Peace is attainable in this crazy mixed-up world!

 Peace is attainable in this crazy mixed-up world!

Walking the beaches in Costa Rica 2014

Now that I speak in respect of want:

for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Philippians 4:11

Today's women are facing many Challenges. 

Challenges that call for Change.  

Speaking from experience, I can tell you that Change can be scary, but 

as we trust in the Lord we realize that God allows Change for our benefit.

However, when we're going through these Challenges and Changes we sometimes 

cannot see the forest for the trees.  

But when we allow God to direct our path, 

Courage comes on the scene ...

then anything can happen!

Obtaining Peace

   The world is searching for relief from their stresses.  Today crisis-driven, money-motivated hectic lifestyles are pressing people to the limit, especially since the Corona Virus struck.

   Have you ever wondered if it was possible to live stress-free?  Would you buy peace if it was advertised as a product?

   Well, you can be the first person on your block to have peace!  The Bible is full of comments and teachings on how to live without stress.  Peace is Priceless.  But peace cannot be bought or sold.

   When we moved from California to South Carolina, the above verse became very real to me.  No matter what state I lived in, I would be content.  But I think Paul was talking about something deeper.

   Peace is a state of mind.  When we live a life of prayer, we can build positive mental health.  I'm not talking about sitting all day with our hands folded.  If you're like me, I talk to God while I'm making my bed.  My Lady Leaf's Lounge is now a no-phone zone, but I can dial up Jesus anytime!

   It is the Holy Spirit that transcends our own weak spirit to lift us to a point of  being content.  This peace described in the Bible is defined as a peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).  Man cannot create this product; it comes from God.

   Giving up our wants is a major key.  I find that the more I want, the more demands I put on myself, thus propelling me out of my peace mode.  I have to remind myself:

What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?  Mark 8:36.

Remove Stress by Eliminating Sin

   There are many peace robbers--money, power, and physical temptations, to name a few.  These can be forms of sin when they are taken to the point of losing our peace.  God gave us the Ten Commandments to make our lives peaceful, not to make our lives harder.  Think about it, most of our stress is self-inflicted.

   Most of us know what is right and wrong because our conscience tells us.  So let's focus on correcting any stress-caused sin.  Simply, God knows we are not perfect.  In planning for our transgressions, the Bible tells us how to remove stress by eliminating the sin.  We are called to ask for forgiveness.  God calls us to confession because secret sins cannot co-exist with peace of mind.  When we confess our sins, God forgives us before we finish the sentence.  In Psalm 51:10 David asked God to forgive his sin and to create in him a pure heart and renew a right spirit in him.  God forgives us, just as he forgave David.  God takes pleasure in watching the cleansing of our conscience.

   A few years ago I experienced a stressed-caused peace robber.  I asked a Christian editor who I met in California if she would be interested in editing my Lady and the Sea manuscript before I sent it out to the mad world of publishing.  She jumped at the chance, we set a price and some deadlines, and because she needed the money, I mailed her $300.00 up front.  Three months of communicating via e-mails, she continued to give me excuses why she hadn't shown me any work.  Is my writing that bad?  Is she bored to tears with my story? went through my insecure mind.

   My flesh worked overtime trying to figure out how I should handle this unexpected incident. She finally confessed that she was in an alcohol rehab program.  Oh, my.  It was obvious that she wouldn't be editing for awhile, so I quickly offered her an easy payment plan to reimburse my $300.00.  Instead, she asked me if I would forgive her $300.00 debt.  Oh-me-oh-my.  

   I asked God, "What shall I do?  I don't want to let her off the hook if You're trying to teach her some kind of lesson."  I prayed.  Know what He answered?  Forgive her.  And I did.  Wasn't easy.  And I beat myself up for days because I thought He had told me to hire her in the first place.  Finally, when I quieted my spirit down--and my flesh--the Lord explained, "The incident isn't about the money.  It's not about forgiving the debt.  It's about forgiving her."

