Tonja's Gatherings - A Christian Blogger from Dothan, AL
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Tonja's Gatherings - A Christian Blogger from Dothan, AL
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Family, Friends, General, Travel

BEACHES

June 5, 2010 by tonja 8 Comments

Look at these beautiful beaches! These are the waters, and sand, and seashore that is less that 100 miles from my home. The sand is pure white…and soft…and like sugar. The water is blue, and green, and cobalt. There is some seaweed…some times more than others. There are little fish that will nibble on your toes. All along the beach, there are stands of sea oats. Don’t pick them! It’s against the law. If you sit on the beach and look back toward the houses…you will see all manner of steps leading up to the highway. Some are new and sturdy. Some are barely holding together…no one cares to fix them…they just go to the next one down.

This is my beach. This is where I would go for Spring Break (when Mom and Pop would let me). This is where I used to love to walk out on the big pier in Panama City. This is where youth from our church would spend a week or two every summer. This is my beach! I love it! This is where I came the day after my 16th birthday. I had a brand new Chevrolet Camaro, and 3 friends in the car. I still remember having to call my Pop and tell him that a car full of boys had rammed my car in the rear! “Are y’all OK?,” he asked. We were. “Can you still drive the car?,” he asked next. We could. “Well, go on and enjoy your day and we’ll see about the car when you get home. Call me if you need me.” We did…go on and have a good day. Oh, I remember the feeling….16…new car…new bikini…cute boyfriend. Life was good…at my beach! (I was much older than 16 in the pic below…in case you wondered)

This is where Don and I would bring our boys when they were young. Oh, how they loved to go to the beach. They would swim all day. And, at night, we would all go to Miracle Strip Amusement Park…a sort of mini fair, where they could ride and eat and have the time of their lives. Later a wonderful water park was built, Shipwreck Island…and then our time had to be divided between there and the beach! Sweet, sweet memories!

And, I HATE what is going to happen to my beach. I think this is a tragedy beyond measure. And, there are beaches in Alabama, in Louisiana, in Mississippi that are in just as sad a shape. The water, the fish, the birds, the sand…the people. How sad for those that make their living from the ocean, whether fishing or tourism. And, since Obama has closed down drilling, more than 20,000 jobs are gone. It is sad, my friends. It is a tragedy.

” Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host,
the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein,
and thou preservest them all;
and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.” Nehemiah 9:6

Please pray for our beaches and the people who make their living from them and the countless others who enjoy them.

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Friends, General, Photography

SHARING YOUR GIFTS

May 27, 2010 by tonja 6 Comments

I have a pretty good idea of the person I am. I know many things about myself…some I’m proud of, some…not so much. One of the things I struggled with at one time was affirming other people. I don’t know why…if it was envy or just not thinking. Whatever, God impressed upon me that that was something I should be doing. I needed to look for the gifts that He had given to others and learn to appreciate the good things they did with their gifts. And, so I have made that a concious effort. And, as I have practiced this, I find that God has blessed me with seeing things through another set of eyes. And, many times, I see way more than I would on my own.

Today, a friend of mine, who is a very talented photographer, took some of my words to heart and has written a delightful post. I urge you to go over and read it. I promise you that you will be blessed…and what a feast for the eyes. Just click here and you’ll be whisked over there. It’s one of those computer things that seems almost magical…and never to be understood by some amoung us!

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Friends, General

WELCOME TO THE NEW BLOG

May 22, 2010 by tonja 7 Comments

Welcome, friends, to my new home. Ian has worked hard to get this blog ready for me to use. Once I was OK with the template, then he had to move all the doo-dahs over. As well as all the posts. I start twitching just thinking about doing all of that.

There is much to learn to become ‘at ease’ with this system. I liken computer technology and blogging system details to ‘a+b=c’…….forever a mystery! So, if you notice something wrong, please tell me, and if you have any trouble commenting, please let me know. I will be leaving my original blog open for comments for a while.

Hang with me, friends, as I try not to embarrass myself too bad!

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Family, Friends, General, Remembering

RETIREMENT TIME

May 22, 2010 by tonja No Comments

“God has given us these times of joy.” Nehemiah 12:43

Tina and I travelled to Moultrie today to attend a very special party. Shirl is retiring after 28 or 38 years of teaching. (I don’t remember which she said. 38 seems like long time…I don’t think she’s THAT old.) Her sweet daughters had a surprise party for her to let her know how proud they are of her. Both of her daughters are in the teaching profession as well as one of her SILs. Well, she was expecting pictures with the family…but she got all of us instead!

Look at all the food! Yummy goodies!

And, look at this cake! So pretty and so good! Shirl thought the top layer should be all hers!

Sue, Shirl’s sister, was the first to spill something on her clothes! Seems the older I get, the more I do that! Jayna to the rescue…she fixed it right up!

I do not remember what we were laughing at here…but it was really funny! I love to laugh!

Remember my big kitchen picture from Maui? Well, here’s the small version. I brought it to Shirley because she has a lot of the blue and white china. And, because I love her!

And here are The Sister Friends! Tina…Shirl…Tonja

Shirley and her daughters…Jayna( son, 3 years…daughter due in 2 weeks)…Shirl…Jolie (daughter 5 years,son due in Oct.)

The Lord provided us a beautiful day with blue skies, and plenty of beautiful sunshine. Jolie and Jayna honored their Mother, and showed her how much they admire the work she has done through the years. Several of the ladies she teaches with were there also to celebrate with her and share their memories. And, Tina and I were blessed to be able to share the day with them all. ‘Cause, it really wouldn’t have been a party without us, now would it??? 🙂

Jayna’s husband, Keith, is a man of many talents! We should all be so lucky! He built their house, cans vegetables and fruits, and is a gardener deluxe! This is a hanging basket on their deck. I thought it was so beautiful. The colors just made me smile!

Tina and I made it home safely, and solved all the world’s problems along the way…as well as planned a bridal shower! Women should rule the world…we know how to get it done…and get it done right! 🙂 Happy Sunday to you!

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Friends, General, HUMOR

WE ALL NEED A FRIEND

April 19, 2010 by tonja 4 Comments
We all need a friend at some time or another. And, from the looks of things here…so do our 4 legged friends! Enjoy!

Hold tightly to your friends…they will feel safe with you.

Be ready to share the good things in life.

Sometimes your best friends can be very different from you.

Cover your friend with kindness.

Always be ready to pose for pictures.

Hit the streets together in your most colorful outfits.

Even if he’s stuffed, a friend can make the blues go away.

Sometimes,opposites make the very best friends of all!

Always be a soft place for your friend to land.

Hug your friends close to your heart.

Be willing to go to great lengths to help a buddy!

It’s fun to go out dancing with a friend!

Above all…it’s great fun to act silly with friends.

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About Me

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I am a Christian woman who has survived many years on the planet. God has blessed me with a wonderful family: husband, 3 sons, a dear DIL, and a precious grandson. I also have dear friends to keep me inspired. I am an artist of sorts and am finding my way through the great blessing of retirement. I recently retired after 20 years as a music teacher. Life is good!

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