Catching Up!

I have been away from the blog world for awhile. I hope you have missed me as much as I have missed everyone! Life in the Jackson household has been going full speed. Since we go half speed on a good day, it has been exhausting trying to keep up!

We have been thinking and planning for retirement. It was decided it was time to mark that item off of our bucket list. After researching international living, we headed closer to home to check out places. Some were ruled out for various reasons.



A few weeks ago, we decided to break up a trip to visit a friend in Louisiana by stopping off at Hot Springs Village. It was totally unplanned and unexpected but we ended up signing a contract on a small home. Dan calls it a cottage; I have dubbed it the playhouse. We were entertained to discover once we hit the age of ninety, green fees are waived. Yippee! Now that is incentive.



Last week we listed our “work” house on the market. We try to keep the house in decent order. Dan is still fanatical about the yard. Still there are those little projects that need completion. Much time has been spent downsizing our “stuff”. Brother, do we accumulate stuff! 


Load of model cars to donate




Today our agent hosted a realtor tour. I had already made lunch plans with my friend Donna. Since I was sort of invited to make myself scarce, I ended up spending the day away. We had lunch at our friend Libby’s restaurant. It is a fabulous place. Check it out. It is worth the drive to Paragould to have lunch at “Kiss the Cook.” Libby is just good folk.  By the way, congratulations to the newlyweds!
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We had to put Angel dog in the kennel for the tour. She is still not speaking to me. She still thinks she is being punished when she is gated. Extra treats are in store for her for her inconvenience. Dan says it may take us a month to rest up from the hustle and bustle of buying and selling. I didn’t think it could get more complicated --- I was wrong!



As common, Donna and I flea shopped most of the day. We came home with one item, a book “Retirement for Dummies.” We had a good laugh when we discovered it. Perfect! When I delivered the “gift” to Dan, he almost spit his food out laughing.

Usually I am the one that gets in a tizzy over changes—especially financial ones. I know I mess with some folk’s theology when I refer to this but, I talk to the saints in heaven about those things that greatly trouble me. I have been at perfect peace with this latest major change in our life. This is so NOT me.



This time I believe it is the smiles and nod we have received from above. Years back when I was going through chemo my mother sent to me via my sister Gere a purple hydrangea. It has survived a few moves but never has bloomed. This year it is vibrant with green leaves and brilliant color. Without telling him about my “conversations” with Mom and Dad, when he saw the blooms, he said, “I think that is a message.” I think so too.

No mo chemo! No mo fever!  Owen smiling!

One very big smile from heaven this week was the miracle healing of our little friend Owen. He has been a brave little warrior fighting cancer for the majority of his six year old life. Elders and friends gathered at his hospital bed at St. Jude’s as others joined around the world in prayer for the fever and infection to leave his little body. He is now fever free! Yay God!



Now I don’t claim to be clairvoyant or a medium by any means. I just know that Heaven is never any further away from us than a whisper. I am thankful we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses who intercede upon our behalf. What an honor and privilege to have a God who is thrilled when we enter into His throne room of Grace and Mercy with our petitions. Whether they are great or small, to him they are precious.

It may be a while yet before our retirement plans are in place.  We are making plans. No matter what, we know He is guiding every step.


A man makes his plans but the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9