December 10, 2016 Saturday #Now!#beafriend#parenthood#DonnaT#Tutu#hippos&elephants!

Get Fit
I did some arm,leg and ab workouts and weights with some.  I should have gone on to the aerobics but life happened.  I know some people that have a workout room.  I am jealous.  If I had one to watch tv and ride row and lift - well that is what I do now, except I have no equipment but weights and tension straps.  The point is USE what you have and keep busy! Don't wait for the right opportunity or getting that $10,000 gym workout center for your basement.  The right opportunity is now!

Get Faith
Psalm 27:5-10  This is advice to take advice from a friend.  We have all been in that situation of telling a friend (or not) when they need to know something.  I told a friend once of something that I thought was ruining their life.  Our friendship took a step back and stayed cool for quite a while.  A long the way that friend corrected the problem they had and it was the best thing in the world.  That ended well but, it doesn't always.  vs 5 "Better is open rebuke than hidden love."  If you care about someone it might cost your friendship for them to realize healing, but still worth while I think.

For Lindsey "Parenthood, that state of being better chaperoned than you were before marriage."
"There is a right time for everything: A time to laugh..."  Ecclesiastes 3:1,4

On this day
1984  I was working at the picture frame company and very often took framing in for my friends.  On this day Donna T brought over a poster she wanted framed, maybe a Christmas present.  It is relevant today because we were friends for many years and her life changed, we kept in touch but our paths had gone separate ways.  A couple years ago I went to her funeral, she was a little younger than I am. I am glad for the little memories of something I could do for a friend.  Thinking of someone?  Don't wait!

1984 - South African Bishop Desmond Tutu received the Nobel Peace Prize. How very appropriate!

Victoria Falls Zimbabwe

Travel downstream to best explore the river's lush waterways in the Mana Pools National Park - watch out for crocodile and one of Africa's largest hippo populations as you canoe along the channels. It's a wildlife bonanza with buffalo lining the river banks and elephant casually wading right in front of your canoe.

You'll find thousands of these gentle giants across Zimbabwe but especially in Hwange National Park, famous for its massive herds of elephant. With a stunning landscape of Kalahari desert sand, sparse woodland, grassland and granite outcrops, Hwange is home to over 100 mammal species, some of the highest mammal diversity for any national park in the world.

This looks amazing!!

Enjoy the day!  Make it memorable!  Happy Birthday Nick and Kali!

December 9, 2016 Friday #feelgood#communal#DD#Peace#sightseeing!

Get Fit
Thanks to my doctor for giving me that shot of whatever it was to help my all over pain go away.  I am exercising easier and standing up and walking better than I have in a year!  It is an auto immune and anti-inflamatory something.  Worked out with weights this morning - keep up your strength!

Get Faith
Acts 4:32-37  This talks about the early Christians, who gathered together in  what sounds like a communal living situation.  They pooled all of their possessions and were supported by new members coming in.  The exception was St Paul/Saul who they turned away because he had been a persecutor at one time and they were afraid of him.  There were more communes during the 60's but I always thought they were drug users and lazy people that didn't want to work for a living.  Here in Acts it tells of a different cause, only to stay in worship  and spread the Gospel to the world.  I could probably handle that.

On this day
1983  I had just met my future husband and found out on this day that he had a problem.  He had to go to court on bench warrants, had unpaid tickets and they gave him 30 days in jail.  This was not a huge surprise for most of us who in those days lived on the edge, drinking and driving and driving fast cars.  They made an example of him and he spent the holiday nights in the slammer.  I picked him up in the morning as he was in a work release program and could still attend work - if he had a ride.  It was me and he was in Pontiac, quite a distance from my house, but as I said he was my boyfriend.  SO, if you are thinking of drinking and driving this holiday season - think again. And make sure you have a driver - a head of time.

1983 - NATO foreign ministers called on the Soviet Union to join in a "comprehensive political dialogue" to ease tensions in the world. This is a constant in our world isn't it?

Victoria Falls Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe‘s history is rich and illustrious, stretching back centuries into written, archeological and oral records. Like many proud African nations, Zimbabwe maintains a strong connection with its ancient past. Here are seven of the best historical sites in Zimbabwe. We will check these out over the next few days!!

Enjoy the day!  Make it memorable!  Happy Birthday Megan!

