My Secret Place is Rock Solid

Yesterday, sweetest memories flooded my mind from 2010. In Cabo, I woke early each morning to take in the magnificent sunrise on the crashing waves. I would find the cleft of the rock formations to sit beneath. How sweet was the presence of my loving Father there – especially as He restored my soul, for it had been in the valley of the shadow of death just a week before.

It was a trip my husband and I had hoped to take with my son and family that year for Thanksgiving. As it turned out, only my side of the equation made the trip. His trip was to heaven, a week before Thanksgiving. And, though without him here on this earth, I sensed him with me each morning as I walked the beaches at 5 am. and hid in beneath those massive rocks. My little guys joined me later in the mornings. It was heaven-on-earth then. Yesterday, I asked my Bear (aka, 2nd oldest grandson) to be our photographer and help me re-enact those sweet moments from nine years ago with my two youngest grandsons. Sweet captured moments of my two little guys, 5 and 3 years old then to now, 14 and 12 years old.

When I shared about my “Secret Place” amidst the rocks, Lobo, a Spanish mariner I met called it “El Lugar Secreto”. What a special gift it was to go to such a peaceful and tranquil place. I continue, to this date, to live daily in the secret place. Psalm 91:1 says -- "He that dwells in the SECRET PLACE of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, 'My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!'"

Why shouldn't I feel this peace? God promised it to me if I would live in that place. It's a choice I purpose to make daily. And, that’s my address: 911 Peace Ave. You will find me there most of the time, except for when I forget where I live, but His watchful eye and tender care seems to always draw me back in, Yes, I continue to go forward -- cherishing the memories, the sweetness of loving and being loved, choosing to be care-free and unafraid…….and daily living in el lugar secreto!

Does life seem overwhelming to you today? The deadline is long past, and you're still endeavoring to get the project done? Are the kids more than a handful? Did you get a pink slip from your employer and you wonder how you and your family can survive? Are you or a loved one so ill that you wonder if you or they will make it? Do you feel like you're at the end of your rope?

I've been there..... and each time that I found myself in places like that, I found my answers, my peace and my comfort in the One who is the Rock, and I realize those overwhelming circumstances were ultimately for my good....because they drew me to the Source of answers, my shelter, and my SOLID ROCK.

When the earth all around me is sinking sand,
On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand
When I need a shelter, when I need a friend, I go to THE ROCK!

El Lugar Secreto

Have you been to el lugar secreto? This weekend, six years ago, just after my Sweetheart graduated to heaven, I was invited to go to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to spend Thanksgiving with my son and his family. What a special gift it was to go to such a peaceful and tranquil place. I woke early each morning to take in the magnificent sunrise on the crashing waves. I would find the cleft of the rock formations to sit beneath. How sweet was the presence of my loving Father there – especially as He restored my soul, for it had been in the valley of the shadow of death just a week before.

And if that serene, tranquil place wasn’t enough to soothe and comfort me, the exciting deep sea expedition filled me with joys and exhileration beyond compare. My son, and his two sons, and this Nana set out early for “The Secret Place” aka el lugar secreto.

According to grieving support specialists, the standard operating procedures aka the rules of engagement for a new widow or widower is to let her find her own way to healing. I was supposed to be a grieving widow, but that morning I was so giddy and excited about this grand adventure. I just knew my Honey, who loved to fish, probably orchestrated this whole thing from heaven’s pilot seat. He would want me free of pain, worry and sorrow, and while I was casting for a whopper, he would want me casting my cares as well. Lobo, the captain of our boat, told me he was taking us to el lugar secreto (the secret place) to find the fish. He did. Reeling in the Mahi Mahi, shown in the photo, was a thrill of a lifetime for me. And I’m sure it was God (and my Honey’s) plan to give me such a sweet victory.

Like Lobo taking us to "the secret fishing place", I continue, to this date, to live daily in the secret place. Psalm 91:1,2 says -- "He that dwells in the SECRET PLACE of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, 'My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!'" Why shouldn't I feel this peace? God promised it to me if I would live in that place. It's a choice I purpose to make daily. And, that’s my address: 911 Peace Ave. You will find me there most of the time, except for when I forget where I live, but His watchful eye and tender care seems to always draw me back in, Yes, I continue to go forward -- cherishing the memories, the sweetness of loving and being loved, choosing to be care-free and unafraid…….and daily living in el lugar secreto! I highly recommend that you hang out at el lugar secreto, too!

Free of Pain, Worry & Sorrow -- Living With Gratitude

TBT!  Remembering sweetly....past Thanksgivings!

It was early part of the year, 2010, when our son said he wanted us to join his family for Thanksgiving at their place in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.  Ron and I made it a part of our goals for the year.  But then, as the year progressed, and my Honey's health changed so drastically, when Ryan asked about reserving our flights, I told him, "Faith says to go ahead and book….but wisdom says, 'buy travel insurance'!"

Just shortly after my Honey "went home", our son and his family arrived in Tulsa.  Ryan was already urging me to go to Cabo with them on Sunday, after the marathon.  Initially, I hesitated, thinking there was just too much to do -- "I have more responsibilities now, and I need to be responsible."  But with the emphatic prompting of our children, I realized, "This is what my Honey would want me to do -- to get away and get refreshed."   But when I was unable to find my passport (my Honey had his secret hiding places), it seemed that maybe I wasn't supposed to go, after all.  But our daughter, Staci, in her own "search and rescue" efforts, heard the words..."in my sock drawer".  Her "hearing" from God, and I believe, my Honey, led her straight to that drawer -- felt behind the drawer, that's inside the drawer, and there they were.  It most definitely was meant to be.  I started getting excited about the trip.  I knew that's where I was supposed to be for the next week.

The first photo posted here, was our family Thanksgiving in Tulsa, without Papa!  You can see how we were able to express complete joy and celebration for the many Thanksgivings we had with him, and now celebrating and thanking God for our lives to live strong and make him proud of us.

On Sunday, after the marathon, we flew to Cabo.  It was the perfect place of beauty,  tranquity and warmth to refresh, revive and remember the man I loved so dearly.   I woke at 5 am each morning to enjoy the magnificent sunrise on the crashing waves.  Oh how sweet was the presence of my loving Father.  Then, my son announced that we (my two oldest grandsons, our son and I) were going on a deep sea fishing expedition.  I was so giddy and excited.  I knew my Honey would want it to be this way.  He would want me free of pain, worry and sorrow.   Lobo, the captain of our boat, told me he was taking us to el lugar secreto (the secret place) to find the fish.  He did.  Reeling in the Mahi Mahi, shown in the photo, was a thrill of a lifetime.

Like Lobo taking us to "the secret fishing place", I have found myself, as well -- in the secret place.  Psalm 91:1,2 -- "He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say to the LORD, 'My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!'"   Why shouldn't I feel this peace?   God promised it to me if  I would live in that place.  It's a choice I must make daily.   John 14:27, Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."   I shall go forward -- enjoying the memories, the sweetness of loving and being loved, choosing to be care-free and unafraid…….and daily living in that el lugar secreto!