Monday Night Sunset and More...

I looked outside and could see that there was a beautiful sunset, but it wasn't showing up well from our house,  so I told the hubby to "hurry up and get dressed and let's take a ride over to the boat ramp at Lake Ida really quick before the sunset gets totally down and we miss it."  I think he grabbed his pants and shoes and wallet and keys faster than I've seen him move in a long time.  We drove the back roads from our house to that neighborhood, less than one mile, and we got there just in time to see the last of the colors slipping quickly down behind the trees. Thankfully there was still enough beauty visible to be worth the trip.  This is what we saw:

Jeremiah 32:17 "Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You."

Then I heard the honking of some Canada Geese, and was thrilled to see they were there on the lake, preparing for take-off:

(Yes, there were a couple of people sitting on the dock, fishing. I apologized for interrupting their peaceful evening. They didn't seem to mind.)

As you can imagine,  I was pretty excited to be able to witness this beautiful sight...not just a sunset, but the geese taking off in flight, heading off to their nighttime resting place, wherever that may be on the other side of the lake somewhere.

I watched until I couldn't really see them any more, and the sun was almost totally down, so it was time to head back home.

It was a trip worth taking, and I'm so glad hubby was willing to humor me in such a hurry! 

We've missed seeing the Canada Geese on our own Still Waters Pond this year, thanks to the lack of rain and the fact that the pond is totally dry. I am thankful to know that they still have plenty of places around where they can swim and fish and build their nests. Life goes on...just not on our pond this year. I am still not too sure if our Sand Hill Crane couple is building a nest on the pond or not.  They do land on the pond every day and go around behind the island where they nested last year, but I can't get around there to check because I'd have to cross over the new neighbor's yard to get there and see if there's a nest.  We will just have to wait and see if they present us with any new baby "colts" in the next month.  The cranes are not as dependent on having a full pond upon which to build their nest, but the fact that there is no water makes them more vulnerable to predators who can walk across the dry pond to get to their eggs or new babies...so that makes it a little more precarious for them. Like I said, time will tell. We will definitely be watching.

On another note, I keep trying to get a picture of Blackie with Lily Grace...but Blackie isn't really all that interested in sweet little girls dressed up for Valentine's Day.  

That, plus the fact that he really doesn't like to have his picture taken at all makes it difficult to get a good photo when he's on the move.    Oh well, we tried, Lily!

Maybe next time!

Tomorrow (Tuesday) will be a busy day, so I probably won't have much time for visiting/reading/commenting. Hubby and I both have fasting blood tests first thing in the morning, and then we will go out to breakfast to "break the fast".  After that there is a Celebration of Life at our church at noon, with a reception to follow.  Sadly this is for a dear lady who was very sick with COPD complications for a long time, and she was quite ready for Jesus to take her home.  She is greatly missed...a former children's Sunday School teacher for many years, and also she was very active in our women's ministries.  She leaves behind a husband and adult children and grandchildren.

We have another dear lady in the local Hospice house right now. I went to visit her and her husband on Saturday. She was not responsive at all, but I do believe she could hear and I hope she knew I was there. This dear lady is the one who crocheted a beautiful shawl/cape for me while she was actually doing chemo! (the story is HERE). She has been battling cancer for about 2 & 1/2 years, and a stronger woman than her I do not believe I've ever known.  She truly has fought a hard battle, and was so determined to keep fighting, but it appears that her battle is almost over, and soon she will be able to say with the Apostle Paul: 

2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV

" 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 

8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, 

the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, 

but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

I am truly going to miss her smiling face and determined spirit.

Tuesday night is choir practice, and we've started working on our Easter Cantata, so that takes some extra work and energy in addition to our regular music that we prepare for each Sunday.  It's hard to believe Easter will be here before we know it. I believe Ash Wednesday is next Wednesday, February 18th, so that is the beginning of Lent.

Of course, this weekend is Valentine's Day, and then hubby's birthday is on Monday, the 16th, but we will celebrate with our kids on Sunday afternoon.  I am trying to convince him to go look at a new recliner (for him). His is in pretty bad shape and it's time to replace it.  The kids have already told me that they will chip in to help cover the cost as their birthday gift to him.  He doesn't know that yet, but I may have to tell him so he will be more willing to go shopping for the chair.  Hopefully we will do that this week, but it probably will have to be ordered and so most likely it won't be delivered until next week.

