Coolness, Pastor Charlotte, Whale Vomit and Change

Okay...so, Charlotte G. came and spoke at our church. Very cool. Got a picture with her at her book signing. Bought some CD's because of course, I had to listen to her speak about whale vomit...now, some background. Oh, wait..the picture of Charlotte and I.

 

Today may be the most random blog so far.  Okay, first of all, we both have braces but you couldn't see hers.  I don't know. I was relieved when she told everyone which is totally ridiculous.  I can't even remember why I wanted them so bad now.  I'll remember. I really think, no, I'm positive my left side of my mouth are moving faster than my right.  I get them tightened later this month, 2 days after my mammogram.  Yippee. I used to randomly schedule that on my birthday.  WHAT?!?!?!?  WHO DOES THAT?  Back on track. Most of life, I've loved the beach. Probably in utero. My parents went to St. Pete's Beach while she was pregnant with me.  I always wanted my own place.  Anyway, Pastor Charlotte starts talking about Jonah in the storm but goes on to another amazing topic and she is very impactful.  Full of joy and excitement of the Lord.  I think her accent (she doesn't have one, we do) definitely has something to do with it. Kidding, but she's definitely anointed to speak.  She mentioned whale vomit and she had me there because nobody had ever mentioned it that way before.  So, I'm listening to one of her CDs.  Now, when Steve and I first met, we both mentioned that we loved the beach and we are blessed to get to spend time at the beach every year.  In the last couple of years, my mind has wandered to investing (mind, no wallet, mind you) or having a place to go outside the country for various reasons but I wasn't sure how, when, where.  So, we visited Mexico...out.  Other countries, not safe.  Other countries, too underdeveloped.  I'd have to like to pump water and actually grow food to eat...eek.  Belize kept coming back to us.  Anyway, there is a strip of island called Ambergris Caye (pronounced "Key") and Belize has a cool retirement program for adults 45+ (okay, that was redundant, sort of like almost pregnant...sorry) with very cool benefits.  But we were just looking.  Last October, and this another side story.  You are thinking, 'how many are there?'  Trust me, God brings them all together.  Bottom line, we should have left the house on the market.  Steve was listening God.  Okay, so I'm listening to her CD one morning last week and she is talking about how the Lord (and can I say how absolutely precious she says "Lord"?  I hope to be precious on day.) and how he really gave Jonah three gifts when the Lord told Jonah, a minor prophet, to go to Nineveh.  When God tells us to do something, we are going to end up doing it one way or another and it's much easier if we just do it His way the first time (Amen?  Yes!!).  At least Jonah found that out.  The three gifts were the storm-which makes us change course when we don't want to, the captain of the ship-which is that person who forces to confront you about making that change instead of everyone just letting you sit in your storm and the third was the whale-who protects  Jonah and us when we are in the midst of the storm when we decide to do what God wants us to do.  She then starts talking about whale vomit and said she just had to look it up.  She found that whale vomit is very rare and expensive and that it hardens in the sun.  The scientific name for whale vomit is...you ready?  Ambergris.  Yep.  Talk about a sign.  I just sat there in my car and called Steve and just felt God's Glow.  I told him and then said, "I don't want you to do anything with what I said but pray about it."  He said he didn't have to and that he felt it was a sign too.  It was incredible.  We had already done quite a bit of research on Belize and Ambergris Caye already.  That night, we made our plan reservations and lodging for the exploration trip.  I'm a little scared and excited.  We are now making a list of questions and finding a good reliable real estate agent.  

 

 

This week is my birthday but actually in my family, we celebrate birth months.  Not really but I like to do that.  Still having mid life crisis but I guess its better to acknowledge it than to deny it and not know what's going on and wonder why I want a pool, plastic surgery, a new wardrobe, a new house with a different room that has a closet just for me,  a house in the tropics and a house in the mountains, get all new make up, eat all the pizza I want.  There, I said it.  It's out.  I'm done.  I know I'm not alone. Don't like it.  I don't feel my age.  But it is what it is.  People still call my kiddo.  What is that about?  I have to go.  Choir rehearsal tonight at Trinity.  God, I miss the Praise Team  but I enjoy Counseling and there is reason that I don't of but you know so I'll follow.  And I really don't want any of that stuff up there.  Just a few new clothes would be nice but I know I have to get rid of some old ones first.  Needless to say, my hubby says nothing about this and has let me get braces (yes, I paid for this pain) and has let me get some new clothes).

 

 

Don't miss an opportunity to show someone Jesus this week!

 

Lisa