“Perhaps the Fall days are not as cheerful and genial as those of summer and springtime, yet the doldrums that tarry around them, quickly disappear as Autumn begins to burst with it’s baronial splendor. In everything that is united with this glorious season, there dallies a flourishing beauty, an unanticipated swaying that enters and captivates the soul with its majestic power. ”
Blessed Autumn! That wondrous time of the year where we have a wealth of new sights, smells and tastes to ENJOY! What a GIFT God has given us! One of my favorite bestowals of this wondrous season is enjoying the breathtaking Harvest full moon, with its splendor and gallant presence as it illuminates the night sky and brings to the evening, an ambiance of tranquility and awe. I will always remember one special evening in which the full moon’s appearance began it’s whimsical , “can’t be missed,” show with its galvanizing and sublime, rich glow. Surrounding its incandescent light, was a magical canopy of stars draped against the dusky sky, flirtatiously twinkling, livening up the heavens glorious presentation. Suddenly, unannounced and unexpected, ( especially since it was the enchanting time of the day known as ” the gloaming hour,” where the sun begins its descent, making way for the evenings arrival,) a thick, pearly gray mist began to roll in (almost in slow motion,) creeping through the foot of the sylvan woods and undomesticated meadow in our back yard. As it made its way to the front of our home, 
the streetlights and neighboring homes were partially cloaked in a veil of haze as it alluringly clouded the once clear air, transforming our street into a vision of engaging silhouettes against a blanket of mist, where the familiar sights of our neighborhood lay almost hidden. (Mind you, there were no clouds in the sky, it was an exceptionally clear evening with only the lights of the moon and stars radiating within the heavens.) As the three of us sat together on this chilly night upon our porch, with front row seats, (free of charge, ) to Gods magnificent display of His creativity, we thanked Him for bringing us these wondrous moments in time, allowing us to partake in His handiwork. In our hearts, we felt a warm assurance of His love and joy in sharing this beauty with us and were reminded of the abundance of gifts He bestows to all of us, His kids, every single day.
In our neighboring state, Cape May New Jersey, residents there will tell you they ‘win the contest’ when it comes to migrating birds during the fall season. In Delaware, we are blessed with the breathtaking cardinals, (their song being one of the first we hear in the morning,) perky blue Jays, gentle, riveting and peaceful turtledoves, antisocial yet eminently entrancing woodpeckers and of course the very intelligent crows, ( with their loud, harsh “caw”.) Its the season where all shapes, sizes and colors of pumpkins and gourds grace our homes as well as the flamboyant bursting mums that brighten our front porches. The sundry of scarecrows is amazing, as you view the ones your neighbors have bought from the Super*Walmart store and then you see a myriad of homemade scarecrows that are are “showoffs” to much talent and creativity. 
There is nothing like the sound of newly fallen leaves crunching 
beneath your feet, the aroma of freshly cut wood kindling in the fireplaces and the joy of collecting acorns in the sylvan, not quite barren woods. (Just make sure they don’t have worms secretly hiding inside their alluring armor.) :- All kidding aside, one time , my cousin Mike and I collected a large bag of acorns while I was visiting South Carolina. I wanted to take back a ‘little bit’ of the east coast to California to share with my preschool kids. After our take off , about 20 minutes into our flight, I began to hear something move inside my carry on bag. When I looked in the plastic bag I saw something moving. The word daunting does not even begin to express what I was feeling. They were worms, (lots of worms) , crawling out of all my beautiful acorns. I am telling you, it reminded me of a scene in a horror movie.) 
Thankfully, the stewardess took my once treasured bag and through them away for me. Who knew? 
The invigorating, brisk weather is welcoming as it motivates us to open our cedar chests and bring out an entirely new wardrobe. (It almost feels like Christmas as we forgot we had so many soft, warm sweaters, our favored tailored wool coat, knitted hats, (our grandmothers made for us) and our pair of comfy, cozy suede boots that we had packed away the year before.) I love hearing the Canadian geese that gallantly cruise over our home by the woods with their unique , warming symphony , reminding me that before we know it, they will be migrating as winter will soon be upon us. When all is quiet, its quite a calming and peaceful sound as we listen to the gentle fall breeze blow upon the fallen leaves, often times creating a miniature whirlwind, (reminding us of a tiny tornado.) There is nothing like the fragrances wafting through our homes straight from the kitchen…apple cobbler, pumpkin pie with a hint of fresh cinnamon and nutmeg or hot mulled cider, patiently brewing upon the stove. Autumn is certainly a season that speaks for itself!
Lets just say that if the seasons of Autumn and Winter, (with its infamous , magical gift of Christmas,) were the last two contestants standing up on the stage of a competition show, (such as American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, or The Miss USA pageant,) and I had to choose the winner, I’d secretly vote on my ballet, for a tie. I am sorry , but I just can not decide which time of the year brings more joy, creativity and fun! 
As you all by know by now in this treatise I am writing, I absolutely adore Fall and thank God all the time for creating such a wondrous, amazing season . Perhaps it is because I am a fall baby…(It has been said that your favorite season is the very one you were born in.) I have not tested that theory out thoroughly, but in many cases, with people I know, it has proven to be true.
