The Outer Banks: A Snapshot

      Surprisingly, for one entire week the Smith family decided to pack up some of their belongings and "set sail", in over packed Volvo, to the Outer Banks in North Carolina. We vacationed near Corolla last year but decided to "set up camp", at a bungalow beach side, in Hatteras this year. Hatteras is a quintessential island town that has only a few stores but possesses much local charm. The locals were very welcoming and Christine and I greatly enjoyed spending time at a coffee shop on the island, The Dancing Turtle, every morning. The back of their t-shirt was rather humorous and since we live in a culture that prizes complicated drink orders, below is what the t-shirt states.    "I'd like a tall, skinny, 2 shot, half-caff mocha latte', with an extra shot, extra hot, no foam, extra whip....no wait...Do you have soy? Let me change that to a grande', quad, soy, decaf, sugar- free, peppermint frappawhatever...or maybe a 3 shot breve' with extra foam...or maybe a Cappuccino... or no... I think I'll have a smoothie...Please!!! No worries...it's all here...it's all good!"  

      The t-shirt reminded me of some of the very complicated coffee orders my sister has requested from the overwhelmed Baristas.

       After a hearty cup of coffee and some time spent reading the Word of God, we spent most of the day at the beach, exploring Hatteras and its neighboring islands. One evening I decided to take some pictures of the beautiful scenery on our island home.

 

                                     Dilapitated Boat House on an Inlet   



 

Harbor House Fish Market 

Cleaning Fish after a Day of Fishing

Interestingly There are Many Graves on the Island 

 

Animals of the Island: Wild Cat and a Duck Dog

 

 

                 Local Path to the Sound Side of the Island   

Vacation Tunes



Promises, Blessings and a Long Way Home

     Although this week has already been quite busy, this week has been such a blessing as well.  I am often astounded at the unrest I have in my own heart as I go through life. During some weeks, to my suprise, I am quite content but other weeks my heart longs for that which the Lord has not blessed with me yet. I can have a tendency to revel in this unrest and think "Why has the Lord given me so little to do, or why has the Lord not allowed so and so to happen in my life." By the end of the week, though, I often take a step back and realize that the Lord has blessed me in more ways than I ever would have expected or planned. During such moments I realize I have to remember to thank Him everyday for the measure that He has given me. I was reflecting on how He blesses His elect the other day, as I was watching a slide show my sister and I had created that reflected the fifty years my parents have had on this earth, as their birthdays are a month apart. I know about some of the struggles and blessings my parents have experienced in their fifty years and was astounded at God's grace in their lives and very thankful that He choose them to be His children and allowed them to raise me in Christianity. These thoughts caused me to reflect on several verses of the Bible that I had recently read and pondered:  

"So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 11: 8-9 ) 

     Therefore, as Christians we should be thankful for the years that the Lord has given us on this earth but we need to be mindful that many of the days we are given will be days of darkness. We must realize that we can look forward to heavenly blessings and a wonderful home where there will be no more crying or gnashing of teeth. My parents have taught me to not to store up treasure on earth but to look to God and to be thankful that my treasure is in heaven, as I strive, with the Lords help, to store up treasure in heaven. Days on this earth can be very difficult and it can be easy to forget that our treasure should not be stored on this earth.  2 Corinithans 4:16-18 is a good reminder of were we should set our sites:

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Therefore, I am learning, we have to remember to be thankful for all the Lord has blessed us with today, keeping in mind that "...this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but the things that are unseen." The believer is on a continual journey until the day the Lord allows us to leave this earth.  

Hello and Scores

Well hello! : ) As one can easily observe, I have not seen my blog for several months....So much has gone on in my life and therefore my blog has customarily been pushed to the side. Today though, I decided to start to blog, once again, with gusto, as I have a little more time on my hands now that summer break has arrived and nursing school is on the back burner. I was reading over my sisters blog today and remarkably enjoyed a movie score she posted that came from the move "How to Train Your Dragon." So, I decided to share the score and several other songs I have recently happened upon and adore, in order to start the blog up for the summer. Enjoy! 

Although I do not endorse the movie "Brave", I do love song, which is going to be played in the movie, and have found that the translated words are quite sweet.

The song below is a hymn that has been "re-hymned" by Bart Millard. Although I adore the song, in the middle it begins to sound a lot like "Oregon Trail," which is odd. Otherwise it is a lovely song and contains meaningful words.