Joel and I are pretty convinced that everyone should come here…Joel seems convinced that we should move here. We love the island life, it’s slow, no one seems to be in a hurry and the locals are laid back and friendly. The speed limits are slow which takes some getting use to but once you make the adjustment it seems as though vacation really begins. We’ve seen mountains that look like they come out of avatar, their shapes are unpredictable with a lush green array or colors smothering it’s every points. With each mile marker the scene changes, open spaces, thick forrest of vines and acacia, to black cliffs that spill into the light blue sea… And the sea… Wow it’s beautiful, It’s warm temperatures and clear water is inviting but watch out for the reefs they are everywhere and Joel scraped his foot pretty bad. Once you get in and throw on a snorkeling gear you are in a whole new world of fish, fat fish, small fish, stripped fish, razor thin long silver fish, fish with horns, with a long thin tung and one fish that looks like God decided to color with a multicolor highlighters… The snorkelingis amazing. My time with my husband, best friend, and funniest person I know is beyond spectacular.. He leads me to know Jesus more each day, he serves me in ways I didn’t know I needed and he loves me so deeply that I’m finding how to rest in this new marriage…God is good!!!! I am so thankful words cannot express it:)

Lord I already know the best way to alter my lifestyle to the best advantage for all -live like Jesus. The Christian existence ideally is to imitate what you do. You send the sun and rain on everyone, you want me to get back to the basic facts of life, to love without reservation, to distinguish between life’s needs and life itself, and seek first your kingdom knowing you will meet all my other needs.

Still it is easy to trust in the “things” of today and feel like it is up to me to see that humanity survives. Keep me from worry and pride. Remind me that life is a gift-not a right…Lord help me choose a simpler life style.

Today beautiful weather!!! Good sleep, good breakfast and relaxing morning!!! Oh and looking forward to the Drive the people and the company in Santa barbara!!! Yippee

family and vacation the two don’t seem like they go hand in hand at my age. When I was a child I of course loved going on vacation… I couldn’t imagine going on vacation with any other group of people… being the youngest I loved hanging out with all my older siblings. I didn’t see my eldest sister that much her being 10 years older than me, but in many ways I looked up to her. She excelled in sports and school, her dedication to both was one to be admired. My brother took me under his wing, 5 years older than me he treated me like his little brother. He allowed me to hang out with him and his friends, I would wrestle his friends and often beat them. Yes, I was stronger than Zena warrior princess (It was a bit ridiculous) He would take me riding, and hunting given I hold all the quail that he shot. I thoroughly enjoyed my older brother. My other sister, 3 years older than I, was very different from me. She obeyed my parents all the time, she wasn’t that much into sports but was maticulous about everything. Naturally we fought like cats and dogs. She couldn’t understand why it was so difficult for me to obey and I couldn’t understand why she was such a pushover. My parents were very involved. Some of my best memories are my mom in the kitchen talking, laughing and cooking, she was always cooking. And my dad and me in the backyard talking and playing catch.

Family vacation was sweet with my family, but as I have gotten older I find that family vacation is less than relaxing. My oldest sister has 4 kids under the age of 6, my brother has 3 kids under the age of 3, and my other sister has 3 kids under the age of 4. Yes, vacation with family is not very relaxing. It’s a constant fight over conversation, peace and quiet, all dictated by NAPS… As you may have figured out, I am neither married or have kids, so often I still find myself retreating with my dad during family vacation. This time we take bike rides, and talk about life. I will have to say there is something so sweet about all the kids taking a nap at the same time, and for that brief moment in the day, I remember why I love vacation with family…and then there is a noise, followed by the inevitable cry and everyone is up…and back to reality I go.

I’m ready to go home now. see my love, and sleep in my own bed, enjoying the quietness of life.

Psalm 89 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 89

(A special psalm by Ethan the Ezrahite.)

The LORD’s Agreement with David

   of your love forever.

   Everyone yet to be born

   will hear me praise

   your faithfulness.

    ²I will tell them,

   ”God’s love

   can always be trusted,

   and his faithfulness lasts

   as long as the heavens.”

    ³You said, “David, my servant,

   is my chosen one,

   and this is the agreement

   I made with him:

    ⁴David, one of your descendants

   will always be king.”

    ⁵Our LORD, let the heavens

   now praise your miracles,

   and let all of your angels

   praise your faithfulness.

    ⁶None who live in the heavens

   can compare with you.

    ⁷You are the most fearsome

   of all who live in heaven;

   all the others fear

   and greatly honor you.

    ⁸You are LORD God All-Powerful!

   No one is as loving

   and faithful as you are.

    ⁹You rule the roaring sea

   and calm its waves.

    ¹⁰You crushed the monster Rahab, ^[a] and with your powerful arm

   you scattered your enemies.

    ¹¹The heavens and the earth

   belong to you.

