What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Friday, October 28, 2016

Friday Foto Friends - Skeletons, Fossils and Butterflies

Welcome to Friday Foto Friends...where we share our favorite photos of the week and a peek into what we've been up to lately!

We had an interesting day visiting the:
with some special friends:
Once we made it past the giant ants, we were totally enthralled with this:
AND THIS:
 Talk about JAWS.....



This a kind of prehistoric sloth bear..(above)..glad I don't have them THIS big here in my neck of the woods!

There was SO much more, but I won't try to include everything here...and besides, I know you are wondering why I mentioned butterflies along with these giant fossil skeletons....

Well, because perhaps the best part of this museum is the "Butterfly Rainforest"....


As we entered the "rainforest", I was overwhelmed with the sight of so many butterflies flitting all around us...so many that it was difficult to keep up with them all.  It was a photographer's dream...if you have a fast camera!  I won't attempt to identify these for you, because I have no clue what they are...if you are a "lepidopterist", perhaps you can share your knowledge with us.  But for those of us who aren't quite that technical...just enjoy!



 This big butterfly was quite attached to our friend's bright red shirt....

 The flora and fauna and waterfalls of this rainforest were absolutely stunning...
 Now this is what I'd call a GIANT moth!!! He is probably larger than a man's hand...








Now, believe it or not, this beautiful blue butterfly that is attached to my hubby's shirt is the same type that was attached to our friend's red shirt above. This is what that butterfly looks like with his wings spread open!  Amazing!!!

My hubby was standing very still while other visitors also took his picture modeling the butterfly on his shirt!  Not sure why the one wing is bent over, but that's just how it was.







I hope you enjoyed this little tour through the rainforest with me.  It truly was magnificent...

So now, what special thoughts can I share with you after this marvelous display of God's beautiful creation? How about Psalm 8:

"O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have ordained strength,
because of Your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, 
which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him,
and the son of man that You visit him?

For You have made him a little
lower than the angels,
and You have crowned him with glory and honor.

You have made him to have dominion
over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,

All sheep and oxen--
even the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!"
Psalm 8: 1-9

Yes, that is how I feel...after looking at the skeletons of the giant creatures that once roamed the earth before the flood...and the huge jaws of the prehistoric sharks that could swallow a man whole...and then to see the magnificent beauty of the delicate butterflies, so colorful and uniquely designed...and to know that our awesome God created all of these...and He also created you and me...a "little lower than the angels," and He has crowned us with glory and honor...to have dominion over the works of His hands!  And to know that He loves us so much that He was willing to come to earth and die for us so that one day we could be with Him in heaven forever...Wow!  How amazing is that?  

"O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!"


Thank you for stopping by and visiting today. Now click on the logo below and go back and visit Deb and our friends at Friday Foto Friends and see where's they've been this week!

23 comments:

  1. What great pictures Pamela. The museum looks like a very interesting place to visit. My oldest daughter has carried her children there and also to the butterfly exhibit. They loved it. I have always wanted to go to the butterfly exhibit there and never have. I need to do that one day. Especially when I could be there in less than an hour! Thanks for visiting with me today and hope you have a wonderful day. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was really surprised by the butterflies AND the museum! I never realized we had such a place so close by. It really was interesting and delightful! Thank you for stopping by and visiting here as well. God bless you and have a wonderful weekend.

      Delete
  2. The photos are simply awesome, Pamela, and the butterflies are so exquisite! Thank you for brightening and inspiring my day.
    Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Martha, I am so glad you enjoyed the butterflies! I was so amazed and mesmerized by them flitting around me so rapidly I could hardly stay focused on them. They were so beautiful. Thank you for stopping by for a visit today! God bless you my friend.

      Delete
  3. Such beautiful photos, Pamela! Such a diversity of creation to see skeletons of huge long-ago animals and then delicate butterflies. Thank you for sharing these. Amazing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And it is so close to us...have you ever been there? It is in Gainesville at the U of F. It is definitely worth the visit. Hope you have a blessed and happy weekend.

      Delete
  4. I had no idea there was such a great museum up there! The butterflies are beautiful. I have no idea what the different ones represent in the butterfly world, but they are beautiful. Cypress Gardens used to have a butterfly area in a giant greenhouse-like building. It really is fun to observe them and have them land one you. Thanks for telling us about this great place!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know...I never knew it was there either. There is also a good display of the Calusa Indians and Seminole Indians history, along with many more fossils and information...too much to take in in one day! The Museum of Natural history is free, but there is a charge for the butterfly rainforest...although they are all in one big building. It's well worth going, but plan to spend the day!!!

      Delete
  5. What an amazing museum! Thank you for sharing the beauty with us, Pamela.
    That moth was quite something and to think that is was the size of a mans hand, wow!
    I'm surprised at the butterfly with the bent wing, I had always believed that if the wings had been touched they could no longer fly and would die.

    The Lord bless you~~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was surprised about the bent wing also, but it had no trouble flying. There were SO many of these butterflies...I was totally amazed. My pictures do not do the whole place justice...you really have to be there!

      Delete
  6. wow! what sensational photos!
    I wish I had been there to see it all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It truly was an amazing place. I tried to do a video of the butterflies flying, but there were so many and it was hard to stay focused as they moved so quickly through the air all around us. I was totally mesmerized.

      Delete
  7. Oh, my, goodness, those butterflies are gorge

    ReplyDelete
  8. ous...what a wonderful outing! As always, great scripture to go along with your pictures and story. Thanks so much for sharing! Happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Debbie. It was an amazing place...so unusual and interesting. I really needed more time to take it all in. We may have to go back to finish the tour of the natural history museum. It was too much to try and do in one morning!

      Delete
  9. Great photos Pamela. I love museums and visit whenever I'm near one. Your rain forest and butterfly photos are wonderful. Thanks for sharing my friend. Have a weekend of blessings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you are ever in the Gainesville, FL area, you need to check this one out. I know you will enjoy it.

      Delete
  10. I enjoyed the tour. I loved all those butterflies. Beautiful photo's.
    Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sylvia. Now that we are retired, we are discovering all these things that are right near us that we didn't even know existed! It was truly an amazing day! Hope your weekend is blessed as well.

      Delete
  11. This was fascinating. So much wonder and beauty to explore! Love the scripture passage too.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thank you so much. I love all the enthousiastic photos. And how beautiful are the butterflies on you photos

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a fun place to visit! Loved the butterflies and as always, loved your message!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh, I love, love those beautiful butterflies! How fun to have them flying all around you like that. I've never seen one with bent wing like that either. I love that passage and I now think I hear the voice of Sandi Patti or Larnelle Harris singing that psalm!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting here today. I would love for you to sign my guestbook and let me know you stopped by. I always enjoy reading your comments and words of encouragement! May you be blessed as you go on your way. Please come back and visit again soon.