The Vagabond

When I was studying for my undergrad, I sang a series of pieces entitled "Songs of Travel" by Ralph Vaughan Williams and told the tale of a Vagabond, Youth and Love, and the Infinite Shining Heavens among others, and his lonely journey to different places.  The journey took about eighteen minutes {yes, I was tired afterwards}. But the memory lasts forever. The text was set to poems by Robert Lewis Stevenson. 
Have you ever taken a journey {physically or spiritually}?  Was is a rough road? Was it easy? Or perhaps a little of both?

 I have trod the upward and the downward slope;

I have endured and done in days before; I have longed for all, and bid farewell to hope; And I have lived and loved, and closed the door.

-R.L. Stevenson 

Let's Pretend

Truly wonderful the imagination of a child is...kids will tell you the truth {most of the time}...especially at the Kindergarten level.  They listen and notice EVERYTHING!  It's a never-ending journey...almost magical.  Can you remember a time when you used to "pretend"?  When your friends came over you'd say..."Hey let's pretend that we are ___________!" And you can fill in the blank all day long. 

Morning Wishes

What is a wish?
...{to have a desire for (as something unattainable)} Like children, we sometimes revert back to child-like desires...e.g. meeting a knight in shining armor, security, free of pain and suffering.  But perhaps tough times are dealt to us so that we appreciate the many blessing we already have?  And many times, we are made to suffer in order to learn a tough-love lesson.  In my classroom, I give my students many tough-love lessons...they don't always know it's good for them {and I always remind them that I love them more than they know} Sometimes I will put a child in the corner if they are consistently misbehaving in my classroom...most of the time they come back with a renewed look on their face.

Tribute to 2004

They say life goes full circle and lately I have seen that to be true.  Some things change but some remain the same. 

Any little song that you know
Everything that's small has to grow.
And it has to grow!

 

This picture was taken with my old four megapixel Canon A80 that I have had since 2004. As you can see, it has a very "2004ish" quality.



Clear Creek- Friendswood, TX.

Pathways

{Life is full of responsibilities and to-do lists. It's easy to dismiss doing something for ourselves (pastors have this problem)...it's as though we need permission to do what we want to do. Grant yourself one thing you want to do or not do today...}

Sound of Silence

Though silence can be blissful, certain sounds can make our hearts soar...the pitta pat of rain, the singing of a sparrow, and the distant sound of thunder. What sounds make you happy?

A Time for Everything

1776 Park- Friendswood, TX.

...For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven...

Changes in life can be taxing but they can also be opportunities.  Some changes are so gradual that we don't even notice them.  But sometimes our lives are rattled by abrupt changes and feel that we are in the sinking sand. For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose.

The Storms of Life Commeth



2016 Main Street Houston, TX.

Expect to encounter adversity in your life...anticipate coming face to face with impossibilities and situations beyond your control. The storms of life will come...not if, but when.  We tend to sink when we take our eye off Jesus during the storm...just like Peter did in our scripture reading.  When we see torrential rains and winds marching toward us, cry out to Jesus...don't try to do it all yourself.

I was blessed to get this shot on the first try!!

The Milk Pail, League City, TX

We live in a society that glorifies busyness; many of us stay busy in order to try to anesthetize pain and suffering in our lives.  Try to take some time for yourself today...it's okay.

This little gem of a restaurant/gift shop can be found in historic League City, TX.  I am blessed to enjoy a wonderful meal in the stillness of this historic house.

I noticed that the older I become, the more I enjoy a quiet restaurant out of the way {and not necessarily the most popular either}. 
 

Resting does not necessarily mean idleness, as most often perceived. Sometimes we can find rest in things that make us happy.  Or rest in just getting away from it all.

Latte on the Square, La Grange, TX

I was excited to see that this little gem of a coffee house was still as hopping as ever! This place still caters to clientele of all walks of life ranging from the multi-color hair teens and 20s to the executive and business types.  The shop was moved from the corner of Travis St to just three doors down. It has a new look but the same feel.  The music is turned down to a soft level where you can actually hear yourself think. I feel good here.

For a Tuesday, this town is pretty busy. People are out and about despite the rain.  This place is quiet and warm. They also have a living room with a big couch and two chairs with Ikea-style pillows.  I love that it is not freezing cold and the fact that it doesn't sound like a rock concert in here.

