Irene Hurricane - August 2011

Here are a few photos from around NJ.

Thanks to my friend Lynnette a great photographer.

This was preparation for Hurricane Irene. Folks boarding up their homes.

 This is a great breakfast restaurant. I love their clever note !

 Local churches cancelled.

Thank God we were fine. We lost 1/2 our power in the apt. But God is so faithful to us the outlets that work happen to be the refrig, tv and microwave.

We are set !

Earth Quake in NJ ? Maranatha Lord Jesus

The most powerful earthquake to strike the East Coast in 67 years shook buildings and rattled nerves from South Carolina to Maine on Tuesday. Frightened office workers spilled into the streets in New York, and parts of the White House, Capitol and Pentagon were evacuated.

I just had to post this so I don't forget down the road. I'm sitting at work. My co-worker had gone to lunch. I hear another co-worker coming down the row. I notice my computer screen is shaking. I think my goodness how heavy does Pat walk? hah Then Pat stops to see me and says what is going on? I said, I don't know. I noticed the floor was moving, the hanging lights overhead were swaying back and forth.  It seems to go on for 1/2  a minute at least.  It was quite scary really.  I had no idea what was happening having not experienced an earthquake before. I just sat at my desk almost in shock. I never moved or tried to go outside.  Made me think, gee what will I do in a real disaster?  Hopefully, next time I will know what it is and head outside. Many of my co-workers did just that. 

I am so thankful it was minor and no one was hurt. Nothing was damaged. Makes me appreciate even more the poor folks in Japan and Haiti that have suffered great loss.  I can not image the fear, panic, anxiety and confusion at devastation that large.

We are overcomers !

Had a lovely afternoon at a ladies bible study and cover dish brunch.  I made Greek Pasta Salad. There was a ton of food. A lady made Ratatouille it was delicious.

They study was on being an overcomer and more than conqueror's.  How yes we are saved and going to Heaven but we need to still live obedient lives.  Lives that honor God.  We have the blessed opportunity to serve God and gain those Heavenly crowns.  I want to have crowns to lay at Jesus feet. I don't want to "just get into Heaven"  -- I want to hear "Well, done thy good and faithful servant".

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.


Romans 8:36-38
 
Overcomer's have one Attitude - God will be faithful no matter what.  No matter what He chooses to bring into my life. No matter the pleasure, the pain, the hardships, the joys. 
 
To live a life that counts. To run the race with faith, perseverance & consistency.
 

Lord Jesus, it will be my great delight and honor to give you my crown.  When I think of the crown you wore for me it pales in comparison.

Lunch out with Mom & Auntie . . .

Last day of my week's vacation. Went with my Mom and Aunt Rose to lunch.  This is my Aunt Rose in the blue & white checks and my Mom in the pink. 

Makes me want to sing this song . .. Sisters, sisters

There were never such devoted sisters,

Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sister

And Lord help the sister, who comes between me and my man.   LOL   White Christmas . . .



We went to 10Th Ave Burrito Co. Soooo good!  They have the freshest food.  We all had tacos. I love their fish taco. Fresh Talapia. Just so good.  I had the black bean soup. It was really pureed.   This place is 5 minutes from my Mom's house. She had never been there. She is going back for sure ! hah



Good Friends Weekend

Went to Lewisburg PA to visit my dear friends this weekend. We have been friends since I was 8 years old. We use to be neighbors in Oceanport until they moved to PA. We have remained friends and close all these many years. We always try to gather together once a year when my friend Lydie flies in from Florida. For the past two years my Aunt Rose has comes along. My hubby was doggie sitting my Solomon. But with Sollie being with the Lord, next year hubby can come along. This year he had tickets to see Tony Bennett in Ocean Grove and he really enjoyed him.

Here are a few photos of the Kinney's.

This is 4 of the five siblings. Cindy, Luke, Lydie & Holly. Cliff lives in West Virginia and he could not come. 

 These are the grandchildren. Lukes girls - Mackenzie, Maddie & Olivia. Lydie's son Jeff. Meredith's son Caden. Cindy's son David. And also a good friend Joseph. Cliff who could not attend has to sweet children, Jack & Clara.

 This is my Aunt Rose and Cindy.

Here's Mr Kinney (pop pop) at the grill. Mrs Kinney (Nana) was so busy upstairs in the kitchen I didn't get a shot of her ;(

Pop pop loves his grill. He made hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken and his famous Kielbasas.



We always visit a place called Country Cupboard. It is a gift shop, restaurant, hotel. They have the nicest gifts. I love to stroll around the shops.

 Of course, Sticky Buns !



Vacation All I Ever Wanted . . . Vacation I'm NOT Getting Away . . .

As of 5:30 pm today I am on VACATION !    Yippe Yippee . . .