   Well, I forgave her and her debt, but like I said, it wasn't easy.  I felt that I had been betrayed by a person I trusted.  Has that ever happened to you?  This incident reminded me once more that we must always put our trust in the Lord.  He will never disappoint us.  And there is where I find my peace.

If God says we are forgiven ...

   ... then we are!  The hardest part about forgiving is forgiving ourselves.  Long after we have confessed our sin to God, we often carry the guilt with us, day after day, sometimes year after year.  The devil enjoys this because it paralyzes us from having perfect communion with our Father.  I did hear from God about hiring that editor, even though the outcome didn't turn our the way I had planned.  There is always more to every situation we find ourselves in than meets the eye.  God forgives us, so we must carry on to the next assignment that awaits us!

Let it all go!

   I remember the story of an old friend who said on her deathbed that she had a lot of trouble in her life, most of which never happened.  Isn't that the truth?  Am I preachin' to the choir?  Most things we worry about never come to pass.  Worry and fear creep in, and before we know it, we are paralyzed to go about our daily tasks, much less make any decisions that need to be made.

   Our Heavenly Father wants us to give it up!  Stop beating yourself up over the 'what if's'.  Jesus says, Come unto me, all ye that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your soul.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.  Matthew 11:28-30.

   Right after my brother John was diagnosed with stage-4 stomach cancer, the Corona Virus from China hit the USA.  We had no longer returned from the Mexico cruise than Covid-19 closed everything down. These are the times when you must accept the gift of peace that God gives you.  Jesus says, I am leaving you with this gift--peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give isn't fragile like the peace that the world gives.  John 14:27.  This gift defies all logic, so in order to receive this peace we must learn to hear God's voice through whatever the process takes.  

   Sometimes peace robbers are just life's misfortunes.  Stuff happens.  I know, you call it something else, but it's all the same!  We can only see our situation through our eyes, but God sees the big picture.  No matter what comes our way, we learn to weather the storm, and just walk through it.  When I lived on the World War II ship for fourteen months, stuff happened on a daily basis, whether it was a hurricane in the Pacific, a conflict between the crew, or my heart attack in Greece (I still don't know which was worse).

Peace prevents wrinkles.  Forgiveness gives you that extra glow!

Why Live a Peaceful Life?

   Life becomes a pleasure when we learn to dwell in peace.  It's hard to stop and smell the roses when we're under the burden called stress.

   I find I can work in harmony with Christ more when I demand less from myself and from the people around me.  Simplify is my motto.  When we lived on the WWII ship Restoration, our cabin was the size of a walk-in closet.  I had three small lockers for my clothes.  The rest of our belongings were stored in boxes underneath the double bed my husband Rob built for us (there was no way he was going to sleep in a single bunk bed for fourteen months!).  The rest of our stuff was stored in one of the holds below the main deck.  I learned to live light and travel light, for which my hubby is grateful.  Now, I'm not suggesting that you give away all your beautiful handbags and shoes, but perhaps try asking yourself before you purchase the next item, Is this going to clutter my life, or will it bring me more peace?  I know, that's a loaded question for you Prada purse-collecting gals.

   If you've noticed, it's hard for us to reach out to the needs of others if we don't have peace ourselves, so lets endeavor to keep our 'want list' short, simple, and necessary. (oh, thou shoe collector, please don't turn me off!)

   Through the years, I have found as my faith grows, my stress level decreases.  Since moving to South Carolina, whenever a stressful situation hits me in the face, I take a deep breath, lasso my little malte-poo Popcorn, and head out the door for a walk.  The pond, the trees, and the fresh air does wonders for my soul.  I can pray and walk at the same time so by the time I return home I'm surrounded by a peace that passes all of my understanding.  I've given myself time to process the situation, and I have a happy dog!  

What works for you?  A long walk?  A hot, relaxing bubble bath?  A good, sweaty workout?  A trip to the mall to look for another pair of shoes?--kidding (delete that last suggestion--I don't want to be responsible for a stressful purchase!)

   Living in peace is impossible to teach because it is a personal journey of knowing and loving the Lord and getting close enough to let Him teach us how it works.  If He can give me peace through my brother John's Ketruda treatments, He can give you peace to whatever you are going through at this moment in time.  