December 8, 2016 Thursday #kick#celebrate#Rejoice!#failedandwon#poornorm#authoritarian!

Get Fit
Who’s ready for some balance work?! Today you are going to need a set of weights as we balance through one legged exercises and kicks. There are 3 rounds as we go through the Roundhouse, side Kick, and Snap Kick and pair them up with 1 legged burpees, 1 legged squats, and speed skaters!

We don’t have the time, we make the time! Find this on Google https://youtu.be/hBiRq80Jayg  get moving!  kick boxing

Get Faith
Nehemiah 12:27-43  This celebration of the dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem sounds very much like our Christmas celebration.  The people all gather and play music, choirs sing, there are processionals and a lot of joy.  People come home for the celebration, from where ever they are.  They did this for a wall to protect the city and the people, the life they wanted to preserve so they could worship our God.  We do it to thank God for the birth of our Savior who saved us from a life where we need protection, to a city where the joy never ends, and the rejoicing can be heard everywhere.

On this day
1982 - Yesterday I mentioned Tommy, the boy I worked with in the probation program.  This year I was working with Shane - an alcoholic, my own age.  I picked her up and we went to Macomb Mall shopping and had dinner.  I had to keep eyes on her all the time, she was a handful.  She was removed from the one on one program as it was not effective with her.  I tried, she did not, I hope she got help later.  On arriving home, Andy and Alice were home.  My brother had moved in after his divorce and when he met Alice they eventually moved into their own place.  It was nice having them here at the Lodge. (All my renters called my house this)

1982 - Norman D. Mayer demanding an end to nuclear weapons held the Washington Monument hostage. He threatened to blow it up with explosives he claimed were inside a van. 10 hours later he was shot to death by police. I don't remember this, we can't remember all of these things regardless of how meaningful they might have been.  Nuclear weapons are still a threat but not for Norman.

Victoria Falls Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe (/zɪmˈbɑːbweɪ/), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked sovereign state located in southern Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers. It borders South Africa to the south, Botswana to the west and southwest, Zambia to the northwest, and Mozambique to the east and northeast. Although it does not border Namibia, less than 200 metres of the Zambezi River separates it from that country. The capital and largest city is Harare. A country of roughly 13 million people, Zimbabwe has 16 official languages,^[3] with English, Shona, and Ndebele the most commonly used.

Since the 11th century, present-day Zimbabwe has been the site of several organised states and kingdoms as well as a major route for migration and trade. The British South Africa Company of Cecil Rhodes first demarcated the present territory during the 1890s; it became the self-governing British colony of Southern Rhodesia in 1923. In 1965, the conservative white minority government unilaterally declared independenceas Rhodesia. The state endured international isolation and a 15-year guerrilla war with black nationalist forces; this culminated in a peace agreement that established universal enfranchisement and de jure sovereignty in April 1980. Zimbabwe then rejoined the Commonwealth of Nations—which it withdrew from in 2003. It is a member of the United Nations, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU), and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

Robert Mugabe became Prime Minister of Zimbabwe in 1980, when his ZANU-PF party won the elections following the end of white minority rule; he has been the president of Zimbabwe since 1987. Under Mugabe's authoritarian regime, the state security apparatus has dominated the country and been responsible for widespread human rights violations.^[12] Mugabe has maintained the revolutionary socialist rhetoric from the Cold War era, blaming Zimbabwe's economic woes on conspiring Western capitalist countries.^[13] Burnished by his anti-imperialist credentials, contemporary African political leaders have been reluctant to criticise Mugabe, though Archbishop Desmond Tutu has called him "a cartoon figure of an archetypal African dictator."^{[14]  This is informative but not very flattering.}

^{Enjoy the day!  Make it Memorable!  Happy Birthday Melissa B!! Molly and Ty F!}

December 7, 2016 Wednesday #tryit!#PeaceintheSpirit#family#PearlHarbor#DrLivingstone?

Get Fit
I am getting better at planking - I can now hold for a minute 2 times.  So many little things you can do to feel better.  Just try some sit ups and a plank first thing in the morning and see how much that helps after a week.

Get Faith
Ephesians 4:1-6  vs 3 "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." This being the heart of "spirituality" that people refer to.  The Spirit that lives with us, that part of our Triune God who stays here, with and in us, helping us to work toward peace.  He can give us the unity we need to be one people in the interest of gaining peace.  Pray to the Spirit today.

