There Goes Connie

Right House. Wrong Key.

05/24/2019 By: CCPearson2 Comments

I drove down my driveway smiling because of all the colorful flowers abloom around the front of the house and grateful to have a garage so I wouldn’t get soaked while I unloaded my groceries. With my arms full of shopping bags from my morning’s errands, I got out to unlock the door into the house. (Let me pause here to say that because we have an alarm system we don’t generally need to lock this door, but because we were expecting a repairman, we had locked it on this particular day). The key I had been faithfully carrying around on my key ring for almost a year would go into the opening, but no matter how I twisted and turned it, it wouldn’t unlock the door. Oh well. I’d try one of the other SIX doors going into my house that supposedly used the same key. Maybe this particular door had just gotten jammed somehow, I thought. So, with umbrella in hand and shoes getting rapidly wetter, I tried all the doors. I learned two things in the process: 1) Steve and I are very good at keeping the house locked securely. 2) And, the key I had been carrying didn’t work on any of the doors.

My smile faded while my frozen items started to thaw. Steve was working in another town, but I called him hoping just maybe he had hidden a key somewhere. No luck. His words? “Just yesterday I was thinking I needed to do that.” Bummer.

There was nothing left to do but call a locksmith and wait. Very fortunately, he lived nearby and was able to come immediately. As an added plus, he wore an Auburn lanyard around his neck — a sure sign that I was in good hands. 🙂 About 8 or 9 tricks-of-the-trade later and $60 poorer, I entered my back door and finally got to bring the groceries in before they ruined. I was in the right house — MY house — but I’d been carrying around the wrong key.

This key would go into the opening but would NOT open the door. It was the WRONG key.

Now, if that doesn’t have spiritual parallels, then I haven’t been listening to sermons for 69 years. 🙂

We’re all heading toward the “right house” of heaven. No one would intentionally PLAN to go to hell, wouldn’t you agree? We long for the peace of God in our lives, the assurance of our salvation, the comfort of knowing where we will spend eternity. But, how many of us are carrying around the wrong key to get in?

Some are banking on the “keys” of regular church attendance . . . or being a good person . . . or singing the best praise songs and hymns . . . or memorizing enough Bible verses . . . or praying long enough every day . . . or giving money to the church . . . or doing good deeds . . . or teaching Sunday School and serving on a committee. . . or keeping the Ten Commandments, etc. etc. Those are all admirable activities. They might even cause the key to fit in the keyhole, but they will NOT make the key turn and open the door.

Here’s what the Bible says about the KEY to being saved:

Romans 10:9-10 — ” If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

Remember this incredible account in the New Testament in Acts 15:25-31.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. ²⁷The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

²⁹The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. ³⁰He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

³¹They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

Do you have the right key on your key ring?

2 (of many) Surprising Finds in Clarksville, Tennessee

05/20/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

Recently, I had a chance to spend a few days in Clarksville, Tennessee and found it to be a completely captivating and enjoyable town. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing some of the places, people and great food I encountered, and I believe you’ll want to check it out for yourself. (Just as a note for driving — if you’re in North Alabama headed up I-65, take I-840 West before you get to Franklin, TN. By doing that, you will avoid the horrible Nashville traffic altogether. A HUGE plus).

LIBERTY PARK

Liberty Park is a multi-use area surrounding a 10-acre fishing lake. You’ll find a playground, picnic pavilions, an event center, a 1.8-mile walking trail, sports fields and a popular restaurant, Liberty Park Grill, but notably, you will find tributes to two famous Clarksville women who excelled in sports.

I highly recommend the strawberry grilled chicken salad. It’s filled with fresh deliciousness.

Wilma Rudolph won three Olympic gold medals in track and field in the 1960 games in Rome, Italy, and was, in fact, the first woman to accomplish such a feat. The story becomes even more remarkable when you learn that she had polio as a child and was told she’d never walk again. While her father worked as a porter on railroad cars and her mother cleaned houses, Wilma’s older siblings dedicated themselves to the task of massaging her weak muscles day after day. The results astonished her doctors.

