Walgrave Astoria Mystery Night: Who Done it?

 

 

     We had the great privilege of going to  Cary and Kristy's house for Thanksgiving in Ponte Vedra, Florida!  They threw a murder~mystery dinner party on Friday night.  I have never been to anything like that before.  We were in for quite a treat!  Weeks before the party, we received invitations with a link to the website about the party.  There, we were able to read about our character and what kind of personality traits they had!  For example, my character was:

 

     I was to portray  an internationally famous astrologist!  Down to earth, fun loving, comedienne who bursts into songs whenever the time is right!  This gave me time to prepare for my part and find a costume to go along with my personality!

 

Here I am:  Skyler Starry!! 

How did I do?

 

 

Paul was Jolly Boatley; mild mannered fisherman who likes to rhyme words and has extraordinary dancing skills! 

 

 

You get the idea!  Everyone came to party and had to stay in character throughout the entire time.  It was very fun to be someone else.  At least I thought it was. I tried not to think too hard about it and just kind of let loose and sang songs when a word would bring one to mind! I think I may have annoyed some characters with my lack of ability to carry a tune but oh well!

 

 

Kristy went with an Australian theme for the party and all the food came from Australian recipes! 

The Aussie Beachcomber was a fancy drink!  Kind of loosened up my singing ability!

Halloween stickers for the glasses so you can always find your drink!

All the details were so clever!  Even the wine bottles had a murder /mystery theme!

Lovely dessert!  Chocolate and Strawberry Lamingtons!!

 

At the  party we received envelopes containing clues to reveal about ourselves, questions to ask other characters and things not to reveal!  This created great conversation flow!  So very fun to see everyone's costumes and to figure out if they were nice or mean, suspicious? innocent? or guilty? 

 

 

Here is Fasa Shone (Fashion ~ clever right!)
My girl looking a little bit too cute! 
 She was a wealthy fashion designer with a mean disposition! 
Quite the snob!  She played her part with flair!!

 

 

I must say that Fiona Fingstein and Dr. Indy Jonas

make a dashing, beautiful couple!  Don't you?

  They looked awesome.  Especially those shoes Cary!

 

 

Literally!

 

Oh Rudy, your time was short!

 

He wasn't the kindest character!  One funny part about this

 was that we knew someone was going to be the

victim so no one acted surprised when he fell over!!

No one was upset.  At one point Grover,

the dog walked over and stood beside his body! 

 Unfortunately we didn't get that picture!

 

  

Here you have Cara Tinn and Poindexe Dorfman! 

 Playing their parts with great flair as well!

Kerri is the stunning, rich, Zangelina Holie! 

First prize for that character portrayal!

 

                                 Sam Spellburn you rascally, prankster!

 

Mr Hiles played Yune A. Vorsti the greedy,

mocking graduate student!

  Love the bow tie!

 

 

 

 

                  We played some silly characters, just like real life!

 

 

Too cool Royal T!

 

My favorite costume of the night I must say!!

What a great job you did planning this!  It was so much fun!

 

 

 

Who done it, you ask?  Why it was Dr Indy Jonas!  Don't let that smile fool you!

 

 

 

Here I am

10/18/2017

     Bear with me here as I try to get my thoughts and emotions out so that I can heal.  For so many years, I was restless to move. To change to see new sights.  To be warm!  Now that I am here in North Carolina where the sun shines all the time and the humidity is high and I leave my air conditioned house sometimes just so I can go outside and warm up in the shade, I wonder how I ended up here!  I miss my family in Vermont and the familiarity of my old job and seeing friends and as my friend Candace says, waving to people I know.  Things are foreign here.  I still do not have a great job and have not really found my niche.  We have found a wonderful church and for that I am truly grateful.  I had yearnings and a restless spirit and frankly I am kind of mad at myself that now that we are here, I look back and miss what I had.  That is not what God wants for me, for us.  I know this and this week I have truly made up my mind to be open to the blessings and the destiny HE has for me, for us.  For I have not been open.  I have been stalled, and stunted. I listened to Pastor TD Jakes and was reminded of this verse;

"Do not remember the former things; 

neither consider the things of old.  

Behold, I am doing a new thing! 

 Now it springs forth; do you not perceive 

and know it and will you not give heed to it?

  I will even make a way in the wilderness 

and rivers in the desert."

