Sunday Worship

One of the finer joys of summer on the Cape is Sunday worship at the beach. Hosted by the local Methodist church, this early morning service has been a tradition for many years and is well attended by locals and visitors. Worship always begins with a hearty hymn sing and time for silent meditation; and being the beach lover that I am, nothing is more satisfying and fulfilling for me than hearing God's voice reflected in the sound of the waves, wind and shore birds. Prayers, scripture, and a meaningful message are always central in this worship service, along with musical offerings and more hymns. If you ever find yourself on Nauset Beach at 7:30 on a Sunday morning, please join us in the gazebo - you'll be glad you did!

Beach glass

Wow! It's been way too long since I have posted and I hope to be more regular from here on out...

Much to my delight, the past weeks have been busy with visits from family and friends. Whether at the beach or lounging at home, time with loved ones always passes too quickly. Fortunately, our weather is improving - lots of sunshine and less rain. Our nights continue to be cool, providing perfect sleeping conditions. Imagine, mid-July and the air conditioner hasn't even been uncovered!

A recent walk along the shore with my daughter-in-law yielded this bounty of beach glass. The piece of golden amber is especially beautiful - an uncommon find to be sure!

Secretaries' Retreat

This past weekbeginning (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday) I had the pleasure of attending the Church Secretaries' Conference/Retreat at Craigville Conference Center on Cape Cod. An annual meeting of women called to a common 'ministry', this event is an opportunity to connect with others who know my job only all too well. We all serve in differing capacities, from full-time office administration to part-time work in specific areas, but yet recognize and honor the common thread of our focus - service to God and our churches. In addition to attending an informational seminar on Safe Church Policy, we ate, played and worshiped together, strengthening our friendships and appreciation of and for one another.

A nature walk...

It may not have been the seashore, but it was a wonderful walk nonetheless! On Wednesday morning I joined a group from the Museum of Natural History for a pleasant trek through the trails of Beebe Woods in Falmouth. Once a privately owned estate, the densely forested acreage of this conservation area provides well maintained & marked trails for nature walking. I delighted in seeing many lady-slippers in bloom and renewed my appreciation for the beauty and rich color of the moss which skirted the trails. The kettle pond we encountered (The Punch Bowl), which was once thought to be "bottomless," enhanced and reflected the beauty of this incredible place. My thanks to our guide, Connie, for transporting us and introducing me another Cape Cod gem!

Whale watching...

Garett and I had the pleasure of doing some whale watching yesterday. We departed from MacMillan Warf in Provincetown at 10 am, aboard the Portugese Princess II of the Dolphin Fleet. The trip to Stellwagen Bank passed quickly as we traveled out of the harbor, the shoreline providing beautiful scenery along the way. Before long we were being entertained by the many whales we encountered as they surfaced, breached, rolled and flapped their tails in the chilly waters of the Atlantic. Much to my surprise, there was always a whale in sight! After about an hour of watching these beautiful creatures, we headed back to the harbor.

While on the trip we met a couple from N. Carolina who were visiting Massachusetts to attend a wedding. They were doing the whale watch to fulfill a lifelong dream...I think they got their dream's worth!!!

Well...yesterday's class with Ted Mullett was great...I learned some new techniques which I'll be spending lots of time playing with! As soon as I come up with a few creations, I'll post them.

I also started reading a new book yesterday - The Shack by Wm. Paul Young. Recommended by a couple of friends, it is already proving to be all they said it would be. A work of fiction, it tells the story of a man's face to face experience with God. Definitely a worthwhile read - lots of food for thought.

Well, off to do some needed organizing and decluttering...and more reading!

I'm back....

Hurray, hurray...back to the nest at last! Actually though, I am here a bit earlier than in years past, which is a very good thing.
Yesterday was a special time...my niece Joanna's bridal shower - a beautiful occasion for a beautiful person.
Today I am looking forward to learning something new and interesting at a class at Colorful Creations in Hyannis. The guest artist/teacher is Ted J. Mullett, who designs some absolutely wonderful nature themed stamps, of which I have many!
The weather is warming and brightening, a welcome change after such a cool, dreary spring. I plan to do some much needed gardening this week and get back on track with creative endeavors. Oh yes...and the beach beckons to me...so many more footprints to be made in the sand!