A Day Well Spent

I am writing this on the evening of our 54th anniversary (August 16, 2023) to tell you about a day well spent. It probably won't get posted until tomorrow morning (Thursday), but I wanted to get it all written down tonight while it is fresh on my mind.

First of all, Thank you to so many who took the time to wish us a Happy Anniversary! We have been overwhelmed with so many best wishes both here in blogland and on Facebook. Such a joy to have so many dear friends out there in "cyberspace".  To me, it's as if you are all right here close by...and in my heart. Thank you.

This is how the day looked when we got up and put out the flag:

There was a golden sky out over Still Waters Pond. The day stayed kind of overcast and not quite as hot as it has been, for which we were very thankful, so we could get outside a little bit and enjoy the morning!

But before we left for the day, something sweet happened.  My hubby has not been able to wear his wedding band for several years because it had gotten too small for his finger. We talked about getting it resized for our 50th anniversary, but we were in the process of moving and everything was in storage at that time, so it just wasn't feasible since we really didn't know exactly where it was packed.  So I asked him about it this morning if he could get it and let's take it to the jewelers to have it sized.  He brought it out and I slipped it on his finger, and guess what? It fit again!  I think as we have aged our fingers have gotten skinnier because my ring is getting a little loose...and so anyway...here are our hands with our original wedding bands again after 54 years of marriage. I don't believe we ever had a picture taken of them when we were first married, so I can't compare...but this was such a blessing to me to see that ring back on his finger again after not seeing it for too long. I thank the Lord for this "gift".  I do have another ring that I wear along with this plain gold band, but this was what we were married with, and so these rings are very very special. For another sweet story about my engagement ring and wedding rings, click HERE.

After we had a light breakfast we took a little ride up the road about a half hour away to a place that we enjoy visiting, "Lake Swan Camp."  You can click on that link for more about why this place is so significant to us.

We enjoyed walking around and especially down by the cross beside the lake...such a beautiful, peaceful way to start our anniversary day.

It truly was lovely...but it was getting warm and we still had places to go and things to do, so we got back in the car and headed back toward home.

We needed to stop by the grocery store and pick up a few "essential things".  LOL. You can tell we are celebrating our 54th anniversary when we need to replenish our supply of Bran Flakes! LOL.

After dropping off the "essential groceries" at the house, we headed into Palatka to go to lunch at our favorite place for special occasions..."Corky Bells" beside the St. John's River:

We got there before they even open at 11:00, but they let us come inside and wait, so I took advantage of that time to take a few pictures in the lobby and also down by the river:

Hey, I think I know this man!

And she looks rather familiar too!

I had to hurry back inside before they caught me down on the dock without adult supervision! LOL.

It truly was a lovely morning!

Sorry about the reflection on the menu:

This was my plate:

Our food sure was GOOD!!!!!

Now, to top things off, our dear sweet kids invited us over for supper!  After having such a big delicious lunch, we knew we wouldn't be able to eat much, but Rose cooked a wonderful meal of baked chicken breast, scalloped potatoes, and a nice green salad.  It was so good, but we were careful not to overdo it.

Everything was so lovely and delicious...and of course it was wonderful just being together with our sweet family. We are so thankful for them.

So now we are home and it was supposed to start raining, but I think it has passed us by.  However, I am not complaining...the day couldn't have been better.  We are counting our blessings and giving thanks to the Lord for His great kindness and mercy and love shown toward us through all these 54 years.  

Psalm 107:1, 8-9

"1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.

8 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,

And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

9 For He satisfies the longing soul,

And fills the hungry soul with goodness."

In my previous post I talked about building our marriage on the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ. That reminded me of this song, and it has been playing in my head all day, so I thought perhaps I would share it with you..

"In Times Like These"

In times like these you need a Savior
In times like these you need an anchor
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus, Yes He's the One
This Rock is Jesus, the only One
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these you need the Bible
In times like these, O be not idle
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus, Yes He's the One
This Rock is Jesus, the only One
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these I have a Savior
In times like these I have an anchor
I'm very sure, I'm very sure
My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus, Yes He's the One
This Rock is Jesus, the only One
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

AMEN!!

And so with that, I will say good night and God bless you all!

 

Friday Foto Friends...Bliss or Blessed?

 Here it is Friday Foto Friends day...and I didn't have my post ready this morning! It's been a rather busy and difficult week, as most of you know, and so I haven't really felt like doing much writing.  But I just couldn't let the day slip by without posting something!  So this may be a rather random and disjointed post today...let's just wing it and see where it leads, okay?

Here goes:

Yesterday we celebrated 49 years of wedded bliss!  Well...49 years of wedded blessings...maybe not all bliss, but certainly all blessed!  Like every couple who has weathered many years of marriage to the same partner...we all know it couldn't always be bliss...every couple and family goes through trials and tribulations at one time or another.  But the blessing comes by offering up those trials to the Lord in prayer, and trusting Him to guide, control, and strengthen us in the process of this life.  When we learn to take our troubles to the Lord, we also learn to dwell in peace and have the joy that can only come from trusting God...no matter what the world throws at us.  So thankful that God helped us to build our marriage on the strong foundation of faith in Christ right from the beginning. Had it not been for that Rock holding us up, there were many times we might have given in to despair and sorrow and have crumbled under the strain.  Praise God for that Mighty Rock...

"This rock is Jesus, yes He's the One...This Rock is Jesus, the Only One...Be very sure, be very sure, your anchor holds, and grips the Solid Rock..."

In Times Like These 

by Ruth Caye Jones

In times like these you need a Savior,

In times like these you need an anchor; 

Be very sure, be very sure,

Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus, Yes He's the One,

This Rock is Jesus, the only One;

Be very sure, be very sure,

Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these you need the Bible,

In times like these, O be not idle; 

Be very sure, be very sure,

Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus, Yes He's the One,

This Rock is Jesus, the only One;

Be very sure, be very sure,

Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these I have a Savior,

In times like these I have an anchor;

I'm very sure, I'm very sure

My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus, Yes He's the One,

This Rock is Jesus, the only One;

Be very sure, be very sure,

Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

I think I will leave it here for today. Sorry for not having more pictures to share...but this is the message I've been "given" to share with you today.

Amen.

Postscript:  I thought I would add a couple of pictures afterall...just to brighten and lighten this up:

We had a delicious steak dinner last night for our anniversary, cooked by our youngest son, who is a "chef"...I didn't take any pictures of the meal...but we used our "wedding china" that rarely gets used due to not being dishwasher safe...Ha Ha:

And recently I found these two bowls at a thrift shop, that go with our other "casual" wedding china:

And even though I really didn't need two more bowls to add to my overstuffed cupboard full of dishes, I could not resist them since they belonged to this set and I never had any of the bowls before!

Also, another random photo or two...I recently had to replace my electric tea-kettle, and purchased this new glass one...and it is such fun to watch the water boil! I love how it lights up with that neon blue light while heating...

They say a "watched pot never boils", but this one does, apparently!  Okay, that's all folks. Wanted to come back with a few photos to make you smile. Hope it happened!  Be blessed...and it's never too late to get your life safely on that Rock!!! Just ask Him and He'll be there!!