Friday Foto Friends

Good Friday Morning, everyone!  I hope this day finds you enjoying whatever beauty God has provided for you...whether it be outdoors in your garden, yard, or neighborhood, or inside your home where things are cozy and warm and comfortable. Wherever you may find yourself today, I pray it is a day filled with God's blessings and much joy.  It's there...if we look for it.  Turn off the TV, step away from the computer and the cell phones for a bit, and watch for the beauty around you.

The other afternoon I noticed this Gulf Fritillary butterfly flitting about the milkweed in the butterfly garden.  I'm so glad it happened to be there while I was outside and watching!  So often they come and go before we get a chance to see them and enjoy their delicate beauty!  I felt honored to be there at this moment!

I also felt thankful that the milkweed was still blooming and looking so healthy this fall, and that the butterfly garden continues to attract butterflies for us to appreciate!

This morning's sunrise!  Nice, huh? I was a little late getting up and putting the flag out, so I was thankful that I hadn't missed this morning's event!

While I was out front putting out the flag, I thought perhaps it would be a good time to take some pictures of the chrysanthemums that I just purchased this week. 

I figured it was about time as Halloween is next week and I hadn't even put out our scarecrow or bought a pumpkin! So there you go! This is the extent of our Halloween decorations. No spooks or hobgloblins here...just a friendly scarecrow to welcome the kiddos when they come trick or treating next week. I have purchased what I hope will be enough candy to take care of them this year. Last year we ran out and I had to turn off the light and shut the door while there were still kids coming. I felt bad about that. We enjoy seeing the children in their cute costumes. Our neighborhood seems to be one of the few neighborhoods in our community with paved streets and houses closer together where the children can come and safely do their trick or treating. One of the community churches also does a nice "Trunk or Treat" fall festival for the kiddos, so all in all it's still a fun and safe activity for our little town's children.

No, I'm not necessarily a fan of "Halloween" itself, especially the darker side which focuses so much on the occult, but the traditional fun of putting on costumes and going about with your parents to trick or treat is a happy memory for many children, and as long as it is kept that way, it is not a bad thing in itself.  We used to have harvest parties in our churches and bobbed for apples (yes, everyone sticking their faces in the same bucket of water to snatch an apple with their teeth...and no one drowned or died from it that I know of...), and played other fun games and the kids wore suitable costumes (nothing demonic or satanic), and we had a really good time.  Those are happy memories that I am thankful for.

So this morning after watching the sunrise I sat on the back porch with my cup of tea and journal in hand and "listened" for the sounds of nature waking up and giving their praises to the Creator God.

There were many birds coming and going...

This female Cardinal sat there at the log cabin bird feeder for a long time, enjoying her breakfast and watching the activity in the yard.  At one point an armadillo scurried across the lawn, too quick for me to get a picture. I think he was out partying all night and was in a hurry to get home before his family woke up and wondered where he'd been. LOL. I never saw an armadillo run so fast before!

I was trying to take a picture of this dove sitting on the branch by itself, and my intentions were to name it "Lonesome Dove". But just as I snapped the picture, Mr. Blue Jay flew in photo bombed it! LOL.

Then he proceeded to fly down to the bird bath for a little drink and visit with "Bobby the Squirrel".

Mr. Cardinal flew in to say good morning as well.

If you look at this picture closely, you can see autumn leaves on that maple tree in the background.

So it's been a mostly uneventful week, although we've had several doctor appointments, lab work, etc. Benton and Rose brought over a spaghetti supper Wednesday night! Rose cooked the spaghetti and garlic toast and I made a salad. It's always a blessing to have them come over.  We didn't know it, but apparently it was World Pasta Day, (October 25), although I see that National Pasta Day was on October 17th.  Anyway, we did our part to celebrate even though we didn't even know we were supposed to. LOL.  

We have been so saddened and appalled by the horrific mass shooting that took place in Maine this week. When I saw that on the news my heart jumped into my throat because we have family in Maine. Thankfully this was further north from where our family lives, but still it was too close to home.  Our prayers go out to all those affected by this terrible crime. Praying they can find the perpetrator soon and bring him to justice...but that will never make up for all the lives lost and the heart ache and grief for their whole community and state. 

We also continue to pray for the terrible war in Israel and Palestine. It's a much bigger picture than we can even begin to understand...but for those of us who believe God's Word, the Bible, we know that God is in control and we will continue to pray for the salvation of Israel and all of God's chosen people.

As I was closing out the day with prayer last night, this song came into my mind and I laid on my bed singing it in worship and praise to our Savior:

"Jesus, name above all names
Beautiful Saviour, Glorious Lord
Emmanuel, God is with us
Blessed Redeemer, Living Word
Jesus, name above all names
Beautiful Saviour, Glorious Lord
Emmanuel, God is with us
Blessed Redeemer, Living Word"

There is something about praying the Name of Jesus that brings great peace and comfort to my soul.  There is peace, power and healing and strength in His holy name. That is my prayer for you and our world today...peace, power, healing, and strength in Jesus' Name.  Amen.