Flight to Spain...

I wondered if my derrière would ever be the same after that many hours of sitting with nowhere to go. We got up every so often to stretch our legs and walk to the bathroom or around the center section of seats, but mostly I sat by my little window and looked out to see what I could see. I saw Ireland and the Celtic sea, New Foundland on the way back with it's ice and snow as far as I could see; England, France, Portugal, and of course Spain in the glory of its Spring. I can't believe I can even say that I've glanced at all those places, even if only briefly before we were above the clouds. One of the highlights of this amazing trip had to be as we lifted off in the United States heading for Europe. Such a profound moment of realization of God's faithfulness and His amazing blessing it was. We had a layover in Raleigh, NC and when we took off I looked out my window and saw the exact dream I had had over and over; again and again as a little girl. I would always dream this beautiful dream where I was flying and I would look down on the lights of a city that looked like diamonds sprinkled across black velvet and I always thought how wonderful it would be to really fly and see something so beautiful. It was a dream of complete freedom and later on when I would remember the dream, I thought maybe it was a glimpse of heaven and how it would feel to fly without anything holding me back. There was no fear at all and I have never forgotten that dream. Well, when we took off from Raleigh and I saw the lights just as I had seen them in the dream, knowing the ocean was before us, God spoke to my heart and I knew He was sitting right there on that airplane with me, holding me just as He had held the little girl I once was. Just as clearly as if He had manifested right there next to me He said, "I knew back then that you would be right here right now, and I wanted you to see from My perspective and remember that it was Me who was always leading and moving you to this exact day and time." He said, "I knew you would come; I was counting on it and I am taking you on this journey. You have nothing to fear." It was such an incredible moment that I began to cry at the very thought of His perfect care and plan for me; the plans and purposes He has for all His people if we'll just be willing and obedient. Whether it is to go or to stay; whatever God has for us is good, isn't it? He could've said, "You are 57 years old my dear girl; what took you so long?", but He didn't. He just held me and I think I knew He was smiling.

A Quote Tweaked a Bit...

I just read a quote by Thomas Jefferson and it warmed my heart. He said, "I had rather be shut up in a very modest cottage, with my books, my family and a few old friends, dining on simple bacon, and letting the world roll on as it liked, than to occupy the most splendid post which any human power can give." At first glance his thought seemed like a bit of heaven, yet when I pondered the words for a moment, I decided with resolve, that I want more when it's all said and done. Though ideally I would hang onto a life lived in such simplicity, I would have to say that family comes before books and that the bacon would need a few vegetables to go along with it. My own never-to-be-famous quote would read something like this.... "I had rather be free dancing in a field of flowers, filled with wonder and praise to my God underneath a blue sky, with my family and a few precious friends, dining on simple crescent rolls and little smokies (I just had to throw that in... I mean what's funnier; that Thomas Jefferson said 'bacon' or that I said 'little smokies'?), and letting the world around us see the Light of God's love in ours, than to occupy the most splendid mansion which any human power can give." That's my personal quote for today and I think I like it. I will have to add that a few books would be nice as well.