Some special visitors on Still Waters Pond
Yes, I can still see you, Mr. Cardinal!
Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird are getting quite active these days. I wonder how long before we will see baby bluebirds?
I do hope that these neighborhood kitties will mind their manners and stay away from our birds!!!
Who me? I call him "Sylvester"...
And I haven't named this one, but he looks like he is wearing a white bib and is ready for dinner...but not in MY yard, Mr. Kitty cat!
Mr. Sand Hill Crane came strolling through one evening...
It is always such a pleasure to watch these colorful birds as they come and go about their business. We are blessed to be able to observe them "from a distance", and enjoy their beauty. I believe they are gifts to us from God for our enjoyment. (Not so sure about the neighborhood cats, however...LOL)
Dear Friends, Yesterday was a "special day" for our family. It was the 48th birthday of our dear son Matthew, who was celebrating his birthday in heaven, as he has since he left earth for his heavenly home almost seven years ago, after valiantly fighting the evil foe of cancer for four years. The last birthday we celebrated with him was his 41st, and we did indeed have a wonderful time celebrating with him on that day.
Matthew always had a great sense of humor, even when he was in the last stages of that horrid disease. These pictures were taken about 3 months before he passed away, and it was a wonderful time with most of our family together.
Family gathered from both sides of the family tree to celebrate with him.
This was my hubby's side of the family
And this was my side of the family.
I wonder if they have birthday cakes in heaven? Ah! Perhaps they have "Angel Food Cake" !
So I woke up yesterday not wanting to just sit around the house feeling blue. So we called our son and his wife, who happened to be off from her regular job yesterday, and asked them if they would like to get together and do something. And they were more than happy to take a day off from their busy woodworking business to spend some time with us.
So we headed up the road a ways to a little restaurant for lunch:
Hubby and I had been there once before for breakfast on my birthday last fall.
Some of the scenery and decor of this interesting little place called
"Florida Cracker Kitchen"
Always wonderful to spend times with our kids...
And with each other:
I just noticed that my son and I are both wearing "Life is Good" t-shirts. If you look really closely at the pictures of our son Matthew up above, he was also wearing a "Life is Good" t-shirt. I mention that only because I remember buying that t-shirt for him when we were on our way to visit him in Maine on one of our last few visits before he passed away. I saw them on display in an airport store and I remember thinking that I wanted to get a couple of those shirts for Matthew to wear, even though we all knew he was in a brave fight for his life. And he did wear them, even in his very last days in the Hospice house, where he would take his last breath.
But Life is good, and we need to live it to the fullest and be thankful for every breath we take, for none of us knows when it may be our very last breath.
You see, our breath is a gift from God...with His very own breath He breathed life into us...
"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."
Genesis 2:7 KJV
And while we still have life, we should live that life as an offering of praise unto the Lord who gave us life:
"Praise the LORD!
Let all that I am praise the LORD.
I will praise the LORD as long as I live.
I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath."
Psalm 146:1-2 NLT
And so that is why we celebrate life, even on the days when we don't feel like "celebrating" in our minds or hearts...we continue to praise the One who made us and gives us life, because Life Is Good, and we are so blessed. And do you know what is even better? Eternal life, through Jesus Christ!
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."
John 5:24 NKJV
I am so thankful for the life of our precious son, Matthew. He is greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. But we look forward to that day when we will be together again in heaven forever. That is our great hope, and because of that hope found in Christ, we can celebrate here today and say
"Life is good".
Lily Grace has some more pictures from our special day to share with you. Please come over and visit her at https://adventuresoflilygrace.blogspot.com/2021/02/friday-foto-friends-with-lily-grace_26.html
Beautiful post, Pam. The birds' red and blue feathers are so striking!
ReplyDeleteSweet pictures of family and warm memories of your dear Matthew.
I like Rose's hairstyle!
Thank you, Barbara! Yes, I loved seeing the cardinal and the bluebird together like that! It made for a very patriotic contrast!! And yes, Rose's hairstyle has been quite a hit with everyone. I love it and she does too. I'm so glad she decided to let it grow and get the perm. It's very carefree and young. Thank you for your thoughtful words. We treasure these memories and never want to forget... I know you understand.
DeleteSuch cherished memories you have, Pamela. I'm so glad you took this otherwise sad and mournful occasion to celebrate life with Benton and Rose, and to be thankful for all the things in life that make it worth living. Yes, I agree, life is good, and we should live it fully as God intended.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Yes, life is just too short to spend our time not living it to the fullest as God intended. We celebrate Matthew's life and memory as we continue to make new memories together as a family. Someday we will all be together again, and we are so thankful for that great hope through Christ!
