Bob's...

I'm having a moment!

A little background...

When you are working at weight loss, and doing what it takes to return to your former size and break the habits of years of wrong eating...

...the mind digresses...

Today... I am back in Pasadena, California at Bob's, Home of the Big Boy Burgers!

During my growing up years in Pasadena, there was NO place I would rather eat. Their burgers, fries and malts, or even a plain Coke... unless you grew up there and loved them like we did... there's no way to explain today's memory.

When we moved to Texas, it was called Kip's here, same thing, just a different name. But now there are none in Texas, and I think 2 are left in California.

Recently, an In and Out Burger place opened north of us. (Also from California) I happened to be out there with my daughter shopping nearby. There were 100's, maybe close to 1000 people waiting in long lines, and cars snaked for blocks for the drive through. One former California lady was in tears. It was unbeleivable! I couldn't imagine being one of those people...

...until I thought of Bob's!

If they open a Bob's in Texas... I WILL be in the line!

Meanwhile, back to my oatmeal for breakfast...

Final 'food' for thought...

"Oh listen, dear child—become wise; point your life in the right direction. Don't drink too much wine and get drunk; don't eat too much food and get fat." (Prov.23:19)

Different by design...

Once in awhile when I read some of Paul's writings, I wonder about his life. I wonder what made him so zealous, passionate and even sometimes blunt...

God created Paul, He KNEW who Paul was, and He knew that the very passion and zeal Paul had as a 'religious Jew', would be the same passion he would bring to the spreading of the gospel, when he discovered the truth and his life was changed forever on the road to Damascus...

Then I thought of John, the disciple that Jesus called 'the beloved disciple', and how different his temperament was, and how Jesus loved him and trusted him, even enough to care for his own mother as he went to the cross.

Then there was Peter... boldly and quickly popping off, reaching for his sword to cut off the soldier's ear as he staunchly defended Jesus... only to cower a short time later as he denied the same Saviour.

And the list goes on and on...

David, a man after God's own heart, and yet a fallen sinner who totally repented and went on to great things for the kingdom...

I relate to these men and women in the Bible... they are you and they are me...

God uses all of us, fallen and sinful though He knows we are... He changes us, He uses everything in our lives to 'work together for good, His good... so we will be used for His purposes.

Each of us different, in personality and temperament...yet all created by the same Saviour, who made those unique traits.

Do you relate to these Biblical men and women of faith? Do you recognize yourself in any of them?

Much alike in so many ways, yet different... but all by His design, for His purposes. It takes life from 'no hope because of who we are NOT, to everything is possible BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS'...

Birth order musings...

Did you ever read the birth order book?

I read it a few years ago. Honestly... I laughed out loud at some of the descriptions. I don't know why I had never thought much about it, but even though it may not all apply, I see the reality and reasoning as I reflect on my own family.

I was a middle child... look out!

It isn't that I got 'lost in the shuffle' exactly, but the oldest was the one who kind of took charge of the other 2, and the youngest was the one who EXPECTED things to kind of go her way.

Then, with my own kids... more of the same. Our oldest is extremely responsible and can take charge with no problems. The middle one is the MIDDLE one, and the baby EXPECTS things, and those things HAPPEN for him! And now, my kids are seeing the same thing with their own kids.

The whole concept makes me smile.

And then there is the ONLY child, like my husband.... that's another story altogether!

Can you see the birth order traits in your own family??

The top picture is my brother and sister and I.... now I've come full circle to our own 6 grandkids, and I can see the birth order traits in all of them, not to mention how beautiful and perfect and wonderful they are!!

They have blessed and enriched my life... family, hubby, kids, grandkids and the whole lot... on this Mother's Day, and every day!

Does Jane have a garden in heaven?...

I'm remembering my friend, Jane.

Although she lived clear across the country from me, our hearts bonded many years ago when she and her husband visited us in Dallas. She had recently lost her son to suicide.

I said 'Jane... God understands. He lost His son too, for you and me.'...

She repeated the words as the tears ran down her face...

All through the following years, our relationship was by phone, many times, and at sometimes at great length...

My friend Jane lived with pain, surgeries, and a dying body, for about 10 years. She was released from her body in mid April, and she is at home with the Lord.

Jane had more physical problems than almost anyone I have ever met. They began late in her life, and they robbed her of much of the day to day living that I take for granted.

One of the things she lost and grieved over the most, was the joy of being out in her garden and planting flowers and enjoying the beauty around her.

When she died, I went and got new pots for our front porch, and the prettiest flowers and greenery I could find, and I planted them in honor of Jane. I know she would have understood and loved that. I made these pictures into a card we sent to her hubby, who cared for her so beautifully... along with a pair of lavender garden gloves with orange flowers.

Does Jane have a garden in heaven? I don't know that for sure, but in my heart I believe she does! ..."Eye has not seen nor ear heard the things that God has prepared for those who love Him".

The God who created the beauty of our world, most surely has saved the best for last, and I can just picture Jane happily planting flowers the likes of which I can only imagine!

Blogging?...fitness?...or both!

No, this is not my office. But notice the treadmill, the computer, and the open Bible...

This may never be a problem for you.

It became a problem for me.

I found myself spending way too much time looking at your wonderful blogs, commenting, and just scooting around and loving the reading. Some of you are just plain GIFTED! When I got started, it was hard to stop!

As I sat in my office, I let the time go by enjoying myself fully, when what I NEEDED to be doing was to use some of that time to whittle my shape into shape!

I needed to get back on track...

I have spent some time working on that. I also have had more time to seriously have my quiet time in the morning, rather than put it off while I did 'blogging'...

