January 22, 2022. Holiday Island, AR. Miraculous

There are certain things in God's creation which can be called miracles, because there is no other way to classify them. Perennial plants which survive severe winter temperatures and come back in the spring as beautiful as they were the previous year - miraculous. The gold fish in our koi pond receive no fish food for more than four months and live through frigid temperatures and an almost totally frozen brook and pond, yet revive in the spring and even increase in numbers - impossibly miraculous.
Our cat, Miss Hissy, who has not been inside our cabin, but remains outside through the hottest of hot weather and the coldest of cold weather and shows no sign of wanting any physical contact ( other than eating the food we leave in her bowls twice a day). She is a stubborn, small, strong, survivalist, miracle animal.
We are hearing almost daily of friends and family who are facing Covid, injuries, strokes, illnesses and other conditions which need more than medical attention. They need God's healing touch, prayers offered and answered and they are coming through them to new health and vitality, while others are being taken by God to the miraculous healing of eternal life with Him. There's no way to explain all these situations, other than to believe that God is in control, He has a plan beyond anything we could imagine and that our faith is all that is needed to see His grand plan come to fruition as He wills and ordains it. For ALL these miracles, and those still to come…..…..Thank You, Lord.

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January 15, 2022. Holiday Island, AR. Winter Wonderland

Our first snowfall of the season.  Not enough to deter travel, but enough for a beautiful picture.  We don't miss the Colorado shoveling, and as of now, don't even have a snow shovel.  Stay warm and stay safe.

January 9, 2022. Holiday Island, AR. Winter Schedule

When we left Colorado in December, 2013 in our motor home, we really didn't have a definite plan for our "on the road" ministry to Vietnam Veterans and their receiving all the VA benefits they were entitled to. We hopped from Walmart to Walmart, Home Depot to Home Depot, military base to military base looking for Veterans we could talk with. We planned to visit friends and family along the way and when we heard about the need for volunteers at The Great Passion Play, we jumped at the opportunity and by May, 2014 we were in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
After the season ended in a October, 2014 we followed our friends, the Jarrell's, to Madison, Georgia and Source of Light Ministries International to volunteer there for the winter. Then it was back to TGPP for the 2015 season, back to SLMI, back to TGPP for the 2016 season, back to SLMI, back to TGPP for the 2017, off to Deep East Texas and time with the Edwards, and back to TGPP for the 2018 season. If you're not confused, all I'm trying to say is we spent 3 winters in Georgia, one winter in Texas and then it was summer and winter full time at TGPP.
There was a definite schedule for each year which kept us busy for The Lord and intentional in our desire to be where He called us to be. Covid was not in the picture, I was able to blog every third day, and health issues seemed to be minimal and manageable. But Covid put a crimp in everyone's plans the past 2-plus years, surgery last winter on my shoulder limited my tasks at the Play and at the cabin and this winter has done nothing to make our plans anything but unpredictable. But………..
I will be committed to Wednesday Holy Land tours for the winter, planning on three days a week at he health club to maintain shoulder recovery, and getting in shape by Easter for the 2022 Passion Play season, doing chores and tasks at the cabin, including getting our lower level cleared of boxes, bins and other storage items into our newly constructed storage shed, painting downstairs, making some home improvements and getting our medical issue under control. Being in our late 70's means taking more time to complete projects, making more time to rest and relax and being dependent on God for instilling patience, wisdom and thankfulness into every aspect of our life. We are blessed. We are grateful. We are prayerful. We are forgiven.
God is Good and we are so thankful.


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January 4, 2022. Holiday Island, AR. They’re Back

December 7 was the deadline for the Medicare Enrollment period, but for some reason George, JJ and most likely Joe are back with the same ads and hopefully a new deadline. I guess there are still funds available to have some money added back to our Social Secuity check each month and all the "free" additional benefits we can take advantage of. The mute button will be back on the menu for me. Between these annoying commercials and the worsening Covid numbers, tv is becoming something to watch less of.
What's also back, is my return to the Passion Play, leading Holy Land tours every Wednesday. Last winter I did tours on Mondays and filled in other days occasionally when needed. Our golf carts have been put indoors for the winter, so our only transportation for the tour will be our 20 seat mini-bus or the larger 40 plus seat school busses. I can drive the smaller bus, but the larger busses require a CDL which I don't have so our regular Holy Land drivers during the season will be on-call. Spontaneity required, as always.
We'll see how the Medicare, Covid and Holy Land situations proceed over the next few months, and do our best to stay healthy, safe, financially provided for and obedient to God's plan for us and His Passion Play ministry. God doesn't have to come back, He's never left us and that is something we all can rest in and depend on. Thank You, Lord.

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