Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Sorry,
MIA again....longer story than this Mrs. Claus has time for today :-)

First things first.....some recent stink'in cute photos of our Grand daughters so far this Christmas season!




 Julia our oldest with the green ribbon, in the Nutcracker..

Sweet Aubrie in the peach ribbon ...

Julia far left, Aubrie second one in...





Loves her HO HO HO hat.....

Watching our Christmas Cookies bake .


She loves the snow globes!
Sweet Beans and I :-)

Mr. Claus has no comment...he's a very busy man this time of year :-)


I hope you are all well and enjoying this Christmas season surrounded by those you love.  Almost done wrapping gifts and looking forward to this time with all those I love.  Hubby will be off the week after Christmas and we will have our two oldest, Julia and Aubrie here for a few days!! So excited about having one on one time with them.....I see manicures in our future.

Wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas and a Healthy Happy New Year!

Love,

debi
Hope to be sharing more of what echos in my heart very soon!!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Before You is a Choice ~

If you were to die tonight are you assured of your eternity, 
where you will spend it?


So many of us maintain respectable morals and values, 
we are good people, we do good things for others.
Is it enough?
The Bible tells us it's not.
~
Happy doing our own thing.
Money and relationships are both in check.
Successful, got all the stuff, house, car, pool,
travel, friends, family, done deal.......
but where will you spend eternity.

or

Happiness, depends on the day.
Relationships are on and off, always worried about money.
Hoping the car has no problems, how will I feed the kids?
Barely hanging on,
relationship ends.....how will I survive?
Will I always be alone?
Why is this happening to me?
When will it ever get better?
Where will you spend eternity?

Christianity, not a religion of do's and don'ts.
Rather a relationship with someone bigger than I.

Christian's often given a bad rap due to those radical's
behaving and judging in a manner that is so NOT Christian.
Christian's, we mess up daily. 
Some are hypocrites, liars, even self righteous people.
Not perfect by any means, but we should be striving to be better,
more like Him. 
It's why we need Him, because we do fail in some way daily.



I found myself wanting that piece of the puzzle that would fill me up,
secure in this life, promised an eternal life
when I leave this world... to be worried about tomorrow no more.
A peace within that I was forever lacking.
Found in the One true God.

I became a Christian in the 5th grade.
I lived my life praying when I needed something and believing God
was always with me, and He was.
What I didn't do was truly make Him Lord of my life. I continued
to live as though nothing had changed to anyone watching.
I still found myself
empty, worried,  silently  starving for some inner peace, 
for true hope.
Thinking I could live my life under my own terms doing what I wanted.
It wasn't enough, though I tried for years to prove it otherwise.
I was running the race but it was the wrong race.

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,
 let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. 
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

I was
lost in what was "correct' according to the world.
Being a good person, having some fun, if it 
feels good do it....
 all that should be required to be happy...that's the story 
the world was telling me.
Still empty.
~
The message of Jesus to us, 
is to come to Him with
 the faith of a child, no preconceived notions,
no worry of what anyone else might think.
 He wants us to unlearn what the world has promised us
and 
relearn life as it was marked out for us to live it fully
for Him.
There is nothing you have to change before you start to live the life
God had planned for you.
It requires only that you believe and you ask Him to be Lord of you life,
and mean it.
Studying what His book says and living it !

What changed for me.
 The world wasn't there for me when I needed what no other person
on earth could give me.
That night when I learned, 
I could not rely on my own strength, because all strength was lost.
Stripped of all control as I watched a team of Doctors and Nurses attempting 
to save my Father's life.
I needed God in that very moment,
 someone much larger than myself, to remain on my feet,
 to be my strength, the strength
I was going to need in the hours and days to come.


I needed God in that single moment that I had feared
would one day come, 
that moment
when my life would be a 
a life
 without my Father in it.

I made God the Lord of my life that day,
no longer attempting to guide myself.
It's in those difficult times you realize, you, in your own strength
are not enough.

Everything changed for me that day.
Days later I said good bye to my sweet Dad...
 That was bearable only because with that last breath of his,
I had God's promise I would see my Dad again.
I will spend eternity in heaven, one day to be reunited with, now, both of  my parents.

