Hear and Obey

How many have read the book or seen the movie ‘Ella Enchanted?’

It’s the charming tale of a young girl who must obey orders, regardless of the person issuing them or their consequences.

I’m probably not the only one who feels like an ‘Ella’ at times. A random sentence out of the mouth of others can become my marching orders for the day. An unfeeling criticism can change my course of action. A harshly stated opinion can formulate a new roadmap for my life.

What are the results of my twisted sense of hearing?

I allow others to control my life. I allow them to trump God when it comes to my personal destiny. What should have been a short, fast route to contentment becomes a circuitous, tortuous path to misery.

How can anybody know better than God what’s best for my life? They can’t.

How can I stop listening to the choir and pay attention only to the director? For people like me, it isn’t easy. This method of living is so ingrained from childhood, so stamped in concrete, that the route to healing takes work and time. For us, even the Bible can be a dangerous trail to self-flagellation, as the words warp and we hear only that we fall short in God’s eyes and must do more, more, more, to be worthy of His love.

That’s why I recommend a twelve-step program like the one offered by AA and Alanon. It may provide the best hearing aid you’ve ever worn.

A Lily Blooms

Have you ever heard a lily bloom?

A dear friend honored me this February 14 with a Valentine’s bouquet. It found its way to the center of the dining room table where its colors and scents have blessed my workspace. Last evening as I typed, I heard the petals of a lily unfolding, like a tiny zipper opening one tooth at a time. I took pictures to document the slow but fascinating process. By this morning, the petals had peeled back in full blossom, as if the birth of new hope.

Are you too busy to hear the lilies bloom? Make some quiet time a priority in your life. Listen to nature speak to you about its Creator. Maybe, just maybe, the Creator has something to say to you.

Meet Sandra McCollough, Garden Peninsula Artist

Someone once suggested that we pick our parents before we are born. If that's the case, then I am a very good picker.

Meet my mother, Sandy McCollough. From humble beginnings in Rochester, Michigan to a waterfront cottage on Lake Michigan, Sandy has set an example for spiritual growth. Always embracing God, change, and art, Sandy weathers through life with joy and love at the core of her being.

Sandy has held a variety of occupations in life, from administrative assistant to cleaning professional. Now, in her young 60's, she's embarking on the careeer of her dreams -- an artist.

Her whole life, she's created beautiful art. Now, she's sharing it with the world in the form of fine art greeting cards. Her inspiration comes both from nature and life's humorous side. Her mediums vary from pencil to chalk to water color. But what never varies is the attention to detail. You'll be amazed at the exactness of color and line, at her way of viewing the world that showcases its spirit, not just its contents.

Check out Sandy's webpage with all her incredible art at www.nicoleyoung.net/GardenArtCards.htm. You can contact Sandy for more information or to place an order at sandy@gardenartcards.com.

Home Again, Home Again, Lickety Split

The days of sunshine and warmth over, it was time to return to the land of ice and snow. And we did -- gratefully.

Some places are for lingering, like southern California, and some places are for living, like Upper Michigan. I guess that's what vacations are all about -- learning to love the place you live. Home Appreciation Week. Unwind and un-whine, so when you get back to the business of life you can do it with that attitude of gratitude that sometimes gets lost in the daily shuffle.

Here's hoping you find that special place to visit, so you too can return home convinced you occupy the greatest space on earth.

Day 6 - Hicks in the City

Today we classed things up and headed to the Getty Center in L.A. Fine art, beautiful landscaping and amazing architecture wowed us along with the views of L.A. and the foggy Pacific.

We took the 'shortcut' to the freeway through Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, and Sunset Boulevard. Evidence of the rich and famous met us at every turn.

But L.A. traffic on the way back to Anaheim made us click our heels and whisper ‘There’s no place like home.’

Tomorrow morning will be the best day of our vacation – when our flight takes us back to the Upper Peninsula and those we love best.