  Isaiah 43:18-19

     I know God did not us bring us all this way so that I could be sad and wishing for what was.  He has a plan and a purpose for us and I have promised Paul that I would make a good effort here.  Even though money is tight and we are really struggling, I choose to believe that HE will make a way through this wilderness!

     In August, I wrote in my journal.  Abraham went to a place where he was to receive his inheritance - he went by faith - he did not know what to expect.

Hebrews 11 vs 9

"he dwelt as a temporary resident in the land 

which was designated in the promise 

((of God, though he was like a strange in a strange country)."

     I relate to this as I have ended up in NC, - a dream I always had to live somewhere warm.  I felt a dream, a desire, a yearning to come here for many years.  God made me!

He knows the desires of my heart! He has known me from the womb.  Surely HE placed all the yearnings in me!  Didn't HE?!!  I followed my dream to come to a warm place.  But at a cost.  Being away from all that is familiar and my job and my family and especially Ebby and Lana, has been so painful.  A bitter thing to swallow.  Why does it happen that what you want or think you want ends up being something that maybe isn't the best thing after all?  I continue to question if I went out of God's will.  Or is this His will?  I seek in His word to find the answers.

 I wrote all this a few months ago.  I can choose to dwell on the pain and nurture it but I will not any longer! 

     HE led me to this verse:  "Go from your country and your kindred and your fathers house (I was living in Mom and Dad's barn when He first showed me this verse) to the land I will show you." Genesis 12:1

  and Hebrews 11:10  "For he was waiting expectantly and confidently looking forward to the city which has fixed and firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God."  Wherever He has placed us is where He will make all things work together for good.  With Him as the architect I know He will build us a strong place!! 

     Sunday at church we prayed a prayer together.  In essence it was "Here I am Lord.  Send me."       I pray,  Here I am Lord,  I don't know what You have in store for me or us but I am here and I am trusting you to help me to do what You would have me do.  

     I claim this verse now,  "Therefore then, since I am surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let me strip off and throw aside every encumbrance ( all those things that weigh me down like guilt , regret and fear) and that sin which so readily clings to and entangles me, and let me run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before me.  Looking away from all that will distract, to Jesus, Who is the Author and perfecter of my Faith."

Amen

     10/30/17  CONFIRMATION
      I wrote all this a few weeks ago in my blog and now I must write about what I experienced in church yesterday.  God speaks to me.  Some people may not understand that but reading his word and praying; writing down my thoughts and experiences most often brings me to a place where I definitely hear God speaking.  Not a big sign in the sky kind of voice but a gentle whisper in my circumstances or confirmation from a trusted friend or my pastor and in this case a sermon from a visiting missionary at our church yesterday.
     His name is Jim Kelly and he gave his testimony about how he heard the Holy Spirit tell him, "This season is coming to an end.  I have another assignment for you."  Then another Pastor told him, "You're going to be leaving this place." and then his sister told him, "You have to be willing to let go of the old to take hold of the new."  All these things preceded a big change in his ministry.  He would leave his post of 27 years and step into the unknown.  To plant churches.  To give up his security and step out in "Great Faith" to what God was leading him to do.  To not know where his next paycheck was coming from.  He was obedient and never did he miss a mortgage payment or go without!  God provided in all ways!! 
     This man spoke of his journey and encouraged me mightily.  He quoted verses about Abraham that I wrote about previously.  About how Abraham left his country to pursue what God had for him.  He spoke from Isaiah and how he said "Behold I am doing a new thing."  I know that it was all confirmation of what I had written about previously.  I know that I need to have Great Faith to believe that God is in charge here in NC.  HE is not mad at me.  He is not punishing me.  He loves me and is leading Paul and I to what destiny HE has in store for us.  So , although things are still difficult now, especially financially, I will trust that HE will provide for us in every way.

Your Will

      So many changes have happened.  Now I am in NC and wondering how I ended up here.  My heart is split between here and Vermont.  We have made decisions that many might not understand.  Leaving family to go somewhere warm. I am reflecting on all this and choosing to hope and believe that God has us here for a reason.  Although I am sad and trying to adjust, God has led me to look through some of my writings to find comfort.  I choose to reflect and focus on the blessings in my life right at this very moment.  This poem, I wrote years ago, talks about God's will.  To be thankful in all things and the beauty around me.  

I do have so much to be thankful for.

