Wonderful
Want some WONDERFUL news? This declaration right here…in 48 days Spring arrives!
Winter is long, dreary, and cold where we live, and Spring is normally luxuriously long.
I’m looking forward to blooming flowers, the smell of dirt, and the hope of a growing season.
Life is rather like that, isn’t it? I suppose at 72, I’m in the late fall of my years, YET, I am anticipating another springtime of soul!
I believe God set it up this way. The joy of today and the hope of tomorrow. It’s quite WONDERFUL to tell you the truth!
***Your testimonies are WONDERFUL; therefore, my soul keeps them. Psalm 119.129***
Doubtful
Doubtful to think anyone reading this hasn’t felt BROKEN at one time or other. Can I have a show of hands? Yup, that’s what I thought!
I have suffered BROKEN at least ten times in my 70+ years. The very first traumatic “broken” was at 27 when my husband dropped his infidelity bomb on our world. Three kiddos under 9, and I was launched from my chocolate chip cocoon into the big scary world of single motherhood. I was BROKEN in every way imaginable. I knew the Lord, and He knew me, but I pushed my fist in His face and said, “How could You?” He graciously stepped back and I proceeded to free fall for 5 years. BROKEN, stokin’ and a hot mess. He came to me in 1984 and said, “Enough.” I listened. I broke. And He redeemed the years! Since then, I’ve walked through BROKEN with adult kids, and that pain is beyond any other. But, I know the Healer of BROKEN, and He is at the ready and more than willing. Do give Him a try!!!
The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit? Proverbs 18.14
Fascinating
There are few things in life I find as FASCINATING as God’s hand on a thing or a person. Let me explain.
Sitting with a loved one gazing at a star-filled summer sky, deep in grief, and asking the Lord to show us a sign of His mercy. Immediately, a brilliant shooting star appeared. FASCINATING.
Walking in a lush meadow, crying out to the Lord for a son in trouble. Asking Him to give me a sign that everything would turn out okay. I look down and there at my foot a 4-leaf clover. (This has happened several times.) All turned okay. FASCINATING.
Another time, another son, and and the Lord specifically instructed to “sit still, my daughter.” And a 5 month no communication ensued. Result? A deep healing between us. FASCINATING.
Painful, penetrating marital problems and the prayer “I’m done, Lord,” and His reply? “Stay, and I’ll give you the grace.” I did. He did. And, grace was poured out. FASCINATING.
A desperate, broken soul. Afraid. Alone. And the God of all mercy tenderly told me He was mine. A repentant heart had healing. FASCINATING.
I pray you know this FASCINATING God as Savior and Lord! He is a wonder!
Community
This is an aerial shot of our tiny house COMMUNITY. We downsized in 2019 into a 399 square feet tiny home. It’s the best decision for us in this season of our life. We’re in “late autumn” if you recall my post from the other day!
Our COMMUNITY consists of 12 tiny houses, two of which are Airbnb’s. There are young people, old people, single people, married people, retired people, and working people. We are a diverse COMMUNITY.
Diverse faiths, diverse politics, diverse hobbies, and interests. But the one common thing is that we all look out for one another.
That’s what good, caring communities do. In a fashion we are family and we care about each other’s welfare.
I’ve made a pot of chicken soup for one couple. I went out each day for a milkshake for one with strept throat. I left a care bag of covid aids at another.
COMMUNITY. I want to be a good participant in ours, in our actual family, and with my online people.
Do you actively participate with your COMMUNITY regardless of type?
“How good and pleasant it is for communities to dwell in peace.”
SAFETY
Our tiny home of SAFETY. We’ve lived here 3 years, and it truly has offered us sanctuary. Our children and grandchildren all live a distance from us, but we never really feel far from them. We nurture our relationships.
There have been many instances in our/my life that SAFETY seemed a foreign comfort.
A time when I would keep a track on replay in my cars sound system. The song? You Are My Hiding Place by Selah. I also had the scripture from Psalms on a sticky note on my dash. The words gave my mother’s soul great SAFETY and comfort.
That season ended with good results after a very hard and long road. Once again, my heavenly Father wrapped me in the SAFETY of His presence.
