Flag of the Week

This week's flag comes from Lake Alamoosook in Maine. I've always loved the water and mostly vacationed around the Atlantic Ocean. My first time to stay in a lake house was magical. The water was tranquil and clear. You could see fish in the water and rocks on the bottom of the lake. My time at Lake Alamoosook was much too short.

I want to share a few more pictures from this beautiful area. Enjoy!

Job 4:7-10 NIV 7 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; 8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. 9 Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? 10 In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.

Maine Lobster

Last weekend I spent a long weekend in Maine. One place we visited was Wood's Seafood situated on a back road near Alamoosook Lake.



We purchased halibut and had a delicious dinner with it as our main course. Mr. Wood showed me the lobsters and explained in the state of Maine you are limited to the size of lobster you catch. If it's too small, throw it back. If it's too large, throw it back. Because of a shellfish allergy, I can't let myself be tempted to eat lobster, but I remembered the days when I could.



Thanks to Mollie Heron for taking us to Mr. Wood's Seafood Shop, and thanks to Mr. Wood for taking time out to talk to me.

Summer Memories via Flowers

In my family we call this a resurrection lily. In the spring the leaves come up, and about three months later the flower blooms. These flowers make me think of Grandmother Hubbard and Aunt Judy.(Elizabeth Hubbard and Julia Hudson) Different sides of my family, but both grew them. Tim had a friend, Wiley Finney, who grew these flowers too. I've shared before that we pass flowers along in my family, and we received some bulbs from my relatives and from Wiley which is one of the reasons I think of these dear people.

Lycoris squamigera is the official name for this delicate flower. Some people call this a magic lily, but I like resurrection better. Three months. Three days.

“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-5)

Even more than remembering family and friends, I think of Jesus when I see resurrection lilies.

Fitbit Craze

I was excited to get a Fitbit for Mother's Day this year. I'd noticed others wearing them and thought it'd be a good way to stay motivated to move. Boy, does it keep me motivated.

You can set daily goals and weekend goals. You can challenge friends. You get rewards. During May I was getting settled into my new job, and if it hadn't been for my Fitbit, I wouldn't have pushed myself to walk as much.

During vacation, Tim and I would track our miles. We walked down to the pier each morning and by the time we returned to the condo, we were well on our way to reaching our 10,000 steps.

When you walk 20,000 steps in a day you receive a high top badge.

On July 5, I received the following email, "You've walked 250 miles—as many as the world's first underground railway. This triumph really lays the tracks for some big things in the future." Isn't that fun and creative?


I think one reason people are excited about their Fitbits is the encouragement you receive for reaching goals. So, my new goal is to hit 500 miles walked by the end of August. I'll let you know if I make it.

Victoria Bylin-Inspirational Author from Kentucky

A few years ago I met Victoria Bylin at a Bluegrass Writers' meeting. She was fun and gracious. Since meeting Vicki I've read Until I Found You, Together With You, and this month I read Someone Like You. I don't often review books on my blog, but I wanted to introduce you to Vicki and tell you a little about her book.

What is her book about? Here's how she answered that question.


Someone Like You is a flip-flop reunion story. Back in college, Zeke Monroe and Julia Dare were romantically involved. A minister’s son, Zeke believed his faith was strong, while Julia had no faith at all. Fast forward six years . . . Julia is now a single mom and a brand new Christian, while Zeke is wrestling with himself and God. He’s also trying to save a historic California resort and needs Julia’s help to do it. Add in Julia's rotten ex,her young son, and a romance between her mom and a country music star who looks and sounds like Sam Elliot, and you have the bones of the book.

I enjoyed the depth to this story. So many issues were handled in one book, and many times you wondered how it would all turn out. And this story was big enough to handle two romances and flirted with a third potential romance. But the story also handled tough issues. One day last week part of my morning devotional included Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV):

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Later that day as I read, Someone Like You, the character reflected on this same verse. I can't tell you how cool that was.

Here's a little about the author:

Victoria Bylin is known for tackling tough subjects with great compassion. In 2016, Together With You, a story of grace and healing, won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award for Best Contemporary Romance. Her other books, including historical westerns, have finaled in the Carol Awards, the RITAs, and RT Magazine’s Reviewers Choice Award. A native of California, she and her husband now make their home in Lexington, Kentucky. Learn more at

If you're looking for a good book to read, I highly recommend Someone Like You.