Our little haven had already been embellished
to the hilt…( In our home, that is completed by mid September.) I had more fun decorating , finding just the right pumpkins and candles to create an enchanting and cozy ambiance . Kit would get so excited to see all the Autumn tablescapes as well as guessing which garnitures I had put up that day… (Or else he was pretending! ) To make the season even more magical, we got a call from my younger brother Patrick in California. He called to ask us if we could meet He and Chris for Thanksgiving, (and you wont believe where…) Mystic Connecticut !! (Did I forget to mention it was all expenses paid? ) 
My heart was beating so fast…We had not been to Mystic or Connecticut for at least 3 and 1/2 years… My mind was preoccupied for days . I was filled with excitement, enthusiasm as well as an unexpected passion inside to revisit the place where God had called us to go years before and all that we experienced WITH HIM during our stays. This was totally unplanned… how I got anything done in those next few days , I have no clue. 
It was not only returning to this beautiful area that engaged my every thought, I was in seventh heaven just thinking about seeing Patrick again. Not only do I love him with all my heart but he is one of my very best friends in all the world. We have the best times together, and ALWAYS cry when we have to say goodbye. OK, mostly I CRY, but it is hard for both of us as we have been living on different sides of the United states for 15 years consecutively. (Our visits are a number one priority to Kit and I.) And need I say that Grantham absolutely adores Patrick as well. He loves Chris to , but 
Pat is one of his all time favorites. Kit and I, wanting to go so badly to see Pat and Chris, take a vacation and enjoy a much needed, rejuvenating getaway, felt to go before the Lord and make sure it was OK with Him. Well, we got a big “YES” and began preparing to take our trip to New England, though we had a few weeks before we’d be departing. We knew that New England would be absolutely breathtaking this time of year and were so excited to watch Pat and Chris take it all in. ( Southern California has an abundance of beauty to behold, but they do not get to enjoy the autumn season and the gorgeous , kaleidoscopic fall foliage that the east coast is so blessed with each year.)
The weeks passed quickly, the house was clean, laundry done, our clothes for the trip washed and ready to go,etc…(Are you the kind of person, (like me) that always cleans their home before leaving on a trip so that when you get back, it’s already done and you can relax and enjoy the season one last time?) We talked with Tina and Mark and they were more than happy to take care of Graham while we were gone. Tina knew how much this trip meant to both Kit and I and she was so excited we were going.
The hardest part for Kit and I in going on this trip was saying our goodbyes to Graham. 
Its so funny as whenever we would take our suitcases out of the closet and Graham saw them, we did not even have to say a word….he would leave the room, head out to the living room then park his (little) BIG self by the door and pout. We always give him extra treats, lots of hugs and when we ask him to watch over the house while we’re gone, it always makes him feel so much better. (He believes he is on a special mission.) 
We must have called Tina 15 times in 3 days just to see how Grantham was doing. She always assured us that he loved staying at their house, hanging out with his girlfriend McPherson and adored being with the family. She was so cute, she would walk him over to our house and show him each day that we still were not home, but would always console him that we’d be home VERY SOON.
Our drive up to Connecticut was a time of heightened emotions. A mixture of felicity and bliss, yet accompanied by a renewed longing inside with a bit of anxiety. Kit and I always took our driving break at the Rest stop in New Jersey where we would get a Cinnabon and a latte from Star-bucks coffee. (Not the healthiest snack but hey, we were on a road trip.) As we continued our drive, our excitement grew as we reminisced about our very first visit to this riveting land by the sea. We both were wondering what God was up to in sending us back at this time. 
We thought about all the things we would do when we arrived and what adventures the Lord had in store for us. Our jeep felt empty without you know who in the back seat, laying atop his snug bed. This trip was a little different as we got lost. (You know how Map Quest goes.) Kit had a GP in the car but it seemed to steer us the wrong way as well. New York was one of our favorite places to drive through. Our route took us through beautiful rivers, parks, estates and viewing them all in the Autumn season was breathtaking. Suddenly, we 
realized we were headed in the wrong direction and found a toll booth, (which did not even charge us, knowing we were lost,) but happily gave us directions on how to return to the road we needed to be on. Well, she was “lost” herself because we ended up in the Bronx. (Definitively not as scenic as our normal route, as I felt a bit intimidated, never having been there before, but it was very informative and pleasurably broadened my perspective of how there are so many variations of what people know and love as “home sweet home.” (Sometimes getting lost is a good thing!) 
It took us awhile and talking to a few people before we finally were able to find our way .We figured, we’d be an hour late in meeting Patrick and Chris. Thank goodness for cell phones… 
One of my all time favorite parts of the drive, ( definitely not the bridges ) was when we crossed over the Connecticut state line and after a short while, as I Iooked over to my right, I saw the most intriguing inlet water ways with homes scattered throughout the rich verdant green trees, boats docked on the calm water and all we could see as the dusk was slowly making its arrival, were the tiny, glimmering lights
within the cottage homes. I would always wonder what the families were doing inside…talking around the fire, eating dinner, watching a movie or perhaps a little night fishing. It reminded me of a scene from Disneyland’s renowned “Pirates of the Caribbean” ride… very enchanting , alluring and eminently comforting. We had already fallen in love with this remarkable City with all of its romantic waterways, rivers, and of course the galvanizing Atlantic ocean.
The closer we got to the Mystic River Bascule Bridge, (our meeting place to see Pat and Chris,) my stomach was filled with fluttering butterflies, and I had goosey-bumps…(As Jennifer Lopez on American idol would call them.) ( I think that is known as incredible excitement.) Driving down main street, seeing all the beautiful quaint historic homes, the old churches that carried many wonderful stories, the voluminous trees bedecked with a bountiful sundry of autumn leaves in bright sunflower yellows, fiery oranges and hints of charismatic reds was most definitely a Kodak moment. ( But no need to get out the camera quite yet, as we knew Mystic was filled with hundreds of homes just as beautiful and enchanting.)