DeleteThe little birds are so beautiful. I can't wait to see the baby bluebirds. Happy birthday to Matthew in Heaven. I'm so glad you were able to spend the day with family Pamela.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Martha. We continue to try to live the way we know Matthew would want us to live, and this is simply "to live" and enjoy the life we have here together. Someday we will all be together again. So thankful for that great hope we have through Christ. Yes, I am watching that birdhouse for babies every day. I don't know how long it takes, but I don't want to miss it when it happens! I guess I should look that up!
DeleteI'm so sorry for the loss of your son. He truly sounds like a really wonderful person and I've enjoyed hearing about him on your blog and seeing the pictures. Also, I love those Life is Good Shirts. Because Life really is good and we are so blessed with every day we are given. Thank you for the beautiful pictures of the Cardinals and blue birds. Such vibrant colors. I enjoyed the kitties too.
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed weekend Pam!
Thank you, Cathy. Yes, Matthew was a wonderful person, and not a day goes by that we don't think of him in some way. But we know where he is and that someday we will all be together again, and that comforts us and gives us great peace. I am glad you enjoyed the pictures of the birds and kitties. Never a dull moment here. LOL.
DeleteBeautiful post! I think nothing would be harder than to lose a child. Heaven gained and we wait.
ReplyDeleteYour picture of the cardinal and the blue bird together is just too much. That is the kind of thing that would have me doing a little happy dance inside. I don't know why but I have always loved birds. I saw an eagle yesterday on the bayou. I got so excited. OF course, I didn't have my phone out to capture it but I still saw it and enjoyed it.
Also eating out with my kids is pretty high on my list too!
Oh, seeing an eagle is always a reason to celebrate and do a happy dance! I am sorry you didn't have a camera handy, but yes, you have it in your memory. I also love to watch the birds. They are very entertaining and industrious. I love also that they wake up singing praise to their Creator...such a good lesson for all of us!! Thank you for your kind thoughts.
DeleteOh Pam, I so enjoyed the photos you shared on Facebook yesterday. And now, this loving tribute! (I giggled at Matthew's goofy expression. Like Benton, much?) Pretty neat about y'all enjoying a nice lunch together on this anniversary. I've always thought the greatest gift we can give our loved ones' is not letting them be forgotten. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteYes, funny you should say "goofy" in regards to Matthew. We often called him that. He was always just kind of "goofy" in so many fun ways. Yes, all three of our sons tend to be a bit on the goofy side. It runs in the family, I can assure you. They had good teachers in their parents and grandparents and well, almost every relative. We are just not a serious bunch at all, but we love life and enjoy each other and family in general. Yes, you are correct...don't let our loved ones be forgotten. Their lives mattered greatly. Matthew lived up to the meaning of his name, "gift of God". We were blessed to have him and we look forward to seeing him again in heaven some day. Thank you for your kind thoughts. (((hugs)))
DeleteLife IS good, and Heaven is yet better; perfection where we are all reunited. Your photos are lovely, as always. I think your bird pictures would make a lovely calendar or framed, be beautiful as decor.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Holly. Yes, you understand it perfectly! Oh, and thank you for the good idea about the bird photos. I've been thinking about greeting cards if I could figure it out without it costing me a fortune in ink and paper...I feel selfish keeping them all to myself. Thank you for visiting. Blessings to you today.
DeleteBeautiful post. Yes, life is good and I would add, because God is good.Keep those kitties away from the pretty birds.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ruth, and yes, God IS good, and yes, that is why life is good, for sure! And yes, I am keeping a wary eye on those cats. They seem to be hanging around a bit too much for my comfort these days. I think they know something is "cooking" inside that birdhouse, and they are waiting to see what develops. I hope I can chase them off before a tragedy happens. Thank you for visiting, my friend.
DeleteThis is a beautiful post. Wonderful to be able to get together with your son and wife. That cafe looks like a great place to eat! We are really enjoying our birds here in North Texas. I don't think I ever seen so many robins in one place, and they are so big and bright. We're enjoying our cardinals and bluebirds too, but the robins have not been around much in past years, so we're enjoying them.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jan. Yes, we had a wonderful day and we are so thankful to have our family near us. They have been a real blessing to us. We had a lot of robins a few months ago, on their way south for the winter. They cleaned out our holly trees completely. I think this has been a rough winter up north (and in Texas too!) so the birds have been very active in the south. Have a blessed weekend.
DeleteIts nice you were able to get out with your kids. Birds are mostly back here and been hearing them now for a week. Of course not all of them leave but, the ones who did are making their comeback now. I've never seen a bluebird.