Also at Liberty Park stands the Pat Head Summitt Legacy Plaza, in honor and memory of the outstanding women’s basketball coach for the University of Tennessee in Knoxville from 1974 until 2012. When she retired she had the most career wins in college basketball history.

HISTORIC COLLINSVILLE PIONEER SETTLEMENT

Historic Collinsville Pioneer Settlement exists solely through the 43 years of hard work, financial backing and determination of JoAnn Weakley and her husband Glenn. JoAnn, who spent most of her professional life as an accountant but started out as a teacher, and Glenn, who was a farmer, believed that children and people of all ages needed a place to understand what life was like in the 1830-1870 period of history. They began the long, arduous process of locating buildings within a small radius of miles that had been constructed during that time and were still standing. In most cases, the logs and boards were numbered, the building was dismantled and taken to the settlement site and then reconstructed as it was originally. They also looked for furniture, implements, household goods, toys and artifacts appropriate to the 1800’s, in order to make the rooms come alive for visitors. Glenn, who was an avid hunter, was able to equip the Irby-Bumpus Wildlife Center on the grounds with examples of animals of Tennessee and around the world, as well as with Native American artifacts.

The settlement opened to the public in 1997 and has since hosted thousands of visitors, particularly school children on field trips. JoAnn and Glenn live in a house that adjoins the settlement and continue to have an active hand in the day-to-day operation, even though they sold the property to Montgomery County in 2018, and it is now maintained by Visit Clarksville. Imagine spending 43 years creating a place of learning and nostalgia for so many.

Historic Collinsville is open on Saturdays and Sundays and other days by appointment for groups of 6 or more.

Mrs. JoAnn Weakley demonstrating one of the hundreds of treasures inside the buildings of Historic Collinsville.

A baby tender, previously owned by Sarah Hale who wrote “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”

This scene reminds me of the verse :Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

Today is My Birthday

05/17/2019 By: CCPearson2 Comments

That’s right. Today is my birthday. My 69th birthday, as a matter of fact. To celebrate, my Silver Fox and I are headed out shortly to Greenwood, Mississippi. We’ll check into the Alluvian Hotel and enjoy a gourmet couples cooking class tonight at The Viking Cooking School. The class is called “That’s Amore,” and the menu sounds fabulous. Don’t worry. You will be reading all about it and seeing lots of photos, I’m sure.

Then, tomorrow we’ll drive to Troy, Alabama, where my good ol’ Charles Henderson High School classmates from 1968 will try AGAIN to have a 50-year reunion. (The one attempted last summer turned out to be poorly attended, so we demanded a do-over). In particular, I’m looking forward to visiting with a friend I haven’t seen since our 10-year reunion. We were great friends in those long-ago days. She was even a bridesmaid in my wedding. Should be fun.

So, the plans for the weekend sound good and hopefully they will lift my normally bright, sunny disposition out of the doldrums I’ve been mired in lately. Do you ever have times like that? Do you have days when your mortality looms heavily? When you realize that if “the natural order of life” comes about, then you are “one of the next to die?” (I told you I’d been wallowing). Maybe it’s that number — 69. Oh, so close to 70. Maybe it’s watching our oldest grandchild graduate from high school and being reminded of the rapid passing of the years. Maybe it’s reading bad health reports on good friends who are very near my age. Maybe my own health scare from back in March is still weighing heavily on my mind. Whatever the reason, I have GOT to get a grip. As the saying goes, “I’m too blessed to be stressed!”

I may be 69 today, but maybe 69 is the new 49. 🙂

Right this moment, I am NOT facing a medical crisis.

My Silver Fox is healthy — healthy enough to keep our yard looking great, to work as a veterinarian several days a week (diagnosing astutely and performing surgeries), to teach a great lesson to our Life Group on Sundays and write thought-provoking blog posts for the church website, and to keep me laughing.

