If I were still working, yesterday would have been the last day of school and today would be the beginning of my summer vacation.  I can’t believe it has been 2 years since I last worked.

Today, I started the day as if it were my first day of vacation, sitting outside, reading, planning, journaling, enjoying the birds and the dogs ‘till they started to drive me nuts barking.  Unfortunately, I was without the coffee I would have normally enjoyed.  I haven’t been able to drink any for a week but even then it’s down to less than a couple of cups per week.  I cut back when I found out I had cancer.  It’s bad for us cysty breasted girls.

And Chuck says that’s pronounced “sexy”. 

I sat outside thinking about when I worked and how I always looked forward to my “off times”.  I think that was a huge reason I liked my job, summers off, 2 weeks at Christmas, sometimes a week at Thanksgiving.  I do miss my kids though.  I saw two of them a month back and didn’t recognize them at first.  The last time I saw them they were 2^nd grade and K5.  The change in them made me feel old.  They didn’t recognize me either.  I no longer have dark hair and wasn’t wearing sunglasses.  Even when I was working kids wouldn’t recognize me off work.  They only saw me sitting down and with sunglasses on.  I would have to put them on and say, “Now do you know who I am?” and they would.

I’m off track, thinking about not working and what I’ve gone through, starting to feel sorry for myself but remembering how much I enjoyed my first day of summer vacation and how hopeful it made me feel to think about all the things I would be able to do and get done.  And, again, sorrow begins to creep in because of all I can’t do and not having a car and being able to go when I want to – finally to the true subject of this writing;

I read from “In a pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day”

  The more problems you have the more potential you have

 maybe God is “remodeling” you

  maybe the problems you thought you’d never overcome will turn into a sacred opportunity

  God wants us to learn to see bad experiences through the good we have gained from them.

 God recycles our pain for someone else’s gain

  the circumstances you complain about become chains that imprison you and                 

             worship is the way out.

Then I went on to read from Unstoppable;

·      suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character 

    and character produces hope;  

    HOPE has been my word since finding out I had cancer.

·      We are afflicted so we can comfort others as God has comforted us

             Even though bad things happen God still loves you!

And from the book 1000 Gifts;

It is suffering that has the realest possibility to bear down and deliver grace.

And grace that chooses to bear the cross of suffering –

overcomes that suffering.

Interesting that all that I’m reading is about persevering, suffering,

 illnesses, and problems being good things not bad.

Finally, I read from Ephesians my prayer for my family, myself, friends, and whoever reads this;

…the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.

Ephesians 1:17-18

New piece in Etsy shop:

Hope and Faith

 still working on:

Story time;

Why I remembered this today I don’t know but thought I’d share.

Some of you know I drove a tractor trailer with my husband for a little while.  We were team drivers.  When we started, I was the day driver and he had the night shift but we ended up switching.  I preferred the night, how it was less crowded, cooler and quiet.  But I didn’t like how you couldn’t find a parking place at night and would always have to park really far from the bathrooms.  Which brings me to this story.

We were in LA.  I think it was actually the first time we were there.  We were at a company owned operating center which is fenced and locked and only drivers who worked for them were allowed to park and use the showers, restaurant, laundry and fueling station.  It was about 2:30 in the morning and I needed to go to the bathroom.  Chuck was exhausted from the drive and did not want to go with me.  I was very angry about this because of the time and having to walk to the facilities by myself.  In my anger I did not think about what I was doing.  We were trained to never walk between trailers in the dark, or alone, and to always go the most lighted route for safety.   I was muttering under my breath, walking in the dark between trailers and finally got onto the parking area that was flooded in light.  Walking toward the building I could see the fuel pumps and this Asian man dressed in red and green, rather bright.  He was stepping back and forth in place watching me, like he was waiting for me. 

When I got close enough he said, “You know you shouldn’t be walking between the

trailers in the dark like that.  I know the company’s picky about who can work for them but you just never know if someone might be a little crazy.  You need to stay out of the dark and stay in the light.  I care about you and I never want to see you get hurt.  Remember, stay out of the dark and stay in the light.” 

I was so shocked I just said ok and turned to walk up to the building.  I turned back around to say, “thank you”.  But, there was no one there.  And there was nowhere to go that I would not have seen him.  It was a large open area and in the second it took me to turn around it would have been impossible for him to have gone out of sight.   On my way back to the truck I made sure to stay in the light and anytime I had to be out at night after that I always remembered him and what he said. 

Someone asked once if I believe in angels….

puppies, visitor, mother's day gifts and reading

We don't know what Finn was doing with his bum in the air but
he seemed very comfortable.

Minion wanted to match his mom in his choice
of footwear

an early morning visitor

Mother's day flowers from Jesse that she
actually grew.  Really pretty, she's got quite
a green thumb, unlike her mom.

Mother's day flowers from Corey.  So pretty!

Reading today:

Unstoppable by Nick Vujicic

I don’t believe God causes us to be hurt, sick, or to suffer a loss.  But I do believe that God finds ways for us to use bad things for a good purpose. 

The Bible says suffering comes from Adam and Eve.  We all have sin because of them.  When Adam and Eve fled the Garden of Eden, they had fallen into sin and were banished from the supernatural world to the natural world.  Because of their sin, they and all their ancestors—including you and me—were separated from God’s kingdom.  So while we seek eternal life through God in heaven, we first have to go through a temporary life in the natural world to get there.  Still, while we are in the natural world, we should live with purpose so that God can bring the good out of even bad situations.

