Shifting focus

These past few days it's been rainy and dreary here. Those gray days can cause people to become depressed and I've found, if I'm not careful, I can fall into that trap easily. That's why I make sure to turn on more lights and find something to do to keep my mind busy. Instead of looking at those rainy days as bothersome or in a negative light, I'm trying to shift my focus so that I see things like that as blessings. My new motto for this year has become "Look for the positive in the negative." 

Adopting that motto hasn't been easy, in fact, it's been quite difficult. I've been dealing with a lot of health challenges this year and if I'm honest, there's been a lot of negativity with those. I have to choose to look for positive things each day. Doing that helps. If I didn't look for good things to focus on, I'd be a mess!

I'm thankful I have a strong faith. God has given me the strength to endure so much over the past 12 years. Without Him, I would never be able to find positivity in negative situations. 

There are so many old sayings that deal with the topic of positive vs. negative:  

"Look on the bright side"

"Every cloud has a silver lining" 

I could go on and on, but you get the idea. 

Why is it so easy to focus on the negative? I don't know, but I think it may have to do with the fact that we're weak humans. Some people are born with rose colored glasses on. I used to call myself a Pollyanna, but the older I get and the more aches and pains I have, I don't call myself that anymore. In fact, my rose colored glasses are currently sitting on a file cabinet in my office. As I type this, I can see them out of the corner of my eye. (Yes, I really do have a pair of rose colored glasses! I bought them so I could wear them on bleak days and remind myself to look for good things.) 

If you've never worn rose colored glasses, you should try it. Looking out through soft pink lenses changes your perspective drastically. I really like them and if I was brave enough, I'd have my prescription lenses tinted with pink so I could wear them every day. Maybe one day in the future, I'll do it! 

Something that's helped me is to keep a small gratitude list each day. At the end of the day, I try to find 3 things that were positive from the day. As I write them down, I also make sure to share them with a friend and she shares hers with me. It's become a wonderful way to end the day. 

Positivity is definitely more fun than negativity! If you're struggling, try doing the gratitude thing. At the end of your day, think about it. Were there 3 things that you enjoyed or felt had been small blessings? If so, write them down. Do this exercise for a month and see if it doesn't help you. I think it will. 

R and R is good for the soul

We've just returned from a week away and boy do we feel good! Every year we try to visit our favorite beaches. Being able to unwind from all the world's stressors is good for the body, mind, and soul. By the time we arrive each year, we realize it's the best medicine we could ever get. 

We've been going to these same areas for over 31 years. During that time, others have discovered the "Forgotten Coast" and it's grown immensely. It's sad to us to see so many new houses, hotels, and other developments because they destroy the wilderness areas we've enjoyed for so long, but I guess that's the price of loose lips. If people had kept the areas secret, the long time residents and visitors would have been able to have kept the pristine beaches quiet. 

We used to spend our summers in Destin years ago but when it became so busy, we moved to a quieter beach in Port St. Joe, Florida - Cape San Blas. It became our favorite until after Hurricane Michael. When that area was decimated and the beaches had to be restored, we moved on down the coast and started staying on St. George Island, a gorgeous beach with sugar white sands, clear blue green waters, and areas of unspoiled beauty. This visit, we noticed it's built up even more than ever before, but there are some secret areas we know about and we're not telling a soul about them. We're hoping to keep those quiet for a few more years or at least until we aren't able to drive down there and enjoy it any longer. 

Cape San Blas Lighthouse

We have so many special family memories in that area. We've taken all of the kids and several of our grandkids. I've made photo albums from each of our trips and I'm so glad I did. As we flip back through the pages, we are reminded of all the love we shared there. 

We especially love visiting 3 lighthouses in that general area: The Cape San Blas lighthouse, the St. George Island Lighthouse, and Crooked River Lighthouse. Something about them is so reassuring and peaceful.  

 I'm so thankful God made the oceans and all the beautiful scenery surrounding them. Every time I sit in front of the water, I look out and think about His Majestic power. The Bible says He set a boundary for the water and it can't cross over. Have you ever thought about that? Yes, the waves was up on the shore for high tide and recede for low tide, but they can't go anywhere He doesn't allow. They stay put and obey the boundaries He's set. To me, that's so cool! And don't get me started on all the other things He gives us to enjoy while at the beach. There are too many species of birds and other wildlife in and around the water. And who could ever count the grains of sand at the beach - only God! There are so many people who don't believe in Him, but the Bible says the heavens declare the glory of the Lord. All you have to do is look around at nature and you realize we have a marvelous Creator who thought of and created every minute detail of everything in the twinkling of an eye. Now that's something we have difficulty understanding but must choose to accept. 

