The Dilemma of “Stuff”

07/28/2017 By: CCPearson5 Comments

I wrestled with choosing the best title for today’s post. At times, “The Burden of Stuff” seemed appropriate. At other times, “The Pleasure of Stuff” worked. But, for the most part, “stuff” and what to do with it has proven to be quite a dilemma as we face our upcoming move.

We did all of this to a drastic extent a mere 15 years ago. During 2002, we went through every room, closet, drawer and box. 100% of our worldly goods were either thrown away, given away, sold, stored for an indefinite amount of time or crated (using our VERY meager crate allowance) to be shipped to Ecuador. That was a gut-wrenching ordeal. The 3 Pearson children were the benefactors of quite a bit, and it’s fun to visit their homes now and see items they were given during that year. Some friends got great bargains of furniture, because we didn’t even get “the good stuff” until the year of our 25th anniversary, only 6 years earlier. The Salvation Army and Goodwill-type places received a lot, and we carefully boxed up some treasures, such as my mother’s wedding china, because we knew we’d want them again at some point. But, basically, we pared down to absolute minimum essentials.

Truthfully, once it was done, the feeling was very liberating.

When we got to Ecuador, we bought a few of the necessities of life, and the funny stories of doing so with limited Spanish and curious shopkeepers still make us smile. For those 4 years, we lived simply, and the accumulation of “stuff” was at the bottom of our list of priorities. Before we moved back, I even gave all but about 3 changes of clothes to the nuns who lived next door to be used in their ministry to the poor.

Then, we moved back to the States, to Alabama, and to the intoxicating lure of TV ads, beautiful stores and online bombardment.

I smiled a few days ago as I packed this dish that was a precious gift from my cousin and very dear friend Ginger. She had heard me say that I didn’t have any “stuff” (such as decor items and knickknacks, etc.), and she wanted me to get started accumulating once again. Thank you, Ginger. This represents your thoughtfulness every time I look at it and use it.

Gift from my cousin/friend Ginger when I moved home from Ecuador.

Now, we’re moving again, and in the meantime, our oldest child has even written a book on decluttering (Making Room for Jesus by Laura Baggett). She’s cheering us on while we pack our boxes. “Have you used that in the last year?” “Do you have a place to put it in your new house?” “Does it “spark joy” or does it bring back unpleasant memories?” “Does it even fit anymore?”

Would you believe that a stack of old Southern Living Magazines was a big hurdle I needed to face before I could get my mind in a good place for this cleaning out/sorting/packing challenge? Yes. I LOVE Southern Living Magazines. My MOMMA had loved Southern Living Magazines. I remember one I received in the mail while we were in Ecuador from my friend Martine Bates Fairbanks. I read every word, including the advertisements, at least a dozen times. It was written in my “heart language,” and it sounded Southern. So, of course, within days of moving back to Alabama, I was a subscriber once again. And, they are still very hard for me to toss, but I (and my determination to declutter) prevailed.

Southern Living Magazines about to be recycled.

Certain things do indeed spark joy. I watched my momma set a pretty table and entertain many guests using the china she and daddy received when they married. She even washed each piece by hand afterwards, being so careful to avoid breaking one. I hated to lose her suddenly at the age of 55, but it gave me a lot of comfort to inherit her china.

Family pictures reminding me of “the way we were” always bring a smile to my face. They will always be keepers if I have anything to say about it. There are other worldly treasures — my grand piano and my Dickens Village, for example — that I hope to have in my world, at least until I’m no longer able to enjoy them. And, yes, we’re to the age when we have to entertain such thoughts. And, after burying both my stepmother and my dad last year, the dilemma of stuff has been in the forefront of my mind.

We ARE making progress, though. There are things that I most certainly want to see, use and enjoy again, so those are being carefully boxed up for the next 5 or 6 months while our house is under construction.

The dining room is boxed up and ready for moving day.

And, this morning I even had the JOY of bagging up a bunch of clothes that no longer fit me. Woohoo!! Hopefully, someone will be glad to have them.

