Friday Fotos After All from Lake Swan Camp

 After last night's post, I wasn't sure if I'd have anything new to share with you today...but it was such a beautiful day we decided to take a little ride this morning and get out and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.

We rode up to one of our favorite places to visit, Lake Swan Camp.  I've shared stories from there before, as we have a history with this place that goes way back to our children's first summer camp experience, and you can read about that and other visits again if you wish at the links down below the pictures at the end of this post.

As you can see, it was a glorious day...look at that lake...and that sky! Wow! Absolutely stunning and perfect! The temperature was about 65 degrees, with the sun shining and low humidity...the days we wish would last all spring and summer long!

And then I noticed this...the Cross...oh yes! The Cross...this is what makes Lake Swan Camp such a special place...so many lives changed here at this camp...children,  youth, and adults too...even our own kids when they were there so many years ago...

Oh look at this Cormorant sitting on the raft...

He was enjoying this perfect morning also!

He decided to jump in the lake for a swim...

These birds will dive down under the water and come up some where else. They also love to sit in the sun and spread out their wings to dry in the sunshine. 

But today he just wanted to swim!

It was a perfect day for it! Glad we got to see him!

It was just beautiful all the way around!

Oh, lookie what I found!

Who remembers this poem? 

The Swing

By Robert Louis Stevenson

How do you like to go up in a swing,

Up in the air so blue?

Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing

Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,

Till I can see so wide,

Rivers and trees and cattle and all

Over the countryside—

Till I look down on the garden green,

Down on the roof so brown—

Up in the air I go flying again,

Up in the air and down!

Source: A Child's Garden of Verses 

It was a little low to the ground and tended to go cockeyed, but other than that, it was perfect!

Doesn't  take much to make me happy! LOL.

This also makes me happy:

Now that's what I call a beautiful sight!

Next we walked over to the fire pit/devotional area...a place where I'm sure testimonies are shared around the campfire...Oh, how I'd love to be there when that's happening...I can just sense the Presence of the Lord in this place...

Such a beautiful, prayerful setting...

I kind of wandered off into the woods by myself while hubby went to check out the "facilities"...

Found this lovely clearing with some more benches...and I can just imagine sitting there to pray and meditate on God's Word...just me and God in His woods...I really could have stayed here all day and have been perfectly happy...

Oh, look at those beautiful azaleas blooming off in the distance,  so of course I had to go check them out:

Oh my, aren't they gorgeous? Right out here blooming in the woods for the glory of God!

Really perfect!

Then I made my way back to the cross...really, life begins at the cross...and it ends at the cross...in a sense.  While I was writing this post I was listening to our Easter Cantata so I can get more familiar with it. And one of the songs in the cantata is "It Is Finished"...an arrangement of the original song by Bill and Gloria Gaither.  (Actually, that's the title of the whole cantata, come to think of it!)  When I came back to this picture at the end of the post, that song was playing..."It is Finished..."   and even though that may seem "coincidental", it really isn't.  

As I said in the beginning, the cross is the place where lives have been changed, people have been saved...where God tells His children, "It is finished! The Battle is over! It is finished! There'll be no more war...It is finished, the end of the conflict;

It is finished and Jesus is Lord"

It Is Finished

The Gaither Vocal Band

"There's a line that is drawn through the ages

On that line stands an old rugged cross

On that cross, a battle is raging

Or the gain a man's soul or it's loss

On one side, march the forces of evil

All the demons, and all the devils of hell

On the other, the angels of glory

And they meet on Golgotha's hill

The earth shakes with the force of the conflict

And the sun refuses to shine

There hangs God's son, in the balance

And then through the darkness he cries:

"It is finished, the battle is over

It is finished, there'll be no more war

It is finished, the end of the conflict

It is finished and Jesus is Lord"

Yet in my heart, the battle was raging

Not all prisoners of war had come home

These were battlefields of my own making

I didn't know that the war had been won.

Then I heard the king of the ages

Had fought all the battles for me

And that victory was mine for the claiming

And now praise his name, I am free!

