Ready for Any Storms...

Last night the sky was all golden and surrounding us in a cloud of spun gold and burnt orange.

You can tell when there are storms out to sea...the skies start doing different things. 

I noticed this "Cooper's Hawk"   Correction: * ( This is a Mississippi Kite) up in the top of the tall dead pine tree, surveying the lay of the land.

I think he saw me looking at him, because he flew away right after that.  *Thank you to Diane at Welcome to Lavender Dreams for suggesting this was a Mississippi Kite instead of the Cooper's Hawk. After looking him up, I totally agree...and I have more pictures that I will share in my next post.

This morning the skies were blue and bright...the "hurricane Isaias" is still working his way toward the coast of Florida. We don't know how close or how big it will be by the time it gets close to our neck of the woods, but we are not anticipating anything too serious this time. But prayers are always appreciated, and especially for those already in harm's way down in the islands.

Meanwhile, we are preparing for whatever may come our way.  This morning we were taking down our patio umbrellas from our tables on the deck.  I was helping our son get one stubborn umbrella out of the weighted stand, 

and somehow I managed to get my thumb under the stand when it shifted and slammed down on my poor widdle thumb.

I said, "owie".  LOL. I promise, that is all I said.

In my previous post HERE, I told you that we were going to have some tree work done in preparation for this storm. Well, today was the day for "George of the Jungle" to come back and finish up the job he started the other day.  Here he is loading up onto his trailer the cut pine trees that he cut before. The only bad part about this was he got his vehicle stuck in our sandy back yard and had to have someone come pull him out. But he kept right on working.

Here he is getting ready to climb up a very tall pine tree to cut some dead limbs off that hang out over our shed area.  The tree itself probably should be cut down, but it is so large and expensive to cut, we opted to just trim the bad stuff off for now, and he trimmed it so that the weight is more on the other side so if it does fall, it will fall in the pond and not on our house.  Anyway, he's getting geared up and ready to climb:

And there he goes: 

It was fascinating to watch him climb and cut limbs and vines as he went.  One of our big problems here are the vines that grow up and over all these trees, and they choke them out and kill the trees, so we have to find a way to manage the vines better before we lose more trees.

There she goes:

And once he was finished, down he came.  I was happy when he was safely back on the ground. Makes my palms sweat just watching.

So now we are as ready as we can be for this storm. We are praying it will just stay off shore and not come too far inland. It really isn't a very strong hurricane anyway, and we pray it doesn't get any stronger overnight.

We really don't have to worry, because are "Sheltered in the Arms of God"...

Sheltered in the Arms of God

Dottie Rambo

For I'm sheltered in the arms of God

I feel the touch of hands so kind and tender

They're leading me in paths that I must trod

I'll have no fear 'cause Jesus walks beside me

For I'm sheltered in the arms of God

So let the storms rage high

The dark clouds rise

They won't worry me

For I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God

He walks with me

And naught of earth shall harm me

For I'm sheltered in the arms of God

Soon I shall hear the call from Heaven's portals

"Come home, My child, it's the last mile you have trod."

I'll just fall asleep and wake up in God's new heaven

Forever sheltered in the arms of God

So let the storms rage high

The dark clouds rise

They won't worry me

For I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God

He walks with me

And naught of earth shall harm me

For I'm sheltered in the arms of God

So let the cold winds blow

It's so good to know

That I'm sheltered in the arms of God

Darling we have both been sheltered in the arms of God

The arms of God

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Dottie Rambo / Jimmie Davis

Sheltered in the Arms of God lyrics © Peermusic Ltd., Songs Of Rambo Mcguire, Peertunes Ltd

I hope you also feel safe within the arms of God, no matter what "storms" may be coming your way.  As long as we have Jesus with us, we need not fear any kind of storm.   So thankful to have Jesus walking beside us.  Amen?   Have a blessed and safe evening, my friends.