All blogs to date

 

Feb. 9,2017

To celebrate my 60th blog, I decided to try to send all of the blogs to date so if you needed to catch up, you could. (109 pages)

 

Oct 26, 2016-Feb 9, 2017

Flourishing to the Finish

by Lonna Swann

Wednesday Oct. 26, 2016

Launched but still around

Well, yesterday I left the RV Park in Colonial Beach, VA. and drove about 40 miles. Woopee! I am not towing my car, left it with my adopted grandson, if I need one, I will rent one.

 Just so you know, there is a lot to a Motor Home that I have to learn all over again. Not only do you have a vehicle, but a house on the back, it moves and much consideration must be given to all aspects.  Experience helps but it has been about 10 years since I've had RV experience and I am getting re-acquainted with it all over again AND I am getting acquainted with a Coach I have never had before.  It is one thing to know how it works sitting in an RV Park, hooked up to the sewer, electricity and water and I got comfortable with that.  It is quite another to be "unhooked" and driving.  I am experiencing what I need to, while I am close, so I will know what to do when i get "out there", which should be today.

Let me be perfectly clear, I trust God, fully, I intend for Him to be able to trust me, I love Him and He loves me (and you), He has my best interest at heart,(you too), and He knows the future!  What a great deal! For those who are worried about me, God's got me.  One way or another! Jesus is my Savior, Comforter, Provider, Protector,  my Peace and my Joy, the Holy Spirit is my helper, guide, when I listen (which I intend to do).  I am excited but not stressed about anything.  I am yeilding to the Lord on this adventure and since He knows the plan, I am going with it!

 Yesterday I had good intentions of getting about my journey but I needed to experience some things like, stuff falling out of a cabinet on my head, ( happened when I was stopped and could handle it) lesson learned, secure all cabinets!  Generator wouldn't start, called my wonderful "go to" RV guy and he talked me through it,(it was an operator problem). Wasn't able to get propane and my very good friend and her family allowed me to stay in their yard and hooked me up to electricity so I could run the refrigerator and heat without running the generator all night.  Had a wonderful dinner with my daughter, LaVonne, so I got to see her before I left.

I intend to take care of some necessary business today and get on the road before traffic. Who knows, well the Lord does.  Life is an adventure, and mine is not all about me.  I know that God has a plan for me, and the people I meet and the places I go are a part of that plan.  You can read Isiah 54, which will give you a clue.  I just looked at my phone and the scripture fo the day is: Psalm 1:6 "For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous but the way of the ungodly shall parish."

Well, as I was writing this blog, the Suburban propane gas company just called and told me where to get propane (about 3 miles away).  Wow does the Lord take care of me! Praise the Lord!

 

Friday, October 28, 2016

On the road...but not far

Finally I feel like I am on the journey, but I didn't get far.  All my business is taken care of, and I was cleared for take off.  I stopped at dark just across the bridge and am tucked in for the night.  I am still excited and will leave at first light tomorrow(I think).  I filled up with gas and tomorrow I will check to see what kind of mileage I am getting on the road without the generator.  Will let you know.  You missed a gorgeous sunset over the Potomac river, I was driving the bridge so didn't take a picture for you.  Some things just aren't worth it.  (Smile)  Good night.  May not blog tommorow til I get somewhere.  Love, Grandma Swann

Posted by Lonna Swann at 6:18 PM

 

Saturday, October 29, 2016

First Day of my Journey.

Great nights sleep in the Walmart parking lot  In  Dalgren, VA. ( I thought I had sent this, this AM). My batteries were  running low, which was another lesson learned, charge everything! Ok , I left Dalgren, VA with a full tank of gas ( at $1.76 per gal. and a sense of peace as I finally began my journey, starting out at 10 AM..  I had other RV's as company and the parking lot was well lighted and Walmart was open all night and they had security, but with all that I had Jesus, and He is all I need..

Today was wonderful, perfect weather, and driving conditions.  I went by Frog Level County, which only has a Carry out, a Church and a Firehouse, ( I always liked the name). Today they had a Harvest festival at the Church and lots of cars, lined up on both sides of the Highway so I didn't stop.  Looked like fun .  I stopped in South Hill, VA at a "Loves" Service Station that caters to RV's.  They had a dump station, and I needed to dump my tanks (by myself for the first time, it went smoothly), a Subway Sandwich shop (I like the sandwiches) and Gas which I needed before it got down to half a tank($1.96 per gal. and the last "Loves" station as North Carolina doesn't even have any and the regular gas , lowest price I found out was $2.11 ) I need to figure out how many miles per gallon I get without the generator running.  Will let you know.

What a blessing! I am staying with friends in Raleigh, NC tonight, and will go with them to FTHCM Church tomorrow.  There was plenty of space to park the RV at their house, and I could have stayed in the RV but they insisted that I stay over night in their house. They have internet and they also let me wash clothes and take a shower, which are the only two things I didn't do before I left. (oops)
The Lord is with me all the way!

Posted by Lonna Swann at 4:58 AM

Sunday, October 30, 2016

What a blessed Day!

Wow, woke up in Raleigh at my friends house and they drove me to the FTH CM Raleigh Church for Sunday School which he taught.  It was a wonderful review of the classes he had taught for the month on Witnessing in the Church.  I was surprised, just before the Service started, the Pastor's wife from Pomona, Calif. came in.  She had flown to Raleigh and .drove with the Raleigh Pastor's wife to the Woman's  Retreat in Cambridge, MD. and they had just returned yesterday.  My plan is to go to the Pomona Church as a part of my journey,  It was good to see her early!  The message was good and I saw many people I knew from either the Parent Church or from my former visits, lots of hugs.  It is such a loving Church!

The couple I stayed with, were in Shaklee  years ago and they were kind enough to have me, not only to park at their house, but they said it would make sense to stay tonight too, since I was going to the Court house in Greensboro, NC tomorrow and I could go after traffic. They also helped me fill up the water tank from their house faucet.  We went out to a great restaurant, ,and had a wonderful meal. They are so special! I enjoyed the visit so much.

Now I am ready for the next part of my journey which is to research my genealogy at the Courthouse. I am loving this!

Monday, October 31, 2016

Change of Itinerary off to Atlanta

Good Morning,
Up and ready to go to Atlanta (via Charlotte, NC).  I had planned to go check out some of my Ancestors but, the Lord has different plans. (Let the dead bury the dead), so on to the living in Atlanta!
I have adopted two more into my adopted family, my Host and Hostess and they prayed a beautiful prayer for me before they left this AM.  I washed another load of clothes and am ready to hit the road.  It is another beautiful day, a crispy cooler one that yesterday's 83 degrees.
I'm excited!

On the road

Arrived South of the Border, South Carolina, 3:30 PM, taking a break.  All is well.  I am living off the top of the tank, as Episcopal Pastor said to.(filling up when it gets to half a tank.  So far I am getting 7.95 mpg, (reasonable for a Motor Home, I think), last gas was $2.19 per gal.  I have been going 65 mph in a 70 mph zone.

Tuesday Nov.1, 2016
Had a wonderful 9 hour sleep at South of the Border, South Carolina.  It was quiet and since it was 80 degrees yesterday, it was perfect for sleeping as it got cooler (down to 56 degrees) during the night.  I didn't need to turn on the generator, or even use the lights as the parking lot was well lit, and my sky lights allow the light to come through.  I had a nice salad and rested a while from driving and then, it just seemed right to stay the night here.
Yesterday I was expecting to see some aftermath from the storm and flooding they had near Fayetteville, NC..  I saw why they had closed I-95.  In one stretch about a half mile long, every other tall pine tree was down.  They had cleared the road, but had not taken the downed trees out.  
Today, I plan to go to the Atlanta (Georgia) FTHCM church for Bible study, yesterday Pastor Stark's wife helped me find a place to park. So on to Atlanta!
For those of you that want to know about my health, I had a check up before I left.  I am on no medication,(that was a goal) and I had a Mammogram and a bone density test, mammogram was OK and my BONE DENSITY HAD INCREASED 5.9%  from 3 years ago (when it was declining), now it is at 100%! Praise the Lord!  I had purposely increased my Shaklee Calcium (Osteomatrix) and Vitamin D (Vita D), I am REVERSING the aging process! (I got it in writing). Woopee! There are some things I need to do to be better (exercise is one) but the Health Print (Assessment) helped me to know what to do.  If you would like to know yours, go to my Shaklee website and take the (free) Health Print. It takes about 5 minutes to complete and you will get immediate suggestions as to how to reach your health goals. 
My website: www.healthierlife-4U.myshaklee.com
The weather here today will be 73 degrees and cloudy- PERFECT for driving!
 I will do better today, how about you? (a Grandma Swann moment)

Wednesday, Nov 2, 2016

Wow, another great day!  It just keeps getting better.  I wasn't able to blog last night because there was an accident on the highway that stopped us for about an hour and so I got to Pastor Starks house just in time to go to Bible Study which was exactly what I needed to hear.  I got to tour the Church facility which is awesome and beautiful.  I will send some pictures (if I figure it out).  They fixed dinner for me which was delicious and we talked until late. Great fellowship, I stayed on the street, near their house, had a quiet nights sleep.  I got two CD's of Pastor Starks messages on "Excellence of Ministry through Love" for the trip, listened to one, it was life changing.

Then I got up and left to go on to Scottsboro, Alabama to be there by 2:30 PM.  The travel there was beautiful rolling hills (mountains for Easterners), the leaves were on their way out but still beautiful. Lakes, quaint little towns, good roads but not Interstate, which I enjoyed.

Scottsboro, Alabama is a sleepy little town with an Unclaimed Baggage Center that I had heard about 5 years ago and put it on my list of things to see.  I don't know why it fascinated me so, but it seemed like fun.  I found out that at 2:30 PM every day the public might be able to open a suitcase and I wanted to do that, so I had to be there. (weird? yes.)  I arrived here about and hour early which allowed me to see the place.  It is like a huge two building "Thrift store" of stuff found in baggage.  They have found some unusual things like a shrunken head, wedding dresses, diamonds, Money, a suit of armor, etc..., you can go on their website (Unclaimed Baggage) and check it out.   I found out that each person that wanted to open the suitcase put their name in for a drawing.  My name was pulled! Yippee! They put an apron on me, gave me gloves and while I was opening the suitcase, Pam, gave the History of the place and she said that the original owner (who was in the coffee shop but left before I could get to meet him) started by getting a pickup load of unclaimed suitcases and had a yard sale.  It caught on and grew.

The suitcase I opened had a shirt, two pairs of jeans and some dirty socks, all of which went into the wash bin.  They had 4 bins, Wash, Sell, Give away and Trash.  It was fun and they gave me a "Unclaimed Baggage Tee shirt and a 10% off coupon for an item.  I didn't need a lot of stuff but I did buy a back apparatus that I can put on the drivers seat that will keep my back cool and supported while driving ($4.00), a pair of turquoise sandals,($5.00), a notebook ($.29) and a ring ($3).

I told my flourish to the finish RV story to two Sweet Christian ladies separately that worked there (and gave them my blog info) and they talked about me to each other and decided to give me a free lunch coupon with beverage for tomorrow.  Wow!  God is soooooo good!

I am able to stay at the same place in the secure parking lot (next to a grave yard, which should be quite.

My generator started but didn't run anything, so I called my wonderful "go to" RV guy and he talked me through it. Another operator problem.  Later while I was writing this the LP gas alarm went off and I had to call him again.  We worked that out too. 

I am well taken care of, thank God!

Tomorrow is about a 3 hour drive to do a Shaklee Training in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

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Nov 2-7, 2016
John 8:36
Before I left on this journey, I ask several of you to come along.  I am beginning to  know why it is just Jesus and me on this (mission) journey.  I have a question.  What has you bound?  Who bound you?  Didn't Jesus die to make us free?  Are we free to do God's will for our lives?  Have we cluttered ourselves with things, stresses, "have to's", "buts" our own understanding? Maybe this journey of mine will help you think about...WHAT'S STOPPING YOU FROM DOING GOD'S WILL IN YOUR LIFE???   Do you trust the One who made you for His purpose, to know what is best for you?  How is your peace level? Joy level? Comfort level? Can you even have peace with all my travels?  (I'm just saying..) You may have to put up with the "Grammy Whammy's"
OK, I had a peaceful nights sleep and the neighbors did not bother me at all.( a Cemetery).  I woke up with such Joy in my heart today!
I will visit the people I met at the Unclaimed Baggage Center and get my lunch to take with me.
On to Murfreesboro, TN.
All tucked in at the Cracker Barrel Restaurant in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  There is supposed to be a storm tonight and I am OK here.  We were going to do a Shaklee training tonight with my best friends granddaughter who lives here, but because of the impending storm we will do it probably tomorrow, it is going to be sunny and 75 degrees for the next few days.  I love storms and am looking forward to the pounding of rain on the roof, which sounds so great! 
 Nov 3, 2016
There are so many wonderful people in this world, love them, enjoy them, seek to bless them and....don't listen to the news! God will give you the information you need when you need it and other people can't wait to discuss it with you,(whether you want to or not). Today's Grammy Whammy
This morning was lovely as I visited my friends at the Unclaimed Baggage Center again. I also met Chris, a young man who knows the Lord and he helped me find a super duper charger for all my gadgets, that should help keep me charged. 
I got the free lunch, and beverage, compliments of my two new friends, Pam and Jasmine at the U.B .Center and it was delicious!  A salad sampler consisting of the County's best Chicken salad (made with Chicken breast, grapes and green onions), a tossed salad made with fresh wild greens, cranberries and pecans, and a unique strawberry pretzel whipped cream salad that served as a light desert.  The Chicken salad was enough to make a sandwich for lunch and have the rest for dinner.
I am not hungry so won't go to Cracker Barrel tonight, maybe eat tomorrow to pay for my stay.
The drive here was beautiful with the Cumberland Mountains and a gorgeous day.  I took some more pictures as I was driving but I need help to get them to you.  Hear ye, hear ye all you techies out there. HELP! You don't want me to figure it out myself!  It hasn't started to rain yet but I better stop now, while I still have a connection. Love you all, having too much fun to miss you yet, maybe later.(smile) Where are the smiley faces when you need them?
 I plan to be here for a few days.

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Nov 4, 2016

Well, I weathered the storm! (It didn't. even rain). (Told you to not to listen to the news!) (smile)
Had a restful sleep here at Cracker Barrel in  Mufreesboro,, TN. This seems like a day to catch up, Nothing planned. but housework and organization, (much needed). Will let you know if that changes. I am trying out my Tablet to blog this, seems to work but not as good as the Lap Top. (onefinger). I was able to use my new superdooper Battery charger and it charger my tablet, Hot spot. Phone and Hands-free device and was only down 50%, good stuff! It doesn't work for the Laptop, have to start the generator and plug it in.
Talked to a friend this AM who is 85 yrs old. had been in pain with Arthritis, using a stair lift to go up stairs, was short of breath,(using a nebulizer) had fluid build up in her legs and feet( on diuretics), and was very underweight with no appetite.
She has been eating Shaklee products for 2 weeks and told me she had no pain, could walk up and down the steps(15) and was able to come off her pain meds. She has not used the nebulizer for 3 days, has gained 10lbs ( said she would kiss my feet if Shaklee helped her gain weight, I can't wait to get back for that to happen!). Her legs and feet are no longer swollen and she is no longer taking diuretics. Praise the Lord!
It makes me so happy to be able to help with building better health and lifestyle in others.

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Nov 5,2016

Still in Murfreesboro, TN, going to do some Shaklee things today, one on ones and video?
Last evening my best friend's daughter came to pick me up and took me to "Sprouts" grocery store (organically inclined) got some great food for the travels, salad makings etc... Then she took me to her house and fed me a great "crock pot" meal, delicious, then she gave me some to bring back. Woopee!
Congratulations to Gail & Harold Murray on becoming Director in Shaklee, their leadership and business is growing!!! Way to GO!!!
It is great to be able to work Shaklee on the road or anywhere! What a blessing! I am NOT retired! Just so you know.(smile) I am working to be a better steward over the great business I have and Maximize what I have.
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What fun to be doing Shaklee training again. I was picked up and escorted to Ashley's house, by  Grandma Gail (that is so hard to believe).  I was able to see Aidan, Ashley & Ashton's, 2 year old and the new baby, Cloie.  Both are so sweet and definitely Shaklee babies!  So calm and peaceful but active as children should be.  Grandma Gail babysat Aidan while we talked.
Jay came over to discuss he and his wife, Mary's Shaklee future and it's possibilities for this young family.  He was so ready to help lots of people to benefit from Shaklee.  It was good to be back in the Shaklee saddle again.
Ashley is such an incredible Mom and a great Shaklee business Woman and can do amazing things in just an hour a day!  I got a lot of good tips from her.
Tomorrow is Church with Gail.
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Sunday, Nov 6, 2016
Wonderful Day!  Started out with Gail picking me up at 8 AM from Cracker Barrel for Church where she plays piano. It was wonderful, called "Church of the Way". Praise and worship was awesome and the message was right in line with what God seems to be doing in many Churches, getting us Christians ready for the next move of God and He wants us to be debt free and free of the worlds system.  I met and hugged so many wonderful people and God's love was definitely there.  I plan to visit on my way back through????
After Church, Gail treated me to  a great dinner from Cracker Barrel, we did take out and we visited in the Motor Home after we kicked our shoes off.  What a life!  I made reservations at a Thousand Trails in Hohelwald, Tennessee, I just arrived and it was too dark to hook up so will do it in the AM.  The weather has been perfect and seems like it will be for the next few days.  My stay in Murfreesboro was outstanding.  All my needs were met.  God is awesome!!!

I forgot to tell you that Ashley took a Video of me answering some question she and others had about the Shaklee business and she will post them somewhere for other Distributors to see.  Hope it helps.

This place is HUGE!  843 acres of lakes, streams mountains etc..That is just what I saw in the dark, will tell you more tomorrow when I get hooked up.  Love you all.

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Nov 7, 2016

I was called by my friend Sarah this AM and she left me a message.  "This is the day that the Lord has made..." WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH IT?  Wow, as she said, that will preach!
Today I took a shower (big deal) and washed my hair(bigger deal) and will wash clothes (much needed). I expect to catch up on some maintenance items like dumping the tanks.  They have a lot of sites with just water and electric that is near where I am, but no sewage.  The benefit here, is the Laundry is close and the shower house and there is a dump station so I could dump and stay in this spot or move to another area where there are full hook ups. Oh well I will decide after I wash clothes.
There are still a few people here but the temperature was 47 degrees this morning.  It is supposed to be 75 today.
I also expect to figure out how to send pictures so I can catch you up with that.  I have internet here and that is great.

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Nov 8-10,2016

I think this is election day, anyway I voted early so I don't have to think about it, but please vote.

The reason why I don't know for sure is because I don't choose to watch TV news.  I have two TV's in my RV but only have digital TV that only picks up whatever channel is within 20 miles.  The last time I put up my antenna (don't laugh) which was in Colonial Beach, VA and I got 4 channels (2 were Spanish) and one of the other two was black & white Westerns which suited me just fine, whenever I got around to watching it.(which wasn't often).

I am enjoying the RV Park, watching children on bicycles, people walking their dogs etc.. It is supposed to be 70 degrees and cloudy today, Sunny for the next two days.

Let's talk about change.  How do we deal with it?  Plans change when things change and things change all of the time.  Someone said the only constant in this world in change. God is the only constant and He changes not.(Malachi 3:6) So why is it so hard to deal with sometimes?  Maybe because we want things to go our way?  Maybe because it is out of our control and we want to control?  Maybe we are resisting growth?  Growth is constant change and we don't like it sometimes.  O.K.  lets look at why things change, I don't know.  (There you have it!) and it's OK!

All I know is I am His child that when I am in the will of God, , He has plans for me that I know not of, and I better be WILLING to adjust or I will miss out on the wonders of His love for me,(and the fun and fulfillment) !

I said all that to let you know that things have changed. I planned to visit the Cannons in Alabama from here, and they are away for two weeks sooo Maybe on the way back?  Well we will wait to see what He has planned.

Meanwhile, I found a spot near the lake and as I was fixin' to back into the RV site, this angel ( that looked like Santa Claus) appeared and helped me back into the site (which is hard to do by yourself without taking out the water & electric posts!).  Then he hooked up my water, and  dumped my sewage tanks for me, which is not a pretty picture. God supplies all my needs! 

This site is great except I get very little, if any internet signal so it is hard to even get phone service here.  I plan to leave tomorrow, don't know where yet.

My life does not depend on the elections, although I voted as my duty and privilege as a US citizen,(with good conscious).  It depends wholly on my trust in the one who made me, loves me, saved me and has my best interest at heart, my Lord Jesus!  This world is not my home, I only live here, I need to be a good steward over the things I have been entrusted with while here. I intend to Flourish to the Finish!

Flourish: To grow luxuriantly; Thrive; Succeed; To reach a height of development or influence (for the next generations).

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Nov. 9, 2016 

Ps 86:12 "I will praise thee, Oh Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify thy name for evermore."

After reading II Cor:11, this morning, (having not seen the election results, still haven't) seeing what Paul went through, am I willing to go through periless times for my Lord's sake?  The world is waxing worse and worse (Bible said it would), what shall we do?

II Cor: 9-10

This is a voice crying from the Wilderness (Preserve in Tennessee). No matter what the outcome of the elections, I need to prepare me, for what is to come.  My check list:

          1.  Am I saved? That is, have I accepted Jesus as God's only begotten                              Son to be my Savior and Lord? ____________.

          2.  Do I trust God in everything?________  Or am I looking to the                         world for solutions?

          3.   Have I been baptized in the Holy Spirit (with evidence of speaking           in other tongues)?_______________. (Not necessary for                               Salvation but He is the helper for getting through this life on                       earth)

          4.   Do I honor God with all my substance? (ie. tithe, offerings)._____

          5.   Am I a faithful citizen of the Kingdom of God, first? __________

          6.   Am I doing His will? (or my own or someone elses)___________

          7.   Can God trust me?_________ with everything?___________

          8.    Am I willing to suffer persecutions for His sake, as Jesus did for                        mine?____________.

          9.    Am I working the work that He wants me to do, while it is still                            available to do?____________

        10.     Do I love my neighbor as myself ?_________ Truly ?______

        11.     Have I cleaned up my life, to be an example to draw others to                           Christ? ____________

        12.     Is my body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God?_____

My Pastor has been encouraging us to Maximize what we have, and know that what we have is enough to do His will.  Don't go into debt for this Holiday Season (or any) and just because you have it to spend, doesn't mean you have to spend it. (speaking from experience, I am finally debt free.) I encourage you to look around you, what do you have?

what can be re-purposed, created, thoughtful, etc... Think, really think about the other person you would like to give to, (or feel obligated to).  Wouldn't they really rather have your time, thoughtfulness, energy, love. or just YOU? It is amazing what you can come up with when you set the rules for yourself, "before I spend money, what do I have to give?"  Those who accept the challenge, I would like to hear how it worked for you. 

Have a great Thanksgiving and Christmas season, I pray it works well. Oh, and if you put the money you would usually spent in savings? I'm just saying....

Today, I don't know what I will do accept yesterday I spent 4 precious hours on the phone (hanging out the window to get better reception) with my internet carrier to get my internet functioning properly and now they said I had to drive 30 miles to a store to get a sim card, to see if that works.  But I am grateful to be able to communicate with you like this.

Nov 10, 2016

Columbia TN.
Good 9 hrs of sleep and I decided  to catch up on my financial records. So far (13 days into travel). I am getting 6.20 miles per gal of gas(8 hours of generator use, which draws from the gas tank). The generator is used for heat ,(when not using the Propane), battery charging, smoothy making, microwave and lights, water heater, water pump to save the house batteries. Anyway I have spent $294.08 in travel costs (gas and lodging) that works out to $22.62 per day so far. I filled up the gas tank 6 times, I have traveled in 7 States and have spent nothing for overnight stays so far and I am HOME! God is good! I have made 8 new lasting friendships, and visited 3 Churches. Had 4 Shaklee meetings and 6 individual encounters, broke a Director and did 7,000 PV(purchase volume) so far. So much for my first 13 days on this Journey.  I have a magnetic Shaklee sign on the RV for advertising purposes, making the name visible and a conversation starter(and tax deduction).

Still don't know where I am going next.  Will let you know when I know.

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Nov, 11-13

What a great drive and amazing day.  I didn't know where I was going this AM, and I started out South and stayed at a Cracker Barrel last night. I went to bed early and woke up at 3;30 with 8 hours of sleep. so I meditated until 5:30 and got up and got ready to go South again.  I wasn't sure whether to go further South to Montgomery to do a Shaklee meeting or West to the Grants in Lena, Mississippi. Just after I had turned West and stopped for gas, I got a text asking if I could do a 3 Way leadership Shaklee call with Tara in Montgomery, AL.. I stopped and had a very successful call and then drove on to Lena, MS to the Grants, a friend from FTHCM that have been living here about 12 years.  They have a complete Motor Home hook up but they insisted that I stay in their HUGE BEAUTIFUL home. We had a wonderful visit and will do some exploring tomorrow. will stay a few days here.  Good night, long day.