We all have suffered angst of soul, and it is a hard, hard road. What brings you safety during the difficult times?
You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalm 32.7
BELIEFS
What exactly are my BELIEFS?
I believe in God the Father.
I believe in Jesus Christ.
I believe in Holy Spirit. It is Them who give me life.
My BELIEFS are deeply planted in a very strong foundation of Biblical proportion! My sister and I, the only children born to Terry and Hal, are true baby boomers! Our dad served in “the war to end all wars” WW2. We went to church. We said our prayers. We memorized Bible scriptures. We sang choruses and hymns. We believed.
Yet, my BELIEFS became personal later in life. I realized He is the only Way, the only Truth, and the only Source of Life – real forever life.
My BELIEFS became the very essence of my life.
I will never regret this decision. I will never stop testifying of God’s Grace and Mercy.
My BELIEFS are grounded and sure.
Are yours?
EASE
In the past 3 years, we’ve had to do some learning! We’ve had to EASE into new normals in our personal lives.
2019 The first “EASING” we moved into a tiny house. We did an ultimate downsizing. I shred 300 lbs of paper. I donated boxes and boxes of books. Family heirlooms were given to family members while we were still alive. Shoes had to be “paired” down. We kept only the tchotskies we loved. It was a much-wanted EASING.
The second was a summer of failing health, which ended with a diagnosis. Congestive Heart Failure, or CHF. 36 hours from sure death, a cardio team rescued me. A couple of meds and I’m good to go! That EASING INTO brought a dear new friend, a humbling, and a slight fear of being *unfinished!*
The third EASING was retirement from a 44-year span of various careers. I’ve had some good ones, some not so good, and a few phenomenal ones. Why, I’ve even worked for a USA President! I loved my different jobs, and it was always my desire to work from home and make an equitable living. I was granted that privilege in 2005, and that position took me to retirement in Dec 2021! Retirement has been a daily practice of EASING INTO. And, I’m getting quite good at it!
God has brought a lovely, peaceful EASE into our lives, and we are over the moon grateful.
Have you ever had to do an EASING INTO? Do tell!
SHOCK
This may come as a SHOCK to you, but I love to do laundry.
When I’d visit my daughter’s busy home, she’d be up to her eyebrows in laundry and would gladly turn the task over to me! I’d joyfully sort, fold, hang, and stack clothes in appropriate piles for an easy distribution. It was a gift well-received!
Allow me to share a story and my SHOCK when it happened:
As a single mom to three under 13 , I was never without a pile of dirty clothing. My job outside the home was full-time and demanded a lot of attention. So did our closets and drawers!
Imagine my SHOCK one early evening, as I whipped up supper for my hungry crew and looked and saw Lowell walk down the hall with a huge basket filled with perfectly folded clean laundry and a cache of items on hangars over his arm!
SHOCKED, I followed him into the bedroom, where he began making piles for the kids to collect and put away.
With a SHOCKED voice I exclaimed, “What on earth?”
After I left for work that morning, he had collected all the hampers, loaded them in the car, and brought them to the little German lady at the corner laundromat who did laundry by the pound.
It was the greatest of gifts. Perfectly folded stacks of underwear, tees, and socks. He had that done for me for about a year. The great SHOCK is I learned to love doing the laundry. It was almost a daily gift I could give my family in the most tangible of ways!
Have you ever been pleasantly SHOCKED by something really good?
SKULK
This one here? Some would say she was a “catbird,” a hot mess, but my sis and I refer to her as Mom. She entered the gates October 27, 2012 at 7:29 a.m. I miss her every.single.day. she was our family’s prayer warrior.
On her 75th birthday, we threw a surprise birthday party for her. We SKULKED about making a plan with her church people. We had the party right after service about 1 pm on a Sunday. We had her grandkids and great grands arriving during the service. We were SKULKING about in the separate fellowship hall! Arranging the buffet, setting the tables, hanging party paper and balloons, and corraling runaway kids!!!
The time came, and we heard rustling about in the hallway. We all gathered and ducked down. She entered on the arm of her pastor, and we all shouted, “Happy Birthday, Ga!!!”
It was a wonderful afternoon. We “roasted” her, and some of the stories were hysterical. We ate, we laughed, and we cried. Mom was delighted.