This is a difficult concept to master with logical thinking.  A positive attitude is helpful, but it takes more than that to deal with a major medical issue.  You need the love of your family and friends.  And Christians can draw upon the incredible power of the Holy Spirit that transforms us from the inside out.  As bad as your injury, illness, or disability may be, you can allow God to make something beautiful out of it.  Personally, I can’t make beauty out of pain and suffering, but in His mercy and power and greatness, God can.

This is how I feel about my situation.  I believe God has allowed a great deal of good to happen because of it.  

Sanford art festival

2nd year for this festival.  I didn't know

about this show.  Chuck found it online.

 I've always liked downtown Sanford.

 I liked that it wasn't overly crowded and that they had 

"live exhibits" showing how different types of art are done.

 I saw this hawk nest on the top

of this building.

 Nice place for a nest.

Going through journals

 I've kept a journal since high school.  

When I first found out I had cancer

I didn't feel like writing but as time went

on I found it necessary to get through

the day sometimes.  

 This morning I picked up one of my journals from the year

I found out I had cancer to see what I'd written.

I can not believe it has been two years!

  I think I was, I know I was, very frustrated at the

time.  I didn't know if I would be going back to work.

I thought I would. I just didn't know when.  

decorated page sides are my first homemade stamp

I never thought I would have to retire from my job

because of this - or that it would be this soon in my life.

As of June 1, I will officially be "retired."  Wow, that

seems strange.  

Going through my journal I read this statement,

 "Step into the works He has created for us to do."

I think Tracy said that

So, Chuck pushed (encouraged) me to start

working on my art as my new job when I'm able.

It's good.  Opening an Esty shop is good.

I sold my first piece!  So exciting! Thanks

Terry and Donna!!!

Yay! I did it!

I finally opened an Etsy shop which you can visit here;  Morning Star Studio; Art by Vickie
Yay!  Happy dance!

Interesting

The Surprising Truth About Organic Foods

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra - America's #1 Integrative Cardiologist

05/23/2012

The popularity of organic food has led to a lot of misrepresentation and clever marketing, making it easy to be fooled about the products you buy. Nothing can stop a local grower from claiming produce is organic when it really isn’t! (To reduce the odds of that happening to you, buy only from certified organic growers.) 
At the grocery store, there is additional reason for caution. Many big food manufacturers are acquiring small organic companies and developing new lines of organic foods. As this continues to happen, expect to see more processed foods and beverages with organic claims on their labels, even though some of those products may not live up to the ideal the organic food movement is rooted in.

With the high price of “organic” foods how do you know if what you’re buying is truly organic—or not? Fruits and vegetables are either organic or conventional. End of story. However, processed foods can be less than 100 percent organic and still qualify for one of USDA’s “organic” designations. Here is where you need to read labels carefully because you can get fooled. 

Here’s how to decode the product labels: 

• Made with organic ingredients. At least 70 percent of the product is organic. The remaining 30 percent can be made of non-organically produced agricultural ingredients, not including water and salt. There cannot be any added sulfites, except for sulfur dioxides used in wine.
• Organic. At least 95 percent of the product’s ingredients must be organic, not including added water and salt. The remaining 5 percent can be non-organically produced agricultural ingredients that are not commercially available in organic form—but those ingredients must be on a USDA-approved list.
• One hundred percent organic. The product is organic, inside-out, not including added water and salt.

But you don’t have to choose organic every time. While there are several foods like peaches, apples, strawberries, and butter where organic is a must—with other foods like kiwis and avocados, organic doesn’t matter. That’s because pesticides can’t penetrate their skin.

Books I'm reading

Chuck said he needed another book to read.  I suggested

the library.  I don't know why I hadn't thought of it before.

It's been forever since we've been there.  I wanted to read some

of Madeleine L'Engle because I've been reading her non-fiction book

A Circle of Quiet.  I know these are children's books but her 

attitude of writing not specifically for children makes them

interesting.  Some are more science fiction than others which

I am a big fan of.  

The Moon by Night was more realistic 

about a girl and her family going on a camping trip across the

country and back.  It reminded me of going from Texas to Alaska

in a camper when I was a kid.  That was a memorable trip

that I really enjoyed and never forgot.  I loved living in Alaska too

and was very upset when my Dad was reassigned and we had to move to Alabama.

It was interesting

that she had the same feelings about the Grand Canyon

and Zion National Park that Chuck and I did from

our trip out west last year.  We liked Zion better

it was just one of those places that you don't expect

and are surprised by all the beauty and majesty. 

Anyway, since last Thursday I read these three books and 

To Kill a Mockingbird.  I'm going to take a break from reading

fiction and get some work (art)  and some non-fiction 

reading done.

Last week;

Last weekend we went to the beach.  There must have been
an air show close by.  We saw this Black Hawk.

Then this little plane.

Then we saw these, 2 Navy and 2 Air Force
They circled around a couple of times so I could
take their photos.

Woodpecker in the back yard.

and dogs..Minionion needs sunglasses

and Elsie baby is getting to be an old lady 

Last week was Dentist week.  Very stressful.

Need stuff done.  Yuck!

catching up

Saturday I heard bird sounds that were different.

I went outside trying to find where they were coming

from.  It was really hard to find any of them because

they were so tiny.  Chuck said they were finches and

I was able to catch one in a photo.

 More snow photos.  

An Easter treat from Jesse that she got from

Upper Crust Desserts

they were delicious!

 and cute!

A watercolor I started from our trip.  Makes me

think of Narnia with the "lamp post"