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Saturday, November 12, 2016

Away from home (RV) in Mississippi

I moved from my RV home for a few days to stay in my friends WONDERFUL HOME. What a great sleep! (on a Select Comfort bed) This place is awesome!  The Lady of the house was born and raised here and I now understand why they moved back to Mississippi.  The original house she was raised in is still here but they designed and built a perfect house on the same piece of property.  I met some of the neighbors (black and white) who were over (every Friday night) for a game of "Hand and Foot".  I had never heard of it.  It is a card game and after they explained it, it sounded like fun.  They were a great group.
I got a tour of the house last night and there is nothing left out.  Lot's of nooks and crannies for storage (they used to have an RV so they knew how to utilize space) and efficiency in everything!
Beautiful 22 acres of fruit trees (all planted by them) and open lawn (cleared by them), a large work shop (Built by them) with full RV hook-ups.

I would like to share with you, my perceptions on the South.  It is quite different than the first time I drove through it in 1965, during the Civil Rights movement.  At that time I was a Civil Rights sympathizer, driving a red VW bug, with California tags, with a  (17 yr. old Jewish Hippy) Hitch- hicker.  That is another story.  I remember crying through Mississippi and Alabama and didn't stop driving (except for gas) or crying until I reached Georgia.  It was very oppressive and it could be felt in the atmosphere.  Then I was afraid.
Now, I feel differently and am enjoying my time here.  I will let you know more as I go along.  People are friendly and I am enjoying myself so much.
What a journey!

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Saturday, I got a tour of the land where they live, 2 ponds, and the house where she lived as a child.  Each of the ponds have different kinds of fish (not stocked by them, just naturally arrived by birds or whatever)  They have had 2 alligators to show up at the pond on two different occasions, and It is a beautiful gated, well cared for (by them) place.  They are both older than I am and truly flourishing to the finish!

We went on a car tour of the area including to the State Capitol in Jackson, Mississippi which is the largest State Capitol in the US (looks like the US Capitol) .  We came back to have crab cakes for dinner (She makes the BEST). Great fellowship!

Sunday, 7 AM we went to their Church for 8 AM Service (there are 3 services) at Pine Lake Church ( www.PineLake.org ). Check is out. The message was perfect for me and you can listen to it on line (Jonah).  For a church in Mississippi, in the deep South, the website tells it all.  I was amazed at the love of God that was very apparent!  The Pine Lake Church has a focus on (legal) adoption and foster care of Children. 

 I am seeing the plan of God working in each Church, each one has a special work to do and (prayerfully) they are obedient to it.  It is sooo important to be connected and a working part of a Bible believing, Bible teaching Church, so you can be fulfilled in the plan of God (It is much, much bigger than we are but each of us is IMPORTANT to the plan.) The Body of Christ, although sick in some areas, is coming to realize that WE ARE ONE, when we believe, and are on one accord.

We came back home and had more fellowship and crab cakes.  The weather is beautiful, a bit chilly in the evenings and gorgeous during the day.  They have been having a drought so rain would be a blessing.   

We had more fellowship over popcorn around the gas fireplace in the living room. We have decided that we are family, Sister & Brother so my "adopted" family is still growing! Yeaaaaa!

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Flourishing to the Finish Blog #5

Monday Nov 14, 2016

Today we talked for hours about Shaklee and my friends were able to become Distributors free because he was a Veteran, so they ordered products and the Lady of the house and I agreed to go on the "Shaklee Natural Cleanse" together and  we will start as soon as her products come in.  We both have weight to lose and it is nice to have a buddy.

We took the golf cart out to the pond to feed the fish.  Their cat rode along part of the way.  The fish in the pond that I saw were about 12-14 inches long.  I got to drive the golf cart by myself and it was fun.

Did you see the moon?  It was so bright, I took a picture.  Isn't it amazing that we can all see the same moon at the same time and it has light for everybody all over the world, unless it is obstructed by something coming between us and the Moon.  It's just like God, He has enough light and love for all of us, all over the world, we can all access Him at the same time...unless we allow something or someone to  come between our relationship with Him.  Then we are in the dark and have no access to the light and love of God, but He is always there, shining and loving us, no matter what.  Are we allowing the light and love of God to shine in our heart today?  He is always there.

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Tuesday Nov 15

Wow, every day gets better and better!  Today we started with no plan but as the day went on we decided to go out and eventually go to the Whole Foods store to get organic, fresh fruits and vegetables for out Natural Cleanse in order to be ready when we started.

We started driving around the reservoir which looked like a beautiful lake.  We stopped to take some pictures. (Yes, I have pictures and have not forgotten, just have been having too mush fun to take the time to attach them to the blog yet, OK?)   Anyway we saw a sign for an Art Center so we stopped and went through it.  It was wonderful.  Lots of local artist items for sale and they were beautiful.  Such a variety of word, metal and glass sculptures, fabric art, pottery, baskets, Christmas ornaments, etc...  One Gourd art stood out because I had never seen it before.  They were called Thunder Gourds.  If you held the top of  the gourd (about 10 inches in diameter) and shook is slightly, it sounded like loud thunder.  There was a tight membrane across the bottom and in the middle a beaded chain hung down, and as the chain hit the membrane, it vibrated and caused the sound. Cool!

we left there and went to lunch at "Cock of the Walk" restaurant.  What a unique experience.  When we first walked in, the place was nice and was fairly empty and we got a table over looking the lake, beautiful!  On the table was a tin bucket with napkins and silverware in it.  Then they brought the menus, one page with two choices, chicken tenders or cat fish (voted best cat fish in Mississippi). You had a choice of  broiled or fried.  The sides were no choice, it came with fried pickles, (which were delicious, dill pickles, sliced like cucumbers and fried), French fries, turnip greens,(served in a small cooking pot, delicious), corn bread (came in a small cast iron skillet that the waiter flipped high in the air like a flap jack, then when it landed back in the pan, he cut it up with a flourish), coleslaw, (Delicious), Hush puppies and wonderful dipping sauces and , of course several kinds of hot sauce on the table including, Tabasco sauce and Tabasco peppers in a jar with vinegar. I didn't do the fish or the hot sauce but my friend (Sister) did..  The plates were tin pie pans, the water was served in tin cups and everything was wonderfully Mississippi!  Two waiters said a Birthday jingle to "Miss Lady".  Since they didn't have desert, the waiter, Jerami, fixed a Birthday cake with a poppy seed muffin with cherry topping and whipped cream on top  It was great and so much fun.

"Cock of the walk"  was the actually name given to the man who was the strongest, best oarsman (one long oar about 10 ft. long) on a wooden boat (about 20 ft long) used to transport goods on the Mississippi River.  He had a red Turkey feather in his hat as his signature.  (We took most of the food back home to Bro. Grant.)

We then finished the day by going to Whole Foods to get the fruits and vegetables and then home in time to watch FTHCM Bible Study, taught by Minister Monmouth, it was great!

Wonderful day, wonderful fellowship, wonderful Mississippi! (Never thought I would ever say that!).

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Wednesday Nov. 16

My (adopted) Brother and Sister Grant that I am staying with, are the most remarkable  couple I have ever met!  They are humble, loving, giving, nurturing, hospitable, innovative, stable, thoughtful, tolerant, steadfast in the Lord, sweet spirited, good stewards, hard working, and loving, always willing to learn and grow.  They have such a remarkable story! 

          Sister Grant was born in Mississippi, the deep South, where, as an African American child, she was brought up in a culture of such deeply ingrained prejudice that  both Whites and Blacks learned to adopt hatred and deep seated fears and disdain for each other.  The things that happened against the "Colored" were quickly passed through the neighborhoods, in hushed tones, far and wide within the Black community, without the Newspaper or TV.  Young African American children soon learned, "Their place", and did not dare cross the "line" of that place.  Early instructions were understood, although never questioned, except in the minds of the individuals.

          Growing up in such a place could (and did) harden the hearts of many and create ingrained thought patterns, that when placed against the Word of God, and God's plan for our lives, one could come up short.  But Sister Grant, even as a little girl, was bright and confident in her relationship with the Lord. Her Mother instilled in her a knowledge that, if somebody else could do it,  it could be done, and if she wanted to do it, God had given her the ability to study or practice long and hard enough to do it. 

          She has had her own Assisted Living Facility, worked two jobs to put her child in Private school, and through College.  Invested at an early age, had her CDL license and drove bus for the  Full Gospel (FTHCM) Church.  Taught Ceramic classes, was the General Contractor and Designer of this Beautiful, energy efficient house, in a Beautiful setting, which was her childhood home.  What am example for all of us. (That is just the little that I know and I am INSPIRED!)

           Bro. Grant was born and raised around the Hilton Head area of South Carolina.  I haven't spent as much time with him as I have with his wife (out and about with her) to get his story.  What I know of him is that he has such a willing heart to serve the Lord.  Soon after they joined their (predominantly white Church in Mississippi) he was asked to usher, they saw his character, and at the proper time, he was ordained as a Deacon.  He believes in doing what he does well, with excellence.  I can attest to the fact that their place (22 acres and a huge house) is kept immaculate all of the time.  What they have done is so remarkable, but I know God is not finished with them yet.  Both of them are 78 years old and act like Energizing Bunnies, and DEBT FREE!  I am energized just being around them, they have so much to teach me.

           I heard from my Nephew who lives in Louisiana.  He is usually out to sea on a barge (Deep sea diving) for months at a time and we weren't sure if he would be home when I came by.  Praise the Lord, I plan to see him tomorrow and meet his wife for the first time.  I am sooo looking forward to seeing him and his wife.  God is so good!  It is about a 3 1/2 hour drive and I will leave after the Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon at Bro & Sis Grant's Church tomorrow.

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Nov 17-19

Friday, Nov 17-18,2016

Yesterday I left Bro. & Sis. Grant's and drove to their Pine Lake Church for a Senior Pre-Thanksgiving luncheon. (maybe the only one I get as I won't get to my Sister's in Oregon by then, the Lord has slowed me down a lot, which is good.

Bro. Grant rode with me, we got to church early and transferred my stuff from their trunk to the RV.  The luncheon was wonderful, everybody brought so much food, there was plenty to take home.  They are all good cooks and everything was homemade. I saw some of the people I met on Sunday and it was as if we were old friends.  I left there at 1 PM to head South again towards Louisiana.  The drive was nice and I got to Lafayette at sunset.  It was unusual as the only clouds in the sky was a long perfectly straight line of clouds above the horizon, then a long space below, that looked like the ocean and it looked like I was driving towards the water.  It was the sky, but you can't always trust what you see or perceive to be real.

 My daughter LaVonne talked to me until I got into Lafayette, LA., she is doing great.  She has a business called "Concrete Inspired", she does polished concrete floors, and her business is truly being blessed by God.  Her son Dion works with her and they are doing great together.

I parked at the Lowes and waited for my Nephew to pick me up.  It was great to see him! He took me to dinner at the restaurant where his wife works.  She is from Mexico and it was the first time I had met her.  She is awesome!  Very loving and personable.  We had a wonderful meal.  Guacamole, made at the table, real authentic, I videoed her making it, what fun!  We had something like a chicken Enchilada with chocolate sauce ( surprisingly good) and a chicken frijoles with roasted vegetables,(real good) and fried ice cream (real good).  It was way too much, so took some home.  Wonderful visit!

Stayed a Lowes, very quiet and good sleep.

Today we are going to lunch at a real authentic Cajun Restaurant.

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Saturday, Nov 19, 2016

Yesterday my Nephew picked me up (his wife was not able to come) to go to an  Pre Jeans (pronounced French) Restaurant.  I  ATE ALLIGATOR! It was good and tasted like Chicken .  It was a nice place and  we also shared a shrimp, crab, crawfish fondue and a Shrimp Caesar Salad.  There was enough to take home for his wife. Wonderful food and fellowship!

          I left Lafayette and drove about 37 miles to Jennings, LA. where my Great Great Grandfather migrated to, from the Midwest, on the first North/South railroad.  I passed a lot of rice fields on the way and this area has the largest rice growers in the US. It is a small town and the Parish (County) seat.  It was 3:30 PM when I arrived and everything closed at 4:30 and it was Friday, so didn't really find anything relating to my G.G.Grandfather.  He had property that he willed to my Great Grandmother and he died here so I will keep checking online.  I met some really nice people and they told me where the Wal-Mart was and that is where I stayed the night.  After I parked, I saw a place I could get a manicure and pedicure which was badly needed.

          That was a fun experience, and Michael and Lu adopted me and called me,"Grandma".  I got to here their stories of how they escaped the Communist in Vietnam and went by boat to China and then on to the USA.  The massage chair for the pedicure was great too!

          Then I also went to the Dollar Store next door, came out and it was storming,  raining and windy.  The day had been a beautiful 82 degrees.

 Had a wonderful night's sleep, with the rain on the roof and the wind rocking me to sleep. Woke up this AM, cold, 43 degrees, it is still windy, had to turn on the generator to get warm and also charge my stuff.  This is supposed to be the South!  I am still seeing signs that say "bridges freeze before roadways." I need to keep going!

          Today I think I will be in Texas.  I have done half of the US map in 22 days.  I won't be in Oregon for Thanksgiving but I do hope to be there for my Brother-in-Law's 80th Birthday.  I talked to them a couple of days ago and they are doing great!

          I am enjoying the sights on this trip, but the most enjoyable are the people, most of my life was focused on stuff and things, now I am discovering how important people are in my life.   I am so happy that I "woke up" to be able to see just a glimpse of what God sees in each of us, that would cause His love to send His Son Jesus to save us, if only we receive the gift!  It is a wonderful gift and I am so blessed to have Jesus with me on this trip! What would I do without Him?  I wouldn't have considered this Journey without Him and God's Holy Spirit in me, helping!  I have so much Peace, Comfort and Joy! He knows me, loves me, has my best interest at heart, provides for me, is my protector and He knows the future!  WHAT A DEAL!  Let's go to the next adventure!

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Nov 19-21

Chillin' in Texas! (literally)

It is cold, 43, 33, 38 degrees for the last three mornings.  I need to go South-er and instead I am going North, Oh, well.  I'm not going anywhere for a couple of days.

I left Jennings, Louisiana and drove to Vinton, Louisiana near the Texas border at a Love's Truck stop.  It was around 2:30 PM and by the time I called Thousand trails at Lake Conroe to make my reservations, they were full for Saturday but I was able to book Sunday until Wednesday.  The Ranger at the RV park said I could "Boon dock" there for Saturday and then move to an RV site around noon after others left.  I finished my break, it was too late to start out because it would be dark soon.  I had a nice place to park.  So I called her back and said I would stay the night at Love's, she jokingly advised me to watch out for the "Lot Lizards".  I ask her what they were.  She said "Ladies of the Night" that hang around Truck Stops! I didn't think I had to worry, didn't see any either.

I was a little concerned because I was out of fresh water in the tanks, needed to dump the other two tanks, and low on propane. But knowing that God has supplied all my needs, I stayed the night "Boon docking", (It's what it is called when you are not in an RV park hooked up to electric, water and sewage).

          I could have dumped the tanks ($5) at Love's but decided wait to go to a Thousand Trails RV park for Sunday night(free). I had a case of bottled water and 5 gallons for other uses.  (I have learned to brush my teeth with 1/4 cup of water and bathe in a cup of cold water).  I was able to heat it on the gas stove.  Love's was there, if I needed their bathroom and I had plenty of food in the refrigerator.   I could have used the generator but it is loud and the exhaust disturbs the neighbors parking near me.  It got cold (I was warm in bed, getting out was different) during the night and at about 3:30 AM I did turn on the generator for my electric heater, then my gas detector went off, after about an hour, from the exhaust fumes ( a window was cracked open) .  I had to turn off the generator and open the vents till it went off.  I turned the gas heat on and was fine.  I had more propane than I thought.  I was comfortable the rest of the night and in the AM, I opened the shades and the sun did a good job of keeping it warm.

          I had planned to go to the Houston FTHCM church on Sunday last week but I was slowed down.  I had talked to Pastor White earlier and knew that he would be teaching at the Parent Church in Maryland in the absence of Bishop this Sunday, so thought I would live stream it.  (Couldn't get reception).

          I had a beautiful dive up to Willis, TX (halfway to Dallas) to the TT RV park.  It warmed up to 65 degrees. Got a drive thru site (didn't have to back in) and hooked up, dumped the tanks and am good here till Wednesday then they are kicking me out because they are fully booked for the Thanksgiving Weekend.

          I started a new adventure, much needed.  Before I left, I got a call from Sister Grant.  She was excited because she had received her "Nutrition Cleanse" Shaklee products and started immediately on the Cleanse.  (We used to call it Detox).  It is a program of cleansing your body in preparation for the 180 Weight Loss Program, so you aren't hindered by the residues of  junk , medication build up, etc in the body.

          Sis. Grant and I had decided to be "buddy's" on it, but she got a day ahead (first day she lost 2 lbs of junk).  It was perfect timing for me (right after eating  Alligator).

          Basically it is eating the Shaklee Herb Lax, Alfalfa, Liver DTX, and Optiflora (Probiotic) and only raw fruits and vegetables with 10-12 glasses of water a day for 7-14 days.  Then beginning the 180 Program.

          Weight loss is one of my greatest strongholds and this is great.  God set me up,  I already had Thanksgiving dinner and so this is a perfect week to go for it.  I have done two days and I don't have a scale, (pants are getting loose). but I did measure when I started and I will be reporting my results.  What a great accountability!   I shed 4 3/4 inches in the first 2 days! Woopee!  On my way.

Nov 22-23

I settled in for three days at the RV park but I need to be ready at all times because "my plans" change.  I felt an urgency to get ready and leave the park on Tuesday.  I had already made reservations for the Escapees RV park in Livingston, TX to wait until Saturday to travel to Dallas for the FTHCM Church.

I needed to go to the Escapees park to get my mail they were holding for me.  They closed at 4 PM and I was pushing it to get there and I did at 3:45.  I found out, it was not about the mail, it was about a couple I met while getting the mail.  I don't have time to tell you now, I feel another urgency, so will tell you later.  I stayed at a Walmart in Huntington, TX. and am on my way to the Dalles FTHCM Church for Bible Study tonight and Thanksgiving Service tomorrow!  Wow is God good!  I am sticking tight with Him, He knows best.

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Wed Nov 23, 2016

Arrived in Dallas at the FTHCM Church and it is Huge and wonderful. I am parked in the Church parking lot with survailance cameras on me that are hooked up to Pastor's phone so he can see my RV from his house!  Wow technology!

 Pastor Hymes took me on a tour, before Bible Study, it is much like Atlanta Church in size and shape and both are definitely  FTH! (Burgundy & Gold and Excellence of Ministry!  Pastor Hymes taught Bible Study on "Where is my Witness, Is my life witnessing Jesus Christ?"  What I received from it was,  if I am not functioning in my functional gift and not where God is, I am not in Right Standing with God and cannot be an effective Witness for Him.  It is His plan for me, He made me to function in it.  I am the only one that can stop His Grace operating, by rebelling, fighting God and not being obedient to Him.  It is A WASTE OF TIME AND LIFE TO FIGHT AGAINST THE PLAN HE HAS FOR US.  IT IS HIS SHOW AND HE WINS, I WANT TO STICK WITH THE WINNER!

I met some wonderful people and am looking forward to the Thanksgiving service taught by Rev. Sis. Hymes.

Thurs. Nov. 24, 2016

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.  I PRAY EVERYONE READING THIS IS WELL AND WITH LOVED ONES.  ENJOY THE FELLOWSHIP, THAT IS WHAT IT IS ABOUT!  I AM THANKFUL FOR EACH OF YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE MADE AN IMPACT IN MY LIFE.  GOD PLANNED YOU IN IT, AND IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME.  THANK YOU!!!

LOVE YOU!

Thurs, Nov 24, 2016,  Thanksgiving continued:

My Thanksgiving dinner was the Word of God, wonderful fellowship with my extended Church family, a perfect salad and no regrets!   Woopee! 

Rev. Sis. Hymes taught on "Thank you Jesus, for making me Right"   

Col. 1:9-14,21-22

She asked, do we, who have accepted Jesus as our personal Savior, see ourselves as made right or Holy?  We need to clean up our actions, our mouths, our attitudes and our "stinking thinking" to match our "made Right" status.

She wanted us to make sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that we had accepted Jesus and that we knew absolutely we would for certain go to heaven when we die, (even today).

I wanted to catch you up on the couple I met at the Escapees Club.  First let me explain that the Escapees club is a Nation wide group of "full-timers" RVing.  There is a newsletter, mail forwarding services, special information and connections with "full-timers".

 When I went to Livingston, TX on Tuesday, (where the mail forwarding service is) to pick up a Shaklee package, I met a great couple, who were there to pick up their mail too. 

They were Afro American and had been "full-time" RVers for 4 years.  Their name was Conner, he was a Preacher, retired from the Military. They were running with Jesus, going only where He led them,  had listened to FTHCM broadcast when we were on TV and Full Gospel AME Church and now were live streaming the services when they could.  They were leaving this week for Nigeria to Minister there.  They had never been to the West Coast and may hook up with me in California when they return from Nigeria.  We exchanged information and will keep in touch.  Isn't God amazing?

Some of you may not get that, it is OK.

 Back to Thanksgiving.  After service, a lot of the young people came out to see the RV.  We took pictures and I may have adopted one or two.  I left the FTHCM Church in Dallas to go South (the weather is beautiful warm days, 72 degrees and cool nights, but not cold) and I stopped in Whitney, TX at a huge (750 acre) Thousand Trails RV Park. (You could bring your horse to ride the trails...I left all my horses in the car back in Maryland, smile.). 

Since my stay is free, I needed to wash clothes, fill my propane tank and charge my computer so I could blog you.

I got to the Laundromat with my clothes in a rolling grocery cart, it was a little walk, good exercise. They had brand new wash machines and dryers and FREE because they hadn't hooked up the credit card system to run them.  God keeps blessing and blessing!  I Watched the last quarter of the Redskin/Cowboy game in the lounge with a few other RVers, I was the only Redskin fan, in Cowboy country. They were kind, maybe because the Redskins lost.  I got a ride home with a neighbor RVer. it was good because it was dark.  I had a head light (a battery operated light that you wear on your head that shines where you turn your head), but it was better getting a ride.  I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful too.

My plan is to get propane gas tomorrow and go on to San Antonio, TX and visit my 1st cousin (twice removed) and his family.  They just got back yesterday from Hong Kong.  God's timing is amazing!  I didn't even know they were gone and hadn't even planned to go that way.  It is great to have someone who knows the future with me!

Nov. 25,2016

 Well, my plans changed again, I should stop telling you what I plan to do and just tell you what I did.  I woke up this morning with rain on my roof and I decided to stay another day here because I didn't feel like unhooking in the rain, getting propane in the rain or driving in the rain.  Sooo I didn't.  I spent the day talking to some wonderful people and I was sooo blessed to get a call from an adopted Grandson who I thought I had lost track of, and he had only good news and a way to reach him.  Hurray!

I measured myself today (7 days into the Cleanse) and I had shed 7 3/4 inches.  I don't have a scale but my Blood Pressure is running in the 130's over the 80's, woopee and that is with NO MEDICATION!!!  I walked for about 30 minutes today. Woopee! 

Nov 26, 2016

Woke up this morning motivated to move on.  Plan to dump the tanks, get propane and leave the park, on my way to San Antonio.

 I will tell you of an experience I had yesterday.  It was in the 50's and I was running the electric small heater I have, and it suddenly shut off.  I turned every knob, plugged and unplugged etc... did everything I could to get it to go again.  I unplugged it and set it aside and started to layer-up with warmer clothes..  My propane was low so I couldn't run the heater and I was faced with a cold night ahead.  Well, "my God will supply all my needs".  I picked up the heater that had stopped and laid hands on it and said, "In the name of Jesus, be healed!"  I plugged it in and it worked!  Praise the Lord!  I was toasty warm all night.  God is an awesome God!

On to San Antonio, Texas.

Nov 26-28

Well, you know you are in Texas when you see "Armadillo Crossing" signs!  I left Lake Whitney and instead of taking me on the freeway , GPS decided I needed to see the Texas Hill Country!  Who knew they had hills in Texas?!, It was beautiful and different.  Little towns, lots of ranches like you see in the old Western movies with the entrance gate with the cross bar on the top that says the name, lots of Mesquite (I think) short trees, cattle, goats and sheep, but very few horses.  The roads were great and 70 mph most of the way (except for the traffic lights in the towns) and very little traffic.
I arrived at 6:30 PM at my Cousin's who live in a gated community so couldn't stay at their house.  We had a wonderful visit and saw their pictures of their Hong Kong trip and their Paris and Italy trip (Last Spring), that they both took with their three children. I drove less than a mile to a Sam's Club and stayed the night (great view of San Antonio).
Nov 27, 2016
My Cousins picked me up to go to their Church (Summit Christian Center), which was just down the street, HUGE! With a Carousel inside!
Beautiful and lots of people fairly equally mixed, Hispanic, Afro American and Caucasian.  Good message, one I needed to hear.  He talked about the Dreams that God has placed within us, as the purpose He has for our lives.  We often hinder God's actions in our life, because we think the dreams are too big, we think they are impossible, someone discouraged us , we saw the obstacles and quit or, we think we are inadequate to carry them out. Well, we are inadequate! BUT God placed it in us, HE IS A BIG GOD, He can perform it, in and through us, if we give it to Him!
After Church, I went to Sam's Club and got water and some produce and left for Ft. Stockton.   
Didn't make it, stopped in Sonora, TX. at a very nice stop-over Park where I could hook up.  Only cost $22, and I met Mike, the owner, who was sooo nice, he helped me hook up and put me in a covered site because he thought it might hail with the storm that was supposed to come (so sweet), but didn't. We had a nice talk.
Nov 28, 20016
Beautiful sunshine today but windy 56 degrees, and I'm off to El Paso, Texas (hopefully).
EXCITING NEWS!  I just got a ticket to Eric Worre's Go Pro Conference, 20,000 Network Marketers in Las Vegas. I planned to be in LasVegas anyway and I will be in the same section as the other Shaklee friends, Woopee!!!