California Wine Country Day 5

Today we headed out to wine country. Our first stop was Old Town Front in Temecula, about an hour from Anaheim. It reminded me of Michigan’s Mackinac Island shopping district, but with a western flair--and cars. We ate at Mad Madeline’s Hamburgers, voted the number one burger in California. Yum! A giant cheeseburger split in two and some fries held us over while we explored the area. We’d had such a great time horseback riding the day before, we were determined to do it again in the hills surrounding Temecula. Sid, the owner of the hamburger joint, tried hooking us up with some horses. Off we went on a wild horse chase that started at Leonesse Winery and ended at Vail Lake Stables, tucked back in an RV Park about ten minutes from town. The final result: a sign on the door that said ‘Back at 8pm.’

Disappointed but not dejected, we headed back to Temecula , where a Starbucks coffee and a duck pond cheered us up. In fact, the day was totally relaxing, especially after the thrill of the roller coasters the day before.

California Adventure Day 4

The word of the day was ADVENTURE, and lots of it.

We left the hotel for the Palos Verdes Peninsula around nine for our 11am horseback riding appointment. The scenic route took us through Long Beach. It was sobering to see the other side of humanity – the seedier side – after having only been exposed to the posh ‘Newport Beach’ façade along the Pacific Coast Highway. When we arrived at Rolling Hills Estates, it was as if we’d entered THE FARM ZONE. Pretty white fences, a barn in every back yard, and buttons at rider height to activate the crossing signals made this my favorite community in southern Cal. Lori had the best trail horses and made a great guide. Her friend Loren came along as well, adding to the trail banter. We’re used to the smooth gait of Kentucky Mountain Horses, but handled the thrill of cantering on Moleek, an Arab, and Buddy, a buckskin quarterhorse, just fine. The route took us past Roseanne Barr’s former home, Donald Trump’s private golf course, and a foggy view of Catalina Island. A shrimp baron lived in a home that featured twenty-two bathrooms and an underground tennis court. We also met Burrito, a sweet burro that 'talked' to us along the way. Lori’s farm might only have been a half-acre, but she kept three dogs, a cat, two bunnies, a rooster, and ten horses on her spread. We found a quaint deli on the corner and had our best lunch yet, a turkey sub with cups of chili and chicken noodle soup.

After our horse ride, we couldn’t decide what to do next. I looked on the map and saw Knott’s Berry Farm. I thought, what a nice way to top off a horseback ride, visiting a berry farm and riding on a wagon, and picking berries, and buying some jams. Craig said, “It’s not a berry farm.” I said, “It’s a berry farm. It says Knott’s Berry Farm.” We followed the signs and found ourselves at an amusement park with roller coasters named the Silver Bullet, the Xcelerator, and Supreme Scream. My gut told me there wasn’t any berry-picking going on in there. I was right. I found myself hanging in space twice on the Silver Bullet, the longest and tallest suspended roller coaster west of the Mississippi; going from zero to eighty miles an hour in one second on the Xcelerator – twice; and free-falling from thirty stories on the Supreme Scream – thankfully only once. My favorite coaster was the log ride, which reminded me of a good old-fashioned Tunnel of Love. We took a lemonade break in between thrills and found ourselves in a cantina featuring ‘Miss Kitty.’ It only took her a few minutes to snag Craig up on stage to help with the performance. While she tickled his nose with her boa, I gleefully snapped pictures. He claims all he could see was my sinister smile and the flashbulb.

Finally, it was back to the hotel and Italian for supper. What adventures will we encounter tomorrow?

Day 3 -- and loving it!

It wouldn’t be a trip to California without dipping our feet in the Pacific Ocean. That’s just what we did today – I only wish I’d taken off my shoes first! Who knew that the surf would crash on the rocks just as I was getting my picture taken? Shoes in hands, we finished our walk, but not before watching a man launch a kayak, meeting up with some pelicans, and wondering just how those homes stayed up on the cliffs. Afterward, the guys pulled around my Lamborghini for the ride home.

We drove along the Pacific Coast Highway, cutting inland at the U.S. Naval Weapons Station at Seal Beach. We used serendipity to choose our lunch stop – and found ourselves in Little Saigon. My shrimp was delivered, eyes and all.

It was back to the hotel for a nap and dry socks, then to supper at the Rainforest Café in Downtown Disney, a shopping district located outside Disneyland.

