Real Life Looms Ahead

It has been such a wonderful week of vacation. We are back in Athens, GA after running around South Carolina and North Carolina for the past week. We have a good time traveling with DC's brother and our SIL. We visited two of their daughters and spent a delightful interlude at Myrtle Beach. Much more to come about all of those things.

It has rained all day today, but the rest of the time has been just beautiful. I just found out that I took 200 pictures. Don't worry - I won't post all of them!

The women's meeting went well and my words were kindly received. I appreciate your prayers and thoughts so much and trust that God will use what He will in the lives of those who were there.

I discovered something great recently - I don't get sick when I read in the car any more - at least on straight roads! I finished two books and am about two-thirds finished with The Shack. It is an amazing book - the author has a tremendous imagination and great spiritual insight. I will have more to say about this in the future as well.

But - tonight I just want to share the special climax of this fantastic get-away. It was lunch with Nancy of Daily Blessings. I love reading Nancy's blog, because she finds blessings in everything that happens to her and she brings blessing to my life because of it.

Getting together with Nancy was a blessing indeed, as she would say. And it was orchestrated by God Himself. When I realized I was going to be in North Carolina on this trip, I wrote and told Nancy. Having no idea where she lives in that beautiful state (to which I had never been before), I told her where we would be. Turns out - she lives 15 minutes away from my niece! We got really excited until we discovered that the very days I was going to be there, she was going to be in Michigan. But - never fear. She was arriving back on Thursday night and we were leaving Friday to return to Athens. I discussed it with my traveling partners and they graciously extended our departure time until after lunch. Just before she left for her trip, we talked on the phone and made arrangements to meet at a lovely restaurant in the small town between her home and my niece's.

Today was the day - we knew each other imediately as she entered the mall where I was waiting. Not only did I have the blessing of meeting and visiting with Nancy, but she brought me this lovely gift.

It was filled with so many thoughtful items - and she has figured me out very well. It is amazing how much we know about each other from just reading what we write. She knows that I have a sweet tooth and more specifically am a chocoholic. You can see little sour jelly jack-o'-lanterns, peanuts, Ghiardelli candies - plus little things to take care of myself. And she's picked up on my love of anything by Max Lucado. Thanks so much, Nancy! I'll think of you often as I use and consume these treats.

We all had lunch together and Nancy discovered DC's goofy personality very quickly. Her hubby was up hunting in our neck of the woods, so we didn't get to meet him. But DC took this shot of the two of us as we had to say good-bye and get back on the road. What a blessing - indeed - it was to meet and visit with Nancy. This blogging adventure never gets boring, does it?