ThinMint

We honor the men -not just those we cherish in our own lives, but the men who are brave, honest, courteous, compassionate, faithful, reliable, involved. To the man who sacrifices all for God, country, family -thank you. To the man who is faithful to his wife -thank you. To the man who guides, teaches and encourages the next generation -thank you. To the man who prays and loves God -thank you. To the man who loves America -thank you. To the man who gets up early and stays up late to take care of his responsibilities -thank you. To the man who shoulders the heavy and takes the arrows -thank you. To the man who is fearfully and wonderfully made... We love you!

My husband enjoys mowing the grass, and I immensely enjoy walking upon it. How much more bright and cheery will the grass be on the new earth?! Until then... get out, there and make the grass smile big 😊

For the menfolk. (And the ladies like me who find it satisfying and kinda relaxing to watch stuff like this.) If you want to watch more stuff like this: https://www.youtube.com/c/cyberlandscaping

-3- While it’s important to concentrate more on Him and less on our worries, it’s also essential that we embrace the latter part of the verse. Seek Him for comfort. We don’t always get away from our troubles, we cannot avoid or step around. Remember, Daniel was saved in the lions’ den, not from it. The Lord is the One Who carries us through it. Be encouraged, friends! Ask Him what He wants you to care about. You may find that it’s time to relinquish some burdens, and time to start some utterly fantastic adventures with Him!

-2- We note two cares in 1 Peter 5:7. The first care in the verse is the Greek word merimna, meaning anxiety, and it’s associated with merizó, meaning to divide. The context for the latter care is the Greek word meló, meaning to be an object of care, have regard for, to care about. Are you thinking what I’m thinking when you read this?!? Our time, our minds, our hearts are divided when we worry. This kind of care interferes with our trusting Him. We cannot serve two masters. Our fears can become our master, and the distractions in life can become our master. We must choose.

-1- It’s been one thing after another, issues often overlapping, as usual –something I know y’all can relate to. These last few weeks (and for next several weeks) my focus is getting my high schoolers a head start for 10th grade. I was working at my desk when my youngest son strolled by. He was quiet then asked why I cared about high school. There was something about his tone, his sweet little face, his innocent question that gave me pause. I told him I love my children so I care about what they learn and when. I also told him that he asked me a very good question that was going to send me on a quest! Delighted, he bounced away. Piqued, I searched. Sometimes the seemingly mundane moments are pulled back to reveal a watershed moment.

Just in Case They Forgot Who The Boss/Goat really is! 🔋

Thank you, Patti, for saying it so well. Very encouraging to us! Balance in life is so important. Otherwise we become consumed with all the drama and lose sight of all the good around us. Your photos were a good reminder that life is happening all around us every day so we should enjoy all of God’s blessings in the midst of the storms.

I'm sorry things have been hectic that I couldn't share about our trip earlier. Didn't know I was going to share this evening, but hey! ThinMint, why are you posting this? Not to be dull or annoying or to flaunt. I want to remind my friends to live. Make plans! See family! Eat well! Try something new! Go on an adventure! Make memories! See God's land and all that is in it. You don't have to venture far or spend a lot of money. Ask God to move you. Literally! Ask Him to open doors to new places, to favorite ones, to ones that lead to healing, reunions and priceless memories. Making plans is hope. It's the belief that God has already gone before you and cleared the path for something new. Ignore the God-haters, and go be with the ones you love doing something fun, sweet or utterly breathtaking. Live wholly.

There was one thing I had to get (besides the Whale sandwich) while in Florida: Cuban food. Our last night down south, we took my Mom out for Mother's Day. We shared pork and chicken chunks, tamals, fried yuca, croquettes and mariquitas. I had the pollo a la Cubana with black beans, white rice and fried plantains.

If you're ever in Delray Beach, be sure to stop by "The Girls." So much fun for kids and adults! Though it started as a u-pick for strawberries, it has grown over the years. There's an old-fashioned candy/ice cream store with all kinds of nifty items. A couple of doors down is "Gramma's Bakery." A must swing by as well. Behind the store are animals of all kinds. Incredible gardens, too. And they've added new activities to try. The kids, of course, oohed and awed over the baby bunnies. Sorry I cannot show you the cutest pics of them holding the rabbits. And no one wants to see me hamming it up with the donkeys 😁 You can enter an enclosure to meet hundreds of parakeets. They loved my shoes! I ended up taking them off for awhile so they could enjoy 'em. There were miniature horses, turtles, koi fish, goats and swans! Again, I can never get enough of encountering God's magnificent creatures! http://thegirlsstrawberryupick.com/index.html

One of my top ten favorite places is The Whale's Rib in Deerfield Beach, Florida off A1A. I won't tell you how long I've been going there, but I have never strayed from ordering The Whale with Whale Fries and extra Whale Juice.

The ocean was therapeutic. Though I am more of a 'mountain girl,' I do love God's ocean. There's nothing like it. The smell, the sight, the sound... Felix and I spent over two hours playing in it with the kids. The waves were wild and the seaweed was tangle-y. But, the skies were brilliant and the temperature was ideal.

My momma homeschooling heart was drawn this.

It had been awhile since we visited America's Oldest City. I have lived on the east coast and have visited the west coast and the gulf. It never ceases to amaze me that I stood at the end of a state, the end of a country, the end of a continent. "... when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’?" (Job 38:11)

Our trip to Florida was important to our family. I had not seen my best friend since February 2017 -her family had not met our youngest, and our third child was only a year and a half the last time they had seen him. I had not seen my mom since June 2017 -our youngest was six months old at the time. We visited friends and family throughout Florida. The reunions were emotional, hearts grateful and the hugs long and sincere as they marveled over Felix's recovery. We know the miracle we have been gifted. I grew up in Boca Raton, yes, a very highfalutin town though I am not grandiose. Beautiful city, hands-down, and mostly down-to-earth people. Felix grew up in Miami. We took the kids to see our childhood homes, schools and hangouts. Much has changed, though some landmarks were recognizable. I traveled a bit before I met Felix. We traveled a lot before kids. Though it's fun to visit new places or reminisce over familiar territory, it's seeing God's country, God's land, God's earth and all the things in it, that really excites us.

This salad on the menu intrigued me. Coconut encrusted fried shrimp set atop a bed of mixed greens, sliced strawberries, feta cheese and sliced almonds tossed in a pineapple vinaigrette. I don't care for feta or vinaigrettes. But, I wanted to try something different. That's what life is. Occasionally stepping out of the familiar to experience the unique.

We headed to a restaurant off the intercoastal further south. Felix took the little ones on a stroll while we waited for the food. It's the little moments. The strolls, holding hands and exploring. These are the moments that matter. Our kids knew nothing of the wars and turmoil raging while they looked at the beauty of God's earth.

We turned around so this is Mar-a-lago heading south on A1A. I would have liked more pics/videos, but knew our car was under surveillance. Plus we were hungry. Priorities 😏 If you're ever in the South Florida area, driving up/down A1A is highly recommended. The homes are incredible, yes, but it's God beauty that simply stuns!