When I travel down the highways in the Dallas area, I expect to find a traffic jam or two. If not a full-fledged, jam of cars at least a major slow down is expected. I schedule the added time into my drive. I plan for it.

Besides my city driving and my highway driving, I frequently drive a lovely backroad in and out of town. Only on one occasion have I experienced a real clog-up of traffic there. In fact, the morning of that traffic jam, my 20 minute backroad drive took an hour and a half because the main highway had been closed and my backroad was the detour.

But that was only the one time.

Until today.

Today I was tootling along on my wonderful country road. Gorgeous big trees lining each side, casting shadows on the ground making an archway over the road. Lime green fields. Horses and their babies. And stretched out in front of me, nothing except an oncoming car going the opposite direction. I noticed the driver slowing down and as I approached the car I saw something in the middle of my lane, heading for her lane at a very slow rate.

I had to stop since I didn’t know why she was stopping nor what was moving across my lane.

It was a tortoise (or is that a turtle) that was quite large. It moved slowly and didn’t seem at all intimidated by my machinery on four wheels.

Now I’m stopped in the middle of this road and in the other lane, the car is stopped as well. We sit, watching this turtle creep onward, to cross the road. Soon, another car pulled up behind me while a few more cars pulled up on the other lane. We sat and waited while the turtle moved out of my lane. I drove on. Looking in my rear view mirror was a long, long pile of cars. And in the other lane, still at a stand still, were dozens of cars piled up, waiting on the turtle.

Why did the turtle cross the road? I have no clue.

I only know that it was amusing and entertaining to me as the wheels of activity paused momentarily for the honor of a turtle.

Today’s weather finally gave us a break from the double digit days. Relief was here. I could walk from house to car without melting. The notion of eating lunch outside with a few of my friends crossed my mind as the weather was absolutely gorgeous.

Which is a good thing.

My electric bill arrived and I fell out of my chair with a brain spasm. If we had washed and dried one more load of clothes the bill would have been an even 600 dollars. Thankfully, it was only 598.42.

Can you believe it? I might need to put one of the dogs on ebay to pay for it.

The heat has suffocated me for weeks, causing me to mutter unkind things towards the warmth. Generally, I’m a southern gal who loves the toasty daily waves of sunshine. But enough is enough.

Add to the heat, the air conditioning is killing me. How is that for irony? I suspect I’m on freon overload. And yet to turn off the A/C would mean that I’m too hot. I’m menopausal, remember?

I need cooler fresh air.

I’m readying my jeans, socks and shirts with sleeves for the cooler weather. Its an exercise in faith although I am a native Texan and know that summer is still here for quite a while.

I’m an HGTV addict. I love to watch the home decorating shows to be inspired for room makeovers. I love the colors on the walls, the fabrics on the windows, the pillow covers, the lamps and accessories. I love to see the excitement on the homeowners’ faces when their room is revealed.

And then reality sinks in.

The shows are inspiring, but quite frustrating if you end up believing what you saw in a one hour show can be accomplished in one hour. Ha!

Its not a matter of time to paint four walls but the time to prepare those walls. Its not a matter of changing out the fabric on those chairs but time to find the perfect fabric, find an upholsterer (if more than a few staples are needed), deliver the chairs, pick them up. Its not a matter of hanging the drapes, but finding the fabric, hanging the hardware, measuring the fabric and making the drapes.

I’ve learned this with my latest HGTV project. I’m trying to get my kitchen chairs reupholstered. I found the fabric. I have the chairs. Now I need to find someone to sew up the piped edged cushions and reattach them. And then get them back in my kitchen before supper.

Its the illusion of TV makeovers.

I’m glad that God’s plan is for my life is a makeover where he manages the details and drags off all the old stuff. I show up to renew my mind and rely on Him to make the needed changes. While its not easy, its certainly the best makeover this side of eternity.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

Its raining!

Its absolutely, water falling from the sky in bigger portions than a moment of spritz, water getting the grass wet, water getting streets wet, water coming down rain gutters…..R A I N I N G.

It started Saturday night. There was evidence when I woke up that it had really rained during the night. Then, later in the day, it rained again, thoroughly wetting our grass and giving our sprinklers (and city water bill) a break. This morning, I woke up to completely gray sky and now here I sit, watching water pour from the sky.

Today’s daily provision in the form of rain. Whew!

“Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
make music to our God on the harp.

He provides food for the cattle and
for the young ravens when they call.” Psalm 147:7-9

And now a confession. I took this photo from a fellow blogger because it was perfect for today. (Thanks Mike!)

Yesterday we spent the afternoon with a houseful of ladies, showering gifts on a lovely young woman who’s belly pronounced her condition. A baby is on its way into a great family!

Wow! A lot of items have changed since I was a young mom. New gadgets for a new generation. Video baby monitors. Portable mobiles. Electric breast pumps. Pampers diapers that are so thin, 88 of them fit in a small package.

Most, are still the same. Precious outfits with baseballs and cars embroidered on the front. Little socks with Winnie the Pooh. Towels and blankets. Stuffed animals and special teddy bears. A Baby book. Baby Powder.

I realized once again that another generation is on its way. I’ve moved from young mom to mom of grown children to a Fabulous Fifty with a promise of grandchildren someday. (No pressure, kids! )

What a joy to know that God’s blessings extend from generation to generation as the truth of Jesus is passed from heart to heart.

“But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” Psalm 33:11

“For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:5