We’re building a smaller house with limited storage space. I think I’ll need to re-read Laura’s book several more times before it’s time to unpack again. I’m already convicted by this passage of Scripture.

Luke 12:13-21 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Parable of the Rich Fool

¹³Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

¹⁴But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” ¹⁵And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

¹⁶Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. ¹⁷And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ ¹⁸So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. ¹⁹And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ ²⁰But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

²¹“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

15 Days in Alaska and Washington State – 14 Modes of Transportation

07/24/2017 By: CCPearson1 Comment

To put it mildly, we covered a LOT of territory during the glorious two weeks we spent in Alaska, parts of Canada, Seattle, Port Townsend and Port Orchard. Some of you may be curious about the various modes of transportation involved in a trip like ours. We have more adventurous friends who would add ATVs, kayaks, helicopters and canoes to their list, but we opted for a more sedate experience. In other words, we chose to fill our senses rather than to risk becoming bear food. Most have photos. For the others, you’ll just have to trust me. 🙂

Small commuter planes. We flew Delta for this trip, so a small plane is always necessary to get from Huntsville to almost anywhere. In our case, it was to Atlanta.
Small commuter plane in Huntsville.

2. Large planes. It takes a lot of fuel to get from Atlanta to Anchorage on a non-stop flight. Thus, a much larger plane.

Large Delta plane with Mount Rainier welcoming us to Seattle.

3. Motorcoaches. From the airport to our Anchorage hotel, from the hotel to both lodges in Denali National Park, from the lodge to the train station, etc. etc., we were on motorcoaches. The good part about using a travel agent and a cruise line is that all of those transportations can be built into the total package price. The seats are nice, AND there’s a bathroom on board.

One of many motorcoaches.

4. A Trolley for a city tour in Anchorage.

Trolley for City Tour in Anchorage.

5. A Floatplane for Steve’s fishing trip to a lake several miles from Anchorage. Maybe when you see him, he’ll have a photo of that floatplane to share.

6. A School Bus. Well, it looked like a school bus, and it felt like a school bus, but it wasn’t yellow. Apparently, Denali only allows certain kinds of buses within its boundaries. It wasn’t as deluxe, and there were no bathrooms on board. But, the park does have a few rest stations on the grounds, and the commentary provided by our driver/guide was extremely informative. He shared one slightly disturbing joke. Driver: “Do you know what we call cyclists here in Denali?” Us: “No, what?” Driver: “Meals on Wheels!” Yikes!!!

Bus through Denali National Park.

7. A Train from Denali to the small town of Whittier where we would board our ship. This train ride lasted close to 9 hours, but it was spectacular and probably ranks among the favorite parts of our trip. The two meals we had during the ride were surprisingly good, and it was so relaxing to eat in comfort while basking in all of the scenery.

My Silver Fox getting set for the amazing train ride through wild, unspoiled Alaskan countryside.

Dining car on the train from Denali to Whittier.

8. A Cruise Ship, which, in our case, was the Coral Princess. Here is the first glimpse we had of the ship. Admittedly, this was our first cruise, so we can’t fairly compare this ship to others. I will say, though, that this was a beautiful ship with exceptional service and comfort. No seasickness problems. Hurray!

Coral Princess ready for us to board in Whittier.

9. An historic train through the White Pass and Yukon Route. Since this train touches Canada, our passports were checked going into Canada and coming back out. Once again, the scenery was breathtaking.

White Pass/Yukon Route out from Skagway.

10. Whale-watching boat. Truthfully, we thought we’d be on a smaller boat with fewer people, and we dressed accordingly (boots, waterproof rain gear, toboggans, gloves, etc.). This turned out fine. We saw a pod of orcas and a few whales spraying into the air, but next time, I believe we’d try to have such an experience in a more adventurous and exclusive setting.

Whale-watching boat in Juneau.

11. On Foot. We did a lot of walking — mostly strolling and wandering, rather than power-walking, I confess. Other tourists did the same.

