Thankful Thursday for Friday Foto Friends...Combined!

I am writing this post on Thursday evening for Friday Foto Friends, because I don't want to wait until tomorrow and forget!  Today was such a lovely day in so many ways, I'd kind of like to make this a Thankful Thursday post, but then I wouldn't have anything for tomorrow's Friday Foto Friends!  So, I will be thankful on Thursday, but you won't know about it until Friday!  (Remember I told you I had "anesthesia brain"?  That explains my not making much sense...okay?)

To start the first of June off on a good note I took a little walk about the garden this morning to see what was blooming.  Right away I noticed this lovely magnolia blossom in the tree:

And just had to take its picture.  After that I cut it and brought it inside where I could enjoy its sweet lemony fragrance permeating our home.  So delightful!  Not too strong...just a light, pleasant scent that happens only once a year, so we might as well indulge ourselves!

And then I looked over and noticed that our crape myrtle trees are really starting to blossom in the memorial garden.  I love this shade of pink:

They are just getting started, so I look forward to their beauty all summer long once they open up.

As I wandered about the garden, I couldn't help but hear the sounds of very fast, extremely loud jets traveling rapidly overhead.

These are from the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, FL, and they often do their training flights over our area.

 They were circling around and criss-crossing above our house...I don't know if they could see me, but I felt like they were putting on a show just for me!  I saluted them and clapped my hands in joy at seeing them...and I thanked the good Lord for these dedicated men and women who stand ready to fight for our safety and security both at home and abroad!!

  Yes, "I'm proud to be an American....Where at least I know I'm free...

"Proud To Be An American"

By Lee Greenwood

If tomorrow all the things were gone I'd worked for all my life,
And I had to start again with just my children and my wife.
I'd thank my lucky stars to be living here today,
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom and they can't take that away.

And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.
And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today.
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land God bless the U.S.A.

From the lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee,
Across the plains of Texas, from sea to shining sea,

From Detroit down to Houston and New York to LA,
Well, there's pride in every American heart,
And it's time we stand and say:

I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.
And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today.
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land! God bless the U.S.A.

And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.
And I'd gladly stand up... next to you and defend her still today.
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land God bless the U.S.A.

After the "air show" was over we were blessed by the arrival of some very dear friends...a precious couple that we have known for over 38 years.  They were members of one of our first churches my husband pastored, and somehow they've managed to keep up with us and have blessed us with their friendship all this time.  Today was especially wonderful because they both had just celebrated their 84th birthdays in the past couple of weeks, so even though we hadn't planned it, we still sang happy birthday and they blew out the candles on the table over cups of coffee and some store-bought cookies. (This was after we went out to lunch at the local "Square Meal" downtown.)  (Remember, I just had surgery this past week, so I haven't done any baking yet...but it's the thought that counts!)

My friend Evelyn is a very talented and "crafty" lady...and she did some uniquely special things for me that I want to share with you:

If you will notice, I am wearing a very lovely beaded necklace in this picture.
Here is a close-up of that necklace.  The last time Evelyn came to visit I asked her if she could re-string this necklace for me, as it had broken, and the green beads were originally from a very old necklace that had belonged to my Grandma Tedlie (maternal).  I had never been able to wear the original necklace, because the string was so old and the clasp was not functional, so it had sat in a jewelry box ever since my grandmother died, which was when I was still a teenager.  I had it fixed once several years ago, and added the black beads to help make it longer, etc., but that "string" and clasp also broke, so again, it sat in my jewelry box until my friend said that she did this kind of work and would be so happy to try and fix it for me.  So here it is...and isn't it gorgeous?

The detail on those scrolled beads is so delicate and perfect...she said they were handmade...which makes them even more precious to me.  So this was ONE beautiful blessing for today...but alas! Not the only one!

My sweet friend also does quilting...and again, the last time she visited I had showed her a quilt that was handmade especially for us by the ladies of one of our churches, but some of the fabric was beginning to wear and tear, and I hated to see it become unusable.  Well, Evelyn said she would just take that quilt home with her and see if she could repair it...and, so she did exactly that!  I didn't take a "before" picture, but this is the finished product:

I know you can't tell what she did...and actually, she did it so perfectly, I had to really look hard to figure out what she did...but she replaced several pieces and tried to match colors and fabrics as best she could...and it turned out so beautifully no one would ever know it was damaged and repaired!!

And then, just for fun, she created these two wall hangings actually from a couple of small pillows that were originally made to go with the quilt.  She had to use some of the fabric from the original pillows to patch the quilt, so then re-created the designs for the wall-hangings and had a little fun with it:

This lovely jeweled and jazzy butterfly is for me:

And THIS handsome "camouflaged" butterfly is for my hubby!

Aren't they delightful?  I was so surprised and thrilled with all of the marvelous things she did...how do you even begin to thank such a special friend?  Well, I gave her some of my broken costume jewelry that she can use on her future projects (you should see some of the jewelry she creates reusing old junk jewelry and buttons and beads)...and some fancy dressy "old" blouses that had interesting buttons and/or stitching, beadwork, etc., that she can repurpose into other projects...things I never wear out here in the woods...and then, well, bless her heart, she took along another old quilt of mine to see if it can be salvaged and repaired...which will be a huge challenge...So this story will have to be continued sometime in the future to see what she comes up with!

As we sat and visited together with the men, of course we talked about our current world/country situation, and how we as Christians should prepare for the future.  If you look too hard at the world news and dwell too much on all of the evil in the world, it can become frightening.  But we closed our conversation with the reading of Psalm 27...which I already quoted portions of in an earlier post this week...but it bears repeating again, at least this part:

3.  "Though an army may encamp against me,

My heart shall not fear;

Though war may rise against me,

In this I will be confident...

5.  For in the time of trouble 

He shall hide me in His pavilion;

In the secret place of His tabernacle

He shall hide me;

He shall set me high upon a rock.

6.  And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies

all around me;

therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy 

in His tabernacle;

I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord."

Dear Friends, Whatever may come in the future, we have confidence in our Lord God...He IS the strength of our lives (verse 1)...and we need not fear.  He IS our light and salvation...therefore of whom shall we be afraid?  

I hope that you do know this Savior, Jesus Christ, and that you have this confidence in Him.  If not, I would be so happy to introduce you to Him.  He's just as close as the mention of His name...only a prayer away.  He tells us in the book of Jeremiah 29 the following things:

11.  "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, 

says the Lord,

thoughts of peace and not of evil, 

to give you a future and a hope.

12.  Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, 

and I will listen to you.

13.  And you will seek Me and find Me, 

when you search for Me with all your heart.

14.  I will be found by you, says the LORD, 

and I will bring you back from your captivity..."

This is the same Lord, Jesus Christ, who spoke to the Israelites when they were held in captivity...and set them free from their bondage...and He is ready to release you from your bondage to sin and fear...if you will just seek Him and call upon His name....Jesus, Jesus, Jesus..."There's just something about that name..."

Okay, that's all for tonight/today.  I pray that you are having a blessed and happy Friday!  I know I'm going to have a great day...Thank You, God...for friends, family, and for Jesus!  Amen.

Now, it is already Friday morning, and time for Friday Foto Friends to begin...so let's go see what others have been up to this week, okay?  Bye now!!