Without giving my life to Christ, starting new again,
 I can't imagine 
how fragile my life would be....

He will become your strength in every situation if you let Him. 



I'm aware there are many who do not believe what the Bible says.
Can I tell you, many have set out to prove it as false and have failed to do so?
Those very non believers whose life mission was to prove it a lie,
in the end many became Christians themselves.
(Read "More than a Carpenter"  by Josh McDowell)

I know there are doubters of the Christian faith....
When pondering the question of  your eternity, 
consider the possibility that He is the way, He is the truth.
What do you have to loose if you accept Him as the one true God
and discover in the end it was just a story?
You are no worse off.

Versus,

believing it's false and
continuing to live how the world wants you to,
only to discover its
true.
....Only it's too late for an eternity, with Him?
The alternative is an
 eternity so horrible you can't imagine,
if the story is true....

I have complete faith that I can believe without seeing;
 He is real and so are His promises.
I  have countless examples of moments in my life that can only
be explained as the hand of God....

I have found that piece of the puzzle.
I hope for all of those I care about and those I've yet to meet
to  have the promise of eternity in Heaven.

John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,
 but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, 
for God’s wrath remains on them.

it's what echos from my heart today.....and always.



Friday, November 9, 2012

Leaving Lonely and Finding Hope ~


Just not feeling that thankful and cheerful......

It's nearing  that time of year we refer to as the holiday season.
At time of thankfulness and good cheer.
Not so for everyone.
This is a time of year when many are at there loneliest.
When you can't think of a thing to be thankful for, 
your missing someone so much it's erased the word cheer from your vocabulary.
Have you ever been there? 
Maybe you are now?

Your alone and nobody could possibly understand just how alone you are.
A long winters nap that would allow you to escape from this time of year?
Wake me up in January....long after the New Year's celebration...what's to celebrate?



I've been there and hope to never return to it!
It can be a very painful place to be.
More so if you are without companionship, but let it be 
stated.....one can be just as lonely while in a relationship.

It always helps if you have a group of people in your life that will encourage you.

God can use this time to train us to depend on Him first!
He is inviting us to depend on Him.
This is the best time to begin journaling if you don't already.
Soon you can read back and see that you have made progress, you 
can see what God did when maybe you were unaware.

We aren't always aware of His presence.
However the Bible tells us in 

Matthew 28:20;

"I am with you always (not sometimes),
even tell the end of time."

Focus on that fact, not what your feeling.

Philippians 4:13;

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me"

all things not some things.

Keep your focus on God's promises, read His Word,
reach out to others rather than isolate yourself.
If you will seek Him you will be comforted and 
gain the strength and courage to see it through.

If God brings you to it, 
God will bring you through it.



I remember at one time feeling so low that nothing and no one 
could bring me out of it.....a point of no return from sad and lonely.
Of course I failed to allow God in, 
I failed to reach out to Him.
I failed to realize God had a plan for my life,
and He has one for you too!

If this is speaking to you, then God has just used me in a special way!
Praying for all who read this,
He can do what no other can.



it's what echos from my heart today.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

On Giving Thanks ~

I love to read quotes on specific topics, 
today it was on giving thanks.


"Jesus Christ is not valued at all until He is valued above all."
                                                                                 ~Augustine



"In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal
more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life
becomes rich."
                                                                  ~Dietrich Bonhoeffer



"Thou hast given so much to me....
Give one more thing - a grateful heart."
                                             ~George Herbert



"Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done."
             ~Charles Spurgeon

On giving thanks,  it's what echos from my heart today......

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Handling the Results ~

A friend and Pastor I went to school with posted this ~
Thanks Paul :-)


Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Tranquility in the Political


The election is over and we can, at long last, beat our political posters into plowshares.  Are you content with the results?  Coping with the elusive equanimity of spirit we hoped would accompany things going our way is a challenge we all must face.  

Battles have their place, but the peace twixt battles must be handled harmoniously and with a serenity which fosters civility—even among those who severely disagree.  The hangings in effigy, midnight beatings among neighbors, vandalism and artful digital gesticulations against pedestrian billboards must cease.

Soon (too soon for my taste) the next election will beckon us to once again participate in the process and we will all re-arm—hopefully with only thoughts and arguments, but for now we must resign to our destinies.  The election is over and the people have spoken—but from a deeper perspective, God has spoken. 