All of our SKULKING paid off, and that day is chronicled in photo albums and in our hearts!
The year was 2001. Mom lived another 11 full years. She kept her vim and vigor until the day she took her last breath.
Lord, we miss her.
Do you have a SKULKING story to share? Do tell!
CREVICE
From the CREVICES of hard things comes beauty.
I’m going to share a story I haven’t told you about, and very few know this! Now it’s public knowledge!
After my wasband ( husband 1) dropped the infidelity bomb on me and my 3, I went into a darkness of soul. I dug myself into a deep CREVICE. I WANTED TO HIDE.
I was in trouble, and my sister, as good sisters do, made a plan with a psychologist at our church. His name was David.
Dr. David called me one morning and helped me onto the path outside of the CREVICE I had buried myself in.
I was cracked, hiding in a crack!
He began a schedule of calling me every single weekday morning.
“Today, I want you to sort and do laundry. Today, I want you to bake cookies for the children. Today, I want you to meet the kids at the bus stop.” And so it would go. For, what seemed, months.
You see, so broken by this new reality, I couldn’t think for myself. This went on until I could begin, on my own, to do the next thing.
I became strong. I became certain. I became confident again. The CREVICE, the hiding, was replaced with a new sense of self-awareness, and now, as I look back, I realize it was Hope!
Hope sprung forth from a CREVICE of black depth.
As usual, God had a plan – He always does, you know.
Are you in a CREVICE OR CRACK of soul? Do the next right thing and watch the beauty, Hope, and healing begin to emerge. Don’t be afraid to seek help.
NAME
Do you know what your NAME means?
Many years ago, I had a very small cottage industry going. I am a calligrapher, although I haven’t lettered in years. I had a booth in a shop, and I did a lot of NAME canvases. I would write the NAME, the meaning, and an appropriate Bible scripture.
I sold a lot of these. People like knowing what their NAME means.
My NAME means “lily,” and husband’s means “beloved.”
Interestingly enough, my NAME in Hebrew is Shoshanna, and it means HOPE! How cool is that?
I love my NAME. My wasband always called me Sue ( he still does). When we separated and I entered the single world, I made an intensional decision to begin using my full NAME, Susan. And, it stuck!
My hubs calls me Sus, which I love!
NAMES, learn what yours means and be that.
Do you know what your NAME means? I’d love to hear.
DECLINE
For a writer, DECLINE is one of “those” word challenges. One must decide, “Will I write on the noun or the verb form of this word?” A conundrum ensues!!!
Oh, why not? I’ll do both!
When hiking, the DECLINE (noun) is usually easier than its opposite. I remember for our first trip out west, we shopped for a pair of hiking boots for me. It was very important to get a pair that had enough toe space for the DECLINE! One avoids “toe’ing out!” It makes the descent more comfortable. Make sense?
I suffered DECLINING (verb) health in the summer of 2021. I was tired, breathy, and unable to walk very far without requiring frequent rests.
After almost three months of constant scolding by my children and husband, I called Dr. Dan cousin in Georgia.
My well-being had DECLINED to swollen legs and enormous discomfort. He very emphatically insisted I go to the ER and get an echocardiogram.
I promised I would in the morning.
I kept the promise. Of course, the rest is history. A CHF diagnosis, some meds, and a whole lot of fluid-loss later, I was discharged feeling like a new person!
I was given HOPE. My health has been on an incline ever since!
Sometimes, the DECLINE is the road to better things!
Sometimes, God must firmly say NO before gracing us with His YES.
Have you a story you’re willing to share?
FACTS
The FACTS about me!
• I was born October 14, 1950.
• I have one sister.
• I dropped out of high school.
• I got my GED 1979.
• I married my wasband two years after turning 17.
• I’ve given birth 3 times.
• I am a #formerbadgirl
• I am a Christ-follower
• I believe in a young earth
• I believe the Bible is the unerring Word of God.
• I believe in LIFE and take the Pro-life stance.
• I am conservative in my political views.
• I love change
• I have 2 tattoos
• I love road trips
• I’ve been married to my second husband 40 years.
• I have terrible backing up skills.
• I have two grandchildren, and I am a good grandmother.