It is finished, the battle is over

It is finished, there'll be no more war

It is finished, the end of the conflict

It is finished and, Jesus is Lord"

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Gloria Gaither / William J. Gaither

It Is Finished lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing

Link to previous visit to Lake Swan Camp

Another Link telling more of our history at this camp

Final thought...Is it finished for you?  Is the battle really over?  Is Jesus your Lord?   There's no time like the present to accept the free gift that Jesus is offering you...let Him fight your battles for you, and let Him be Lord, both now and forever. Amen.

Matthew 11:28-30

"28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: 

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Thursday Thankfulness and Friday Foto Friends

 This will be the Friday Foto Friends post unless tomorrow brings us more photos to share! But for today, I will share what I have and also share some thankfulness with you along the way.

Today was a special day! My cousin Becky and her hubby Pat came to visit us all the way from Ohio, although they came by way of Punta Gorda, Florida, where they had been vacationing for a little while with family. They were actually on their way back home to Ohio, but still have some other stops to make on the way home to see their son and his family and be with some of their grandchildren for a few days.  So we were happy to be on the way to where they are going next!  

Since  they were just passing through, we decided to go out to lunch at one of our favorite places, "Corky Bells on the St. John's River".  

Becky is the cousin that I grew up with. We lived about 10 miles apart and were together for all family holidays, birthdays, and also to play with our Barbie Dolls, Monopoly, other games, and any other mischief that we could think up when we got together. We also used to put on a Thanksgiving play every year to entertain the folks, complete with pilgrims and singing Thanksgiving hymns, and taking up a collection! LOL.  We were very creative when we got together.

I felt honored and blessed that they managed to pass by our way on their way back home. It's always good to get together with family and remember the good old days.

Becky and Pat

Hubby and me:

As you can tell, it was a bright and sunny and warm day! Spring has sprung here in our neck of the woods! It was truly a beautiful day and we are very thankful to have had this time together.

Those clouds actually had a good bit of smoke in them. I figured there was a controlled burn going on over in the forest area, and I found out later that I was right.

Thankfully the breeze was blowing it away from us  and we weren't adversely affected by any smoke, since we sat outside to eat our dinner on the deck.  

Switching gears a bit...earlier this morning before our company arrived, hubby and I went for an early morning walk.  As we were passing by this old dead tree trunk, I suddenly realized that there was a monster on the loose!  Do you see his eye and legs?

Well, how about his smiley face???

I had noticed this particular tree trunk once before, but never got around to sharing it with you until I saw his "personality" shining through today. LOL.

I was mostly struck by the interesting texture and twisting of his trunk...Very unique, don't you agree?

Ach! Here's another one!  A very large walking stick with many extra legs! LOL.

You just never know what you will find out in the woods! Always be prepared with a good camera, and bring a good imagination with you to enjoy it to the fullest.

Back home at Still Waters Pond the Blue Bird couple were in deep conversation and consideration of the matter of building a nest in this house.  I think they may actually be starting to move in some furniture and are getting ready to set up housekeeping...

I saw them both going in and out of the house several times, although I didn't get a picture, but it looks like they are getting more serious about this nesting business.

Perhaps Mrs.Bluebird must've left to go get some more nesting materials and left Mr. Bluebird to guard the house.

I did see him chase away a Chickadee, so that tells me that things are getting more serious.

This is a Sparrow in the tree.  Sparrows aren't exactly the most beautiful of all the birds, but they are the ones that Jesus talked about in the Bible, so they must be pretty special, therefore I thought we should give this one some love and take his picture! He is rather handsome, don't you think?

Here are some words of wisdom from God's Word, The Bible, about Sparrows and the Birds and whether or not we should fear or worry in life...

Matthew 10:29-31

"29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? 

And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 

30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 

31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."

Matthew 6:25-27

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. 

Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 

27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

Matthew 6:31-34

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 

32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

I am very thankful for these messages to us from Jesus. They bring great comfort in times of turmoil and conflict.  They are certainly worth remembering and storing away in our hearts so we will be able to recall them in the days of trouble.

I guess that's all for tonight. Perhaps tomorrow will bring something else to share, so let's just wait and see what develops.  

Until then, please enjoy this little bouquet of wildflowers that I picked for you today!  