Us in front of SGI lighthouse

 If you've never thought of the beach as restorative, you should. Leave your cares behind and travel to the one nearest you. Sit in the sun and listen to the rhythmic rise and fall of the waves. Watch the shore birds dive for fish. Walk along the sand and pick up a variety of shells - all gifts from the sea and see if it doesn't do something for your heart. Can you tell I love the beach??? I do!!!

I hope you enjoy some of my photos from this trip. I'm only including a few to entice you. It's so important to feed our bodies, our souls, and our spirits. I hope you take good care of yours and make time to get away when you can. Whether you realize it or not, you need it. 

Great Blue Heron

The photo above is of a Great Blue Heron who came and sat in front of us watching the surf. He stayed for the longest time and we enjoyed watching him. We assumed he was looking for fish but never saw him catch anything. They're such majestic birds. Each time we visit SGI, one is always close by. I think they know how much I love to photograph them and that's why then come hang out with me :)

 The photo below is of the sun going down over the bay. Each time we visit this area of the city, I think about my brother who's gone on to be with the Lord. He loved to kayak and fish. He would have enjoyed this area. 

Sunset over the bay

We've had the pleasure of taking a sunset cruise while here and there's nothing like it. Sailing across the water as the sun recedes  and the sky changes colors is heavenly. 

We always hate returning from the beach and coming back to reality, but normally we make plans for a return trip as soon as we get back home. We've thought about moving there, but then it wouldn't be as special. I think we'd get so used to seeing it everyday it would become mundane and we definitely don't want to rob ourselves of the blessing we receive when we visit. 

Crooked River lighthouse

 

This is the Crooked River lighthouse located in Carabelle. There's a great museum there, too. You can learn all about the history of the lighthouse and about how they're used to guide ships. 

Our favorite lighthouse is the St. George Island one. You can climb up to the top and get a great view of the island. The steps are steep but if you've got the ummphf you can do it!

SGI lighthouse

 We witnessed something while on our trip we've never seen before - a controlled burn. It was scary to see the large plumes of smoke rising over the island but apparently they do it several times a year to keep the marsh grass under control. All we could think about was the destruction of many water fowl nests. We'd witnessed several baby chicks crossing the bay the night before and it was so sweet to see and hear them. 

I took this photo at the marina in Appalachicola. The smoke was traveling from that city all the way over to St. George Island.

A husband just like that

I'm so blessed! I was thinking about it today and realized, I have a husband who's just like my Daddy. I never dreamed I'd get one, you see, the first two husbands were completely the opposite. I guess that's why those marriages didn't work out, among other reasons. If I'd known what to look for in a mate to begin with, I'd probably have picked a good one, but I was young and hadn't a clue. Thankfully, after a couple of bad apples, I've got the solid gold one. 

My Daddy was a hard worker. Most of my childhood he worked two jobs. And they weren't easy jobs, they were very physically demanding jobs. He'd be so exhausted when he came home from work that he'd collapse in his favorite chair and sit there trying to unwind before time to go to bed and do it all again the next day. 

He never was concerned with material possessions for himself but wanted to provide whatever his family needed. That meant he often went with holes in his shoes or socks because he'd wear them out until my mother would coax him into letting her get him another pair. He was so giving. 

My husband is the same way. He never asks for anything materially, but if I want or need something, he'll do whatever it takes to give it to me. Sometimes I even have to tell him no because I don't ever want to be one of "those wives" who constantly take. 

Many men are exactly the opposite. They put their needs ahead of their mates. Instead of loving, honoring, and cherishing them like the Bible tells them to do, they push their wives to the side. Those are the kind of guys I first married. 

Sometimes I sit and watch my husband with more admiration that he could ever understand in my eyes. What I see is a man who loves the Lord with all His heart, a man who dotes on his wife and give her unconditional love all the time. 

Every once in a while I wonder how I got so lucky. He's definitely a rare find and a precious gem to me. 

I wish I'd know what to look for in a husband all those years  ago. My life would have been vastly different than it is now. I'm glad my Daddy was a man of integrity and valor. His quiet strength will always speak volumes to me. And I wish I'd encouraged my daughters to find a man like that, but I didn't realize how valuable a gift it was until recently. If I'd thought about it, I'd have talked to them long and hard about the qualities a good man should have but they're all married now. I pray their mates are as good to them as mine is because I want each of them to have a husband like that.