We finally arrived to the large grassy knoll along side the Mystic River Bascule bridge. As I saw Patrick get out of the car, I ran over to give him a big hug. It was so good to see him and magical to me that he was actually in Mystic, the place he supported us in all the months we were there and had heard so much about. It was wonderful to see Chris as well. They both looked so good! We decided that before going to Stonington to have dinner at our favorite eatery upon the water, we would drive over to the neighborhood the home we loved resided in. As they followed us over and we parked, walking in the brisk air as the impressive hour of dusk was slowly approaching, (one of my favorite times of the day,) we could not stop oohing and awing at all the gorgeous homes. Suddenly, when we arrived to the particular home Kit and I had fallen in love with, with big smiles upon their faces, Patrick told us; 
“As we were waiting for you and Kit to arrive, we drove over and walked through this area and as soon as we saw the historic , large white home with its quaint shutters and the cobblestone fence nestled upon the Mystic River, ‘WE KNEW” it was the one! The entire village by the water was stunning, enthralling and 5-star. All dream homes!
We drove over to Stonington, (another charming and junoesque sea
port town that we I fell in love with while in New England.) It was the place Kit and I heard the Lords voice talking to us about the house on Star Road while on our first trip to Connecticut four years earlier in October. (I had called a few days before we were going to dine at the Skippers Dock and asked for a table with a view of the ocean as well as their romantic and inviting fireplace.) Upon our arrival, with its fresh wood kindling, not only warming our bodies on this chilly fall evening, but it was augustly soothing and comforting to our souls as we sat,
laughed, talked and enjoyed the most delicious fresh seafood. Our table was perfect! Patrick, (wine connoisseur that he is,) ordered a fine wine, almost as if he knew exactly what we were all going to order as it was a robust, award wining wine and was complimentary to each of our meals. With such scrumptious choices of their infamous lobster sandwich, lump Maryland crab-cakes, Bouillabaisse Harbor-view local seafood, scallops, shrimp, cod, tomato fennel saffron broth and Broiled Stonington Scallop Casserole, it was hard to choose. The candle lit tables, blazing fire, ocean view as well as the delightful scenery of
Long Island in the distance, accompanied by the superb, savory entrees along with one another’s fellowship was a night to remember, FOREVER! It was one of those unique stretches of time where you wish you could capture every thought, smile, taste and moments of laughter accompanied by an eminently tranquil peace that flooded your heart and place it within a bottle and open it at times later in your life when you needed to remember the magic of those moments in time that forever would be cherished. Pure BLISS!
After our wondrous regale in Stonington we followed Pat and Chris to our home for the next few days… The beautiful , very impressive Foxwoods Resort on the Mashantucket Pequot Indian reservation, about 20 minutes from Mystic. Upon arrival, before us was an enchanting fortress, alight with thousands upon thousand of bright lights…reminding me of the magical castles at Disneyland. As we entered the resort, we were all pleasantly surprised, (even though it was the eve before Thanksgiving day, ) that the hotel had already started its celebration of the holidays as it was classically embellished with a myriad of themed Christmas trees in a brilliant, incandescent kaleidescope of colors. We had entered a respite ensconced in luxurious surroundings, creating within each guest a sense of awe accompanied with wonderment. (Some believe that “less is more,” but I definitely agreed with this dramatically bedecked Resorts decorator’s…More is More.” ) We felt pampered , treated like royalty and were surrounded by a grand convivial spirit that created a cozy feeling of warmth and joy within. Truly, Foxwoods did everything first class and we felt so very blessed to be treated to such a fabulous get-a-way.
When we opened the door to our suite, Kit and I were both in awe. I thought it would be a bedroom and bath, but it was accompanied by a charming kitchen , a resplendent sitting area with a cable TV, a spacious yet cozy bedroom with an over-sized jacuzzi bathtub. (I knew where I’d be spending all my time. ) There sitting on the bed was an adorable teddy bear (to add to my collection,) and a box of See’s chocolates from California. (Kits and my favorite chocolates in all the world.) Pat and Chris were so very thoughtful. Their suite was right across the hall, a “ditto ” of ours. We all gave each other big hugs…(I wanted to get in that tub), said Thank you about ten times and planned to meet in the morning for breakfast in their suite . Kit and I truly felt so pampered, and welcomed… It was most definitely an evening we both will always hold close in our hearts.
Okay, before I get to Thanksgiving day, I have to tell you the story of the “Jacuzzi Bathtub” experience. I wish there had been a set of directions of how much bubble bath to put in this King-size tub with its many jets. I poured in ‘way to much’ creating the bubbles to overflow over the tub and all over the beautifully tiled floor. (oops!) It really was a hilarious moment worth capturing in a photo! We laughed as we tried so hard to clean up all bubbles…we ran out of towels so we had to wait for house cleaning to bring more.