On this day
1981  I was working for the court as a volunteer probation officer.  It was a one on one program where we saw one person as often as we could.  I was seeing Tom quite often, a teenager maybe 16 whose biggest problem was lack of family companionship.  His dad had remarried and left Tom with a very elderly grandmother who had health issues.  He was a great kid and despite the fact that I was only 34 he asked me to adopt him and be his mother.  Needless to say I spent as much time with him as I could so on this day when I got home from work and my refrigerator had quit I had to cancel with him.  Sometimes we have to disappoint someone that we don't want to.

1941 - Pearl Harbor, located on the Hawaiian island of Oahu was attacked by nearly 200 Japanese warplanes. The attack resulted in the U.S. entering into World War II. This was a day that ended peace for quite a while and resulted in horrible casualties for many years.  Pray for peace.

Victoria Falls Zimbabwe

Scottish explorer David Livingstone was famous for many things. Hailed as one of the most enigmatic explorers of all time, he also had an impressive moustache, and was the first European ever to lay eyes on Victoria Falls. He was led to the waterfall in 1855, by the Makalolo tribe in a dug-out canoe, during his travels from Luanda to Sesheke. Although Livingstone named the Falls after his queen, Victoria, it’s known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya – the Smoke that Thunders. 

The Smoke that Thunders

Anglo traders began to amass by the Falls after Livingstone’s reports reached their ears, which led to a makeshift trading settlement popping up on the Zambian riverbank, named Old Drift – the first Victoria Falls town. Increasing numbers of visitors from the Transvaal and South Africa arrived, travelling by horseback or ox-wagon. Malaria began to ravage the settlement, forcing its relocation to the site where Zambia’s town of Livingstone now resides. 

Dr Livingstone I presume...

Explorers lead hard lives if history is to be believed. Livingstone’s 14 years that followed his Victoria Falls ‘discovery’ included a nasty altercation with a lion that limited his use of one arm. The outside world got concerned about the poor chap when they didn’t hear from him for four years, so the New York Herald sent Henry Stanley off to look for him. After a long search, Stanley found Livingstone on 10 November 1871 in a small African village, greeting him with the immortal words, “Dr Livingstone I presume”. The two bonded over their brilliant facial bristles (and a few other common interests) and became fast friends until Stanley headed back to Britain in 1872, having failed to convince Livingstone to join him.  

After travelling some 50 000km through Africa, and opening up the previously unknown continent to the world, the legendary Livingstone died from malaria and dysentery on 1 May 1873, at age 60. His loyal attendants buried his heart under a tree in Africa (the site now known as the Livingstone Memorial), while the rest of his body was ultimately flown back to Britain.  Yep!  A Scot!

Enjoy the day!  Make it memorable!  

December 6, 206 Tuesday #chairyoga#filters#WHO#congress#rainbow!

Get Fit
A.M. Yoga  There are so many places to go on the internet to find help in keeping your health.  I saw one this morning on doing yoga as you age and the changes you can make to keep doing it.  I know they offer chair yoga along with the regular yoga class at church.  It isn't a competition, we all want to stay healthy.

Get Faith
Psalm 141:1-3  David, in his wisdom wrote this for me.  The first two verses talk about talking to the Lord in prayer and the third verse is about not talking.  Well at least watching what you say.  I have a problem with this.  I need filters.  My intentions are never bad but often come out as bad intentions.  In this case, refer to verses 1 and 2 - talk to God and request filters.

On this day
1979   I apparently had tickets to a Who concert.  I can't imagine why I couldn't go but after calling around (not too much) I found someone who took them.  My friend Pat's brother, Zack came over and picked them up.  What a great concert to have to pass up, hope it was important.

1790 - The U.S. Congress moved from New York to Philadelphia.  I have heard other suggestions of places for them to move to over the years.

Victoria Falls Zimbabwe

Seasons - Accommodation - Towns - National Parks - Activities

The Victoria Falls constitutes one of the most spectacular natural wonders of the world. The Local people call it "Mosi-oa-Tunya" -- the smoke that thunders and the Falls are remarkable. 

There is a magic about them manifested in the towering column of spray when the river is high, the thunder of the falling water, the terrifying abyss and tranquil lagoons upstream in which hippo and deadly crocodiles lurk.

