This Old House

After months of sprucing up, it is ready. Our house goes on the market next week. When we first moved here 11 years ago, it was out of necessity, not desire. We were content in the quad level we called home. We had lived there for 8 years, our children's elementary years were spent in the house with the beautiful sunroom, nice deck, and a yard big enough to play soccer in. The soaring vaulted ceiling in the sunroom had held huge hand chopped Christmas trees, and multiple party's had been held there. It was hard to leave that house with so many good memories inside.

Our move was short, less than one mile away. The house was large and rambling compared to our compact quad. A ranch style home with a finished basement sitting on a quiet cul-de-sac. Our belongings could not begin to fill the home...but we were not moving alone. My mother was coming to live with us, and that was the reason for the move. We needed a larger home, and a ranch style instead of a quad with multiple levels. We were looking for a house with two living areas on the main level, and it was the only house for sale in our town that fit that criteria.

The house needed some TLC, but was certainly large enough. My mother had her own areas, and that was important. She had her own living room, the master bedroom and bath, and even a guest room. Because the home was so large we still had our own living area, bedroom and bath upstairs, as well as a full bath, bedroom, and family room in the basement. There was also a very large game room downstairs that became our sons bedroom. 

Mom did not stay with us long in the house before her health deteriorated further and she needed 24/7 assistance. The assisted living was only 3 blocks away, so visits were frequent and included visits from our dog. Mom loved to show her off to the other residents, putting her through her repertoire of tricks, the favorite being the command "Bang", to which she would promptly fall to her back.

Somehow over the years, we managed to keep the house full, even as our children grew up and moved out. My most precious memories are in this house. Memories of my children decked out for prom. My son celebrating his high school football career at a surprise party in his honor. My daughter and her new husband opening wedding gifts with both families gathered round. My mother making soup at the stove.

 This old house has been very special to us, and as we prepare to let it go...I say...thanks for the memories old friend.


~Marla

Thursday Travels: Grandeur of the Seas, Cozumel

Every Western Caribbean cruise will have Cozumel as a port of call. The little island has made catering to cruisers its number one priority. I have yet to tire of this wonderful place, and this stop was one of the most memorable to date. This visit we spent the day at the very beautiful, and very large, beach club called Chankanaab. Our decision was based solely on one factor...three of us wanted to swim with a dolphin. 

Choosing to participate in a dolphin swim was a difficult decision for me. I am honestly uncomfortable with dolphins being kept in captivity for human enjoyment. When I was a teen my dream was to be a Marine Biologist. I owned a collection of Jacque Cousteau books and dreamed of working with marine animals. Veterinary medicine ran a close second.

My dreams were shattered by a particularly poor biology teacher in high school. I did not take another science class until I returned to college at the age of 25. Imagine my shock to find I still loved science and that it was very easy for me as well. By then I was married with children and nursing seemed a better fit. I will admit  that after 20 years of nursing, my heart still belongs to the animals. So, the dolphin swim was a purely selfish endeavor...and one I will never forget.

While DD, DSIL, and myself, frolicked in the water with DH watching, DS and DDIL found a comfy beach spot and began working on their tan. The beach is very nice at Chankanaab, and especially popular with snorkelers. What it does not have is the nice sloping sand beach entrance into the water. It makes up for this in size and beautiful grounds, but for me it is a one time visit kind of place.

There is a fee to enter the facility, unlike Mr. Sancho's, our go to beach in Cozumel. It does have a reproduction of Mayan ruins, a lagoon, and gardens that are lovely and very enjoyable to walk through. We saw some pretty impressive Iguana's up close and personal there.

I actually did not snorkel at Chankanaab. There are stairs to enter the water and they were ridiculously crowded. Once past the stairs a snorkeling class/group were flailing around in the water. I gave up and decided laying on the beach with food and drink was a preferable way to spend the rest of my day.

My daughter and I were talked out of some money for a picture with an Iguana and a Parrot...but the pictures were so worth it! And yes, the Iguana is perched on my head.

The dolphin swim was worth any residual guilt...though I will not do it again. Big tip...do not book the swim through your cruise line!! We saved almost half by booking it directly through Chankanaab. They even send you a voucher for your cab fare. And it includes your entrance into the park. It is also refundable if bad weather causes your swim to be cancelled. Save yourself some money and book direct.

