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, February 2, 2018

Friday Foto Friends: Weekly Highlights

I've been saving up pictures this week for Friday Foto Friends.  I may have shared a few on Facebook, but not too many of these. I wanted to have something different to share on Friday!!
So, how has YOUR week been going?  I hope you have had a blessed and beautiful week, and that you have many pictures in your mind of pleasant days and happy memories. Here are a few of mine:

Not that this was a particularly happy memory, but in a way it was, because I talked hubby into pulling off the side of the road so I could take these pictures of this logging operation.  Do you ever wonder where your paper comes from?  Well, it comes from these trees...lots and lots of tall, skinny, pine trees.  These trees are cut down and hauled to the paper mill in Palatka, FL. It is a Georgia Pacific plant...and they make everything from toilet paper to building materials.  Even though I hate to see so many trees cut down, I do use a lot of paper products every day, so I'm glad to know that I am helping to stimulate our economy and provide job security for so many people in our area.  Georgia Pacific is one of the leading employers in that particular area, which is about 25 miles north of us.  The only thing I don't like is the smell of the plant in operation...and glad we don't live too close...

Anyway, I thought you might be interested in seeing this beginning of what you commonly use every day...


Below is one of the many logging trucks, loaded and ready to run up the highway to deposit its load and come back for another.  I really don't like getting behind one of these big trucks on the road...I'm always afraid one of those logs might come off the back of the truck...so I pray a lot when we get behind them or when they pass us...they like to drive rather fast...




Let's see, what else did we do or did I see this past week that might be of interest?
Oh yes, this little deer family out for an evening stroll. They were originally in our front yard when we pulled in the driveway, and took off running as fast as they could down the road. Of course, I dropped everything that I had in my hands except for my camera and took off after them. They weaved in and out of several other yards trying to find a way to escape the crazy lady with the camera, but they couldn't quite outrun me! I managed to catch a few quick pics before they disappeared back into the woods...


This little deer seemed to have gotten behind, and he looks like he's saying, "Which way did they go?"

We had a huge rainfall one night this past week, and so we went over to one of the neighborhood ponds to see how high the water was:

The last time I had looked at these measurements on this dock it was way below the four foot mark...so that should tell you something!


In this photo I was trying to get a picture of that Giant Blue Heron who had just landed, and when I looked at the picture up close, I realized there were several turtles and other birds over on that little bit of sand bar in the pond. (Sand bar...mud bog, whatever...it's interesting!)

Evening Reflections on the pond...so pretty.

The Camellias are blooming...


This one is called "Pink Perfection"...can you see why?


I just had to cut it and bring it inside so I could enjoy it...

So I put it on the kitchen windowsill, right next to the little teapot my friend Sharon gave me to remind me to pray for her each day...see that verse?

"But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings." 
Malachi 4:2    
That is my prayer verse for Sharon every day...and the pink perfection camellia is how I think of her.  So beautiful.

Speaking of my friend Sharon, the highlight of this past week had to be the time spent with her and her wonderful BIG family...members of which have been arriving all week from as far away as Minnesota, North Dakota, Texas, Arkansas...and more are still coming...  Sharon comes from a very large family...and they are all trying to come and spend some wonderful time together, encouraging her and enjoying the blessing of who she is.  We were privileged to be invited to join the family...Sharon calls us her "Florida Family"...and we had a great time together, eating, praying, singing...and listening as Sharon shared her life story and testimony with everyone, much of which was in song.  Such a beautiful Christian woman. I feel so humbled to be counted as her friend.

Here is a video of us singing the grace for our meal:


And here we are together:


I had some other pictures of stuff, but I think I will end this with these pictures and with a reminder to please pray for Sharon. In addition to the chemo for lung cancer, they did find a spot and some microscopic spots in her brain, and so right now she is undergoing radiation treatment for that through next week. Then they will evaluate her situation and determine what she needs next. Please pray that they are destroying this disease in her so that she can continue her beautiful life as a dear friend, sister in Christ, mother and loved one of so many.  Here is a picture of Sharon and her son Robb:


Psalm 103:1-5
1.  "Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2.  Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all His benefits;
3.  Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who HEALS all your diseases,
4.  Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5.  Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."
Amen.

Thank you for your prayers. You are each a blessing to me...and to my friend Sharon.  

And now, let's glide over to Deb's place at Breathing in Grace and see what everyone else has been up to this week.  Have a blessed Friday!! 

23 comments:

  1. Pam, I enjoyed so much all of the pictures you have shared today, but I especially was blessed to be able to "meet" Sharon and some of her family. Thank you for including the video...so precious. I will be praying for your friend Sharon.

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    1. Thank you, Dianna. Your kind thoughts and prayers mean so much!!

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  2. Beautiful post dear Pamela. I see Sharon has a wonderful support system. I will add her to my prayer list. Your rose is absolutely stunning and all your photos remind me that Spring is soon approaching. It looks like the weather is wonderful where you are. God bless.

