We have an IKEA in Orlando...finally!

Yeah...IKEA has opened its first store in Central Florida and I went there today. I like IKEA - I like the light pine furnishings, the blue and gold, the good prices, the easy assembly (actually Joy puts most of the things together!), the inventiveness of their designs AND their emphasis on affordable furnishings. When I lived in California, there was an IKEA right down the street from where I lived and I was there a lot. Most of the furnishings in my house are from IKEA and I'm thrilled to have one here now. I bought a few things for myself and a Christmas present for my sister - fun!! Thanks IKEA for coming to Orlando.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving! I thank God for so many things, among them:

1. His love for me and sending Jesus to save me
   
2. my family
3. the glow of a sunset as it sets behind the trees
   
4. dear friends
5. being able to make an eternal difference working at Wycliffe
   
6. the stars in the early morning as they shine down on us
   
7. my dogs
8. a home, enough food to eat and clothes to wear
9. a beautiful flower and its enticing scent
   
10. my health
11. a haunting melody that gets into my heart and makes me feel close to God
12. too many other things to keep counting...

In all these things, I give thanks. May you have a Thanksgiving in which you have much to feel thankful about as well.

I Pray

I love working at Wycliffe! Where else can you work that puts such emphasis on prayer that they're willing to set aside a whole day to pray for the needs of the Bibleless and for those who don't know of God's love yet? Yesterday was that day. Here are some videos online that will give you a glimpse of the importance of God's word in our lives: Nikki, Martha, David, Jenny.

Enjoy!

Discovered Facebook - wow!

OK...so I'm a little slow on the tech train, but I've just discovered the wonder of Facebook. I have started to connect with friends from high school, and other places. Someone asked me how Facebook is different than email and blogging. I guess the way I understand it is that email is like you writing a note to someone in another city and having a messenger deliver it. Blogging is like a poetry reading to people who then write you notes about it. Facebook is like a "virtual" coffee-shop where you're in an environment that allows a bunch of different people to connect all at the same time, not face-to-face, but online. I'm able to play an online Scrabble game with friends - post photos - see their photos - read about their lives - have them read about my life - kewl!! Anway, if you're interested, join and let me know you're on. We can connect!

Can't stop praising God!

Woke up this morning around 6am to a dark, rainy day. It rains a lot in Florida, but usually not in the morning. One of us always walks the dogs in the morning so they get all their "business" done and then are tired and ready for their long day while we're at work. Joy was going to walk the dogs, but had a mini-migraine and went back to bed to try and feel better before going to work. I decided to wait and see if the rain stopped so I could walk the dogs. The rain lessened to a light sprinkle and off we went. It was a gorgeous morning! The sun was just coming out, there was a light breeze in the trees, the birds were singing and then I turned the corner and there was a beautiful rainbow in the sky! My heart welled up with love and gratitude to God for His great gifts, love and care. I just couldn't stop praising Him for how much He loves us and how the presence of Jesus speaks into every aspect of my life. Don't get me wrong...I'm not saying I have a perfect life. But...in the midst of those things that are lacking - Jesus is there. He cares - He is pulling for me - He is interceding for me - He is sustaining me - He is blessing me - He is helping me love others more deeply - He is giving me more compassion, more understanding, more forgiveness for others - I mean, what more could I ask for?

But I will sing of your strength;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress
and a refuge in the day of my distress.
O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you,
O God, are my fortress,
the God who shows me steadfast love.

Psalm 59:16 -17 (ESV)

Oops!

OK, I spoke too soon. We DID have the air conditioning off for a bit and I thought we could leave
it off permanently, but, it is not to be. The air conditioner went back on last night and we'll see how it goes. I forgot that we're in the "transition" phase of Florida weather where it's cool one day and then hot the next. In fact, this week it's supposed to get back up 84 degrees, so we're not at the completely cool weather phase yet - but it's coming!! This is what fall is like down here in Florida.

Finally - Air Conditioning is off!!!

Yeah, we were finally able to turn off the air conditioning on Thursday, October 25, 2007! After turning on the air conditioner in the beginning of May 2007, it's now turned cool enough to turn it off. Hallelujah! For six months, we've been inside a hermetically sealed environment due to the high heat and humidity of living in Florida. I can still remember when I first moved to Florida back in 2001 and the first hot day hit. Having moved from Southern California where it's hot during the day and cools off at night, I did the same thing here by turning off the air conditioner and opening up the windows to get the cool air inside the house. Bad move! It didn't cool off at night and there was NO cool air. I closed the house back up and kept on the air conditioner for the next six months. Like I always say, I'm glad to live in Florida and be able to endure the heat and humidity for six months of the year with air conditioning. But, I'm REALLY glad when it cools off in in November and we can turn off the air conditioning until early May of the next year. Opening up the house and it getting cooler also motivates me to clean up, throw out and get rid of clutter.