THANKSGIVING DAY
Our breakfast with Patrick and Chris was first class, as everything at Foxwoods resort was. It seemed so surreal to Kit and I being with two of our favorite people enjoying a bounty of beauty and splendor all around us at such a festive time of year in a state we adored. (I had to laugh at Patrick…he is the brother in all my other chapters that loves pastries and going to coffee bars …it was a hoot to watch him eat breakfast, he had not changed one bit, as he enjoyed many a sweet confection on all of our breakfast trays. )
Our holiday consisted of touring the resort, popping into a melange of charming shops and stopping for a light snack as we were saving up for our Thanksgiving meal. Kit and I could feel the presence and joy of the Lord the entire day, not wanting our time at Foxwoods to end . We all took a quick break to our suites to freshen up for our dinner… Yes, I took another jacuzzi bath, this time there was a little less cascade of bubbles, though we still needed housecleaning. (I was learning. )
We found the perfect place in the downtown plaza for our celebration dinner. Not only did this eatery possess an eminently cozy ambiance but the abundance of ambrosial aromas beckoned each of its guests with the promise of an amazing and blithesome Thanksgiving buffet…It was a feast before our eyes, we did not even know where to start filling our plates as there were so many choices. I believe they covered every type of cuisine possible. Of course they offered the traditional roasted turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, sweet potato soufflé, stuffing and pumpkin pie, (which we all had small portions of , hoping to still be able to enjoy the other entrees. ) There was gourmet Chinese and Japanese food, Spicy Italian, savory Southwestern, Vegetarian dishes, fresh, decadent seafood entrees along with a variety of home baked breads and their ‘sweet indulgences’ were beyond any brunch or buffet dinner Kit and I had ever been to. I was so full I could barely eat another bite, but we still each chose different deserts to bring back to the table to share with one another. After a few cups of freshly brewed coffee, and sitting for awhile, we decided to take another long walk around the resort. I have to say this was by far the best Thanksgiving dinner we had ever had… Except for my moms Turkey dinner , (with all the fixings,) as I was growing up.
I cant leave out the sweet confections!
As we walked all our calories off…(HA!, like that could ever happen,) our talking was endless…there were no quiet moments. We decided to stop for a glass of fine wine… ( and yes, Patrick picked it out for us.) The place we chose was absol
utely perfect as it was quiet, uncrowded and very cozy with an ambiance that was inviting, welcoming and regal. It still felt copiously surreal as we sat together for hours, sipping our wine, sharing stories from the past, plans for our futures and our excitement about the upcoming Christmas season.
Our evening ended at the renowned Foxwoods casino. Chris gave us each some cash to play some of the slot machines…no we did not make any money as Kit and I had never gambled, but it was fun trying. I hated the night to end as we knew Pat and Chris were leaving for their flight to the west coast the next day and we would be headed back to Delaware. (Little did we know they had paid for Kit and I to stay an extra day and night to have some time to ourselves.) Not many people come as thoughtful and generous as these two. 
The next morning we met them in their suite once again for a delicious breakfast. We were all trying to avoid the inevitable. No one wanted to say goodbye and it was extremely difficult as we did not know when we would see them again. We stalled for as long as we could and then gave each other several hugs,and said our goodbyes. There were some tears and many a “thank you” for all they had done.
So far, I have shared the “SWEET.” We thanked God for all the magnificent times we shared with Pat and Chris, all the laughter, shared stories and memories, delicious food , jacuzzi baths and we laughed so hard thinking about our “gambling night,” as Pat, kit and I lost all our money while Chris kept winning!
At first Kit and I were excited to have the day, evening and next morning alone together as we planned to retrace all our steps from 4 years earlier. We went for a latte at our favorite coffee pub in Mystic, drove by the house again, visited the shops downtown, the Mystic River , Stonington and Noank, (one of our favorite places next to Mystic.) We stopped and got a bite to eat at a restaurant that was still there that we loved as we continued our day . Besides missing Patrick and Chris, as the day went on, Kit and I began feeling somewhat of an emptiness within. It was as if the anointing from the Lord we had felt years before in Connecticut was no longer present. Instead was a vacant, void feeling within our hearts as we visited each once familiar place. The town had changed quite a bit in our absence. Many of the shops we loved and remembered were no longer there. There were no signs that the house was going to come up for sale as we drove by, noticing the owners had made lovely changes to their beautiful abode nestled upon the River. Kit and I knew that as believers, the Lord tells us not to go by our feelings or by what we SEE, but instead to pray and trust Him with all of our hearts and to walk by faith and not by sight…we made a conscious decision to do just that. I think the reason we loved Mystic so much was because of God…He had walked and talked with us when we were there in faith years before and His presence was so strong, we could feel His joy and smiles…at this time, we felt nothing. Our expectations had been to re-experience what we did when we first journeyed to Connecticut, when the Lord had revealed all that He did when He led us to this enchanting city.
We cut our day short and headed back to the resort. My heart ached for Kit as he was intensely under attack spiritually with a sundry of doubts , wondering if we had misheard God, along with thoughts if our entire time in Connecticut was truly of God in the way we had thought it all meant. (Its amazing to me at times how the enemy knows how to use our emotions to bring doubt to what at one time, we knew was God 100%.) We tried to make the best of the rest of our stay… we spent time praying, putting our doubts and questions before the Lord, knowing He knew exactly what He was doing and our every need. 
We decided to eat in as Chris had paid ahead for us to rent a movie on cable that evening. The Lord heard our prayers and our spirits lifted (a little) as we walked down to the plaza, looking for a place to get some dinner to bring back to our suite. Getting out of our room for awhile was good for us…how could we not feel better with all the beauty of Christmas that surrounded us as we walked and talked, (along with the Lords work within our hearts and emotions.)
We chose Fudruckers… yes, what is better as a comfort food than cheeseburgers and fries? We built our burgers and looked forward to relaxing in our suite , watching one of our favorite movies of the sagas of Jason Bourne. With our glass of wine, candles lit, feet up, both of our pulses normal and the thought of seeing Grantham the next day, our last evening in Connecticut was blessed. Did I dare take another bubble jacuzzi bath?