   And so does the world

   with all its people

   because you created them

    ¹²and everything else. ^[b] Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon

   gladly praise you.

    ¹³You are strong and mighty!

    ¹⁴Your kingdom is ruled

   by justice and fairness

   with love and faithfulness

   leading the way.

    ¹⁵Our LORD, you bless those

   who join in the festival

   and walk in the brightness

   of your presence.

    ¹⁶We are happy all day

   because of you,

   and your saving power

   brings honor to us.

    ¹⁷Your own glorious power

   makes us strong,

   and because of your kindness,

   our strength increases.

    ¹⁸Our LORD and our King,

   the Holy One of Israel,

   you are truly our shield.

    ¹⁹In a vision, you once said

   to your faithful followers:

   ”I have helped a mighty hero.

   I chose him from my people

   and made him famous.

    ²⁰David, my servant, is the one

   I chose to be king,

    ²¹and I will always be there

   to help and strengthen him.

    ²²“No enemy will outsmart David,

   and he won’t be defeated

   by any hateful people.

    ²³I will strike down and crush

   his troublesome enemies.

    ²⁴He will always be able

   to depend on my love,

   and I will make him strong

   with my own power.

    ²⁵I will let him rule the lands

   across the rivers and seas.

    ²⁶He will say to me,

   `You are my Father

   and my God,

   as well as the mighty rock ^[c] where I am safe.’

    ²⁷“I have chosen David

   as my first-born son,

   and he will be the ruler

   of all kings on earth.

    ²⁸My love for him will last,

   and my agreement with him

   will never be broken.

    ²⁹“One of David’s descendants

   will always be king,

   and his family will rule

   until the sky disappears.

    ³⁰Suppose some of his children

   should reject my Law

   and refuse my instructions.

    ³¹Or suppose they should disobey

   all of my teachings.

    ³²Then I will correct

   and punish them

   because of their sins.

    ³³But I will always love David

   and faithfully keep all

   of my promises to him.

    ³⁴“I won’t break my agreement

   or go back on my word.

    ³⁵I have sworn once and for all

   by my own holy name,

   and I won’t lie to David.

    ³⁶His family will always rule.

   I will let his kingdom last

   as long as the sun ³⁷and moon

   appear in the sky.”

    ³⁸You are now angry, God,

   and you have turned your back

   on your chosen king.

    ³⁹You broke off your agreement

   with your servant, the king,

   and you completely destroyed

   his kingdom.

    ⁴⁰The walls of his city

   have been broken through,

   and every fortress

   now lies in ruin.

    ⁴¹All who pass by

   take what they want,

   and nations everywhere

   joke about the king.

    ⁴²You made his enemies powerful

   and let them celebrate.

    ⁴³But you forced him to retreat

   because you did not fight

   on his side.

    ⁴⁴You took his crown ^[d] and threw his throne

   in the dirt.

    ⁴⁵You made an old man of him

   and put him to shame.

    ⁴⁶How much longer, LORD?

   Will you hide forever?

   How long will your anger

   keep burning like fire?

    ⁴⁷Remember, life is short! ^[e] Why did you empty our lives

   of all meaning?

    ⁴⁸No one can escape the power

   of death and the grave.

    ⁴⁹Our Lord, where is the love

   you have always shown

   and that you promised

   so faithfully to David?

    ⁵⁰Remember your servant, Lord!

   People make jokes about me,

   and I suffer many insults.

    ⁵¹I am your chosen one,

   but your enemies chase

   and make fun of me.

    ⁵²Our LORD, we praise you

   forever. Amen and amen.

It has its ups and it has its downs. It has moments that you realize what you were created to do and become, and then moments who you don’t even recognize who you are. And then sometimes you get so twisted around that you’re not quite sure what you think, why you think it.. but you can’t deny the feeling that you get!!! Feelings they can be so deceptive. They can allow you to look past qualities, circumstances, and even who you are.

When life seems out of whack and I can’t even put my finger on it… my desire is to retreat… to get in the car and drive, until I run out of gas. Go… be alone, seek Christ and take a breath… and that is what I plan on doing.

I am not a very political person… I trust God in everything. He is in control of the small and big and yet I know that often God is waiting for people to stand in the gap and be that advocate for a person a situation a thing… Yes, the holy spirit leads but often God calls us to push through in prayer… I am saddened that Obamas health bill passed. It is a sad day for America. Abortions are now fully funded and small companies will be forced to offer health care to it’s employees… The majority of Americans didn’t want this. When did our government cease in being a democracy?… It’s just wrong!!! But who will stand in the gap? Who will rise up, pray? I will… Who is with me?

music:) Bon fire:) clear starry night:) wonderful smells:) all alone:/ normally I would be happy about this one and currently I would like to enjoy the silence with my best friend… But still relaxing nontheless