Drove back to Alabama this morning. I left when the grandboys drove off to school in their golf cart. Loved waving and blowing the horn when I passed them driving happily down the golf cart path to school. These sweet boys sure got to high school quickly. And sister in middle school is not far behind. Time is so fleeting. The older I get the faster it passes.

The sky, all the way to Alabama, was robin eggs’ blue, clear of clouds, bright as a new silver dollar. I love crossing back into my sweet home Alabama knowing I’m headed home to my porch swing. Had a wonderful visit. I always wind the memories of my visit through my mind as I drive home, banking those happy times for sunshine on the cloudy days. No clouds now but it is hot! Stayed perched in the swing till the real feel temperature hit 102 degrees. Honestly it’s too hot to walk Penelope. She’s ready for the air conditioning in my bedroom, too. I got her out of the playpen and put her harness and leash on and she stubbornly stuck by the front door whining to go inside.

Came in the house and went to the kitchen to make a congealed salad for supper. The kitchen was hot so I thought instead of using the stove, I’d just boil the water in the microwave to dissolve the Jello. Someone asked me once how I cook in a kitchen that isn’t air conditioned. I replied, “On a stove.” Anyway, I made the biggest mess in the kitchen. Didn’t think I could top the exploding plastic jar of mustard I dropped that went all over the kitchen and the refrigerator years ago but this was worse.

As I was almost through pouring the bowl of boiling water into the cherry Jello, I dropped the water bowl into the Jello bowl. That red bowl of Jello was like a volcano erupting. You talk about a mess! All over everything, my face, my arms, my glasses, the counter, the floor. My new striped red, white, and blue T-shirt became a red, pink, and blue shirt. I was trying to contain the mess as Penelope was licking the floor fast as she could. Took straight Clorox to get the red stains off the counter top. I will never boil water in a bowl again! Guess it’s time to purchase a measuring cup for boiling water in the microwave.

I went out after supper to sit in the swing and watch the sunset. The sky was full of a beautiful gathering of purple and blue and gray storm clouds. The sun in her golden glow slipped between the clouds and rolled down the horizon in her farewell to the day. The wind chimes began singing as the wind picked up and the evening dimmed and night came. This part of the day brings me closest to God, the moment the day dims and night’s quiet descends. Even when the clouds curtain the sunset I can see the watercolors of the setting sun in my imagination. When we actively search for God in the earth’s beauty we can find him. Jeremiah 29:13 states, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

God is always accessible to us. Proverbs 8:17 states, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” He’s not distant and as we seek him we experience his presence. Scripture in Acts 17 says, “…that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us.” We are never alone. God walks beside us. Our Christian life is a journey with God. Our journey through life is full of twists and turns and trials and tribulations but at every fork of the road God is there to direct us to our destination of eternal life. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has plans for us and even in difficult circumstances we have God’s hope for the future. “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.”

“An authentic life is the most personal form of worship. Everyday life has become my prayer.” — Sarah Ban Breathnach