Dog overboard!

So I came home tonight after eating supper with Scott and he said go get the dogs and I will wait here for you.  He was waiting at the end of the dock and I ran to the boat seen the dogs jumping excited to see me so I put the plank that they use to walk across from the boat to the dock down and then I remembered I wanted to get the kitten too so I went to get on the plank at the same time Bella our tiny little dog collided with my leg and she went splash right into the water I screamed SCOTT as I quickly jumped for the light, it was so dark and the water is dark I knew we could not see her with out a light.  So I finally got the light close enough to the dock and Scott was lowering his self down face first to grab her she was going under the dock and going under so he finally just went in after her.  He put her up on the dock and we looked around and all the other live aboard boaters was standing watching waiting to see if they could help.  I wanted to cry to see so many people come to our rescue was heart warming.  Scott got out I wrapped Bella in a towel and we all stood around and talked for a moment.  Scott finally jokingly said ok ok the show is over you crazy boat people go back to your fire.  They always sit around a fire at night and talk.  Everyone laughed and knew he just wanted to get out of those wet clothes. 

Poor Bella she was sneezing water and shaking like a leaf.  I put her in a sink of warm water and went ahead and bathed her, she was not happy.  Then to top it off we where winding down Scott was laying down I was playing on the computer when all of a sudden I seen him jump the kitten was going out the port hole.  O man he grabbed her just in time.  I was like WHAT could you imagine two animals in one night that would
not have been good.  We surly would have been the talk of the marina if that would have happened.  All this is making me realize just how careful we are going to have to be when we move on to Captiva.  We are going to have to invest in nets to go around the boat so that we have extra protection for them.  Also we are going to have to buy them each a life vest.  Sounds funny but they do make them and even small enough for
Bella I am not sure about the kitten but I am going to find something for her. 

I always say I raised my 4 girls and now here I am raising these animals when do I get to just relax and rest.  I guess never and I would not trade it for anything I do love them its just the worry and stress I hate.  So another day aboard Redletters with excitement in the air or should I say the water. :)

Praying Sailing and Praying!

Prayer

Prayer is powerful but what is it really? We say pray pray pray and do we even know how or what we are doing when we pray? The Bible says that the fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. What exactly does that mean? I have been through many things in this life and I have always believed in the power of prayer but lately I want to go deeper I want it to be real I want it to be what God intended it to be and what I have come to believe is that true prayer is worship, adoration, loving our Heavenly Father. You know truly getting Him. I mean we take time to argue about it to ponder on it but do we really do it in a way that is pleasing to Him. We live in such a fast paced world that it has been stolen from us that is if you ever really got it in the first place. I think you know when you have truly been in His presence in worship and in prayer and you feel it and then you see Him move on your behalf. But lately I just am exhausted with this life. I am tired of trying to figure it out and in reaching this point I think I have figured it out. Just give up just give in just trust God and let Him meet you each and every day. I don’t want to try any more to make something happen I want to live in the moment knowing that the God of this universe who created me has a plan and a purpose and he wrote mysteries and adventures for me to guide me and give me strength when I feel weak. I don’t and won’t strive any more. It is funny I am working in a place where competition is abounding I mean we are to sell products and you can make a lot of money if you do. I love the products and can see that they are quality so I know I will be good at selling them because I can be honest in promoting them. However as I think about this and place a challenge out to the other girls to stay on top I find I really do not care. I mean it is natural for me to sell and talk and be a feisty go getter but inside I am like who cares, the other girls do or should and I care to the point of doing a good job but if I lose a sell does it matter to me? NO I have been thinking about God and how big he is and how he has made the path for me so very easy lately. And I think really all I want to do is share with my friends and others the secret to a happy fulfilled life and that is to surrender. I surrender all. That song I grew up in church singing and now I really mean it. I think what is really getting me is that I am in a very high end spa dressing up again and wearing my makeup the very things I could not wait to leave and now I am back but it is different I do not feel the pressure of striving to please. Don’t get me wrong I do a good job but the job I am doing I love. But more than that I know that each new person in my life is a person that I have to live my life out loud in front of. This is the will of my Father and this is what pleases Him. But what I long for most is to feel him to sit in His presence and just love Him and worship Him telling Him thank you so much for the new lives in my life the treasure of live aboard relationships how quickly they come and go and how we will never forget them.

