Touching on Several Topics

 

from our bike rides

Do you know what a bollard is? I'll give you a moment to ponder that while I go on.....

Our oft-mentioned bike rides are somewhere between 4 and 5 miles in length, taking us about 45 minutes to pedal through 7 or more of the 16 neighborhoods that make up our +55 community. We like to ride after breakfast, before the traffic picks up too much. 

Yes, even within the human-guarded gate (there's just one) of our environ, there is traffic. Unfortunately, often the drivers do not observe the speed limit and stop signs. It can get downright scary at times. I am not exaggerating when I say I pray daily for our safety (It has not been a wasted appeal) and I thank the Lord for His protection.

Anyway, back to the question of bollards. A bollard is "a thick, low post, usually of iron or steel, mounted on a wharf or the like to which mooring lines from vessels are attached." (quoting the dictionary on my iPhone)

Actually, the British definition fits my purpose better: "one of a series of short posts for excluding or diverting motor vehicles from a road, lawn, or the like."

(repeating the photo as the one above) 

As  you've probably guessed by now, the bright yellow posts in my photo are bollards. 

We have these wonderful wide, black asphalt multi-purpose paths designated for pedestrians, bicycles, and golf carts (the houses snug up to an 18-hole golf course that winds around). These paths are absolutely NOT for car traffic (although yours truly did accidentally drive on one during her first week after moving here). 😲

I hasten to add in my defense that no bollard was in place to discourage my mistaken identification of what was designated for car traffic and what was not, plus this was in an area still under construction at that time. Some of the workers saw me and stopped to stare in wonder as to what this crazy female driver was doing. Yes, it was very embarrassing.

So, a bollard is intended to give us instruction of where to drive and what is forbidden. I use this illustration to segue into a recommendation to read a really good book I have just completed today:

click for purchase information

This is good for everybody. We ALL have messed up; it's how things are in this fallen world. This book gives real hope and practical counsel on how to move on. It serves as a "bollard" as we travel through life.

wisdom from Facebook and Mindful Christianity

On the subject of adversity, a lot of my readers (and many members of our family) are facing the big snow and ice storm this weekend.

I've been praying this storm turns out to not be as serious as predicted. 

Our son in Minneso-cold (as Gary calls it), texted yesterday to say we need to cancel our surprise visit to see them due to the terrible sub-zero daytime "high" temps expected at his house. 🥶 Not to worry, no "surprise visit" was planned. I've already written in a previous post how we try to avoid that kind of weather. 

Jacksonville Beach - Internet photo
(yes, they are statues!)

We are thankful to be entertaining 80-degree sunshine here in Florida this weekend, although on Monday we expect to get some of that cold -- nowhere as extreme by any means. 

This past week we did our grocery shopping. We don't go on any particular day (except we avoid weekend shopping) and on no special schedule. When the milk jug is really low, Gary (who is king of the kitchen in this house) announces it's time to go. By then I've usually already started a list of my own and he rummages through the 'fridge to determine what else is needed. 

With exceptions for the absolute "must haves", we pretty much buy what's on BOGO (buy one, get one free), which is a method that tends to serve our finances very well. 

The Boston Cream donuts have not been BOGO yet, but that's just as well because one package doesn't last more than 9 hours around here. They are Gary's favorite and have become mine, too. One box of them is enough because I am sure they "go to waist"! 🤭

Before I leave the subject of food, here is what we had for lunch yesterday, and then the leftovers again today:

Taco Pie

Billie Jo's Taco Pie was a recipe she featured recently on her blog (click here). Many of you will probably recognize the mixture of ground beef, taco seasoning, cheese, sour cream.... oh my! I edited the recipe just a little for our personal preferences (and with what was in the pantry) but it was definitely a hit with Gary. 

There has been some bittersweet sadness in the Christian community of late with the news of the sudden passing of Robert Wolgemuth. I won't go into the story; you can Google their names to see many stories, memories and wonderful tributes to this good man of God and his dear wife, an excellent Bible teacher, Nancy Leigh DeMoss Wolgemuth. (she has been the designated successor to Elizabeth Elliott, for those who remember her).

I will say that the first time I heard his name was many years ago when he and his first wife (now deceased), Bobbi, were guests on the Focus on the Family radio show. She was big on music and taught their two daughters well in harmony. On the show she said that when the family would travel in the car, they would sing. The four of them sang something on the radio that day in the most exquisite, a cappella harmony (something I dearly love). I have never forgotten that. Oh, how I wish we could hear more true music like that today!!!

The hour is getting late here; I need to close this out. My friend and editor at The Christian Lounge has published another of my devotional articles and encouraged me to invite you to visit the blog. In this particular post I share from the immediate days after the passing of my late husband and how scripture helped me through the worst of times. My long-time readers may remember: 

https://thechristianlounge4u.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-comfort-of-scripture.html

If you would like to submit your own article to The Christian Lounge, check it out.

Until next time, grace and peace.

Barbara