Know When to Seek Refuge from the Storm

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Yesterday, my husband and I were out on the lake in a sailboat. It’s not a huge sailboat, just a 22 Catalina, but it is a perfect one for us, as we haven’t ever really sailed before this one. Joey has pretty much taught himself, and he does a pretty good job. I love sailing across the waters with him. It’s our little world of solitude from the mundane and the chaos this life can sometimes bring.

It had been an absolute beautiful day. The winds were gently blowing. The waters were smooth and peaceful, and the sky was absolutely breathtaking at sunset. We were definitely “maximizing  our goof off time!” It was so much fun!

Yet, about 15-20 minutes after the sun had set, and the sky was still saying goodbye to that great big amazing ball of fire, a storm front came up without much warning. The sky turned an ugly shade of gray and the wind picked up, threatening to turn gusty at any moment. In the distance, we could see a couple of fronts on top of each other, and the lightening was striking all over. We were pretty sure the worst of the storm was skirting around us; however, the bottom front was arched right above our heads and closing in fast. In a little 22′ sailboat is not exactly where you want to be found as a thunderstorm blows through!

Joey started the motor, had me take the tiller and motor wand in hand as he lowered the sails and battened down the hatches. He worked with incredible speed and skill. I watched in amazement as I kept looking to the skies and praying under my breath that we’d make it back to the dock in time.

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Thankfully, we made it back and docked just in time, walking off the boat, up the ramp, and closing our car doors just as the first raindrops began to fall. As I drove away from the marina and toward the safety of my home, I was reminded of how big our God is. I was reminded how good our God is, and I was reminded of how often He is a shelter from any storm we might encounter. We just have to remember when and where to seek shelter! Had Joey decided he wasn’t going to get out of that storm as quickly as he did, or had he decided to just linger a little while longer, trusting his own abilities a little too much, we could have surely been in some trouble.

Life will always have storms that blow in, and sometimes, with absolutely no warning. You may be right at the verge, but you’ve just got to know when to get out of the storm that’s brewing. You may even be caught in the onset of that storm; however, our God has always provided a refuge and a shelter to which you can run. You’ve just got to make the decision to run early. He will protect you, and He will uphold you regardless of the thunder that rolls and the lightening that may flash.

You can trust Him. 😉

Back In the Saddle!

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Ok, so my deepest apologies go out to those of you out there who might follow this blog rather frequently and who might have wondered for a bit why I’ve been so lax over the last month… There might not be too many of you, but I know there’s some, because we’ve kind of formed “friendships” along the way. So, I felt like I should take a minute to tell you that your attentiveness and caring to this little blog space, in the vast and vague world of blogging, hasn’t gone unnoticed. I appreciate you, and I thank you for your kindness and patience in my “lag time.” ❤

June just kind of came and went in a whirlwind, and I found myself covered up with our boys’ summer plans of constant activity and busyness. I also found myself in a lot of reflective moments but not a lot of moments where I wanted to write and share what was going on in my heart and mind. It was almost like I was in those last few minutes after a surgery, where the anesthesia is wearing off, and you hear and feel things; yet, you’re still too groggy to make sense of any of it, and you can’t speak or see to really share it with anyone anyway.

So, all that to say…I’M BACK! I have so many things to share with you; so, it’s time to start inking up the pages! 😉 … I hope you’re ready for a great adventure ahead!

PS. I hope you’re having an AMAZING summer, and I hope, maybe, you will share your summer stories with me, too! ❤

Tuesday’s Treats #75

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Ray’s at Killer Creek

Location: Alpharetta, GA

This place is absolutely AMAZING, and I really could let the pictures speak for themselves. The atmosphere is incredible, and the food is off the charts! We have been several times, and everything has always been delicious. Now, our favorite of these “sister” restaurants is Ray’s In The City, but if you live north of Atlanta, as we do, Ray’s at Killer Creek is a nice substitute. The traffic isn’t half as bad, and the parking is a breeze. The atmosphere of each is different and very unique to its own, but the menues are very similar; so, you know what to expect. 

Some of our favorites are the BBQ shrimp appetizer, the Shrimp and Grits, the blackened Black Grouper and the Prailine Basket for the dessert. Oh. My. Word! It’s making my mouth water just thinking about it! 

There’s not enough good things I can say about this place, and I don’t want to just keep repeating myself; so, go give them a try and find out for yourself. 😉 Here’s the website for you to check out the menu and the various locations.  

Friday’s Friends #22

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Today is Friday, and it’s time to share with you one of my “friends.” I love this moment of the week when I get to highlight someone you might know in hopes that you will check out their blog and find a new friend as well. 😊

Today, is like to share with you one blogger whose posts I found a long time ago, but I still so enjoy them. Keith Garrett is and incredible writer, and his blog is a great place to find great poetry and prose. I hope you will check him out. 