The next morning we had a delicious breakfast in our room, packed up and headed out a little early…(we missed Grantham so much and could hardly wait to see him and get back to our cozy abode. ) During our 6 hour drive back to Delaware, we enjoyed the blessing of a gorgeous sunny day, blue skies and once again seeing all of the alluring seaports as well as the fading, but still soothing colors of the autumn season, (even though the Winter equinox had already arrived.) 
Kit and I saw an abundance of Christmas decorations , listened to one of our favorite Christmas CD’s, Mannheim Steamroller and talked about what we were both thinking. “Why did God bring us back to mystic four years later? ” Yes, we had a wonderful time with Patrick and Chris… the entire time with them was magical. We enjoyed showing them around the area we had believed for, (and they had only heard about years before.) We wondered if it could possibly be a test of our faith from the Lord, or that He just wanted to bless us and what we were feeling was an attack from the enemy because we could not feel or see anything happening in what we were called to hope for. Kit and I both agreed that God desired to create a new faith and strength within our spirits through this trip. We asked God all about our “WHY’S” and though He did not give us an answer that afternoon as we drove home, what He did do was give us His peace. The quietude and repose we felt accompanied with our excitement to see Grahammy, plus a quick stop for our road trip treat at McDonald’s before the Bay Bridge, (another one of our stomping grounds,) we were feeling much better.
~And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.~ What a beautiful promise God has given us in this passage of His word.
Before we knew it, we arrived to our ” home sweet home.” Tina had already brought Graham back to the house and talk about excited , happy and beside himself, Graham acted as if we had been gone a month. He could not stop running back and forth to Kit and I, wagging his tail, (in triple mode,) giving us lots of kisses and of course reminding us that it was his dinner time. It felt good to unpack, make a pot of coffee and be with our little (BIG ) guy…. Kit and I truly were at peace with it all and knew that if the Lord wanted to tell us about why He gave us this time in Mystic and answer our questions, He would, otherwise, the peace He gave us was enough to continue to stand on all that He had done and spoken to us over the years, as God gave us once again the measure of faith we needed to continue on our journey even in the things we did not understand. Romans 4:21; ” and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.” We truly were once again assured!
I could hardly wait for the next day to begin bedecking our home with Christmas cheer. Kit and I missed not having all the Thanksgiving leftovers for snacking, meals and of course a big pot of Turkey soup, but we would not have traded the wondrous Thanksgiving dinner we shared in Connecticut with people so dear to our hearts.
Our Christmas season was blessed with a collage of joyous gatherings with friends, Christmas dinner with Tina, Mark and the family, Holiday movies, shopping at the beach outlets, listening to Christmas carols, enjoying the alluring scents of the season, whether with our delightful Yankee candles, ( “Home for the Holidays,” and “Christmas wreath,”) or the delicious aromas of sugar cookies and sour cream coffee cake delightfully wafting from our kitchen oven. We enjoyed an abundance of calls from our friends and family in California, South Carolina and Oklahoma. The year ended in a great peace, joy and pure contentment. Kit and I were back in our place of complete faith in God’s call and promises to us as He confirmed His word to us and took away any doubts, confusion or emptiness we had experienced the month before on our trip. As we drank our eggnog topped with real whipped cream,( it truly is the only way to serve it,) we reveled in our wonderful memories of the treasured times we spent at Foxwoods with our two favorite hosts. I love how God is so thorough and meets our every need, (In His way and time,) just as His word says.
As believers, (especially when the Lord is working on changing and strengthening our faith and trust in HIM,) we all have the mix of bitter with the sweet…The challenges God puts us through are always uncomfortable as we struggle with what He has spoken to our hearts and what things look like in our humanness. Knowing that the “word of the Lord” is always tested, the more we walk in faith and not sight, we will have our times of angst, the battle to fight in the spirit against the lies of the enemy and our doubts at times. Our promises though , are already completed in Jesus, (God sees them as finished, ) even when they do not happen in a time we believed they would . BUT, there is always the sweet…. the cherished, amicable, kind and LOVING acts of God that help us in our times of doubt and challenge. God calls us to think upon all the things He has already done in our past with all of His miracles and breakthroughs, promises that already have come about, and His glorious gifts along the way as we grow. Gifts from Him such as His peace, His precious presence, an unexpected token or card of encouragement in the mail, a surprise phone call from a friend to cheer us up or waking up and knowing He has taken a once heavy burden off of our shoulders, replacing it with a new measure of faith along with a new freedom, joy and peace within. (Or, it could be an all expenses paid get away with two of your favorite people in all the world...just because He loves us all, His kids, so much!
I could not think of a better song to end this chapter. Just the voice that God has bestowed upon this new Christian artist is miraculous and his heart is so in love with Jesus, the one who directs every step of our life. God bless you!
- PHOTOGRAPHS: In placing your computer mouse upon any of the photos or graphics, it will display where the picture originated from.
