Friday Foto Friends~Winter in Florida!

"Season's Greetings from Still Waters Pond"

Some special friends have flown in for a visit:

Oh wait! I think The Canada Geese brought some other folks with them from way up north...the Ring Necked Ducks have arrived for the winter:

At first I thought there was just a couple of females and one male

But then the next day there appeared to be a crowd...

They must be multiplying already! LOL!

I could watch these little ducks all day. They just swim around and round in a circle and then when they are ready they dive down in the water and find food to eat and then pop back up again...kind of like they are playing a game:

It's so much fun to see what winter visitors, or "Snow Birds" we will have come back each year.

I wanted to thank you all for your kind words and prayers for my hubby and me this week as we were a little under the weather.  We both ended up going to the Doctor earlier in the week, and he gave my hubby a big old shot in the "gluteus maximus", along with some pills to take. Gave me some too, to help ward off whatever was trying to catch me. It seemed to work and thankfully we are both feeling much much better now. We are now pretty much back on schedule for all things Christmas...finished up our shopping and got most of the wrapping done today. Tomorrow we will make sure it's all done and maybe think about doing a little baking. However, I am hoping our son Scott will come prepared to do his annual cookie baking when he comes on Sunday. He's the best cookie baker in the family and loves to do it as a gift for the family. But we shall see what he is able to do. He's been working practically 7 days a week and he may just want to "crash" when he gets here. Either way, we are thankful to be ready for Christmas as much as possible.  Sunday will be a busy day, with Sunday School and church in the morning, including the performance of our choir's Christmas Cantata, "The Christmas Story", and then we will go back in the evening for a candlelight Christmas Eve service. I love that this will set the tone for experiencing the true meaning of Christmas, the celebration of the birth of our Savior!

These nativities are in the foyer of our church.

Because we had been feeling kind of cooped up all week we decided to take a little ride down to the Kenwood Boat Ramp again, to see how it looks now in "winter", as opposed to the way it looked a few weeks ago in "autumn".  This will help people who are not from here in Florida to see that yes, we do have a change in seasons...maybe not as pronounced as it is up north, but changes do take place, none the less.

Now:

Then:

Now:

Then:

Now...you can really see the tannins in the water from the decaying of the cypress trees in winter, plus also after that big rain storm we had last week...

Then:

Now:

Then:

Now:

I think there is a certain kind of beauty in every season, don't you? Kind of like life...many of us are perhaps entering the winter season of our lives...maybe some are still in the autumn or summer...I don't think there are too many of us still in the spring of our lives...when we were probably most productive, raising our babies or starting our careers, new beginnings...but regardless of what season of life we are currently living, as long as we have breath...we need to make the most of it...enjoy whatever God has given us to the fullest.  Perhaps all some can do is sit in a chair or maybe even a bed, and read or write...but if that is what we can do...we can share our thoughts with each other and encourage one another in our journey of life. We can pray for one another and help lift up the weary.

Hebrews 10:24-25 says it best:

"24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."

As we approach the end of another year, we aren't too sure what may lie ahead for each of us.  But one thing we can do is look for ways to encourage one another and try to do our very best to be a friend to others who may need a friend.  If you are looking for a gift to give here at Christmas time...perhaps that is the best present of all...your "presence", in whatever way that is possible for you.  I appreciate each and every one of you and your gifts of thoughtfulness and kindness and words of wisdom and yes, even your gifts of laughter and funny memes to make us laugh and smile on what might be a dreary day. You are each one unique and special. Thank you for using your gifts here in blogland. You are a blessing to us!

If I don't get back again before Christmas,

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!!