1-4-23 Day 3 In PTL Perrin’s Life
Welcome to day three of A Day In My Life!
One of my favorite scents in our Florida winter is the aroma of freshly mown grass. During my morning routine, when summer humidity gives way to winter’s dry air, I open all the windows in the house. Today, this smell brought me back to the carefree summer days of my childhood. Scents are powerful memory triggers. In my day, summertime meant leaving the house and spending all day roaming outside with my friends. A quick check-in at lunchtime was all our parents required until the street lights came on in the evening, and then we’d better be home in a hurry. Days long past. Winters, our new summers.
The Lord reminded me today that He is constantly teaching us. During good times, it’s easy to trust in God, but when those hard times come, I try to figure out ways to fix things. Mostly, I can’t. I’ve learned to say, “I trust you, Lord,” no matter what’s going on. It turns my focus away from the problem and toward the one who loves me and knows where I am along the path He’s made for me.
I spent an hour or so this morning crunching numbers. We keep track of our mileage for our businesses, particularly Bill’s mileage. He was a pro at a tennis club his brother owned until Bob passed away and the club was sold. The new owners lacked integrity, so Bill launched out on his own. Many of his students also left the club and found new places where their favorite pro could teach them. They train at different tennis courts around our area, and Bill is much happier.
I can only do numbers for so long until my eyes cross and I feel my temper rise, so I went over to our RRBC chat room to say hello. To my surprise, Justin Timberlake was singing Can’t Stop the Feeling! I got up and danced through it twice! Thanks for the exercise. What a way to start the day.
The best part of today was a visit from another of my adopted daughters! Beth, her husband Joe, and two of their children, Olivia and Chase, stopped by on their way back to Pennsylvania from their vacation in South Florida. We had lunch together at one of our favorite local restaurants (not the one in the photos) and laughed and reminisced, and Bill and I got to know the kids.
Beth was one of Dyana’s best friends growing up. Fiercely loyal to one another, they lived many adventures together, some of which I still don’t know about and probably wouldn’t want to. They wouldn’t be the wonderful women they are today without that bond they still share. When her mom was going through a painful divorce, just about the time I went through mine, she and Beth moved in with us for a time. We newly-single moms encouraged one another and loaned each other strength until we could stand on our own. Our daughters’ bond grew unbreakable through that experience. Beth is another daughter who calls me Mom. I am rich in the children God has given me!
After their visit, I finished reading the November/December issue of the Pipeline Magazine and enjoyed every article. I watched the replay of Shirley Harris Slaughter hosting Raters Not Haters. What a great book they discussed! I won’t spoil it for anyone else, but I do encourage you to watch it if you haven’t already done so. You’ve done a great job with the show, Shirley!
I spent the rest of the day visiting the other writers who’ve taken up this 30-day blogging challenge. Writing? This is it for today. Tomorrow I plan to work on that book I’m editing and hope to get a chapter finished in the trilogy I’m writing. It’s tempting to spend all day reading, but it is time to exercise some willpower.
Blessings!
Patty Perrin (writing as P.T.L. Perrin)
PTL Perrin Writes... 
Well Patty, you’ve had a busy day in your life. And the bonds you share with your children is priceless. Raters not Haters in The Pipeline? I will have to go back and review that issue. Thank you for sharing your interesting life with us.
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Thank you for visiting, Shirley!
Blessings!
Patty
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Shirley, I just realized that I wasn’t clear about something in this post! I read through the Pipeline magazine, and THEN watched your last episode of Raters not Haters! I enjoyed both the magazine and the show very much.
Blessings!
Patty
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Patty, I can smell the grass as I type this! You are truly blessed with your children. I find the saying “People need people” to be oh so true – we never really outgrow our need for one another. Best wishes on your writing!
Donna M Atwood
D M Atwood
https://www.dmatwood.com
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Thanks for stopping by, Donna! Sometimes I think our affinity for dogs stems from the fact that, like them, we are pack animals. We all need our tribe, and it doesn’t matter how it’s made up. Friends, neighbors, family, pets, or people we’ve never met in person but still have a connection with. Best wishes to you in your writing and interests! Blessings!
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Patty, what a joyful post! You always sound so full of love and joy, it is uplifting to others. I’m glad you enjoyed the lovely visit from your daughter and her family – icing on the cake! Thanks for always being like a ray of sunshine!
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Thanks, Maura Beth! Now if only I could get a dose of your wonderful sense of humor! Talk about sunshine! Laughter truly is the best medicine, and you’re a healer.
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Hi Patty,
You have lots of love to give. Sounds like your kids are very well loved. I’m glad your hubby was able to break out on his own in his self employment and glad that you are there to help him. You both are a team! Yeah!!
All the best for today.
Shalom Aleichem
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Hi, Pat! Love is a byproduct of being a child of the Living God. There was a time when I didn’t know how to love others. And then I met Jesus. Having a hubby like Bill doesn’t hurt, either, and look how many children God has filled my life with! I’m doing another happy dance just thinking about them! Blessings!
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A lovely post, Patty, I enjoyed your memories of your younger days, especially the smells you mentioned. Wishing you all the very best for 2023.
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Thanks for stopping by, Robbie! Happy New Year and all the best to you and your family! Another smell I love is the scent of baking, and every time I think of you, I can almost smell that sweetness in the air. 🙂
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I like it too, especially gingerbread. 💗
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I saw Shirley’s episode as well and loved it! I also love to dance. It is freeing and puts me in a zen place, filled with happiness and peace. I’m so happy you had a great visit with your adopted daughter. You are very loved. ❤
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
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Babies dance before they can walk, and we’ll be dancing our way into Heaven when the time comes. How wonderful that dancing puts you in that place of joy and peace. It may have that effect on most of us. I’m so grateful for the people in my life, Yvette, and I’m especially grateful for the ones who love me. You, too, are much loved by those who know you.
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As are you, Patty! ❤
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