With my Silver Fox at The Plaza in NYC last Christmas

Our 3 children are doing exactly what God wired them to do — parenting, sharing God’s Word, teaching.

With my 2 beautiful daughters, Laura and Julie

Our almost 14 grandchildren are happy and healthy. (Baby Beatrix is due in July).

I have a fulfilling 4th career as a travel writer and blogger.

I have some very good friends.

I am constantly learning new things, and I have this blog as a platform for sharing what I learn.

I know that God loves me unconditionally and continues to have a plan for my life.

So, Happy Birthday to me. God willing I’ll be here for my next, and next, and next. But, if not, then YOU can know that I’ll be celebrating better than I could have ever asked or imagined.

Psalm 90:12 – “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Ephesians 5:15-17 – “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

Proverbs 15:15 — “When a man is gloomy, everything seems to go wrong; when he is cheerful, everything seems right!” Well, I want everything to seem right. Off with the gloom. On with the celebration!

And one more thing. Andy Rooney once said, “Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.” So, so true.

Take a Break From the Theme Parks in Central Florida With These 6 Suggestions

05/13/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

First, let me be clear. Disney World, Epcot, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Animal Kingdom and all the rest do a phenomenal job in the arena of family entertainment. They have guest experiences down to a very fine science. You will see topnotch shows, world class exhibits and breathtaking landscaping. You’ll eat great food while being served by a friendly, attractive waitstaff, and the shopping possibilities for spending your money have no bounds. While Steve and I could never conceive of spending what we’d have to spend to take 14 grandchildren to Disney World, we certainly understand and support those of you who CAN provide such a vacation. And we love looking at your photos on Facebook. 🙂

But, for the purposes of today’s blog post, let’s assume that you’re heading to the Central Florida/Kissimmee area in the coming months and want to spend at least one day away from the parks. Here are just a few OTHER activities you might enjoy:

Ride a bike through Celebration, Florida. Celebration Bike Rental is there to provide everything you might need, including a guide if you wish. The paths are smooth with very few hills, and you’ll pedal past close-up encounters of nature as well as stunning homes. And, if you should happen to take a small spill (not that I have firsthand knowledge or anything 🙂 ), they are eager to take great care of you. I highly recommend them.

Enjoy the shops and eateries in Celebration, Florida. It’s such a pretty little planned community with tree-lined streets and a beautiful lake. You’ll enjoy the laidback atmosphere so much after the hustle and bustle of crowds at the theme parks. An idea to consider is signing up for a cooking class at U Can Cook Culinary School. That will be on my list during a future visit.

Take a walking tour of historic downtown Kissimmee, Florida. Begin at the Kissimmee Welcome Center (look for the large horseshoe sculpture). You might be surprised to find all of the cowboy references scattered throughout. Your guide can explain why they are there. Enjoy the public art on display and notice all of the ethnicities represented in the 26 restaurants downtown. Browse the specialty shops. Be sure you include a stop at the Osceola County Courthouse, which is the oldest courthouse in Florida still being used as a courthouse. Stroll along the Lakefront Park and consider signing up for a 1/2 day of bass fishing at Big Toho Marina.

Drive out to Boggy Creek Airboat Rides to observe alligators, hear a presentation about Native American life and take an exhilarating ride through the waters that form the mouth of the Everglades. You might catch a glimpse of some creatures who don’t swim or fly.

Pretend you are Tarzan or Jane at the Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park. Full disclosure: I put on the harness fully intending to at least try the zipline. But, then I considered the distance between the line and the ground, coupled with my less-than-limber body, and chose to keep my feet planted on terra firma. The young millenials I was with had a great time, and I’m sure some of my grands would have been eager to try the whole course. Safety is a HUGE deal with the people at Tree Trek Adventure Park. They give very explicit explanations and stay close by to assure that you follow the directions carefully.