Nov. 28-29

Well, I am still in Texas and still not in El Paso.  I saw lots of interesting "road kill",  Seemed like 25-30 deer, a coyote, Eagles, ground hogs,  other birds, a fox, and a lot I couldn't identify.  Very windy and cool.  I pulled into a "Picnic Area"(Rest stop with no restroom) to take a break and the Lord said, "stay the night".  It was about 4 PM and still a lot of daylight left and I was the only one in the Picnic Area, I wasn't sure it was legal to stay overnight, it was desert and nothing around.  Sometimes I object to the guidance of the Lord, forgetting that He has my(and yours) best interest at heart, ALWAYS. But, I was obedient and stayed. 

This is just one of the good things about having Jesus on board, He knows the future!  I looked at the weather report on my phone, and their was a wind warning for my area, 35 mile an hour winds with gusts up to 60 mph on the road ahead, warning for Campers, RVs, and high profile vehicles until 6 PM.  I had been dealing with the wind all day and kept seeing permanent signs saying watch for high cross winds.  But on top of that, their was a wind storm! 

I found myself in an anxious state several times, white knuckling the steering wheel and had to calm myself down with the knowledge that Jesus would never leave me or forsake me and I would be OK as soon as the storm was over.  I was glad to take a break from the wind.  I closed myself up in the RV and went to bed early so I could get an early start.

Nov. 29, 2016

I woke up to a crowd of trucks, some even parked on the grass, who had also spent the night, so Jesus knew.

It is cold, 45 degrees, where is the South?  The way to El Paso is beautiful, I am beginning to see Joshua trees and the Guadalupe Mountains.  Yes, real mountains in Texas!  Wow, this journey really has opened my eyes to a lot of things about me.  I am such a "Know-it-All"!  I thought I remembered Texas and Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana a certain way and I expected a negative experience, based on "what I thought".  It has been so opposite of what "I thought" that I  am considering the possibility that, I may not know what I think I know. (Smiley face) Those of you who know me will be smiling.

I only saw 3 oil wells in all of my travel in Texas! WHAT? When I was here in 1965, I remember miles and miles and miles of oil wells and far as you could see.  Now they are beginning to put up wind mills for energy, THAT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE, with the wind and all. Things change. Only God doesn't change.

I thought about the wind mills,  The wind is invisible but has so much power, (like God), we just need to be in place, and be willing to receive Gods power, for it to work in our lives. (That will preach!)

On my way to somewhere closer to Las Vegas, no wind issues, overcast, perfect for driving and I got an early start.  AFTER EVERY WINTER COMES A SPRING!...... EVERY TIME!

I am in the Mountain time zone now, so am 2 hours earlier than Eastern time.

Nov 29, 2016

Finally made it to El Paso and beyond.  There was still some wind, but not like the day before.  Knowing I had to be in Las Vegas for the conference, I decided to go until I got tired, stopping only for bathroom breaks and gas. 

I had been having trouble with my left mirror, it would not stay positioned so I could see.  It would get out of position when I would shut the driver door or with the wind.  I looked and saw where it looked like it could be tightened by an Allen wrench.  I looked for one I thought I had but didn't find it.  Then I thought, "maybe a truck driver would have one".

 I stopped for a break and parked next to a nice red truck with the hood up and took my break and got ready to leave.  As I started to leave the driver came out.  I had seen him asking a homeless man, who was cleaning "house"(his car), if he needed help, so I thought he might be a Christian.  He was looking under the hood of his truck where a hose to the radiator was leaking, we talked and I ask him if he knew Jesus.  He said , "Yes, saved, sanctified and delivered."  His name was Michael and lived between the Dallas FTHCM Church and the Oklahoma City FTHCM Church.  He was kind to loan me his allen wrenches and I tightened my mirror and IT WORKED!

I passed El Paso and turned off the highway in Anthony, TX, to  take a break, and there, right before my eyes was a Camping World, (a place where they have camping supplies and a repair shop, and sell RV's while you wait for repairs).  I needed to get the water situation checked on and get a strap to hold my awning from being caught in the wind.  I went to the service desk and the man told me they wouldn't even be able to look at it that day and maybe couldn't get to it for two days.  Well, that wouldn't work, BUT, he told me how to handle it so it wouldn't be a problem until I have time to get it fixed. (probably needs a new water pump because the valve is bad.)  Two independent RV repair guys told me that ( In the mouth of two or three witnesses....). Praise the Lord!

I drove on  through New Mexico to Tucson, AZ , went through the city to avoid the traffic in the morning and stopped at a Cracker Barrel for the night.  I was surprised, I had driven 501 miles in 14 hours, at 6.9 miles per gallon (with wind).  I was not really tired but I was noticing that I was not as alert, and I didn't waste any time getting to bed.

Nov 30, 2016

I woke up early and left at 6:45 AM , it was 20 degrees! WHAT!

Tucson, Arizona? I am going North, this "warmer in the South" thing is not what it is cracked up to be!

What an interesting, beautiful and amazing drive to Las Vegas, Nevada!   After going through Phoenix, AZ.,  I left the freeway and started North on Hwy 93, great roads, no traffic, and every few miles was a beautiful view, all different, I took pictures out of the window, just holding the phone up and clicking, not even looking, but I got some good pictures. Mountains, Joshua Tree Forrest,  vistas, cactus, canyons, dry rivers (washes), quaint towns(one established in 1883). 

I got 7.5 miles per gallon, the RV likes the Mountains better.  I also lowered my speed to 65 miles per hour.  The lower miles per gallon before was driving 70-75 ( in an 80 mph zone) with the wind.

 I arrived in Las Vegas at 3:30 PM.  After I hooked up in a great site, across from the laundry room, and near the pool (forget about it, too cold, 55 in the day).  The RV park is in the City and only 12 minutes from the Convention Center and Free for me.  Woopee! 

I then was picked up by my friend, Rosemary's (lives in Oregon) Daughter-in-Law, who drives for Uber around 5 PM.  She brought my Shaklee order and dropped me off at the Airport Car Rental place.  Wonderful people (I adopted 5 of them), they did the impossible and rented me a car without a Credit Card! (Car Rental places don't take Debit Cards).  Who knew?  They were awesome, so kind and helpful. Rental car for $4.41 per day, including taxes & fees only came to $18.13 per day.  (There is a story, but I won't share it now).  God is real, and works through people.  You can't leave Him out of any picture!  The God of the Universe (40,000,000,000,000 billion stars...who counted them?) loves us and cares about our "little things", that are important in His plan for our lives!

I got a cute little Nissan car, matches the RV, and easy to drive.  I went to the Convention Center to register, at first they couldn't find my registration, then after going to different tables, meeting a lot of different people, they worked it out.  What was my attitude with all of the "hold ups" ( 4 1/2 hours, I didn't get back until 9:30 PM).  I believe that "...all things work together for good to them that Love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose".Rom.8:28  We don't always know the outcome, and may not know until we get to Heaven, it's OK, the stress attached to fretting, fussing, worry, getting angry etc... is too COSTLY!  AND ALL THAT DOES IS KEEP UP THE NOISE SO WE CANNOT HEAR GOD'S INSTRUCTIONS!  He has a still small voice.

These peaceful times with Jesus are so amazing, no TV, no radio (21 stations in Spanish, no English ones), only an occasional teaching CD,  gives us a time to Fellowship together and enjoy the diverse and amazing wonders of His Universe that He made just for us! Woopee!

Dec. 1, 2016

Woke up early again, good habit for the Convention to come, got some things organized, wrote this because I probably won't have time to write again until after the Convention. It starts tonight,5PM-9PM, Fri goes 10AM-4 and 6PM-10Pm, Sat 10-4, &6-9PM and Sunday 10:30AM.

Dec 6, 2016

I'm back!  How did you do without me for 5 days?  Well, I had to debrief from the high intensity of the Conference.  I ended up with Bronchitis, which I believe is the devils plan to distract and discourage me from the life-changing plan for my business.  We learned that obstacles are gifts that we use for personal development.

I became very aware that I need to be a good steward over what God has given me.  I will be sharing more from the Conference as I go along.

 I went to Church Sunday at FTHCM of Las Vegas, what a blessing!  I got to fellowship with the Pastor and his wife, they are super and so loving!  I thought I would be leaving on Thursday but one of the young men I met when I picked up the rental car, is going to Church with me next Sunday. I will probably leave to go to Reno, NV on Monday.

I talked to my Sister and it doesn't look like I will get to Oregon, until just before Christmas.

Wow 13 hours of sleep will do wonders! I feel good, just an occasional cough (wet one) which is so much better than the dry one.  I am taking lots of Vitalized Immunity, Alfalfa, Vita C's and all the rest, I don't know how I don't have Nutriferon, and Defend and Resist,  but it is definitely on order!

I believe that God gave us a body with trillions of Cells that only eat food, (Vitamins, Minerals, Protein, Carbohydrates and Fats).  Our job is to feed them what they eat.  They know what to do with food, (reproduce after their kind, either healthy or unhealthy), they are equipped to fight off invaders and everything else to keep us well. We need to give them an environment of rest, good air, good water, no stress, no toxins

 What are we feeding our cells?  Artificial additives, Synthetic food, Medicines, depleted foods brought on be generations of artificial fertilizer, GMO's, herbicides, and pesticides.  Every thing we feed out cells, that is not a food, causes a reaction, to fight it off (that is why medicines work sometimes, because of the reaction, but there is always a side effect).

That is why I have taken Shaklee products (which is food, that is as close to nature as possible) for over 40 years and am now on no medication!  The quick fix to just get rid of the symptoms is not the answer.  Giving our cells every chance to do their thing, is the answer!

My parents, (who introduced us to Shaklee in 1974) were in their 60's, in poor health. My Dad had heart trouble, Arthritis, and was blind in one eye, my Mom had Allergies so bad, she had to take shots twice a week, and she was 144 lbs overweight.  They had been using Shaklee products for 6 months when then came to visit us (which we thought would be their last trip).  They had sold everything in Oregon and gone to California to find a Rest Home.  When they came to Maryland, they looked great!  Daddy had an EKG before he came and their was no trace of a Heart problem, he didn't have any trouble with Arthritis and he discovered he could see out of the eye he had been blind in for six years, (read a whole paragraph of the Newspaper, covering his good eye).  Mom left her shots at home when we went on a trip to New England, and she realized she didn't need them any more.  Over the next year, she lost 144 lbs. and kept it off for the rest of her life.  They never did find the Rest Home, they went back to Oregon, started their Shaklee business and neither one of them took any medication for the next 25 years.  They had a wonderful life, earning 11 free Bonus cars, (they were the only one in town with a Cadillac)  and free trips to Hawaii, London, England, Vienna, Austria, The Bahamas, Cruises to Bermuda and Montreal, Canada (All with us, which was wonderful!).

Floyd (my husband) and I started our Shaklee business by sharing the results my parents had received and our results (Floyd got results the first day and did more work in 15 minutes, after lunch, than he usually did in 3 days.)  I thought I was in good health, what I was, was "normal".  I had the "normal" amount of headaches (3 times a week, took aspirin) I had PMS issues that pretty much lasted for 3 weeks out of the month, irritability, depression (thought it was my husband's fault, it was amazing how "he" improved when I took the Supplements!), cramps. Headaches, bloating  etc...

As we shared, People would  get results and share with others and so on. After two years, we had both quit our "good Government" jobs ( we found 3 paychecks each, that we got every two weeks from the Gov., that we had forgotten to take to the bank) to go Full time in Shaklee.  Pretty good after living from payday to payday!  What a LIFE!  Helping to make a difference in other people's lives1   Woopee!

I am still in Las Vegas, haven't been out of my rig in two days, probably will not go out today.  Have to turn in my car tomorrow and  get another one until Monday. 

Thought for the day:

What can you do TODAY to make a difference in someone's life?

.....and the answer is...FULFILL GOD''S PURPOSE IN YOUR LIFE! 

For those who are still wondering how I can do this thing, please read:

Psalms 33: 18-22, Psalms 34

Message for us "Old Folks" who wish to Flourish to the Finish:

Break the bonds of limited thinking (God is a BIG God!)

Break the bonds of the past.(God has no limits, he already prepared you to move forward!)

Think Correctly (Godly)

Fulfill your purpose (we are sill here for a reason)

We have gifts, talents, abilities, ideas, strengths and      experiences.  When shared, we are stronger, and we      can do more.

We can have a mind to work (retirement is not in the Bible, He used Moses when he was 80!)

We can be an inspiration!

We can make a positive difference! for this generation and beyond.

Don't cheat God out of what he has placed in us.

Do now, what you know now to do! 

 Even if it doesn't seem like it, we have everything we need!  Really?  Yes right now!  If you need it, God will provide it, as you go, when you need it.  I am a witness!

Make the first move, start your engines, put yourself in gear, and go.  It is hard for God to steer an unwilling , untrusting, ungrateful, stubborn, prideful, "pigheaded" (that was my Daddy's word) selfish, parked, life (yes I said it).  I believe that we know what God has placed in us and if we don't exercise it, it gets buried in the Challenges, the Illnesses, the "Stuff and Things", the day to day "negative junk", cluttering our minds.  The mind is the battle ground, and if God isn't winning in your life, then the devil is.  The devil wants to keep us so distracted that he can point to us and say, "See God, I got this one".

2 Corinthians 10:5

 What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?

Rom 8:28

Unless we are ready to go see Jesus right now, we have work to do.  He has the purpose for our lives, HE KNOWS BEST AND WE DON'T!

 Ok, I started my engine and went outside for the first time in three days,  It was great! I had to get a new contract on the car until Monday.  While I was out, I went to the Dollar store, met a beautiful Lady who was into health and I was able to share the Shaklee Health assessment with her and gave my card to the Lady she was talking to.  I went to Walgreen's to buy a scale and noticed two ladies (Mother & Daughter) talking about weight loss.  They knew Jesus and I asked them if they had a Church home.  They said they had been attending one, but had not joined. 

 When I went to the FTHCM Church of Las Vegas, on Sunday, I asked for some their cards, and I was able to give them one each and invited them on Sunday.  Also shared my Shaklee card and was able to share my results THANK YOU JESUS!  He always prepares us for what's ahead.  LISTEN TO THE HOLY SPIRIT!  He is always right!

I will weigh tomorrow and let you know.

Dec. 9,2016

As you know I started the Nutritional cleanse on Nov. 19th (before Thanksgiving) after that on Dec 2, I began the Shaklee 180 Weight loss plan.  It is going great, one of my concerns was a fast weight loss at my age of flab, but it is going slow but steadily.  I am pleased to know that since the average weight gain for most people, over the Holidays is 15 lbs., I feel that I am already way ahead of the game.

 As promised, my report on my weight and health:

I weighed myself on my new scales, I like them, they did good!

I lost 8 1/2 lbs.

My temperature was 98.5 F

I have shed a total of 15.5 inches

My blood pressure is 117/77

I have what appears to be a Cold with an occasional cough but I feel good and will stay in today.

My next stop is Reno, NV.  I was planning to leave Monday, Dec 12 but I looked at the weather and it will be SNOWING on Tuesday in Reno. WOW

The couple I am visiting said they would check the route and the weather for me as Mike is a long distant truck driver and keeps up with the weather.  Is God good or what!  Looks like I will be here for a while.  I can stay free for 21 days...free is good!

Well, I had an interesting experience last night.  I have been keeping warm using a small space heater (the one that was healed) and if in the morning, I needed more, I would turn on the furnace (run by propane) for about 5 min. to take the chill off.   I spilled some water on my nightgown and didn't want to sleep with a wet one, so I used the hair dryer, to dry it (while the space heater was on) get it?  Dah!  Of course, everything that was on electric cut off.  This was about 8 PM and getting colder.  I turned on the furnace....nothing.  OK, now what?  I started calculating a night without heat and my options. (Slim and none).  It was too late to call my go-to-RV-guy (Eastern time was 11PM) I knew that this RV doesn't have fuses because I had seen a video of how Minnie Winnie's were made.  I didn't feel like trying to figure it out in the dark & cold.  So I had begun to prepare for a cold night and (since I have everything I need) figuring out what I had.

 I needed to charge my cell phone and I had an electric charger, so was thinking I needed to plug it into my battery charger.  Walla!  The electric charger was on. What?  That was when I realized, their were only a few outlets that were out.  OK I plugged the heater into another outlet, WALLAA! It worked and i was toasty all night.  God is soooooo AWESOME!!!  He takes care of me even when I do stupid things. 

GO ROSE!  I received this email and thought I would pass it on because it says what I would say if  I could.

Subject: "Hi handsome, my name is Rose."

It’s GrOw Time

Greetings,

This will take you about 2 to 3 minutes to read this wonderful message.  I think you'll enjoy it.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.

I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being..

She said, 'Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?'

I laughed and enthusiastically responded, 'Of course you may!' and she gave me a giant squeeze..

'Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?' I asked.

She jokingly replied, 'I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids...'

'No seriously,' I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.

'I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!' she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.

We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this 'time machine' as she shared her wisdom and experience with me..

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she revelled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor.

Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, 'I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.'

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, ' We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.

There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humour every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.

We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!

There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.

If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight.

Anybody! Can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets.

The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets..'

She concluded her speech by courageously singing 'The Rose.'

She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those months ago.

One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.

Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.

When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your friends and family, they'll really enjoy it!

These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.

REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL. We make a Living by what we get. We make a Life by what we give.

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Wow!  What a blessed day!  Today began early, 6:30 AM, by watching a Live Stream of WWW.FTHCM.ORG, our Parent Church in Maryland.  The Men just got back from the Men's Retreat on the Mountain, which is always a powerful time.  Something about the unity of 300+ Brothers praying and singing and Praising God as they return with changed and changing lives that is always sooooo impactful.  Bishop was tired but gave a powerful message.

I need " A more Excellent spirit", (attitude, mind set):

          When I don't have peace,

          When I am filled with anxiety,

          When I have strife with my Brother, or Sister,

          When I am in my own strength,

How to change our Attitude:

          1. I must accept correction!

                   Correction is an attribute of Love.

AS LONG AS I LIVE, I WILL NEED CORRECTION!

          2. I must allow correction to change me, not just correct. (like   going to Jail for correction but not be changed.)

          3. Correction is an opportunity to change my attitude before      it causes terrible consequences.

Peace and Righteousness don't come without Humility.

I get corrected because:

          1. God knows me and (still)loves me.

          2. I am His Child

CORRECTION IS SUSPOSED TO BE PAINFUL!

I need to receive and respect God and His correction and those He sends to correct me. So I will have Peace.

 I got all of that while I was getting dressed to go to FTHCM of Las Vegas.  I had heard from my Newly "adopted" Grandson, that was supposed to go with me, that he had to work until 2 AM,(double shift) and would probably not wake up in time, but definitely next Sunday.

          I had just pulled up in the Church parking lot at 9:30 AM and I got a text from Stanley that he would go to Church with me but he didn't want to "disrespect" my husband by making "us" late.  Since my husband is Jesus now, He told me to go get Stanley (10 minutes away).  Due to Cell phone unreliability and miscommunication, it took about an hour to get back but right on time for the message!

Stanley had been looking for a good Church and he definitely received from the message, and he went by himself to introduce himself to Pastor McDuel. 

After Service I received a beautiful card from Pastor and Sis. Mc Duel.  When I opened the card, blessings fell out!  God is so amazing!  You can't beat God giving!

Stanley and I spent the rest of the day, going to lunch and hanging out.  He cuts hair and we did some business cards for him to launch his "in-home" Kutz for a King business.  He has an entrepreneurial attitude.  It was so much fun getting better acquainted with him.  Then I took him to work (Security at the Airport).  I stopped to get gas to fill up before turning in the rental car for tomorrow, he insisted on paying for and pumping the gas.  What a Grandson!

 Oh, I forgot to tell you about the Art Prints.  I am parked near the dumpster and I saw 2 impressionistic pictures (24x34") in nice frames propped against the wall near the dumpster.  They were obviously too valuable for throwing away so they were there for someone who wanted them.  I waited to see if someone else wanted them and since no one came, I got them.  They were both signed prints, one quite old and I looked up the other one, and it was costing $195 on line.  I haven't been able to decipher the signature yet on the older one.  It had paper backing on it and is a numbered print.  I like them, and someone will get them for Christmas.

I am still in Las Vegas, I can stay free until the 21st.  It is going to get up to 63 degrees here today which should be nice.  I will turn in my rental car today and will be car-less, which is OK.  I went to the grocery store and got all my supplies on Saturday.  I met my next door neighbor who is a Widow also and she is here all year and she has a pick-up truck.  There are a lot of stores close also that I could walk to.  

PS. I called my "Go-to-RV" guy Saturday and getting my heat back was a simple fix.  A circuit-breaker flipped and all I had to do was turn it all the way off and back on again. WALLA! IT WORKS!

Dec. 13, 2016

Well, things are still changing!  I will be leaving Las Vegas for Southern California ( to a pool!) on Friday and plan to be in Palm Desert, CA until Dec. 22nd, then to Palmdale, Ca from Dec 22-Jan3, then Menifee, Ca from Jan 3-24.  I talked to my Sister and the weather is not good there either so we will try for Christmas in late Jan or Feb. in Oregon.  I will meet my friends in Reno, hopefully during that same period.

I turned the Rental car in yesterday and my friend's daughter-in-law picked me up and brought me back to the RV.  I am getting picked up for FTHCM Bible Study by one of the Trustees tonight

I washed clothes today and I will get the RV washed tomorrow.

What a blessing, Bible Study was awesome and it is so much like being at the FTHCM Parent Church.  So much love and wonderful fellowship.  Unity in the Body of Christ.

Wed. Dec. 14, 2016

Ok, another change.  It looks like I will leave tomorrow.  I just had the RV washed and it is supposed to rain on Friday, I don't like to drive with road spray on a just-washed vehicle, soooo, I will probably leave tomorrow, which is going to be cloudy and a perfect day for driving.  I will get there a day early, which should not be a problem.  

I started to do some cleaning up and vacuuming and what! No electricity!  Again?  I calmed down, checked the circuit breaker box, it was OK.  I went outside to check on the box where I plugged in the Electric cord and I switched the switches off and back on and WALLAH!  Back in business!  I don't understand enough about electricity.  But Jesus does, and He doesn't mind telling me what to do...works for me!

The guy who washed the RV here in the RV Park, did a pretty good job, not as good as Gary Dowd, he does it for me in Maryland and Colonial Beach.  This guy was referred by a full-timer here in the RV park, I met in the laundry mat.  It cost $80, which wasn't bad.

I am waiting for my friend's daughter-in-law and we are going to get our nails done.  Girly stuff.

The ride down to Palm Desert should be scenic, I am looking forward to it.

Dec. 15, 2016

I received my Shaklee package yesterday and ate some Nutriferon, Defend and Resist and Alfalfa (I had just run out of Alfalfa) I got a good night's sleep, The Cold is finally on it's way out and I feel a lot better. 

PAYDAY, today, is Shaklee payday and what a blessing!  I got  a $1,020 raise this month! Woopee!  I think back to the days when we were living pay day to pay day and had no idea, there was a better way!  I also think about how we wasted so much of God's resources by making bad choices, like going into debt to keep up with illusive "Jones's", and buying a 42 ft Yacht that held 300 gals of gas.  It was a hole in the water that we poured money into!  I guess we got the bragging rights to say we owned a yacht!  I remember throwing and giving away lot's of stuff that cost's lots of money that could have been used in better ways.  Our flesh is never satisfied, if we give it a little, it wants more and we already have enough!  We already have everything we need to accomplish God's purpose in our lives!  The world wants us to spend more and more money on the latest and greatest, that will be out of date next year...that is the way the World's system works.  Let's choose to get off...just step away from that system and do it God's way!

 About giving.  This is the Christmas season and if we do it right, we will give properly, not go into debt, give from what we have, not what we don't have, think about the needs (not desires) of the other person, not give stuff that will be thrown away or given away, just to say I gave them something.  I have learned that gift's from the heart are the best received.  Those that only you could give.  Think about the gifts and talents God has placed in you, and give from that.  It takes thought, effort, time, in other words, giving yourself, not necessarily a lot of money and you will have no regrets!  Just a Grandma Swann thought for the Christmas season. (PS. Think about the best gift you have received.....it is about love and sharing Jesus this Season.)

 On the road again.