Here's the back cover copy:
Julia Dare is trying to run her own business, raise her young son, Max, and help her widowed mother. Her biggest worry, though, is keeping Max's father from being a bad influence while still allowing the boy to spend time with his dad. When an account from her event-planning business sends her to Caliente Springs resort, she's shocked to encounter Zeke Monroe, her college sweetheart.

Zeke is determined to keep Caliente Springs running despite financial trouble. When Julia walks back into his life, he's surprised at the feelings she stirs up. As they work together on an important client's wedding, the fate of the resort soon depends on their success. With Zeke and Julia both pushed to their limits, will their history put up walls between them or bring them together?

Robert and Norma Noe's gift to the Speed Museum-Largest Gift in the Speed's 86-year History

From the time I met Tim, I heard marvelous stories about Bob and Norma Noe. Stories about their kindness and their love for Kentucky. Bob and Norma worked in the Washington, DC area for years. He once told me they used to visit museums in different states. They returned to Kentucky in 1979 experienced in the art of collecting antiques. Soon they became collectors of Kentucky pieces. Bob said, "There is an emotional reason for collecting Kentucky objects. We are Kentuckians..." Thus began their journey to become Kentucky collectors.

The Noes generously gave their collection of early Kentucky arts, furniture and crafts to the Speed Museum in Louisville. When the Speed Museum expanded, they included a wing that mainly includes the Noes generous gift of 119 pieces.

Their generous gift includes furniture, textiles, ceramics, paintings and silver. The best Kentucky pieces are identifiable by their delicate bell-flower inlay and other inlays. The Noes passion for Kentucky and for collection Kentucky antiques and then for donating them to the museum will help preserve Kentucky's heritage for generations. Thanks to Bob and Norma Noe.

Check Out This CIA Operative's 9-Step Hotel Safety Checklist

Drew Dwyer, a Marine Corps veteran and former CIA operative, has traveled the world. He has stayed in hundreds of hotels and here are his safety tips. MOST of these I've never considered, but they'll go through my mind in the future.


1. Acquire or make a copy of the fire escape plan on the back of your door. Most of these just slide out. (I often look at the plan and climb the stairs for exercise purposes.)

2. Do not stay on the ground or the top floor. The ground floor is readily accessible to intruders and the top floor does not allow any room to maneuver. The first or second (European) floors allow access for most third world country emergency vehicles.


3. Keep the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door, even when you are not there.

4. Always assume the room is bugged. Keep the radio or TV turned on with the volume on low at all times -- even when you are not in the room.

5. Keep the drapes/blinds pulled at all times, even when unoccupied. (I always open the curtains to enjoy the view.)

6. Keep a light on in the room when unoccupied.

7. Keep a small “bug-out bag” packed with must-have items (money, ID, passport, etc.) in the event of an emergency departure.

8. Carry a motion alarm that can be placed over the doorknob. They are about $20 and can be found in most electronics stores.

9. Keep a flashlight next to the bed and within arm’s reach.



I learned so much from this list. No more putting passport/ID in safe. Keep curtains closed. I love the idea of a "bug-out-bag." It makes me think of Jason Bourne.
I'll start traveling with a flashlight and will start putting out the "Do Not Disturb" sign.

I'd love to hear what you think about this list. Have you ever done any of these safety tips?

God Delighted Us

Despite a week full of rain leading up to the wedding, God delighted us with a nice day for Scott and Kellianne's wedding. Not only did God hold off the rain, but the sun peeked through the clouds, and we had an amazing sunset.

I'm exhausted from a wonderful weekend of love. The love of God, Scott and Kellianne's love, and the love of family. The ceremony was beautiful. Pastor Max focused a lot on the love of Jesus. The Project859 Band sang at the wedding and reception. So much of the evening was focused on Jesus, and I've wondered often if that's why He allowed the weather to be nice. The kids honored God at the ceremony and reception, right down to the band leader asking us to circle around the couple and pray for them after the last dance.

This may be my only post this week, but I'd like to end with a few pictures.