Walking along with other tourists in Ketchikan.

12. Rental Car. We disembarked our ship in Vancouver, took a motorcoach to the airport and boarded an Alaska Airlines plane for a short flight to Seattle. In Seattle, we used a car rental company that was new to us — SIXT. The price was very competitive, and because it was our first time to rent with them, we received an automatic upgrade. The car was a Volvo which got very good mileage. Sorry. No photo.

13. Ferry across Puget Sound. The most efficient way to get from Seattle to Port Townsend was to drive the car onto the ferry and float across. The only slight hiccup was the fact that many other people wanted to do the same thing, so we had a lengthy wait for the next available crossing. We did NOT choose that route on our final day, because we certainly didn’t want to be delayed and miss our flight.

Ferry across Puget Sound in Seattle.

14. The generous act of good friends. Two friends from our Sunday School class insisted that we not pay the hefty amount necessary to park at the airport for 15 days. Instead, one drove us to the airport on Day 1, and the other picked us up and brought us home on Day 15. So their roomy vehicles constitutes our 14th mode of transportation. There’s no substitute for friends. Thank you so much, Connie and Amanda.

Leaving Behind A Yard Full of Beauty

07/21/2017 By: CCPearson2 Comments

Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

1 Timothy 6:17 Don’t put your trust in uncertain riches, but put your trust in God “who gives us richly all things to enjoy.”

Our heads tell us that the move we’re in the middle of is a wise decision, but often our hearts question our judgment and cause us to want to stay right where we are. This is especially true of my dearly loved Silver Fox. He has poured so much blood, sweat and tears into our yard, and the results are enjoying a peak performance right now.

He also loves the Tennessee River and only has to look out the front door to see it.

God has truly given us much to cherish about the past seven years we’ve spent at Brigadoon and in Athens. We will miss our neighbors. The new owners will love the community feeling of our area. We will miss our friends, especially those at church. But, I remind myself that Hartselle is only 45 minutes away with plenty of lunch rendezvous places in between. We’ve moved 3000 miles away before, and this is NOT the same.

It’s hard work to move, and many emotions get in the way. “Shall I keep it? Shall I toss it? Have I used it since I last moved? Does it bring back good memories? Does it “spark joy,” or will I be glad I won’t have to find a place for it in the next house?” More about that in my next blog.

In the meantime, will you please pray for us? Cousins Camp begins in two days. It’s the highlight of our year. We’ll have 11 kiddoes with us for the week, ages 4 to 16. They richly deserve our undivided attention. As long as we put in another pool and have places for all of them to sleep, they really don’t care where we go next.

They have just learned to enjoy and love each other and eagerly look forward to Cousins Camp. We always need your prayers that we will all stay safe and healthy, that we will laugh a lot and that our bonds will continue to deepen. The week is coming at a good time for us to be reminded of our REAL priorities.

P.S. I must mention the birds. Just this morning while I was exercising in the pool, I watched 5 hummingbirds dive-bombing our feeder, several goldfinches with their bright yellow plumage eating their preferred seeds in an upside-down position, and a red-headed woodpecker using his jackhammer beak to try to coax a bug out of our gutters. Sorry, Mr. Woodpecker. Sure hope that effort didn’t bend your beak. 🙂

Cruise Food – On the Plate and Behind the Scenes

07/17/2017 By: CCPearson1 Comment

One of the main attributes of a cruise, according to my friends who are frequent cruisers, is the constant availability of food. In my mind, it sounded like an endless buffet. Frankly, that worried me, because I’ve been on a much stricter eating regimen this year. Amazingly, after two weeks of traveling, I stepped onto the scales and had not gained an ounce. Woohoo!!!! But, I certainly COULD have done a LOT of damage. Oh mercy, at the culinary offerings.

