Friday Foto Friends~Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day! Happy 4th of July! Whatever you may call it, let's celebrate our freedom and independence from tyranny! 

 And let us pray that our country never slips back into allowing another foreign power to reign and rule over us. But we must be vigilant and strong, because our enemies are watching and licking their chops as they see the weakness in our leaders and the breaks in our walls of defense allowing evil forces to sneak in and infiltrate our ranks. We must stand united and strong against the trickery of sleek politicians who disguise themselves as sheep when they are in reality wolves, just waiting and watching for their opportunity to take off their masks and reveal their real purpose of destruction and control over all that we hold dear.

Sorry to sound so negative and bleak on this beautiful Friday morning before the holiday weekend, but I feel very strongly that we need to heed this warning and we cannot let our guard down.

I Peter 5:8

 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, 

seeking whom he may devour."

Matthew 24:43

"But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into."

Now on to more pleasant thoughts this lovely Friday morning and to lighten things up a bit!

Look at this gorgeous "Crinum Stars and Stripes" lily that is finally blooming in my yard, just in time for the 4th of July!

Sadly, the rains have knocked the bloom stem down and I had to hold it up so you could see how pretty it is.  My sister Doris had given me a couple of these bulbs not long after we moved to this house, and I let them sit for a long time before planting them in the ground.  So I wasn't sure if it would even live, let alone ever blossom.  I was amazed to see it finally send up that long stem and develop these lovely red and white striped lilies right now at this perfect time!

Here is the 2nd bulb/plant, that looked totally dead when I planted it, and for a long time I didn't think anything would develop at all. But now even it has some green leaves and it looks like it is starting to develop a possible stem in the middle. So we shall see what happens! This would definitely be an example of the resurrection from the dead!  God is so good! He knows what we need to brighten our days!

Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to express kind words and prayers for my neck situation.  I am so thankful for all of you, and you have encouraged my heart!  Here's the good news:  I do have an appointment scheduled next Thursday, July 8th, at the University of Florida Shands Neurosurgery Department! That was a huge answer to prayer! So I have cancelled the other appointment that wasn't going to be until September 1st!   This appointment is scheduled with a doctor of anesthesiology in the neurosurgery department of pain management. Here's my prayer and concern: I don't want to just be put on drugs to control this issue in my neck, but on the other hand, I don't necessarily want surgery, which can be very risky as well as no guarantees that it will fix the problem of pain. I know I can't stay on this medicine I am currently on, which is helping with the spasms and pain, but it is a muscle and nerve relaxer and I can feel weakness developing in my limbs and body muscles.  And I just feel so blah.  So, my prayer request is that they can help me without the cure being worse than the problem. Does that make sense?  I know God knows what I mean, and I am trusting Him to handle me with love and care.  Thank you for your continued prayers.

Okay, when am I going to get to the "more pleasant thoughts" you ask?  LOL.  

Yesterday my hubby had some lab work early in the morning, and then, as is our custom after such tests, we went to the CP Deli for breakfast. While we dined I enjoyed taking a few pictures of the pictures on the wall next to us:

I don't know who the artist is, but these are drawings, and very good!

Sorry, this menu picture is kind of blurry. It was actually an accidental snap of the camera!

My cup of tea and hubby's coffee. I don't know why I forgot to take a picture of my french toast, scrambled eggs and bacon! That would have been a wonderful picture on this fine Friday morning when we haven't eaten anything yet!

And to finish up this post on a funny note, here's some bathroom humor from the ladies' room. I just couldn't resist taking these pictures:

And meaning no disrespect to Jesus...yes He IS everywhere...but He's much greater than all those germs! But still, wash your hands and say your prayers!!!

Have a blessed and wonderful weekend!!