My stumbling block in being able to receive? My spiritual relationship with my earthly dad. After God gave me the scripture; Genesis 1:27, (So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them, He led me to begin searching the bible for all of the distinct female traits He possessed within His character . As I did, one of the scriptures He directed me to was in Isaiah 66. It is commonly known that as little girls, our dads on earth are “our first love,” a man in whom we think of as idyllic and our “hero.” My father and I loved one another and he was a great man and I knew he loved me unconditionally. The issue at hand was that my dad and I never connected spiritually. My faith and relationship with Jesus made no sense to my dad and at times I could see and feel his frustration greatly as he watched me live out my faith as a child, teen and as I became an adult woman. We just seem to not understand one another in this part of our lives. At times in his teasing, (he was an avid ‘kidder’ ) he would tell me that I was ” way out there in my faith. ” My relationship with him made it hard to connect at times with the Lord as I always thought of God as a male figure, just like my dad. I had thoughts that perhaps God felt the same way as my earthly dad and it was hard to truly believe some of the truths the bible tells us about WHO GOD IS. I truly wanted to believe and receive all of Gods truths and all that He desired for my life. In our sizable family of ten, the closest (and person I trusted with all my heart,) was my mom. She possessed many Godly characteristics , was my best friend, exceptionally loving, caring, my prayer partner and an extraordinaire woman of God as well as a fabulous mom . As mother and daughter, we totally “got each other,” understanding one another’s thoughts and feelings without even having to speak a word. I believe the Lord chose my mom and my dad as our parents. They each, in the measure God had given them within, lived out their faith as they knew it. God knew my mom and I would be deeply bonded in Jesus, as we shared the same passion for the Lord. He also knew my heart and that I LONGED to be intimate with Him and know Him fully. I believe He chose this particular time in my life to reveal and heal me in an area in which I could not do it for myself. He wanted me to ponder as well as explore the things in my relationship with my mom that were characteristics He possessed as well. In doing so,
I realized her unconditional love and total understanding and acceptance of me, were a means in which God reshaped my view of God as my father…that He approved of me, just as I was, and that He was genuinely caring, and a loving God who had a never ending supply of grace for me, his daughter. No parent is perfect and was certainly not meant to be our God, (who is our all in all.) Parents are there to raise us, teach us, guide us, love us unconditionally and believe it or not, are an extremely important part of shaping and molding our personalities for life, up until we reach the age of five years old. I thank the Lord so much for freeing me from this hindrance within my spirit, for His healing and for how much it has changed my life, especially my relationship with God. (I know this sharing is a little ‘off the subject ‘ pertaining to the rest of this chapter, ) but I kept feeling a nudge in my spirit to add it to this writing, as this passage means so very much to me as God used it to set me free. I hope it is an encouragement ! 
( I laugh now, though at the time, I did not,) when Kit and I were residing in Alexandria Virginia, working in Washington DC at a Christian News Company and were awesomely blessed to meet two lovely ladies, in whom both were prophets from Australia. One night, they came to our home for dinner and it was a night I will always remember… 
The Lord blessed us all, (including Grantham) with such a calming peace and felicitous camaraderie. We enjoyed an ambrosial meal by candle light and I remember an abundance of laughter around our dining room table that notable evening. We adjourned into the living room with our coffee and the two of them, Elizabeth and Paulina asked if they could minister and pray for us. Kit and I felt so honored as we both respected their walks with God and admired their faith and ministries immensely. 
Paulina actually prayed over Graham as well…it was really a blessed time as I’d never seen anyone except Tina, ( and that was at a later time as you know,) take such an interest in seeking Gods welfare for our Grahammy. When we shared about the vision and call upon our lives, they both felt a confirmation within their spirits that it was from God and we were right on track. We asked them; (as they were very seasoned ladies of God and were living out their ministries that they too had waited for; ) “How 
long do you think it will be before God brings about this calling on our life, it has already been 5 years? I wish I had a camera, better yet a video camera so you could hear their voices and see their faces, as they got ready to answer our question. They both (simultaneously) chuckled, then smiled. It was Elizabeth who first began sharing her heart with us. “You two are so cute to think that after the Lord gives you a vision and a call on your lives that it will happen quickly. After God calls you and reveals His heart, He then begins to make you into the perfectly molded vessels that He can trust and who will be able to fulfill the call He has placed upon you in your service to Him. This does not happen right away.” I smiled, but inside I was feeling like, Really? Would God actually call us when we are young and have an abundance of energy to host the retreat home and not bring it all about until we were older, (and a little bit slower?) I know that is a strange thought but I think it was the beginning of my realization that this was not going to happen overnight as Kit and I had so hoped.) Our two dear friends encouraged us, gave us words from the Lord and reminded us to stand strong in our faith, and know God will always do what He says he will do. (IN HIS TIME!)
We had no words to say, (except ‘thank you’ for your wonderful support and prayers.) Kit and I had the faith, (Gods gift) to continue no matter what things looked like…we had no answers except that we believed God and what He had spoken to us, as well as confirmed many a time and would continue to stand and obey. I love the passage in Gods word; “For I say, through the grace which has been given to me, to every one that is among you, not to have high thoughts above what he should think; but to think so as to be wise, as God has dealt to each a measure of faith.” Romans 12:3. Kit and I had to “let go” of what others felt as we understood that God had not given them the same measure of faith for what He was asking of us. Believe me, it was not an easy task, but one that caused us to hold on to the Lord Himself in a stronger way. We smiled at how the Lord would bring new people into our lives, when we needed it, who believed with us and supported us in our journey . His faithfulness and thoughtfulness amazes kit and I, beyond measure. 
