Three Quarters of a Century!

 Wow! Today marks the day that I turned 3/4 of century old! I still can't believe that it could be possible that I've actually lived that long! They say time sure flies when you're having fun! Well, I can't truly say that all these years have always been that much "fun", but they have been certainly blessed.

(some of my birthday gifts!)

So  many lovely cards! 

And Yes! "There is always something to be thankful for!"

To finish up my birthday celebration today, we traveled an hour + to meet my hubby's brother Billy and wife Peggy and their son Nicholaus for lunch.

We arrived a little early, and parked under this beautiful old oak tree so our car would be in the shade. 

I had said on the way over as we drove through the Ocala National Forest that I hoped I would see a bear...Well, I did, but not exactly the kind I was looking for, but this one is much kinder and gentler...

He even let me stand next to him and "pet him".   Such a nice bear.

Anyway, that's how we "killed time" until our family arrived, and here we are actually after we were finished eating and ready to go back home:

Here's the "Steiner Bros"...

And our nephew Nicholaus finally gave me a wonderful smile for a picture. He said it was his birthday gift to me.  That earned him a big hug!!! He has such a great smile and is such a great guy.

On our way back home the clouds began to roll in as we traveled through the Ocala National Forest again.  

They actually were the beginnings of a bit of a rainstorm, for which we were most thankful!

I was hoping that the rain would follow us all the way back home...

But sadly by the time we got to our house, the rain had pretty much stopped and scooted around our neighborhood...again!!! Although, I must say that last night we did get a pretty good rainshower about the time we went to bed, so we are counting our blessings for that!

This was last night's sunset.  Sunshine came out to watch it with me. He seems to enjoy watching the sunset, maybe because his name is "Sunshine". But also last night he was lonely because his buddy Blackie had been AWOL again all day long and the night before..., but thankfully he showed up this afternoon at "supper time".  I don't know where he goes for his little jaunts, but he sure makes Sunshine and me a little sad while he's gone.   

I didn't get any pictures of Blackie tonight, but I gave him a good talking to about staying away so long and making me worry!  He basically just acted like nothing was wrong and headed straight for his food as if nothing had been amiss.  I'm now calling him "the little stinker!"

Anyway, as you can see by these photos, Still Waters Pond is VERY still indeed...no water at all practically!  If we don't get some rain soon it will be The Still Waters Desert!

However, you have to admit the sunset was glorious!

I did post these sunset pictures on Facebook last night, along with these verses. So some of you may have already seen these.  I love the autumn sunsets that we get here. I just miss the reflection on the waters of the pond.

Psalm 19:1-6 NKJV

"1 The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament shows His handiwork.

2 Day unto day utters speech,

And night unto night reveals knowledge.

3 There is no speech nor language

Where their voice is not heard.

4 Their line has gone out through all the earth,

And their words to the end of the world.

In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,

5 Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,

And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.

6 Its rising is from one end of heaven,

And its circuit to the other end;

And there is nothing hidden from its heat."

Well, if you liked last night's sunset, God provided another one for us tonight!  I just love to see His glory in the heavens, don't you?  

Wow!!!  This is better than Fireworks on the 4th of July, if you ask me!

These are God's very own "fireworks display".  

And I appreciate that He put on this beautiful show for my 75th birthday!  It is a fitting ending to a wonderful birthday week!  I've been so blessed by family and friends and God Himself.  I just want to give Him thanks for all the things He has done!

Deuteronomy 4:39 

"Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other."

To sum up this big event called my 3/4 Century birthday, let me close by thanking God for His "part" in my creation...He IS my Creator God...there is no other! How I praise Him and thank Him for being with me from the very beginning...and He will be with me until the very end of this life, and then on into eternity!

Psalm 139: 13-18

"13 For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place,

when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;

all the days ordained for me were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!

How vast is the sum of them!

18 Were I to count them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand—

when I awake, I am still with you.

Then...

and Now...

Isaiah 46:4  NKJV

"4 Even to your old age, I am He,

And even to gray hairs I will carry you!

I have made, and I will bear;

Even I will carry, and will deliver you."

Praise God and Amen!!

Psalm 139:23-24

23 Search me, God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

Amen.