• I’m “mean but fair”
• I tell the Truth
Those are my FACTS! What about you? Have any you’d like to share?
RARE
RARE! I am married to a one of a kind, RARE specimen of a man! Lowell Allen Shipe had a rough start in life, but rather than being bitter, he made himself better.
He has had a very interesting litany of careers. Hairdresser. Blacksmith. Big rig driver. Goat herdsman & cheese maker extraordinaire. Fly Fishing Guide and shop owner. Boat builder and restorer. And, today, in his retirement, he is a Lapidarist. He is a Rock Star. He is a Rock Jock. What, pray tell, does that even mean?
He finds, cuts, and facets RARE gems 
. He is quite good at it. As you can see in the images, I have a few of his pieces. I cherish them.
. He is quite good at it. As you can see in the images, I have a few of his pieces. I cherish them.Madera Citrine, Helenite, Topaz, Garnets, Quartz, Rose de France, and Amethyst are common words in our household. He is a RARE man, and just like the gems he works with, he is a treasure.
What is your RARE treasure?
BEAUTIFUL
My husband and I love to travel. Teasingly, we say our love language is road trip! Along the way, we have seen some BEAUTIFUL sights.
Our dream of a travel trailer came to fruition in November 2018. We had sold our mountain home of 30 years, downsized, and traveled to Rice TX and picked up Gracee! We were as excited as two teens!
On my very first trip across the USA in 1983, we tent camped. I will always remember waking up in Hyde State Park, approximately 7,000 feet above sea level. Waking up, I opened the tent flap, and all I could see were towering Pines. It seemed they were reaching heaven! It was one of the most BEAUTIFUL scenes I had ever seen!
God created a BEAUTIFUL world for His kids to enjoy, and we have every intention to see as much of it as possible! We do limit our travels to America and Canada!
Some of the BEAUTIFUL sights we’ve seen include: whales in Alaska; the Grand Canyon in Arizona; Canada’s gorgeous rivers and rills; Alaskan glaciers and the list goes on and on!
What are some of the most BEAUTIFUL things you’ve experienced?
LONESOME
Today’s word, LONESOME, brings sadness.
My mom and father divorced when I was 12. In Mom’s latter years, she was LONESOME. She would have remarried in a heartbeat, but alas, the right man never came along.
Don’t get me wrong, my mom lived a very full life. She had hundreds of friends and strong ties to her sisters, brother, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was well loved by us all.
But I know in my heart she had LONESOME times.
Mom loved God, and Jesus became personal when she was 17. Mom loved to bake. Her signature desserts? Brownies and cherry cheesecake. Her incredible side, corn spoon bread, has continued being cooked and served lovingly by great granddaughter, Hannah!
When her life was in her final hours, she was not LONESOME, but surrounded by many loved ones. And, as she entered the gates, her desire to see Christ was fulfilled.
Today, all of us who loved her find ourselves having LONESOME moments because we miss her still!
I hope you aren’t LONESOME, and if you are, please reach out to someone.
REFLECTION
This photo was taken somewhere close to Denali AK as we left the park. I was struck by the REFLECTION of the trees in the lake.
I remember the day well. Denali was as incredible as we had been told it was. We didn’t do the bus trip but drove our truck as far as permitted and hiked around a bit.
This photo started all kinds of REFLECTIVE thoughts for me. This was a trip of a lifetime, and we knew how blessed we were to be able to do it.
In REFLECTION, I know how grateful we live each and every day. Our life together has had its share of mountaintops and valleys. But early on, we made a commitment to God and each other. Yes, there have been moments, but we got through them.
As I write these words, we are cozied up in Gracee, our travel trailer, as we make our way to Laurel MS. I am always REFLECTING on God’s goodness to us and our memories – miles and miles of memories!
What might you be reflecting on today?
TINY
As I type using the word prompt, TINY, I am lying on the bed shown in this photo. I am inside our TINY travel trailer, a Casita, 17 feet in length, 84 square feet, and we lovingly call her Gracee.
Gracee, although TINY, has gone on some big adventures. She has overlooked the south rim of the Grand Canyon. She has driven through ghost towns of Texas. She’s paraded through a Petrified Forest in Arizona. She’s scaled mountains, snuck through tunnels, crossed rivers, and driven more miles than some twice her size! TINY, but mighty.