In our daily time with the Lord, one day He spoke to us and told us that He wanted us to place our promise, His vision and call upon our lives to host King’s Tavern on the back burner. It was OK that we did not understand it all…HE DID! He revealed it was time to focus on the now… Living in Delaware was in NO WAY a detour from His plans for us…It had been a part of His desire and perfect will since the beginning. God sees His words to us and promises in WHOLE, we see them in part. We could now see Isaiah 66, being much bigger than the ending of our journey when Gods glory would be revealed in bringing about the home and ministry, as it something only He can do…His glory, favor and miracles had been with us the entire way and we would come to find out that the things He had for us in Delaware were only an extension of His promises, loving-kindness, grace and life changing power …For He fulfilled this entire passage in Isaiah, within our lives in this new land He had brought us to for whatever amount of time He deemed it to be. When He confirms our faith and sends encouragement, it is to keep us strong in the call upon our lives a s well as our BELIEVING IN HIM! His promises are not just for the time when His glory is revealed and He brings about His covenant…they are for the present, the NOW. Our life in Delaware was a time that we would be blessed in a way we had never known with our new home, Christian family and the in-depth ministry we would be apart of , changing us in ways we’d never imagined. He also showed us that In His perfect time, He would move us to the state where we would be planted and settled, never to move again…
(Yeah! No more sending all of our friends and family “We’re moving AGAIN” cards,) as our address seemed to change like the Tides in the ocean. 
The Lord would say to you two ; “His delay is not a denial...His delay in your request is not a denial. He has heard your requests and will grant them. Miracles, miracles…yes you will see many miracles.” Remind you, that this man of God did not know us at all, or that we had recently parked by a grassy knoll in the midst of a pharaonic
The Lord was so gracious to strengthen and encourage our faith, by leading us to read through some of our prayer journals written over the years.( We have boxes of them throughout the house. 
truly did speak to us at all. Kit and I have learned that God will always give encouragement when needed… He is the one keeping our flames burning, no matter how low at times they may start to burn and a tiny flicker is all you see. It is THEN that He blows upon them, causing them to dance and sail, burning strong once again as He supernaturally adds an abundance of His measure of faith to us to trust in Him and His words and not in what we are SEEING before our eyes.
I remember when I was in my teens and attended Chuck Smith Seniors church in Southern California. His bible study on Gods timing was something I will never forget. He shared that when God speaks to you, He is speaking from an entirely different perspective than what you can understand, as He sees and knows everything from start to finish. He used the Rose parade as an example. If you are watching a Callithump and are in the front row or perhaps standing upon the street, you can only see and understand what is right in front of you,
but, if you were seeing it from above, looking down upon this jubilant, colorful extravaganza, your perspective would be seeing it all at once … from start to finish. That helps me immensely in my understanding of what God’s meaning is (not mine,) when He speaks things in the spirit. (His promises included.)
(Good idea, we would just have to remember where all the posts and flags were as we traveled so much. 
We were so blessed by God as we lived within in our new home.The entire new year we felt as if God was keeping us in a ‘respite mode’. Our ‘365 days’ were filled with the ‘stuff ‘ dreams are made of. 
No longer did we need to share our bathroom with anyone or have to whisper if we did not want to be heard. 
We often had dinner with Sam and Dina. They always made sure that we knew with every invitation that Graham was their third guest. 
, we enjoyed a heartening and comforting time while 
Tina and Mark invited us over for every holiday, truly treating us like their own family, (Grahammy too.) We loved Tina’s Spiral hams at Easter , Melissa’s homemade macaroni and cheese at Christmas and their BBQ’s on the 4th of July. We just LOVED being with them. 
I forgot that not everyone likes hot and spicy like we do . From then on out, when they came for dinner, my Tabasco, red pepper flakes and Cayenne pepper were put as far away as possible in our pantry. 
lingering for hours over coffee as we made new memories in our close times of sharing. Danielle and Dustin were a perfect match, complimenting one another in every way…He was very quiet 
with a wry sense of humor as Danielle was refreshingly bubbly, always causing us to laugh with her animated stories , then Dustin would pipe in and make us smile and chuckle all the more. They too had become the best of friends to Kit, Graham and I. (Everyone loves Grahammy…Our little, (BIG) mascot, a gift from God for our journey!) 
When she served us in their winsome dinning room, It was as if we were dinning at a cozy restaurant up in the mountains. Rachael has such a sweet , innocent way about her, not even knowing how hilarious and endearing she is to us all…she always made her friends smile and laugh, whether we were alone with her and her family , at Tina’s gatherings or Vito’s bible studies. Gavin and Nikki would drop by on their way into town as they lived near the beach in Lewes, bringing so much joy to our day or evening. The two of them were always so “up” and happy and they never came empty handed, always bringing such fetching tokens of love. I will never forget the afternoon they brought homemade soup for our dinner , still warm from the stove. We enjoyed a very powerful time of prayer with Scarlet and James as they came over one mid morning. The two of them were each others yin and yang, they completed each other perfectly and were truly an ideal couple. Now, if you were to observe them and their personalities, they were entirely different from one another. Scarlet, a woman of great stature and authority in the Lord, was extremely bold and you always knew exactly what she was thinking, where as James, was a small, quiet man and immensely humble, yet when he spoke, it was as if he was truly reading your mail from Heaven... (He always spoke with an abundance of love and kindness and his words were pure…he definitely had the gift of hearing God clearly. 
To burn off all our calories, we took a long walk along the renowned boardwalk over looking the mesmerizing blue ocean, with a myriad of visitors, (all shapes, sizes, and an affable combination of the youthful and those in their seasoned years, ( still very young at heart.) 
he joy in my heart to watch my husband and best friend in life, be so fulfilled and happy to be running his own company for the Lord. He kept getting new clients by word of mouth, but we knew it was God. 
Next, The Lord blessed me with the “hum of activity,” as He brought new projects into my life. Besides loving our new home and being a full time homemaker, (I took great joy in finding new recipes from the food network (from my favorite chefs, ) and trying them out on Kit. (Grantham too. 
