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Showing posts with label Orlando. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Orlando. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

New Season.....New Day.....Celebration Time

If you live in San Diego, CA, Maui, HA or Orlando, FL, you enjoy reasonably mild climate throughout the year, but if you live in Tulsa, OK, you'd know the highs and lows of the most dramatic weather that accompanies each season. We get enamored by the changing of the leaves on trees that go from fiery reds and oranges....to no leaves at all. Those trees just spent the entire winter with bare branches. Now, all of sudden, those same bare branches are sprouting small purplish/red flowers and small white flowers. I love watching this beautiful transition. Yesterday, the high in Tulsa was 85 degrees. It excited me so much that I went to Lowe's and bought some herb plantings to get my veggie garden on its way. I loved feeling the warm sun. It's familiar, but also, NEW, all at once.

Isaiah 43:19 says, "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it! I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

God is always in motion which tells us He is always up to something new! What He did yesterday was great, but today is a NEW day. I think He is always conjuring up ways to amaze and surprise us. The seasons are a perfect example of the daily mercies He brings to us. Winter changes into spring, spring to summer, and summer to fall. And, we, too, are constantly in motion -- we are growing and changing. Aren't we so thrilled that we aren't just one-season-people? Always in the same-O, same-O of life?

Our lives really are seasonal and when we are unwilling to accept change and grow, we become stagnant in our physical, spiritual and mental state. To come into a new season and to grow in our faith, we must let go of the old one. Isaiah 43:18 says, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past." One of the many lessons life teaches us is to let go. Whew! That's not an easy one, when we're faced with letting our little ones start to school, or for our high schoolers to go off to college or get married and leave the nest. And neither is hanging on to past hurts and struggles, and past relationships. I assure you, it is possible to feel the loss for a while in those times of life, but NEVER to stay there. To grow and celebrate this season of life, we must pick ourselves up and be willing to go to a NEW SEASON.

As spring is surfacing and the trees are blooming, we can see God’s reminder to let go of the old things and expect the new things He’s wanting to do in our lives. Expect that there are good and beautiful things to come. As the flowers are being resurrected to new life, the trees are sprouting from what seemed to be a lifeless state, the green grass is peeking through the brown remains of winter, may we SPRING FORTH in fresh, new strength and vitality that comes from taking off those grave clothes, and putting on garments of praise and joy! It's a new day, it's a new season, it's a time for great expectation that this will be the BEST day and times of our lives!
Love and blessings to all....Donna

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Remembering Magical Birthdays

Day 249 of Photo Inspirations -- Remembering Birthdays at Disney World
#TBT It was September 2007 and we had planned for months to go on this special trip to celebrate Papa's & Alexia's Birthdays.  It was going to be Papa's BIG 60th on the 12th and Alexia's BIG 6 on the 16th.  And celebrate we did!!  We stayed in a great hotel with a lazy river and huge pools and we kicked up our heels in a grandiose way at Disney World and Sea World in Orlando.  Oh what fun we had.....and these photos say it all.   Alexia Wallace was smack dab in the middle of her "Princess" styles and fantasies.  She had to wear her "Belle" dress when she met Belle.  Of course, Payton and Papa's big deal was Buzz Lightyear and the sharks and whales.

Oh, what precious memories -- that will live on because SOMEONE (aka ME) was a fanatical picture-taker -- still am....and even more so as now I also carry my selfie stick.  Look out.....Nana's on her way to save the day AND memories!   It is those photos and those memories that help me recollect some of our most joy-filled times.  We made the most of our times together.  And, now, we REMEMBER!  

God talks a lot about "remembering" in His Word, so I'm in good company when it comes to remembering!  

1 Chronicles 16:12 --  "Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth,"

Deuteronomy 8:18 -- "But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day."














It's AWESOME to remember all the good things God has done for us.  And, we learn so much from
those remembrances.  We get to start each new day with the wisdom and knowledge we gained from the past. Each experience – good and bad, has equipped us to be better, do better and appreciate time more.   

It is the dawn of a new day, today. I know one thing for sure -- we can’t live in the past, and the future isn’t ours to predict. But, we can make minutes, hours and days really count for what matters most. I speak a lot about it, but I repeat, treasure THIS day – make memories for yourself and someone else. Live as if there were no tomorrow. Spread sunshine. Give love and laughter and life to those who need an injection of fun, faith, and friendship. The BAD news -- time flies, but the GOOD news -- we get to continue capturing the joy-filled experiences and thank God for PRECIOUS MEMORIES!