Everyday Living

Island Hopping

~ Travel

“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭5-6‬

Today is the first full day of summer…the time when most of us take a much-needed vacation!  So, pour yourself a glass of iced tea or lemonade and take a break as we visit a couple of beautiful Greek islands among their six thousand!  We have explored another Greek island on the blog before and you can read about it here:  It’s All Greek To Me! 
 Corfu is an island off the western coast of Greece and Albania at the entrance to the Adriatic Sea!

 Corfu is an Unesco World Heritage site that is loaded with charm and history!  Due to the strong Venetian influence, Corfu is one of the most appealing cities in Greece! One of many beautiful gardens!  Narrow streets with small shops!  The Liston is an elegant arcade fashioned in a Napoleonic-French style!  Under the arches are expensive cafes with tables overlooking the Spianada (Esplanade plaza)! I enjoyed an espresso under the beautiful arches! This monastery is home to 8 Greek Orthodox Monks who provided generous hospitality during our visit!  A large cat population (more than I could count) inhabit the monastery!  The Old Fortress is a Venetian fortress, separated by a moat or sea channel from the rest of the city of Corfu! The earliest fortifications on the site occupied by the Old Fortress dates from around the 6th century AD!  The Fortress was used by the Nazis at the end of World War II to imprison The Jews of Corfu!  Now we are hopping over to the island of Crete, Greece’s largest island!   This Eastern Orthodox monastery now functions as a nunnery!  The first mention of the monastery dates back to 1333!  We enjoyed this beautiful courtyard along with gorgeous views of the surrounding plateau! No photos were allowed inside the nunnery!   Lassithi Plateau on the island of Crete is famous for its windmills! Lake Voulismeni is located at the center of Agios Nikolaos on Crete!  A local urban legend has it that the lake is bottomless! Great cafes and restaurants by the lake are the perfect place to people watch particularly in the evening as Greek families promenade before dinner!    As we sail away from the island of Crete…  …God painted the most gorgeous sunset!   Thank you for reading and joining us in our everyday living!

pam closing

Linking with Pieced Pastimes, Silver Pennies, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice, Mod Vintage Life, Coastal Charm, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, The Dedicated House, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, Ivy and Elephants, French Country Cottage, From My Front Porch To Yours, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Style Sisters, The Charm of Home, The Winthrop Chronicles, Cornerstone Confessions, A Delightsome Life, Imparting Grace, Posed Perfection, Katherines Corner, My Romantic Home, Chic On A Shoestring Decorating, Rooted In Thyme, Share Your Cup, The Enchanting Rose, Alabama Women Bloggers, 21 Rosemary Lane, Northern Nesting, Oh My Heartsie Girl,  Cozy Little House, Rattlebridge Farm, The Turquoise Home, My Flagstaff Home, In The New House, Natasha in Oz, Vintage Refined

 

Simple + Southern Sunday No. 35 • Father’s Day Edition

~ Simple + Southern Sunday

 “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’” Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭15‬

As I passed a country church last week, I noticed the sign out front. I had to scan quickly but it read something like….“Parents’ lives are their children’s guidebook”.  Somebody is watching and probably watching very closely!  This fact can be overwhelming, challenging, and even scary!  With Fathers Day arriving, I thought of another statement I heard recently.  “It might be that a consistent, faithful, loving, godly, ever-present Dad is the most positive and crucial thing to exist in the life of a child. The absence of such a Dad could be one of the most detrimental”. There are certainly many other factors but on Fathers Day, this is worth consideration.

Of course there are no guarantees. Good Dads have children that go off course.  Children without any positive influence or even the presence of a Father at all do become godly men and women. That happens in lives that understand and accept God’s grace into their being and discover that there is a perfect, ever-present, loving Heavenly Father who is available to all.

Your story may include a wonderful father who was always there for you. Your story may be quite the opposite.  Maybe it’s even a horror story as it relates to an earthly father. Either way, I have a suggestion. Search online for an article/pamphlet titled “Father Heart of God”, by John Dawson. You might also locate it by searching Last Days Ministries. It’s been around a number of years and has been helpful to a lot of people.IMG_0069 Who “nose” why Seth and I decided on having our pic made like this! We probably had the decision made for us. IMG_0044 On a hot dry September day in 1986 I was mowing the yard. As I rode by our bay window, I noticed our son Seth peering out the window. At about 9 months old, he had pulled himself up to see out. His face clearly indicated he wanted to be outside with me. Every time I passed he was still there, watching intently. These moments stirred my heart that day as a new Dad, and as a result I wrote a song titled “Just Like You”.  I’d like to share part of it with you ….

“I saw his face against the window pane, he was looking out at me.
Too young to speak yet he seemed to say ‘You’re everything I’d like to be’ .
He follows in my footsteps, trying all the things I do.
Imitating me is his special way to say Dad I love you.

I wanna be just like you, I wanna walk like you do.
Help me to grow, let my life show that I belong to you.
I wanna be just like you, I wanna talk like you do.
Help me each day along my way, Dad I wanna be just like you” IMG_0049 My love for music may have rubbed off a little (or a lot)! IMG_0050  Our summers come and go – sunrise, sunset…IMG_0037  ….swiftly fly the years. IMG_0036 These faces look suspect, but maybe happy after finishing a great meal!  The setting does appear to be our kitchen. IMG_0052  Our standard fall and winter weekend attire! IMG_0051 Duke and Riley took good care of Seth and me as we drove cattle in Montana!

