Praises –Safe travels home 3/6-7; constant reminders, God is SO GOOD to us; abilities we have to serve others
Prayers – Contractor contacts, pricing, hiring of the right one(s); one guitar left to sell on consignment; diligence with eating and exercise; music ministry contacts
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3 NKJV
Hello to our followers, family, and friends:
March brought an end to our Florida snow-bird adventures. We started packing up and making final travel plans on the 5th, trying to avoid bad weather on each end. Day 1 was 275 miles with great weather for driving, a few construction slowdowns, Connie driving through Montgomery and Birmingham, and John finding a newly opened camp ground to stay overnight, 4-5 miles off I65. John’s eyes did fairly well, a bit tired after 2 hours, and they were strained with the prism glasses the last 45 minutes (he hadn’t used those glasses lately). Day 2 was only 120 miles, mostly off the interstate (but on 4-lane, 65 mph roads), arriving home around 11. Friends had cleared the driveway of limbs and branches but John had to trim some low hanging pine tree branches before we could back into our parking spot. He charged up his little pole saw battery and succeeded, from the top of a ladder. We knew storms were predicted and even with the delay in parking, our set up was done about an hour before the rain and storms started.
We were back to our home exercise swims three days after our arrival, it takes a couple of days to get the water warmed up again, and it was great! We’ve tried to alternate swim days with walk days, continuing the Florida habit we developed. Connie has a phone app to map routes, distance, and save routes – we have options now depending on how tired we are and what direction we head. We can do laps around the double driveways (0.25 mile), head north or north west (1.5 mile), or south east (1.3 mile)! John has biked around the driveway a few times but not yet tackled the highway ride. Our health has been good this month, other than some stuffiness and joint pain (perhaps from pollen allergies). Connie lost a pound this month, but John remains the same – we need to remain quite diligent in our indulgences! One very ambitious day Connie dug up, loaded, moved (uphill of course), and stacked 3-wheel barrow loads (24 bricks each) from the front yard to the berm area, moving ~25 tulip-type plants that were replanted along the edge of our storm shelter. She felt really good getting this done, got tired, sweaty, sun baked, and a bit of a stiff back. Hopefully they will bloom for identification and she’ll get the bricks ‘planted’ into a border soon.
March weather included Florida for the first few days with the first azalea blooms sighted in DeFuniak Springs. On our way north to home-base in Mississippi we sighted low shrub-type bushes with yellow flowers (also climbing up some trees) and south of Montgomery Alabama redbuds and white cherry blossoms were beginning to open. Then there was home – thunderstorms right after we were set up, overcast days, more thunderstorms with winds and a tornado watch, and snow flurries on the 16th! Snow of course means cold and we had to turn off our water two nights, had a high of 38 one day, and needed the a/c on the 20th! Seems a lot like our old Wisconsin springs. The month ended with a few small rain showers, more cold nights, and lots of wind.
Our volunteer work was wrapped up, 6.5 hours, finishing a few tasks, tools were picked up and stored, and we packed our bags for a couple of real vacation days (Connie says it was our 40th anniversary celebration from 2 years ago!). We checked into a beautiful hotel room with a balcony and ocean view of Fort Walton Beach on Monday afternoon, leaving Wednesday morning. We enjoyed their hot tub both nights with a full moon, 2 bright planets in line, and Orion’s belt followed by sitting on our 5th floor balcony listening to the very loud surf.
We took several walks up and down the beach, much harder with the sand; great free breakfast buffets (very sweet pineapple and granola and waffles) and enjoyed pizza and salad with leftovers Tuesday night. We didn’t know or understand until our arrival that we had a meal allowance on sight that covered most of our food expenses, what a blessing, and we didn’t have to go anywhere. Connie enjoyed the balcony several times and we had our morning devotion time there as well. On our Tuesday morning beach walk there were several jelly-like blobs of different shapes and colors. Of course they had to be researched, salps (tunicates) are translucent blobs washed ashore after windy high tides, not related to jellyfish or poisonous, 1-3” perhaps in size. Most surprising was the loudness of the surf and she decided no more beach/balcony hotels. Our son has provided Google-TV for our use and there is one unpaid commercial spot with beach surf, brings back reminders and then muted! Connie also did a double take a few days ago, hearing ‘surf’ that was created by wind in the pine trees – what an amazing God we have! Before leaving we paid to walk out on the pier to hopefully spot some dolphins, none in sight our whole stay.
Before leaving Florida, we were surprised with a farewell cake after our last Wednesday study. The rest of the month was great worshiping and fellowshipping with our home church families again. Our first Sunday back we were with Cross Point Church in Iuka without our instruments, we just needed to sit back and enjoy the message. We were at Journey Church for their Sunday evening and Wednesday night studies as they finished up Revelation. Journey provides candy filled plastic eggs for the local Easter Egg Hunt and one evening the group ‘stuffed’ 3500 eggs! They had a Pastor’s Wife appreciation evening with Bunco and food (even John played). John was able to join the Men’s Fellowship this month and we were here for their Sunday evening foot washing. Connie played the keyboard and John added guitar and vocals on Palm Sunday. One Sunday we visited the Booneville Methodist Church, enjoying the organ, choir, liturgy, and message – very friendly people with traditional conservative Methodist views. We want to go back again for their earlier contemporary service.