The reality is that you truly can eat as much or as little as you want. After all, no one is standing there forcing you to overindulge. I’m not a fan of buffets, but that was the best option on several mornings because of shore excursion schedules. And lunches were often included in the excursions. Dinner each evening, however, was in a beautiful dining room with uniformed servers, white tableclothes and gleaming silver and crystal. When we had time, we opted for a seated-with-a-menu breakfast, too. So much more elegant and relaxing.

Before one of the formal night dinners began.

Let me share just a FEW of the beautiful salads, entrees and desserts that were set before us for dinner.

Fresh salad with mozzarella

Trout.

Thanksgiving dinner, cruise-style.

Steak and veggies.

Pheasant.

Fish, fish and more fish.

Colorful fish dinner.

Oysters Rockfeller.

Pasta dish on Italian night.

Have you called your travel agent and started packing yet? Oh wait, here are the desserts. These will push your decision over the edge.

Creme brulee.

Chocolate pistachio dome.

Apple strudel with homemade ice cream.

Baked Alaska — I wasn’t leaving without having some.

On our last day at sea, Steve and I attended a cooking demonstration session presented by the ship’s executive chef and then took a tour of the galley. Imagine having the responsibility of preparing food for 2000 people each day. People of all ages and from many countries of the world. People with disabilities. People with severe allergies. People with sensitive digestive issues. Just having a few people over for supper is tricky these days. How in the world can a cruise ship satisfy all of the appetites and needs of their guests?

Demonstration by the Executive Chef and some of his staff.

Gleaming, efficient galley.

Looking behind the scenes in the galley

The galley was a picture of efficiency and cleanliness. Through the tour, we learned some amazing facts:

220 lbs. of pasta is prepared and served each day.
88 lbs. of tomatoes are used in sauces every day.
4 tons of vegetables are prepared each day.
3527 lbs. of meat and 1543 lbs of fish and seafood are cooked every day.
7000 assorted pastries are created every day.
194 crew members are assigned to the culinary department of the ship, and 55 people are employed scrubbing all of the pots and pans.

I am truly astounded at the logistics involved in the sanitary preparations on top of the creative presentations of the meals served.

Pizza is available almost around the clock, but we never tried it. We saw many young people taking advantage of that choice. In contrast, I was in the mood to be pampered. When someone pulls out my chair and puts my napkin in my lap, I’m a happy lady.

Beef Wellington.

These photos were from the Coral Princess. I suspect that other ships are very similar.

“Every Man Dies. Not Every Man Really Lives”

07/14/2017 By: CCPearson5 Comments

“Every man dies. Not every man really lives.” This quote is attributed to William Wallace who was a freedom fighter for Scotland and Ireland against England at the end of the 13th century. The line was famously delivered by Mel Gibson in the movie Braveheart, and it was repeated by two different speakers at my cousin Jackie Greenhaw’s funeral last week leaving me with a lot to ponder.

Jackie was a great example of a man who really lived. At the visitation with the family and at his memorial service were people who had been touched by Jackie in the many phases of his life. As a high school quarterback, coach and teacher and then later as a consummate volunteer and organizer for causes bettering the lives of Athens and Limestone County citizens, his circle of influence was wide. He and his wife Helen made stunning dance partners. He was a deacon at First Baptist Church, where he was a LIFELONG member, and the entire Athens Rotary Club sat as a group in his honor for the service. The music minister made us all chuckle before leading a congregational hymn saying, “Rarely do you hear the words ‘deacon’ and ‘dancer’ used side by side.” Yet, with Jackie both were true titles. He was also a faithful husband for 52 years, a father to three bright, articulate and accomplished daughters and grandfather to three beautiful children.

Jackie was seven years older than I am. His mother and my grandmother were sisters. We shared hundreds of family occasions. For some reason, he called me “Conga.” I realize that the name sounds a little bit like Connie, but I think he teased me with that name because it was a dance he loved to do. It made both of us smile whenever he said it.

It will take a host of people to fill the shoes/titles he has left behind. What a model of living fully, meaningfully and unselfishly he demonstrated for us.

