Yes, I Am Still Here...

Yes, I am still here... I know it's a been a while since I last posted anything. If you are a Facebook friend, you know that I've been a bit "under the weather", and not just Hurricane Dorian weather, which, praise God, did not do us any harm at all...but now we must focus our prayers on those living in its track up the Ga., S.C., N.C. coasts, and especially pray for the folks in the Bahamas. What a horrible tragedy for them.  Here in Florida we were protected by what I would consider a true miracle of God, holding that storm just enough off shore to keep it from doing any serious damage to our state. We want to thank the Lord and give Him praise for sparing us.

I am still in the throes of unpacking, and at the current rate I'm going, I'm hoping to be unpacked in time for Christmas...but even that is questionable.  I look around and when I consider all of the things that are still waiting to be opened and put into proper places, I just want to go outside and sit on the deck and forget about it...

This was our view last evening after the hurricane had passed by, leaving us with a gorgeous sunset and balmy breeze.

Our "kids" came over and joined us for pizza on the deck...a no stress way to end the day.

Remember a few weeks ago when I wrote about "An Interesting Coincidence?" HERE...

Well, here is my real front door after being painted...and actually we hired some guys to paint our door and shutters... They gave us such a good deal that we couldn't refuse. If it had been left up to us to get it painted, again it would probably be Christmas before we got it done, if then...

They did a great job and I didn't have to sweat a drop...

We are also happy to get our flag put out in time for Labor Day, but then the hurricane came and we had to take it back inside...

But hopefully we won't be getting anymore storms for a while, and we can wave our flag proudly and begin to settle in and enjoy our home.

Some of you have wondered if I will have a place for The Secret Garden here at our new home.  Well, the special bench made it,

and this is the view from its current vantage point:

I may still move it to a little more secluded spot but am waiting for cooler weather to clear that area out a little more to make it more appealing for sitting and praying, reading, meditating on God's Word. So for now this is better and not as "buggy".  When you live in Florida that is always a consideration when sitting outside, especially in summer.

We have already "christened" our house with the first birthday party for our oldest son. 

His sweet wife helped make our dinner of lasagna and also made the delicious cupcakes for his cake.  We are enjoying having them live about a mile away from us...such a blessing to have family near.

We are still using paper and plastic products, but we did dress up the table with candles for dinner! Took a few minutes to find them and the candleholders, but it was worth the search.

As you can see in this picture below, there are still many boxes stacked up in the kitchen waiting to be unpacked. That was last week, and it still doesn't look much better. As I said earlier, I've been a bit under the weather, and had to be put on benadryl 4x a day to counteract an allergic reaction I had to a strong antibiotic.  So I'm taking lots of naps in between opening boxes...and I am basically just very tired. God apparently wants me to rest, and so I am doing just that.

Today is the first day I didn't have to take the benadryl, and so little by little I hope to regain my energy.  Maybe we'll get unpacked before Christmas after all.

Meanwhile, hubby has been busy trying to get his shed/workshop in order. That is another big project, and when it is so hot outside it is hard to spend much time in there.

But our son helped him build a workbench, and that will be a good start. Next we need some good strong shelves to hold a lot of storage items,  but that will come. One thing at a time.

I haven't really taken any pictures of the inside of the house yet because I am still unpacking and rearranging things a little at a time. That will have to be a post for the future.

This is where I am sitting right now, writing to you. I love my little desk area, 

And especially love this little lamp with a bear roasting his marshmallows over a campfire, while the owls watch from the tree and a squirrel begs for a marshmallow down on the ground...

I also love that the scene on the lampshade is of a pond...

I also love that my little office/den is a room with a view...

I am hoping this will become an inspirational place to write and pray and connect with you dear friends.

See? I haven't forgotten you. I've just been a bit busy. I've tried to catch up with you on your blogs and/or Facebook, but I know I am way behind.  Please don't think I've gone away...I will be back...just having to take my time and prioritize what I do each day...

Praying that you are all safe and healthy and doing well. I know many have been through some difficult times, and others are rejoicing over good news in their lives.  We are all  connected to one another as sisters in the Lord (many of us)...and if you don't feel that you truly understand what that means, please feel free to ask...we'd love to introduce you to the "family".  

This is where I am at this point:

"Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God."  

Job 37:14

The Lord has done so many wondrous works in our lives here lately, that I just have to praise Him and give Him the glory for the great things He has done. I hope that is your testimony as well...when we stop to count our blessings and look around in awe at what God has done...how can we not praise Him?

Okay, I'm feeling the effects of the benadryl still in my system, and it is time for beddie-bye.

So good night dear friends.  Sleep Tight...and don't let the bed bugs bite.  :)