Finally I woke up to 59 degrees, in Palm Desert, Calif.  I plan to go to the pool today!  I left Las Vegas yesterday about 11:30 AM and look the scenic route, good roads 70 mph and beautiful desert with a beautiful border of purple, blue, grey, mountains all around.  Joshua trees and lots of sand and not a lot else.  One stop I made for a break (thank God I didn't need gas), it was the only station around and regular gas was $3.19) it was called Terrible, and it was!  I was finally able to get gas at $2.55, which was still high but better. 

There was a Ghost Town I could have gone to but I had seen one before and didn't feel like going up a lonely road to get there to see a lot of empty buildings.  It was a beautiful, interesting drive and I arrived after dark and a day early at the RV park.  They had spaces and I could pull through to park. (For those of you, new to the RV thing, that is a big deal, as backing into a space at night (or in the day) could get very interesting without help.  As it was I pulled into someone else's spot (they were gone for the day).  My first clue was the water hose was there,  I just hooked up my electric and thought I would do the rest in the morning in daylight.  Then I walked around the RV and saw a mat on the ground with 2 lawn chairs, indicating that the spot was taken.  There was a lady next door, doing something on her phone, watching me pull in, hook up and I spoke to her but she was either deaf or very unfriendly.  Anyway, I quickly unhooked the electric, backed out and found another unoccupied spot that was nicer anyway.  I am surrounded by palm trees.  Not far from the pool which is open from 8 AM to 10 PM. Woopee!

The literature said we could pick the  fruit?  Don't know what that is about.  The Dates grow in the top of the Palm trees, I'm not going there.  I guess I will find out.  It is like manna from heaven, you can only pick what you can eat in a day.

OK, my health report:

Cold is better,

I have lost a total of 8 1/2 lbs.

19 1/2 inches

Blood pressure 134/91

No medication

No exercise (going to fix that today at the pool)

I am still on the Shaklee 180 plan and am so glad I did this before the Holidays and I will be so far ahead in January when I usually set my "New" goals for the year.  I will be "running" with the new me by then!

Dec. 16, 2016

Wow!  I picked and ate a pink grapefruit OFF A TREE!  Now I know what they were talking about when they said picking fruit was OK.  There are fruit trees here.  I will let you know what else.  I WENT TO THE POOL!!!!!  It was great, very pleasant, not hot but very comfortable.  I finally got some exercise, it felt good.  It is supposed to be colder today, we will see.  It was beautiful and sunny at the pool and I looked over to the sky towards the north, it was very dark and it was pouring rain sideways, windy and it seemed very close but not where we were. Interesting.  I met a family at the pool, from Hagerstown, Maryland that were home schooling their children in the morning and pool in the afternoon, Wow!  They had a 3, 6, 8 and 18 year old.  They had driven here in 3 days, stopping in Tennessee and Texas, Wow. They call me Grandma.  They were on their way to that place I left

Las Vegas.  Then they were going to spend Christmas with the Grandparents in Arizona.

I had a dream that a good friend who tells it like it is, said I would never  succeed in my Shaklee business.  It made me mad!  I asked her why she said it and she was trying to kindly tell me and I woke up, MAD.  Not at her because she said it, but because it was true, if I continued to do what I am doing now, I will not achieve my desired goals.  Did you ever get to the place where you asked yourself, "If I continue to do what I am doing now, will I get what I desire?"   Sometimes we just have to look at ourselves, really look.  It's sometimes ugly. 

We fool ourselves into thinking that we can put it off until tomorrow, but then that is one whole day gone, never to be repeated or retrieved.  Time is a gift, we all get the same number of  hours and minutes in a day until the finish, which could be any moment of that day. We don't have that plan, then what?  We need to know for sure...then what?  Do we have a relationship with Jesus, will we, for sure, go to heaven when we die?  Do we know?  If we are not sure, we need to be sure.  Their could be someone reading this blog right now who is not sure.  You can be sure! God sent His Son Jesus to die for you so you don't have to die and go to hell.  It is as simple as believing that Jesus is God's Son and He died for you and me, taking on our sins, so they would be paid for, and we can be free to have eternal life.  Don't try to figure it out, we don't have the mind of God, we don't know all His rules, but we do know this one.  If you  accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and believe in your heart, you will be saved from this World and be a Citizen of the Kingdom of God.  If you need help, repeat these words, and believe them in your heart, and you will be saved.

"Jesus I ask you to come and live in my heart today, be my Lord and Savior. I am sorry for my sins, I ask you to forgive me.  I believe that you came to earth and died for me so I will be saved.  Lord save me." 

If you sincerely prayed that prayer and believed in your heart, YOU ARE SAVED!  Now, find a Bible believing, Bible teaching Church where you can learn and grow in the things of God.  You are a NEW CREATURE , everything has been made new, fresh.  Praise the Lord!  If you need a good Church, let me know.

WOW, what fun yesterday!  I was picked up by a Sister in Christ who took me to the local Flea Market where there were all kinds of Vendors.  Arts, Crafts, Clothes, Shoes, socks, gadgets, produce, and lot's more.  I tasted a local date, which was real moist and good.  I  got some fruits and vegetables.  Then we went to a 99 cent store.  I thought it would be like a Dollar store but it was some different.  For one thing, they had fresh produce!  And the small seedless watermelon TWO FOR 99 CENTS!  I only got one.  They also had Jicama for 99 cents a lb.  I was able to get all the groceries I needed. Praise the Lord!  When I got to the check out, my Sister insisted on paying for all my stuff.  WOW. God takes care of me even when I don't think I need it.  I will definitely watch for God's opportunity to bless someone else.

Before she came I decided to hook up to the sewer and water.  I had a little challenge as the RV was parked too far away from the sewage hole for my hose to reach.  I have a longer hose but it won't go through the hole to attach to the outlet elbow.  So I solved the problem by maneuvering the RV closer and WALAH!  The shorter hose worked.  Now I am fully hooked up to electric, water and sewer.

When I came back I picked some more grapefruit.

Sunday, Dec 18, 2016

I woke up early to get the streaming live of my Church at 6:30 AM and then went to Church here at the RV park.  Rev. Sis. Wright preached today on live stream, as Bishop is on Holiday.  She was really good and spoke about, "How to Maintain A more Excellent Spirit (Attitude)".   She said to maintain an Excellent Spirit, we need to:

          Be like Christ Jesus, Be the brightness of the Glory of God.

          Set righteousness as a compass for our life so we don't defile                                 ourselves.

          We must have Jesus's mental disposition:

                   An attitude of submission.

                   Humility, total dependence on God the Father

                   Attitude of Obedience to the will of God

          Allow the power of the Holy Spirit to lead me.

                   We can control our flesh.

                   We can contain our mind.

                   We can confront and confuse the devil

Then I went to Service in the recreation hall where Pastor Jack was the preacher.  He and his wife have been doing this for 14 years.  There was a nice group attending and I met some wonderful people.  We sang Christmas Carols and the message was in line with the first one and he talked about being more Christ like. The Holy Spirit is real!  One lady played guitar, I

bought her CD of Christmas Music.  Some of the same people I met, will be at the next RV park with me, that should be fun.  I will be able to go to Bible Study on Wednesday night here, before I leave on Thursday.

 Dec,19,2016

Oh, what a beautiful morning!  I woke up with JOY in my heart.  I have learned that their is a difference between happiness and joy.  We in America have been trained to believe that the "pursuit of happiness" is a "right " of freedom that we have.  So we go after "happiness" in things, people, houses, places, occupations, locations, etc...  We say to ourselves, " I would be really happy if I had...." , "When I get____________I will be set.",  We see someone else with something that we want, and we say, Ooowee!, they look so happy, I need one of those.  We see a new "toy" and they come in all prices...their is always a price.  (Look what happened to the "toy's" you got or gave last year...where are they?)  They may have made you "happy" for a minute...but then we want more, thinking that will bring us happiness.

OK, so happiness only brings a temporary "fix", a lifting of our spirits for a brief moment, then on to the next thing, because that is over.  How much debt has our "pursuit of happiness" gotten us into?  The whole world's system is built on our "pursuit of happiness".  Let's break the "world's system", let's get out of debt, (re-gift, be creative, give love, spend time with your children and loved ones, (What SACRIFICE?), pay cash for everything we buy, if we can't afford it, wait (WHAT! WAIT?) until we can pay cash for it.  Make this Christmas what it is really about...giving of love in your hearts.

Let's talk about JOY!

          JOY is a knowing, that all of your cares are already in the hands of                Jesus, and He can take care of them just fine, thank you, all by     Himself, He needs no help, only your permission.

          JOY is a knowing that you are protected from the wiles of the devil,    he has no power unless you give it to him.(permission). 

          JOY is peace, peace with God and everybody else.  If there is a lack   of peace in area of your life, you have the power to fix it.  It is not       about what others are doing, it is how you are reacting, so you have       the power to change it.  It can be done NOW, in a moment, a           decision, change your thinking. Did you do it?  It is only holding you   back, it has nothing to do with the other person.  They choose their           own suffering.

          JOY is loving, unconditionally, like God did for us in sending His                 Son as a payment for our sins, while we were still in the middle of it.        Can we do that with others?  Love them in the state they are in?      Unconditionally? WHAT? PUT UP WITH THEIR STUFF?, God          does it every minute with us, we can do it too.

          JOY is playing by God's rules and loving it.  Everything we are searching for, unsettled about, need answers for, anxious about,        worried about, fretting over, etc... the ANSWERS ARE IN THE RULE BOOK! (Bible)  We are playing by somebody's rules, who's    rules are we playing by?  Our own? (Check again) somebody is           ruling our life, there are only two powers in the earth, if you are not playing the "game of life" by God's rules,(the one who created you,    for His purpose), then you are playing by the devils counterfeit rules (his rules, are to steal, kill and destroy).  Everybody is living by     one    ruler's rules.  In our "pursuit of happiness" and freedom, we think by      rejecting or rebelling against God's rules we are doing our" "own          thing".  We have been given the choice, but with every choice, there is     a consequence built into it.  We make the choice, but we can't choose         the consequences. (DEEP STUFF). THE WAGES (payment,          consequences) OF SIN IS DEATH! Death of something, when we     sin, something dies (the rules). Could be a relationship, anything, we     don't get to choose that.

Ok, I had a wonderful breakfast, my Shaklee Life shake, and supplements and a cup of  hot,Vitalized Immunity, Defend and Resist, Pomegranate Energizing Tea and a grapefruit right off the tree!  WOW!

My blood pressure reading was 129/88 this AM.  I remember being told that once you are on  blood pressure medicine, you will never get off.  Well, I have been off of all medication since September 2016 and I have monitored my blood pressure daily and it has never been as high as it was when I was on the blood pressure medication.  I read a study that was done that showed that sometimes the blood pressure medicine keeps your blood pressure high. I believe it, and I am doing what is necessary to be in good health.  Praise God, I no longer have symptoms from:

          Herniated disk in 2004

          Stroke in 2014

          sciatica & back pain issues

          Arthritis

          Now going through Bronchitis (let you know when my cells finish        repairing,  they are on their way!)

I never took medication to correct those issues, I just played by God's rules.  He gave us a Body with trillions of cells that are equipped to fight disease, reproduce after their kind (good or bad) and they know what to do with the only thing they eat:  Vitamins, protein, minerals, carbohydrates and fats (Food).  (They only react to everything else we try to feed them, like medicines, additives, preservatives, over processed foods etc...). The quality of the food will determine the quality of your body.

I intend to be an example of good health and live life to the fullest, in God's plan, so you will be encouraged to join this journey of Joy, Love, Life and Fulfillment wherever you are.  Come FLOURISH TO THE FINISH WITH ME!

Remember Flourish:

          To grow luxuriantly,

          To thrive,

          To succeed

          To be an example and an influence for the next generation!

 My wish for you this Christmas is PEACE, JOY, HEALTH, LOVE, FULFILLMENT and FLOURISHMENT! WOOPEE! LET'S GO!

It is raining, really showers,  they said it would rain tomorrow, shows what "they" know.  I had decided to leave today (a day early to avoid the rain) oh well, maybe later.

I got to go to the pool yesterday, it was wonderful!  Met some nice full time people from Reston, VA, (they will be at my next RV park too) and Idaho, everybody is trying to avoid the weather. My next door neighbors are from Pennsylvania, here in California, for the winter, they will be at the second RV park I will be.

I just booked another week here in Palm Desert, Jan 27-Feb 3.  Reservations are getting tight here for the winter months. I will go up to Pasadena area today and find a place to park for the night.  Then I will visit the Shaklee people who sponsored the Wolff's who sponsored my parents in Shaklee. He was the one who flew from California to DC, our 3rd day in Shaklee and got us started.  I will always be grateful for that good start and all the support throughout the years.  They are both in their 80's and still active in Shaklee and doing a thriving business. I am looking forward to having lunch with them at their house in Arcadia, CA. 

Afterwards, I will pick up a friend from College at the school she is still teaching at (same age as me) and I will take her home and visit a little and then Saturday, she is taking off to Costa Rico for Christmas holiday.  She always does something exotic, to keep herself young.  What a Flourish to the Finish! I was glad we will get to see each other before she goes.

It is still raining, so much for showers, it is really coming down steadily. It is 60 degrees, so it is not bad, just rain.

Dec 22, 2016

Rain in the desert should be interesting.  What will wake up?  Seeds lying dormant? What happens in our life when we add the life giving rain of the Holy Spirit?  Try it, you'll like it!

Rain on the roof, no better sound to sleep with!  It rained all night and was supposed to stop this morning, maybe so.  I am so glad the I unhooked yesterday while it was dry.  I went to Bible study in my poncho in the rain, didn't get wet and it was a wonderful time in the Lord.  The devil will always try to give you excuses to not do what you know to do.  John 1 was the scripture we studied.  It is great to be able to fellowship with the Body of Christ anywhere.  I met some more wonderful people.

 Things change, I thought I would leave this RV park yesterday but I got ready so all I have to do is pull out today and drive today.

It is so exciting to know that no matter what, we are cared for by an All Powerful, All knowing, The best provider. The best protector, the most loving awesome GOD. WOW, what a life! And what a privilege to live it!

Dec 23, 2016

WOW WOW WOW!  Yesterday I left the Palm Desert RV park and it was still showers on and off but not a hard rain, which made it easier to drive.  It cleared up when I needed to get gas and as I got closer to Arcadia and Pasadena, where I had to go. 

I arrived at our Shaklee up-line a little after noon and they were each on separate phones, doing Shaklee business.  I am so impressed , they don't look much older than they did in 1974 and they are both in good health.  The wife is 89 years young and on no medication.  She prepared and served a wonderful lunch, homemade chicken and cabbage soup, homemade chicken salad with homemade toasted almonds, desert was delicious pineapple and homemade oatmeal raisin cookies.(I only ate one) Everything was delicious and healthy!  We had a wonderful visit and they are both in their right minds, getting around well, living independently in a beautiful home with a pool and guest house, and thriving in their Shaklee business!  They are planning to have the whole family including 6 Great Grand's for Christmas at their house.  WHAT AN INSPIRATION!

We called my good friend Ronnie, so she could talk to our up-lines.  She was at her first Shaklee meeting when he flew out to Maryland from California our 3rd day to get us started.  She thanked them again.

After a wonderful lunch and visit, I went about 20 minutes away and picked up my College friend, who is still teaching Chemistry in High School (Same age as me).  It was her last day for the Christmas break.  What a blessing that we got to see each other before she leaves for Costa Rico on Saturday.   She insisted on taking me to dinner.  We went to a really nice place with free range beef and Chicken  and really good food.  I brought most of it home to eat over the next week.  We had a lovely visit and will probably see each other again when she gets back and before I leave California.

I dropped her off at her house at about 8 PM and planned to go to Chino, to a Walmart to stay the night then travel to Palmdale the next day.  Well, I stopped for gas and things changed.  I looked and saw it was only about 2 hours to Palmdale and I still felt pretty good, I thought about the traffic the next day getting out of the City for Christmas, they were calling for rain and I felt at peace to travel.. So I did. 

It was a great trip up the freeway with no traffic, when I got close (10 miles), I had to go on a canyon road, which was probably beautiful during the day, at night it was a little different.  A tunnel, bridge, where I side swiped a guard rail.  (upon inspection this morning, it put a long even scratch down the full length of the RV).  GPS was good until it told me to turn onto a dirt road that said "no outlet", I turned on the road and saw nothing, (dark) that would indicate the RV park.  I stopped to go to the bathroom (thank God I have one on board!) .  When I came out, a Lady (who lived in the area) pulled up beside me and told me that it happened all the time GSP gave the wrong turn, that is was just up the road.  She helped me to find a place to turn around (which was no easy task) and she went on.  Angels in the night, God's way to take care of me. Thank you Jesus!

 After that little adventure, I found the RV park, the next turn and was able to stay in the parking lot over night as it was 10 PM when I arrived, and they were closed.  I was parked within 20 feet of the railroad tracks.  During the night several trains went by and because there is no guard rail at the crossing, they have to whistle or blow their horn,(whatever trains do) and that helped me during the night to get up to go to the bathroom.  A train just went by as I was writing this, and I took a video of the train and the whistle (I got proof!).

I will check in shortly and will let you know the next adventure.  Isn't life great!  Lovin' it!

Checked in, met and was adopted by, one of the Rangers.  He will be here Christmas and we have a "date" to watch FTHCM streaming live since he will be the only one here on duty.  I drove to town, which was a lot shorter than the way I came last night.  I went to the 99 cent store in Palmdale, and got everything I needed for two weeks, groceries and other stuff, and it only came to $45.60.

After I hooked up, I met some neighbors from State College, Pennsylvania, they are on their maiden voyage of any kind.  They sold their house and went full time RVing in October and are loving it too.  It is supposed to be cold this weekend but the pool is open and heated, so maybe.....

Somebody told me that I could rent a car from Enterprise with a debit card.  Well, I checked and I could, with a California drivers license, and registration and insurance,  proof of Employment, and something else, by that time I wasn't listening, yadayadayada....  You know, the Lord will provide!  He provides everything else for me.  I have everything I need!

Have a blessed, peaceful NO STRESS Christmas!  If you are feeling stressed, STOP, TAKE TEN DEEP BREATHS, TRUST GOD, ALL THOSE THINGS YOU TOOK ON, YOU PLANNED, YOU "HAVE TO DO" OR NOBODY ELSE WILL, CAN BE CHANGED!  IT IS OK.  YOU ARE PRODUCING THE STRESS!  STEP AWAY FROM THE STRESS AND CHOOSE PEACE, EVEN IF IT MEANS IT DOESN'T GET DONE.  PEOPLE AND YOUR FAMILY WOULD RATHER HAVE YOU AND HAVE YOU CALM AND AT PEACE, THAN THE TENSION AND STRIFE, AND ANXIETY CREATED BY YOUR STRESS, NOT TO MENTION THE DAMAGE IT DOES TO YOUR BODY AND THE STRESS IT CAUSES THOSE AROUND YOU! SIT DOWN AND BREATH!

Ok, that was a Grammy Whammy moment!  Love you all, wish I could be with all of you but evidently, I have other assignments.  I will create a great Christmas, if you are alone, find someone else who is alone and enjoy their fellowship. LOVE, LOVE LOVE YOU!!!  May the love of Jesus be the brightest Christmas light, shining through you this season!

Dec 24, 2016
Merry Christmas Eve.!  What a blessed day!  I woke up at 1:30 AM with an idea to have a Christmas Eve Fellowship.  I made up the following flyer:  Then went back to sleep.

T T MEMBER GENERATED

            YOU ARE INVITED             

CHRISTMAS EVE

SURPRISE!

(Never been done before, come and join the family friendly, festivities and the giving,  it will be a surprise to all of us)

Adult Lounge

Saturday December 24, 2016

6 PM

WHAT TO BRING:

·       A DISH, POT LUCK, SOMETHING TO EAT AND SHARE (bring your own picnic ware, plates, napkins, tableware, cups)

·       A WRAPPED GIFT (Something you already have, White Elephant, Gag or nice, look around, be creative)

·        A TALENT YOU HAVE TO SHARE (Song, skit, Musical instrument, Poem, etc...)

If you don't think you have anything, just bring you and yours, you are the fun!

ANY QUESTIONS CALL:

 GRANDMA SWANN 301-580-2824

It rained all night long and this morning it was sunny but COLD and SNOW on the Mountains all around us, beautiful!
I called the ranger station and got "David".  He said, "You called the right person."  I asked him about the possibility of a fellowship and he said it would work and, he was just getting off work and he would come and meet me and get the flyer and make some copies and then about noon he would come back and he would drive me around the park to hand out the flyers and put them up in strategic spots.  He came by,  and "David" was immediately adopted!  He knew Jesus, and we hugged and that settled it.  Turned out, I had adopted his Dad the day before and so it was a double adoption! 
I wrapped gifts, (stuff I had around that I didn't need) and David and his girlfriend came by with the flyers and we started around the park, watching for people outside, giving them the flyer and inviting them for tonight.  We had so much fun!  We really got into the Christmas spirit.  Lot's of different responses.  Some fell on stony ground, some fell among thorns and some fell on good soil.  After we finished, they brought me back and I cooked Taco soup, cheese biscuits and made a big salad.
They came back too get me and my stuff and we had a wonderful time.  About 20 people turned out, we blessed the food and ate, other people brought, guacamole & chips, potato salad, cupcakes, apple pie and ice cream, and doughnuts.  We introduced ourselves and then asked for talents.  Two little children sang a Christmas song, An Actress sang Oh, Holy Night.  One gentleman got up and asked us all to clap, then stand up, when all of us were standing and clapping, he thanked us for the standing ovation!  Funny!  Then we opened gifts.  Remember the two Prints that I rescued from the dumpster?  Well they were gifts and well received.  "David's" girl friend got one and she loved it.  Each person opened a gift and there was enough to give the children two each.  The rule was that if you didn't want your gift then you could trade it  for someone else's,  It worked out well and everybody was happy.  We all hugged and it was a great night!  Lesson learned, go the direction you are led, you never know who you will bless.  They were all invited  to the Welcome center tomorrow to watch the Streaming Live broadcast of FTHCM.  We will see who shows up.  What a blessed day!

Dec. 27, 2016

I took a Christmas break from blogging just so you know you didn't miss anything. The last blog was Christmas Eve and the fellowship.

YIKES!!!! I woke up this morning (still freezing outside) and weighed and measured.  Oh Oh, I GAINED A POUND!  I had sill lost 1 inch but this is a wake up call!  I had gotten cockey and complacent, it is so easy for me to be a "know it all" and think I can do this without paying attention.  Oh well, not true, little things can get you off course so easily, "legal" snacks, bigger portions, not being mindful...etc.  OK I am back on track today, it is the first day of the rest of my life.

Christmas in the California Mountains is amazing.  I woke up at 6 Am to be able to get the live stream at 6:30 California time.  I cooked some teriyaki Chicken, mixed vegetables, made a big salad and had a pound cake in the freezer, that I thawed out.  I tried to get a ride to the Welcome center (about 1/2 mile away) but that didn't work.  So I packed everything in my rolling cart and walked (which was good exercise).  David's Dad ( found out that is not his name, I misunderstood, Oh well that is how you know him) had to work by himself on Christmas so I told him I would come and we would have church (Streaming live, the rebroadcast was at 9:30 our time) and I would bring dinner.

By now you know that "My" plans don't always (hardly ever) work out.  OK, we couldn't get the internet at the Welcome center and he was very busy.  We talked in between guests and greeted everybody.  One lady was from Long Beach and I was able to share the Las Angeles FTHCM Church (which is in Long Beach) with her.  After awhile, I left a plate for "David's" Dad and walked on back with too much dinner for me.  On the way back I met a single Dad who had no children for the weekend so I invited him and "David" and his girlfriend to dinner.  At about 5 PM they all showed up and "David" didn't stay because he was tired so it was just the three of us for dinner, which was wonderful.  The single Dad was a sound technician and was able to fix my TV.  I had not been able to get TV since I left.  I have  about 20 channel choices not.  I still don't watch it much.

My adopted family from Maryland is out here (about 15 minutes away) for Christmas break visiting her brother.  They called on "face time?" (very interesting) and we connected just before my guests arrived and I couldn't talk long.  We will get together today, they are coming over to the TT RV park for a visit.

IT WAS A GREAT CHRISTMAS!

Yesterday was freezing again and windy which made it very cold.  "David's" girlfriend came over and spent the day with me while he was working, she is delightful and of course, adopted too.  She went to the welcome center and brought my Shaklee package which I had sent here.  Just in time! 

I am cooking spaghetti and making another salad for "my family", I am so excited to be able to see them this Christmas too.  We were all in Duck, North Carolina last Christmas when is was 72 degrees!  Oh, well.  It was 29 degrees last night and at 10:30 AM it is 34 degrees and windy.

Hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas too.  Life is good with Jesus, the reason for the Season.

Dec. 28/2016

Hebrews 2:1  "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip."

