Delta Decision

Thank you for your continued prayer as I have been praying also for my decision about Delta. As you know, my deadline for deciding is Thursday, May 15. In November of 2001, I was faced with a similar decision. With my CTO closing after 9/11, I had to decide if I were going to stay with Delta and drive 120 miles per day to a Reservations office ( which is now closed, too) or find alternate employment. Friends that I had worked with for 20 years were faced with the same difficult decision. 3 of us stayed, 3 took the "voluntary packages" that were being offered. This time around, the circumstances are different and yet painfully the same.This time around, I have made the same decision to stay. Some say I am loyal and trust in a company that no longer exists, but I am not trusting in Delta...I have placed my trust in Jesus and the verse that has seen me through is Proverbs 3:5 and 6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. I believe with all my heart, that the Lord has directed me to stay and He will see me through. Thank you again for lifting me up in prayer.

Pool's Open!

This has been the easiest year to open the pool. Mark and I always trade horror stories...when you cover a pool for the season, you never know what you will find when you pull off the cover. Jason and I are getting better at this. Each year we learn more about the process. Sometimes we think it would be easier to let all the water out, make a bigger deck and get a nice new HOT TUB! Less hassles. But then when I get off work and I am floating in my pool, I think...This is the life! Worth all the work. I can't wait to have Hannah and Jacob over. Spending time with them is always a good time. Guess I will need to get new goggles and floats or noodles. Also want to get a GAS GRILL. Cookouts, poolside...what could be better?

Peter Pan

This afternoon Robin, Hannah and I flew to Neverland with the Tallahassee Ballet. We enjoyed the performance. Then dinner at Cracker Barrel. Doesn't matter what we do, I always enjoy time spent with Robin and Hannah. I am so thankful that God blessed me so richly. I love you girls.

Symphony....Birthday....and BOSTON BUTTS

I know, I know..what do those have in common? One thing I know for sure...JASON. Tomorrow is Jason's birthday. We purchase tickets to the Symphony each year now and attend at least 3 performances. When I saw this one...two days before his birthday, it was a "no brainer".
Now the Boston Butt was his idea. A Butt is Better with family, so tonight we invited Robin, Michael and the kids for a BOSTON BUTT BIRTHDAY!

Last night's performance...BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gioacchino Rossini - Overture to the Silken Staircase
Franz Liszt Piano Concerto No 1 in E-flat major
and Sergei Rachmanifnoff - Symphony No.2 in E minor, Op27

We finished off the evening with a stop at On the Border for a late night dinner. The service was poor...very very slow and then long after the dinner should have arrived, the waitress informed Jason that they were out of Brisket for his Brisket Taco....he ordered a Beef Burrito and when the waitress brought that she told us that the Manager apologized and Dinner was on the house! So FREE DINNER for Jason's birthday.

Hope you are enjoying the music.

Who Moved My Cheese?

Have you read that book? If you have, you may be in Corporate America. It was on the Best Sellers list a few years ago and required reading for many corporations. I first read it in 2001....right before Delta "moved my cheese". I shared with my employees this week that Delta has "moved my cheese" so many times...I QUIT EATING CHEESE. The changes I am facing are no exception. Change is never easy....but you must embrace change to survive. I am so thankful that my faith is in God, not my job. I need to be reminded over and over again. God is faithful. God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He will take care of me. He has been faithful....through all generations. Over the next few weeks I must make some life changing decisions. They will not be easy. I am thankful for prayer partners who will hold me up, knowing that this is difficult. I have dedicated 30 years to Delta Air Lines. I know that this job was given to me through an answer to prayer. I have no doubt about that. I also need to trust that God is in complete control of this change, and He will see me through.

Welcome myself back comments...

Last Monday Jason and I drove over to Jacksonville to pick up his mother for a visit. She flew into JAX to get a nonstop. It was a pleasant drive over...always enjoy time in the car with Jase...good conversation and I have his full attention...except that he's driving...HA!
The drive back was enjoyable, too. Catching up with Mary, planning our itinerary for the week.
Today is Mary's birthday. She is 82. She still lives in Wyoming, Ohio...our hometown. They have had a very cold winter and she needed an "escape" to warmer weather. For those who have been here, there is nothing like Springtime in Tallahassee. The azaleas and Dogwoods in bloom. The fragrant flowers, the clear blue skies...the warmer temperatures.
The highlight of her visit has been our Easter Sunday Celebration. Robin and family were invited, of course, and then Robin invited a co-worker, friend...and his family. It turned out to be a lovely Easter Sunday...Wonderful Church service, message and music...great fellowship with family and new friends....delicious dinner. Robin made a 7 layer salad and Mary made Key Lime pies with whipped cream. I made roasted potatoes and green beans...Publix made my ham.
We've been playing Crazy 8's and Scrabble all week....painting....touring Tallahassee. Robin took us yesterday...a spin around FSU and town. It was the best tour I've had. We visited a tree you have to see to believe. The property was donated to the city, I think Robin said, by a former FSU Professor (deceased). It is a MUST SEE in Tallahassee.
Today is the birthday...I have to work...but Jason will take his mom to Outback for lunch.
I was able to attend the "official" birthday lunch, yesterday, at Robin's. She prepared an Oriental Chicken salad that was scrumptious...and the presentation was SO Martha!
Back to work today....Bah Humbug.

