mesa College, I transferred into Biola University located in La Mirada, California. Biola University was founded in 1908 under the name of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. It is a private, nondenominational, evangelical Christian university offering a Biblically Centered Education. The university offers more than 300 Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral programs both on campus and online. I attended here beginning in the Fall semester of 1975 and continued for two years through the Spring semester of 1977. I had planned to study nursing at this university, but I did not do very well comprehending the science classes mandatory for the program. This was the first time I lived away from home. I enjoyed the social interaction more than the discipline of my studies. It was an experience I will never forget and am thankful for what I learned while attending this university.
After struggling to maintain grades and dealing with being a go-between with my parents I chose to transfer to a college closer to home. Therefore, I transferred to Christian Heritage College (CHC) in the Fall of 1977. I attended CHC for three years studying secondary education and graduated in May of 1980. CHC is on a different system than the other two colleges I attended. The first two are on a semester system. CHC is ( at least when I attended) on a system where you take one class extensively for three weeks instead of a full class load of 5-6 classes all at once for the whole semester. After the three weeks you begin studying a new class and continuing in this same format for the entire semester. One still takes the same amount classes Syria semester as in other colleges just not all at the same time. This format enabled me to concentrate on one subject at a time and I was better able to comprehend the class material. While attending CHC I also worked part-time. Previously I only worked during the summers in between school years.
Several years later and after my children were grown, I went back to school attending York Technical College. York Technical College is a public community college located in Rock Hill, South Carolina. It is a member of the South Carolina Technical and Comprehensive Education System. Its mission is to make higher education accessible and affordable for every resident of South Carolina. During my two years with York Technical College I studied Accounting and earned an Associate Degree. I took courses both on campus and online. The online courses were available and convenient for me to take especially during the times my car wouldn’t run or I didn’t have a working vehicle. On test dates it was necessary to find transportation to the campus in order to take the exams. I learned a little during my tenure and greatly inundated knowledge and abilities.
My biggest challenges is something I don’t really think about, but maybe I should.
Day to day challenges would involve raising my grandson. Trying to teach him right from wrong, trying to teach him to follow simple instructions ( which he tends to ignore and can be frustrating), dealing with his hyperactivity ( it’s like he’s the energizer bunny without an off switch).
Then there’s the financial challenges trying to make ends meet and sometimes struggling to pay bills. Trying to meet my own needs and still help my daughter in providing for my grandson’s needs. Maybe I shouldn’t help her so much, but I can’t help myself in providing what my grandson needs.
Thankful that I have little to no health related challenges other than some allergies and seasonal sicknesses which are very few.
Other life challenges could involve friendships (or lack thereof), lack of direction/motivation, lack of meaning/purpose, love ( or lack of a love relationship), and possibly stress. However, I don’t let most things bother me. I have strong opinions on some things and not everyone agrees with me, but am I gonna stress over it? No, it would do me more harm than to just let it go.
One way I cope with things is to write down my thoughts. Some of those I share here and others I keep to myself in a journal ( in an actual book, not online.) I loose myself in books, I can imagine being there with the characters as everything is transpiring. I feel sad, happy, excited, and all sorts of emotions when I am reading. It is a way to destress, relax, and rejuvenate the mind and body.
The color which describes my personality would be blue. Why you might wonder; it is the color that represents those who like to be organized & analyze their life and surroundings. I like to have everything in its place & do not like the order of my things to be disrupted. I prefer not to have conflict with others, but would rather have everyone get along and work comfortably together. People know when I work on a job or task that he will be completed and done well. I am a good listener and am observant of situations around me and try to crate the best possible solutions. I like structure & tend to prefer to not need the need to improvise if at all possible. That being said, I do work well within a team and am an invaluable asset.
Just about everything irritates me regarding the “home” I currently reside within. You might wonder why I stay in my current residence if everything about it irritates me. The predominant reason I reside where I do is my grandson. Right now he is my world 🌎. I take care of him 24/7 in my daughter’s apartment. If it weren’t for him, I’d leave in a heartbeat. But then there’s financial issues which makes it difficult to leave. This is not what or where I thought I’d be just a few short years ago.
What irritates you about the home you live in? Is it the neighborhood? The people you live with? What can you change about it? Would you make changes if you could?