I was really looking forward to my very first hot air balloon ride, but the winds didn’t cooperate. If that is on your Bucket List, then make a reservation with Orlando Balloon Rides and be sure to send me some photos.

Enjoy your time in Central Florida.

Not Exactly Norman Rockwell

05/10/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

We’ve all seen the famous painting by Norman Rockwell. It’s called “Freedom from Want,” and it features a large extended family gathered at the Thanksgiving table with a perfectly-cooked turkey being set in the middle of the table by the grandmother with granddaddy and all the hungry relatives ready to dig in. It’s easy to imagine an ideal family scenario with everyone getting along lovingly and no “impossible” relatives spoiling the occasion. I don’t know about you, but such a scene is seldom achieved in the Pearson house. We somehow tend to have more chaos and drama.

Take last week for example. On Tuesday afternoon, daughter Julie called to say she wanted to leave the next day for a 3-day conference in Atlanta with her husband Brian, but previous child care arrangements had just fallen through. She needed her momma to come to the rescue. Even though I knew Steve would be working for the next two days, I made some adjustments to my own previous plans and was able to welcome 7 eager children (ages 18 months to almost 12 years) into the house the next morning. Day 1 and the first night went smoothly. Everyone slept well and woke up raring to go the following morning. We played a new game and worked on some Mother’s Day projects. However, within a few hours, FOUR of them had developed a nasty stomach virus. FOUR. The 18-month-old was miserable and just wanted to be held, yet I had to put him down often to clean up the “effects” of sickness throughout the day. By the time Steve got home from work at suppertime, we were a MESS, a certified disaster zone, a hair’s breadth away from calling in the National Guard!!!

I got up with various sick people through the second night, but by the morning of Day 3, I had the virus myself. I could not lift my head off the pillow. Poor Steve, then, had 7 kids to care for who were (gratefully) feeling better. To make matters worse, Julie, the mother of these children who had looked forward to a well-earned break, was herself horribly sick in Atlanta!

The children were back with their parents by the end of Day 3, and I began the process of washing and disinfecting every germ-ridden towel, pillowcase, blanket, sheet, dish and surface in the house. In the middle of the following night, Steve was “down for the count.”

Get the picture? We were NOT the family you’d want to feature in a Hallmark movie, or on the front of a smiling greeting card or certainly not as the subject of a Norman Rockwell painting. Our flaws had been put on full display.

And, those of you who have been affected by divorce can relate to this — tomorrow our oldest granddaughter will graduate from high school. Her parents divorced when she was two. Those parents have both remarried. We all love Allie very much and are so proud of her, but people with an unpleasant history will be thrown into the same environment for several hours. We all claim to be followers of Christ. Will we behave in ways that will reflect our identities in Christ or will Satan get to claim the victory?

Somehow as this Mother’s Day weekend approaches, I felt the need to be completely transparent with all of you. Here’s the deal. This side of heaven we won’t achieve perfection in our families. We are NOT a perfect family. Blessed? Absolutely! But far, FAR from perfect. There will be challenges and many times when our resolve to display love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control will be tested. Our family members won’t always smell, sound, look or act pleasant in our eyes — nor will we in theirs.

Galatians 5:22-23 — “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such there is no law.”

I made a new friend who is a Sister in Christ this past week. She has encouraged me to “pass the test.” Even without defining it verbally, I know the kind of test she’s talking about. I don’t want to disappoint her, but even more, I don’t want to disappoint Jesus.

So, we keep on keeping on. We keep putting on the whole armor. We keep asking God to help us live in understanding with one another. We pray for His will to be done in US and to change our bad attitudes.

Romans 12:18 – “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Foodie Finds Near Disney World

05/06/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

Of COURSE, there are hundreds of places to eat when you are inside the theme parks of Central Florida, but what about if you stay outside the parks and choose to drive in from several miles away? Well, don’t worry. Between historic downtown Kissimmee (which has 26 eateries), the outskirts of Kissimmee, the charming community of Celebration and the huge Disney Springs complex, you will NOT go hungry.