Not all of us can be dancers and influential civic leaders, but I believe the Bible is clear that we are ALL put on earth to live fully, to “really live.” In what areas could I be really living to a greater extent? Where can I be more generous with my time, personality and abilities? What causes could be promoted with my help? And, what about you? Are we taking too much back to the locker room rather than leaving it all on the playing field of our lives?

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I (Jesus) came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. . .”

Port Orchard, WA: Home and Inspiration for Novelist Debbie Macomber

07/10/2017 By: CCPearson5 Comments

I am a fan of Debbie Macomber’s, both as a person and as a novelist. Her books don’t appear in Christian bookstores, but many of them would qualify. They are engaging, uplifting and thought-provoking.

A couple of inspiring hardcover books that I have.

She is on the advisory board for Guideposts (a series of Christian daily devotionals) and is a spokesperson for World Vision (a wide-reaching philanthropic organization).

Debbie Macomber holding her latest book. Downloaded with permission from her website.

Three back cover photos of Debbie Macomber. Although I’ve never met her, I believe her to be intelligent, approachable, kind and funny — just from seeing her photos and reading her books. Wouldn’t you agree?

I am also a huge fan of the Hallmark Channel. It came as no surprise to me when Hallmark made her Cedar Cove series of books into a TV series on their network. Perhaps I was drawn to this series in particular because Steve and I lived in the Cedar Cove area of Hartselle, AL for 14 years, and that is where our children were teenagers and where both daughters held their wedding receptions.

A few of my books from Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove series.

I also love Hallmark Christmas movies and at least five of them are based on Debbie’s books: Mrs. Miracle, Call Me Mrs. Miracle, Trading Christmas, Mr. Miracle and Dashing Through the Snow.

Debbie is a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. I consider myself to be a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She blogs. I blog. She collects recipes. I collect recipes. But, there the similarities end. She is a #1 New York Times best-selling author with more than 200 million copies of her books in print around the world. I’ve written ONE book, and I hope to break 100 copies sold within the next few years. She’s also a prolific knitter, and I’ve never knit a stitch.

But I digress.

When my Silver Fox and I were planning our trip to Alaska, I requested that we include Port Orchard, Washington on our post-cruise itinerary. I knew it was where Debbie lived and that Port Orchard was the inspiration for her Cedar Cove series. I learned that Debbie owns a cafe/tea/gifts place in town, so we headed there to browse and have lunch.

The exterior of The Grey House.

One of the actual places in Port Orchard that inspired Debbie.

The Grey House was delightful. The food was delicious, and the menu was very Debbie-ish, especially the extensive tea menu which included an assortment of black, green, herbal and white teas.

A view of the cafe from the tea party area.

Even the salt and pepper shakers suggest a tea party.

I ordered the loaded potato soup with an herb and cheese scone and house salad. Steve chose the club sandwich and soup.

Potato soup, herb and cheese scone, garden salad.

A delectable Club Sandwich.

We both had dessert! I ordered the fruit of the forest pie, because I wanted to taste marionberries before I left Washington State. Steve chose bread pudding, because he LOVES bread pudding. Everything was fresh and served so attractively.

Fruit of the Forest Pie

Bread pudding — oh my.

Attached to the cafe is a Hallmark store — a natural connection, don’t you think? But, this Hallmark store had a few unique-to-Port-Orchard areas. One was a large display of Debbie’s books. I became the proud owner of an autographed copy of Debbie’s Cedar Cove Cookbook.

Display of books by Debbie Macomber.

My latest Debbie Macomber acquisition, her Cedar Cove Cookbook.

The other area was a display of her latest books in a tea party setting. I couldn’t resist sitting there and wishing fervently that Debbie would come walking in the door and join me for a nice chat about books while we drank tea.

A beautiful display area between the cafe and the Hallmark store.

A tea party setting where I longed for a visit from Debbie herself.

Alas, that didn’t happen, but I did learn that she comes in several times a week and that her corporate headquarters was in the adjoining parking lot. Naturally, I headed that way for a photograph. I was told that Debbie often writes from the third story turret room, perfect for looking out over her hometown while she weaves another tale.