One of our fav’s; “THE GIFT OF SNOW!” Growing up in California, the only snow I saw was up at our cabin in Big Bear. I do not believe that Southern California has ever seen an inch of the white fluff. 
come out and clear the streets the next day.) 
Another comfort from the Lord, filled with pure reverie and childlike fun, not so much for the “guys,” but for the women in our Christian family, we had discovered the JOY of a ladies Afternoon Tea…an idyllic time of repose from the demands of every day life. Whether at the charming and alluring Victorian Tea room down town, where upon entry, you could choose your favorite fancy tea hat to wear while dining upon scrumptious scones, ambrosial pots of tea, specialty quiches or gourmet, tasty salads.(Not to mention their selection of yummy decadent confections for dessert.) A few of us took on the “most enjoyable” honor of hosting a ladies Tea at our own homes. We loved treating our dear friends with a “pamper day.” With rich boisterous colors, our tables were dressed to the hilt. We each picked our own theme; Autumns joy, A Baronial Christmas , The magic of Springtime, Summer’s splendor , 
a bizzaro and polychromatic, ( Alice in Wonderland,) tablescape for Valentines Day or A Winter wonderland theme. We not only enjoyed many a spectacular meal, bonding with one another in our friendships, but after dessert, (when we were absolutely ‘filled to the brim,’ or should I say our stomachs were,) we received a wonderful gift before we all left our marvelous day together. We would have a precious time of praise and worship and then Tina would minister to each lady… So not only were we blessed with amazing fellowship, delightful food but our spirits were filled with joy, hope and a renewed intimacy with Jesus.
eme she would come up with for our luncheon? The very thing she knew we loved the most...for me it was ‘Christmas time’ so even though I am not a December baby, she would make my party all about Christmas. Tina was most definitely, the cornerstone of our entire women’s group. (Truly one of THE MOST giving, loving women I have ever known.) 
THE GRACE OF GOD. Kit and I now know that Vito was a major part of our being in this gorgeous state surrounded by tranquil waters. He was a man in whom you could set your watch by as He was forever in tune with the spirit of God, walked his talk and loved others with the love of Jesus. His teachings were unlike anything Kit or I had ever experienced within our lives. We were most certainly blessed by many of the Christians, whether Ministers of great churches or well known Godly leaders from other countries, Teachers, Prophets, Worship leaders and Preachers while we worked at the Christian News company in downtown Washington DC. Those two years were packed with life changing lessons and Kit and I “grew up” in the Lord in areas we needed to, (even though often times, doing the head shaking thing.) 
This knowledge is perhaps one of the greatest gifts of security, love and comfort we have ever received. Again, we never stopped thanking God for all He had done within this state. A state where at one time, we didn’t even know a soul… we had never even thought about the state of Delaware until we met Tina in Virginia at a prayer meeting that Clarissa called and invited us to. Meeting Tina and becoming friends with her and her family changed our entire life. (And God knew all along, it would.) 
I have to share a little about the blessings and favor within the community God had given us in our quaint, Victorian city . Here are just a few of Its many benefits that have truly enlivened our lives...a local Gym in which the Lord enabled us to join…we worked out many a time in the wee early hours together…yes, it was still dark out…I quit, (I prefer aerobic dancing within the privacy of our living room and 4:00 AM is to early to rise, ) but Kit has stayed on for years and has met some really great gym buddies, 
one of them being one of his best friends at this time. Down town, there is an entertaining and cheerful Farmers market held every summer…the vendors come and sell anything you can think of…my favorites being the extravagant, kaleidoscopic hanging flower baskets for our porch , fresh local fruits and vegetables and homemade gourmet food from our local eateries, slowly cooking on the outside grills…Not only is there plenty of fabulous foods, but it smells like heaven as you leisurely browse down the alluring and charming streets. Our library is first class and the people there are very friendly. ( I use this modern, yet warm and cozy facility quite a bit.) For a writer, an hour is not nearly enough time to “look” and make a decision of which 
10 books, (yes, that is the limit,) I will choose to take home with me. 
with its captivating waterways, charming harbors, lighthouses and some of the best eateries in the entire state. Its neighbor, 5 minutes away, is the mesmerizing Rehoboth beach known as the Nations Capital beach 
as it entertains hundreds of Washingtonians yearly, with its exuberant celebrations, sand castle competitions, jazz festivals, concerts, famous restaurants and some of the most beautiful beaches in the country.. We are 140 minutes from DC, an hour away from the Brandy wine country, and 55 miles from one of our favorite places in the world, Annapolis Maryland! Our hearts are filled with many happy memories within this magical seaport. We visited there with my brother Jim, my younger brother Patrick and Chris, (all from the west coast,) close friends or sometimes, it was just Kit , I and Grahammy, spending a beautiful sunny day together amongst an abundance of Historic buildings , quaint boutiques, coffee pubs and mesmerizing blue waters. It is a portentous place to visit for a day or for a week vacation, enjoying their wealth of decadent fresh seafood, an Italian eatery with a menu filled with dulcet , authentic entrees that will add some “spice” to your palates , the prestigious Naval academy, breathtaking sea ports, and the town’s enchanted streets that look as if they belong in a magical fairy-tale.
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God blesses us through the love of a friend, a body of believers who pray for us, a sibling we love as a dear friend, long luxurious bubble baths, laughter, (“til our sides ache,) His breathtaking handiwork upon the earth... a fresh snowfall, a spouse who is your best friend… and we all know the list could continue for ever… 