Allow me to mention just a few that I got to sample personally during a recent visit to the area.

CELEBRATION

Such a pretty town. You can definitely tell it is a “Disney-planned community.” Featuring a large lake, there are shops and restaurants radiating from it. I had lunch at Imperium Food and Wine at 606 Market Street. Large, mouthwatering entrees are served for dinner, while at lunch time, you can find tempting fresh salads, wraps and sandwiches. Check out the huge hunks of beef in my steak salad!!

Afterwards, as I wandered the quaint streets, I noticed several other attractive options, along with a macaron shop (yummy sweets) and even a doggy bakery. 🙂

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN KISSIMMEE

I was surprised to learn that Kissimmee has strong cowboy/cattle-ranching roots. From the horseshoe at the Visitors Center to the colorful statues and figurines around town and even to the street signs, with each block having a different Wild West-type of symbol, you’ll see how the town organizers have woven that theme into the town’s decor.

Even though there are 26 different eateries, representing a surprisingly broad range of cultures, I was not there at meal time. I did, however, pop into to a colorful new ice cream shop — LimbHelados (“helado” is the Spanish word for ice cream)– and enjoyed some delicious samples of fruity, handmade sorbets, sherbets and ice creams.

ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF KISSIMMEE

A huge Margaritaville Resort Orlando is under construction at 8000 Finns Up Circle in Kissimmee. Inside the resort will be what is billed as “the most technologically-advanced water park in the world!” Wow! That’s a mighty bold claim!

Directly across from one of the main entrances to this resort, you’ll find Formosa Gardens, and, in turn, Island Grove Wine Company at Formosa Gardens. The gift shop is filled with wonderful decor/food/jewelry items. The bistro here is a great place for a salad, sandwich, charcuterie, baked treat or what proved to be MY favorite — baked brie. So good.

DISNEY SPRINGS

I had a fabulous dinner at the newly-opened Jaleo by Jose Andres in Disney Springs. You’ll read my full story about Jaleo very soon. In the meantime, here’s a photo of the seafood paella, just to tease you. 🙂

We Were Meant to Fly

05/03/2019 By: CCPearson2 Comments

Lori Allen, Director of Great Escape Publishing, recently shared this motivational article with travel writers/bloggers/photographers in mind.

When I was studying to get my pilot’s license (a goal I never achieved because I eventually moved to Paris and started Great Escape Publishing), my instructor always used to say: ‘Now remember, these planes aren’t made to crash, they’re made to fly.’ On one day’s lesson, we climbed to 10,000 feet, he cut off the engines to simulate an engine failure, and then he tilted the nose of our small Cessna down toward the ground as if we were going to do a nose-dive. He let go of the yoke, and I watched in amazement (and somewhat horror) as the plane righted itself back up. ‘See, they’re meant to fly,’ he said. And it’s not just these small planes that are built to fly. All planes are built this way.

Malcolm Gladwell wrote about crashes in his book, The Outliers. He says it takes, on average, seven mistakes to crash a plane. It’s not enough that the weather is bad, the engine fails, and the pilot went out drinking the night before. It typically takes four more things to go wrong for a crash to happen. The co-pilot must also be tired and stressed, the head engineer must have missed the check-engine briefing, air traffic control is overwhelmed, AND, on the way down, the landing gear gets stuck. Seven mistakes total. Not just one . . . because planes are meant to fly. And the same is true about you.

Just as airplanes are meant to fly, you and I are meant to function as God designed us to function.

A few weeks ago, I spent several days near Orlando, Florida, in my role as a travel and food writer and blogger. The tourism representatives and
other writers were millennials, meaning I was their “senior” by close to
40 years. I am light years behind them in their social media skills and
most certainly in their energy levels. But, I could make a contribution by doing what I know how to do — ask good questions, look away
from my phone to observe the surroundings, take photos of them in
all of their various athletic pursuits, listen astutely, be independent and
resourceful in unfamiliar places. I can’t be a travel writer in the
ways that THEY accomplish the task, but I can “fly” as a travel writer
being Connie.