Then it was a soak in the hotel whirlpool, a movie, and another good night’s sleep.

Fun in the Sun Day 2

Record temperatures hit both the California coast and our hometown of Garden, Michigan today. The guilt started to creep up along with the thermometer, which hit the mid-eighties for us, while back home school was cancelled for the second day due to extreme cold. But despite the realization that friends and relatives may resent the absolute perfect timing of our trip, we determined to have a wonderful time.

The day began with a drive south to San Juan Capistrano Mission. Along with incredible three-hundred-year-old architecture, the mission offered some entertaining goldfish that showed off their skill at follow-the-leader, and a sweet little bird that posed on a fountain. We'd hoped to go horseback riding today, but the statue "Empty Saddles" at the mission is as close as we came to a horse.

We walked through the shopping district and happened upon a restaurant in an Amtrak depot. While we ate our meal of chili and a turkey wrap, a train came through the station, whistle blowing and diesels roaring. The gentleman at the table next to us had just answered his phone and had to leave the patio for the quiet of indoors to finish his call.

We headed to Dana Point Harbor and signed up for a whale-watching cruise, picking up some nice windbreakers at a wharf-side shop for our voyage. Two gray whales traveling the coast met us just outside the harbor. I spent the next two hours snapping pictures each time they surfaced. I finally got a few good shots of spray, humps, and tails. Before disembarking, we recognized Tracey Glenn, a former Garden, Michigan resident, proving decisively that the world really is small.

We wrapped up our day with steak and lobster at the yacht harbor. The sun set just as we finished the last delicious bite.

California Vacation Day 1

3:30 pm

So many activities to do. Only five days to go.

A visit to San Diego filled our first day as tourists.

After a satisfying breakfast of oatmeal and hard boiled eggs at the Peacock Suites breakfast buffet, we set out to see the U.S. aircraft carrier Midway in San Diego Harbor. We took a wrong turn and ended up at the San Diego Maritime Museum, a wonderful collection of old ships. We talked with a museum crew scraping the algea from the waterline of a Russian submarine. Since it was Family Day at the museum, we got a free ride around the harbor on the Pilot. I caught pictures of the San Diego skyline, two playful dolphins, and even a couple seagulls racing us back to shore.

We lunched on king crab and shrimp at San Diego’s Original Seafood Restaurant. The building hung out over the water and while we dined, a sailboat came within a few feet of our place at the window.

We walked along the waterfront to the Midway and spent the next two hours exploring the carrier. My favorite part was the tour of the ship's bridge, which took us high above the flight deck. I sat in the captain’s chair and enjoyed a great view of the harbor.

A hankering for the front row at the Super Bowl set in, and we headed back to the Peacock Suites for a spot on the couch and left-over Chinese.

Go Bears!

What to do when in southern California?

With SuperBowl fever raging in Florida, I was truly grateful that I planned my winter escape for southern California instead.

On the flight from Detroit to L.A., I met a new friend, Heidi B., from the outskirts of Los Angeles. She provided wonderful ideas for sightseeing.

With home base situated at the lovely Peacock Suites in Anaheim, Heidi suggested the following attractions:

The Getty Museum in Los Angeles - Heidi loves the museum for its interesting artifacts and gourmet restaurant

Huntington Gardens in Pasadena - With the camellias in bloom in February, the grounds of this amazing home are among her favorite places. The teahouse comes with her recommendation, as well.

When I mentioned that we hoped to do some hiking in the balmy Southern Cal weather, she rushed to suggest some beautiful destinations, though they require a drive of up to eight hours to reach:

In Carmel, the Point Lobos State Reserve, complete with sea otters

Monterey Bay area

Up Highway One to Big Sur and the Julia Pfeifer State Park, where we might find our favorite activity, horseback riding

Ojai area

Santa Barbara area

Hearst Castle

For attractions in the San Diego/LA stretch, she recommended:

Palm Springs with its arial tramway

Dana Point where we’d find whale-watching cruises

Scripps Oceanographic Museum


With so many activities to choose from, I can’t wait to see which ones we’ll end up doing in the next five days.

Thanks, Heidi!