Debbie Macomber’s corporate headquarters in Port Orchard, Washington.

Note to Debbie: If you looked out your window a few weeks ago and noticed a prissy grandmother-type straining to get a closer look, that was me. And, thank you for the Bible verse included with your autograph. It is one of my favorites.

2 Timothy 1:7 — “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”

To learn more, go to www.debbiemacomber.com and sign up for her newsletter.

Divine Appointment with Mr. Jed

07/07/2017 By: CCPearson4 Comments

We thought we were going into the dining room for another wonderful dinner with our new cruise friends. Instead, we learned once again that the Holy Spirit is never on vacation but is, in fact, always at work.

On the first full day at sea we went to our assigned place for the evening meal where tuxedoed servers waited to treat us like royalty. We were introduced to our tablemates for the week, a lovely couple from North Carolina (we knew they were from the south the minute they said hello), an elderly gentleman in a motorized wheelchair, and his traveling companion, Kay. We learned pretty quickly that Mr. Jed, the one in the wheelchair, was 82-years-old, had survived two strokes but was left with very little use of his legs and his left arm. We watched appreciatively as our thoughtful server helped Mr. Jed cut his meat when the entrees were brought to the table. “Religious affiliation” was lightly mentioned in our initial conversation, but most of the talk was light-hearted and superficial.

The following three nights the six of us got to know each other even better as we shared stories pertaining to our families and past professions. We especially enjoyed Mr. Jed’s descriptions of the months he spent on a submarine while he was in the navy. But, on the fifth night, the North Carolina couple dined in another shipboard restaurant in order to celebrate their 55th anniversary, and Kay chose to stay behind in her cabin to recuperate from a rigorous shipboard excursion. Steve and I were alone with Mr. Jed.

A layer of liking, appreciation and trust was already in place from the previous hours we’d been together. This time I asked Mr. Jed if he was still active in the church he’d mentioned during our first dinner together. He said no and went on to describe an incident that had completely turned him off of that church years ago. But, he also described his very godly grandmother and how many times he’d seen her studying the Bible.

Steve: “Well, Mr. Jed, who is Jesus to you?”

Mr. Jed: “He’s my Savior.”

Steve: “So, if you died tonight, do you think you’d go to heaven?”

Mr. Jed: “I have no idea.”

Steve began to explain how Mr. Jed could have assurance of salvation while I silently prayed. Mr. Jed leaned in close and listened intently. Others in the dining room began to trickle out. Our servers remained nearby but seemed to sense that no interruption was necessary. I have no doubt that the Holy Spirit gave Mr Jed that opportunity to hear the truth and used Steve as his mouthpiece. Steve urged Mr. Jed to spend time with the Lord before he went to bed that night and to accept the reality of Jesus as his Savior.

Mr. Jed and Faye were not at dinner the last night, but we saw them briefly at the airport the next morning. Mr. Jed was cordial to Steve. We don’t know what transpired between Mr. Jed and God, but we do know that he heard the gospel again and had the opportunity to accept it. We’re still praying for him.

1 John 5:13 (New American Standard Bible NASB) — “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW that you have eternal life.”

John 20:31 (NASB) — “but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”

1 Peter 3:15 (NASB) — “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence . . . “

6 Reasons to Book a Balcony Room When You Cruise to Alaska

07/03/2017 By: CCPearson2 Comments

Let me be the first to acknowledge that a cruise to Alaska is quite a splurge. It is one of those Bucket List trips that you make once in a lifetime. It is an experience that you save for, you plan for in regards to appropriate clothing and finding the shore excursions you’d most enjoy, and then you start dreaming about. But, if such a trip is on your list — and I can testify that it is a sensational experience, then I would like to recommend that you go just one step further and book a stateroom with a balcony. And, if the room can be on the starboard side near mid-ship, then all the better.