   Good decisions and wisdom lead to peace in the challenging journey of life.

Until next time ...

whether near or far,

keep reading and keep that body movin'!

www.amazon.com/author/www.sharonleaf.com

Lady Traveler tips on preparing you for your next journey

When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money.

Then take half the clothes and twice the money

Overnight bag purchased in Istanbul  2008 

Robinski and I are on the road in our motor home, Moon River.

We'll be gone for two months.

Popcorn ready to hit the road in Moon River,
our 40-foot American Tradition motor home

Traveling is fun!

Preparing for the journey is not so much fun.

However, preparation is necessary to entail a successful and fun trip.

Whether we travel near or far,

whether for two months, two weeks, or two days,

we need to throw something in a suitcase, a backpack, or a bag.

 Two week trip to Costa Rica  June 2014
Rob's backpack.  My backpack.
And a large purse (already in our rented little SUV)

Most of you know the necessities ... don't you?

Toothbrush, toothpaste, make-up, and oh, yeah,

underwear.
At one time or another, I've forgotten all of the above.

Actually, wherever we travel, 

we can buy almost anything we need 

at a nearby store.

Except, perhaps, in some third-world countries.

I remember Siberia quite well
where I had to carry my own toilet paper.

Two week trip to Paris  September 2014
My carry-on and a large purse.
Rob: one carry-on and small backpack

I can give more packing details upon request,

(leave a comment and I'll be happy to answer)

but I feel the most important aspect of any trip is to

prepare emotionally and spiritually.

Many surprises can occur along our journey.

If I haven't spent time in prayer and reading my Bible,

I can easily come undone.

Just ask Robinski.  On second thought, please don't.

Now, don't fret ... I'm not talking about spending hours on your knees

(although I'm sure you'd come away lighter and happier),

And I'm not saying you must read your Bible for hours at a time

(although you'd most likely come away stronger and mightier).

Begin right where you are.

Believe me, a little is better than nothing.

I usually read a variety of one-page devotionals in a sitting,

then I say a prayer similar to The Lord's Prayer.*

My bags are packed, now I'm ready to go.  Are you ready to go ...

... to another country ... to a different state ... to the next town?

It's not that difficult at all, so ...

Here's wishing you oceans of travel packing!

Please feel free to add any suggestions that you may have
in the comment box below.

(To remember the words, I'll sing the following scripture as I write 

... so glad I'm alone, except for Popcorn, and she's hiding under the bed)

*THE LORD'S PRAYER

*Our Father, who art in Heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done,

on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day, our daily bread,

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the Kingdom,

and the Power, and the Glory,

FOREVER.

Amen

Matthew 6:6-13

www.sharonleaf.com

Lady Traveler's Travel Tips wherever you may wander

When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money,

Then take half the clothes and twice the money.

One of my favorite summer shirts you'll see in many of my RV travels
(Kentucky Lakes, Kentucky 2016)

There are hundreds of websites, U-tubes, and such
that focus on various travel topics.
but I thought I'd share a few of my own personal thoughts to make
packing a little more personal.
Today I'll write about wardrobe tips for your upcoming summer trips.

When packing clothing for a long or short trip,
take a look at what you packed, then cut it in half.
I promise you won't wear half of what you packed so no need to
add work to the process.
When there is climate changes involved, packing can be a bit more challenging.

A favorite t-shirt-- wash-N-wear items to throw in the washer-dryer in our 40' motor home
(Aspen, Colorado 2016)

We drove our motor home to California last September,
so shorts, a few of my favorite t-shirts, and my favorite pair of 'safe' sandals
were my priority wardrobe.
Fortunately, the weather was warm and beautiful on our 6,000 mile, 2-month journey.
(In colder weather I pack a sweater, a pair of jeans,
and a pair of boots incase the weather turns cool).

The most important thing to wear everywhere is your
SMILE!
Your smile will outshine anything you will wear.
So don't forget to pack it!