Wow, that was the scripture (and the next two chapters that I read for devotions this morning.)  I started to think about, "what am I letting slip?"
It is so easy to do, and it is our job to keep them from slipping.  Am I walking in the path that Jesus walked, the path that He has given me to walk?
Am I slipping into the old patterns, that are comfortable, easy, familiar, things I don't have to think about.  It is easy to slip.
 I got my TV fixed, which seemed like a good thing.  I had not watched TV since I left on my journey.  All of a sudden, I have all of these choices, news, movies, shows, old "familiar" programs, seemingly harmless, BUT they all came with mind manipulating commercials, ungodly previews, ungodly sexual content, violence, language. (even when bleeped out but you know what they said) even when I was careful, I noticed innuendoes,  references, influences that was causing me to say, "I can handle this", "oh, they probably won't do that again," and the story line was so compelling that I started compromising, (slipping away from what I knew to be right).  After awhile of selecting "old" black and white movies that I knew would not have the language issues or the sexual content, I began to see the "programming" that was being done even back then, that slowly led to the blatant ungodliness that we take for granted today.  This is one of the World's ways to suck us into the World's ways of thinking. and the devil's plan to get us off of God's plan for our lives. 
When I had spare time before, I would look around me and see who I could fellowship, with and who I could bless.  I would have creative thoughts,(I knew they were Godly because they were blessing others), I would read the Word, to find out how I was really supposed to think as a Child of God. 
After I watched TV for just a small amount of time, I noticed how much of my thoughts were "controlled" by what I had seen and heard on TV.  Especially the news, (How can we live without knowing what is going on?) it is almost always bad, twisted to make a good story, depressing, and conditions us to think ungodly thoughts, about others, and have ungodly fears causing us to worry about stuff we can't control.  The Bible says, in Phil 4:6-7 "Be careful (anxious) for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." 
Check our heart.  Are we at peace?  Does TV give us peace?  Are we being "entertained" into fears, worry, ungodly thoughts, sights, sounds, are we "slipping"?  Are we addicted to TV?  Can we do without it?  I discovered that I could do quite well without it, and If  I needed to know something, the Lord had a way of letting me know. It boils down to who do we trust?  The world's system (which is failing fast, and kills, steals and destroys) or the system of the Kingdom of God (which brings peace, Joy, and comfort).  Very soon, we will be required to get off the fence and decide who we will serve. The World is getting worse, we need to get better, we are called to be in the World but not of it.  Who do we trust?
Last night was wonderful, I got to see and fellowship with my first "adopted family", from Maryland that I stayed with for 8 months while my house was being prepared for sale.  They are the greatest Christian family I have ever met.  Again all of the Teenagers (18 yr old in first year of College, 16 year old in last year of High School and a 14 year old in first year of High School) all are on the honor roll.  They are proof that a family with teenagers can live Godly, and love each other, be kind and honoring, and respectful to each other, take correction gracefully and change.  I learned a lot, by living in their home.  THEY ARE A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE LOVE OF GOD IN A HOME!
We had a great fellowship and they prayed for me before they left.  It was great to be with family for the Christmas Season.
It is still cold but going up to 58 degrees today.  At 10:45 AM it is 42 degrees.

December 29, 2016

Little things are BIG things.  That is the lesson I learned yesterday.  As you know, my desire is to be an example of Health and Energy so others will have the hope that "Old age" doesn't have to be decrepit, medicated, useless and set aside.   That we can be Healthy and Flourish; grow luxuriantly, thrive, succeed, and have an influence and be an example for the next generation! 
Well, yesterday I did some domestic stuff, cleaned up and washed clothes.  I went to the Laundry mat at the Adult Lounge and saw some people that were at the Christmas Eve fellowship and that was fun.  Met some new people.  The pool is still open ( No one is braving the cold).  Then after I finished the washing, I came back home to get ready for Bible study in Acton, Calif. at the River of Life Church about 3 miles away. 
The Actress, (she loves the Lord, and came to the Christmas Eve fellowship) picked me up and took me to Bible study.  I learned that she has been eating organic since she was a teenager (she just turned 60, that's 45 years). She is on no medication and her Doctor tried to find something wrong with her and couldn't.  
After leaving school, she hitchhiked around the USA for 6 years, finally visiting her brother (who had just been saved 2 weeks before).  She told him,"There is nothing to live for, I have done so many things, that I am ashamed of, and I don't even know who God is."  Her brother told her "I know who God is, it is Jesus!"  She said, " Come off it!, it can't be that easy." He said,  "If Jesus doesn't prove who He is to you, then you can go ahead and kill yourself".  She said "OK, Jesus prove to me me that you are the Son of God and I will serve you forever."  Then Jesus showed her, He was the Son of God, she was overwhelmed by His love, better than anything she had ever experienced in her whole life.  She gave Jesus her life and has been serving him for 37 years.
Then her Brother said,"There is more."  Then she said "What can be more than this?"  Her brother said, "You need the Holy Spirit to give you power to live for God."
She said that the same day, her brother took her across the street to a Pentecostal Church where she received the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.  She was delivered from her past, received her prayer language, and realized there was nothing in this world that would satisfy like Jesus.
 The next day, she was walking by a Hippie.  He looked at her and said, "Man, whatever you are high on, I want it."  She told him it was Jesus, and he said, "Whatever it is , I want it." He accepted the Lord.
Bible study was good.  People who loved the Lord, and I got to meet some more wonderful people.  The Pastor spoke on Testimonies, ( What you have seen and heard that bares witness to Jesus' power and miracles) that plant seeds so people know that God is no respecter of persons and that He can do the same for you and others.  He gave some examples of miracles which were confidence building, in what prayer and trust in the Lord, can do.
Now, getting to the little things.  In the Bible study, I ate a Sugar-free mint and offered one to my friend.  She took the package and turned it over to read the ingredients and gave it back without taking one.  Later, she told me she couldn't eat artificial sugar substitutes.  I SHOULDN'T EITHER!  What a poor example, not only was I eating them, I offered "toxins" to my Sister in Christ!  What's more, I had done it before with others, and if I had not become aware, I would do it again! WOW.  What a poor example, little things like that can destroy credibility, and my witness.  I REPENT!  It won't happen again!
My actress friend from Bible study and I, are going to town have a "girly" day today.
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Flourish2finish blog #32-35

December 30, 2016

          What a fun day with my Sister the Actress!  Yesterday we went to lunch at an Organic store and it was great.  Then we took a minute to find a nail salon, finally found one that she knew about and we both got manicures and pedicures with massage chairs.  She took me to Staples and I got ink and paper for my printer.  We had great fellowship and decided we are Sisters. we really got acquainted and she is coming over today too.  She is auditioning for a Commercial on Monday so she is bringing her script.  Should be fun.  My Grand Daughter ("David's" girl friend) is coming also.

          It rained most of the night and cleared up about Noon, still cold, colder than yesterday.  They need the rain here.  It is not so windy now but these are Santa Anna winds that keep showing up.

          I found out that my Actress Sister, when she went to the Doctor and he couldn't find anything wrong with her, he also said that she had a body and mind of a 25 year old!  Wow! What an example to follow!  She was telling me that she had to run up a hill for a commercial she was doing, and no one expected her to be able to do it.  To their surprise, she did it several times and outdid the younger people on the set and kept asking if they wanted her to do it again.  She said she does 20 minutes of exercise a day (walking, lifting gallon bottles of water, etc...  She is definitely in shape!

          She and her husband came by before they went out to dinner for their Anniversary.  It was the first time I met her husband.  He told stories about how they learned to trust God in amazing situations.  They both Minister wherever they go and are here in this RV park because the Lord told them to come and live.  It is amazing to find RV Missionaries.  Everybody needs the Lord, especially now.  They also share the Holy Spirit.  It is great to see others that are willing to give it all up and follow Jesus, and actually do what He says.

         

          Dec 31, 2016

          I woke up this morning with a desire to go to the pool (outdoor heated).  It will be about 53 degrees about 11 AM and it is expected to SNOW later (10-12 inches in the Mountains).  So it may be my last chance for awhile.

HAVE AN AWESOME NEW YEAR!

MY PRAYER FOR YOU IS: a great Blessed, prosperous, productive, Joyous, unimaginable, beyond expectations, 2017, used by God in Remarkable ways. This will be a great time to see God at work in us. He is bigger than we think! And wants more from us than we can think or imagine! 

LET'S FULFILL HIS DREAM, IN 2017!

I will be live streaming the New Year's Service (WWW.FTHCM.org), it will be 6:30 PM our time.  Pray that we can have a space to show it.

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Flourish2finish blog #33

Jan 2, 2017

I took a New Years break from blogging, but here I am again.  Catching you up is harder than if I am consistent and do this daily.  I left you praying for a place to live stream, thank you for your prayers, we got a place.  I needed to request more specifically that the broadcast would be seen. 

I enjoyed the pool, and the hot tub afterwards, it was very refreshing and I was the only one in the pool but I met a gentleman who was in the hot tub from New Jersey.  He has been full time for years and his job is once a month driving Winnebago Motor homes from the factory in Iowa to dealerships.  I invited him to the live stream and he did not know Jesus.  All in all I invited 14 people for that evening, for bring a dish and watch.  I also met and invited a lady who had her Bible in her pool bag, (she came later to the pool).

So, after the swim, I went back home and prepared the food for the fellowship and got over to the Adult lounge about an hour early.  The RV Park was having a movie, band and dance for New Years so their was some competition.  I tried for over an hour and a half to get the live stream to work.  I could get the internet but not the live stream.  I was by myself for awhile, my Actress Sister had to go home to take care of her husband who had worked out in the cold rain all day.  She brought some food and then went back home.     

Finally a couple came who had just gone full time from Paradise, California.  They had been in Shaklee in the 1970's, before I got into Shaklee.  We had a nice fellowship and exchanged information.  A friend of my Actress Sister came to take me home in his car. 

As soon as I got back into the RV, I tried the live stream and WAL-LA , it worked!  I got on just in time to hear EP's announcement of Bishop being in training for the EP's position in 2018.  I enjoyed Communion with a rice cake and water and heard the rest of the service.  It was great to see my adopted Grandson sing in the Men's choir for the first time!

The next morning,(New Years Day) I was up at 6:30 AM to hear the live stream Church service.  I took 4 pages of notes, then my newly adopted Grand Daughter came over and we had a Shaklee shake I and watched the live stream rebroadcast with her and I was able to add to my notes, WOW!  What a message.  It was actually the outline for the whole year of messages to come.

The Title was; "Complete in Jesus" Col. 1-2

What does being "Complete in Jesus" mean?

          !.  Be fulfilled in Jesus. (Satisfied, No longer searching for more)

          2.  Have all I need in Jesus.

                   a. A relationship with God through JesusJ

                   b. A correct relationship with my Brothers and Sisters

                   c.  Have the truth of His Word.

                   d.  Be in a Church (Body of Christ), can't sit at home and be "In                             the Body"(Even Jesus had the 12 Disciples)

                   e. Be active in a Ministry in the Church. (Be a part)

          3.  To not want for anything.

                   a.  Don't be anxious for anything,

                   b.  Be content in the state you are in. (Full or empty)

                   c.  Live according to our Faith (Jesus).

          4.  Be mature in the things of God. (Reach a level of maturity where                        we are not emotionally swayed, knowing that,"all things work                         together for good..."

          5.  To experience all that is Promised in Jesus.(Nothing promised that                      I don't have.)

                   a.  The love of Jesus that passes all knowledge.

                   b.  Life and it more abundantly.

                   c.  Peace that passes all understanding.

                   d.  Joy, unspeakable Joy.

                   e.  Hope. (Confidence in the outcome)

                   f.  Victory over every evil circumstances.

DO YOU HAVE:

NO CONCERNS?

NO ANXIETY?

NO FEAR?

NO CARES? (YOU CAST THEM ALL ON JESUS)

NO WORRIES?

          6.  Do all that is required of me?

                   a.  Receive the fullness of the relationship.

                             1).  The Love of God.

                             2).  His Holy Spirit.

`                  b.  Keep his commandments.   

                   c.  Enjoy the beauty of Holiness,

          7.  Finish your course (So Jesus can say,"Well done, my good and                         faithful Servant, in whom I am well pleased...")

                   IT GETS BETTER WHEN YOU OBEY!

After the LIVE stream, "David" came over and the three of us went out to Wal-Mart and hung out shopping and then went to dinner at a Hawaiian BBQ place.  We had so much fun.

Jan 2, 2017

This morning I got a call from a friend in Maryland at 4 AM, she didn't realize the three hour time difference.  Later my Grand Daughter came over for me to do her nails.  After I finished, she washed some dishes and ruined what had been done.  It was too late to do it again so maybe tomorrow.  We had a good time.  After she left, my Actress Sister came by, she is so

organic, she couldn't handle the smell of nail polish in the air, got dizzy and left.  I aired the place out and later she came back and we had a cup of tea (organic) together.

I decided to not leave here until Thursday.  I will go from here to Costa Mesa to the Orange County Fair grounds, where they have RV hook-ups. I will be close to the Wedding happenings and then after the wedding I will go to the other RV park I had planned to go to.

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Jan 3-5, 2017

All my needs are met.  Wow, it is so amazing how God always supplies my needs, even in the little things, maybe not how and when we think they should be supplied but always on time, God's time.  Hey, it is His show anyway so best thing is to adjust and it always works out perfectly, in our best interest!  (I really don't ever know what that is anyway, unless I'm listening to the Holy Spirit.)

Did I tell you I would not tell you what I was going to do, because things change?  Well, things changed.  I spent all day cleaning and preparing for the travel.  There was urgency, and I looked at the weather and realized that they said it would rain on Thursday.  OK, I decided to leave on Wednesday instead.  I was able to get the Live Stream of the Bible study Tuesday at 4:30 California time, it was great.  I was able to say all my good-byes to my adopted Grandchildren and my Actress Sister, I will miss them, but may be back.

As I was unhooking, a couple came by and we started a conversation.  GUESS WHAT?  They own a bicycle shop in Illinois!  In March, they are getting in ELECTRIC THREE WHEELED BICYCLES!!!!  I never knew how to ride a regular bike, so I had a 3 wheel bike  at one time that was OK but I couldn't go far and not on the hiway.  I was contemplating what to get, that I could ride to the store, laundry, just riding around the RV park and still get exercise when I didn't have a car.  WAL-LAH!, here it is, I can peddle when I want the exercise, and motor up hills, drive on the roads like a bike, it will fit on a rack on the back of the RV, with a ramp, and when I do tow the car, it fits on the back of the car.  It will go 10-12 miles on the battery. It looks like a regular bike with 2 wheels in the back and a "trumk" in between that I can carry groceries in. WOOPEE! 

While I was preparing to leave, I remembered to put the TV Antennae down, then the handle broke off while it was still up.  OK Lord, what do I do?  The sound technetium who came over for Christmas dinner and fixed the TV, had just come back to the park and I tried to see if he could help.  He didn't answer his door, so I went back to see what I could do.  I was able to use a socket wrench screwdriver and it came down so I could drive without hooking the Antennae on a tree or something.  Praise the Lord!  Trust God and all your needs will be supplied!

I needed some more Shaklee products and I found out that there is a Distribution Center in Cerritos, California, which is near the Fair grounds where I am now.  It is a Center where you can call in an order before 11 AM and pick it up the same day.  I placed the order and they didn't have two of the products I ordered that I thought I was running out of.  WAL-LAH, I found both of them, that I didn't know I had.  I picked up the products and found out that a friend of mine runs the center (he was out) and that they are having the January Shaklee Kick Off Meeting on Saturday.  I will be able to see him then.

I followed my GPS to a Bank of America (that was still open at 5:30 PM?) so I could get cash to pay for the camping at the Fairgrounds.  I checked into the Fair Grounds after dark.  It is $40 per night with full hook-ups but I couldn't get the electric cord to work.  The temperature was only 59 degrees so I wan comfortable all night without heat.  It is raining and muddy now, thank God I was able to hook up last night (with the help of two Angels).  All my needs are supplied.

I did have an interesting happening.  I had a utensil caddy sitting on the counter behind the kitchen faucet.  It was on a rubber pad to keep it from sliding and tied down, to keep it from falling while driving.  Well I got cut off and had to slam on the brakes and I heard this crash.  Oh well, nothing I can do while driving on the Freeway.  When I stopped I saw what happened.  The caddy and its contents fell on the floor in front of the side door.  The tie down came loose (still haven't found it) and it slid off the counter.  I had to wash everything and set it back up for riding (hopefully more secure this time).

I talked to my Sister, who had just gotten in on the plane from Eugene with a funny story. (Funny to me, she was laughing after the fact).  They drove 2 1/2 hours to Eugene the night before so they could stay overnight in a Hotel and be ready next morning for the flight, great weather, good drive, OK.  Next morning, they awoke to two inches of snow in Eugene and it was Blizzard like conditions, still snowing.  All the way to the Airport, my Sister was "backseat driving" (I can picture this), while her husband is doing a great job of navigating the weather conditions.(Eugene is  not used to snow and are not equipped to remove it from the roads etc...)  They were nearly the only ones in the airport and her husband let her off at the door and went to park.  She waited and waited, what seemed to her a long time and finally sent one of the men at the Airport after him.  He was just getting a cart in the parking lot to walk back with, he was fine.   They de-iced the plane and took off.  When they landed, they could only find one wheelchair, eventually found another one and the attendant was pushing both of them (They are in their 80's) up a ramp.  Her husband got his foot caught on the carpet and fell out of the chair. Several people were hovering around to help and picked him up and got him in the chair again.  He was OK and my Sister was a nervous wreck, shaking and not sure what to do, to get out of her chair to help or what?  I was cracking up while she was telling me, but all was well and they were at their "house" (a house across the street from the Bride's family, at their neighbors that rent out their bedrooms, like a Bed & Breakfast) getting ready to go to dinner with the Bride's parents. All is well.

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Jan 5-6, 2017

Finally here in Costa Mesa, Calif. for my Nephew's wedding.  This is the only schedule that has not changed and the only timeline I had for the journey. 

I started yesterday by calling to get my electric hooked up.  Remember I couldn't get my plug to work so I left it outside under the box.  It rained all night, was still raining and very muddy.  I opened the window when Jack came (The electrician for the Fair Grounds) and showed him where I left the plug, he simply took it to another box and WAL-LAH, electricity! (I was still in my robe hanging out the window and didn't have to get out in the rain, woopee!)

Then he saw the Shaklee magnetic sign on the cab of my RV and asked about it.  It turned out that his parents had been in Shaklee years ago, and he thought Shaklee was out of business.  He had fond memories and I gave him some samples and the product guide so he could get caught up. 

I watched as he got stuck with his golf cart in the mud.  I gave him my rubber "welcome mat" to put under the tire and it worked to get him out of that hole but it was too muddy to get him out of the next, so he had to call someone with a pick up truck to tow him out of the mud.  It was my morning entertainment.  Better than TV and I don't believe in accidents. 

Because of the amount of time he spent by my window, I had time to gather information for him and I got his, so I could send him a Health Assessment.  He knew Jesus, so the most important thing was taken care of.

OK, I prepared the gift I had for my Nephew.  I have a 126 year old (Buckskin bottom) Nursing Rocker chair that my Great Grandfather made for my Grandmother for her Wedding day, Jan 6, 1891 (the same day as my Nephew's wedding today).  I will share the story:

NURSING ROCKER STORY

By Lonna Swann

Jan 6, 2017

I used to be a tree and a Buck deer.  I was born when Monroe Larkins, (son of William A and Rachael Larkins, both pioneers to Oregon in 1845) shot the deer, found the tree, cut it down, fashioned the wood, put me together and called me a "Nursing Rocker".  My purpose was to be the place where my new owner, Olena May (Orem) Larkins would sit, rock and nurse her 6 children that she eventually had. I was born for the occasion of my new owner's marriage to Abraham Lincoln Larkins on Jan. 6, 1891 in Mollala, Oregon.

I have traveled quite a bit since I retired.  My first trip was further South in Oregon in 1955, after my first owner died.  I was given to the youngest child of Olena,  Alma Mary (Larkins) Lett.   She was the last child I rocked, I miss her, she was such a happy baby.   She lived with her husband, Orlin Carl Lett in Broadbent, Oregon which was further south in Oregon, (about 220 miles). 

I stayed with them and their two daughters until they sold the farm in Broadbent, around 1965.  I then traveled to Southern California to live with the youngest child, Lonna Kay Lett until she decided to drive around the world on some crazy trip and left me in a friend's storage for over a year.  I didn't like that, it was hot and stuffy most of the time and dark.  One day the Lady who had the storage came and got me and wrapped me up and sent me on a long trip across the USA to Washington DC on a Greyhound Bus.  It was bumpy and dark again, once in a while, I could see daylight as my neighbors were taken away and new ones came.   When I arrived, they took me out of the Bus and put me in a holding area.  What next?  The next day, I was surprised and happy to see my newest owner, Lonna, again.  She seemed to be glad to see me too, and treated me well most of the time. 

There was a day when she soaked me in paint remover because she said I was an ugly yellowish-green color.  I had gotten used to the color which I had since I was born, but when I saw the natural color back, I think I like it better.  Somewhere in the years, I lost one of the slats in my back but she didn't seem to mind. 

I was always given a place of honor, displaying me like she was proud of me.  I moved with her 3 times and then one day, she put me back into storage.  I was upset because I had awful memories of the first time. 

After 5 months of that place Lonna came back and got me.  I was so happy!  I found out that she had sold her house and bought a RV Motor Home to go full time, and she was taking me with her!  I was so happy because a lot of my friends and furniture had been given away and I never saw them again.  She had a special place for me, (although the RV seemed very small compared to the house), it was on her bed!  Wow!, that was an honor, although I had to travel upside down, it was better that being left in storage! 

She just kept driving and stopping then driving and stopping, on and on.  Then, one day, I overheard her say that she was going to her Sister's Son, Christoph's's wedding and she was going to give me to Christoph and Lynn for a Wedding present.  Wow, another wedding!  I remember the first one, and I was the guest of honor, I was so excited.  "What would this one be like?"  I had been in retirement for many years, "would I be able to function in my purpose again as a "Nursing Rocker", like the first time?"  The rest of the travel was caught up in anticipation of the Wedding , so time flew by.

I am too big to be wrapped!  WHAT!  I found out that I won't be at the Wedding!  I was so disappointed.  Lonna took pictures of me and gave the pictures to them, but I did find out that she is taking me to Oregon with her in the RV, to their house in Bend and I will get to meet Christoph and Lynn then.  I will miss being

at the wedding but I am looking forward to meeting them.  I understand that they are old and already have grown children.  I was disappointed that I couldn't be a "Nursing Rocker" again.  Maybe when they are through with me, they will give me to one of their Children.  I just keep getting passed around, but it is all in the family and they seem to love me, so I guess that is OK.

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Well, last night I got to meet the McLaughlin family, and Lynn (The Bride).  My family is expanding once again.  I am once more convinced that if we get out of ourselves, and enjoy one another, we have enough love, time, and energy, whatever we need for the people God places in our life. 

My Sister and her husband were there looking great, and their neighbors from Oregon, that I had met before, were there, and I sat with them.  My other Nephew and his wife, from Lousiana (that I ate Alligator with) came and it was good to see the whole family together.

I am now "Aunt Lonna" to everyone instead of "Grandma Swann".  We had a great "Rehearsal dinner" at Mimi's Cafe. (I ate soup and salad.) They had other choices, like Turkey dinner, salmon, Steak and fries etc....  About 50 people, some I hadn't seen for 35-40 years.  Most I hadn't met but we were soon family.  I took "Uber" over to the restaurant (about 15 min away) but "Uber" wouldn't take my payment coming back (No reason, tried three different ones).  Remember when I said I didn't believe in accidents?  Well, the young nephews, and son of the bride, (teenagers and college age) took me back and we connected and had a great time.  I'm Looking forward to seeing them tonight at the wedding.

My Sister's friend from Newport Beach, (I knew her too) was there last night and she will come and pick me up for the wedding.

Some of you will smile at this; the wedding party (girls) had a nail and "tanning" party at the tanning salon yesterday so they wouldn't look too "white" in the wedding. 

  WHAT!   of the travel was caught up in anticipation of the Wedding , so time flew by.

id find out that she is taking me to Or

Jan 7, 2017

I caught a ride to the Wedding with Uber (it works now) and met the driver, a great "Sister in Christ", she invited my to her Church on Sunday, I plan to go.

The Wedding was wonderful!  With all of the possible Family dynamics and possible drama, everything was loving and Family friendly.  My Nephew married a grade school friend; he met in the fifth grade, his brother's best friends Sister.  This was 30 years later, their were 3 Children from previous relationships, 2 his, one hers, grown but not married yet.  His parents were divorced and remarried, their was another half Sister and Brother and their spouses.  Bride and family were Catholic, Groom wasn't.  Bride had a large family, groom didn't, etc...

It was beautiful!  Very different, held outside in the dark (6 PM)with a beautiful moon and white lights in the trees, a little cool, but tolerable. (It had rained and the grass was a little squishy) The ceremony was officiated by an Evangelical Catholic Priest ( They flew him in from Bend, Oregon) and assisted by a Roman Catholic Priest (I think it was her Priest from Huntington Beach where the Bride's Family lives).  Her Father read some of the scripture with the help of the light of someone's cell phone.

Instead of the Mothers lighting the unity candle, they each had bottles of different colored sand, that they each poured into a pretty see-through container. 

