Mother's Day 2022

Happy Mother's Day everyone! I know, it's almost over, but I've been busy enjoying it all day long and just now had time to sit down and tell you about it!

It started out this morning with beautiful skies over Still Waters Pond:

The sun rises on the other side of the house, so what we get on the west side in the morning is actually a reflection on the clouds from the east...

And this is what it looked like in the eastern sky:

Oh, by the way...that lot across the street has been seeing a lot of action lately. They are preparing the ground and measuring the boundaries and getting it ready for a new home to be delivered sometime in the near future.  So I guess we'll be getting some new neighbors soon. I am praying for them to be really "good neighbors".  And perhaps I need to pray that I will be a good neighbor too. Who knows who that might be and how our lives may somehow interact in the future?  We just never know...so it's a good idea to pray.

Speaking of neighbors...while I was out front looking at the sunrise, I didn't know I had company arrive on the back lawn by the pond...

I came around the house after having put out some fresh bird seed a few minutes before (now mind, you this is all before 7:00 a.m., just in case you are wondering), and here was Mr. Canada Goose standing there enjoying the bird seed on the ground.  He didn't even seem to mind that I suddenly showed up and started talking to him softly.  Then I noticed we weren't alone...there was another down by the shore heading our way...

It didn't take long for him or her to make his way up the bank to join his friend at the bird seed:

But that's not all!!! Here came another one!!!

All the while I am standing right there on the ground next to them, talking softly and taking pictures. They kind of chattered a bit back and forth, but didn't start honking or acting nervous at all. They seemed right at home with me and I have a feeling if I had put seeds in my hand they may have even come and eaten out of my hand...

but, being it was Mother's Day morning, and I had to get ready for church and the festivities beyond, I didn't want to risk having my hand crunched in the beak of a Canada Goose today. You just never know what they may decided to do, so I refrained from doing anything too crazy.  

I got to wondering...these three keep hanging around and come and go like they own the place. Could they possibly be the young goslings that were born here last spring? Click HERE for part of that story,  and HERE for the happier ending to the saga.  I mean, they could be those same three goslings all grown up.  We've had 5 geese here off and on all spring...which could be the parents and these three...but who knows?  God knows.  I like to think they are our own "babies" grown up and that's why they are so comfortable here.

 Gee, I kind of felt like "Mother Goose" on this Mother's Day morning...

Now, to skip over to later this afternoon, I was spending a little time in the Secret Memorial Garden.  And I saw this "critter" resting on the gate of the Secret Garden...

I guess he was "longing for a mind at rest and heart that cannot harden..."

And then just a few minutes ago as the sun is going down, I looked out the window and saw our pretty bob-tailed Cardinal stopping by for some supper...

The lighting was getting dim, so the picture isn't real good, but you can see this is the fella that is missing his tail feathers.  But it doesn't seem to stop him from getting around just fine.

You know what they say about Cardinals visiting...well, I kind of like the thought that he is a frequent visitor to remind me of someone special in heaven.  That's just fine with me...

Anyway, back to this morning.  We did get ready in time for Sunday School and church and had a really beautiful morning in God's house.  Our Sunday School class was kind of fun and interesting. We were each asked to think of a "mother" in the Bible and we each shared whichever one we could think of and their particular story. Of course as we worked our way around the table with each one sharing their choice person, if someone before you picked the one you were thinking of you would have to pick another. I was the last in line and had to change my choice several times by the time it got to me. But even so, there were still more Bible Mothers to list that we didn't cover. How many can YOU think of?

And then our Pastor had a great message about some mothers in the Bible, and he admitted that our class had "stolen some of his thunder" by already talking about some of the ones he had decided to preach about. (He also attends our S.S. Class), but even so he had a great message, and you can listen to it here if you want to.  But first you have to listen to our choir singing 

"This World is Not My Home I'm Just a Passing Through".

This world is not my home, I’m just a passing thru.

My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue

The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door

And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

Refrain:

O Lord, you know I have no friend like you, if heaven’s not my home, then Lord what will I do

The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door, and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

They’re all expecting me, and that’s one thing I know

My Savior pardoned me and now I onward go

I know He’ll take me thru though I am weak and poor

And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

O Lord, you know I have no friend like you, if heaven’s not my home, then Lord what will I do

The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door, and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

I have a loving mother up in glory land,

I don’t expect to stop until I shake her hand

She’s waiting now for me in heaven’s open door

And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

O Lord, you know I have no friend like you, if heaven’s not my home, then Lord what will I do

The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door, and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

Just up in glory land we’ll live eternally

The saints on every hand are shouting victory

Their song of sweetest praise drift back from heaven’s shore

And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

O Lord, you know I have no friend like you, if heaven’s not my home, then Lord what will I do

The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door, and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

I hope you enjoyed singing along with us!

Now on to what happened next!

Mother's Day Dinner!! Prepared by my kids!

We came home from church (and got comfortable) and put together what they had planned...

Fresh fruit salad, Tossed Salad, Corn on the Cob (fresh!), Deviled Eggs, and Grilled Chicken!

And brownies and ice cream for dessert.

And we invited our friend "Pamela" over to join us. She will be leaving soon to go back up north for the summer, and having no family here to celebrate Mother's Day with, she was happy to be adopted as an honorary mother for the day!

And so we two Pamela's enjoyed being treated to a delicious lunch!

I love this pretty arrangement of hyacinths (that are still getting ready to bloom) and other sweet little gifts and cards.  

All in all it was a delightful day

and I am blessed.

I know this doesn't look like much right now. It isn't really finished, but my gift to myself was these two lantana plants that will attract butterflies. I hope to get a few more of either these or other butterfly type plants and start a butterfly garden around the bird bath area. So this is a work in progress that I started this afternoon (after my nap).  

Okay, that's my day! I hope your day was filled with joy and blessing in one way or another. 

I realize Mother's Day isn't always perfect for everyone. But I hope no matter what your situation in regard to motherhood or honoring our mothers might be, I pray you know how much you are loved and valued by God Himself.  He loves you with an everlasting love and cherishes every thing about you. 

One of my most favorite Psalms is Psalm 139. It helps us to know just how well God knows us and how much He cares about us.

"1 O Lord, You have searched me and known me.

2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;

You understand my thought afar off.

3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,

And are acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word on my tongue,

But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

5 You have hedged me behind and before,

And laid Your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

It is high, I cannot attain it.

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?

8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning,

And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,

And Your right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”

Even the night shall be light about me;

12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,

But the night shines as the day;

The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

13 For You formed my inward parts;

You covered me in my mother’s womb.

14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

And in Your book they all were written,

The days fashioned for me,

When as yet there were none of them.

17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;

When I awake, I am still with You.

19 Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God!

Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.

20 For they speak against You wickedly;

Your enemies take Your name in vain.

21 Do I not hate them, O Lord, who hate You?

And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?

22 I hate them with perfect hatred;

I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;

24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting."

Have a wonderful week, my friend.

You are loved.