Friday Foto Friends~Such a lovely day...

 Here it is, a beautiful Friday afternoon in warm and sunny north central Florida...currently 82 degrees F, with only 32% humidity currently, and a nice breeze blowing in the air.  I should be outside enjoying this day.  

A perfect day to go digging for treasures along the beach...(or shores of Still Waters Pond)

Like Mother like son...looking for the good stuff in the mucky shoreline of the pond...

Soaking up the sunshine...

Learning how to stand alert and listen to the sounds of nature all around...

Or better yet, sprawl out in the shade on the porch and take a nice long afternoon nap...

"Sunshine" is avoiding the sunshine right now! LOL.

Some kitties take relaxation to a different level, laying up on the cool glass table, camoulfaged by a few houseplants...resting up for the big day that must be coming soon...yes, that's Blackie Sue, and I have a feeling the full moon this weekend just might be the time she decides to deliver her babies.  I can tell she's starting to get uncomfortable by the way she waddles when she walks...but it doesn't seem to stop her from being able to get up on top of tables or anywhere else she feels safe and comfortable. Hey, give a pregnant girl a break, right? She may have multiple babies in there fighting it out for the best space.  If she wants to sleep on top of a glass table in the shade on the back porch on a warm day, then let her do it! I've always been of the opinion that whatever a pregnant lady wants, she should have it!

Or we humans could take a ride and a walk at a lovely park while the morning was still cool enough for a sweater...

Oh, Good Morning Hubby!

Good Morning Pam!

Good Morning huge old oak tree!

Good Morning beautiful Cypress and oaks and maple and beech trees along the canal/boat ramp:

Well, Good Morning Mr. Buzzard! What have you found there?  Looks like a dead fish floating on the water...

Looks like you are going to have some competition for that feast...

"It's MINE!  I found it first! It's all mine!! Don't you come near this fish!!"

"Aw, come on.  Can't you share a little bit with me?"

"Oops!  Looks like we have more company! I guess we'll have to divy it up between us!"

We left after the third vulture showed up. No telling how many more would discover this tasty meal before too long.  I hope they shared and all got a good taste of it.  

Here's a few words of wisdom found in the last few days of this little devotional calendar...maybe the buzzards should pay attention!

Or, maybe WE should pay attention...

I know there are times that I am guilty of this..."dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon...instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today."...

That's one of the reasons I started writing this blog, "Closed Doors, Open Windows."   Too often we get caught up staring at that "closed door" in front of our faces, and we fail to see the "Open Window" of opportunity or beauty that is right there before our eyes.  We get blindsided by disappointments or sorrows or fear, and we find it hard to believe that God could have anything better waiting for us if we would just place our trust in Him.

Hebrews 12:1-2 reminds us that we are not alone in this "race" of life...there are many who have gone on before us who are also cheering us on as we keep running and climbing, and Jesus Himself is our greatest encourager and example...even though He was persecuted and sentenced to the most horrible death of crucifixion on the cross...He kept moving toward that cross in agony and shame, because He knew it would mean salvation and freedom for us:

"1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

We can overcome any obstacle in our way when we put our faith and trust in Him...and then we can relax and enjoy the journey...smell the roses along the way...listen to the sounds of the music of God's creation all around us...take joy in the moment and keep moving forward...we are not alone...and our destination is "out of this world".

I hope you are enjoying this Friday afternoon!

Be blessed my friends. God is with us!