See? I wear the same t-shirts over and over and over.
 (in Zion, Utah)

My only piece of luggage when traveling international to warm countries such as
Belize and Costa Rica is my faithful backpack on wheels.
For cooler countries, such as Paris, London, or Scandinavia,
I roll everything in a carry-on, take a large purse, dress in layers,
carry my coat on the plane, and wear my boots.
Look for websites and u-tubes for packing information.

My very favorite shirt; I wear it everywhere.
I love Paris! (2014)

I wear and pack very little make-up.
I use facial wipes to cleanse face every night,
smear on lots of lotion, and drink gallons of water.
We love to eat at local restaurants in every town and country,
so I keep my Isagenix shakes and vitamins nearby to keep me on the straight and narrow.

I love Paris when I eat!
(Dreyer Island, SC)

So whether you love to travel,
enjoy watching TV travel programs,
or just enjoy reading about traveling on blogs, hopefully mine,
I'm happy to have you on board.

We'll soon be heading to the beach for two weeks.
I'm looking forward to relaxing days of reading, wRiting, walking, blogging,
eating, swimming, meeting new friends ... sound fun?
Please come along!
You can find more about my travels on my website
www.sharonleaf.com

A few more important tips:
#1: Before we leave our house, we call our local police department.
They'll drive by our house several times a day or night, at random times.
#2:  We contact our local post office to hold our mail.
#3:  We have a trustworthy neighbor that keeps an eye on our home.
Now, we're off to a great start!


You gave me life and showed me kindness,
and in your providence watched over my spirit.
Job 10:12

Whether you travel around the world or around your block,
I wish you oceans of travel blessings!

16 Days in Costa Rica ~ Part 3

The Tree House
Sarana Beach, Costa Rica

Lovely garden for breakfast
Owner of Hotel Los Jarnines

Hola!  Traveling can be tiresome.  We've hiked and zip-lined and para-sailed before, so we chose to rest and relax on our 16-day trek through Costa Rica.  NOTE: I'm also sharing a few 'downsides' as well as the 'upsides' because that is what I want to know before I spend my holiday in a foreign country. 

Besides the delicious food and lovely scenery, we met the nicest, sweetest friends--I call them friends because we didn't treat one another like strangers or tourists.  

Typical CR breakfast
LOVE their rice and beans

The first two days we spent exploring, relaxing, and eating at Playa Panama.  Days 3 and 4: Breakfast at Hotel Los Jarnines in the rain forest in Monteverde is special because their tortillas are homeade!  Rob couldn't get enough.  The owner was so sweet and helpful in every way.  I recommend this boutique hotel if you like out-of-the way places.  And yes, it is worth driving the rocky, narrow, bumpy road top to arrive at this beautiful destination.

Dinner at Bulabula Hotel

Breakfast at Bulabula Hotel

Robinski and I spent days 5, 6, 7 and 8 at the out-of-the-way Hotel Bulabula in Playa Grande (a gated community--lots of gates and locks in Costa Rica).  One afternoon we traveled by water taxi to the touristy, X-Pat town of Tamarindo.  
Reminder: The weather in Costa Rica was hot (90+) and tropical; most restaurants are open-air so mosquitos are invited to hang out (some restaurants even provide bug spray).  For those two reasons, we found a Subway with air conditioning.  Ahh, cool never felt so good.

The Subway was empty except for a young lady sitting alone at a table with her computer and a cup of coffee.  As we chatted with Tara, she shared that she is an American volunteer teaching English in Costa Rica for 2 years.  She lives with a Costa Rican family and takes the bus whenever she travels.  I think she enjoyed talking with us as much as we loved chatting with her.

Tara in Tamarindo

I talked about Lola's Restaurant on the beach in Part 2 (+ pictures), about 40 minutes south of Playa Grande.  This place is a treat not to miss.  Ocean breeze, sand between your toes, delicious tacos, and lots of friendly faces from all over the world.

