Houston: A Romantic City

Houston is huge.

According to Top Five Anything

Houston is the 4th largest city

in the United States.

We have 1.494 persons per square mile
2.099 million people.

I took this picture recently as we flew into Houston Hobby from Denver. Now get this! My phone gave me the street address we were flying over. How about those apples? Odd, right?  When I'm on the ground and ask the GPS where I am, the thing tells me, but from the air? Wow! If I'd taken the picture a few minutes earlier, I would have been over my own neighborhood.  

The picture taken from the airplane window is near the Memorial area of Houston, and the dark areas are a park. When I produced professional videos, I took a team to that very spot. We captured fantastic shots of nature.

Back in the day, when kids were young, we frequented Herman Park. It's near the medical complex.

It's a large, beautiful, open space.

When my daughters were small, we'd wander through the zoo and ride the train around the park before we came home. They looked forward to the treat. 

As we rode the train, we often saw couples sitting on blankets enjoying the day and each other. The park can accomodate thousands at the same time, and the Houston vistas lend themselves to romance. Even with the drastic, summer heat, Houston is a romantic city. 

I've written more than a dozen books and most are set in this huge city. All my books have couples who fall in love. Most marry and live happily-ever-after in Housotn.

You know what I wish?

I wish these 2.099 million Houstonians would  buy my books!

Poopty doopty!!!!

I'd be thrilled if one million Houston residents bought a Gay N. Lewis book.

Merciful heavens!!!!

I'd be beyond bliss if a mere thousand people who visit Herman Park today would buy my books.

Of course, if they did, you'd probably read my obituary in the Houston Chronicle. 

I'd be dead from sheer joy and excitement.

FAITH AND HUMOR

Sad Day

Yesterday, I was sad.

I wrote in my praise journal during the morning hours and listed my blessings as they came to me.

So much for postive thoughts and prayers.

Regardless of my good intentions, dispair came.

But...............it could have been worse. No telling how bad the day would have been if I hadn't counted blessings at daybreak.

The day didn't go well.

I made four one hour round trilps to take my daughter to the doctor.  She has dementia. A total of four hours driving, plus stops to eat and see a doctor. A doctor who said the visit was a wasted trip.

Listtening to my child ask the same questions over and over requires stamina. Converstations to someone who can't remember they just asked the question or made the comment requires patience. Feeding her bites while people stared is painful. Helping with bathroom activities is difficult. Caregiving to one who is helpless requires stamina and patience.

I've never had a lot of those attributes. Stamina or patience. Many caregivers experience fatigue. I'm not alone in that department.

Dementia is a thief. It comes upon one slowly and never leaves.

The illness robs the patient of a sound mind and body.

The Devil of a Disease steals the loved one from families.

Why doesn't God lead science to the cure for these heartbreaking diseases like dementia, cancer or ALS? The list goes on.

I've asked Him. Many times. He hasn't respondid with an answer.

But .....who am I that He should answer? Me? A mere, sinful mortal? One who has never done that much good in the world?  He didn't answer Job, and Job was a righteous man. Why would I think He should respond to me? Such hubris on my part! 

No answers. Just  tears.

But there is always hope in tomorrow.

FAITH AND HUMOR

Are you in a Lonesome Valley?

Pixabay

Lonesome Valley

chorus:

Well, you got to walk that lonesome valley
You got to walk it by yourself
Nobody here can walk it for you
You got to walk it by yourself

verses:

Now Daniel was a Bible hero
Was a prophet brave and true
In a den of hungry lions
He showed what faith can do for you

Now some folks say that John was a Baptist
Some folks say he was a Jew
But the holy Bible tells us
That he was a preacher, too

Now though the road be rough and rocky
And the hills be steep and high
We can sing as we go marching
And we’ll win that one big union by and by

Lonesome Valley

Lyrics and band found on link above.

The song writer says you've got to walk that lonesome valley. All by yourself.

Is this really true?

It seems as though it is at various times in our lives.

A loved one dies. Divorce comes. Financial ruin. Family leaves you. Job loss. Depression that won't go away. A loved one goes into the depths of Alzheimer's.

But the truth of the matter is this: God walks with us in that lonesome valley if we let Him.

Perhaps we don't "feel" Him. We don't "see" Him, nor do we "hear" HIm.

That doesn't mean He's not walking beside you. He can be our quiet companion.

Walking with Him in His silence is a comforting, peaceful walk. 

I'm walking in that valley. He's silent as He walks with me. How about you?

Faith and Humor