I guess that about sums it up for now.  I will check in with you all as soon as I am able.

Psalm 89:1-2 NIV

"1 I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;

with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known

through all generations.

2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever,

that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself."

God's Purpose and Appointing

Good Sunday Morning! I trust this day finds you singing and rejoicing in praise to our Heavenly Father, Who has brought us safely through another week.

I saw this quote on Facebook and it really spoke to me about my purpose and calling in life...and how important it is that we understand that wherever we are, God has placed us there for His purpose to serve Him to the very best of our ability. Of course, this doesn't mean that we aren't to strive to do better in our lives when it is within the realm of possibility or necessity to do so, but whatever we do, wherever we are, to live our lives for the glory of God. 

The following pictures are from our visit to the Kenwood Recreation Area on Saturday. The water from the Reservoir is still on the drawdown, so that is why the water is so low.  It still makes a b eautiful place to walk and enjoy God's amazing creation.  I hope you will enjoy the pictures and also the verses that speak to us about our purpose and calling in life.  Have a blessed SONday!!

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, 

“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Psalm 57:2 ESV

2 I cry out to God Most High,

to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

Ephesians 2:10 NIV

10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, 

which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Romans 8:28  NIV

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, 

who have been called according to his purpose.

Proverbs 19:21 NIV 

21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart,

but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

Psalm 1:1-3

1 Blessed is the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor stands in the path of sinners,

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

3 He shall be like a tree

Planted by the rivers of water,

That brings forth its fruit in its season,

Whose leaf also shall not wither;

And whatever he does shall prosper.

Amen.

Have a blesssed day!!

Friday Foto Friends: Valentines and Mugs. LOL.

 Good Friday Morning Friends!  I hope you are having a marvelous day! We started out pretty cold again (for us), at 34 degrees, and there was frost on the still very dry Still Waters Pond. I didn't take any pictures of it, but here's how it looked yesterday morning, if that counts.  LOL. This was after the not so great rainfall we had the night before...less than 2/10 of an inch! It seems like when the rain comes marching down and across our state it hits our city limits and splits itself around us without dropping hardly anything over us! I don't get it. It's like there's a big dome over us keeping the rain from hitting the ground, or our pond.  The only good thing it did was dampen down the smoke from those fires for a day, but guess what? The smoke was right back up again this morning, and we are now in a "RED FLAG WARNING", with high winds expected and extremely dry atmosphere, which will be like adding fuel to the fire of any smoldering ashes. So please pray for our area and many other places in central Florida that are having similar issues. It could be catastophic if we don't start getting more moisture in the air.  

Yesterday was a very damp and dark and bone chilling kind of day.  The kind of day you want to stay indoors and make soup. I didn't make any home made soup but I did eat some Campbell's chunky beef soup and it was pretty good in a pinch. Then we had cabbage cooked with kielbasa and mashed potatoes for supper, which was as good as having soup!

Blackie stayed inside for most of the day, and entertained himself with this ball...

when "Daddy" wasn't entertaining him with the string game.

Meanwhile I entertained myself by putting out the Valentine's Decorations:

I know, it's kind of busy looking, but hey! This season doesn't last as long as Christmas. Before you know it it will be gone and we'll be celebrating St. Patrick's Day! And the Easter comes soon after!

I was feeling whimsical and brought out my lovely Pink Flamingo cookie jar...(You can click HERE for the story about when that became a part of our lives).  Sadly, it's not filled with any good homemade cookies anymore. I may have to do something about that.

I'm "living life in full bloom"...in spite of the weather!

While I was trying to figure out what to put out on display, I was looking at the different mugs I have that have different kinds of sayings on them, so I pulled out a few to share, but then decided to put them back away for now.  But here's the pictures I took anyway:

Let's "Rejoice in each new day"....

The mug above on the left has a quote by Hans Christian Anderson that I like. It took a few pictures to get the whole message:

"The whole world is a series of miracles, but we're so used to them we call them ordinary things."

This is another of my favorites with Job 37:34 on it: "Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God."   I bought that mug way before we ever moved here to Still Waters Pond, because I loved the design of a bird house and a Chickadee, beside a pond next to a little cabin. When I saw this mug I said, "Someday I am going to live in a cabin beside a pond and watch the birds."  Well, I do live beside a pond and I do a lot of bird watching. It isn't exactly a cabin, but it will do just fine.

