Patty's Journey of Faith: August 2014

I was on vacation in Ft. Walton Beach near Destin a few weeks back. It was a family affair with 5 daughters, 3 son-in-laws, one son in law to be, 3 granddaughters, 2 grandsons, 2 friends, and my husband Pat and I. That's 18 if you were not counting. This is our second year at "Coco Cabana" and we just love "our" house. It is kind of how I came up with the house for Irene and The Crooked Little House Book that I wrote and illustrated. It's NOT REALLY crooked but that's the fun of adding my own touch to the house. I am planning a second book with "Irene Goes To The Beach". Our vacations basically consist of waking up....eating breakfast, beach time, suppertime, pool time, bedtime.....oh...I forgot about Outlet Mall shopping time. YES, we made a dent there also. Everyone is home safe now and there really is no place like home!

While at the ocean, several times I would be in the ocean alone and it was so peaceful, so calming to the soul. While snorkeling, I could hear the ocean "talking" and I just thanked God for letting me be a part of this journey called life. The wildlife I saw when snorkeling..... the fish, a stingray, some saw a giant sea turtle, flying fish, small tuna while canoeing with Pat, and then the voices of small children running from the waves. It's all apart of MY life and I am just taking it all in. The best sound was my own grandchildren running along chasing waves....babbling under the shade....it doesn't get much better than "family time"!!

Yes, there were the occasional "snorts" and cries from the children...and some adults. :-) But all in all, I would say it was a GREAT vacation. One I am ready to go on every year....and one I am ready to end every year!

Besides swimming and walking some with the grandchildren, I really did not get in enough exercise. Today I am back on track, juicing my breakfast, I had hot lemon water instead of coffee. Something new I am trying to continually do to take caffeine out of my diet.....slowly. Or atleast slow it down to an occasional cup in the future. I wish I had the strength to go all out cold turkey and eat nothing but fruits/veggies/nuts...and water. If anyone has an overabundance of garden produce, I am more than happy to take it off your hands......preferably as organic as possible.

I am doing well. I visited my local dr right before vacation. All labs look good....my platelets seem stubborn to crawl much (they went from 112,000 to 114,000). That is low but not too bothersome. Just goes along with the poison and radiation that I have received. My next visit to Houston is not until the first week or so of October.....it will be four months in between my checkup. I must have faith that it will all work out in God's time....not mine.

My last biological daughter gets married in less than 1 week. I feel like I should be running around with my head cut off....but everything is in order. About 3 days before the wedding, things will pick up.....but until then-it's a sit back and wait time.....and that's all good with me!!

L.I.F.E. Yes, life is good on Suntone Beach. Yes, I get an occasional pain in the stomach area and I just look at my belly and ask..."What are you doing?" It doesn't answer (of course) but it is scary when you know there is a little monster inside your stomach. That is when I ask God to give me strength and my faith brings me back to reality. Besides taking good care of myself, exercising some, eating better, giving back to the community as much as I can, letting my faith carry me through on those days when the devil tries to get into my head and tell me how sick I am. NOPE......I will not, can not, have not listened to the devil....and that is why I am still here today. I have faith. I believe. God is right beside me all of the time. Amen!

God is GOOD ALL the time........ALL the time God is GOOD~~

Enjoy a few photo's from vacation :-)..........and Wedding Pics to come SOON!