First of all, Is the billion dollars post taxes? If not, the government would take a huge chunk of it. That being said, with the portion I would actually be able to spend I would first off put a portion of it into stocks and/or bonds to hopefully increase the value.
gettyimages.com
Next, I would set a portion aside in trust funds for my grandchildren that would become theirs when they turn twenty-one. Who knows, I might if I deemed necessary, raise the age in which they would have access to it.
Then, I would purchase or build a modest home somewhere in the country with plenty of land around it. I prefer not having neighbors super close. I do not need or want a gigantic house. Just one that would sufficiently meet my needs.
countryliving.com
I would also donate some of the money to charities that are close to my heart. I would be extremely selective on those charities in which I would choose to contribute.
I would like if at all possible to use a small portion of the money to travel to the various places I can only dream about visiting.
Facebook.com
It is fanciful to think about what one would do with a billion dollars. Saying you’d spend it one way, however, good intentions aside one never knows until one would actually obtain it.
How would you spend a billion dollars if you had it? Spend it on yourself? Give it away? Invest it? Lots to think about on the subject.
What language do you wish you could speak? The language I wish I could speak would be Spanish. Hablo un poquito de español. I speak a little Spanish, however, I would like to speak it fluently. I took some Spanish in high school, but with lack of constant use I am lacking the ability to truly communicate. I can understand more than I am able to speak. It would be a wish of mine to be able to speak, write, and truly be able to hold a conversation in español.
My preferred mode of travel is by car. Usually when I’m going on a long trip I will rent a car. Rental cars have more space and in better condition than any vehicle I have ever owned.
Is there an advantage to using a rental car for road trips? In my opinion, yes definitely. What are those advantages?
There are several advantages:
No wear and tear on your personal vehicle …
Drive Something More Comfortable…
Don’t Stress About Pre-Trip Tuneups …
More Space so You Won’t Feel Cramped…
Drive a Car in Great Condition…
Save Gas … rentals tend to be more fuel-efficient …
These advantages are the reason I prefer to travel by car whenever I travel, especially for long distances.
What chore do you find the most challenging to do?
The chore that I find the most challenging to do would be any chore I try to do while my grandson is awake. He demands so much of my attention that I can’t take my eyes of of him to do laundry, watch dishes, sweep or mop. I especially find it challenging to do any chores during the day. I have to clean the bathroom late in the evening, so as not to have my grandson near the cleaning materials, such as the toilet cleaner and the toilet brush.
The most challenging chore during the day is trying to sweep and mop the floors. Why is it challenging? It is because my grandson loves to try to help, but he is more in the way than helping when I move furniture to clean the dust from under where they lay.
Have you ever tried to clean with a three year old trying to help? It takes twice as long and is sometimes irritating even though I know he only wants to be a good helper.
I do not think I have a favorite meal that I like to cook or eat. However, my family likes it when I make homemade enchiladas.
My enchiladas are made using ground turkey 🦃, diced green chilies 🌶️, chopped black olives 🫒, and shredded cheddar pepper jack cheese 🧀, all inside a fajita tortilla. I use red enchilada as inside and out.
Homemade Enchiladas
My family likes them better than frozen enchiladas and even restaurants enchiladas. Where we live it is difficult to find authentic Mexican food.
What is your favorite meal to prepare, cook, and/or eat? What do you prefer: to cook and eat at home or go out to a restaurant to and eat?
Success is the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. It can also be considered the attainment of fame, wealth, or social status.
Whether one defines success by reaching a goal, accomplishing a task, or completing what one sets out to do or not; success is usually considered a job well done.
Success is not just about having a great career, financial wealth or respect from your peers. Even though those things are desirable. Success may involve goals that improve your relationships, your health, and even your creativity.
How do I define success? At one time, I considered success as completing high school, obtaining a degree, even having a family. Successes come and go. Sometimes I make mistakes, I fail. However, from those mishaps I learn and grow to become a better person.
Nowadays, I define success as having a loving God, a loving family, and friends that care enough to pray for me.
Has a book changed my life? I have read many books throughout my years. I have read fiction, non-fiction, romance novels, family history, and many other various types of books. I have read actual physical books 📚 and other books I have read through Kindle and/or iBooks.
While most books I read only once, there are others I have read several times. Do any of them affect me in any way? Yes, some do. Some make me laugh, some make me cry, and yet others make me think 🤔 and ponder on what I have read.