As Jeff and Theresa left the marina the other day I felt my throat tighten and tears begin to sting my eyes and I was taken back by the emotion. We hardly know them yet we love them dearly and to think of them brings a smile to Scott and my face. We laugh and remember funny things they said and we are joyful at the thought of them falling in love and we had , have the honor of watching this take place. We will see them again they are coming to Captiva to visit so why the emotion why the almost tears? I don’t know except for I have asked God to give me love and compassion for people and he has. Also I feel so grateful to have met all these friends along the way and know that we will all go are separate ways at some point. We encourage each other and we love to hear and know that someone is moving on because the adventure and the thrill is out on the ocean and at each new port.

This is my new prayer that our Heavenly Father continues to teach us to draw close to Him as we cast our gaze upon the Sun Sets and the Sun Rise the blue water with dolphins and manatees. As we catch fish and enjoy the fresh taste. May we sit for a moment or for moments and think of our brothers and sisters who too are somewhere lazily rocking in their boat and we feel the corners of our mouths lift with the memories playing in our minds and the knowing that they too are somewhere meeting new friends or just spending quiet time reflecting on the days gone by and embracing a stirring of emotion because we all agree we have a kindred spirit with our fellow live aboard's. We are one of a kind. We are strong we are adventurous and we are courageous. I pray that through my writings I could remind myself and my friends to give God our time how dare we enjoy this amazing life His sunsets and sunrises and big blue ocean with out taking the time to tell Him we love Him.

I am going to do my best to catch as many sunrises and sunsets and make a point to sit quietly and think of the other live a boards and pray for them. I want to pray for their safety for their salvation for their knowledge of God and His great Love for them and His great power to lead and guide and protect them. I want them to know that someone cares and lifts them up and I know in turn they will do the same for me. So to my fellow live a board's here is to you to life and to our adventure. May you know that your names will cross my lips at each sunset and sun rise that I am able to sit before. I will pray to our Father that you will be protected and that you will be provided for. I pray that you will soak up His love and you will feel and see His great hand upon your life. This is when I believe I will truly know what prayer is about. Because I believe prayer like this will make our God smile down from heaven. He created us so that we would share with Him in all the beauty and goodness of this world and who He is. It is a sad thing that the fall of man brought such evil into this beautiful world but we know that God will one day put a stop to all the suffering and we will see Him face to face. I want to see my friends in heaven I want to share in that ultimate adventure with them.

So all this said and done, Look to the Father to Jesus Christ for He is our Hope. And as always Sail on!

　

　

　




　

　

Oh so Close.

Well we are drawing closer to the day of being able to set sail for Captiva.  I can not wait I am already so tired of the drive.  I still love my new job at Kay Caspersons but my feet are killing me I am not used to standing all day.  It is a very fast paced environment.  If you are not busy at the desk then you have to run to the laundry room to get fresh robes, slippers, sheets, and towels.  Then you have to go up staired check the bathrooms and the treatment rooms for dirty laundry gather it and take it to the laundry room.  I am working three departments facials, massage and front desk which means I have three people over me.  I am surprise at the lack of patience my co-workers have.  I don't know why I am surprised or is it that I just hate all this negativity pointed towards me.  Its been don't do that do this and do this and don't do that Uggg  I am like Lord are you sure???  Yes I do believe this is exactly where I am suppose to be and if I have to do this it will only make me stronger and help me to stretch and grow.  I am determined to stick it out and help with earning the money to get Redletters where she needs to be.  We are SO CLOSE to being able to be over at Captiva where we will anchor out and save money and also I will only be a few minutes from where I work.  I love the Island and I can not wait to ride my bike all over her.  Also my friends are living there and I cant wait to spend some time with them.  I miss Danny and Jacob alot. 
Well I am going to go because Bimini will not let me be she is biting and scratching and it is driving me crazy.  I love that little kitten but she just wants to jump on the key board while I am typing so frustrating.

Hope to have a more interesting story next time!