Scrumptious dinner at Bulabula's Restaurant

Day 9 we decided to drive two hours south to Sarana Beach.  We discovered The Tree House right smack on the beach.  We substituted a small air conditioned room for an upstairs beach view with a large open window (+fans).  For me personally, two nights were plenty without air-conditioning, but it was my choice because I wanted to experience hearing the ocean's roar and feeling a sea breeze as I slept.  But getting up at 2am for a shower was not in my plan (either was the thunder/rain storm!).  NOTE: Think twice before sleeping without air conditioning in hot, tropical holiday resorts.

Todd, owner of Hotel Bulabula
and a happy American family!

dining el fresco at La Gato
until it started raining!

Day 12 we drove north to Playa Flamingo.  We stayed at Playa Sueno al Mar, a hotel that stands firmly on a cliff overlooking a beautiful bay and the Pacific Ocean that stretches as far as the eyes can see.  The large swimming pool gave my final approval.  After a swim and a shower, we ate dinner on the beach at Bahia del Sol.  Romantic, sweaty, and sandy, but at least we had 'sprayed' before leaving the hotel (you know, the bug spray!)

As delicious as the food was,  

Montezuma's Revenge somehow found me and I was in bed all day and 

had delayed reactions for over a week after I returned home.  

NOTE: 

Be mindful of what you eat and drink.  

Alas, there is still no guarantee of avoiding the Revenge.

Everywhere we traveled on our 16-day journey, we had a chance to 

share our testimony of God's love and faithfulness, 

give my 'Lady and the Sea' cards with a smile along with lots of hugs. 

 I have faith that the words we shared and the love we showed along the way

 touched the hearts of our new friends.  

God's creation and beauty could be seen everywhere, 

but it was the friends we met along our journey that made the difference 

between a good trip and a 

great experience.

Rob's dream vacations were Belize and Costa Rica.  

My dream holiday is Paris.  

What is yours?  

Believe me, I never thought I would be planning a holiday in Paris!  

But at 68, I realize that you are never too old for your dreams to come true.  

Two decades of missions trips have led to a few dream holidays.  

Thank you, Lord. 

My foot has held fast to His path,

I have kept His way and not turned aside.

Job 23:11  NASB

Until we meet again, my friends,

I wish you smooth sailing and oceans of blessings in life's daily journey.

www.sharonleaf.com

16 Days in Costa Rica ~ Part 2

One of several long, dirt roads we traveled
A challenge, an adventure in faith.

There will always be the unknown.

There will always be the unprovable.

But faith confronts those frontiers with a thrilling leap.

Then life becomes vibrant with adventure!

Costa Rica ~ Part 2

Our flights from Columbia, SC to the Liberia airport in north Costa Rica went smoothly.  After renting our 4-wheel drive we headed down a nice two-lane highway for Playa Panama.  We missed our turn, thanks to me, the Map Whisperer, so it took us a bit longer than the twenty minutes the friendly car-rental Costa Rican had said. Note: car rentals are inexpensive, but the INSURANCE will kill you. We opted for everything since we were traveling in unfamiliar territory, but we opted not to have a GPS, thus the Map Whisperer was created (me).

Casa Conde Del Mar, Playa Panama
Costa Rica

I had the huge pool all to myself
most of the time.

After lunch, a long swim, and delicious dinner, it was around eleven o'clock that evening when I began the search for my mini-iPad.  Dumped everything out of my purse.  Nowhere to be found.  Mini-panic.  Called Delta.  Only recordings.  Sent email.  Concerned.  Prayed.  Helped.  

Beautiful beaches abound

Bright and early the next morning, after a yummy Costa Rican breakfast, we drove twenty minutes back to the airport (no wrong turns this time).  Rob was cool the whole time.  Delta greeted me with big smiles and handed me my 'lil i-Pad within ten minutes.  Whew! Yay!  Note: ALWAYS double check the pouch in the airplane seat in front of you.  I always do...except this time. 

Day 3 we headed inland for the rain forests of Monteverde.  Most of the roads were good.  Except one.  Turning off the main highway, we traveled on a two-lane road that led us through a small town.  My eyes were glued to the map when Rob turned left instead of staying on the safe-looking road.  When the pavement turned to dirt,  I softly said, "I'm pretty sure I told you the wrong way."  The Map Whisperer was willing to take the blame.  MW's translation: Please turn around.