‘Conductivity’ was shared as special music our final Sunday in Florida and brought lots of smiles and laughs. We so enjoy being able to be a blessing through our music. Once back home we joined the dulcimer club for 4 programs and 2 practices, so great to meet lots of new people to the group and get back into fun dulcimer playing. We do need to make the time to make local contacts to be able to share our ministry a few times a month.
Back to our old routines – shopping trips with multiple stops! On the way back from our vacation we picked up Captain D’s Wednesday special meals, stopped for carbide tipped multi-tool blades at 2 Harbor Freight locations (finally getting some at Lowes), and Aldi’s for our travel groceries. The property tax for our rental trailer took us to Corinth, followed by Lowes for a pole saw extension (no more standing at the top of the ladder), Goodwill, and groceries. We connected with a financial planner (starting to get our affairs in order finally) making two more shopping trips, and stopped at Jack’s for supper once on the way home; we needed a financial planning brain break!
Now that we’re home, we’re focused on finishing up our MP (Multi-Purpose) area. John started right in with the ceiling and getting Connie’s ‘tiles’ up. The existing drywall came down and was broken up and bagged for the trash. (John was afraid the bags would tear open but Connie saw the garbage truck pull up across the road and bags were thrown, landing on the pavement near the truck – not one of them exploded thankfully!) Joists were rebuilt, beams leveled and scabbed, insulation and plywood added with a bit of frustration and finger banging, and the counter light was wired up. Half the tiles were put up in one day, the rest followed including fabrication of an attic door. Each edge tile (24) was custom cut to fit the slight taper in the beams. Since our scaffold was put away, Connie added a few hooks to the post in the addition and we now have places to hang towels after our swims. John decided to hire out adding 38’ of gutter over our entrances (Connie is tired of getting dripped on) and for a major bathroom overhaul that is much needed. Connie then approached a contractor in the checkout line and another in the parking lot at Lowes – we’re still awaiting quotes for the work.
Throughout the month Connie worked diligently on our taxes; now only a final ‘final figures’ check is needed. It always helps to double and triple check – she found two forms were missed the first time through and saved $400! She helped unload plywood, cleaned out the dryer outside vent, and cleaned the swim spa and hot tub covers one day, ending up with a very stiff/sore back again. A few hours here and there and John made a big dent clearing and cutting up a lot of the branches in the yard. There is still plenty to do in the woods to clear the paths. Connie helped a little bit dragging some larger branches to the piles in the Highway ditches. John called the music store to check on the 3 consignment items we left there – two had sold and he renewed the contract on the remaining guitar. We were told to be sure and keep the contract and we’ve been searching for the ‘safe place’ we put it for over a month. It gave us a chance to sort through some things, take the unwanted items to Goodwill, and (while looking for something else) the contract was finally found. It is now in a ‘safer’ place until it is needed in May!
While in Florida we met a camp volunteer who has taken a vow of poverty. He has no car or home and is quite content with life as it happens. We took him for lunch and talked about his life, living on the streets, conversion and service in a homeless shelter, and future plans. Back in Mississippi we joined back with the Friday date night group (a bit different since the loss of one of the members), went to the 2nd Sunday Gospel sing/supper at a local church just to relax, John went for breakfast with the guys, and we went to a free lunch seminar gathering information about uncovered ambulance costs and who makes the decisions.
DEVOTION THOUGHTS THIS MONTH:
** A.W. Tozer wrote in one of his journals, “There is Master Planning, and there is the Master’s Planning. May we not confuse the two. To know His plan requires waiting before Him, then we can be strong and take heart.”
** An old Portuguese proverb states, “God writes straight with crooked lines.” The Lord will direct your way, not by the easiest path, but by the one that fulfills His plan.
** What desires has the Lord put in your heart? What are you passionate about? What are your talents? What have you received from God? How can you use those things to love the Lord and others? God calls you to be about those things, putting aside distractions and bad habits.
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” . . .“If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” . . . This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. Mark 10:27, 9:23, I John 5:14 NIV
Thanks for traveling with us and being part of our family!
John and Connie Nicholas
Salty Strings Music Ministry
Purchase our songs: SaltyStrings.com/shop
Contact Information:
Mail: John & Connie Nicholas
Salty Strings Music Ministry
30A Hwy 367, Burnsville, MS 38833
Phone – John 909-336-8910 or Connie 909-336-8912
Email – SaltyStrings@hotmail.com
Facebook – Salty Strings Music Ministry
Web site – SaltyStrings.com
ONLINE DONATIONS via PayPal through our web site
TRAVEL PLANS AND UPCOMING LOCATIONS
>> End of August – Lincoln, IL – Jolly Seniors Program
>> Family visits south-central Wisconsin, central Illinois
Contact us if you’re interested in some music programs, we may come your way!
