Monday Monday: First Monday of Summer!

 

This morning's Sunrise!

This old hymn came to my mind as I was enjoying this beautiful sunrise this morning...

When morning gilds the skies,

My heart awaking cries:

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Alike at work and prayer

To Jesus I repair:

May Jesus Christ be praised!

2

To Thee, my God above,

I cry with glowing love,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

The fairest graces spring

In hearts that ever sing,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

3

Does sadness fill my mind?

A solace here I find,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Or fades my earthly bliss?

My comfort still is this,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

(I left out verses 4-5)

6

Be this, while life is mine,

My canticle divine,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Be this th’ eternal song

Through all the ages long,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

You may not be able to see it in this picture, but there is a big Pileated Woodpecker sitting in this tree below:

Now you can see him!

Up, up, and away!   There were actually two of them flying around, and maybe even another one in the trees back behind us as we took our morning walk Saturday morning.  If you aren't familiar with this prehistoric looking huge woodpecker, you can read more HERE.  It's always a thrill to see them.

Reminds me of this song..."I'll Fly Away"...

Some glad morning when this life is over

I'll fly away

To a home on God's celestial shore

I'll fly away

I'll fly away, oh, Glory

I'll fly away

When I die, Hallelujah, by and by

I'll fly away

When the shadows of this life have gone,

I'll fly away;

Like a bird from prison bars has flown,

I'll fly away (I'll fly away)

I'll fly away, oh, Glory

I'll fly away

When I die, Hallelujah, by and by

I'll fly away

Just a few more weary days and then

I'll fly away

To a land where joy shall never end

I'll fly away

I'll fly away, oh, Glory

I'll fly away

When I die, Hallelujah, by and by

I'll fly away

Yeah, when I die, Hallelujah, by and by

I'll fly away

Source: Musixmatch

I guess I am full of music in my mind this morning.  Why?  Well, this song above in particular...You see, yesterday morning, (Sunday, to be exact, Father's Day, and the first day of summer), when we got to church I was told that yet another of my dearest friends had just that morning "flown away" into heaven.  My dear sweet Opal, our former pianist and choir member and very dear friend had left her earthly body, and she entered her eternal home on "God's celestial shore", and she, like that "bird from prison bars has flown"..."to a land where joy shall never end."...

I had just recently told you about my friend Opal HERE, on her birthday in May,

and she had been recuperating so well from the past couple of years since she had a stroke and other complications. She'd been at home for the past few weeks and doing really well. We talked on the phone every week and she was making such good progress. But then, yesterday morning  God called her home. Apparently a massive heart attack.  It was time for her to "Fly Away"...we sang that song together as she played it on the piano for our church so many times in the past years...and finally it was her turn...like that big old woodpecker we saw flying away...Opal heard her Master's call, and she answered and flew away to glory.  

Needless to say, I was a bit of a cry-baby in church yesterday morning. It was quite a shock for all of us, as we all loved Opal.  But I can see her healthy and strong again, running through the fields of heaven, and also able to play and sing beautiful music once again.  Oh, how I will miss her! But I am SO happy for her!   Please remember her dear husband Larry and her daughter and family out in California in your prayers, as they mourn her loss.

I'm so glad I listened to the Lord prompting me to do something special for Opal on her birthday on May 1st.  One thing I've learned in the past month regarding friends...listen to the voice of God when He prompts you to make that phone call, write that card, visit that person...we just never know when it will be the last time we will see that person or hear their voice.

So, after an emotional morning, we came home from church and the boys were here for lunch to celebrate Father's Day with us. Rose had to work, sadly, but we are going to meet up with her and Benton this morning and drive south to The Mason Jar to meet John's brother Billy and his wife Peggy for lunch, so I have to get a move on!!

We had grilled chicken thighs, scalloped potatoes, corn on the cob and tossed salad. It was wonderful. So happy our boys could be with us.

And Blackie says hello this morning from my desk...

He's looking out the window into the dark to see what's going on...

And he took over my desk chair...He's a rascal...but we love him.

And look at that rose! It came from the same bush as the other two...totally different! God's gift to us today.

Okay, I must run. 

Hug your family. Call your friends. Visit the sick. Send cards to those you can't visit.

Life is short. None of us knows when it will be our turn to "Fly Away". Be ready to meet Jesus every day.