PINCH ME QUICK

 Never say never :-)

Our annual trip to California is coming up quick, so I decided to start looking at swimsuits today.  I don't even have to explain why I/we drag our feet for that dreaded chore.  LOL

But guess what?

I not only found one, but TWO suits I liked and bought them both.  A one piece and a two piece.

And I didn't cry once :-)

I'm still shaking my head.  

And smiling!

I'm wondering if I should try buying jeans tomorrow?  That's another hard one.
Nah...why push my luck.


 
Hugs from the beach,

Kat

"Father, please let me be a blessing to someone today."

RELEASED

(I took this photo through my car windshield. The ice really did some damage on the palm trees and flowers outside our gate)

By noon today the sun came out and melted the ice, so George and I both got out.  He went to the gym and I went to have lunch with a girlfriend.  Awwww...so nice to get out.  Only one day stuck inside and we both felt trapped and couldn't wait to do SOMETHING/ANYTHING.  LOL  When our gates opened when I drove out, I felt like a prisoner being released.  
Isn't that silly?  True though.

I ended up having a great relaxing day.  Lunch with a friend, a little shopping and then the same friend and another and I did yoga together tonight.  A little wine and conversation afterwards.  Perfect!

I have to show some photos I took from our balcony today.  I never tire of taking photos of our view.  It's ever changing.  Always always gorgeous.  God's masterpiece, for sure!

This morning it was COLD and there was a mist or vapor or something just hanging over the water.  Kinda beautiful in a creepy sort of way :-)

When the sun started peeking out, it looked like it was skipping across the water heading out deeper.  And suddenly people started walking on the beach again.  Brrr!  Too cold for me, but not for the snow birds :-)

The sunset tonight was jaw dropping gorgeous!
In a matter of minutes, it went from this

 to this

 
Hugs from the beach,

Kat

"Father, please let me be a blessing to someone today."

WELL I NEVER...

Well, I never thought it would happen, but we had a mess here in the south today.  Icy roads, cold temps, power outages, bridges closed, businesses and schools closed.  

Here...in Florida!

We live on an isle, a three-mile long peninsula nestled between the Gulf of Mexico and the Destin Harbor. There's only one road in and one way out to the main road.  All the bridges were closed and most businesses.  I never left the condo today and George only got out to walk Miss Daisy. 

I'm sure lots of people have made jokes and shook their head over us southerners making a big deal over this crazy unusual weather, but we are not prepared for snow and ice. People have died. Children have been trapped at school. Businesses are suffering because they can't open, etc. Like my Mama always said "If you can't say something nice, keep quiet."

We still had a beauty of a sunset though :-)
Praying tomorrow will be warmer.

 

 
Hugs from the beach,

Kat

"Father, please let me be a blessing to someone today."

SAY WHAT?

Snow, sleet and/or icy conditions are predicted here in the sunshine state tonight.

Say what?

(not my photo... taken near Pensacola)

I took these photos from our balcony.  Too cold and windy to walk down to the beach :-)

Kinda "ghostly" looking...

And we even had the beginning of some icicles forming on our balcony railing before sunset tonight.

It's almost midnight and I can hear the wind howling.  I stepped out on our balcony to say my prayers and I could feel the sleet falling and could feel the crunchiness of a layer under my shoes.  Wondering what I'll see in the morning....

I hope everyone is off the roads and snuggled safely in a warm bed.

I'm so thankful for a warm home, a warm bed and my hubby by my side.

Night everyone.  Stay warm.

 
Hugs from the beach,

Kat

"Father, please let me be a blessing to someone today."

A WEEK GOES BY SO FAST

Wow!  I knew I had not posted in a few days, but I didn't realize it's been a week!

So, here's what I've been doing:

I  played tennis with my girls last Monday for the first time in months!  And...I did okay.  My tennis elbow isn't completely gone, but it's much much better.
I'm gonna take it slow and will only play once or twice a week for awhile, instead of 3 or 4 times ;-)

 

I had my car packed and left straight from the tennis courts and drove to Mississippi to take care of this sweet boy who had the flu :-(  He turned two in October.  What a fun age!  So smart.  Even sick, he was a  JOY!