ReplyDeleteOh, I am sorry you've never seen a bluebird for real. They really aren't all that common anymore, and we were very pleased that this little family has chosen our yard and birdhouse to set up housekeeping in. I can't wait to see the baby birds...at least I hope I will get to see them before they fly away. Thank you for visiting today. It is always wonderful to visit with you.
DeleteI have no doubt you will be together once again, my friend...keeping in prayer.
ReplyDeleteI loved that sign, "In Grits we Trust", grin. I am just loving Rose's hair, smiles. I am hoping we all can meet up---wherever we decide to go...sigh...houses are few and far in between and quickly getting outpriced, sigh...it all will come together on God's timing, not ours...which I have to remind myself of.
Tell Ms. Lily Grace, that Stephen the Sloth is wanting to meet her. I told him she was a Brownie and he goes, "I like Brownies." I had to remind him, not for eating, bad Sloth. Of course, he has no cares in the world. The George family had to reprimand him because he is so lazzzzzzzyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy, even with his never ending attitude. LOLOLOL
Thank you for the many smiles you bring, my friend.
Lily Grace can't wait to meet Stephen the Sloth and the rest of the George family. They sound like her kind of "people". LOL. She may have to teach Stephen how to have real adventures and not be so lazzzzzzzzyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! Praying for you to find the right house, the right job, at the right time, which is all in God's perfect time! It will happen, my friend. Keep the faith!
DeleteYou have a beautiful family. How good it was to honor the day spending time together.
ReplyDeleteWhat a promise from The Lord that we'll all be together again if our trust and hope is in Him and what He did for us. Many blessings...
Yes, we are blessed to know that we have that great hope and promise of eternal life and joyful reunions! Thank you for your kind words. We are very thankful for our family.
DeleteYou have some great memories of your son. I am glad for you that it was a close and loving relationship and you can rest in knowing that he is with the Lord. Lots of people think cardinals are messengers from heaven...maybe your red bird was just God letting you know Matthew is okay. :) I continue to hope and pray to see our Matthew again before it is too late...and also that he will let the Lord in so I can rest in knowing where he is.
ReplyDeleteI've thought of that, about the Cardinal, although we do have a lot of them around here all the time, but this one seemed extra special, along with the Bluebird and the Goldfinch too! They all brought joy to my heart and I felt like they were special visitors for sure. I did not know your son's name was Matthew...how did I not know that? Praying for him and his family now. That will give me a closer connection to help me remember to pray for him. God knows all about it, and He's not giving up on him either...just keep trusting and praying. God hears and He does answer...
DeleteHi Pam, I enjoyed your pictures today. I can't imagine losing a child. You have a wonderful family. So nice that you had lunch with your son and his wife. Have a nice weekend!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan. I never could have imagined losing a child either, except that Matthew was always special from even before he was born it was like either the devil wanted to snatch him away or God just showed us early on that he was very special and that he belonged to Him and was really only on loan to us. Which is true of all our children...they really do not belong to us. They belong to God, and His plans for their lives do not always coincide with our plans. That is where trust comes in. I know that God knows what I do not know and He always always knows what is best... and that gives me great peace and comfort. I hope you and your family have a blessed and beautiful weekend as well.
DeleteFabulous birds and photos. I do enjoy looking at birds and wish I could photograph more of them but I would have to travel beyond my home to do it. Perhaps some day. I sending warm thoughts to you, your husband children as you remember your son in heaven. Have a nice weekend. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind thoughts, Penny. I guess I have always lived where we could watch the birds and I never thought about not being able to! Wow! I wonder what would happen if you put a bird feeder on your patio? Might be interesting to see "who" would come! Have a blessed and wonderful weekend.
DeleteI do usually have a bird feeder on a tree in my patio garden. Only about 3 different types of bird come by. The last 2 years I switched it to hummingbird feeder and a hummingbird or more comes by but they are too fast and quick for me to photograph.
DeletePam: It is wonderful that you do things in memory of your son Matthew. That's what makes you so special. Peace and blessings to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you, Cecelia. You are very kind to say that. I guess I don't feel special myself, but Matthew was so very special that we just can't let ourselves forget him, not that we ever could...but I think it is good to honor his memory in happy ways because he brought so much joy into so many lives. I know God had His own good reasons for calling him home to heaven so early, but we sure do miss him here. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. You are very special too!
DeleteI am glad that Rose and Benton could join you for lunch. I know how difficult special occasions can be once a loved one has gone on to Heaven, Karen’s little boy died when he was three and we cherish the memories. These are gorgeous photos of the birds. Mildred
ReplyDelete