We loved being in Gracee so much we decided to live our retirement years in a TINY house too. 34 feet in length and 399 square feet.
We like to say, “We reside in a TINY house but live a great big life!”
Could you live in a TINY space?
LOTTERY
Today’s word prompt today is LOTTERY. Weird, right? One has to play the LOTTERY in order to win, yes? We never play, so I guess we’ll never win. But it is fun to think of all the things you’d do if you did win. They say doing that is a stress reliever. So, let’s relieve some. If I won the LOTTERY, what would I do?
The first thing I’d do is give each of our kids and grands a million bucks. Advise them to be wise with it because they can’t come back for more!
Next, I’d give a big portion to missions.
I’d pay off all debts. I’d move tiny house on a piece of Lakefront property and buy a pontoon boat. I’m not even sure what else I’d do!
I’ve lived long enough to know happiness has no price tag, and one can be just as happy and content poor as rich.
Money makes life a bit easier but not better.
What would you do if you won the LOTTERY?
CHANGES
Whew! More than one wants to face! Life comes at you hard, and one never knows what lies around the corner.
Just today, as we’re driving along the Gulf Coast, we got a text with some devastating news. So now, as we drive eastward, we pray and ask God for His mercy.
The Bible assures us that God does not CHANGE but is the same yesterday, today, and forever. No CHANGING tides, no time zones, no seasons – He just IS. THE GREAT I AM.
ADORE
See these 4 human beings? I ADORE them. I love being with them. I love talking to them. I love when they visit or call. Love them to the moon and then some.
ADORE is a strong word. Perhaps if we ADORE someone, we open ourselves to disappointment. I suppose that is a strong possibility.
The Christmas song, O Come All Ye Faithful, has the line “O Come Let Us ADORE Him,” – Jesus is most definitely worthy of ADORATION, and He gets mine every day. He never disappoints. He is always attentive. He always has time to listen to me. ADORATION is due Him. And, as long as I have breath, I’m going to ADORE these humans God has graciously given to me! What in this life do you ADORE?
DANGER
CUIDADO. DANGER.
There’s a lot of it around us, amen? It seems DANGER lurks around every corner. This water bird looks oblivious to the gator DANGER floating by!
When the grandkids were little, I’d exclaim DANGER! to steer them away from something untoward. We teach our children “stranger DANGER.”
Hubs and I are on a winter road trip, and the other day, we found ourselves on the Mardi Gras parade route in Mobile AL. The road was so narrow Lowell thought it DANGEROUS to navigate our travel trailer. He is an excellent driver, and we made it just fine.
Traveling involves a measure of DANGER, and we’ve had our share of close calls.
DANGER is part of life and the way we react is important. Do you prepare for danger or just go with the flow?
COMMON
We’re meandering around Florida’s Panhandle for a spell, and the miles give my head plenty of time for thinking and pondering. Two of my favorites.
This post is for my Jesus people and, of course, those curious!
Jesus, raised in Nazareth, had a pretty COMMON, normal upbringing. Son of a carpenter, He probably knew a few skills! I’m sure Joseph told Him, “Measure twice, cut once,” a few times. Mary and Joseph had several more kids, so growing up was COMMONplace!
Here’s the uncommon part. Jesus was all-God and all-man at the same time. He was without sin. I bet His siblings got tired of His fairness and goodness!
James to his mom, Mary, “Oma , can’t you do or say something to Jesus? He never gets in trouble. He’s so boring!”
So COMMON, yet uncommon!
The Uncommon COMMON took on all the sin of past, present, future and gave Himself as a Ransom for all.
So extraordinary, so uncommon. I love Him so.
SAVER
As a writer of Biblical devotionals and a faith blogger, I’ve attempted to do this February writing challenge without being preachy or overly-spiritual; however, for me, it always ends up about Him.
Him, being Jesus Christ! It’s always about Him – Christ gives me the want-to, the drive, and the words. He IS The Story, my story!
He is The Saver. The Savior. The Savor of my story! I was lost, but now I’m found. I was blind, but now I see. I was lame, but now I walk.
