Friday Foto Friends-A Painted Bunting!

Hello Friday Foto Friends! Sorry I am a bit late to the "party" today, but I kind of had a slow start to my morning, and really didn't have any pictures worth sharing with you.  I was bemoaning that fact and trying to come up with something worth writing about, when out of the corner of my eye I saw a flash of something very bright and colorful pass by our window...

I grabbed the camera and might have said a bad word because the batteries were dead and I was still charging them, but grabbed them off of the charger and put them back in the camera, hoping they had enough juice in them to capture some pictures before it was too late.  I was so afraid the bird that I saw fly by would have disappeared entirely, but you can imagine my joy and elation when I spied him on the ground beside the back deck!

Yes, it was the magnificent, rarely seen in these parts,  male Painted Bunting!

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Painted_Bunting/overview

He flew up into the tree and perched there a while, and even though it wasn't the best shot, I could still get a couple of pictures of him.

Then he flew to the top of the birdhouse and sat there and posed for me for a minute or two before taking off into another tree and then who knows where from there...

But at least I was able to capture these few pictures before he left.  

I've been watching for him to return, but he may have gone on to bless some other person's life with his beauty for today!

So even if my encounter with him was brief, it was beautiful, and I am very thankful to the Lord for allowing me to see such a beauty on this day,  when I'd all but given up hope of having anything worth looking at!  Isn't God good to even send these little blessings for us, to brighten our days and bring a smile to our faces?  Aren't we truly blessed to know that He cares for us, even in the small stuff, so you can imagine how much He cares for us in the big stuff, can't you?

These were the only other photos that I had to share this week...

I love it when the purple wildflowers start to bloom in August and September...that's a sign that summer is coming to an end and soon fall will be working its way to us...

Of course, here in Florida it takes a while to find us, but at least I know it's coming when I see the purple wildflowers...

And this sweet tiny little blue moth/butterfly, who seems very attracted to whatever was on this dead leaf.  I was glad he stood still long enough for me to get a picture. I was just sorry I only had my phone camera and not my good camera to get a better close up. Oh well, maybe next time!

I think he is a Summer Azure butterfly, or a member of that family anyway. Really really sweet.

Hard to believe we've already gotten through the first week of August!

August has always been a busy month for us...

Lots of birthdays happen this month in our family...

My brother in law Billy, my Dad (another "Billy") would be 103, our first born son, who will turn 50 this month!!, (and actually his first name is also Bill, but he goes by his middle name), my niece Debbie, and our nephew Nicholaus, oh, another niece Leslie...am I missing anyone? 

Then there are anniversaries...our middle son Matthew was married to his wife Nicole 28 years ago on August 7th.  I find that really hard to believe. Sadly, Matthew has been celebrating their anniversaries in heaven for the past seven years...that is even harder to believe. 

And then our own anniversary will be on August 16th...52 years!! I guess that is the hardest to believe! Where have all the years gone?  Oh, and then my brother in law and sister in law will also celebrate their anniversary on the 29th.  It will be their 23rd, I think.

I think that is all of the celebrations for August. 

I think that's enough, don't you? Oops, I left one out...my niece Debbie and her hubby Darrell are celebrating their 16th anniversary TODAY! How could I forget that one?  Happy Anniversary to them!!

Well, I'd better get this posted before the day is done.

Here's some good news:

The years come and go, anniversaries, birthdays, and ordinary days...but the good news is,

Jesus never changes! He is always faithful, always there for us, always looking out for our very best interests no matter what.  We can rely on Him through good times and bad, happy times and sad times...He will always be there for us, and one day He will gently lead us home to be with Him forever.

Amen.

Have a blessed weekend, my friends!