My car has a big "boo boo".  Someone hit it when our daughter was driving to work.  She always drives my car whenever I am in town, so I can have her car with the car seat .  Praise God, she was not injured.  Cars can be repaired/replaced.  George came the next day to take care of all the necessary "stuff" involved with estimates, insurance, etc.  Luckily, the person who was charged has insurance!  Another blessing.  
Soooo...I'm driving a rental car.

Our weather has been really cold, but just beautiful. Some of the prettiest times here on the beach are during the months when most people never visit. It's just so beautiful, peaceful and quiet.    

We've had some gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, including these:

Believe it or not...and we're finding it hard to believe...they are predicting we might have some snow and/or sleet here on Tuesday.  CRAZY!


Now, it's your turn.  What have you been doing this past week?

 
Hugs from the beach,

Kat

"Father, please let me be a blessing to someone today."

DETERMINED

de.ter.mined:

adjective

: having a strong feeling that you are going to do something and that you will not allow anyone or anything to stop you

: not weak or uncertain : having or showing determination to do something

I'm determined to get back to tennis.  Because of my tennis elbow, I haven't played in almost 3 months.  George and I  hit for about 45 minutes yesterday afternoon.  Gosh, it felt good to be back on the court.  I did okay...except serving.  That motion still hurts too much right now, so I guess I'll be serving under-handed for awhile :-)
Playing tomorrow for the first time.  Excited!

I'm also determined to get back to my normal fitness program which includes weights, but I have to go easy.  That's okay.  

Baby steps.
I'm gonna stay determined!

Stepped on our balcony this morning before church and saw this!
Wow!  I couldn't move until it was gone.

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
Genesis 9:13

Yikes...almost missed the sunset, but I stopped and ran out to see this.   Another beauty.

God's masterpieces.

And I'm determined to not miss one if I can :-)

 
Hugs from the beach,

Kat

"Father, please let me be a blessing to someone today."

THIS AND THAT

 

Life gets busy sometimes and it's hard to post as often as I want to.

I'm working on a new me :-)  Not just physically, although I am working on that too (aren't we all...all the time?), but spiritually as well.  I'm more involved with my church than ever before and loving it. It's amazing how much peace my faith gives me.

~~~~~~~~~~

We've had some gorgeous weather this week...beautiful sunrises and sunsets and calm water.  Cool and crisp.   The beach looks pristine without all the people and chairs and umbrellas :-)

 

 ~~~~~~~~~~

Prayers please for our sweet Daven who has the flu.
I'm going to see him on Thursday, but might go earlier too help out if they need me.  I'd much rather be sick myself than for any of my family to be sick, especially the wee ones. 

 ~~~~~~~~~~

Have a good weekend everyone!

 
Hugs from the beach,

Kat

"Father, please let me be a blessing to someone today."

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE DAYS

Sometimes it just feels like the devil is trying his best to make me lose my joy.  Today was one of those days...almost from the time I got up.

I won't bore you with the details.
But, every time something else would happen, I'd think "this is nuts!"

A girl's got to just throw back her head and laugh at some point.

But you know what?  I never really lost it.  I'm pretty proud of myself for that.  I know my God is BIGGER!

So I did and all is well!

 

I hope YOUR day was better :-)

 
Hugs from the beach,

Kat

"Father, please let me be a blessing to someone today."

HARD TO BELIEVE ITS JANUARY...AT LEAST TODAY :-)

I had a lot of things I wanted to accomplish today and I did quite a bit, but the beach was sure calling my name.

So...after lunch, George and I took a walk down to the jetty.  What a beautiful day!

And tonight the sunset was gorgeous, although the day sure cooled off.  Brrrr! 

 
Hugs from the beach,

Kat

"Father, please let me be a blessing to someone today."