Tuesday’s Treats #74

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Antoneta’s Italian

Location: Dacula, GA

Antoneta’s is a great Italian restaurant, and it’s not a local kept secret; so, you’ll want to get there early. The rolls are amazing as is everything else! The calzone is monster big, and it’s cooked to perfect – crunchy on the outside, hot and delicious on the inside. The salads are great, too. The atmosphere and staff is just as good, and the owner will probably be there to help with anything you might need. If you hear him talk back and forth with his employees, you’ll feel as if you’re in an authentic Italian restaurant. Check them out on the web here. They don’t have a website. This is only the google search, but it will give you the hours and a little more information. 😉 Hope you enjoy!

Friday’s Friends #21

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Friday’s are AWESOME, because I get to share a new “friend” whom I’ve found along this blogging journey! This is such a fun moment, and I hope you enjoy it, too! 

Today, I’d like to share with you a new blog that is full of encouragement and strength. Grip and Grace has been developed to give you a place to go and find other blogs of things you love. There are blogs about music, events, inspirational quotes, etc. You just go on, click the area of interests and a whole new field of choice opens up! It’s great! 😊 I hope you’ll check it out! 

Tuesday’s Treats #73

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Country Cupboard

Location: Dillard, GA

If you’re looking for great country cooking, this is one of the few places in North Georgia that you can enjoy it! They have an incredible selection of veggies, chicken and the like. There is a great salad bar, Ana the desserts are to die for!!

They also have a great gift shop for shopping after meal, too. If you’ve got time during the day, you can drive down to several of the antique shops as well. They don’t seem to have a website, but you can find out more information here. 

Happy Father’s Day to You!

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As I sat there preparing for Father’s Day weekend and enjoying a great lunch with my little family, we received a text from a precious friend who is about to say goodbye to the love of her life who has fought valiantly in his battle with cancer. Just an hour prior, I was speaking to a mom who tragically lost her husband last fall and listened while she shared her heart of the struggle, challenges and faith to which she clings. My mind thinks of so many more who will shed tears instead of celebrating this Father’s Day…

We are never guaranteed tomorrow. We are not even promised our next breath. Cherish the moments you have. Make the encounters account for more than just whispers on the wind…

Almost fifteen years ago, I said goodbye to the one man whom I loved as a Dad. He was my grandfather, but he was with me every step of the way. No one will ever be able to take his place in my heart. I miss him to this day, and I will always cherish the memories we made. 


After 40+ years of brokenness, my biological dad and I have a reconciled relationship of acquaintances being built. It will never become what it should have been, and even though, my heart still aches for the little girl who had dreams for what could have been, I appreciate the reality of what is. My soul breathes a little deeper with the hope we now have. 


Thirty-two years ago, a man walked into my life and became a father he’d never had the chance to be. To many, a stepdad is just a man, one who lives in the house, pays the bills and sets the rules. This man came in and became a father. He had his own mistakes, and I had mine. We kind of grew into this thing together. It might not be the best father-daughter scenario, nor one of perfection, but it is one of love. For that, I am grateful. 


No matter where you find yourself today, whether you are in your Daddy’s arms, or at the graveside, saying goodbye one more time, or saying hello to a new relationship, or trying to figure out what to do with all the pain and sorrow of those yesteryears, there is One who will be there for you always. Place your heart in His hands, for, He will carry you through, and He will never leave you. ❤️

Friday’s Friends #20

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Today is Friday, and that means it’s time for me to share a new “friend” with you! I love this time of the week, because there are so many incredible bloggers out there, and I get the privilege of highlighting one each Friday. 😊

Today, I’d like to share with you Let The Spirit In. Rev. Beene has a unique way of sharing a spiritual truth within her everyday living experiences. I only came across her blog this week; so, honestly, I cannot say I know, understand or even agree with all of her Biblical standings, and I will not pretend that I do. However, the few posts I have read thus far, one on the Spirit, one on gratefulness, and one on spiritual discipline, have been incredibly encouraging to me. I hope you will check out her blog and be encouraged as well. 😊

Tuesday’s Treats #72

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Tannery Row Ale House

Location: Buford, GA

This is a cool restaurant in a cool little town in North Georgia. The downtown of Buford has been restored, and this eatery is in the old Tannery Building just a block beyond the town. It began as a pretty small restaurant with seating for probably less than 50 people; however, they’ve converted much of the open warehouse into an “open patio” seating area with giant screens for movie nights and a stage for local bands. The atmosphere is great. Every once in a while, they will have a/c issues in the warehouse area; so, it can get pretty toasty. However, this happened the other day when we were there, and they had those giant floor fans which we directed our way; so, it wasn’t too terrible (and it was a hot 85+ day, too😉).  

The food is tasty, and the service is friendly. The fried pickles are a must, and the fried grouper fingers are a must most days. (Every once in a while, the grouper doesn’t taste so fresh.) They have a wide selection of burgers, sandwiches, pizza and specialty items. The shrimp and grits are a favorite of mine, as they make it different than I’ve had anywhere else. They start with a grit cake, melt pimento cheese on top and layer the shrimp and sauce on top of that. Yum! There is a brisket pimento cheese on Texas toast that is definitely a fork and knife meal, and my son says the ribs are pretty tasty, too. 

This is also an event hall; so, if you need a really cool, large building for a big gathering, give them a call. I’m sure they’d love to book your event. Here’s the website for more info and contacts.