The girl behind the counter knew exactly what I wanted to drink...the breakfast blend. She asked if I wanted it in a "for here" cup and I got the best one!  I feel so blessed to enjoy this wonderful venue.

Next door to the Brendan Manor is the St James and it looks exactly the same as it did eight years ago!  The architecture and painting is reminiscent of an old Czech village church.

The Cave-2014

Greetings. I am so glad you came to visit.  I want to share another gem I found in the city of La Grange called The Brendan Manor Bed & Breakfast.  This house is truly the epitome of a Victorian-style mansion.  I have been ultimately blessed to be the only guest this evening!  I have been able to explore and take in all its demeanor.  Not even the owners live in the house.  I literally have the entire two-story, five bedroom mansion all to myself and it is unbelievably quiet. 
It has been eight years since I visited the quiescent city of La Grange, TX.  After sometime, I felt called to go back to La Grange for some solitude and reflection.  It was time to revisit the cave. If you recall, the Cave of the Apocalypse is said to be the place where the Apostle John received his visions that he recorded in the book of Revelation. 
We can use our "caves" as a place to connect or reconnect...a place of solitude. Some connect through reading and reflection.  Some connect through meditation and breathing. And some connect through a song.  We all should find time in our busy lives to be still.

I am sleeping in the Tabitha Annette room, which you can see, is quite immaculate.

In my room, was a book of menus for local restaurants around the area.  I was sorry to learn that my old favorite dining facility (Fishes and Loaves, see 2006 entry) was no longer in business so my guide recommended a BBQ place called Legal Tender (I thought the name was cute). This place was just up the road on 77 N about 4 miles from town. And I was the only customer since it was only 45 minutes to closing time.  I got the chopped beef sandwich, which came with chips and an iced tea.  I am tremendously blessed because there are people who do not get to enjoy food every day.

Some say miracles don't happen anymore.  Some say blessings never come.  I am here to say that both are in full force today and both come in great quantities. But I believe many times we are just too busy to notice them. 

 
If you recall, I dined at Bistro 108 back in the summer of 2006.  I was delighted to see that this wonderful venue still existed; however, it's closed on Sunday.

Theologica

Once upon a time, an angel landed on Earth and began to explore...

She and her friend, Aura, explored the forest...feeling the leaves under her feet.





























Oh how she loved to play with the leaves...

...and the pine cones. Angel considered all creation as her friend and treated everything with gentle care.


















She looked up...she looked down and imagined what it would be like to live here..."Oh I'm sure everything is perfect here", she reckoned.

 Angel took her friend by the hand and prepared to ascend back to the heavens.  "my time on Earth was too short", she thought.  "I hope the creatures here make the most of their blessed lives."

The End

Montague Coffee, Colorado Springs, CO

While exploring Colorado Springs, I came across this little gem called Montague's Coffee just off  I-25 on S. Tejon St.  I did not have much time to stay (although I wish I could have).  I got a coffee to go and an orange scone.

It was 61 degrees this morning as I stopped in for a cup on the way back to Denver where I took my last jump seat flight on Southwest Airlines. As always, the pilots on Southwest were more than willing to take me and allow me to sit up front. Thanks guys! And God bless!

Final Non-Rev: The End of Times

The apostle John wrote about revelation, the end of times, and the final judgment. Hardly a week goes by without news of job losses and seemingly little hope for the future.  You may have received bad news of an illness and perhaps in the midst of struggling to come to terms with it. And maybe you are struggling to cope with what is happening to you and what may happen to you in the future. The end, it seems, of your world.

But is it? By standing firm we will receive life in ways that you never thought possible.

This was my last trip and flight as an airline employee.  I took a trip to Colorado Springs for some reflection and solitude. This an awesome sight to behold.

Farview Bed and Breakfast Brenham, TX



Farview B&B- Brenham, TX

This B&B was absolutely delightful!  I was only here in Brenham, TX for a day but I got much rest and solitude, which we all need more of in our diets. 

The wonderful owners upgraded me to The Library for two reasons.  First, I was their only guest that day. And second, my original room was infested with wasps!  Sometimes  unpleasant things happen to make us appreciate the many blessings we have on a daily basis.