You put your own “I was” in your story, but regardless, please include The Saver!
PROBLEM
Houston, we have a PROBLEM! Those are infamous words from NASA and heard around the world!
Just like sister’s pony tail palm has a PROBLEM, this world isn’t short on them, amen?
And, it seems that where there are no problems, someone will make one.
Take the Asbury College spiritual awakening, for instance. What wonderful happenings are occurring around the country. Gen Z’ers are seeking God and His holiness. How can anyone find a PROBLEM with that?
Some say, “it’s not real.” Others say, “it is not lasting,” and then there are those who say, “This is sheer nonsense and craziness.”
Come on already, people. God will sort this out – He needs no help from us humans!
It ain’t a PROBLEM. ITS A MIRACLE!
YOU WANT TO TALK PROBLEMATIC? Let’s talk about our southern border. Let’s talk about who is sitting in the White House. Let’s talk about the thousands dying from Fentanyl. Let’s talk about election fraud.
Anyone join me?
THREAT
Ft. Pickens, FL. These cannons defended the Bay from enemy forces circa 1835’ish.
Today, we have THREATS all around us. Nuclear war. Old age. Traffickers. Exploiters. Poverty. Starvation. Dictatorship. Illness. Death. Disease.
The THREAT of bad news can cause anxiety in the strongest of souls. How does one thwart THREATS?
Well, we could live in a cave. Or, we could live in a plastic bubble.
Yet the reality is we just cannot avoid all THREATS.
For me, I have adopted the Faith > Fear soul set! I am so grateful for my heritage of strong faith. I cannot imagine life without the belief in Someone greater. Someone all-knowing and fully in charge! My life is in His hands. There’s no THREAT bigger than my God.
Do you know Him?
FAVORITE
This word is way too big for me to focus on! I have numerous FAVORITES.
I have a FAVORITE husband.
I have FAVORITE kids.
I have FAVORITE grands.
I have a FAVORITE sister.
My life is filled with FAVORITE events!
What makes something or someone a FAVORITE?
A uniqueness I think. My daughter, a FAVORITE, and I took our FAVORITE kids on many road trips as they were growing up and without fail on our way home, I’d ask, “What was your FAVORITE thing?” And, they had to answer, including the reason for their choice!
Now, looking back, I realize almost every moment has been a FAVORITE.
As I write this, I’m sitting in Gracee looking out the window, and I see blue skies, tall trees, a golf cart, our outdoor rockers and I think, “These are my FAVORITE things today.”
I can listen to birds singing or a song and think, “My FAVORITE!”
So, in conclusion, I believe it’s safe to say that life is my ultimate FAVORITE. I love everything about it.
How about you?
STEWARDSHIP
STEWARDSHIP
The first thing one thinks about as you ponder this word prompt is money. The STEWARDSHIP of money! But the principle is much bigger than just the green stuff.
It has always been my belief that if you don’t take care of what you have, then why on earth would God give you more or better?
This road trip has shown me that a lot of people do not take care of what they have, and yet they pathetically want more. It won’t happen, people.
Years ago, the wasband and I needed a rental in South Florida. The only thing we could find was a dumpy duplex on a dumpy street. We had a toddler, and I was preggers with number two. We looked at each other and said, “We’ll make it better!” My grandma Emily, whose birthday happens to be today, always said, “Paint covers a multitude of sin!!!”
Our place ended up a showcase, and we began a trend of clean-up in our little neighborhood.
Good STEWARDSHIP of what was available to us at the time.
Hubs and I give more than 15% of our income away. We support Save Our Daughters -Nepal, IJM, Water for Africa, 3 children’s education in Pakistan, our church, and numerous other ministries.
STEWARDSHIP is putting your resources where your mouth is.
Clean your car. Pickup your trash. Paint your house. Buy a lunch for a vagrant. Adopt a child in a third world country. Volunteer at a food bank. Adopt a pet.
STEWARDSHIP covers a wide spectrum of opportunities and the reward? Peace of mind. And, who doesn’t need a dose of that?
What a fun challenge this was. Even while we were road-tripping, it was easy to keep up with!
Hope & Kindness,
Sus’
xo
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