In a primary and ultimate sense it is God who makes kings and laws.  Those kings and laws can be a blessing or they can be a curse but mere man finds the acme of contentment in knowing there is a Supreme Governor of events who declares the beginning from the end— whose counsel shall stand.  To curse the results of the election is to curse the providence of God. 

Is this an encouragement to call good evil or evil good?  Far from it!  Does it mean those who believe in a sovereign God should be passive in the affairs of this world?  Certainly not!  We should pursue our convictions—be they ecclesiastical, familial or political with zeal and vigor.  But we are to be reassured that the world is not left to slapdash, uncertain promiscuities—as Einstein said, “God would not play dice with the universe.”  God has given us just what we need—or just what we deserve.

These words may only speak to those who believe in an omnipotent Triune God—who believe God’s hand is not too short to determine election results.  If that’s the case, more than half the readers will find some peace, though perhaps hoping for different results in the election.  If that half finds some peace, they’ll be better neighbors and everyone benefits.  

Peace of mind begins when we realize God is capable of utilizing ungodly people making ungodly decisions (I’m not saying who falls into this category) in His own incomprehensibly divine, just and glorious manner. 

For example, I never would have voted for Pilate for governor.  Let’s do the ciphering:  If not for Pilate there would have been no conviction of Jesus—If there were no conviction of Jesus there would have been no cross—If there were no cross there would be no redemption.  God had Pilate right where He wanted him.  And through a negligent politician, man was emancipated from sin.  I would never have voted for Pilate.  But when God revealed His secret plan, I am grateful that His will and not my will was done. 

It was this knowledge of God’s mighty hand that gave Joseph (the one with the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) solace when his brothers threw him in a ditch, sold him into slavery resulting in his imprisonment in Egypt.  Their purpose for the treachery was evil but God meant it for good. 

In the first century the followers of Jesus were about to face deadly and torturous religious and political persecution.  In that hostile context Jesus said “peace be with you.”  When the faithful are invited by God to peace, it’s not a ‘grin and bear it’ peace.  It’s a peace recognizing the invisible hand of a good God behind all of men’s decisions—even the evil decisions.

          The Apostle Peter calls his readers to honor the king.  The king was Nero, the psychopathic Caesar.  Peter wrote this knowing there was a King of kings, a ruler of the kings of the earth.  Solomon taught that the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it where He wishes.”

          We all wish things were better.  But true, unwavering peace comes through a yielding of our souls to a primary decision-maker who will not apologize for one moment of the history he’s ordained.  Nothing settles the heart better than knowing there is an able Captain at the helm—a Captain who is not only capable of sailing the ship, but governing the storm.  I’m hoping I can be that content person—for my neighbor’s sake.
On being content....it's what echos from my heart today.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Vote


Thankful today for the right to vote.
Trusting God with the outcome !


America is what echos from my heart today....

Thursday, November 1, 2012

A DUCK OUT OF WATER ~

A

DUCK 

OUT OF WATER
~





This little chubby duck....
is what echos from my heart today.....so blessed.

Friday, October 26, 2012

We Don't Always Understand ~

 It's not by chance I had this waiting for me to read this morning,

However,

I'm pretty sure it wasn't just for me so I wanted to share it with you!

 

