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!!