This is a God thing!

Well here I am alone on Redletters.  I say alone no not really alone for I have two dogs and a kitten.  Thing is they like to retire early.  If we get in the bed and I pick up the  computer they go to sleep.  I guess I am boring them to sleep.  Any way I am with out a Captain which I guess right now makes me the Captain of this vessel. 
I don't mind being on this boat alone and I cant for the life of me figure out why.  I have always been afraid of the dark and really afraid of being in a house at night alone.  I think it has to do with the fact that I am in a small cabin and no one can get in here unless they really make a ruckus.  I am not afraid of being on the water here in the marina.  I love to feel the boat rocking gently.  I have yet to be in a real storm but even then I think I will be able to make it through it. 
This is when I like to say it is a God thing.  It is God who gave me this desire and ability to live this life.  We are strongly determined to have this ministry and to make a difference in the world.  We truly want to make others see Christians differently.  To see that we are daring and courageous and that we have tenacity and true grit.  ( just watched that movie True Grit). 
I have found that to blog is really a difficult thing.  You have to just do it and not think too much about who might read it or you will get no where fast.  I hate to imagine this one or that one reading my words, it then gets me all hung up on correct grahmer and spelling and influences.  I wonder what would they thing or them and then I just shut down.   So I have chosen to put all of that out of my mind and just write.  If someone likes it and dares to read it or even better dares to follow along with me on this journey then it will be.  If not Oh well I am still benefiting from the ability to dump all these thoughts and feelings on to paper which does something I am not sure exactly what but something for me.  I feel refreshed and clean when I am done writing so with out further thoughts on my readers or lack thereof I will write until my heart is content.

So as I was saying tonight the Captain is away tending to work.  I am here on this boat with the animals.  I love this life and I can not wait to go one more step and move to Captiva to live on the hook.  I am praying that I get swamped with work and we are able to make money to invest into Redletters.  We are on quest to get her ready to sail to the Caribbean, in search of a village or community of people who are in great need.  First in need of a savior which we all are and then in need of supplies which we are going to ask our brothers and sisters in Christ to help us with.  We still have about 10,000.00 dollars worth of work that needs to be done so we could be here another year before going to the Bahamas.  I am fine with that I still think we need to mature and get ready mentally and physically before the time is right for us to go.  God is in control of our time of departure.  We know that now more than anything.  Just go ahead and try to make plans with out consulting the Great I am and He will let you know just how great He is.  I trust my God and I have decided to just give it all up to him.  I am praying for my husband that he be the one that God will show where and who and what we are to be doing.  I know now that we are to be witnesses to all people along our path not just a small needy village but any and everyone that God puts in our path.  We are not to over look any person that comes into our life.  We are to show Gods love and His desire for them to live for Him to everyone who crosses our path.  God has a plan and a purpose and he works in mysterious ways and that we are to show to the people he sends to us.  So if you find your self following along with this blog and you question it and find it strange know that it is no coincidence that God orchestrated the meeting.  You are to be a part of this ministry.  Whether you are to give funds, supplies, or you are to make a confession of your faith and accept Jesus Christ as  your Lord and Savior is not my concern.  My concern is that we make sure we are open and aware of each and every person and we as Gods children consider that you need our help our guidance.  We also are in need of you.  Of your prayer, your encouragement, your support.  It has been a hard road for us, I know what we are doing sounds glamorous but please no one forget that this is a misson and we are in great need of friends that will lift us up in prayer and will be concerned for our safety and our ability to complete this task.  Please if you are reading this, make it a priority to pray for our marriage and our ministry.  For Redletters and her ability to take us to the places that will make an impact on the lives of those who need help and salvation.  God has been good to us, we are in a place right now where we can make money to purchase some of the items needed to make our boat sea worthy and safe.  We are in need of a place to worship and we need to make that a priority also.  It is so easy to neglect gathering together with other believers because we are in transition so much but I can tell when I have not worshiped with the body of Christ it is something that I need that keeps me on the straight and narrow and gives me strength. 
Well I am going to go to sleep and pray for a bright and sunny tomorrow.  I pray for my husband and his ability to hear from the Lord. 
Good night friends and God Bless You!

