Jeremiah 33:2 says:
"Thus says the LORD who made it, (the earth) the LORD who formed it to establish it, (The LORD is His name):
Jeremiah 33:3~
Good Morning Friends! It's Friday...and at first I thought I didn't have anything new to share with you, but then I started looking back through the week's pictures and realized there were several beautiful blessings to share:
First, there was this lone male Wood Duck in Still Waters Pond:
and then his lovely lady showed up and joined him for a swim about the pond:
Aren't they a gorgeous couple?
Next Mr. Great Blue Heron showed up:
He stood there preening himself in the sun:
And here comes our resident Canada Geese, having their morning breakfast along the shore:
Next they swam over toward the island:
and decided to explore the island for a few minutes. After a quick look around they dipped back into the pond and glided away...
Meanwhile back on shore we've been enjoying watching the Goldfinches and Bluebirds and lots of other birds this week. This picture doesn't really show the birds, but I just love the view of the little purple "fairy flowers" growing wild in the yard. I told my hubby not to mow them down until they are finished blooming. They are so pretty to watch swaying back and forth in the breeze.
Lily Grace has been keeping a watch for the birds outside the window, with the camera ready for action... She's a great "little helper"!
It has been a lovely week.
On Wednesday morning our women's group at church met for our monthly gathering. More ladies are coming out now and we are so thankful to have made it through this long, somewhat lonely year. God has truly blessed and watched over our church family, and we give Him the praise and glory.
They are all saying Thank You, Jesus!
I took some pictures the other evening at our church when I was there for another meeting. The sun was setting in the west, and so the pictures are not as clear, but I wanted to get pictures of our lovely azaleas and camellias before they stop blooming:
They are blooming everywhere right now and look so beautiful! I hope to take a ride around some of the more historic areas this weekend and get pictures of some more before they are finished.
Yesterday I stayed home and rested. Had a little bug of some kind...dizzy and puny feeling, but it is on its way out...sinuses are causing the dizziness I think...lots of pollen in the air.
I am very thankful for all the ways God has blessed and provided and shown us His love, especially in this last year, in spite of all the difficulties and sorrows that have come upon our land. We have been truly blessed here in our home and church and community, and we give God the glory. Great things He has done!
Do you remember this hymn, "To God be the Glory, Great Things He hath done!"
Why not sing along with us?
Psalm 95:1-3
1. "Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
2. Let us come before His Presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
3. For the Lord is the great God,
and the great King above all gods."
Oh the wood duck pair! They are a treat I rarely see a female with one. Every great now and then a wood duck will pass by. I always get excited. I am so ready to see groups joining in fellowship again. I know I for one will be more grateful than ever. I am getting my first shot Monday. Woo Hoo!
ReplyDeleteThe wood ducks are rather skittish. If I even so much as barely open the door, they seem to know it all the way across the pond and they take off so quickly like I could catch them or something! LOL. I had to take those pictures through the window, so I was happy they turned out as well as they did. Yes, our ladies are so happy to be together again. Many have gotten their shots and they feel ready to come out and live again. It is a happy time for all.
DeleteBeautiful photos Pamela! One of the things I miss the most about living up in that area are the gorgeous azaleas and my beautiful Redbud trees.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Martha. Yes, the azaleas are amazing this year! Everywhere I look there are azaleas blooming...many in places that looked ugly and ordinary before, now they look glorious and so happy with their brightly colored flowers! What an amazing transformation! I love redbud trees too. Wish I had one!!
DeleteI always love your pictures of Still Water Pond and the love birds. You also have a very pretty little church and those flowers are beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cathy. I am so glad you could visit. Yes, we love it here...the pond, our church and all the people. God has been so kind to us to bring us here. Have a great week and trip next week!!
DeleteAhhhhh! If I concentrate REALLY hard, I can almost hear your ducks and the geese calling to one another. Wow, you've a lot of ladies in your women's group. I think we have 12 -- on a good day.
ReplyDeleteWe were so excited to have 20 ladies there this week! That is the best we've had all year...well, except our December/Christmas gathering I think we had 24. And our little church only has about 45 people gathering on Sunday morning right now...and before Covid we had around 80 on average. So yes, to have that many women is amazing. They were SO happy to be together.
DeleteI loved your photos, Pamela! Just seeing the wildlife on Still Waters Pond makes me feel so peaceful, and reminds me of just how grand God's creation is. And I agree - even in this past difficult year, God has shown blessings. May He continue to do so!
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you!
Thank you, Martha. Yes, I love looking at the pond and the birds. It truly is peaceful, even though we can hear road noise on the highway beyond the trees, it is still so beautiful and relaxing to me. Beside the still waters...He restores my soul... amen...
