Tag: beach

Into His Marvelous Light

On By Betty OwensIn Betty Thomason Owens

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV
Image by jplenio from Pixabay

Light. It is the most powerful force in the universe.

Looking back, the last couple of years brought a lot of heartache and loss, not just for me, but for many. Turmoil, struggles, sickness, and death, became our everyday. And it’s not over yet. We stand in the predawn darkness, knowing that the sun will rise again. Waiting. And then it happens.

Light bursts upon the scene and changes everything. Sometimes the light of day brings clarity. Renewed vision. Hope.

A few months ago, I stood on a balcony overlooking the Atlantic. It was early morning. The sun had not yet risen. In that predawn blackness, I could hear the waves crashing against the shore. And then the sun’s golden rays tinted the horizon.

Dawn can be sudden and even startling at times. Its beauty is undeniable. The watcher stands in awe.

Back home, watching from my kitchen window . . . well, the scene is not quite so dramatic. If I turn on my ambient noise and set it to ocean, I can pretend. Still, there is no denying the power of light. Even breaking over the rooftops in my subdivision, it can be breathtakingly beautiful.

There is a beauty in every season of life that must be experienced to be appreciated fully.

Coffee helps. 🙂

We are called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light. Each day is a gift to use wisely. To work at the task given. To be a blessing. It’s one more chance to say, “I love you.” Maybe one more chance to say, “I forgive you.” Or, “please forgive me.”

Do you have a favorite sunrise memory?

A Big Deal

On By Betty OwensIn Betty Thomason Owens

Ah, summer, a great time to kick back and relax, right? I love summer. I love being outdoors. I love to travel and find out-of-the-way places, like Cobbly-Nob, near Gatlinburg.

I have to confess, though, Bob and I missed our beach time this year. I didn’t think we would. I really expected more from the mountains. They were a feast for the eyes and soul, but…

If you love the beach, you know what I mean.

So, what’s the big deal? A HUGE sale from my publisher! I was just informed that ALL my Write Integrity books are on sale–Kindle Versions–for only 99¢. Yay!

And that’s not all, there’s a Sweepstakes for you to enter. I’ll let her give you the details. If you are interested, click the meme, or here’s the direct link: Write Integrity Press “We Love Our Readers Sale”.

Contest runs July 15 – 21

I hope you’ll take a look at the 39 books included in the sale. Everything from teen & YA Dystopian Fiction (I loved those!), historical romance, contemporary romance, suspense–even some excellent daily devotionals. You really can’t lose. You could buy the whole lot for less than $40.

I’ve read most of these books and highly recommend them. Be sure and let me know if you win the sweepstakes!

Have a question? Contact Me

Travel Month

On By Betty OwensIn Betty Thomason Owens2 Comments

I read that June is the biggest travel month of the year. Happy thought, since that’s when we scheduled our few days away.

June is usually perfect because the spring rains have mostly ended and it’s not yet summer hot. Well, this year is a little different. Not surprising, since the last year or so has been different. Our weather map is showing rain for the foreseeable future from the Mississippi River to the east coast.

Should be an interesting vacation.

Time away is time away, though. Even if rain pours all over it. We’ll find indoor things to do. What that means for me is a quiet phone, no computer, and time with my favorite person.

Favorite vacations? Happy memories? Funny or poignant vacation memories? Please share in the comment section.

My personal favorite was several years back. It was late June and one of us (not naming names) was feeling a bit depressed after another episode of empty-nesters syndrome. We made a spur of the moment decision to head to a gulf beach. I think we settled on Panama City and found a brand-new beachfront hotel with special pricing for their grand opening.

The “hotel room” was more like a condo and it was beautifully decorated and so comfortable. The ample balcony was the perfect place to hang out in the early morning hours. We usually had breakfast there.

We could rent those beach chairs with the umbrellas for the week, and a “cabana boy” served us icy drinks and moved our umbrella when needed. It was worth every penny. We felt anchored to those chairs. So lazy, but healing.

As our departure date approached, my husband said, “Hey, let’s see if we can stay a couple more days.”

Aww! They said yes! We called our employers and took a couple more days off. Those two extra days were the best of the whole week. We enjoyed every moment and arrived home more rested than we’d felt in ages.

That’s what a vacation should be. A time of relaxation and restoration. I still smile at the memories of that week. It has never been repeated, though I have tried.

I can still hear the waves rollin’ in…

Which Path Are You?

On By Betty OwensIn Betty Thomason Owens5 Comments

Hello, Thursday Morning readers. I usually mention the weather here, but honestly, I’m getting pretty tired of it. It’s mid-May and winter paid a visit. So, here we are shivering in our sweatshirts and heavy socks.

Maybe it’s the unpredictable weather that has me longing for a getaway.

Being shut-in for a few weeks can make you long for the great outdoors. We missed our vacation this year and travel is still restricted, so I’m looking at photos of places I’d love to go. I love leisurely walks. Honestly, it doesn’t matter whether it’s on the beach, or in a park. A scene like this one invites me in.

But then, there’s this–I want to go there, too.

Ah, Lake Cumberland—this is where we went last year.

I’ve been here, too. I’d love to go back for another look.

How to choose?

What’s your favorite vacation destination?

On Vacation

On By Betty OwensIn Betty Thomason Owens

Oh, how I wish it was true. Sometimes the only vacation we get is the one we take in our dreams. But I love looking at the photos my friends post on Facebook–of places they’re going, and things they’ve seen.

I’m not envious. Not really. Well, maybe a little bit.

Oh, I’ve been places and seen wonderful things, and posted lots of pictures of my own. I love rounding that bend, focusing on what’s to come. The awe-inspiring vista! The first sighting of what lies ahead. Whether it’s Niagara Falls or the Grand Canyon, the rugged Oregon coast, or those gigantic redwood trees. The amazing, soft, white sand along the Gulf Coast. Millions of stars overhead on a magical, dark night along the Puget Sound.

Grand adventures, all. My dad instilled the love of adventure in me. He was fond of discovering where roads ended up. He made an adventure of an ordinary errand. Taking the road less traveled brought us to a complete halt one summer day in Utah, as cowboys drove a herd of cattle across the road. An ordinary day’s work for those cowboys. A jaw-dropping adventure for a couple of kids to watch from the back seat of a 1969 Pontiac Le Mans.

What does your summer adventure look like this year? Are you planning to chill on a beach? Hike in the Rockies? Sail into the sunset? Or will you hit the road to discover new adventures around the bend?

If your summer vacation allows for time to read, I hope you’ll consider buying a book or two to take along with you.

I’ve returned to cotton country in the sequel to Annabelle’s Ruth–Sutter’s Landing–where Connie and Annabelle Cross are settling into their new life in west Tennessee. You can read more about it here:

Sutter’s Landing, Book 2, Kinsman Redeemer series

 

 

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