"This is the right road," Rob stated like a professional tour guide.  Slowly, the road narrowed.  Suddenly there were mini-bolders sprinkled with pot holes as big as mini-ponds.  "Are you sure I didn't tell you the wrong way?" I asked.  Silence.  The map was of no help, so I threw it in the back seat and gripped the door handle.  I was determined to be the good wifey...quiet, calm, soothing, comforting, all the while wondering why there was no one else on this narrow, scary road.  Then behold!  We saw cows!

We were not alone after all on
the Rocky Road to Monteverde

A few miles later, a tour bus came rolling down the hill, heading straight for us.  Rob swerved to make way for Mr. Tour Bus Driver.  We might be on the right road after all, we were both thinking.  Then a few more miles up the road, a second tour bus came barreling around the corner.  Rob pulled over, stopped, and looked at me and said, "I was beginning to wonder about this road."  "Me too!" I announced, still shaking.  We laughed as he jerked the shift into gear, pressed a few magical buttons, and 4-wheeled off to Monteverde.

Clouds gathered overhead.  Thunder and lightning.  Then the rain fell.  Then I had to go pee...well, I needed to go to the toilette.  We drove through small villages, but no Costa Ricans in sight.  We passed a zip-line resort.  Closed.  "Can you hold it, or do you want me to pull over?" Rob asked.  "Pull over and do what!?!?" I answered.  "Then you'll have to hold it," Rob answered as he dodged another pot hole.  He was too focused on the muddy roads to sympathize with me.  Dang.

"Look!  Pull over!" I said as my eyes beheld a little mobile trailer that had a flashing sign in English, OPEN.  I ran in, pointed to the bana sign.  The sweet Costa Rican angel said, "Si."

We finally pulled into Monteverde at dusk. I wanted to kiss the ground, but stayed focused on the map that led us to the quaint, cozy boutique Hotel Los Jarnines.  "Yes, that is the main road to Monteverde," she replied when I asked about the bumpy road.

We were hungry so we found a small, romantic restaurant...just what Mr. 4-Wheel and the Map Whisperer needed after a long day on the Rocky Road to Monteverde.  Faith for the day and food for the evening never felt so good.

Loved this quaint restaurant

Delicious food, romantic atmosphere

Coffee plantation showed us how to
make coffee, sugar, and chocolate!

After two days of touring a coffee plantation and sightseeing, we drove the same road back down the mountain, but this time we knew it was the right road.  Note: Life Lesson: Even if our road is rocky, when we know we are on the right road, it makes all the difference.  

The sun was shining as we headed back to the Pacific coast.  I have to admit, the Map Whisperer did a great job for the remainder of the 16-day journey.  There were a few more dusty roads along the way, but the most fun was eating on the beach at Lola's Restaurant, where Rob met Miss Lola in person:

The dirt road to Lola's on the beach

Rob sneaking up on Lola!

As we drove down every highway I noticed small houses built right next to the roads; doors and windows open for any breeze to flow through the small hot rooms; covered porches lined with chairs, sofas, and tables for families to lounge.  Clothes hang in almost every  front yard.  House have high, rod-ironed, bob-wired fences surrounding their property to protect against theft.  I was impressed with how neat they keep their property.  Costa Ricans appreciate their belongings.  A good lesson for all of us.

The nationals are friendly, kind, and humble because they live "Pura Vida" ... the "Pure Life" ... a simple, pure, and happy life.  It is evident in their faces.  

Our journey continues next time in Part 3 ~ Faith, Food, and Friends.  Until then, I wish you Pura Vida!

Playing on Playa Pirates, Costa Rica

Stand at the crossroads and look...

ask where the good way is, and walk in it,

and you will find rest for your souls.

Jeremiah 6:16  NIV

www.sharonleaf.com

16 days in Costa Rica ~ Part 1

First 2 and last 2 days in Playa Panama, Costa Rica

Two roads diverged by the sea,

and I -- 

I took the one less traveled by,

and that has made all the difference.