 The Bride and Groom did their own beautiful, touching, honest vows to each other. (Lot's of tissue was passed around). The ring bearer dropped both of the rings while it was quiet, and you could hear the clinks.  The Priest said, "that is not a good sound", and immediately people in the Bridal party, front row, Photographer, all scrambled to find them (in the dark).  Finally, they were recovered and the Ceremony continued.  Everybody was laughing, the Ring Bearer was cool. 

My Brother-in-Law was having some pain from his tumble out of the wheelchair in the Airport and so he couldn't walk my Sister down the isle, so I did.  I got a corsage like I was a part of the Wedding party.

The Wedding reception was off the charts!  (Remember that the Bride had experience with event planning and the Groom is an event planner).  We had to drive a ways to get to the Venue.

 I caught a ride to the Reception with the Father of the Groom (My Sister's first husband) and his Son.  I got a chance to reconnect with him, I hadn't seen him for about 30 years.  The colors were black and white, their was a pre-dinner reception with coffee, tea and other drinks and delicious hors d'oeuvres, then we went into the room with the tables.  I sat at the "Oregon" table with my Sister & her husband, the former caretakers of Camp Myrtlewood, Oregon, English friends of my Sister's that live in their same town, the Priest from Bend, Oregon, and my Sister's friend and her Husband from Huntington Beach.  The food was awesome.  They started with a beautiful wild greens salad and garlic cheese bread,  then the main course was Chicken Croquettes, Mahi Mahi, (fish, which I exchanged for another Chicken because I am allergic) steamed vegetables, and a potato patty. Delicious, I couldn't eat it all.

I left early with the same ride and they took me home.

I thought I would go to the Shaklee kick-off but it started at 9 AM, it is about 45 minutes away and it would cost about $60 round trip with Uber. I was invited to the Family brunch by the Brides Mother (It is at her house) at 11 AM.  I will probably go there.

 Jan 8, 2017

Yesterday, I took "Uber".  Uber is a substitute for a taxi.  Independent drivers can use their own car and on their own schedule, choose to sign up with the Uber system, many work part time to earn extra income.  You can down-load an App on your phone put in your payment information (they accept debit cards, Pay Pal etc..)  and when you are ready, call for an Uber driver.  There were usually several in the area within 4 minutes away, a driver responds, they give you the name and license and type of car, and picture of the driver, you choose to accept or not.  They arrive, you don't have to exchange money unless you want to tip.  Worked great! ( I am going to church with my Uber driver from Friday).

I didn't have the address of the Bride's parents house but I knew it was in the same neighborhood as the house where my Sister was staying.  So I went there, and since I knew they had lived in the same neighborhood for years, I asked a neighbor and they directed me to the house, two doors away, perfect!

They had a beautiful home, and a catered brunch which was delicious.  They had a large landscaped patio with a large round table with a gas fire pit in the middle.  looked like beautiful clear and gold rocks, (glass rocks) when the gas was turned on, it provided heat and a nice cozy place to fellowship around the "fire table".  I got to fellowship and get to know the family and those at the wedding.  It was great!

The Bride and Groom were even there for a while.  I stayed until about 3:30 and connected with several of my new "Family", this time some were "blood" relatives. The Brides family is very close and they like each other.  I got a chance to spend some time with the Father and he is remarkable, an inventor and engineer.  He developed a "mini bar code scanner."

The Groom's son, lives in Idaho, one of the Grooms Woman (worked with the Groom in Idaho and still lives there), I found out that one of my friends that I planned to visit in Flagstaff, AZ. moved to Spokane, WA. (near Idaho) and yesterday I got an email from a Grade School friend I was trying to locate near Phoenix, AZ.  She had moved to Idaho, lives on  five acres and has RV hookups at their house. Wow, that is a lot of Idaho to ignore, that sounds like it will be a part of my travel plans when the weather gets better there.

I don't think I told you about the Wedding party.  It was interesting because I had never heard of "Grooms Woman", "Best Woman" and "Man of Honor", "Brides Man" before but it makes so much sense.  The Wedding party was made up of;  boy, girl, boy, girl, boy girl, (6 on each side of the Bride & Groom at the Wedding).  The Brides Son was her Man of Honor, then she had Bridesmaid,  Bridesman, (her brother) etc..  The Groom had a Best Woman (real good friend and Co-worker from Idaho) Groomsman and Grooms woman (his Sister), etc... Very interesting and nice!

I got a ride back with the Groom's Step Sister and her husband, and my great Nephew (Groom's Son) on the way to take him back to the Airport.  They came in and looked at the RV before they left.

Jan 9-10

Jan 10, 2017  Thousand Trails, Wilderness Lakes, Menifee, California

I said I was going to try to blog each day, but that isn't happening.  Too much life going on!  I have to make and outline to remember everything to tell you.  To some of you it is probably too much information, just skip to the part that interests you.  I am glad that I am blogging because I would not be able to remember all the happenings, this may be a family book one day and you are getting it first hand. (where are the smiley faces when you need them?)

I am parked and hooked up in Menifee, CA. (a day later than I planned) where, I "plan" be until the 24th of Jan.  I got in at about 3:30 PM yesterday and found a spot on a canal ( it is the only "lake" I have seen) and as I was attempting to back into a very tight spot, a nice lady named Carol motioned asking me if I needed help.  I did and she called Sammy and they both came over and helped me back into the site and hooked me up in record time.  They were very sweet and helpful.  We hugged and they said if I needed anything to let them know.  They are parked 2 spot's over and will be here until the 15th.  My Hispanic Angels, God always sends those I need. Praise God!

Sunday, Jan 8, I watched the Streaming live of my Church in MD at 6:30 AM. and I was expecting to go to Church at 10:30 AM with my friend, and Sister Karie, (the "Uber" driver that took me to the Wedding).  She is recuperating and is Cancer free but her body was telling her to rest.  She was up late "Ubering" the night before and she was very tired and very sorry she couldn't take me to Church.   (She is so sweet, the next day, she invited me to go for a walk on her favorite ocean beach, I was gone by that time, so missed it.  The Lord is not finished with us, so maybe next time).

OK, so now what?  I looked up the FTHCM in Long Beach to see what time Church started, great, I had enough time to get there!  I contacted Uber again, this time I got a driver from Ethiopia, he has been here 20 years and goes to an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Church, they celebrate Christmas, Jan 6.

I had never been to the FTHCM Church in Long Beach and had never really met  Pastor LaRose and his wife and never heard him preach.  The message was great.

Subject was "Finding Comfort in my Faith (Jesus)".  Comfort no matter what is going on.

·        Be strengthened with might by the Spirit of God in the inner man.

·        Have patience in the place of difficulty.

·        Have confidence, trust God, that what He has started in me, will be finished.

·        Be encouraged; there is Peace in Jesus, that has overcome the world. (When we are at peace we can think and see clearly)

·        Be honest with myself and truthful to Jesus. (He knows anyway)

·        Remove all doubt, then, remove all the stuff creating it.

Mark 5:21-43

·        Draw near to Jesus, stop being a distant relative.

·        My faith (Jesus) can make me whole.

·        Invite Jesus in.  (He is a Gentleman, he waits  until He is invited)

·        Get the noise out.  (The Holy Spirit has a still small voice).

·        Once Jesus restores, take care of what has been revived.

·        My faith (Jesus) will:

              Give me instructions.

              Keep me:

                        Focused

                        On track

                        Perfected

                        Safe.

Jesus knows what will happen and gives us instructions ahead of time:     

Be not afraid, only believe.

Don't pick the issue up again after you have been made whole.

Great message! 

After Church I received a CD of the message for being a first time visitor. I asked if anyone was going to Costa Mesa and Donna said she was going to Huntington Beach (which is where I wanted to go to see my Sister).  She took me there and I contacted my Brother-in-Law who was in a shopping center and we picked him up so he wouldn't have to walk (about a mile) back.  Donna was so sweet and excited about coming to the General Church meeting at the Parent Church in MD July of 2018.

After visiting with my Brother-in-Law, Johnnie,( the 20 yrs old son of my youngest Nephew's best friend) who lived across the street, took me back to the Fair grounds, and had to rush back to go to Church for 4 PM Mass. He is an artist and really great guy.

I unhooked from the site and drove back to Huntington Beach.  My Sister & Brother-in-Law and I went to dinner (Good fellowship) and I stayed overnight on the street a half block from where my Sister was staying.

After a wonderful Breakfast and fellowship with Bob and Diane (the Hosts at the bed and Breakfast where my Sister stayed),  I dropped them off at the Airport and they were in time enough to catch their plane, even though we were later getting there, because of traffic. It was supposed to rain all night and day but it was dry (even the highway) after raining all night.  Rain in Southern California is like snow in DC.  They don't know how to drive or what to do with it.

I left and got gas (my Brother-in-Law blessed me with gas money).  Gas in California is high, average $3.00+.  I was able to use my Google maps and found gas for $2.75.  I only got enough to take me out of the below-half-a-tank zone, and then found a Sams's Club with gas at $2.49 and filled it up.

I also was able to get groceries I would need for the next two weeks.  I stopped at Aldi's and got the rest.

After settling in, I was to be on an important Shaklee coaching session at 5:30 PM (that I earned by sharing 50 Health Prints back in October).

The Presidential Master Charlene Fike, (who was doing the Coaching, and is a Missionary) knew my parents as their family comes to Camp Myrtlewood in Oregon for their reunions.  We met them later on one of the Shaklee Cruises and have been friends ever since.

I could not get to the session because I was over my limit on DATA and couldn't get the Internet.  I had to increase my Data, to 50 gigs (because I had 12 more days before my month ended) which cost me $115 more.  My adopted Grand daughter had unknowingly used half of the DATA I had (on the Tablet I had given her) in less than one week.  I couldn't reach her so I had to suspend her internet on the Tablet.  This was a test for me in trusting God.  I will see what He does with this, should be interesting. 

Well, it is a beautiful sunny day and 60 degrees, looks like pool weather after I wash clothes.  It is supposed to rain tonight and for the next 3 days.

Jan 11, 2017

This is where the geese, ducks, (and the Swann's) go for the winter! Well, I don't know about the Swann's for all winter but there are sure a lot of geese and ducks here.  Some people feed them and they stay around and will knock on their door early in the morning to get food.  Smart birds, I won't be feeding any.

I went to wash clothes yesterday and visited the Lodge recreation room.  Where you can check out (or exchange) books, DVD's, sports equipment, games, etc....  They had a display of the indigenous wild life, rattle snakes, king snakes, tortoises (turtles with long necks), horney toads, tarantulas, huge dragon fly's, and sign's up to tell the difference between dog tracks and mountain lion tracks.  Question... with all of that information, would you be (or are you) focused on trusting God?  There is a difference between being aware of your surroundings and fear.

While at the Lodge, I was talking to folks there and I ask them about the bicycle I was considering.  The recreation lady took me to a back room and showed me her three wheeled, double seated electric chair that would go 30-40 miles on a charge.  She had a special paint job and configuration that made it look like a motor cycle (nice).  It is an option, and the cost was only a little more than the electric bike, hum.... I couldn't peddle it but you could ride further on roads, also without tags.

I met 6 people while washing clothes.  One wonderful lady, works here on weekends, loved the Lord, baptized in the Holy Spirit and has been laying hands on people for healing, another RV Missionary, wow!  I saw in the literature that there is a Sunday worship service and Wednesday night Bible study.  I will check it out tonight. 

I talked to my Actress-Missionary-Organic-Hippy-Sister, she is still in the last RV park and she said they were starting Sunday worship and Wednesday Bible Study there. Woopee! 

We, as Christians, need to be bold, and be willing to face persecution for our faith (Jesus).  Hey, He loved us so mush, He was willing to leave "cushy" heaven to come down to earth, with us wayward, rebellious, acting-ugly sinners, (His creation) to show us the way to live, then died a painful, humbling death on a cross (paying for our sins so we could be free and go to heaven, not fry in hell for eternity).  We can at least put up with whatever we have to, and stand up and be HIS CHILD!  Whatever is done to us while we are "in the name of Jesus" will only get us goodies in heaven and peace and Joy in our hearts while we are being persecuted here in this place (that is not even our home).  Keep in mind, why we are here ,(in the world, (not of it) we are Ambassadors for Christ.  WE OWE HIM!!

I just thought about the fact that in my former wayward, searching, days, I didn't believe that there could be a hell that was worse than things I had seen on earth.  Well, what I know now, we will see much worse in the days to come, because the ruler of hell has been given more and more permission by people in the world to work his work. 

God gave (and still gives) us a choice, Jesus, or the devil (if you are not serving Jesus, you are serving the devil and his ways.) Who will you follow?  Who gives you joy instead of temporary pleasures, that always cause something to die (relationships, family, shorter life, etc...).  You can tell by your fruit.    Give it all up for Jesus and watch Him prove himself to you, personally when He comes in your heart.  I DARE YOU!!  Don't die without Jesus, you don't know when that will happen, but JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THERE.  Don't try and intellectualize it (I tried that), this is  SPIRITUAL. He is giving you the chance right now.  Repeat these words and believe them in your heart and you will be saved and go to heaven when you die, guaranteed! (it worked for me and everybody I know, that did it).

 JESUS, I AM SORRY FOR MY SINS, SAVE ME, AND COME INTO MY HEART.

  If you did that, YOU ARE SAVED and have ETERNAL LIFE, not eternal death!  It is that simple, but profoundly life changing.  Now, pray for, and ask Jesus to find you a Bible believing, Bible teaching Church so you can learn how to walk in it(trust Him, he will).  I, and others who are saved, and reading this, are praying for you.  Meanwhile if you need a Church, my Church is Live Streamed on Sunday's at 9:30AM and 12:30AM (rebroadcast) and Tuesday at 7:30 PM EASTERN TIME.

 At: www.fthcm.org

I woke up to drizzling rain this morning (not heavy enough to hear on the roof).  It stopped and has gotten brighter now, the temperature is 54 degrees going up to 59.

Jan 12, 2017

It is raining, really, again.  I am so glad that I was able to go to the pool yesterday.  It was a little cool until I got in, and because it was heated, it was nice.  I took my towel out of my beach bag, where I had my clothes, and put it by the hot tub so it would be handy when I came out, then I could go straight to the shower and change clothes.  Well, I went to the shower after the hot tub and was merrily washing my hair.  Right in the middle, I realized, "I don't have my towel!" It was still by the hot tub (with a man in it).  OK what to do?

Use paper towels? Then I remembered that I had a Kaftan cover-up that I wore over my swimsuit, so I threw it on with my hair still soapy and ran out and got my towel.  Can you picture it? Thank God, it was almost dark, so I don't know the man's perspective but I didn't stay long enough to find out.  I find that at age 74, I don't get as embarrassed, as I used, to over stuff, it is just funny.

I met some more wonderful people at the pool.  One man was with his 15 year old son and 4 year old Grand Daughter.  He and his wife had been full time RVing for 10 years and home schooling their children.  They were Christians and his wife had MS. 

After my swim I went to Bible Study.  I am glad I took my Bible because I was the only one there, and I got a chance to do some reading on my own.

After Bible Study, I listened to the Shaklee call I missed on Monday (because I couldn't get the internet).  God takes care of me!

Charlene was very good and practical.

Some of the things she said:

·        Commit to personal development, a lifetime of learning.

·        No one thinks about you, as much as you do. (others aren't paying that much attention to you, they are on themselves)

·        Her job is to "craft lives that matter to others".

·        How can I step out of my box and AMAZE myself?

She is a Lifetime Master Coordinator in Shaklee and the money she earns is well over six figures.  She is a Missionary (paying her own way) to help restore Women in third world Countries to a better life from slavery and trafficking.

This morning I heard from two of my newly adopted Grandchildren.  What a blessing!  The first one was sick and I got to pray for her (food poisoning I think).  The other was my Grandson in Las Vegas (the one that went to church with me).  He has been working double shifts and overtime for two weeks straight and was exhausted.  He was able to get a better apartment and paid cash for a car.  He figured out his finances and had been saving up for some time.  He paid to have a mechanic check out the car and will pick it up tomorrow. Pretty good for a 20 something, year old! 

He also said he was real hungry one day, he got 3 burritos from Taco Bell, after he got them, he saw a homeless couple asleep at a table in the back.  He gently tried to wake them up, but they were knocked out.  He left two of the burritos on their table for them.   Way to go Grandson!

His first trip with his car is to Long Beach to surprise his Mother and family, since he wasn't able to go for Christmas.  He already has their gifts and he also said he may stop and see me. Me?, Wow, it is about an hour drive from Long Beach.  He wants to take me out to a nice place to eat. 

He asked me if I had met any nice guys.  Were you wondering that too?  Well, if so, this is what I texted him.  "Ha,Ha, Jesus will do just fine, for now.  I am not looking, they will have to find me, and then go through a lot.  I am very picky, after Jesus. They would have to measure up!".  He texted me back and said, "Yes Ma'am, ha ha, that's what your Grandson wants to hear."  Sweet guy!

It is still raining and I can hear it on the roof! Yeaaa!  (5 hours so far)..  Everything here is gravel or pavement, so no mud. just some puddles, the ducks are happy.

Jan 13, 2017

Good morning, the sun peeked through a little and the temperature is 46 degrees...but the "real feel" is 52.  Of course I saw all that on my phone and I don't intend to "real feel it" until later when it goes up to 56...maybe.

What a life!  I hope you don't feel sorry that I am out here all alone, in the wilderness "camping" in a small RV with none of the comforts of home.

Let me explain my choice to go RVing full time. 

I woke up this morning at 7:30 AM with a full 9 hours of rain-on-the-roof  sleep and joy in my heart.  I made half of my queen sized bed (with a tempurpedic mattress top, very comfortable).  Let me explain:  I only sleep on half the bed, so it didn't make sense to me to have to go around the whole big bed to make it up, change the sheets, etc...  Sooo I devised a plan.  I use 1 queen sheet, fold it in half long way, and put it on my side of the bed (only) with the fold toward the middle of the bed and sleep between the folds after flipping back the comforter & decorative pillows.  Walah! I only have to make the one side I sleep on, and BONUS, only have to wash one sheet!  This will only work for those who sleep alone.  Not for married folks, sorry.

When I am hooked up in a Camp ground, I have water, electric and sewage that functions just like a home.  I have lights, heat, air conditioning, a microwave, gas stove, oven, double sink, large enough refrigerator and large enough freezer.  I have 2 TV's, 2 DVD's (one for the bedroom and one for the living room), VCR, lap top Computer, Printer, phone, wifi hotspot. fully functioning bathroom, and shower.  My home sleeps 6, seats 10+(20+ with extra chairs) has plenty of storage space and that is just the inside.  Outside I have a stove (runs on propane) table, chairs, all the equipment for cooking and enjoying the outside (if it is not raining) even have an awning and ground cover.

When not hooked up to a Site in a campground, I have all of those functions available, just on different systems ie. generator, batteries, water tank, disposal tanks etc...  I can stay unhooked comfortably for about 4 days before I have to dump the disposal tanks.  If I park near a bathroom, it could be longer.

Just thought I should explain in case you were feeling sorry for me.  I love this life!  Oh, did I say that I can stay for 21 days in any (gated) Thousand Trails RV park (with pool, exercise rooms, laundry, activities like volley ball, water volley ball, all of the ball sports, and more, like a resort) go from one park to another park and stay 21 days or stay out for 7 days and come back to the same park for another 21 days for the rest of my life and now it only costs me $500 a year?  When we bought it, it was not a good deal because we hardly ever used it, BUT NOW!!!!  There are over 80 parks all over the USA to choose from.  Whoopee!

The wonderful friendly environment creates an atmosphere to meet interesting people from all over and they all have stories.  And if I don't like the neighborhood...I can move in an hour). What a life!  Do I miss having a house??  You tell me.

I do miss your fellowship, but I am so glad I can do this blog, so those of you that are interested can follow my journey. Now, when I do talk with you, I can hear what is going on with you, and if you are following me, you  already know my story so we don't have to do that again.  If I had to share with each of you individually and a different times, I would be crazy trying to remember and you would be crazy trying to listen to my long stories.  At least now you can stop reading, and I will never know (except when we talk and you are so far behind, I will know then)(smiley face).

(I am writing this on "Word" on my lap top, does anybody know where the smiley faces are?)  Please text me on: 301-580-2824 or email: lonnaswann2gmail.com

I pray for you daily, and my prayers are getting longer,(I am adding people I meet).  My prayer for you is that you be saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, walking in the fullness of Christ Jesus, walking according to the fullness of His will and according to the purpose in which He made you, that you are guided by Him, protected by His Angels, keeping you from hurt, harm or danger. Amen.

He loves you, wants you to have His joy and fulfillment, and He will do it, if you are willing to receive.  He can't go against your will, once He gave it to us, we have to choose Him.  He's the best and only!!!!  I just love Jesus, he's so "cool"!  Get to know Him, He is everything you are searching for, let Him prove it to you. (He did it for me!).

Jan 16, 2017

I did it again, skipped two days! I guess this is a pattern, to take the weekend off from blogging.  So much happens on the weekend, I spend all day Monday catching you up.

I went to the pool again on Saturday and it was a beautiful sunny day.  I have learned to appreciate the 55-60 degrees and the heated pool , especially when I hear talk at the pool, about the weather in other parts of the USA.  I don't listen to the news and so I didn't know. (So sorry, if I was ungrateful  and it won't happen again!) Smiley Face. Even though it is not what I expected, I am grateful and happy that I am in Southern California!

Sunday, after watching the www.FTHCM.org live stream at 6:30AM, I was picked up at 8:45AM by a friend and Sister in Christ, who used to go to my Church in Maryland.  I hadn't seen her for about 20 years and I had not met her wonderful husband.  They live about 20 minutes away and they took me to their Church.  It was a blessing, and I continue to see that God has a plan to bring unity into the Body of Christ.   We better pay attention to what God is calling us to do in preparation for what is to come.  He will always inform His people of what is needed to be done, for what is to come, we need to heed!  For those of us who are saturated with the Word, and are satisfied with our relationship with God through Jesus, WAKE UP!  He is stirring us up to stop sitting on our contentment, and to seek and save those that are lost no matter the cost!  They are valuable, just because they have missed their behavior, doesn't discount them from their value to us and to God.  God used some "scruffy" people in the Bible to accomplish His plans, and we are ALL valuable in His sight and for His plan.

Some nuggets I received from the 6:30 broadcast:

·        No matter how old we are, if we are breathing, we are not finished!

·        The love of God, is not really complete until you give it, just receiving and not giving God's love is like gluttony.

·        I can't allow my heart to be beguiled, (fooled, misled, deceived, misguided, enticed) by the world.

Is. 26:3

  "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee."

What I received from the Church service at: "Life International Ministries of the Temecula Valley".

·        God gives us family in the Body of Christ, they are worth the challenges and the time you go through to get along and love them.

·        The single most valuable investment is your TIME. (Who or what  are you investing your time in?  That was me.) Give your time to others who need the Jesus in you, they are worth it, you are worth it and it is worth doing for Jesus.

·        When you gave Jesus your life, you gave Him your time.

·        You discover your purpose...not determine it!

·        It is His grace, not your patience,  that causes us to stay together and shows the world that Jesus is Lord.

·        Love God with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength and He gives us the power to love others.

·        He will make us a family in the Body of Christ-and HEALTHY THINGS REPRODUCE HEALTHY THINGS.

·        Ask yourself, "Am I serving Jesus RIGHT NOW?"

The Church was Spirit filled and very loving. I met some more wonderful people.  After Church, they took me to lunch at a place that had a brunch buffet, and a menu.  I started to go to the buffet but Brother M said he was going to order from the menu and that was a good idea.  I didn't have to tempt myself with all the choices, get just a "little" of everything that looked good, end up going back for seconds, and making some more bad choices, then eating too much and feeling miserable for two days.  So, while I was in my right mind, I ordered from the menu, an Oriental salad, (Chinese cabbage salad mix with a few pieces of grilled chicken on top, lightly "dressed").  It was great, perfectly satisfying although I did eat bread that was sitting there on the table, temping me. 

 I enjoyed the fellowship, then they took me to their house.  WOW, beautiful.  Six bedroom and tastefully decorated and furnished with a "beach" feel, white, with cobalt blue accents, beach pictures, very peaceful and breathtakingly beautiful.  They do a lot of Ministry by their hospitality, housing guests as they are led.  We had more good fellowship, between watching the Dallas/Green Bay Packards playoff game.  Green Bay won by a field goal in the last few seconds.  It was a good game. 

They brought me back and we fellowshipped some more.  They are interested in Shaklee, so I gave them some samples to try.  She is planning to pick me up and take me to FTHCM of Pomona for Bible study on Tuesday.

It is a beautiful day, sun is shining and looks like another pool day. Woopee!

Flourish2finish.blog#43

Jan17, 2017

I took the Martin Luther King Holiday yesterday and just chilled, didn't even go outside, a true day of rest.  I did a lot of thinking.

What causes us to rebel against God and His plans for our life?

          Circumstances?  Do we expect something to go a certain way and it doesn't?  "How can God allow this to happen to me?" 

Can we trust Him?   Can we trust the only one who knows all about us and everything else?  Who knows the future and our future, who created us, who set our plan, who loves us beyond measure, way beyond what we deserve? Who has rescued us many times before, who has our best interest at heart, who provides for us, who protects us, who heals us, who helps us go through so we can learn from Him? Who sent His Holy Spirit to live in us, to help us, who has given us everything we hold dear?  Who has already given us everything we need? I could go on...