They came directly from God's Garden, which takes me right back up to those Scripture passages I was sharing earlier...I've kind of mixed them up and haven't shared them exactly in order, so here's a section that was left out above:

Matthew 6:28-30

28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Some wonderful food for thought as we head to bed for the night.  

Good night everyone! May the Lord bless you with His peace and comfort. Amen.

Wednesday Treasures From Still Waters Pond and Beyond...

 Just a little bit of this and that and some floral beauty while it lasts...

The other day I went to the Ladies' Bible Study, which is held at our church parsonage.  The parsonage is currently not being used by our Pastor as he and his wife already have their own home. So our women's groups from the church use it for Bible Studies and other small group gatherings.  

When I arrived I couldn't help but notice these beautiful camellias blooming in the garden. They needed to be noticed and appreciated before they totally drop to the ground.  Some of these are already getting pretty wilted, but they still have a rich beauty even as they begin to fade.

There were still some buds waiting to open as well...still holding their fresh loveliness tightly until it is their time to blossom...

I'm so glad I took a few minutes to capture their beauty.  It would be a shame for them to die before ever being noticed...

However, they are doing exactly what they were designed to do...they are "blooming where they are planted"...

This made me think of an old southern gospel song "Where the Roses Never Fade"    You may want to sing along...

Where the Roses Never Fade

I am going to a city,
Where the streets with gold are laid;
Where the tree of life is blooming
And the roses never fade.

Here they bloom but for a season
Soon their beauty is decayed.
I am going to a city,
Where the roses never fade.

In this world we have our troubles,
Satan snares we must evade.
We'll be free from all temptations;
Where the roses never fade.

Loved ones gone to be with Jesus,
In their robes of white arrayed;
Now are waiting for my coming,
Where the roses never fade.

Here they bloom but for a season
Soon their beauty is decayed.
I am going to a city,
Where the roses never fade.

I hope you enjoyed that old song and the beautiful flowers blooming here for a season.  I know that I am truly looking forward to the day that I will be going to that city, "where the roses never fade".  

Which reminds me, I wanted to thank you all for your kind words on my last post here...  Yesterday (February 25th) was a difficult day for me in some ways, but writing about our son and sharing him with you and you responding with love and kindness really helped.  Thank you for being such special friends.  

One thing I did yesterday was take a little walk down my little path through the woods to Still Waters Pond so I could go check on the Sand Hill Crane nest.  As I walked down that little path, I couldn't help but notice the carpet of little yellow flowers strewn all along the pathway...

 It was almost like they were spreading out their golden beauty just for me to enjoy...

This sweet and simple little gift did not go unnoticed by me. I whispered a "thank you" to Jesus...

It's the simple little things that sometimes mean the most when we are paying attention to the ways God wants to bless us...

The trees above me were loaded with these lovely little Carolina Jessamine flowers, spreading a canopy of joy and beauty to shelter me as I walked through the woods...so wonderful...

Finally I made my way around the pond and just had to take a moment to breathe in the beauty of this spot as well...

That's what I call Goose Island, but there was no sign of the geese today...

But when I made it around to where I could see...there she was...Mrs. Crane, sitting there so pretty on her nest...enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sunshine...

Hello!  I think she noticed that I was there...but she still wouldn't stand up to show me how many eggs she was sitting upon...

Ahhh! But who's that?  Standing not too far away from her was her faithful mate of many years

He was preening himself while keeping a watchful eye on his lovely mate sitting on the nest...

I was actually a ways away, standing behind some bushes and trees along the shore of the pond where they couldn't really see me (but I think they knew I was there).

Mr. Crane stays very attentive to any possible intruders who may come calling, and he's always ready to send them away with a big swoosh of his powerful wings and a loud cry...

But all was peaceful today...and I guess I was just too early for the "changing of the guard" on the nest, so reluctantly I decided to head back home.

Apparently they were waiting for me to leave to make the big switch on the nest because it wasn't long before I saw Mrs. Crane back around by our house looking for birdseed, and so I gave her some to help her find something to eat quickly so she could get back to the nest again.  

Here's some words of wisdom for today:

Psalm 32:7-8

"7 You are my hiding place;

You shall preserve me from trouble;

You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will guide you with My eye."

I hope you enjoyed these "treasures" for this Wednesday.