I believe that God wants me to “do me” and each of you to “do you.” He
was very creative when He wired each of us with specific personalities
and skills. If we function as we were designed to function, it is highly
unlikely that we will have seven catastrophes to happen simultaneously
leading us to crash. Instead, we will FLY!!!

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good
works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 Ecclesiastes 9:10 — “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with
thy might; “

Photo from Google Images by Kevin Blanzy, marked “free to use.”

4 Unusual Finds in Cincinnati

04/29/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

After two trips to Cincinnati in the past couple of years, I must say that I have become a huge fan of the city. Its vibrancy, architecture, fine arts, history, food (specifically its version of chili), and, of course, its passion for their Cincinnati Reds baseball are all contagious.

Camp Washington Chili – 5 way — spaghetti, meat sauce, cheese, beans and onions.

But, Cincinnati also has its fair share of quirky places, hidden gems reflecting the skills or the collections of individuals in the area. Allow me to introduce you to 4 of these.

Vent Haven Museum – The World’s Only Museum Dedicated to Ventriloquism

With over 900 ventriloquist dummies (and yes, that is the politically correct name for them), you’ll sense many eyes looking back at you when you walk in the door. Technically, Vent Haven is at 33 West Maple Avenue in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, but that is considered to be part of the greater Cincinnati area. Founder W. S. Berger spent 40 years on this collection, which has been gathered from 20 different countries and has examples from 3 different centuries. Be sure to see the Edgar Bergen display as well as Shari Lewis and her beloved Lamb Chop.

It is only open from May 1 to September 30, and you’ll need to call ahead to schedule a tour. Click here for that link. A $10 per person donation is suggested. Be aware that there are no public restrooms at Vent Haven.

LUCKY CAT MUSEUM

For me, this is the kind of place that proves that you can find a passionate collector or person who is interested in just about anything you can name. The Lucky Cat Museum consists of hundreds, probably even thousands, of cat statues with a paw held up or waving — the kind found in virtually every Japanese or Chinese restaurant. These are considered to be lucky charms that bring prosperity to the person(s) displaying it.

The museum is inside Essex Studios at 2511 Essex Place in Cincinnati and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 3:00 to 6:00. Admission is free but donations are gladly accepted.

THE SWING HOUSE

The Swing House is one of the truly coolest things I’ve seen in a long time. It is actually an art project inside a 3-story house. Located at 1373 Avon Place in the Camp Washington section of Cincinnati, owner/artist Mark de Jong took out the interior walls and floors and suspended a 30-foot swing from a metal beam in the ceiling. I took a short turn in that swing and found it to be exceedingly smooth and exhilarating. Imagine swinging from over your bed to over your kitchen sink!! There is an Open House to visit on the first Saturday of every month from 12:00 to 4:00.

The house can actually be rented out as an AirBnB. Here is a link to that listing.

AMERICAN SIGN MUSEUM

The American Sign Museum is at 1330 Monmouth Avenue in Cincinnati, also in the Camp Washington section. It is open from Wednesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 4:00 and on Sunday from 12:00 to 4:00. Admission is $15 per adult, but 3 children are free with each adult admission.

This Sign Museum is a colorful trip down memory lane with sights that will trigger images of your childhood. The 20,000-square foot space is filled with signs covering a 100-year time span.

Cincinnati is only about a 6 1/2-hour drive from North Alabama. It’s a great place. I strongly suggest that you think about visiting. Links to each website are embedded in the headings.

“What Do You Fear?”

04/26/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

Granddaughters Maggie and Allie created these paintings back in 2013, just in time for Halloween. As you can tell by their faces, this was “fake fear.”