Be Joyful Always

Pray Continually

Give Thanks in All Circumstances

For this God's will for you in Christ Jesus

1 Thessalonians 5:16

Your Will

What is your will God?

This is your will.

Fill me with joy.

Fill me with peace.

Let me concentrate on your 

Goodness.

That goodness will flow out of 

me.

Let me concentrate on your love.

That peace may dwell in my heart.

Let me thank you for every gift

of life.

Large and small

That I may have a grateful heart.

This is your will.

This is your will.

Let me lift up in prayer my

loved ones

For protection, for needs and all

Let me thank you always for 

them.

This is your will for me.

Fill me with Joy.

How LORD?

Sing to you in my heart?

Look at the sun

The mountains around me.

Feel the joy in that.

Fill me with Joy

How Lord?

Look at the Sun

"My Morning Star"

It is in the face of my child.

The grass beneath my feet.

The sand upon the beach.

The robins in my yard.

The gifts they do abound.

Fill me with Joy.

How Lord?

Think upon these things.

2006

My dog Grover

My guy and my girl Faith!

Our Swing!

My Hunny!

Funny Times!

Julie and George Tavares! 8/27/17

                             

     I had a texting conversation with my sister Julie shortly after her wedding last week.  A lot is shared between sisters in a text.  I think it's because we grew up together so we understand each other so well so and can share much in a few words.  I told her that I thought the wedding so special and perfect.   I felt that there was love in every detail. 

     She said, "I have to tell that I felt God's love so big when I was walking down the aisle.  I felt the grace of God.  It was bringing tears to my eyes.  I know I also was happy to be getting married to George but I had the sense that it's true that all is love and God is always holding us in his arms."

 

 

     I agree.  God shows his love to us by the amazing people he puts in our lives.  When we were all gathered together on that August day, I had only to look around and see each family member and know that most traveled great distances to be at this occasion. To see my Mama in the front row beaming and know that she was the one who raised all of us and showered us with the love of her teaching, protection and provision for so many years.   To know that there is nothing she loved more than to be with her children and have us all together ( and eating!)  To see my sister's best friend since first grade; Roxanne, stand at the front and officiate and speak about their longstanding friendship and connection since childhood.  To hear her welcome the presence of our lost, beloved Daddy and George's beloved parents to be present in spirit during this day. To see my new great niece, Elle sitting with her Mama Laura, in front of me and marvel at the beauty and perfection of a baby!  To laugh and sing at the reception tables, out doing each other singing songs with the word "LOVE" in them.  To dance, wearing crazy hats, singing and bouncing around on the dance floor with the sheer love of celebrating together!  I could go on and on but truly, all these things are love and proof to me of  the presence of God in my life.  The Bible says:  "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right , whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,  whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think on these things."  Philippians 4:8  I do choose to think on these things.  And it was easy on a special day like this. 

 

Julie also said, "When we were taking pictures, a hawk flew above us and kept circling and I just stared at it and felt so happy and sad at the same time because I had prayed to God and to Dad that he would visit me on my wedding day.  I felt Dad there and it was just so sweet."

 

 

 

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

Mama and Janet- pre wedding!

 

me and my guy!

 

Sweet, sweet Elle.  I was lucky I got to sit behind her and see that cutie!

Shani

 

 

 

 

 

One of my many favorite parts of the wedding ceremony, besides seeing my beautiful sister walk down the aisle was Shani and Matt singing, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jake, Shani

 

Faith and Rachael

 

 

Mama and Billy

 

Mary and Rick

 

Susan and Elle

  

Ryan, you crack me up!
 

 

Stephanie, you are rocking Ryan's suit jacket!

Ahhhh, the energy of youth! 

Rachael, Faith, Dwight and Devon

 

I forgot to mention that after Julie and I had texted for a bit, we had talked about me writing in this blog.  I had felt a nudge from the Lord to start writing again and Julie reinforced and inspired me a bit more.  So I did write and the next day Julie texted me and said this, "Janet, I have to tell you that a weird thing happened right after we stopped texting.  I went to go text another person and I was just writing in how are you doing?  And the actual words that came out were "in Jesus name".  I think that's pretty strange that my text wrote those words and I did not say them.  You may call it a coincidence but I just think it is an affirmation!  Pretty wild and mysterious and awesome!"  I must agree!!