As I mentioned, I don’t know your story but I do know there is a Father in heaven who adopts all who will let Him. David wrote in Psalm 27:10 –
“For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in”

Verse 2 is sung to the Father ……..
 “I could never be the perfect Dad or give my only son.
But I truly know a Father’s love because of You and all You’ve done.
So help me stay so close to You, trust in all the things You say.
Father, let me keep my eyes on You and watch You every day”

A goal for Everyday Living!butch-closer

Linking with Pieced Pastimes, Silver Pennies, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice, Mod Vintage Life, Coastal Charm, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, The Dedicated House, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, Ivy and Elephants, French Country Cottage, From My Front Porch To Yours, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Style Sisters, The Charm of Home, The Winthrop Chronicles, Cornerstone Confessions, A Delightsome Life, Imparting Grace, Posed Perfection, Katherines Corner, My Romantic Home, Chic On A Shoestring Decorating, Rooted In Thyme, Share Your Cup, The Enchanting Rose, Alabama Women Bloggers, 21 Rosemary Lane, Northern Nesting, Oh My Heartsie Girl,  Cozy Little House, Rattlebridge Farm, The Turquoise Home

Sentimental Journey

~ Music

“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him” 
‭Psalm‬ ‭103‬:‭13

Daddy had been saving for months.  He walked many miles along the streets of our hometown delivering mail so that he could make that big purchase…a RCA Victor console stereo.  To a six year old, that beautiful mohagony cabinet that played music was magical!  When that delivery arrived from Ross-Grambling Furniture, we all gathered around and admired the lovely wood cabinet that added character to the 1960’s decor of our little house!  Not only was it a nice furniture addition, but the beautiful sounds that came from its speakers filled the entire house!  The music playing was my Daddy’s music-the music of his generation…”back when music was music” as he often says.
“Gonna take a sentimental journey, gonna set my heart at ease
Gonna make a sentimental journey, to renew old memories”
Bud Green
 The old 78 rpm’s spinning on the turntable were his favorite Big Bands such as Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, and Glenn Miller!PicMonkey Collage
The male singers were crooners like Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Perry Como!

The ones that I identified with were the rich and pure vocals of female singers like Jo Stafford and Rosemary Clooney.  Realizing very quickly how much I loved music, Daddy gave me money and I bought my first 45 rpm record…Travelin’ Man by Ricky Nelson (my first singer crush)!  It is funny that I have such vivid memories from so long ago! 

 The gift of music has a way of spanning time and generations! A few years ago, during what turned out to be one of the hardest years for our family, this gift of music gave us a memory of a lifetime!  Daddy, Butch and I went over to the Fabulous Fox Theater in Atlanta to hear one of our favorites, Johnny Mathis perform.  His performance with a full orchestra and all of his standards gave us such a beautiful night of music and a memory we will always treasure!

On one occasion, our city hosted The Glenn Miller Band and boy, was it a sight!  People of all ages gathered together for a night of dancing and good music!  We sat in the balcony, and I loved watching my Daddy take in the night!  Again, memories that I will never forget!  I remember so many details of that evening…down to the food that I packed for our picnic!  Oh, the joy that music has and continues to bring to my life!  At a small 80th birthday party for Daddy, I tearfully sang one of our favorite songs, “You Belong To Me”, recorded by Jo Stafford!  The love of music runs deep in my family, and to think…it all started with a stereo. Today, the sounds from the RCA Victor console stereo have been replaced by the 40’s station on his Sirius/XM Radio.  The subscription I gave him many years ago keeps “his music” filling his days!

All of these years have passed, and music is still as magical as it was when I was a little girl.  The sound of Daddy’s music is what awakened a desire in me to play and sing-one that was cultivated by my parents with piano and voice lessons for many years.  Looking back, I know that they sacrificed to provide those for me.  And another thing I know: my love for music was not coincidental, but God-ordained.  Music introduced me to the love of my life…my all-time favorite singer!  And each Sunday, as we see our son leading us in worship at our church, we are reminded that the music continues.  What began so long ago when my Daddy was just a little boy listening to music on the radio is still alive in our family!

May the gift of music always be a sweet, sweet sound in our Father’s ear.

pam closing

Linking with Pieced Pastimes, Silver Pennies, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice, Mod Vintage Life, Coastal Charm, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, The Dedicated House, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, Ivy and Elephants, French Country Cottage, From My Front Porch To Yours, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Style Sisters, The Charm of Home, The Winthrop Chronicles, Cornerstone Confessions, A Delightsome Life, Imparting Grace, Posed Perfection, Katherines Corner, My Romantic Home, Chic On A Shoestring Decorating, Rooted In Thyme, Share Your Cup, The Enchanting Rose, Alabama Women Bloggers, 21 Rosemary Lane, Northern Nesting, Oh My Heartsie Girl,  Cozy Little House, Rattlebridge Farm, The Turquoise Home