I really need this one.  After a fun weekend in PA to visit my dear friends I will be back in NJ enjoying my home and the Jersey Shore.   Haven't had a stay at home vacation in several years.

Oh sweet freedom . . . no schedule, no plans, no where I have to BE !

Joyce Meyer & Hershey Park weekend !

Gary and I went out to Hershey Park this weekend to see Joyce Meyer speak on Saturday.

We really enjoyed her. She is hysterically funny and we learned alot.  We stopped in Lancaster on the way

out and did some Outlet shopping. Got a matching suit case at the QVC store. I finally have 3 matching pieces to my luggage.  Yippee

After Lancaster we drove over to Hershey Park.  Everything there is just adorable.

This has to be my favorites though. The Hershey Kiss lamp lights down Hershey Avenue.

This is the Motel we stayed in. It was nice.

It was a quick trip but we really enjoyed the get-a-way!

Happy 14th Birthday in Heaven my Solomon doggie

My sweet Solomon

Here on your 14^th birthday I smile through the tears thinking of you today.

Oh how I wish you were here to take to Sonic or Stuarts drivin’s for “chicken fingers” & vanilla ice cream. Like we have in the past. We had planned it for months but the Lord needed you in Heaven. Gary and Mom miss you so much. I'd give anything to be with you to celebrate. I sure hope your being a good boy.

Sometimes I think I hear you growling or complaining as we liked to call it at an animals on the TV. Or I look real fast and swear I see you lying on the floor by Mom. Your absence is always near.

I miss you in my office faithfully lying by my feet, in the bathroom while I dry my hair wagging that tail a mile a minute because after I am done you knew it was outside time with Mom. I miss you lying beside my makeup table when I am getting ready for work. I miss you going down the stairs of our apt. twice each day 10,220 times I walked you down those steps in 14 years. From when you were a puppy going so fast and dragging Mom down to your senior years when Mom has to help you see each step and sometimes carry you down.

I miss you every time I go outside on our front steps where you would sit for hours with Mom – investigating the neighborhood. Watching Uncle Mike and the guys at the tire center work. Hitting me with your foot a hundred times for a scratch. Oh how you enjoyed that. I miss you when I walk into the bedroom and don’t see your “spare” cookie waiting for you. I miss you during dinner each night expecting you to bug us for our food.

I miss you looking over at me for a good word, because each bite you took of your food I would tell you what a good boy you were eating your dinner. You loved it - you would wag that tail and look over after each bite and wait for me to stay it. I miss the silly things you would do like wag your tail as if on queue when I asked you if you loved Mom, then drop it like lead when I asked you if you loved Gary. I miss you coming into the office every time Gary came in just to make sure Mom was okay. You never liked us to be alone. I miss coming into the apt and not having you greet me - you never missed a single day. I miss when you would get a belly ache and howl and howl until Mom took you outside. Often times I think you were playing just to get outside. I miss putting on your lease and fighting with you. You had to bite it and put it in your mouth. You had to carry it to the door. You had to be in CONTROL even if for a minute. I miss you running into the kitchen every time I opened a can of tuna. I miss you every time I go to Aldi’s and no longer buy your cookies or chicken breasts. I miss hearing Gary say "Sol, Gary will see you later" when he left for work. He never forgot to tell you.  I miss watching you enjoy Auntie’s yard and deck. Walking right in the middle of her flowers when she was planting them. I miss you banging on her door wanting to go in her house. I miss you crying like a baby at her gate when Mom would leave you at her house even for a minute. I miss you jumping for sheer joy when we told you it was time to go in the car. Especially when we went to grandmom's house. You loved going to see her. You never forgot about her no matter how long between visits. I think you liked the carrots Grandmom always spoiled you with. I miss you getting so excited to see your doggie sitter Shelly. You two had a special bond. I miss you going to the groomer whether it was Kathy, Hope or Melanie you always were the only doggie there sitting in his muzzle. And we all know why !  But miraculously those gals loved you and you won them over inspite of yourself. I miss kissing you on your head right in that same spot. I miss you roaming the apt with your baby duck in your mouth, filled with worry and anxiety as to where to bury it that day. You did this ritual every single day without fail.

I miss you every minute of every day Solomon ! But I will focus on all that you’ve given me and all that you’ve taught me. And the wonderful 14 years of memories the Lord blessed us with . . .

Unconditional love

Faithfulness

Fun

Express Joy in everything

Patience

Living life to the full

Happiness

Playfulness

Protectiveness
Enjoying the small things
Appreciate each day before it is gone

We are sending these balloons your way today . . .

Mom’s taking great care of your duck. He miss you too . ..

Happy 14^th Birthday in Heaven Sollie, we miss you and love you and look forward to the day when we see you again . . . xoxoxo

Your baby duck !  Mom has him hanging in a shadow box watching over him for you.