What I Am Doing You Do Not Understand Now

by Jon Bloom | October 26, 2012

Peter watched Jesus make his way toward him, washing the feet of other disciples.
It had already been a confusing Passover. Jesus had been unusually burdened, close to tears all day. The atmosphere during the meal was charged with ominous anticipation.
Peter had grown used to Jesus doing and saying unpredictable things. But what Jesus was doing now was wrong. He was the last person in the room who should be washing feet.
All of Peter’s life he had been taught that feet were dishonorable members of the body. They were usually dirty, frequently smelly, and among the most likely members to come in contact with things that the Law declared unclean.
Outside of immediate family, feet were washed by slaves and servants—ideally non-Jews so as not to subject any of the Covenant People to such humiliation.
And one never insulted an honored person by pointing one’s feet at them.
But here was the Messiah, the most honored Jew to ever walk the earth, stripped like a common slave with a towel around his waist willingly handling the unclean feet of his disciples. This was backwards. If anything, Peter should be down there washing Jesus’ feet.
When Jesus got to Peter he smiled at him and reached for his feet. Peter pulled them back. “Lord, do you wash my feet?”
Jesus loved Peter. The Rock never did anything, right or wrong, without jumping in with—or in this case withholding—both feet. He knew what Peter was thinking. So he replied, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”
Unwilling to subject Jesus to such dishonor Peter said, “You shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus’ countenance became dead serious. “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”
The shock of this statement stunned Peter for a second. He was trying to preserve his Master’s honor. But Jesus was essentially telling him, unless you let me bear your dishonor, your uncleanness, you can’t be my disciple.
Well, he didn’t understand what this all meant, but Peter would leave no doubt about his trust in and love for Jesus: “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”
Joy radiated from Jesus’ eyes and smile. And as he washed Peter’s feet he said, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.”
Then he paused for a moment and looked into Peter’s eyes. This beloved man was unknowingly about to face the most difficult, grievous, and glorious three days of his life. He would benefit from this reassurance: “And you are clean.”
Then his eyes dropped back to Peter’s feet and he resumed washing. “But not every one of you.”

Two lessons from this account in John 13:1-11:
First, much of the Christian life is spent trusting Jesus now and understanding him later. Jesus typically does not feel it necessary to explain on the front end why he is doing something the way he is doing it. And, like Peter, when it looks wrong to us, we are tempted to object to the Lord’s will.
God understands and is patient with our confusion and even our deep wrestling or grief. But he wants us to trust him, and not grumble or question in unbelief (Philippians 2:14). God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8). His purposes for bringing or not bringing certain things to pass often extend far beyond us—maybe even generations beyond us.
So during those times we need to remember Jesus’ words to Peter: “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”
Second, what Jesus is bringing about in the sometimes confusing, sometimes very painful work he is doing in our lives is sanctification. He is washing our feet. He not only bathes us, completely removing the guilt of our sin in his cleansing work on the cross, but in love he keeps forgiving us (1 John 1:9) and disciplines us so that we will share his holiness (Hebrews 12:10-11).
Our understanding his purposes in a particular providence tends to be not as important to God as our trust in his character. So together let’s continue to “trust in the Lord with all [our] heart, and…not lean on [our] own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). Because one day we will understand. And we will, with great joy, proclaim, “The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works” (Psalm 145:17).

Hoping you were needing this today.
He is so Awesome....it's what echos from my heart today.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Some Many Types of Taters!


What I say is that, if a fellow really likes potatoes,
he must be a pretty decent sort of fellow.
A.A. Mine, author of Winne-the-Pooh


Yep, I love potatoes.  
Growing up potatoes of some form graced
our dinner table every daily.
Boiled, baked, mashed, fried, scalloped,
no matter the form there were never enough.

I'm the gal that would go out to dinner and just order mashed potatoes and gravy
and it was thanksgiving in my mind.
 Totally satisfied.
~
Come to think of it, 
on
Thanksgiving I only add the other stuff because it's what the meal requires of us.
I really only want the mashed potatoes....
well, 
maybe a nice hot roll with too much butter on the side.

What I don't like about potatoes is they are dirty.
I'd prefer they were grown on trees and not in the soil.
I don't care for the scrubbing or the peeling, cutting out the occasional eye.
I just want them when they become clean, white and new!


Got me thinking.
 I, like the potato.....was at one time a root.
As I grew in the dirty soil that was a part of who I was. 
Eventually some eyes began to form here and there.

Jesus took me as I was.
Dirty with such promise.
Beautiful in his eyes!
He cleaned me of the dirt, he pluck out some eyes, peeled away layers of things that are no longer a part of me.
He has taken me and whipped me into a beautiful white fluffy tater he calls His Own.
He continues to refine me through my circumstances.
Bring good from my bad,
 clean me up, peel away layers,
daily.

Daily whipped to be new again.
Somewhat like the daily dinner table of my youth.