I love Surprises

I love to give surprises not necesaraly recieve them that freaks me out!  But giving them yes.  I am planning a surprise tomorrow for my friend Mimzie and I am so excited about it.  I have conspired with her husband to have her down by the river bank by 4pm to have a massage.  I guess that is why I cant sleep.  Crazy but I keep thinking of how this is going to work I want to get my table down to the shore with out her knowing and also how do I get her on the table gracefully I mean this is the first attempt at something like this and I really dont want it to flop.  I am thinking really she should have a robe to wear but how is that going to happen.  I am just clueless.  I think I will google it maybe the answer lyes there.  I know it will work out I just have to think think think.  Maybe her husband can suggest for her to wear something she can easily slip out of :)  Oh but then she might be disappointed when she finds out it is for the massage :)  No way who would be dispappointed about that.  Ok so I am going to go and look this up and find some tips on how to make this go a little smoother.  If I could just talk to her about it she would say well lets do this and everything would be fine.  Funny I have a feeling she already knows about it anyway!  Ill be back with more on this later.
So my Valentines Day turned out great my husband is home and he is pretty much finished with the job that was keeping him in Wauchula.  So hopefully he can work on the boat and get some of the jobs done that are keeping us from heading to the Caribbean.   I find that I am dreaming about the day that we set sail.  I am dreaming about the islands and what it might be like.  Here at the marina there is always someone willing to tell thier story about thier adventures and it just makes me long to go.  But the longing truly comes from my Father he has placed in me a desire to go to the villages and minister.  I dream of the day that we meet the people that God is calling us to.  I see the children and the mothers and I just can feel my heart begin to swell.  I see us eating together and playing with the kids.  I know one day this will take place and I know that I am in a time of preperation.  I must wait on God!  But I still will dream and pray about this vision and continue to long for them.

Living on the HOOK or is it off the HOOK

May be I should say that living on the hook is off the hook!  But really how should I know?  I dont know I have never lived on the hook which by the way means living on the anchor.  You know living on a sail boat that is anchored out in the water.  So this is our next plan of action we are getting Redletters ready for living on the hook in Captiva.  I am really excited about this as it is one more step in the right direction for us.  At least we will be living on and Island.  Also I just secured a job at South Seas Resort.  I am VERY excited about this.  40 hours doing what I love who could ask for more.

 So here it is living aboard Redletters, living on the island of Captiva, and working at one of the most luxurious resorts in Florida, as a Massage Therapist/Ethstecican with the opportunity to work along side of Kay Casperson and her amazing staff.  I am so very blessed.  I pray that my girls can find life this fullfilling and I pray that this life of mine continues to surprise me.  I think of those that have gone on before us like my mother and my Aunt Clair they have lived a long and happy life, yes they have had to face fears and tragidys such as losing my brother and my dad.  Aunt Clair had to face the scare of cancer in Jerrys life.  But through it all I remember them being strong and overcoming these obsticals in life.  They found a way to be joyful and loving through it all.  I remember seeing the tears and the hurt but I remember the strength that rose up in them. 

I hope and pray that my girls will one day look back on my life and draw the same kind of strength from the memories I leave behind me.