Our 28th Wedding Anniversary!

Jason and I will celebrate our 28th Wedding Anniversary tomorrow. I am still so thankful that God hand picked this man for me. He was praying for a wife. God answered his prayer. I told him this evening, that I know I vowed for "better or worse"... but I'm sure glad it has been "better" more than "worse". He is my best friend. He understands me like no one else. He is still the handsomest guy I have ever seen....and I love him more today than when we first said, "I do". There is a duet...that says it all:

These times are troubled and these times are good
And they're always gonna be, they rise and they fall
We take 'em all the way that we should
Together you and me forsaking them all
Deep in the night and by the light of day
It always looks the same, true love always does
And here by your side, or a million miles away
Nothin's ever gonna change the way that I feel,
The way it is, is the way that it was

When I said I do, I meant that I will 'til the end of all time
Be faithful and true, devoted to you
That's what I had in mind when I said I do

Well this old world keeps changin', and the world stays the same
For all who came before, and it goes hand and hand
Only you and I can undo all that we became
That makes us so much more, than a woman and a man
And after everything that comes and goes around
Has only passed us by, here alone in our dreams
I know there's a lonely heart in every lost and found
But forever you and I will be the ones
Who found out what forever means

When I said I do, I meant that I will 'til the end of all time
Be faithful and true, devoted to you
That's what I had in mind when I said I do

Truer than true, you know that I'll always be there for you
That's what I had in mind, that's what I had in mind,
When I said I do

An unforgettable evening!

A co-worker gave me two tickets that she was unable to use last night, and Jason and I were able to attend a wonderful concert. I have posted an excerpt from their website below. If you have an opportunity to see them, don't pass it up. Definitely an evening to remember.

A New Journey – by turns dazzlingly elaborate and hauntingly simple – is perfectly reflective of David’s musical vision. As he himself puts it, he is drawn towards ‘music with many layers, many strands, many dynamics, and I tend to think of our music as like a kaleidoscope: elements shifting in and out of focus at any given time.’

Spanning over two hours, the show contains selections from both of the group’s platinum albums, Celtic Woman and A New Journey. The Celtic Women themselves are as beautifully, quintessentially Irish as the music they perform. Says David of the soloists: ‘They are the songs, in many cases, and are the reason for any Celtic Woman music to happen. Their voices and music bring that sound together, bring it to life.’

Make no mistake – this is entertainment on a spectacular scale. It is, however, the poignant, deeply stirring songs and the unforgettable voices of the Celtic Women that will remain with you long after the lights have died down and the dazzling images have faded from view.

Not content to retread ground already covered on previous projects, A New Journey both expands upon and refines the Celtic Woman sound. The repertoire is an unforgettable collection of contemporary hits (Beyond the Sea, The Prayer, Scarborough Fair, Over the Rainbow), classical favorites (Lascia Ch’io Pianga, Vivaldi’s Rain), Irish standards (Dúlaman, Danny Boy, Mo Ghile Mear) and original compositions written especially for the soloists by David Downes (Granuaile's Dance, At the Ceili, The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun, The Blessing & Sing Out!) As David puts it, ‘if you’re going to make a sequel, you might as well throw all ideas into the ring.’ But the risks taken – both in terms of the new musical material and the breathtaking outdoor setting – have paid off in spectacular style. Celtic Woman’s A New Journey, like all the best journeys, is an experience you will never forget.

Baby Binks

Anyone who knows me well, knows well that I love Baby Binks. Each year just before Easter, I have everyone who loves me searching every Walgreens, CVS, Publix...for Baby Binks...for those who don't know...Baby Binks is a hollow chocolate rabbit...made by Palmer Candies. He is no ordinary bunny....he always has candy eyes and a small satin ribbon. There are many imitations...also made by Palmer candies...FLOPPY, etc...but only ONE BABY BINKS!
Tonight Jason and I went to Home Depot to get our anniversary gift. Our 28th anniversary is March 11. I have been begging for a blower for all the leaves that I am too tired to "sweep" off the deck...and then we stopped by a Publix for cat food and dinner...and on the way in....in their HUGES display of Easter Candy...thinking this would be an unsuccessful attempt at finding my annual BINKS...I almost FELL OVER!!!! They had a large supply of BINKS! I was beside myself...like a kid in the candy store...literally...I GRABBED 3! So proud of my find. Jason was happy, too, because this means he will not have to worry about finding this year's Baby Binks.
So for anyone out there....worried about me....no need.

The perfect wardrobe

For years I led a Women's Bible Study...lately I have been thinking about some of the things I shared....I needed to hear them again. What kind of clothes are in your closet?

Women are so concerned about what they are going to wear. God's wardrobe is the most beautiful. Look at what the Word says about what we are to "put on".

Colossians 3:12-17 ( KJV)






12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.