All in all we enjoyed a relaxing day at the beach...even my DH, who stayed fully dressed right down to his shoes and socks! Enjoy the pictures...and...
       Bon Voyage ~Marla

Wake Up Call

Before cell phones people used an item called an alarm clock. When traveling, instead of an alarm clock, they often relied on a wake up call from the front desk of the hotel they were staying in. The wake up call served an important purpose. It made sure the traveler continued his journey in a timely manner. Without it precious time would be lost as they slept, their destination still far away.


My wake up call was of a different sort. I haven't been asleep, I have been busy. Too busy in fact. Too busy to slow down and spend time in devotion to Him. Too busy for prayer. Too busy to write. My wake up call was a call to stop and re-evaluate my priorities. 

Last week one of my dearest friends had a cancer scare. The breast cancer they thought was gone was possibly now in her lungs. As I prayed for her I began to question the usefulness of my prayers. Though my faith reassured me that God was listening, I began to consider the question...why should He? I have not been seeking Him lately, I have been too busy to take the time. Why then should He take up His time to listen to me? 

Today I began a new daily devotional called "Jesus Calling." The devotional was recommended by the same friend I had been praying for. The words had spoken to her, and He had carried her, during those scary few days before it was discovered that the cancer was not back as they had feared. The passage I read today opened my eyes even more to the importance of making the time to focus on God. Based on John 4:23-24 and Psalm 100:4, were the following words.



Your praise and thanksgiving are distinctly audible in heaven. Your petitions are also heard, but it is your gratitude that clears the way to My Heart. With the way between us wide open, My blessings fall upon you in rich abundance.


Young, Sarah (2004-10-12). Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence (p. 196). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. 



My resolve is to keep that path clear. To take time out of my busy life and devote time to things of worth and meaning. And to Him.


~Marla

Thursday Travels: Grandeur of the Seas, Costa Maya, Mexico part 2

As I mentioned in my last travel blog, our family split up in the port of Costa Maya. While four of us discovered the rich Mayan history around us...my DD and DSIL became beach bums for a day! While I wouldn't trade our Mayan experience for the world, I do think the next time I am in Costa Maya that beach experience will be calling my name.

Majahual (pronounced Ma-ha-wall) is a small coastal village about 2 miles south of the fancy new port of Costa Maya. There are some who complain that you have to travel to get to the beach...and the village is a fishing village and rather poor...but it is worth it!

My DD and DSIL spent the day at a beach club. I had done extensive research for them on the best choice and recommended Pez Quadro. I must have done well, because they returned happy and relaxed, with a glowing report of the establishment.

Now be warned, these are not the kind of beach clubs you will find somewhere like Cancun. This a small village, not a renowned resort area...at least not yet. None the less, they had a wonderful time. 

A package was purchased for $35 per person that included lounge chairs, an umbrella or palapa, nachos, and an open bar for the entire day. They certainly got their moneys worth, and DD managed to snag a massage on the beach as well.


Though I only stepped on to the beach for a few minutes that day, I can report the following per my kids...

• the beach was clean
• the sand was white

• the service was excellent
• the drinks were wonderful
• the food was good

• the area was not overcrowded
• the dancers/singers from the ship hung out there

• the water was clear
• there is a great view of the ships

• you can buy from local vendors
• you can buy great cigars

• the bathrooms/showers are clean and quite nice

• they have really cute menus

Really a great way to spend a relaxing day in port in a still fairly unspoiled area. Enjoy it before the big hotels move in!


Bon Voyage ~Marla

Let Go and Swim

I have never consider myself to be overly materialistic. Notice I use the word "overly" in that comment. Most Americans are materialistic in nature. We are a product of our culture...one that bombards us with messages about what constitutes success and happiness...and invariably this leads us to believe that bigger, nicer, and fancier are better.