Part 1

Trekking through Costa Rica for sixteen days 

in a small 4X Suzuki was Rob's idea, 

and I'm glad I decided to go along for the ride.  

Costa Rica was on Rob's Bucket List so 

he made the flight arrangements, 

found several boutique hotels online, 

rented the 4X, and the rest 

we made up along the way.

Part 1 

will give you some suggestions on 

what to pack to make your travels easier, 

whether you're traveling through Central America or 

the USA.

 I'm not a professional travel guide, but 

I've been around the block a few times...

...Russia, Siberia, Greece, Israel, Estonia, Sweden, 

to name a few.

Standing next to our rented 4X Subaru with my teal backpack and Rob's basic black

First, travel light.  

Rob told me while packing for our first trip to 

Russia and Estonia back in '91: 

"Take only what YOU can carry."  

As I slowly began removing items that I thought I needed, 

I later realized this was good advise for women 

who think they must bring several outfits per day, 

loads of make-up, skin and hair care, and  jewelry galore.  

As for me, I've learned to be a light traveler because 

I dislike having to come home and unpack.

Since this trip's destination was Costa Rica in the summer, here are a few suggestions.

Plane travel: White casual roll-up pants that 

I only wore on the plane (Old Navy); 

striped vintage t-shirt

 layered with a beige pullover (Free People) because 

planes are always cold; 

walking shoes (Sketchers Moving Foam) that I only wore on plane; 

watch, earrings, bracelet. That's it.

Backpack and purse (TJ Max)
Blue clothes carrier* fits perfectly in backpack.
Zipper carriers* for undies and cosmetics fit in backpack with ease.
Don't forget your journal!
*I bought mine at AAA on sale but you can find them at TJMaxx

Backpack: 

In my clothes carrier: 2 pairs of White Stag walking shorts, white and tan (Walmart for $7.98); 

2 vintage cotton striped tops (Loft); 

2 sleeveless tops (Belk); swimsuit (TJMaxx) and a 

cover-up (also used as a sundress). 

Shoes: walking sandals (Easy Spirit @ Belk); 

I lived in my blue flip-flops.

Cosmetic/accessory carrier: 3 oz. bottles of shampoo, moisturizers, lotions, wash cloth 

(some smaller hotels do not offer these items), 

razor, deodorant, etc. 

Undies carrier: 8 lower, 3 upper (sports bras), 

nightie.

It was Costa Rica's rainy season so 

I stuffed a roll-up rain jacket in it's little pouch 

but didn't use it--too hot!

Purse: 

In case of emergency I carry my make-up case 

(only wore lipstick and eyeliner most of trip); 

med-case for my 3 prescriptions and vitamins; 

small butt pack with passport and money; 

small wallet; toothpaste/toothbrush; 

mini-iPad; iPhone; pen/journal.  

Bored yet?  

I'm almost finished.  

Breath mints, kleenex, sani-cloths, comb and hair clip.  

I'm leaving something out, but I can't remember what. 

Oh, yes...on day 8 we did our laundry at the Bula-Bula Hotel.

White sleeveless,
morning or evenings
Costa Rica

Blue striper wears morning or evening
(wore this hip hat once at
a coffee plantation in the rain forest 
Monteverde, Costa Rica

I wore these flip-flops everywhere.

  

A Necessity I forgot: 

anti-diahrea pills in the event that 

Montezuma's Revenge finds you. 

Rob went to a local pharmacia to get me some help.  

Day 13 found me in bed all day, and 

MR followed me home for a week, so pack the pills!

Part 2 will take you 

On the Road with Lady Traveler and her 

sidekick, Robinski (Rob's Russian nickname).  

Hold on because our journey could make you a little car sick.  Faith, Food and Friends will be the topic of Part 3.  After all, isn't that what traveling is all about?

Running on the hot sand at Playa Pirates, Costa Rica

Until next time, 

I wish you smooth sailing and 

oceans of blessings 

on your hot, summer days.

Put your hope in the Lord.

Travel steadily along His path.

Psalm 37:34 NLT

www.sharonleaf.com