Heading to Captiva

I am so excited, also I have much work to do.  I have landed a job in Captiva which is about one and a half hours from here.  I am working at South Seas Resort at a Spa.  Kay Caspersons Lifestyle Spa and Boutique.  I have not worked like this since I got my license.  Yesterday I gave 7 sessions the one thing I LOVE is that finally I am able to do skin care.  I am so happy.  So we are moving Redletters to Captiva in about 3 weeks.  Captiva is an island north of Sanabell.  It is so beautiful.  Funny I never knew it existed.  This adventure is truly underway.  I still can't believe that we are doing this.  I can't believe my life has changed so much.  I miss my girls still and always will.  But this is an opportunity and I just have to take it.  I am making very good money and this way we will be able to live on the hook.  Liven on the hook is off the hook!  Ha Ha just had to say that like its off the chain but off the hook get it?  Ok anyway.  The Captain of this vessel would like to choke me at times.  I have loaded this boat down with so much stuff that we really are in no shape to sail.  So these next couple of days I have to spend my time stowing away, giving away and throwing away my stuff.  Jeepers I thought I did a good job when we first started getting rid of our stuff but I am a typical woman and I can gather up and cling to stuff as if the world was going to end if I did not have it.  It is a crazy process looking at your stuff analyzing it and deciding do I need this or not.  I hang on to the most senseless things.  So tomorrow I start again.  Its gotta go.  I am ready I have the itch you know the spring cleaning gotta get rid of it itch and when that itch comes your better scratch it because after that comes the I gotta go shopping itch and when you live on a boat you have to get rid of three things before you are aloud to bring on one more thing.  So one thing that I have fallen in love with and have to find away to make room for is my drift wood.  I love it.  This is Mimzies fault but that is ok because the Captain will allow the drift wood for he loves it also and we can sell it.  So I am making garland, little sail boats and crosses out of it.  I love working with it, it gives me a sense of calm while piecing and creating with it.  So I am willing to get rid of some of my other belongings in order to keep the drift wood.  I hope and pray that I wake in the morning with energy and great ideas so that I can get this boat ready for the move to Captiva.  I am so so excited about this.  Number one our friends Steve and Memzie have just moved their and we miss them.  They are doing great.  The have 6 people on their boat right now and seem to be getting along fine.  I mean really think of the memories they have and we will have.  I have dreams and visions of my grandchildren coming to stay the summer with us on the boat.  Seeing the crew of Nomas living aboard the hook is encouraging and gives me confidence that we can do this and that we will have many memories with our family.  I love the Island of Captiva I cant wait to spend the night star gazing and watching the sun go down on the beach.  I cant wait to see how it is going to go with me dinging in from the boat to the marina to go to work.  I have a feeling I am in for a treat along with some surprises.  Our friends have seen dolphins and manatees galore it is just wild to think that very soon I will be living on the hook in Captiva aboard my beloved Redletters.  I love her so much.  I am so blessed to have this opportunity to see another part of the world.  To think that one day we will really set sail and travel to the Bahamas and the Dominican. We want to share the love of Christ with the world, we want to do Gods will.  Right now the Spa that I am working at is very High end.  Our clients our wealthy which truly is something to see.  I remember God speaking to me one day and telling me not to be surprised when I Begin to witness to the wealthy corporate type.  I was still working at the YMCA and when I quit I dismissed this thought but now it has came back to me.  Hmmmm maybe this is the time that the Lord was talking about.  We shall see.  So good day for now, I will write again soon.

Whats new pussy cat?

What else could it be at 3:00 am in the morning?  I am up because my new KITTY Bimini peed on our comforter that I just washed which by the way takes forever to dry!  Oh well I had to have her, and love her I do.  This is the sort of thing that comes along with a new baby.  I think she will be worth the trouble all though we should have named her trouble she is a feisty one.  We are bottle feeding her, and when she wants a bottle she screeches and you will pay attention to her.  The Captain adores her and I love to watch him with her it brings out a side of him that is not seen often enough. 

So tomorrow we go to Captiva to South Seas, I have an interview and Scott is going to talk to someone about a job also.  I feel complete peace about this one, not that I think I have the job in the bag its just that I think I have finally come to the place where I trust God and know that He is the one who causes any and everything to happen on our behalf and if it is meant to be He has already went before me to seal the deal.  And if it is not well I wont get the job.  I have learned to ask Him and be specific and then let it go.  I am praying that this is His will but I am also praying that I am sensitive to His will. 

In my natural mind I think this would be ideal.  If Scott and I could both work for South Seas which by the way is an amazing Resort, we could also enjoy the Island of Captiva.  It is beautiful.  If Scott gets the job he will get perks such as free use of the jet skis, boats, bikes, golf carts, and more.  Just the view and the surroundings are so pretty and peaceful.  I know that this could also captivate my girls and bring them to spend sometime with me.  They are so busy and have so little free time that I hate to push for them to come and see me, but if we where on Captiva I would because it would be so worth their time.  I love and miss them.  So I will try to  sleep and pray for tomorrow.