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    1. Thank you, Joyful. It is wonderful weather here in Florida! So thankful. Thank you for praying for my friend Sharon. That truly means a lot. Blessings to you as well today.

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  3. Those are great pictures but they all pale in comparison to the pictures of sweet Sharon and what she is going through. My husband has had 3 cancers in the last 8 years so I understand the gravity of what she is going through. He was diagnosed with Stage 4 2-1/2 years ago and I believe, through the power of prayer and modern medicine, he is cancer free for two years next month. God is good! Sharon is in my prayers. xo Diana

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    1. So thankful to hear that your husband is cancer free...and praying that he will stay that way! Praise God! Thank you for your prayers. I know you do understand. Blessings...

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  4. Praying for Sharon, and that the young man will be old and gray, white-haired, when it is really her time to go home.

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    1. Thank you, Sandi. I pray your prayers are answered indeed. Blessings...

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  5. Love the logging photos as it's the kind of photos I would post if I had the chance. Enjoyed all your wonderful photos Pamela. The video was such a blessing of love. Praying for your friend Sharon and her family dear Pamela.

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    1. Thank you so much, Toni. I appreciate your prayers for my dear friend. And you will be posting more pictures soon when the weather gets warmer, I am sure!! Blessings dear friend.

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  6. Love all your photos and sharing info about your friend Sharon. I am sad to see logging operations and all those lovely trees coming down. I guess the paper has to come from somewhere though. I remember seeing the history of Cedar Key and how it was a thriving place with its cedar. There were two factories there making cedar pencils until the cedar gave out.

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    1. Yes, I hate to see the trees being cut, but I do understand they cycle of life, etc....and yes, we do need paper! (Especially TP!) I have heard of the Cedar Key pencil story...my son went there for his honeymoon and learned more about the history of that place. One thing here, they replant the trees so they keep growing...

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  7. Wonderful photos. Logging does help the trees. I wish they would thin out around here in the Pine Barrens. Too many trees makes them taller, skinnier and weak. Logging thins them out and makes for stronger forests.
    Camellias are so beautiful. I wonder if I could put some in my yard. My ground is so sandy though.
    Praying for Sharon.

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    1. Thank you for the reassuring words regarding the trees being cut, etc. Camellias might grow there...we have sandy soil as well here. Not sure about your winter, however, if that would be too cold for them. They do grow in GA., and SC., but I don't know how far north they grow. Check it out online and find out! There are so many varieties and they are so pretty. Thank you for your prayers for Sharon as well. Blessings dear friend.

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  8. That is the sweetest little vignette for Sharon's scripture. The best thing we can do and give our precious family and friends is prayer. What a privilege that God allows us to enter His realm through our prayers for each other.

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    1. Thank you so much for your prayers and kind words. Yes, we are joined as family through prayer for one another. Such a privilege. So thankful.

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  9. Okay, so I was enjoying learning about logging, and seeing the water, the deer, the cranes and the turtles, but sharing that Pink Perfection, the Scriptures, and your friend Sharon was most beautiful of all. What a blessing for her to be surrounded by these loved ones and praying to be healed. May the Lord touch her in a mighty way with the treatments so that she can continue to enjoy this life. My brother endured some of the worst times and hard treatments, but praise the Lord, 31 years later, he is getting to enjoy his grandchildren as a result of God's intervention and prayers of family and friends.

    I did get a great big laugh visualizing the deer running from the crazy lady.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words and thoughts...and also for your prayers for my friend Sharon. So glad to hear of the good news of your brother's healing. We pray the same for Sharon. I'm glad you liked the vision of me running after the deer...'the crazy lady' with a camera. They are quite familiar with me by now. LOL>

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  10. I loved the video of your prayer before your meal. Lovely!! I have been praying for Sharon and will continue. So sorry to hear about the spots on her brain. I enjoyed your wildlife photos and that pink flower is gorgeous! Love & hugs!

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  11. Thank you for these gorgeous photos, and for the update on Sharon. Know I am continuing to pray for her!
    Blessings, Pamela!

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  12. Thank you for sharing not only your lovely photos but also an update on Sharon. My prayers are with her.

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  13. What sweet time spent with your friend. I love the video of you all singing grace! How interesting is the story the fotos tell about the paper plan plant. That's The brand of paper we used at my last job. What a blessing to live where there's so much wildlife! Thanks for being faithful to link up each Friday. Hope you have a great weekend! 💜

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  14. Pam, once again, thank you for sharing your amazing photos. It's interesting to see where all our paper products come from--now I know a bit more. I kinda wonder how many trees lost their lives as I worked on my rather lengthy master's thesis (many years ago!)?

    Thank you for the update on Sharon, too, the Scriptures you selected for healing prayers are great ones!

    Blessings!

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