A more than decent sort of fellow is my God....this is what echos from my heart today.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Say it Now~

For starters can I just say
my California summer should be over right?
In a nutshell my summer has been like one continuous
HOT FLASH.
 Just last week we reached 100 and it's October....well into October.
Today is a wonderful 63 degrees with a light rain, 
I can do this!
Early in October we were part of a family celebration of my brother in law Mickey's 70th birthday.

 
That's Mickey in his dream car :-)

Two of his daughters, his sister and brother and sister in law from Oregon were also at the surprise celebration.
After we all enjoyed our meal together we went around the table and shared with Mickey
exactly what he meant to us.
Needless to say there were some emotional moments.
He was told what his financial words of wisdom has meant to many.
He was told what a giving, caring man he is and has been.
Personaly, I thanked him for all he did to help my family during the loss
of my Father and more recently my Mom.  There really were no adaquate words to describe
what it has meant to me. 
The next day we all met down on the beach for brunch.
I shared with Mickey a thought I had the night prior.
" Do you realize what a gift you were given?"
I told him he was fortunate to hear what he has meant to those closest to him. 
The things we generally say at a eulogy that most never hear,
were spoken to him around a dining room table.
What a gift to hear those you love express their gratitude and appreciation of you.
Often we hear where we have failed someone in some way, 
rarely do others share what we mean to them.
Do not mistake my point,
I'm not suggesting we be praised and placed on a pedestal for the things we do,
it shouldn't be the motive for doing.
I do because I love.

I am suggesting that in general how awesome it would be if we let others know,
while still with a beating heart and strong pulse,
what they mean to us.  
A Eulogy is great for letting others know about a lost loved one,
but we can tell that loved one now just what they mean to us.

I'm challenging you to tell those around you what they mean to you.
Put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) or bless them with your heart felt words 
of thanks, gratitude and appreciation.

My Father made a point to thank his trash man and postman every year at Christmas with 
a card and a little something for each.

I think you would be blessed if you tried this and see for yourself just how much it means to;
a family member, the crossing guard, the custodian, the policeman, a teacher, your pastor, 
your friends and neighbors....the list is endless.

Paul in the New Testament made a habit of letting those around him know that
they were appreciated.

To Timothy, 
" I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day" (2 Tim. 1:3)

Imagine how it would be to hear such a thing?
Gratitude was a big part of Paul's life....
I'm thinking that gratitude should be a bigger part of our daily lives.
Who is responsible for some of your more memorable moments?
Who was there for you in your darkest hour, do they know what that meant to you?
Who encouraged you, provided guidance and support when you really needed it?
Who can you thank for the smallest of things they do to provide a service for you?

Maybe its time to make it a habit of noticing the grace, gifts and time given, that you receive.
Actions do speak louder than words, but oh what a special thing it is to hear it too!
Let me say at this point, 
a big heartfelt
thank you for those of you that have left messages and let me know you were thinking of me
 or missed me in blog land. It's been a challenging several months to say the least.
I just can't tell you how awesome I think you are for taking the time to do so...
Now I'm off to write a few thank you notes....this is what echos from my heart today.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

How Long in the Wilderness?

Often we find ourselves in the wilderness.
Often enough that I find myself writing abut this,
again.
Lost, uncertain, fearful, confused, alone.
An otherwise focused mind in a state of chaos.
Forced to choose,
 make a change, seek guidance, trust the unseen God.
OR
Stay in the place you find yourself currently planted.
A road that takes us nowhere.
More of the same.



What puts us there?
Death, a troubled relationship, finances, the unknowns of tomorrow.
Worried of a tomorrow that hasn't even arrived?
Often so focused on the issue we feel unable to focus on anything else.

I've said this before,
It's in the wilderness, we learn to trust,  we are forever being refined.
It's in the chaos and uncertainty and fear that we should be asking God 
to reveal what it is we are to learn from time spent on this piece of property call the 
wilderness.

Placing our trust and faith in God can fill up our days.
Or,
 the day remains full of the issue at hand,
 that which brought us into the wilderness.
If its the latter,  it in fact becomes our master.

Which are you choosing?
There is always a choice..........
~
Regardless of your choice,
one choice keeps the other one out?


God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.
Andrew Murray


Choosing to trust in an unseen God. 
A place that pours out peace....
~
this is what echos from my heart today.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Nanny's Mini Me?

