On the road again

I came home to a lovely surprise. My bike arrived, was all set up and ready for me to use.

I guess that means I had better use it!

It was a special offer - very much a starter bike. It was £30 on offer and is really just to see if I like it. I used to cycle a lot but I lost my confidence after a fall and am terrified of falling off my real bike. I am hoping this will get me back into it by ensuring i am fit and then it is just the nerves to conquer.

I have a new page to share today which is another for my California album. Very simple and Barb, how spooky to read your comment yesterday having just made this. You will TOTALLY identify with this page.

We do have a few Outback restaurants in the UK and Nij and I sought out the one in Richmond and were so disappointed. It was way more expensive than in the US and the food was NOTHING like as good. We always try and go to Outback at least two or three times every trip and I always have their Victoria fillet.

The strips at the bottom look a little bent but that is just caused by the scanner as it is a thick page. Under the stitched pocket is a curbside menu and a receipt and a photo of the Victoria fillet and salad. I can't wait to go eat at Outback again this summer. And Barb, you are on. If I ever get to Alaska then you betcha!

Today I am thankful for

• my dinner all ready and prepared when I got home even though Nij had to go out. I am very lucky. I knew he had cooked my veggie sausages (I only like them cold) but when I opened the fridge there was a fabulous salad all prepared

My Daily Devotion calendar today is

The door to the hotel bathroom crept open. Inside, I had set up a makeshift office so I could work late while the children slept. My 11-year-old daughter Rebecca announced, “I can’t sleep.” I turned off my laptop computer while she sat on the edge of the tub and began to talk. She told me about her frustrations with having a younger brother, about her recent trip to Disney World, and about her upcoming elementary school graduation. Suddenly, she wiggled her toes and yelped, “Ugh!”

“What?” I said.

“An ant was crawling on my toe.”

We looked down at this insect, hardly big enough to see. It was climbing over mountainous tufts of fuzzy bathroom mat. After watching it struggle for a few minutes, we realized it was going in circles. So we decided to help it along its journey. We picked it up, removed the mat, and placed it on the smooth tile.

“I think ants have a good sense of direction,” I said hopefully. “Maybe now it can find its way home.” Soon, it was crawling in circles again.

As we watched the ant, I felt as if I were watching myself. I’d been lost a few times in my life: when my parents divorced, when my father died, when I was laid off from a job. Each time, I struggled to find my own way.

Suddenly, Rebecca said, “Let’s put it in the flowers.” There was a vase of fresh flowers on the counter. After letting the ant crawl onto a piece of tissue paper, she gingerly placed it on an iris. “At least it will feel at home there.”

I smiled at Rebecca’s innocence and at her caring heart. And I said a silent prayer for the people who, each time I was lost, were there to comfort me, help pick me up, and put me back on the right road.

Lord, thank You for Your guidance and the comfort You give through others.

and finally - Barb thank you for sharing this that I have just sat and cried through. What an inspirational video and I am proud to share it on here.

Comments

[Scrappyjen]

I cried too. Thanks for sharing. Jenx

[Barb in AK]

Truth be told tonight! Karen, I am no longer in AK. I only miss it during the summer IF it's not fire season (you evidently know what I mean about that)!
Steve and I moved up there in 1983 with our son. I retired in 2005 from a 33 year career of teaching general music (22 years in AK). When Steve retired from his federal gov't job in 2006, we knew we needed to be closer to better health care (for our "old age"), family, and a decent road system ;-)
So we have lived 5 years in Minnesota very close to the Mayo Clinic.
Some days, MN feels just like being in Alaska! :-D Today the wind chill brings the feel of -23°F. Ugh!
The nice thing about living Outside (outside of Alaska) is that we can enjoy Independence Day fireworks here :-) And my darling son is getting married to a wonderful young lady THIS Fourth of July! :-) I hope they can have fireworks at the reception!
I am so glad there is an Outback here --there was not one where I lived in AK. I LOVE the Victoria fillet, too. My sides are the green beans and garlic mashed potatoes. Oh, I'm getting hungry!
Glad you liked the video. As teachers, we know how unique and wonderful each and every child is. There is a controversy going on here in the U.S. about a two year old downs syndrome toddler who needs a kidney transplant, but the hospital refused
her because she was "disabled". As to be expected (and thankfully so), there is a HUGE public outcry.

[Jimjams]

Thank you Karen (& Barb) for sharing that video - it was very moving!