The Victoria falls is 1 708 meters wide, making it the largest curtain of water in the world. It drops between 90m and 107m into the Zambezi Gorge and an average of 550,000 cubic metres of water plummet over the edge every minute.

Remarkably preserved in its natural state, Victoria falls inspires visitors as much today as it did David Livingstone in the 1860's. The falls and the surrounding area have been declared National Parks and a World Heritage Site, thus preserving the area from excessive commercialisation.

Enjoy the day!  Make it memorable!   Happy Birthday to Melissa Z and Don G.

December 5, 2016 Monday #Dance!#Light!#staywell#Venus#whereamI?

Get Fit!
I started the week with country line dancing with Denise - I'm going to need some energy and you probably do too.  Put on some Christmas music start dancing - dance to the entire song, say, Rockin Around the Christmas Tree!  C'mon you will feel better!

Get Faith
John 8:12  "I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." I, personally cannot see at night to drive anymore where there are not street lights, but this isn't what Jesus is talking about.  Kept in the dark?  Not knowing is a better response to this I think.  The pharisees did not know who Jesus was or who had sent Him.  They were kept in the dark.  At this time of year when you see all the lights that we put up to share our joy that our Savior was born, remember the real light and how happy that makes us who are not in the dark.  Please let the Spirit turn on the lights for you!

On this day
1978 - (exact entry) worked - in late Sharon called home Arnolds & grocery store - home  sore throat - dinner called Mom made Christmas cards Gail Beuaregard called.    Going over this - I was late to work often.  Two people mentioned Sharon and Gail, were, good friends, I never see anymore and haven't for years.  Arnolds drug store is no longer in existance and I had a lot of sore throats - I partied alot and didn't take good care of myself. (eat right and sleep right).  I always called my Mom and for a few years made my own cards, not the really pretty creative ones that my friends make now, but I wrote good verse. (I think).  Things change, 38 years later I realize why I was always sick.  I smoked first of all and I drank too much, I kept late hours all weekend and ate when I had time, if I was hungry - but not too much because I kept thin.  This holiday season, take care of yourself.  Eat right, get enough sleep, take extra C, wash your hands A LOT and drink water. oh and hugs not kisses.  Mom.

1978 - The American space probe Pioneer Venus I, orbiting Venus, began beaming back its first information and picture of the planet.  Wow!  Who wants to see these!!   I do.

Victoria Falls


Here is to getting an idea of where we are in Zimbbwe!

Enjoy the day!  Make it Memorable!

December 4, 2016 Sunday #therealgem#Laketrotters#Britainnews#thefalls!

Get Faith
Psalm 119 vs 162  "I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great spoil"  The world is full of riches of every sort.  Gold, diamonds, jade and pearls, things God placed here for us to find.  We have a tendency to revere these items higher than He who put them here for us.  The real gem is our Savior Jesus the Christ.  The gift is salvation.  Come Lord Jesus.

On this day
1977  I had a much different agenda back in these days.  Pete and I went to his parents, Tatjiana and Erich's for breakfast and then out to friends for a Laketrotters boat club meeting.  They were a great bunch of people that Pete (who didn't like belonging to anything)  joined.  I wonder if anyone who reads this can fill me in on who is left and how they are?  It was a Sunday but I wasn't attending church those days.  tsk.

1791 - Britain's Observer newspaper was first published. I wonder if there were reports in it about the errant child (United States) in there, bet there was!

Victoria Falls Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls is a town in the province of Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe. It lies on the southern bank of the Zambezi River at the western end of the Victoria Falls themselves. It is connected by road and railway to Hwange (109 km away) and Bulawayo (440 km away), both to the south-east.

According to the 2012 Population Census, the town had a population of 33,060. Victoria Falls Airport is located 18 km south of the town and has international services to Johannesburg and Namibia.

The settlement began in 1901 when the possibility of using the waterfall for hydro-electric power was explored, and expanded when the railway from Bulawayo reached the town shortly before the Victoria Falls Bridge was opened in April 1905, connecting Zimbabwe to what is now Zambia. It became the principal tourism centre for the Falls, experiencing economic booms from the 1930s to the 1960s and in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Very beautiful here!  

Enjoy the day!  Make it memorable!  Happy Birthday Tamara!!