Debra Basham

Living and Loving

Tag: Florida

  • Divine Timing!

    Our grandson, Adam, and (his now wife) Rachel wanted to give the guests at their wedding a memorable experience at Sandestin, a 2,400-acre resort located in Miramar, Florida. I assure you the five-day unfolding was an on-going call (and answer) to prayer.

    At 4:41 pm Thursday, September 10, I received a frantic call from our daughter, Stacey, from Ed Walline Regional Beach in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. She and Doug were there setting up for the rehearsal dinner. She said she had mascara running down her face and needed me to bring her some makeup remover. She said nothing was set up yet! I assumed all of this was because of the rain we were having at the house. During Sunday’s drive back to Tennessee from Florida I learned it never rained on them, but permitted events were not allowed to set up until 5:00 pm. This “formal” rehearsal dinner for 80 people was scheduled to begin at 5:30! People raved about the food and the venue. With weather threatening all around us, the event was gorgeous and so was Stacey and her heart-rendering mother-of-the-groom speech!


    After intense thunder and lightening in the early-morning, the rains stopped just in time for photos on the golf-course.

    Screenshot

    Adam’s wedding band was from his paternal grandfather, George Ross, who passed away five years ago. Following a very meaningful ring warming, the ceremony was rich with articulate and intimate personal vows. Adam’s and Rachel’s marriage ceremony was held as dreamed: outdoors at Eden Gardens State Park beneath the “Wedding Tree” which is estimated to be over 600 years old. Blessed beyond words to be able to officiate for them.

    The perfectly planned wedding reception was a 3-hour dinner cruise aboard Solaris Yacht, kicked off with live saxaphone, punctuated with spectacular speeches by Rachel’s dad and our own grands Christina (Matron of Honor) and Brad (Best Man). Dancing was over the top, and John and I got to take home the leftover cheesecake.

    After several days of rainy and cloudy weather which graciously gave way for our meticulous schedule, Saturday’s beach day was blessed with continuous sunshine. At sunset we were back at the marina for dinner and drinks and cheering UT to a win on the outdoor big screen!

    Sunday Stacey and Doug and John and I were just minutes behind a very serious multi-car accident south of Birmingham. We got through debris on the road as those involved were still on the scene standing stunned awaiting emergency crews. Courtney and Jackson were driving back with Courtney’s dad. We we surprised to hear they were in front of us and shocked to learn they had been mere seconds ahead of the crash. Courtney’s dad saw it in his rearview mirror!

    After four delays on their flight out of Florida, Rachel’s mom and family had a “Hail Mary” 20 minutes between landing time and departure time in Atlanta for their connection home to California. They landed there at their original ETA. So grateful, so grateful, so grateful…. As Stacey often says, “God hasn’t failed us yet.”

    The conditions invited us to be purposeful in our practice of prayer and if it was possible to choose just one scripture for this amazing start to Adam’s and Rachel’s married life it might be:

    “For I know the plans I have for you…
    plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
    plans to give you hope and a future.”
    ~ Jeremiah 29:11

  • Prayers, Love, Hope: Essential

    One week ago today John Basham and I were on the road to Tennessee. Our drive was uneventful, along a route of perpetual autumn. I had been watching the weather forecasts and we were able to scoot southward as the rains were ending. All but about 15 minutes on Indy’s northside were driven on dry pavement. We were very grateful.

    We enjoyed seeing Jackson dressed up as a firefighter and his mom, Courtney, posing as his faithful Dalmatian. Watching Adam and Rachel celebrate their engagement with family and friends was wonderful. And we got to enjoy “Taco Man” leftovers from that with Stacey and Doug and all of the kids last evening!

    We have helped with Jackson pick-up and drop-off and I spent a day organizing and doing deep cleaning at Courtney and Jackson’s apartment. It is great to see Jackson having fun, like riding on his 4-Wheeler.


    We are beginning to prepare for traveling on to Florida, planning a stop to enjoy playing music with Ed Bennett and friends there

    Amidst these joys are the realities of more and more and more friends and family navigating very challenging situations. It would take a spreadsheet to name all of them.

    I read recently of Robert Redford having written the foreword of a book titled HOPE not long before he passed. His words speak volumes: “Hope does not need to be merely a passive wish. It can be an active force to propel us forward.”

    May all beings know they are the recipient of prayers. May all beings know they are loved. May all beings know the energy of hope.
    Prayers and love and hope, like breathing, are not optional but essential….

  • West Coast Casa

    Sacred Stories

    So, when she first made it to their “West Coast Casa” after their weekend community took a direct hit from Hurricane Ian, the sign that had a prominent place right next to the door, had been a casualty. That sign had so much sentimental value.

    Sifting through the devastation, she was able to find three pieces out of the five pieces. She honestly thought that it was just a total loss because of the enormous damage from the wind and the storm surge. A neighbor’s boat was found a few streets away, while his boat trailer had stayed in the yard!

    Who knew where the other pieces would/could be?

    Two weeks went by, and while they were helping their next door neighbor by picking up the debris in her back yard, she found one piece! She was so happy, she still had some hope that she would find the other piece that was missing. She looked and looked in both yards, and between the two….

    Some time went by. Debris was being piled in the streets and picked up and hauled away. She had made peace that she was not going to find the missing piece. She reached out to the artist who make this one for them, inquiring whether she could just replace the missing piece for them. Or, she would just buy another.

    Many of their neighbors don’t live in Florida year round and have not been able to get to their properties yet. She has been taking photos and videos, and for the neighbors kitty corner from them, she’s even been going into the house a few times to check on things for them. This week, those neighbors asked if she and her husband would go check on the lanai and open up some windows.

    As she and her husband were walking toward the lanai, he started screaming. When she turned around, he was grinning from ear-to-ear and holding up the missing piece to their sign!

    That last piece….

    Found!

    DEE & ANT’S
    WEST COAST CASA
    Est. 2015

    “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” ~ Galatians 6:9

  • Snake!

    Sacred Stories

    They had both been in Florida almost three months. He had stopped by on his bike.

    “I have not seen any snakes this year,” she commented.

    “I haven’t either, ” he responded.

    A few minutes later as he was leaving the house, they saw a snake in the carport!

    These are sacred stories. What does this all mean to you? Do you have as story to share? Send email to debra@scs-matters.com.

  • There’s An Angel for Everything

    house for rent2
    She had recently relocated to Florida, and her son and family had already moved there, too. Her adult daughter so wanted to come join the family, but she was having a challenge finding an appropriate rental home (within her budget and one that would take pets!).

    After weeks of searching, on a particularly frustrating morning with no success, she threw her hands up, saying out loud, “I am going for a walk. If there is a real estate angel who can work on this while I am gone, I would be very grateful.”

    Nearing the end of her walk, and very nearly back home, she struck up a conversation about Florida plantings with a man who was working out in the yard. One comment led to another and she confessed her frustrating morning and her need for a house for her daughter. The man said, “I am here working today getting ready to put this house up for rent.”

    The house was charming, the rent was in their budget, and the owner welcomed pets. That house has been her daughter’s home for many years now.

    She titled this wonderful story, “There’s An Angel for Everything!”