So several people both friend and family
have noted that they see my Mom (Nanny) in
Khloe :-)



Well of late, one has to wonder.  Ms. Khloe stumbled upon my 
Mom's wig (when one had to have a good hair day).
I put it on her bald little head and she loved it.
She made no attempt to remove it whatsoever!
Her Daddy held her in front of the mirror and she was
smiling and 
softly touching the little wisps of hair as if to 
say.....at last.



The other day she spied my glasses on the table.
If I'm not wearing them I usually have them up
on my head.

She kept trying to touch them and of course,
Gramma's favorite word, NO came from my mouth.
She then kept looking at them and tapping her bald little head.
She wanted to put them on her head like she sees me do.
So, against my No lessons guidelines I gave in :-)

She loved them and again made no attempt to remove them.
(Nanny by the way wore glasses)

Little Ms. gets excited when I come into the room with clean laundry.
She really does take things out of the basket and attempt to fold them.

I should mention,
she also loves to unfold them!


My sister said, next she'll be offering to get the spots out of things like Nanny used to do.
If we couldn't get it out Mom would work her magic.


Mom has been on my mind a lot this week.
I think because Khloe is changing so fast, every day she does something new.
Something Nanny would have gotten such joy out of.
It's often heart breaking that I can't pick up the phone to share with her.
I can't send her photo's, photo's she would take and show all her neighbors.
She was indeed a proud Nanny to all of her 6 Grand children and two Great Grands!

Yesterday Khloe found a pair of her Daddy's shoes from when he was not much bigger than her.
I have always kept them on my bookcase to make me smile and remember when.
She pulled them off and tried to put them on.
Gramma assisted.


 They were quite big, but she grinned from ear to ear to have them on.
I told her they were Daddy's, he loved his "clown" shoes.
We took a little walk down the tile floor so she could experience walking in her Daddy's shoes.

I remember the day Nanny bought these for my son.
I remember that little boy whose feet filled them.
My heart was full to  think of my little boy,
now
such a great Daddy to this sweet little girl.

Many days of late 
full of memories......
Spend a day with yours!
that is what echos from my heart today.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

My Spot



Home at last, sitting in my spot on the couch
listening to Yo Gabba Gabba


This episode is called " dance " 
and 
Khloe loves to dance.
So anything to get her out of the
 cow chair.....
That said,
I've seen this episode approximately twelve times 
averaging four times a day.
I won't miss anything if I take a moment
to blog.

I've been home now for a week .....
Lots of unpacking, laundry and mail to sort.
Khloe ....she is on the move to say the least
so I've been busy!

She's hearing " no " a lot!!
 I am not a believer in moving things
off tables, so it's the task at hand to teach her.
Below is her reaction one day filled with no's....she just couldn't
take another no!!  :-)




~
Prior to leaving on our trip we received
word that my Uncle Ray had passed away. 
He was husband to my Aunt Wilma who just
a month prior was out here in California for the service
for my Mom, her youngest sister.
Her and my Uncle were married almost 66 years... their love
was strong and you knew if after just minutes in their presence.

How difficult to lose your baby sister and then your life partner
so close together..
She has been heavy on my mind.  It is her and my Uncle who we go to see every year
in Montana, I love her to bits.
Please say a little prayer for her if you would :-)

I
think of my Mom always,
 missing her is so heavy at times.
So,  the get away was good for us for many, many reasons.

Glad to be around our family and friends again.
We will now talk of plans for next years vacation!
 ~
In the mean time.....

Watching Grampa water..



Resting up for tomorrow....
enjoying
 being back in my spot...is what echos from my heart today...

Santa Barbara ~

Ahhh.....
Santa Barbara






Our awesome view!


Trolly, 25 cents to your destination....












 FOOD!




 Downtown











Lynn and Ben Franklin :-)









 Pinkberry
~
Vanillla
Pomegranate sauce
slivered almonds...
YUMMO!







Bought it!!



More food......









 The team :-)







Yes, I photographed confetti on the sidewalk ....







Sight for sore eyes at home......




There is no place like home....
We had a wonderful trip
much needed getaway.

Returning to " normal "
Starting  again.....

Life starting new everyday,
it's
what echos from my heart today....