Friday Foto Friends-Worth Waiting For! -Updated!!

Happy Friday Friends!!  If you visited with me HERE yesterday, you will know that our Bluebirds are back, checking out the birdhouses and trying to determine which one they will set up housekeeping in for this 2nd round of raising a new little family.  I said yesterday that I didn't know if I would have any new pictures for today or not, but that we would just have to wait and see what develops. 

Well, here's what developed later that afternoon...

I noticed that there was a flurry of activity out there around the birdhouses and trees late in the afternoon. It appeared to be several more bluebirds flying around, and I thought there was going to be a bidding war over the two different birdhouses again to see who gets which one.  But then I looked and saw this one bird just sitting on top of the birdhouse watching all the excitement:

On closer look, I discovered that this little bird is actually one of the fledgling bluebirds from their previous clutch of babies that flew the nest!  Well, maybe this one hasn't really and truly "left the nest" for good just yet...maybe he's still a little a unsure of himself and wants to hang around with Mom and Dad a little longer...

Isn't h e beautiful?  But my question is...when Mom and Dad Bluebird set up housekeeping and nesting for a new brood of babies, where does this little fella go?  Maybe he's a little awkward and shy and not quite ready to be out on his own...I don't know, but there really isn't room in the birdhouse for an extra big baby bird. I hope they have a "Plan B" for Junior here...It will be interesting to see if he continues to hang around once the serious nesting begins.  Stay tuned...

Meanwhile, if you've paid attention, you will remember that I mentioned HERE the other day that Lily Grace and I were going to establish a butterfly garden. I've been putting it off for one reason or another every day, but she just kept pleading with me to please let her help me plant this garden. I know, we haven't written any special "Adventures of Lily Grace" lately. I've been rather lax in that department, trying to keep up with my own posts, but Lily is a rather persistent little gal.  However, I told her that this was going to be a joint venture and that she would have to be willing to let me share it with my readers at this time.  She's fine with that, just so we get it done once and for all!! 

Ha Ha! Sometimes it helps to have a little extra prodding to get things done...

So today we went to the local flea market, and lately this lady has been bringing lots of lovely potted plants for butterfly gardens, and so I decided to spend a little of my private stash of "fun money"...(trust me, there isn't much of it, but it's my own little hidey hole of cash squirreled away for things that I want to do. Like buy flowers and fun stuff like that)

Somehow I managed to get hubby involved in this project...

Lily Grace supervised from the sidelines while we did the digging and raking...

(another update: I just noticed that Lily has a little friend over there by her right leg/boot.  (left side as we are looking at it) Do you see him? Lily didn't even notice I guess! That's pretty funny!)

And then once we got the flowers in place, she came and helped make sure they were straight and that they were in the right places...

Then she reminded me that we had to put the little stones in the garden:

You remember, the ones that say, Peace, Hope, Believe...and also the big one that says

"Sunshine, Friends, and Laughter...are always welcome"

I know the flowers look a little wilted right now. They need to adjust after being transplanted from the pots.  And yes, we need to clean the birdbath and Bobby the Squirrel could use a good scrubbing.

One thing at a time! At least the flowers are planted and now they can start to grow and attract butterflies!

I think Mr. Bluebird approves...

Oh, meanwhile, back in the Secret Memorial Garden, the Easter Lilies are finally starting to bloom!

And so are the Rose of Sharon flowers!

Don't worry, we won't be ignoring this garden for the other garden...it will always be a very very special place, where we can sit and pray and meditate on God's Word, and just enjoy the beauty of God's lovely creation all around us. A place of peace and comfort.

And so, that's the photos that were worth waiting for today!

I hope you enjoyed this visit to our gardens and life here at Still Waters Pond.

Here are some thoughts on waiting for today from 

Psalm 25:1-5, 20-21

1 "To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

2 O my God, I trust in You;

Let me not be ashamed;

Let not my enemies triumph over me.

3 Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed;

Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.

4 Show me Your ways, O Lord;

Teach me Your paths.

5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me,

For You are the God of my salvation;

On You I wait all the day."

20 "Keep my soul, and deliver me;

Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.

21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,

For I wait for You."

I know I have a difficult time waiting for things to happen.  I'm sure I'm not alone in this. We tend to want things done now, in our time, our way, without delay!  But the older I get the more I realize that God's timing is always always perfect.   If there is a delay, there is always a good reason for it. If things don't happen exactly the way I planned or thought they should go, there's usually a very good reason for that as well.   God reminds us in Isaiah 55:8-9 the following:

“8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.

9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts".

I know I am a lot happier when I put my trust in God and allow Him to take control of my plans. They always turn out much better than I could ever have dreamed when I leave the details up to Him.  That doesn't mean that we shouldn't ever plan anything or try to stay on a schedule...it just means that when our will is yielded to God's will, life usually runs much smoother and things turn out even better than our own plans could have imagined. It's all about learning to TRUST in the ONE who loves us more than anyone ever could on this earth. It's not always easy to do this...but the more we "let go and let God", the easier it becomes to trust Him in all things.  Not sure who I'm speaking to here, but this is what I felt led to say today.  

Yes, some things are definitely worth waiting for!

Have a blessed weekend my friends!

HOLD THE PRESS!

UPDATE!!

No sooner did I hit publish on this post and I looked outside and saw THIS in my newly planted butterfly garden!!!!!  Those are the biggest butterflies I've ever seen!!! They were pecking away at the loose wildflower seeds that we added to the garden just to see if they would grow...hmmm...they can't grow if the cranes eat them all!!!

I think they heard me yell, "Oh NO!!" and off they went...

We shall see what develops...

What was I saying about my plans and God's plans and trust, and all that?

Yeah, well, that's all still true...and I am sure this garden will still be just fine.

Maybe not exactly what I planned,, but it will be just fine.

LOL.