Haven't you found that when you are spiritually in tune, the lifestyle of better eating and fitness is also more in tune?... And having said that, please know that I stumble on both paths WAY more often than I should.

So here is what I have come to... no big spotlight of wisdom, just a little more common sense in the spending of my time. There is NO WAY I am going to lose this amazing group of blogging friends... NO WAY! You all have become such a part of my life, as you share your hearts and thoughts. I learn from you every day.

But... I am also committed to a better and clearer focus on what my days hold. I sense so strongly that time is flying by... I can't ONLY sit and read your blogs!

So maybe the real title of this post should have been THAT word... balance.

Does it tilt you the wrong way sometimes, or are your scales always plumb?

It's a word God has used in my life a lot, and this is one more of those times.

I think, hope, pray... that the distance between His reminders is growing.

time out!...

I'm in 'time out!...

Not THAT kind of time out, although I've certainly been there in the past too...

Just a blogging break.

When I began blogging nearly 2 years ago, I never imagined that I would be doing it for as long as I have...

It's a new season, so I'm taking some time to see what directions are ahead.

You know that feeling that 'change is in the air?'...

Meanwhile, I'll be following and keeping up with you as often as possible...

I'll be back, and I'll 'see you' then...

Dad preached...we went along for the ride!...#9

As we began our trips each summer, we had a long drive ahead. We left California and headed to many other states around the U.S... It was usually at least a 3 day drive to wherever dad would be preaching...

Along the journey, we had many nights in motels. Sometimes it was a real 'motel'... sometimes it was one of those little cabins that were clustered on all the major highways.

In the back seat, as the day got long...the 3 of us would be road weary and we began to chant together... 'if you want a ca-bin... you better hurry up!' Our voices chimed in and said it over and over, reminding our parents that we might miss out if we didn't find a place to spend the night soon.

Now we were all on the lookout for the next small town, to see what our overnight quarters would look like. From my perspective today, I wonder if my parents were as thrilled with some of those motels as we were...

Isn't it wonderful what a sense of adventure kids have, about most new things? In looking back, I have no memories of either of them ever grumbling that it wasn't a 5 star hotel!

That reminds me that one time my parents flew FIRST CLASS to the Orient as part of Bily Graham's team for an upcoming crusade. My mom had never flown FIRST CLASS... she told my dad..."NEVER will I fly anything but FIRST CLASS again, it's so wonderful"...

We laughed about that for years, as it turned out that was the ONLY time she ever flew FIRST CLASS!

So the motels along the way, while they may not have been FIRST CLASS, provided rest for the journey, and we were all together as we traveled along... I think a lot of those places are gone now, and if they are still around, the years have taken their toll.

I still see an old motel once in awhile and I'm immediately back there in that Ford Fairlane, feet hanging out the window, going down the road...

Welcome to Heaven!...

Yesterday, my Aunt (Tante) Maren, arrived peacefully in heaven, from her home in Tromso, Norway.

I just know that there was a crowd there to welcome her, right along side of jesus.

My mother would have been one of the first in line! (Maren was her younger sister.)

To me, Tante Maren was almost like a living hero, having survived concentration camp as a young woman. Her joy of life and those rosy pink cheeks just drew us all to her immediately.

I am so glad that we were able to be with her in Norway last summer when my neice was married. It was a treasure for each one of us. Here is that story, and here.

The other story I wrote about her was from her time spent in concentration camp, here.

I told my cousin in Norway that I can just picture my mother and Tante Maren today, and in my mind, they are both young Norwegian girls again... laughing and talking together... in a part of heaven that looks just like Tromso...

avocados...

When I was growing up in Southern California, we lived close to the foothills in Pasadena. Straight up the street at the end, lived some of our close friends. On their beautiful land was an avocado orchard.

For at least half of the year, we would have a brown sack full of fresh avocados delivered to our front porch several times a week. Every day after school I made a sandwich from those firm, fresh avocados.

To this day... I LOVE avocados! My favorite way to eat one is on fresh bread with mayonaise and a little salt, just sliced and enjoyed. I still have those sandwiches nearly every day during the spring and summer when they are so fresh and yummy! Add a handful of fresh berries and lunch is healthy and fun!

Just a side bar...

Avocados are not only delicious, they are so good for us. I love it that something I love to eat is also good for me, unlike a million things that aren't!

Avocados provide nearly 20 essential nutrients, including fiber, potassium, Vitamin E, B-vitamins and folic acid. They also act as a "nutrient booster" by enabling the body to absorb more fat-soluble nutrients, such as alpha and beta-carotene and lutein, in foods that are eaten with the fruit.

I just finished my first avocado sandwich of the spring season, and it was yummy! Many more to follow....

Mighty music!...

As I listened to the steady beat of the drums during the worship music at our church last Sunday, it reminded me of another Sunday about a year earlier...

The sermon had to do with Martin Luther and lessons from The Reformation. It was excellent, but here's what really grabbed my attention...

At the end of Steve's sermon, about 30 young men lined up on the platform and began to sing "A Mighty Fortress is our God"...

No instruments, just their strong voices blending together and when their volume increased as they reached the finale, it was all you could do not to stand up and shout!

And here's what happened...

As the men gathered to sing, the back doors all along the lobby began to open and people just streamed in from everywhere. I thought some big tour buses had arrived!

Most of them were young people. They had left their sunday school classes early, having already heard these men sing in the early service... they all wanted to hear it again!

Many of the younger crowd in our churches weren't raised on the great hymns of the faith that I was. It really caught my heart... it was as though they couldn't get enough! I know there will be all kinds of music in heaven...

I KNOW that, and I love the worship songs too, but I also am sure there will be many of these old hymns of the faith that I grew up loving... and I'm sure there will be drums too...