"Make Things Happen"...I know I bought this mug thinking about one of my "One Words" one year, and for the life of me I can't remember which one it was now. LOL.  Might have been "Believe".  If I find it I will update this.   

20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.  Matthew 19:20

I think that's the verse I was thinking about...when we believe and have faith in God, we can "make things happen"!!

Here's another favorite...another one that says "Rejoice"

But it also says, "Oh, sing to the Lord a new song; Sing to the Lord, all the earth." Psalm 96:2

And this is the one I've been using the most lately: "The Lord is my strength and my song."  from Isaiah 12:2

Back to Valentine's Day...Lily Grace and her friends are all dressed up and ready for their Valentine's Tea Party...

Which reminds me, it's time to get some Valentine's Cards sent out to some family and friends...just a few, but I don't like to let the day slip by without notice!

I guess that's it for my photos for today.  The day isn't over yet, but I need to go fix lunch for a hungry hubby (and me too) so I guess I will say so long for now.

I'm wondering if you also have coffee/tea mugs that say things that mean something to you? Maybe you can share some of your favorites sometime.

I think my favorite for today is the verse that says 

"I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."  Matthew 19:20

That's a good message to close this on. I hope it brings some hope to you as well.

Wednesday Treasures...Smokey Start to Our Day...

Good Morning everyone! Welcome to my Wednesday Treasures for this week.

As you can see from the pictures below, we are still dealing with a LOT of smoke in our area from the woods/brush fires that started this past weekend on the west side of our town...

This is how it looked at our house this morning as I put out the flag at sunrise...We are on the east side of town, approximately five miles from the fire, but the smoke continues to blow over our way day and night...mostly settling down on top of us for the night...

This is how it looked yesterday afternoon on our still very dry Still Waters Pond:

And this is how it looked this morning...

I copied this photo from Facebook from this morning, when there were road closures of our main east-west and north-south roadways. They actually had to cancel school for today because the smoke was so thick the buses couldn't run their routes. Also some businesses have had to close yesterday and today due to the smoke.

They say the fire itself is contained, but it is an extensive 300 acre prairie/woods/peat bog area, and the roots of trees/palmettos underground will continue to burn for a long time.  We are definitely praying for the rain that is SUPPOSED to come tonight around midnight and last for the night and much of tomorrow...praying that it really comes and does what rain is supposed to do! RAIN for a long enough time to put out the fire and  soak into the ground.  All prayers are appreciated!!  For those of you who have lived around places that have frequent forest fires, etc., you know how unpleasant it is to deal with thick smoke everywhere, even seeping inside your house, making it difficult to breathe after a while.   I am thankful that the fires did not do any major damage to any homes or people/livestock, but the smoke is not good, especially for the many elderly people we have in this community.  So thank you for your prayers for the rain to fall and keep falling!!

Oh, I almost forgot, son Benton sent me these two amazing pictures the other evening, taken from the boat ramp on Lake Ida, which is not far from their house.  That is the smoke at sunset...Pretty amazing, but still, this is serious stuff...

Meanwhile, for the second morning in a row, "King Blackie" has taken up residence on Daddy's lap while daddy is trying to enjoy his morning cup of coffee. Daddy is well prepared with a towel on his lap, in case of "fleas". (and also to help protect him from sharp little claws that tend to dig in when he wants to move...)

This is what is written on his coffee mug:

I think that pretty well says it all.

Psalm 31:19 NKJV

"19 Oh, how great is Your goodness,

Which You have laid up for those who fear You,

Which You have prepared for those who trust in You

In the presence of the sons of men!"

We do feel very blessed and thankful for God's protection over our home and family and friends throughout this past week especially, with the fires and the cold weather and wind and storms.  We even feel blessed to have this little black kitty showing us love and affection in his own way...sometimes we find out that God knows what we need even when we don't think so,..

Okay, it's time to fix some lunch and move on with our day. We just heard from "the kids" that they are coming over tonight and we are going to make tacos or some rendition of Mexican style food here together. That's always a lot fun! So yes, we are "simply blessed" and thankful.  

I pray your day is filled with blessings and unexpected joys as well.  Bye for now!