Holy Bible
The book that has had the most influence on my life is the Holy Bible. How has it influenced my life, you might ask? The Holy Bible has changed my life in so many ways. It is the source that let me know God loves me. It has provided the knowledge the God forgives me, not just once, but over and over again. It is my lifeline, my guide book about how to live my life. It is the authority, the origin of my faith in Jesus Christ.
The most memorable gift I have ever received is the gift of everlasting life from God, my Heavenly Father.
This I know from my Bible which was given to me at church when I was a mere teenager.
Holy Bible
In my Bible I discovered the verse in the book of John that tells me that everyone who believes in God will have eternal life. That is a promise that I believe. It is a gift I have received the day I chose to believe in God.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”
How far can I go back in my family tree? It varies on the line I follow. On my paternal side, I can trace the paternal line back for elevengenerations. On my father’s maternal line I can trace back for ten generations.
For my maternal line, I can trace my mother’s paternal line back for twelve generations. Now for my mother’s maternal line, I have only been able to trace back six generations.
The paternal line traces my father’s paternal ancestors. My father’s father, his father’s father, and so on.
The paternal maternal line traces my father’s mother’s mother, her mother’s mother and so on and so on.
The maternal line traces my mother’s side of my family. My maternal paternal line traces my mother’s father’s father, his father’s father, etcetera. My maternal maternal line traces only the females. My mother’s mother, her mother’s mother, her mother’s mother and so forth.
Have y’all tried to trace your family history? It can be quite interesting and for some very confusing. Our ancestral DNA 🧬 often reveals a different story then the one we’ve been told all our lives.
There are many different reasons people may choose to write. It could be anything from the desire to communicate with others to creating something beautiful that they hope will interest others or even just as a release to get something off their mind and enable to reflect with understanding.
Why do I write?:
Writing ✍️ is a necessary tool for communication. For me, it is easy to communicate through words put down on “paper.” I used to feel compelled to write in a journal my thoughts, emotions, and feelings regarding the day or situation. I am more comfortable expressing myself in writing than through verbal communication.
Why? I think 🤔, I feel, and I ponder on my life and the circumstances and situations which have occurred. It is hard for me to come up with the right words to express my thoughts instantaneously. Henceforth, I write.
I write letters, yes, actual letters not emails. I write notes in cards to let someone know I am thinking about them and I care. For me, emails are more impersonal than an genuine letter written down in my own handwriting. It takes more time and effort but the thoughtfulness is relaxed, friendly, and extremely natural & rewarding.
Nowadays, I use my smartphone or my laptop 💻 to write and express my ideas, thoughts, and feelings. Sometimes I write as thoughts appear in my mind, other times I wait until I am absolutely alone. When I am alone in the quiet of the evening, my brain functions more clearly and I am better able to concentrate and communicate in written words the thoughts, and feelings I desperately desire to convey.
I often use photos to help convey my thoughts and activities. How do you express yourself? Why do you write?
What brings me the most joy right now in my life is spending time with my grandson. The ability to share my love of God, Nature, the enjoyment of hiking, and shower him with my never ending love.
Coleman and I
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
Brave means: having or showing mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty : having or showing courage according to Merriam-Webster.com.
“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.”
Coco Chanel
How am I brave? I do not feel that I am brave, not like soldiers who go into battle, those fighting cancer, or those speaking out about injustices. However, bravery and courage can be found everyday in many ways that we(I) have not ever considered before.
It takes courage to admit and say you are sorry. I admit this is not always easy. However, we all gain benefit and grow from admitting when we are in the wrong, myself especially.
I can be brave when I allow myself to be me. When I allow myself to be vulnerable and sharing the real me, flaws and all, with others.
I can be brave and courageous when I can let go and forgive. This takes a lot of courage especially since hurts grow deep and anger and resentment can grow within if it is dwelled upon over time. I know I find somethings hard to let go over and forgive. The one thing I need to remember is that by holding on I am only hurting myself.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6
In these past few years since Covid-19 began, it takes courage to be out amongst people. Even though many improvements have been achieved, I am not brave enough to be out amongst large crowds. I am fortunate, so far, to not have been infected by Covid. However, I have been affected by it since I’ve had family members who have had it. Some of which I took care of until they were better. I guess you could say that was brave. I’m not sure, when it comes to people you love, you do whatever is necessary.
There are many other ways we can be brave. How have you been brave? I strive to follow Joshua 1:9 and Be Strong and Courageous, to depend on God and remember He is always with me.
