A Different Kind of Sunday . . .

We've had such a wonderful, exciting, busy family visit in Jacksonville, Florida!  I hate to leave everyone but must go home to Lexington, Kentucky, for more family and commitments.  It's 70 degrees outside this morning as I leave.

Last baby Adi photo quickly snapped before departure this morning.  Awwwwwwwwwwww!!!

Today is Sunday but it is unusual because I'm driving all day.  Since my retirement as a weekend nurse, I've enjoyed the privilege of keeping holy the "Lord's Day."  I love to go to Mass at my church on Sundays but went to Holy Family church in Jacksonville with Mallory, Adi's big sister, yesterday evening.

Since I do a lot of driving everywhere from north to south, this side of the Mississippi River (mostly), I've been asked this question plenty of times, "How do you stay awake on such long trips?"  This is a good time to 'tell all.'

I've made a habit of saying The Rosary alternating with listening to music CDs, usually religious, if I'm driving alone. Along with drinking plenty of cokes and recording my experiences and thoughts on my small digital recorder, I'm more than stimulated!

One CD I listened to today, actually my favorite religious CD, is country music singer Colin Raye's "His Love Remains."  My favorite song is "Give Me Jesus," something I've sang so many times to myself that I have it memorized.  Colin Raye performed this in a concert in Lexington several years ago.  Another favorite religious CD is "Harmony," from The Priests.  My favorite selection from the three priests is "You'll Never Walk Alone."  Also today I listened to CDs by Johnny Mathis and Vince Gill.

My favorite "mysteries" of the rosary are the new "Mysteries of Light" (also called the "Luminous Mysteries") by the late Pope John Paul II.  To learn what are the prayers of the rosary, go to www.rosary-center.org.  You can also get a free ap on your iPhone, "Laudate."

The rosary presents various events in Jesus Christ's life for meditation.  When I pray the First Mystery, The Baptism of Jesus, I imagine I'm close to Jesus in the warm, muddy waters of the Jordan River.  I can see the dense reeds swaying in the breeze, as when daughter #4, Theresa, and I toured Israel last year.

At this moment I'm snuggly settled into a motel halfway between Jacksonville and Lexington.  Tomorrow I'll be ready to tackle driving through the mountains and then I'll be home!!

Yes, this Sunday, today, is different, but it was good and I felt that I had kept "The Lord's Day" properly.

Lord, thank You for reserving Sundays as Your Day, and for allowing me to observe it.  Lead others to the joys of keeping Your Day holy also!

FYI: for more photos of my driving trip today, you are invited to check out my travel blog, www.rockingthruworld.blogspot,com.