“What do you fear?” That was the question Steve posed to all of us in our life group on Easter Sunday morning. It was a prelude to the discussion about the Bible passage in Matthew 28, specifically verses 1-10. Look at all the times fear or being afraid are mentioned —

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

²There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.³His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.⁴The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

⁵The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

⁸So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The soldiers were afraid. The women were afraid. The disciples were afraid. Yet, the angel and Jesus said, “Do not be afraid.”

The answers in our life group ranged from “spiders,” “heights,” “mascots or clowns in costumes,” “the water,” to “I’m afraid of something happening to one of my children,” “I’m afraid of losing my job,” or “I’m afraid of losing my wife because she is the glue that holds our family together.”

I’m the one who mentioned water, because I can’t swim. And yes, I’ve now had 3 different swimming pools in backyards where we’ve lived. The things we do for those we love. 🙂 But, while I’m being transparent, I, too, fear losing one of the children or grandchildren, but as Steve and I get older, the more often we have conversations such as: “If something happens to you, what do you want me to do about ________?” or “At my funeral, please _________” or even “Let’s do _____ before our health deteriorates, and we can’t do that anymore.”

Morbid? Yes. Unsettling? Very much so. A reality? Sure. But paralyzing? No. If I let the fear of dying or of Steve dying consume me, then I miss out on the blessing of each day with him. If I spend hours planning my funeral, those are hours I could have spent laughing, loving, encouraging or EATING. Ha! Right?

One of the very first Bible verses I learned as a child was Psalm 56:3 — “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”

And another passage I have loved — maybe because it was beautifully set to music is Psalm 27:1 — ” The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” When you have a few minutes, read the whole chapter of Psalm 27 and maybe go a step further. Go to YouTube and watch a wonderful gospel choir sing these words.

There are times when all of us will feel fearful, but let’s cling to the promise that God is holding us in His “righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10 — “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

REUNION RESORT – Fabulous Lodging Options near Disney World

04/22/2019 By: CCPearson2 Comments

Hotels are everywhere in the Orlando/Kissimmee, Florida, area, but I recently got a close-up look at an amazing 2200+-acre property within a 6-mile drive of Walt Disney World and only 30 miles from the Orlando airport. You might want to consider it for your next visit to Central Florida.

At Reunion Resort and Golf Club, 7593 Gathering Drive in Kissimmee, guests may choose from one, two- or three-bedroom villas or multi-bedroom vacation homes sleeping as many as 36! Many of the vacation homes have private swimming pools, but the resort also gives access to numerous pools, water slides and a 1000-foot lazy river.

An advantage of the homes would be the kitchen facilities and the spacious rooms for gathering and relaxing with families, friends or business associates. Grocery delivery is available from a Publix nearby, or there are two outstanding restaurants within the property grounds — Eleven (appropriately named for the floor where it is located) and Traditions in the newest golf clubhouse.

Speaking of golf, there are THREE signature courses inside the resort — Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson.

Massages, facial and body treatments are offered in the luxurious Boutique Spa, in addition to salon experiences such as hairstyles, manicures and pedicures.

Tennis, pickleball, bocce ball, bike rentals, playgrounds and fitness classes can all be scheduled by guests at Reunion Resort.

A shuttle operates 24-hours a day to transport guests from their lodging choice to any of the restaurants, golf courses, spa treatments or sports activities within the gates.

Here are some photos from the 6-bedroom house where I stayed:

And check out this burger I ordered at the Traditions Clubhouse. Enough for SEVERAL hungry people.

For larger groups, how about this beauty that sleeps 28 people and has its own lazy river:

Or this fabulous home that sleeps 36, has a bowling alley, a golf simulation area, theater room and large pool:

You could host an entire family reunion in one of these homes. We could even have Cousins Camp there. What do you think, Steve Pearson? It’s okay to dream, isn’t it?

Suffice it to say that there are some great choices for lodging when you decide to vacation in the Orlando/Kissimmee area. This one is near Celebration, FL and Disney Springs, giving even MORE dining and shopping possibilities.

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