Sometimes, (a lot of times) we just need to suck it up, grow up, trust the One who knows and find out:

          How can I glorify God as I go through this?

          How can I silence the devil in my life?

          What fruit can be produced out of this situation?

Those were the three points in my husbands last message here on earth.

A simple way to Comfort and Joy in the midst of trials and circumstances.

My advice: DON'T WATCH THE NEWS!

          It creates fear that causes worldly decisions,

          It gives too much information and creates ungodly thoughts.

          You can't put your trust in it.

          It is usually bad news and we spread it, when we should be spreading                     The Good News!

          It is a waste of time.

Phil4:6-7

Rom 12:2

I have found after not listening to News for years, that I can trust God, and I will always get the information I need at the time I need it.  I don't need the world's system, God's system will work just fine, thank you.

Ps 101:3

I hope you received something from the "Grammy Whammy" of the day.(smiley face)  The great thing about the blog is that you can stop reading it if it doesn't apply.  But, it may be a way to deal with the future issues that may come into your life.

THE GOOD NEWS IS: 

AFTER EVERY WINTER, THERE IS A SPRING!

Prov 3:5-6

Jan 18, 2017

I'm still in Menifee, CA.  I went to the pool yesterday, delightful!  From the pool, I could see snow on the Mountains and people sunbathing for tans on the deck of the pool.  I haven't found the desire to try to get a tan, I value my skin and it's usefulness to me in living my life in it.  (smiley face).

At 3:30 Sis C came to pick me up, we went to an organic eatery and I had an organic turkey sandwich on multigrain bread, two slices of fresh orange and two carrot sticks and a half of a (delicious) sugar free brownie made with maple syrup and honey.  I was satisfied and it was good. 

We went to her business office and Bro M picked us up for Bible Study at FTHCM in Pomona, CA. (Sis. C has her own business as a Family Therapist).

Bible Study was awesome and it was great to see Pastor and Sis. Owes.  They had not seen Bro M and Sis C since 2003, so they were happy to see them to along with most of the others there that knew them, and hadn't seen them either.  The church is beautiful and a lot of upgrades have been done since I saw it last and most all, of it was done by the congregation (including upholstering the pews!).  The infrastructure at work!

The Message was right on:

Subject:  Laying aside every weight.

·        We need to be aware and recognize the things that hinder us from being Complete in Jesus.

It could be a "minor" adjustment that, like in a building project, it can affect the outcome, if it is not corrected early.

·        We need to be grounded in the Word of God (fixed).  Things around us  (houses, cars, Church buildings are naturally grounded (or the electricity would zap us), we should be grounded in the Word of God because it is a safe place, (keeps us from being zapped by the world).

·        Whatever we believe in, we will support, stand for and sacrifice for. (God did all three when He chose to send Jesus to live and die for us). Do we do that as Christians?  Are we really believers?

·        II Corinthians 10:3-6  Identify the weights:

1.     Things that are contrary to the will of God.

2.     Things that are "higher" with us, than God.

3.     Imaginations, that are ungodly, they come to us continuously, we need to cast them down, continuously.

4.     Disobedient thoughts (bring them into captivity).

                        Thoughts produce actions

                        Actions produce results

                        Results produce consequences.

                        Consequences, (the way we handle them) determines our conduct.

                        Conduct puts our Character on display.

                                  WATCH OUR THOUGHTS!

          5.  Things that effect us emotionslly and spiritually. 

·        What do we do with the weights?

          1.  Lay them down (we can't carry them).

          2.  Cast them down. (Cast all your cares on Jesus)

          3.  Put them off (Put off the old man)

          4.  Bring them down. (Bring the flesh under subjection to the Word of God)

WE WERE MADE RIGHT (By Jesus) so... WE ARE ABLE TO DO RIGHT!

After Bible study they stopped me by the 99cent store and I got groceries.

Today is beautiful, bright and sunny, and I will try the pool again, it is supposed to rain for the next two days.

Jan 19, 2017 

Yesterday I met two of my neighbors, both Christians, one is from here in California and she had just skyped a German exchange student she had in her home, who received the Lord while she was here in America at their home.  She was so excited because the German student was enrolled in a Bible College in South Africa. 

I went to the pool and met some more people. One man was 83, a Christian, and full time.  He got out of the pool just as I got in and I joked with him about that, he came over later and said, when he sees a beautiful lady, that they usually fall in love with him so he had to get out.  Cute, and hasn't lost it!  He said he would be at Bible study, if he didn't forget. (He forgot)

 I also met a couple at the pool who identified where they were from in Oregon, by the Winery's and the breweries in the area.  This is such fertile, diversified, friendly, interesting place to meet people!

I went to Bible Study here at the park (the first time I went I was the only one).  It was supposed to start at 7 PM.  There were 2 older couples there and they were waiting for the "Leader" who, they said was not scheduled last week but they thought he would be there this week.  They chit-chatted a while and no one else came.  After a while, they were talking about leaving so I ask if I could share something the Lord had given me that morning.  They seemed eager to hear.  I shared John 17:1-5 Jesus talking about finishing His work.  Then I shared Psalms 92:14 about my Flourish to the finish, then one of the Ladies stood up ready to go, agreeing that we all are here because God is not finished with us.  I started to continue with what God had given me that morning, in the process I said: "Sometimes we don't trust God..." Before I could finish, she interrupted and said "Speak for yourself, I trust God"!  I said I was not trying to accuse only to be inclusive.  She was obviously offended and left.  I was happy that she trusted God. So much for Bible Study!  That broke it up and we all left.  I just have to love everybody!

So I will share with you, what God gave me yesterday.

Do I (we) really love God?   Really, or do I (we) use Him to get what I (we) want?  Do I (we) have Him in my (our) box?  Is He just the size, has just the capability, the power that we decide, or believe He has?  Do we limit God to our "God box"? (Watch out, He may jump out and do some amazing things, or even ask me (us) to do some amazing things.)  WAIT, ME? But, but, but:

          "I'm too busy doing stuff, accomplishing goals, working my job, working my Ministry, enjoying life,  doing me, doing my have to's, to do God's amazing things."  Are we afraid of God's power (Holy Spirit) working in and through us?  What if He has us do stuff outside of our comfort zone?  Embarrassing stuff, like laying hands on folks for deliverance, healing, casting out demons, (you know, all the stuff Jesus did)?  He did say we would do "greater works than these", didn't He? John 14:12

Ok, this is good stuff, but I have more, that He gave me, but too much at a time can overwhelm. More later.

Someone told me that the Inauguration is tomorrow, see, I hear about the news!   Only what I need to know, don't plan to watch.  "They' said it was going to rain all day today and tomorrow here.  Well the sun is shining beautifully and the sky is a blueCloud.

I'm going to the pool!

Jan, 20, 2017

It is raining and blustery today and the streets have water standing in them so it is hard to navigate them walking without boots.  I don't think I have them on board, maybe under the bed.  I have a storage area under the queen sized bed that holds a lot of stuff.  I haven't looked in it for awhile, probably won't today, it's complicated with the chair on the bed etc...

Where do the ducks, geese, etc.. go in the rain?  It is very quiet here now, I kind of miss their honking (or whatever geese do) and  quacking..  I have a tree beside me that the leaves have been falling off of (I guess this is fall here) and the rain and the wind will probably finish it off today.  I spoke with my "Sis" in Mississippi and she said it was 75 degrees and beautiful there.  WOW!

Even without a car, the Lord provides for all of my needs.  So far, it has not been necessary and it has saved me lots of money.  Not just for the rental car but the money I spend when I go out.  Interesting, if we stayed "put" sometimes we could probably save a lot of money.  Hey, I think I will estimate what I would have spent going out, and put that amount in savings, just to see.....

I said I would share some more of what God gave me on the 18th:

Question?  Is what I am doing with my life, truly important to God? 

          Have I slipped off course (even just a little bit)?  God understands, yes,       but is it His best?  He loves us, yes, in our mess, but isn't it His plan   (as with any parent) to love us out of our mess?  But, our will reign's,         God gave us our will, so we could choose, but, He can't go against it.

          Who schedules and arranges and plans of our day(even the little stuff)?          Do we acknowledge Him in all our ways?  Do we include His input,       and obey it, and yield to His plan.  As Christians, we are to be Christ-      like, can he trust us to represent Him in such a way that they see     Christ in us ("THE HOPE OF GLORY") and want to be saved and     like Him too?

          We can run, but we can't hide from God.  He loves us from a place         of righteousness.  He can't look at, be a part of, or participate in, sin.           Sin is anything that misses the mark.    He is waiting for our return.  We will be held accountable for what we do.  Only Jesus can make it           right between us and God.  He is our mediator, go-between, our          example and our Savior because He paid the price for us.

This got to me!  I had allowed a little drifting in the area of the struggle I have had for years, with food.   I let a little "sin" (missing the mark) get into the plan I had with the Shaklee 180 weight loss plan.  I had gotten off course just a little and I know that it can lead to the old patterns which lead to the "old" body.  I was able to recognize it and (with Jesus and the Holy Spirit's help), arrest it early. Now I am back on track and even though I was only off a little, (a "good excuse" smile). Galatians 5:9"A little leaven, leaveneth the whole lump" (a little yeast, makes the whole lump of dough rise).

Our Episcopal Pastor said. "Choices are long lasting and life changing",

Based on that, I said:

          Our WILL, rules,

          We get to choose.

          Of choices, there's only two,

          Right, or not right, it's true.

         

          THOUGHTS cause our choice!

          Think right, and we'll rejoice.

          Our choices always last long,

          Especially when we're wrong!

Let's watch our thinking, monitoring our thoughts, and what we hear and see that cause our thinking, it will determine our life. Grammy thought for the day.(smiley face)

         

I said I would let you hold me accountable for my weight loss plan. WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I NEEDED YOU?  I know! YOU WERE PRAYING FOR ME!  Thank you for your prayers, I feel them.  It is like a big protective bubble around me.  OK the results are in:

I have been on the plan since before Thanksgiving.  My goal is to be on this plan of eating right, for life.  Slow but steady is my weight loss goal, with the emphasis on steady!  Sometimes I start THINKING that I should be loosing faster, start comparing to others who are loosing faster, etc.. and I could get discouraged and quit. 

I WILL not let my thoughts discourage me, I WILL control them, and think correctly! OK, I'm done.

Total weigh loss   8 1/2 lbs

Total inch loss (measuring in 9 places) 24 1/4 inches

Blood Pressure this AM 139/97 (No meds)

Exercise:  Aerobics in the pool, 3 X weekly

I FEEL GOOD! JOYFUL, PEACFUL, SETTLED AND FULFILLED!

Tip: Sometimes if I feel hungry, I am actually thirsty and a glass or two of water will satisfy.  Try it, it could work for you.

Jan 23, 2017 Menifee, CA

Hopefully you were busy over the weekend too.  I went to the pool on Saturday and met some more people, it was a beautiful cold day but it stopped raining for afternoon so it was nice, the pool was a little cooler, I guess because of the rain.  This is so much fun and everybody has a story. 

Sunday, Jan. 22,2017

Bro.M and Sis.C came to get me for their Church again.  It poured down rain all day.  It is about the same weather they are having in Maryland and DC....so why did I go South? (Smile).  They had a meeting after church and I was able to fellowship with some nice ladies from the Church.  After the meeting we went out to lunch at a place where you could watch the football game and we saw Atlanta beat Green Bay, I try to root for the underdog.  We went back to their house and watched the other game so I know that Atlanta and New England will be in the Super Bowl, should be an interesting game.  They graciously took me by a grocery store and I got my groceries for the week.

I also had listened to a training video that helped me to re-write my Shaklee story.  I realized that I had a new one to add to the original one and I needed to get it together.  I will let you see it, if you have comments or corrections, please let me know.  I would like it to be compelling and effectively communicate my heart.

My Shaklee Story

My husband and I were introduced to Shaklee by my parents in 1974. They were in poor health, (Dad had heart trouble, arthritis, blind in one eye, and Mom had allergies and had to take shots 2X weekly and was 144 lbs over weight).  After 6 months of Shaklee product usage, Dad had an EKG done and no heart problems, no problems with his arthritis, and read a paragraph out of a newspaper with his "blind" eye.  Mom didn't need her shots anymore and over the next year she lost 144 lbs, on the Shaklee weight loss plan, and kept them off for the rest of her life.  From the time they shared Shaklee with us, for the next 25 years, they took no medication, traveling the world on Shaklee and with us, having a great time changing peoples health and lives (earning 11 Bonus cars, along with us) and building a Shaklee business.  Mom passed at age 89 and Dad at age 96 both in their right minds, they finished and went home to Jesus.

We were very excited about the results we saw in them and us, Floyd with more energy, arthritis gone, and me with increased energy, PMS issues diminished greatly and allergies relief with the use of the Shaklee products. We started sharing and others received results, they started sharing and they got results, etc....

That was when we decided to build a Shaklee business. After 2 years working our Shaklee business part time, we noticed three pay periods (every two weeks) of checks, from our jobs, lying around that we had forgotten to take to the bank (pretty good from living payday to payday before Shaklee!).  So we quit our "good Government" jobs, in Social Work, to work our Shaklee business full-time. We worked together for 38 years building and mentoring over 100 other leaders to success in our organization, to the point that we, and our first Business leader in our group, were recognized as Shaklee Millionaires.

In 2006, my husband became ill, and I was his caregiver for 6 years. We could not work our business; however, the Shaklee business wouldn't die. The residual income from the Shaklee business we had built, sustained us and the comfortable lifestyle we were accustomed to (which included payments of $1,100 per month for a 40 foot diesel motor home, and a house payment).

After fighting a good fight, my husband, finished his course, and went home to be with the Lord in 2012.  When he passed away, my income decreased, and over time, I experienced serious financial set-backs trying to keep things going, including returning the Motor Home back to the bank in a "voluntary repossession." The bank sold it at auction and came back on me for the difference of $74,000.

Through it all, I learned to trust God! I had no stress, anxiety or worry, knowing that the Lord would provide for me (even when I got down to my last 8 cents to my name!) AND HE DID!  Jesus is my peace, comfort and joy!  He loves me, has my best interest at heart, protects me, provides for me and HE KNOWS THE FUTURE!  What a deal!

In 2016, I decided to start over!  I sold my house and bought another Motor Home, just my size (31 ft)!  Now I am debt free, house free, and (40 years of) stuff free!   I am a full-time RV-er, traveling, at age 74, and loving it, just Jesus and me, and He is enough!

I am so blessed to have the Shaklee products in my life, I breezed through menopause with about 3 hot flashes and very few other symptoms, I am medication free, have reversed my bone density loss back (from 3 yrs ago)to 100%, and I feel great! I see so many people in my travels that are hurting financially and hurting in their health, minds and their bodies.  I have an answer, so I have renewed my activity and energy in sharing Shaklee again, as a means to help others to be healthy, and help them increase their income to be a blessing to others! 

I am excited about my future!  My vision is to reach 100 million people in my lifetime, with a way of independence from this "world's system".  I am thrilled with the opportunity to share what the Lord is doing for me, and to work and share my Shaklee business from "the road", is such a Blessing!

The life-long connections with people, over the years, have been amazing! I would encourage you to join me in making a difference in others lives.   I would love for you to join me and enjoy some of the benefits (health, car payments, free trips and income) that Shaklee has to offer! (The free trip is to China next year, whoopee!) In the 42 years I have been enjoying the Shaklee products, and sharing the products and the opportunity with others, I feel like I have just begun!

My desire is to Flourish to the Finish:  To grow luxuriantly, to thrive, to succeed, and be a remarkably significant example and inspiration for others to be healthy, (where no prescription medication is necessary) and help them see their God-given potential, and build a lifestyle of amazing possibilities, drawing others to greater heights, leaving a legacy for future generations to follow.  You too can Flourish to the Finish with me!

It is a mindset!

Monday

It was raining today also so I stayed in and worked on Shaklee.

Jan 25, 2017

WHAT? THE SUN!!!? It is beautiful and 43 degrees but feels like 51 at 10 AM, and sunny all day! That's what I'm talk' in about!  Praise the Lord, back to the pool today! (I just talked to a friend is DC and she said it was 57 degrees there, what's that about???)

I was able to extend my stay here in Menifee, CA until Jan. 27th so I can go directly to Palm Desert until Feb 10th then I will be back here to Menifee, Calif. for a week until the Feb. 17th. (which will allow me to attend the Anniversary of the Pomona FTHCM Church, whoopee!).   That is as far as I know now, and that could change.

I went to town (Menifee) yesterday with Sue, a new friend here in the RV park.  I went to the Dollar Store and the grocery store and we had lunch.  Enjoyed the day, then came back home to hear the live stream of the FTHCM Church Bible Study from Maryland.  Awesome!

I received that, we as Christians, need to live in a judgment free zone. (we aren't to judge others, we don't have all of the facts or the truth). 

God is the judge, the righteous judge-He's right! He has all the facts and the truth and His sentence is righteous.

I received some sad news yesterday, one of our long time (40 year) Shaklee friends in our organization, went home to be with the Lord.

I will share his remarkable Shaklee story.

Charles Briscoe age 97

Arrangements by:

Thornton Funeral Home

3439 Livingston Rd,

Indian Head, MD 20640 (Bryans Road, MD)

Funeral services:  Friday Morning, Feb 3, 2017

Sacred Heart Catholic Church

St Mary's Ave.  LaPlata, MD

Viewing: 7:30-8:30 AM,

Tributes: 8:30-8:50 AM

Service 9 AM

11 AM burial,- Cheltenham, MD

Repast (To be announced)

We, his Shaklee family are so blessed to have known and loved Charles Briscoe and we will miss him greatly, he was an icon in our Shaklee organization and most of us considered him a friend.  At age 97 he went home to be with the Lord, living a rich full life of family, neighbors and lots of Shaklee family and friends.  He was active and healthy, well into his 90's and only recently had some falls that slowed him down.  Below is the Shaklee story of her parents, as told by their daughter, Jane, seven years ago when Charles was 90.  Jane Short is a successful leader in our Shaklee organization.

In 1974, my parents received immediate improvements in their health.  My mother, Dorothy Briscoe, had been ill throughout my entire childhood and adult life.  Thanks to our wonderful Shaklee Products, I had the pleasure of seeing her enjoy good health for twenty-six years.  What a change!  It was as if I met my mother for the first time.  She was happy, energetic, and loved her Shaklee Products.

          Due to the death of her father at an early age and a long-term illness of her mother, she grew up living with whoever would take her in earning her room and board by working in their homes.  She was not permitted to attend school, no matter how much she begged.  When she was an adult she attended first grade through high school.  At the age of 72 she earned her High School diploma and was valedictorian of her class!  That same year she also got her drivers license for the first time so she could drive her Shaklee Bonus Car. 

          My father, Charles Briscoe, suffered from ulcers, hypertension, and a heart attack which required a triple by-pass surgery.  He was diagnosed with prostate cancer, for which he refused treatment.  His physician strongly suggested that if he was not going to have any of the traditional treatments, he would need to become a vegetarian, which he did for 2 years. He began using massive amounts of Shaklee Products twice daily.  He also eats a healthy diet daily. He is in great health today, only on one medication (and is taking the lowest dosage and takes only one half of that pill).  At the young age of ninety he still mows his lawn, drives his car every day, does volunteer work with several organizations, travels, and talks Shaklee every day!

Jan 27, 20017

Today, I am leaving the ducks, and the geese, going back to Palm Desert.  Expect it to be warmer there, however my expectations aren't worth much.  Many of you were asking if I was close to the mud slides in California.  Since I don't watch the news, I don't know where they were, but where I am, there is nothing to slide off of, pretty flat.  I am actually in the middle of what used to be dairy farms (some still here), but it is slowly being taken over by housing.  People come here to get away from the city and it is becoming one.

My new friend dropped be off yesterday to get my nails and a pedicure done (much needed) while she went to the Doctor.  She came back to my house and I shared Shaklee with her.  She has been using some of the products that I shared with her and seems to be getting results already.  We took some before pictures and will share them at the appropriate time.

We saw the Southern California Mountains, high ones near San Diego, who knew?  With snow!   Beautiful!  The older I get and the more I learn, I am beginning to realize, the less I know.

I need to get out of the box and "Enlarge the place of my tent", Isaiah 54: 2-3

Ok, off to Palm Desert. Jan 28, 2017

It's sunny here in California and this is my 50th blog, in 3 months of journey, we should celebrate! 

Wow, 61 degrees today. Definitely a "pool day" today.  Yesterday, I drove back here to Palm Desert, and it was beautiful!   I was thinking, all the way, "I haven't seen these mountains before."  Then I remembered, it was raining, foggy and the visibility was "none" for mountains before. BUT NOW!  It was only a little over an hour drive but was it spectacular! 

Because of the rain, the hills and fields are a beautiful spring green,  I saw some flooding of the valley fields, (which looked like blue lakes) with a flock of white cranes at the edge. In contrast were the high  mountains dark blue, in the background, with snow on the top!   While I was watching, a tumble weed tumbled through the crowd of cranes! Awesome!

As I entered Palm Springs, I was amazed to see what seemed like thousands of tall Wind Turbines (windmills). (In Palm Springs? Who knew?) I looked it up, and discovered this from Google: It is called a wind farm, and the hot air from the desert mixed with the cold air from the tall mountains creates wind.  They are tall because there is more wind as you get higher. 

OK, here is how it works, First, a wind turbine blade works sort of like an airplane wing, blowing air passes around both sides of the blade.  The shape of the blade causes the air pressure to be uneven (higher on one side, lower on the other) and that's what makes it spin.  On the top there's a weather vane that's connected to computers that keeps the Turbine turned toward the wind.  The blades are attached to a shaft, attached to gears that increase the rotation up to about 1,800 rpm.  At that speed, a generator can produce a lot of electricity.

OK, end of lesson on alternative power sources.   They were interesting.  Somebody needs to discover how to convert the wind generated by trucks, cars, motor homes etc. into more efficient use of gas, batteries, and electric cars. (I'm just say'n).

I had a visitation by the geese before I left.  Two geese landed on my roof and two were on the shed next door.  I got a picture of the two on the shed with a shadow of the two on the roof.  They made a lot of noise, pecking, stomping, and flapping for about an hour.  They didn't pay any attention to me banging on the ceiling to scare them away. I gave up and prayed that they would not do any damage, about five minutes later, they flew away.  The geese had always been around, but never intrusive before, I guess that was their way of saying good bye, they didn't know I would be back.

 I was able to go outside without a jacket for the first time since I have been in California (I think).  It took quite a while to find a site.  After driving around and everything was full, I was praising the Lord that He would find me the perfect spot, is it ever!  Right at the entrance where everybody comes in and goes out, near the pool, near the laundry, near where the church services are. near all the activities and the dumpsters.  Wow, you can't beat God!  The bonus is that I have the Shaklee magnetic sign on the front side door and everybody coming in or going out of the park, walking, walking their dog(s), biking, going to the many activities, ALL SEE THE SIGN.  I can sit here typing and see them go by looking at it.  Great exposure!  This is a very busy spot, seeing all the comings and goings is better than TV.  There are 445 sites here and it is a very popular site in the winter, lots of palm trees, but the fruit is gone from the citrus trees. (sad face).  I already have a "go to" helper right next door that was assigned to me by the park ranger.  He said, "If you need any help, Andy will help you," and he pointed him out in his hearing, and we introduced ourselves.  He apologized for having to leave to go somewhere, but said he would be back.  It looks like he might be a full-timer here with his Father and "Dangerous dog" sign.  He explained that the sign was for the people in his coach, not his dog. OK?!

 Jesus is my best defense.  He never needed a dog or a gun for defense, His defense is mightier than a two-edged sword. Hebrews 4:12... even "able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart."  So, I am thoroughly protected and I don't have to walk Jesus, (He walks and drives with me) or feed Him, He feeds me and He doesn't have fleas! Wooopee! What a deal!

                                                         

Summer is here!  72 degrees going up to 78 today,  beautiful sunshine, clear skies and snow on the mountains through the palm trees, just like I pictured it, finally.  Woopee! 

It was beautiful yesterday too.  I went to the pool and played volley ball in the pool, I hadn't been in the sun for so long, that I forgot to put sun screen on and I couldn't stay the whole time but I was able to get three games in.

I got a liuttle tan but not a burn. Thank God!  Now can do it right next time.

After volley ball, I washed clothes and later I met a little girl (about 10 years old) who asked me if I was going to the entertainment after the movie here at the park.  I ask her if she was going to be in it and she said yes, so I decided to go.  I arrived, and the Entertainment was a family group from Canada, a husband and wife, a son (teenager) and the little girl.  They were good musicians and vocalists.  The first song was about Jesus so I thought I was in the right place.  The next song was a worldly song that began to grieve the Spirit of God in me.  I had this debate going on between the loyalties to the little girl and guarding my heart from the worldly songs they sang, The Spirit of God won and I left.  Sometimes we have to make hard choices.  It was especially hard when I saw them in RV park church this morning.  They had a crowd around them, so I couldn't talk to them. 

