Thankful Thursday and Hymns of Praise

Happy Thursday!! My Goodness! Here it is the last day of June already! Seems like just yesterday we turned the calendar pages over to a new month! 

And just a month ago we were watching a bluebird couple nesting in the bluebird house...waiting for their eggs to hatch.  Now here we are a month later, and that couple and their child have left that nest and we have another bluebird couple nesting in the other bluebird house, waiting for the eggs to hatch!  Seems like we are running a regular bird baby nursery around here!  First it was the Sand Hill Crane family, who are now out exploring the world together with their grown up "Colt"... and then earlier in the spring there was another bluebird family in this house below, who came back a month or so later to raise another brood in the other house (or maybe it was a different family...I can't keep track anymore), and now this couple is back in this house...so this will be the third set of bluebird nests so far this year. 

I was concerned last evening that perhaps the hawks had scared the bluebirds away, because I didn't see them in or out of the house for quite a long time.  But this morning they are back to their usual activities...Mr. Bluebird stays busy chasing away any other birds from any near proximity to the nest.

This was making it difficult for the other birds to get any food from the birdfeeder...

Such as the Cardinal family, of which there are also quite a few right now.  I've counted at least six Cardinals of varying stages of growth flying in and out of the yard to get birdseed throughout the day.

Hello you beautiful Mr. Cardinal!

So we decided to move the birdfeeder (once again...we keep moving it to keep it away from the bluebird house), and we have been rewarded with a grateful Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal and their children coming to dine.

This reminded me of the little table grace I remember saying as a child...

"Thank You for the world so sweet,

Thank You for the food we eat,

Thank You for the birds that sing,

Thank You, God, for everything!"

Oh, and just to throw in a little more variety, this beautiful Great White Egret has been spending some time here on Still Waters Pond lately:

Perhaps she was waiting for the Sand Hill Cranes to leave so she could have the pond to herself! (Actually, there are two of them, but I can only get one picture at a time!)

So, yes, I am thankful for the variety of wildlife and beauty we see here on Still Waters Pond every day. There is always something out there to entertain us!  

I am also thankful that hubby and I are finally feeling much much better, although my sinus issues are acting more like an allergy now and still giving me some sneezing fits now and then...But this morning we felt well enough to go outside and rake up some branches and leaves from under our Live Oak Trees. (That's probably where the sneezing fits came from...)  Of course, we came back inside and collapsed for a while, but very thankful that our house is cool and comfortable when it is so very hot and humid outside.

I am thankful that our son came home on Saturday and gave us a full report of his new job and new life in the big city.  Everything seems to be going very well for him and he seems very happy.  That is a huge answer to prayer, and we do hope and pray the good times continue to happen for him.  God is good.

Our other kids are doing well and keeping very busy at their business in St. Augustine, "Dixie Cottage".  Right now they are having a big"4th of July" sale and it has helped stir up some much needed sales. Things were starting to get a little slow with the way the economy is and people being gone away on vacations, etc.  Plus with the cost of gas and the fact that they commute quite a distance every day, their expenses are mounting.  They are trying to make some big decisions as they look to the future and what it may portend.  Prayers are always welcome.  Anyone who owns a small business in today's economy can certainly relate.

Most of all, I am thankful for the fact that no matter what the economy or world situation may look like, we have an anchor that keeps us secure.  When you are fastened to the Rock, a.k.a. Jesus Christ, you know that you will be safe in any kind of storm...whether economic, weather, health, or any kind of difficult situation.  Perhaps you'd like to sing along with me on this old hymn, "We Have An Anchor".

We Have An Anchor

(Written by Priscilla Owens)

Refrain:

"We have an anchor that keeps the soul

steadfast and sure while the billows roll;

fastened to the Rock which cannot move,

grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love!"

1 Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,

when the clouds unfold their wings of strife?

When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,

will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

Refrain:

We have an anchor that keeps the soul

steadfast and sure while the billows roll;

fastened to the Rock which cannot move,

grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love!

2 Will your anchor hold in the straits of fear,

when the breakers roar and the reef is near?

While the surges rage, and the wild winds blow,

shall the angry waves then your bark o'erflow? [Refrain]

3 Will your anchor hold in the floods of death,

when the waters cold chill your latest breath?

On the rising tide you can never fail,

while your anchor holds within the veil. [Refrain]

4 Will your eyes behold through the morning light

the city of gold and the harbour bright?

Will you anchor safe by the heavenly shore,

when life's storms are past for evermore? [Refrain]

 I hope your anchor is grounded firm and deep in the Saviour's Love today.  Amen.