I bring up this subject because I have been thinking a lot about my home lately. My home is nice and it is big, but it also older. I live in a 1970's ranch style house in a neighborhood with big old trees. I have watched families with incomes less than our own (especially all the years I was working as an R.N.) buy fancy, expensive houses in prestigious areas of town. We, on the other hand, stayed in our much more modest home and were quite content. I admit to being pleased with myself at times with the fact that I was content to live in an older home. I saw this a testament to my non-materialistic nature.

I was living a lie. I discovered two things as I have started perusing the houses for sale in the Oklahoma City area. The first is this; I don't live in an older home because it is a sacrifice, I live in an older home because that is what I love. I admire the beautiful newer houses, many with big open areas and beautiful soaring vaulted ceilings. They have master bathrooms the size of my bedroom! They shout luxury and prestige. I love visiting them and admiring their beauty. But as I look at houses in my price range and I view the new homes alongside the old, I am invariably drawn to the old when I consider which I would want to live in. I simply love the coziness of the older home. To me they have a certain character I just don't find in the newer houses. What I perceived as not being wrapped up in materialism, was really just living in the style of home I preferred all along.

The second thing I discovered? I am extremely materialistic in nature. I am clinging to my home like a drowning man to a plank in the sea! I don't want to give up my home to move. I don't want to give up any of my possessions either! I like my stuff way too much...I mean, what if my husband has to take a pay cut in all of this? Then what will we do? Seriously? This is what I am worrying about? I know God will provide for us. We will have food, clothing, and shelter. Isn't that enough? It should be. I know God has a plan in all of this. I know I need to trust in Him. I know if that means leaving possessions and family to follow His plan, that it will be for His purpose. It is time to let go of the plank and start swimming towards shore. I may not know what I will find there...but I know the man I love will be there, and that God will guide our strokes. Finding contentment in every circumstance...that is my lesson in this. It is time to let go and grow.


~Marla

The Shot Heard 'Round Wichita

Today the announcement was made...Boeing Wichita is closing its hangar doors by the end of 2013. While hardly a complete surprise, it is still a blow for the 2,100 current employees and their families, our own included. Unfortunately it will likely impact others in the area as well. Increased unemployment and families moving out of the metropolitan area is a likely scenario.


So where do we stand in this? Well, our future is uncertain. The only certainty is that things will not remain the same. The programs that my husband works on are to be moved to either San Antonio, Texas, or Oklahoma City. His main priority is continuing his employment with Boeing, regardless of where that may be. Continued employment is not a guarantee, so prayers would be greatly appreciated.


If he is transferred with a program to Oklahoma City, he would likely commute back here on the weekends. If the destination is San Antonio then obviously we would both move. If he is not chosen to go with a program then he will seek another position within Boeing, regardless of the location. Seattle, St. Louis, Dallas, Virginia, etc. All would be a possibility and entail selling our home here and moving. As a last resort he would seek employment outside the Boeing Company.


At this point it is likely these changes will occur for us by September 2012. In the meantime prayers are coveted and encouraging words are appreciated. If you find yourself in Derby feel free to stop by and grab a paintbrush...my slow painting project needs to be stepped up a notch!


~Marla

The Plans He has Made

January 2011 Cruise

With the holidays behind me it is time to rejoin the blogging community. The holidays, while enjoyable, are also filled with a myriad of chores that take up a great deal of time. Now I feel ready to take a deep breath and meet the challenges of a new year.

This past year was one of great change for me. Losing my mobility, leaving my job, becoming a true empty nester...those are not small things. Stress was great, frustration was high. But so was joy, self discovery, and personal growth. I learned a positive attitude is something you have to work at, it doesn't just happen. Joy and thankfulness are a choice, as are bitterness and self-pity. 

This year will likely be no different. Every new year brings a new set of challenges and changes. My husbands job at Boeing hangs in the balance as company executives make decisions over which we have no control. As such, this year may bring job changes, a move, and even possibly a change in income. Keeping a positive outlook can be difficult at times, but knowing God is faithful is enough at this point. We may feel we are in limbo, but He knows the plans He has laid for us.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

 ~Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

So as we enter this new year, a year full of uncertainty and adventures yet to be seen, I wish you peace and joy. A spirit of thankfulness and contentment, and the knowledge that no matter what the future may bring, God already has a plan.

God Bless ~Marla