Here are my 6 reasons for booking a balcony room:

When you first arrive, your room feels bigger and IS, in fact, bigger by the dimensions of the balcony. For those of you with any hint of claustrophobia, the immediate sense of relief will be worth every extra dollar. May I just add here a thanks to Princess Cruise Lines and the Coral Princess, in particular? That bed was wonderful. Along with the comfortable mattress, the drone of the ship’s engine and the almost indiscernible rocking motion as we traveled throughout the night combined for some of the best sleep I’ve had in ages.
The room was much more spacious than I expected, and we had plenty of light and openness.
Wildlife and all of the passing natural scenery can be photographed and enjoyed without having to jockey for position with hundreds of others on the public decks. We saw a brown bear lumbering along the shoreline, numerous bald eagles looking for fish and at least five glaciers in privacy and peace.
Brown bear along the shoreline — starboard side.

The sun put this glacier in the spotlight. Spectacular.

My Silver Fox capturing the perfect shots.
You WILL get cold while traveling the Inside Passage of Glacier Bay. It is mighty handy to step inside and get warm for a few minutes, drink some water, use the restroom, etc. and then step right back outside for unhindered views. In warmer climates, I can imagine being able to soak up some sun without having to model your bathing suit (and your bathing suit BODY) for the masses. Gulp.
I needed my toboggan. It was COLD near all that ice.
The wildlife can even get a closer look at YOU. Check out the size of this seagull!!
Large seagull decided to perch on our balcony and take a closer look.
A stateroom balcony is a great place for a selfie. You can keep trying and trying until you get a decent one to share with your Facebook friends.
This is one of the best selfies after taking a dozen or so.
A balcony room allows you an advance look at the towns where the ship has docked before heading out on a shore excursion.
The city of Vancouver on the day we disembarked. Time to start facing the real world again.

Have I missed any reasons? This was, after all, our very FIRST cruise. I’m sure my more seasoned readers can name other advantages they’ve found. Feel free to chime in.

Hidden by the Clouds

06/30/2017 By: CCPearson4 Comments

The thick gray clouds matched my mood last Tuesday morning. I confess that I was weary. We had been traveling for the past two weeks and still had a rental car return, baggage check-in, security screening, airport food and two flights ahead of us before we’d finally be back home. Our suitcases bulged with dirty laundry.

I was feeling anxious for two reasons. Our youngest daughter (the one who is pregnant with her 8th child) had texted that she was at the doctor on a monitor because of contractions that wouldn’t stop, and she still has three more months to go in this pregnancy. I was uneasy about being so far away and having to put my phone on airplane mode. And, I knew that the day after we got back, we would still be involved in intense house searching because the closing date for selling our present house continues to loom nearer and nearer.

And, my heart has been heavy because of the death of a dear family member last weekend.

Have you ever had days like that? “The stuff of life” tugged, ready to topple me at the first opportunity.

But, then, we finally boarded our plane, settled in our seats, took out some reading material and got comfortable (always a relative term for those of us who don’t get to fly First Class). The plane took off and began it’s ascent through those same thick gray clouds that had been so prominent on our drive to the airport.

After a few minutes, I looked out the window and took in an involuntary gasp of air. There it was for one last look. The top of Mount Rainier towered above the clouds in its snow-covered splendor. I was in awe.

Mount Rainier looming above the clouds.

With an elevation of 14,411 feet, Rainier is the tallest mountain in the state of Washington but only ranks 21st in the list of “25 Highest Mountains in the World.” A week earlier, we saw Denali (formerly known as Mount McKinley) which is the 3rd tallest and has an elevation of 20,320, but this stunning sight was above the clouds and appeared from my seat on the plane. It was as if God chose that moment to remind me ONCE AGAIN that He is in charge of the universe and can certainly handle the details of my life. God can see through the clouds. He knows where the top is at all times. Whether I am in the depths (emotionally) or the heights (literally from an airplane), He is there, and He knows. I’ll never be able to figure out HOW He does it. Neither could Job. The Book of Job addresses this very dilemma in chapter 37.