DeleteIt is wonderful to see so many women gathered for fellowship. Looks like "normal" to me.
ReplyDeleteThe pond reflections with the water fowl is lovely.
Our ladies are quite happy to start acting "normal" again. It is time. Thank you for visiting. Wish you could be here too.
DeleteTruly we are so blessed. Each day has abundant blessings, which too often I fail to see.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree...we often don't recognize God's blessings until later when we have time to think about it. Then He opens our eyes and we say, "That was YOU, God, wasn't it?" And we feel the warmth of His love and blessing as we acknowledge His presence in our daily lives. God is so good to reach out to us in so many beautiful ways.
DeleteThat Great Blue Heron is so handsome! That is a great gathering of ladies! Together to worship our Lord! Blessings are all around us!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Terri! Yes, I love to see the Great Blue Heron show up. He is a magnificent specimen of God's creation here on Still Waters Pond. And yes, that gathering of ladies was such a joy. They were all SO happy to be together again. Many have been cooped up at home for way too long and they are ready to come back out and have some fellowship with one another and with the Lord. We are truly blessed to have gotten through this year. Thinking of you today and praying for you as you help Helen and Cheryl...and YOURSELF!! may God hear your prayers and take care of each situation exactly for the best for all concerned. I know He will. (((hugs)))
DeleteBeautiful...and I hope you get to feeling better. smiles
ReplyDeleteI am much better today, thank you. It was a little bug of some kind along with sinuses making me dizzy. But I am fine now. I hope you are doing good. It is warm and beautiful here...hope you can figure out how to move soon!!!
DeleteYou are so blessed with your Still Waters! I love seeing your photos. I know if I lived there I'd probably never get anything done because I'd always be watching nature. How great to see so many women gathered together! It makes my heart glad to hear of things beginning to return to normal bit by bit. I hope you are all better today!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Stacy. I just sat out on the porch for a while until it got too hot...yes, I said that...in March. But it was still beautiful and I love watching the birds all the time. I don't get much done...that is true. And yes, I am feeling much better, thank you. Just a bug. And yes, our ladies were SO happy to be together again. Everyone is so tired of being isolated. Please take care and God bless you and your family. Praying for all...
DeleteYour church photos are so beautiful with the blooms. I hope you have a chance to shar more spring flowers. I enjoyed seeing the visitors to your pond, also. How nice to have a good group to gather together. Is that Sheri, Rose’s sister I see joining your group. This is a very familiar hymn. Thanks for sharing, Mildred
ReplyDeleteI am sorry I didn't respond sooner...it's been kind of busy this week and I've gotten behind . I am so glad you stopped by. I have been thinking of you and wondering how your moving plans are going. praying all is well and that you have some help with the packing, etc. That is a BIG job to do by yourself, as I know your hubby is not well. Wish I were close enough to help. I've had PLENTY of experience! Yes, that is Sherrie. She enjoys participating in the women's groups at church. It has been really good for her, but she will be going back to MN soon, which is her home. Please keep her in your prayers as she will have a lot to figure out when she gets back. And yes, "To God Be the Glory, Great things He hath done!"
DeleteI love how you took the photos of the ladies' meeting first from one end of the long tables, then from the other. That is an idea I will use! Such beautiful photos of nature, too. I think you get ALOT done! Appreciating God's beauty is an important job!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Holly. I am a bit behind in responding...had a lot going on, but just got back to this one and saw these messages. Our ladies were so happy to be together again. Most have had their vaccinations and they are just so tired of being isolated. God has been very good to our little church family. We are very thankful. Thank you for visiting again. Always love to hear from you.
DeleteSuch beautiful photos. I get surprised when I see groups of people without masks. We have been shut down in California for so long. It will be a long time before I feel comfortable in a group like that. I love the church.
ReplyDeleteHello Debby! Thank you for visiting. Our ladies have been SO good all year, wearing their masks and staying home...and now most of them have had their vaccinations and they are ready to be out again and enjoying some fellowship with their dear friends. We have been very blessed here in our little church...everyone has stayed remarkably healthy. Florida has taken a much better approach to this virus than CA, and our numbers are about the same per capita, actually better. Fresh air, sunshine, and people being careful but not living in fear, has been a real positive thing. Businesses have been open for a long time, with appropriate precautions, schools are open but families have choices for online or in person learning, people are careful and respectful in shopping, church, etc. These ladies felt very comfortable being together and were so ready to enjoy this fellowship. We are very thankful to God for His protection and kindness.
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