Deciding what I want to achieve this year is similar to deciding if I want to make a New Year Resolution or to make Goals. I do not usually make any Resolutions or set Goals.
IRESEARCHNET.COM
That being said, I do have a short list of Goals I would like to achieve this year.
2023 Goals:
To Pray more consistently 🙏🏼
To Read my Bible more 📖
To Read at least 30 minutes per day 📚
To not procrastinate about writing reviews – Be more consistent 📑📝✍️
What are your Goals, Resolutions? What would you like to achieve this year, 2023?
P. S. I must not forget that I want to strive to continue blogging and photography.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
What is my earliest memory? That is a good question. I wish I could say I remember everything, but that would be nearly impossible. Our minds, especially mine, tend to have selective memories.
That being said, I do remember parts of my childhood. I remember living on South Meadowbrook Drive in San Diego, California. I remember playing outside all day. Playing baseball in the neighbors backyard. Part of the time I would play with Mary a few doors down from me, but mostly my brother & I would play with the three boys next door. We’d all play outside all day without question. Never had a desire to be stuck indoors. We’d play baseball, basketball, freeze tag, hide-n-go seek, and whatever else we could. We’d ride our bikes up and down the street, around the block, and sometimes up to the school on Saturdays; just to play on the playground. There were no fancy skate boards for us. We’d take the wheels off of street skates & attach them to scrap boards to make our skateboards. Those were such fun times.
I also remember all the girls wore dresses to school. Pants were not allowed until around my ninth grade in junior high school. Yes, my school was a junior high not a middle school. We moved after I was promoted from sixth grade to seventh. I didn’t know anyone in our new neighborhood or my new school. Therefore. I tended to ride my bicycle by myself, walk to and from school by myself carrying my books in my arms. I don’t recall backpacks back then.
I remember always having Sunday dresses that were only worn for church. We went to church every Sunday morning, every Sunday evening, and on Wednesday evenings. There was always Church worship and Sunday School. In the evenings after Sunday church worship, the youth would gather at a members house for a time of fun. In the summers, we would meet at someone’s house that had a pool so we could swim and splash around. Occasionally, we would meet at Mission Bay. Those were fun times. That’s where I learned how to water ski. No matter what activity we enjoyed, there was always singing & a short devotional.
There are more things I remember, but then that would be like writing a memoir. Too much for a single post.
One thing I remember and treasure from my early days, are given a love for the outdoors, the enjoyment of camping & hiking, and being taught about the live of Jesus Christ and His wonderful mercies.
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 😊.
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.
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.
William Willett – Daylight Saving Bill
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
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.
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.
Increasing in the Knowledge of God! Colossians 1:9-12
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.
Colossians 1:10 Paul’s Prayer
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
Ephesians 1:17
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.
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.
Live a Life Worthy of the Lord
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.
In Part One we discussed Pray/Prayer, what it means and the main types of prayer. In PartTwo 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.
Colossians 1:9 NLT
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.
My Will vs. God’s 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.
Life with God is a 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.
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.
Coleman …. In the Woods We Go
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.
Coleman Exploring the Woods
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.
Coleman Back Woods Exploring
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.
Coleman Let’s Hike
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.
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 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.
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
WALK WITH JESUS
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
Walking with God is a daily Adventure
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 8:12I 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.
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 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.
I’ll be the sun. When your heart’s filled with rain. I’ll be the one. To chase the rain away.
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. I’ll be.
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 swingMy daughter, my heart ❤️ my love
Before the pandemic began, I felt happy. Since lockdowns in 2020, I have felt a mixture of emotions. I feel Fear, Confusion, and anger.
Mixed Emotions
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.
List of emotions
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.
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.
Needs and Wants
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.
Wants Needs
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.
Maya Angelon EveryDaySpirit.net
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.
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.
Coleman exploring and having fun. 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 Happy Thursday Be blessed Be happy
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 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 goWait up we’re coming But first we eatAdvice from a DeerHappiness is Being able to Admire All the Beautiful Things around YouWe can judge the Heart of a Man By his Treatment of Animals — Immanuel KantAs the Deer Pants for Water, so my Soul Pants for you O God, Psalm 42:1It 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 18:33Peace 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.
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.
Fear
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
False EvidenceAppearingReal
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.
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.
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
BeachDisadvantages:
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.
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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.
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.
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.
Life is Better at the Campsite.
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.
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.
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 