Sun, Jan 29, 2017

I got a disturbing call from a friend in another RV park that had their first Bible Study.  She shared with me that the whole discussion was "in search of the truth" of who Jesus was.  The leader said He didn't believe in the Trinity, that Jesus was not God (3 in one).  She shared that she knew the truth and gave the scriptures that proved it, and they did not receive it, so she left. (Good for her!)

I woke up this morning in time enough to hear streaming live from the Parent church in Maryland.  Rev. McLaughlin give a great message:   The title was, "I must be Comforted by the Knowledge of Truth".

It was right on time for me. 

What I received was as follows:

          Knowledge: to understand clearly, not a stranger to it, no doubt, be clear and certain (of the Truth), no uncertainty.

To be comforted through knowledge, I must be filled with:

·        The knowledge of His Word. (have reverence and respect for God)

·        The knowledge of His Son and His Holy Spirit.

              A.  We keep His commandments (They are not optional)

              B.   Follow His statutes (how to do it)

                        We do what we are supposed to do because we                             want to manifest God's love.

              C.  Accept His judgments (Correction is a manifestation                                of God's love and judgment is a built-it                                               consequence, even before we commit the sin.

To be comforted through knowledge, I must be filled with God's Wisdom.

          Wisdom:  The ability to apply that knowledge in a   Biblical way that gets beneficial results. (effect)

          Wisdom is when you connect what you know of God's     of the Will of Godord to what you are doing, then you are living like a       Child of God and we are:

                   A.  We are effective Witnesses ( A person with                          first hand knowledge)

                   B.  We are a consistent Witness.(not up and down,                             like a rock, steadfast, can be counted on, a person                           God can use.)

                   C.  We are a credible Witness.(Apply God's Word                              so our lifestyle shows it).

When I am filled with the understanding of the Will of God:

·        I will understand how I operate.

·        I will know the will of God for my life.

·        I can overcome the world ( because Jesus did)

·        I will conform to the likeness of Jesus.

                   A.  We will comprehend what was. (What was in                       our lives).

                   B.  We will comprehend what is> (I am saved,                           delivered and set free).

                   C.   We will comprehend what is to come.(Heaven,                    a crown of righteousness)

ALL OF IT WORKS BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

                            

I then went to the RV Park Church and received another awesome message.  Pastor Jack was fired up because the Lord had healed him of chest pains yesterday. 

He shared: 

That we as Christians, should progress everyday, stand tall and be the light that others can see. We have a fountain of life in us, We are he light of the world.  There is always time to share the power of God that radiates in our lives.  LIFT UP JESUS AND HE WILL GIVE YOU THE WORDS.

Psalms37

If you live the radiant life, (purity) people will come to you, you won't have to go to them.

It was good to see some of the people I had seem before Christmas.

OK, off to the pool with my (Shaklee) sun screen.

Jan 30, 2017

It's still summer, 75 degrees today, sunny and warm. WOW!  (I told you, after every winter, comes a spring!)  Some of us  "choose" to be in winter, way past the season.  "Winter" comes in our life, no matter how we try to avoid it, but we don't have to "live" in the "Winters" of our life, we can choose Spring or Summer and appreciate the winter time to reflect and acknowledge God's grace and goodness, especially in the "Winters", of our lives.  It is not what happens, it is what we do with it.  We can choose to better ourselves in the "Winter" to prepare for the "Spring" when things are growing and springing up to distract and "take over" our attention and our lives.

Eric Worre said,"There is a difference between pain (winter) and suffering.  We can't always choose the pain, but we can choose not to suffer."  Are we suffering because of our choice to do so?  WHAT? Why would we choose to suffer? I don't know.  That's it, I don't.  Well, maybe we didn't know we had a choice.  Well, now you know the truth about pain and suffering, what will you choose?  You control the suffering part.

When my son got killed on the street (shot 7 times in the back, at age 33), we had a choice, to live in the "who did it", "why did it happen?, " "why did God allow it?" instead of "why did Satan do it?", "Why was his life cut short?" the grief, letting the Winter "freeze us" so that the devil killed more than our son or to realize that we may never know the answers until we get to heaven and then, who cares?  We will all be together again, and no one will care then. 

He had accepted Jesus as his Savior, he went home to heaven, it is done, we miss him but if we look at that carefully, that is even selfish. (I'm just saying). So what do we do with the emotions?  We took action.  We prayed for a harvest at the home-going .(23 people got saved).  We forgave whoever shot him, and prayed for their salvation. (We never found out who did it, it is OK, God knows, we don't have to).  So even though it seemed like a terrible thing, and it was an; "all things work together for good." thing and we won't even know all of good things until we get to heaven, then we probably won't care then either. Romans 8:28 So bottom line, there is a season for "Winter", we go through it, glorify God in the going through, silence the devil and bear fruit in it. (My husbands last message). 

When my husband passed over 4 years ago, I decided not to grieve because I didn't have time.  I was left here on earth to finish my work, Floyd finished his.  We had a wonderful 43 years of marriage, the last 6 years were the best, when we were going through the "winter".  God showed us so much of what was important and what wasn't.  When my husband went home to Jesus, I  missed him, but then I realized that was a waste of time and very selfish.  So I received the comfort and the joy that Jesus gave me and I chose to "finish" my work.

I don't know all of what He has for me but I am getting that information on a "need to know" basis.  It is OK, I am loving my life, Jesus and me and all of my "Grandchildren" and God's children.

The word for the day in Our Daily Bread was:

"We cannot change the past, but God is changing us for the future."

Yesterday after church, I rested and later heard a knock on my door.  It was a man staying here in the park, he and his wife were from Canada.  He came because he was referred by my "go to for help" guy next door. He had neck pain and Andy and his friend had gotten a sample from me of Shaklee's "Joint and Muscle  Pain Cream" and he told him to come and ask me about it.  We talked for awhile and he left with samples, a product guide and information.  He was already taking Cosco supplements, all the right things but probably synthetics (they are cheap for a reason).  That was fun.  I love sharing Jesus and Shaklee.

Later, I walked around the Park (in the dark) but it was a nice night and I ended up at the pool where a couple I had met before were swimming.  It seemed like a good idea to swim at night when it is not so crowded, I may try it, the pool is open until 10 PM.

Jan 31, 2017 Palm Desert, 80 degrees yesterday!

Wow what a day yesterday!   I played volley ball at the pool but before they got set up, I met Missionaries from British Columbia.  They had been called out of Chicago to full time ministry to the Natives of Copper Island, BC Canada.  They were on vacation with their family of 4 children (two African American, adopted).  They said they were a part of African American churches before going to Canada.  I shared the live stream of out church, www.FTHCM.org.  I invited them to Bible Study and dinner but they had already left the park.  They have a Christian fishing camp and camps for Children.  They catch big fish, check out their website: www.adventurelearningministries.com.

In the afternoon I was invited to go to a buffet dinner at, what I later found out was a Casino, (YIKES!) I was invited by my next door neighbor and two of his buddy's and 4 women. 

I remember EP sharing a message way back called "Are the plants laughing at us?"  His message was that in Genesis 1:28-29 God instructed us to subdue the earth (take authority over) which included the plants.  He further showed that most of the things that we struggle with, (addictions, greed, etc... are PLANT BASED) money, drugs, food, cigarettes, marijuana, alcohol, etc...  We have allowed them to take dominion over us, instead of taking dominion over them.  So...the plants are laughing at us!

We had to walk through the Casino to stand in line for about an hour in a smoke filled environment for a "two for one" buffet.  It was good food and the line was just as long after we finished.  I was respected as a Grandma Swann should be.   After we finally sat down, it was a pleasant meal, until I let the ice cream plant (via the cow), take dominion and appear over my fruit.  So, I couldn't judge the others who were missing their behavior.

Tonight is live stream Bible study at 4:30 our time, so I will turn down "Taco Tuesday"(3 Tacos for $1.50) that I was invited to, by the same crew.

My Bishop. of my base Church in Maryland, will be in Las Vegas this Sunday and my Grandson I adopted in Las Vegas said he would be there.  Great news!

Feb 1, 2017

Already it is February!  Time flies when you are having fun!  Let's have fun all of the time and not worry about time flying, just stay in God's will for our lives and let time be time.

Yesterday, I met a wonderful Spirit-Filled Christian couple at the pool from British Columbia. This is the fourth family I have met from there, wonder what that is about?  The Lord knows.  I also met a CPA from Washington State who was here visiting her Dad. 

I watched the streaming live of our Church Bible Study last night, hooked my computer to my TV and it worked real well with plenty of volume and good clear picture.  I invited some people over but it was last minute and no one came.  I can seat about 10-15 people for watching.

BEWARE of the Creeps and the Drifters!  Creep:  (1) move slowly and carefully, especially to avoid being noticed, (2) occur or develop gradually and almost imperceptibly.

Drift:  (1) To be carried along by force of circumstance; (2) to wander aimlessly.

I don't mean people, although that could apply.  Watch out for subtle things that can creep up on us and cause us to drift off course.  Case in point:  My food issues.  Subtle things like added sugar, tasty things, salt, eating out, eating off schedule, etc... slowly almost imperceptibly got me off course!  Sugar is addictive and creates the desire for more, it is in a lot of foods (they are designed that way by the food designers that govern our food supply).  I must be constantly diligent to prevent drifting off my food plan.  I am still on it but have gained 3 lbs but I am still loosing inches but slowly, (so far, I shed 25 inches.)  I am not beating myself up, just becoming aware of the drifting before it gets worse.

   Feb 2, 2017

This journey is sooooo much about people and how we impact each others lives!  I am still meeting people from Canada??? Lots of them here, I guess this is where to come in the winter, with the weather so nice now, I am not surprised
I went to the pool and it seems to be the meeting place.  When I came back I watched a Shaklee live stream that was very exciting.  They announced a new PLAIN Life Plan Shake (same price) with all of the good stuff in the other one, without flavors or sweetners (the stevia) and probiotic (we can order that separately).   We can bake with it, (pancakes muffins, etc...) add it to soups, etc... we can order it starting today. Woopee!
Roger Barnett, the owner and CEO of Shaklee talked about being at the World Economic Summit (only 2,200 people invited, heads of State, Heads of Companies, and Religious leaders etc...).  He has been there for the last several years.  He said their concern was the redistribution of wealth to affect the world economy. (Shaklee has the answer). He also met with the Head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the focus now is on prevention.  NIH is planning to do the largest clinical study with a million people to study prevention.  Roger volunteered 500,000 Shaklee distributors to be a part of the study.  Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn was in attendance and she said it would skew the results because the Shaklee population was so healthy, so he is trying for 50,000 of us.   He also mentioned that Shaklee is the only one that has done the clinical studies to prove, that people who use the Shaklee  products are healthier(The Landmark study comparing to other product users and non users, and the Telomere study , comparing 40 year old, healthy non smokers).  Shaklee won!  You can see the study results in the product guide.

 They announced:

·        The extension until 2/28/17 of free Membership with the purchase of the 180 Turnaround Kit (Weight Loss) and $50 off the retail cost at Member cost.

·        Until 2/28/17, any new(first time) person completing the Health Print (   (go to my website: www.healthierlife-4U.myshaklee.com) and purchasing the:   

             1. Advanced Plan, will receive a free product relating to their                          goal and free Membership ( worth$19.95)

              2. Comprehensive Plan, will receive, a free product, free                                shipping, and free Membership (if not already).

Shaklee also announced:

              The Power Bonus to all Distributors and above until 3/31/17.
                         Earn 15 Sponsoring points and receive $150,( no limit).
How you earn:

15 Points	Sponsor someone with a 750 PV Super GOLD PAK
10 Points	Sponsor someone with a 500 PV GOLD Plus PAK
5 Points	Sponsor someone with a 250 PV GOLD PAK
3 Points	Sponsor someone with a Life Plan or Turnaround Kit
2 Points	Sponsor a Member or Distributor w/100PV product purchase or more
1 Point	Sponsor a Member or Distributor w/50-99PV product purchase

(Points above are for new Members or Distributors sponsored in the U.S./Canada)                    

I also attended Bible Study here at the Park with Pastor Jack.  About 20 people attended and it was a wonderful up-lifting exchange.  I connected with Judy, my guitarist, singer friend that I purchased the CD, from back in December when I was here before, of Christmas Classical guitar music.  She came over after to my house and we talked and she sang, had a good time.  She has a van and she will take me out if I need to go.  We are going to the pool today.

Feb 4, 2017

What a good time yesterday!  First, I need to tell you that my printer died, (sort of), at least it wouldn't print more than one page at a time from the computer.  It was an older one that fit in a cabinet in the RV.

Ok, now Judy came and got me in her van and we went shopping.  First we went to Aldi's and got groceries.  Avacdo's were 25 cents ea. and celery was 39 cents ea.Wow!  Then we went to Soul of China to have lunch. (No msg and it was prepared from scratch, very light and good, nice atmosphere in a small place in a strip mall).  I enjoyed the food and fellowship.  Judy is a singer, painter, crafter, guitarist, and very creative, she has made and sold many crafts.  She is spirit filled and loves the Lord.  She is knowledgeable about, and love horses and geology and a bunch of other stuff we haven't gotten to yet..  And she is from Oregon!  Wow, did we connect!

We went to Sprouts (Whole foods grocery store) and then to the 99 cents store, then to the thrift store.  I was looking for a crock pot but instead found an HP printer that fits perfectly in my cabinet for $5!  I don't know whether it works yet but I can take it back in a week to exchange it, if it doesn't.  i also got a bathing suit cover-up and a beautiful new top.  Wonderful day.  Judy came back and we talked some more.  We decided we would get up early and go towards Joshua Tree National Forest and watch the sun rise and take pictures so she could paint them. 

That didn't happen this morning because of the clouds, but we have a rain check (or cloud check).  She has to leave the RV park tomorrow but we will both be back at Wilderness Lakes in Menifee on Friday.

I listened to Eric Worre's message this morning.  It was about how we say, "I'll do it tomorrow, maybe next week, after the holidays, when the children get out of school, when they get back in school, etc..."  Meanwhile our life goes by hourly, daily without accomplishing what we are to do.  His suggestion was to move from tomorrow to right now!  We can understand what we need to do, know how to do it, know that we are capable of doing it, know it is God's will for our lives, but don't move on it. 

Action is better than understanding.  Real understanding is in the doing.  So, do it right now, not just today (because that can be over before you know it) DO IT RIGHT NOW.  Drop everything and DO IT NOW.  A friend of mine, Cecil was a Successful High School Principle and his motto was "IT IS EASIER TO DO IT NOW!'  And it really is.  LET'S DO IT NOW, IT IS EASIER!

Monday, Feb. 6, 2017

Saturday, Feb 4th, Judy was packing up to leave the park on Sunday and she popped over on her breaks.  We were talking and she was telling me how this lady she went to church with in Oregon, had encouraged her to sing in front of people at church because she was very shy.  She mentioned her name, Myrna, and it turned out to be one of my friends and Shaklee Distributors in my group!  She was sponsored by, and also a good friend of, Rosemary (who's daughter-in-law drove me with Uber in Las Vegas).  She lives in Portland near where Judy is from.  Wow! 

I went to the pool after dark, and met a lady that desired to go full time RVing.  She had a bunch of questions and she is coming over Monday before she leaves to check out my RV.

I had a conversation at the hot tub with a couple from Canada on Wednesday who encouraged me to check how many days I could go without dumping my tanks.  They suggested that I test it, while I had it connected to the sewer, so when I was "boon docking" ( parking without being hooked up to sewage, water and electricity) I could determine how long I could go without dumping the tanks.  Also I needed to know what happened when the black water (Tank from the toilet) got full.  Well I did it and I found out!  At 10 PM, I noticed that the black water tank was full.  I was ready for bed, of course, it was dark and I wasn't "feeling" going out to dump the tanks.  So I calculated that if I didn't drink any water and I was frugal with the flushing, I could manage until morning.

Sunday, Feb. 5

Well, I did, but 5 AM in the morning I had to go outside, walk a block to the bathroom and come back and dump the tanks in the dark anyway!  It did let me know I could go "boon docking" 4 days.  Sometimes We just need to resign ourselves to do unpleasant things.  Then I also found out that the rug in the bathroom was wet.  OH! NO!  Well I ended up having to wash 2 rugs and clean the whole bathroom with Shaklee Basic G (Germicide). All is well now and back to normal.  The rugs didn't smell, and I think the wet was caused by my water pump issue (it got turned on by mistake).  Oh, well, such is the life of an RVer.  You take the unpleasant (for a little bit) with the wonderful most of the time.

 I watched FTHCM streaming live and heard a great message from Rev. Sis. Wright. The subject was "Comfort through power."

         

          Her point was that to be Complete in Jesus, we need to be comforted by the power we have in us.

·        When we are filled by His Holy Spirit,(surrendered):

             1.  We can see who God is and who we are in                                       relationship to Him.

                             2.  We have no fear, God's got it.

·        When we are led by His Holy Spirit:

             1.  We can hear from God with a mind to obey.

             2.  We are always led away from sin and towards                                          righteousness and out of bondage

·         When we walk in the Spirit:

             1.  We can stay the course under the power of the Holy                         Spirit.

             2.  We become credible and fruitful

             3.  I will not fail!

             4.  We have everything we need to have Comfort in Jesus.

Then Judy came over about 9 AM to borrow my ladder because she wanted to pick Grapefruit before she left.  We also used a fruit picker that they had at the ranger station.  Only the ones at the top of the tree were still there. She got a bucket full to take with her and I will see her in Menifee next week.

All this happened before 10 AM Church in the RV park.  It was good, the Family that had the Concert led the praise songs, Pastor Jack was still fired up:  He said that "we could just wallow in God's love" (like pigs wallow in mud) .  "When we abide in Jesus, people will be drawn to us and we need to die to the flesh daily."

This is Superbowl Sunday, a great day to go to the pool and wash clothes without any crowds.  I put my clothes in the wash and went to the pool while they were washing.  I met a Lady in the hot tub, we had good fellowship and I was able to Minister to her.  When I went back to the Laundry, I met Joey, a former heroin addict that has been clean since June.  He was just discovering all the things in nature he missed while he was "shooting up" for 13 years.  He is into Eastern religions, and a lot of others and he thought they were all the same, in other words, he didn't know Jesus.  I ended up adopting him, he is from Chicago and real sweet.  He is coming over on Monday before he leaves.  We hugged.

Manday, Feb 6, 2017

Brian from Canada,( the one referred by Andy, the one I shared Shaklee with, that had the neck issue), knocked on my door and said that the pain relief cream did nothing to help, but I gave him a few Alfalfa and he said it was like a miracle.  So we set up an appointment to go through the catalogue and answer some questions he has.

PS.  I lost 3 top's (t shirts) in the laundry mat.  They were still damp and I rolled them up together and I thought I had put them in my laundry basket??? When I returned to my house, they weren't there.  I retraced my steps and didn't find them.  It will be interesting how this turns out.

Tuesday, Feb 7, 2017

Wow, what a day yesterday!  I went to the pool and got a good work out in  my version of water aerobics.   I saw Doug, the one I met in Menifee, that had a shoulder pain issue caused by the medication he was on.  He stopped the medication and the pain went away. Go figure.  With every medication, there is a side effect.

After the pool I looked for the missing tops, (didn't find them) but ran into  my new Grandson, he was making chili and ask me if I wanted some.  I suggested he bring it to my house when he came and he did, he is a good cook, all good stuff, vegetables, no meat and it wasn't spicy.  I found out that he is very knowledgeable about nutrition and is eating very healthily.  He is very interested in Shaklee and when he came over, he looked at all my supplements and knew a lot about them.   He needs an income and Shaklee seemed to be the perfect fit for him.  I did a Shaklee presentation and he decided he wants to become a Distributor.  He is leaving the park today and I will see him before he leaves.  He asked me if he had to be baptized again to receive Jesus.  I shared with him how to be saved, he still had some doubts so I told him to ask Jesus to prove Himself to him, that seemed to resonate with him.  He was raised Catholic and was baptized as a baby but he said he didn't believe when he went through Catechism.  We hugged and prayed together before he left. Pray for Joseph, it is up to him and Jesus now.

Joseph just knocked on my door and asked me if I wanted some fresh juice he had just made, I did and he went back to his rig to get it. He came back with it, it was delicious.  He told me which  RV park,he was going to next,  (Pio Pico, in Jumal, Calif. near San Diego) and invited me to come after I go back to Menifee for a week. 

After he left yesterday, Brian, from Canada came over and I answered his questions, he had read the whole catalogue and was eager to hear about the Shaklee business.  He decided to become a Distributor too and he is going to the same Pio Pico park.  He had received relief from neck pain with the Calcium (Osteometrics)and had already shared his results with someone else who wanted some. 

Wow, two Shaklee presentations back to back, it has been a long time since I did that, good to be back in the saddle again.  Two reasons to go to Pio Pico.

"In the mouth of two or three witnesses..."   I just made reservations for Pio Pico. I will go there after Menifee on Feb 17- March 10 unless things change.

Feb 8, 2017

What a blessed day!  After all of the happenings that I told you about yesterday, I went to the pool and met a couple from Mid California and Washington State (both places)  they have a Winnebago RV and he had fixed his back-up camera (Mine wasn't working and I didn't know how to work the levelers).  Marc came over this morning and "fixed" my back-up camera by adjusting the lightness and showed me how to work it.  H also showed me that I had a microphone on it so you could hear the person talking that might be helping you back up.  Wow!  Then he showed me how to work the levelers.  Isn't GOD GOOD?  I was about to pay someone to do that.  We found out that we might be cousins as both our Grandmothers maiden name was Reed and they came to the USA from England.  We haven't made the connection yet.  His wife wanted to try the Shaklee B Complex (to calm down her back seat driving) and he has Diabetes with neuropathy so I gave him a sample of that and Alfalfa to try for his arthritis too. 

Andy came over saying he wanted to order the Shaklee Pain and Joint cream, but I gave him more of the samples and a catalogue.  He said it did help his, shoulder.

I watched the streaming live of our Bible study last night and then I took another video course of Eric Worre's training.  Both were great!  The weather has warmed up, I am hot with the door open and fan on, new snow on the mountains.  I'm going to the pool!

Oh, I almost forgot, my original printer works just fine! Praise the Lord! The one I got at the thrift store didn't work so I will return it and maybe get a top!

Feb. 9,2017

I went to the pool and saw the couple that helped fix the RV, I found out that Kathy plays the flute (So did I) and she paints and is crafty too. I also saw Helen and she stopped by my house after swimming and got some Alfalfa and Joint and Muscle Pain Cream samples to try for her Arthritis.  I also saw Lynn and Reggie, Lynn is crafty and invited me to a craft get together at 10 AM every morning here,  they will be going to Menifee too.

I watched Eric Worre's Women's conference on Video and got a lot of good information. 

          One session was on finances by Kathileen Deggelman, she is a financial expert and a multimillion dollar earner in Network Marketing.  She had 10 tips for finances.

The goal is to make enough money to put to work so you can live off the interest.  $2 million at 5% will get you $100,000 per year.  Even if you have a limited income, there is a way you can manage ti be well off if you know what to do with your money.

1.  Know how your background affects your money attitudes and your          spending. (What were your parent's attitude about money?)

2.  Make a decision to change your money habits. (I want different1)

3.  Change your intentions for your business, be willing to work hard for        finiancial freedom.

4.  Expand your knowledge about finances, money is a tool, not a solution     unless you use it wisely.

5.  Review your cash in and cash out every month.  Be efficient with bills (ie.           get the best prices on insurance, phone bills, medical Ins. etc...)

6.  Create a debt snowball.  If you have $500, $1000, $10,000 & Mortgage,   get debt free by using the savings from the bills (in $5 above) to pay         off the $500 debt first, then celebrate for a minute, then use the money        you saved from that bill plus the others and pay off the next one and           so on until you are debt free.  Whoopee! Try it, you will like it.  She              said it is like getting a really angry monkey off your back.

          I AGREE!!!!

7.  Hire an accountant or CPA. (Saves money on taxes if you are in business.)

8.  Create a Net Worth statement. List all your assets and then list your liabilities.  (if you own house, it's value vs what you owe on it.  Value of bank accounts, stuff & things you own, ie. car, furniture, clothes, jewelery, etc..., then all Credit card debt, and what you owe.)  You mrae probablym better off than you think.ey

9.  Play the prosperity game:  Pretend you have $10,000 to direct, guide and spend in a month.  Write down how you would deal with it,  Then the next month do $20,000 and so on.

10.  Teach your children how to play the prosperity game.  The way you handle your money can affect even your great grandchildren.

PUT YOUR MONEY TO WORK FOR YOU!  Don't be enslaved by it, or a lover of Money, it is just a tool, not the answer. 

People pay good money to get this kind of advice, don't just read it and forget it.

Mark, the guy that called while I was writing this and asked if he could come over and look at my water pump (It had been giving me trouble since Texas).  He came and fixed the leak issue, advised me to put a water regulator (which I had) on the intake hose to regulate the water pressure coming into the RV.   God is so good!  He wouldn't take any money for it. I gave him a Shaklee B Complex for he and Kathy, (I just got my Shaklee order yesterday.)

Another gorgeous day 81 degrees now, going up to 86.  Woopee!  I am off to the pool!

Tomorrow I join the geese and the ducks in Menifee, CA. again.