Job 37:14-22 (New American Standard Version)

¹⁴“Listen to this, O Job,

Stand and consider the wonders of God.
¹⁵“Do you know how God establishes them,
And makes the lightning of His cloud to shine?
¹⁶“Do you know about the layers of the thick clouds,
The wonders of one perfect in knowledge,
¹⁷You whose garments are hot,
When the land is still because of the south wind?
¹⁸“Can you, with Him, spread out the skies,
Strong as a molten mirror?
¹⁹“Teach us what we shall say to Him;
We cannot arrange our case because of darkness.
²⁰“Shall it be told Him that I would speak?
Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?

²¹“Now men do not see the light which is bright in the skies;
But the wind has passed and cleared them.
²²“Out of the north comes golden splendor;
Around God is awesome majesty.

And, of course, the passage I’m more familiar with in Romans 8:38-39 (King James Version)

³⁸For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

³⁹Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Now for a short P.S.: 1) Daughter Julie was sent home by late afternoon with a prescription, and it appears that this pregnancy crisis has been averted. 2) The washing machine stopped just a little while ago with the last load. 3) My cousin’s memorial service will be held on July 7th, so I’ll be able to participate with my family. 4) We still haven’t made the final decision about our next home, but we have ruled out a lot of places. That’s good, right?

I needed the visual reminder of God’s power and His love. Maybe the photo will help to remind you, too.

More Charleston Attractions: The Angel Oak and the Charleston Tea Plantation

06/26/2017 By: CCPearson3 Comments

As I’m sure you’ve concluded by now, Steve and I had a very pleasant trip to Charleston for my birthday. We loved staying at the John Rutledge House Inn. We ate at some fabulous restaurants. We shopped on King Street. We took a carriage ride, a harbor tour and a bike taxi. And we explored several side attractions.

Our destination on Thursday afternoon was the Charleston Tea Plantation. Just in the nick of time we learned about the Angel Oak Tree only a mile or so off the beaten path. We followed the clearly-marked signs and spent several minutes admiring this natural phenomenon. It is considered to be between 400 and 500 years old, so try to imagine gazing at one of the oldest living things in the United States. It is located at 3688 Angel Oak Road in John’s Island, SC, and both the parking and the admission to view it are free. Stop and make photos, just don’t climb or lean on it. There are security cameras all around. Tree authorities expect it to live to see its 900th birthday — although none of US will be around to celebrate.

Angel Oak Tree on John’s Island.

Instructions for Angel Oak visitors and ample warning regarding the security cameras.

One of our most unexpected delights was what we found and all we learned at the Charleston Tea Plantation. This is the only place IN NORTH AMERICA where tea is grown. It is PROCESSED here and in other locations, but it is only GROWN here. That’s why almost all tea is imported.

One-of-a-kind tea leaf harvester on the Charleston Tea Plantation.

A short free video tour (less than 15 minutes) is given in the back of the large gift shop, and tickets are sold for a more extensive trolley tour through the grounds of the plantation. The trolley tour is $10 per person, lasts about 45 minutes, and makes a stop at the large greenhouse on the property to give you a close look at the tea plants being developed at the time of your tour.

“All aboard” for the trolley tour on the Charleston Tea Plantation.

Inside the greenhouse at the Charleston Tea Plantation.

I loved the items for sale in the gift shop, but even more, I loved the dozen or more varieties of free tea available to sample — with unlimited refills. Visitors are encouraged to get their tea and find a cool, shady place on the front porch to sip and savor it.

Tea-themed merchandise in the gift shop.

Whimsical teapots.

Waddy the Frog, named for Wadmalaw Island where the plantation is located, is the whimsical host for guests to the front porch. The metal sculpture was created by Charles “Frog” Smith who lives on John’s Island. I know there are fairy tales involving a fair maiden who kisses a frog, thus turning him into a prince. I already have my prince, but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to just see what happened. Alas, no magic happened. Just this picture.

Trying to create magic with Waddy the Frog.

Luke 12:13-21 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Parable of the Rich Fool

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