Thursday Thankfulness and Friday Fotos

Friday Morning Update: Blogger seems to be having issues with publishing comments, so I am unable to comment on other blogs, and I cannot reply to comments here. I think others are having the same issue. Hopefully they will have it resolved soon, and we will all have a lot of catching up to do to visit and comment on blogs! I hope you have a lovely day in spite of these issues. Hope we can all visit again soon!

Good Thursday evening! I am writing this tonight because we will be back on the road again tomorrow for another doctor appointment and I won't have much time to read or write. This has been a very busy week with appointments and activities beyond our normal slower routine, so I am playing hide and seek with my blogging friends and other computer activities.  

However, between appointments I've tried to take some time to enjoy the beauty around us every opportunity I could.  The other day we were getting a light rain shower, (praise God!) and I noticed these juvenile Bluebirds flitting around in the trees...I was so happy to be able to get a couple of pictures!

This one looks like he's more of a drowned rat than a bluebird!  Poor baby must be molting...or he's just really wet.   He looks kind of sad.

Thankfully Mr. Blackie was inside and not out trying to catch the bluebirds unaware.  Rather, he caught me unaware and jumped up on my desk so quickly and silently I didn't even notice until all of a sudden there he was!

Look at that face! He's looking at me with that look that seems to say, "Mom! Would you please quit messing with this contraption on this desk and pay me some attention??"  

But soon he got bored looking at me (and I did give him some attention and loving until he started getting bitey), and then he was jumping back down and off he went in search of other adventures.

Yes, he's definitely a character!!!

This morning's sunrise was beautiful! It kind of qualified for the rhyme "Red Sky in morning, Sailors take Warning...Red Sky at night, Sailor's Delight."   It definitely was a portent of rain to come, and we did get some nice little showers throughout the day, but nothing really stormy.   That's fine with me. I'd much rather have the gentle slow rain that soaks in anytime!

I'm so happy the rose bush has been blooming again now that we are getting more rain...of course I have to cut them and bring them inside where they can be enjoyed. I often stop and smell the roses throughout the day.

They really don't last very long outside where it is so hot, and the bush isn't that visible to passersby for them to enjoy, so that's why I bring them inside where they can be fully appreciated while they last.

As a matter of fact, I just went outside right now and cut this rosebud that I noticed was blooming when I was outside earlier.  The others shown above have actually already died and I had to throw them away, so I was happy to have this new little bud to enjoy while it opens.

These cute little pink flowers  were growing in patches throughout the yard, so I took some pictures because I knew the lawn was going to get mowed the next day and they would be gone for now.  This is the first I've seen them all summer, because it's just been too hot and dry.

Portulaca, Purslane...growing wild in my yard  This link will tell you more about them. They aren't just a weed!

And my new batch of zinnias is finally starting to bloom!

Zinnia (Old Maid)

I didn't get a very good close up of this Skipper on top of the zinnia because I was using my cell phone camera from a distance. He was a bit flighty and so I couldn't get any closer without scaring him off.

"About Skippers

Appearance: Skippers belong to the family Hesperiidae. They look like a mix between a butterfly and a moth, featuring stout, fuzzy bodies, large heads, and hooked antennae tips.
Flight Style: They get their name from their fast, darting, and erratic "skipping" flight pattern from flower to flower.
Common Species: You may spot fiery skippers, sachems, or common checkered-skippers feeding on your garden flowers. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

Why They Love Zinnias

Nectar Source: Gardeners widely note that zinnias—especially semi-double varieties—are a favorite food source for small butterflies like skippers.
Easy Feeding: The open shape of zinnia blooms gives skippers a flat, sturdy landing pad while they sip nectar."

Finally the "Cape Honeysuckle" has decided to bloom. I've been waiting all summer!

Cape Honeysuckle

I wanted to thank you all for your concern and prayers for my hubby the other day when we went to the Eye Surgeon for a check up.  He did determine that the cornea was swollen and that he needed to be put back on some steroid drops for a few weeks and then go back in a month. However, there's been a snafu with the insurance company needing more information about why he needs this medicine before they will permit it to be filled, and apparently the doctor has been too busy doing more surgeries, etc., to answer their questions, and so it's still in limbo. But the good news is his eye seems to be correcting itself as each day it appears to be getting better and he is seeing more clearly. So maybe he doesn't really need the medicine after all?  However when and if they ever get the prescription filled, he does plan to use it because he has other underlying eye issues that need to be addressed as well.  Sometimes between dealing with insurance, the pharmacy and the doctor things can get quite exasperating!  Still, we rejoice that the eye is feeling some better!

I had also mentioned that we needed to get haircuts somehow this week in between all these appointments. I had a dentist appointment yesterday morning for a cleaning, which was scheduled for 10:00.  About 8:00 they called me and asked if I would mind coming in at 11:00 instead because their  hygenist was running late for some reason. So what other choice did I have but to say yes? And so  I took the opportunity to call our hairdresser to see if she had any openings that morning that would get us both in and out before 11:00, and she said yes, come on at 9:30!  I took that as a little blessing from God because we both truly were looking pretty shaggy and we had a funeral to attend today among other things going on and no other time to get it done. So we got our hair cut and still had some time to kill before my dental appointment, so we took care of a little bit of shopping at the Dollar Tree and Marshall's, which are both right close to the Dentist office.

One thing I like to get at Marshall's is some pretty seasonal hand soaps for the bathrooms and/or kitchen. They always have so many cute ones to choose from that aren't very expensive, and their scents are nice without being too overpowering. I am very "SCENTSITIVE" to SCENTS, so I have to always give them the sniff test before buying. The one in the middle is so cute with some little doggies on the label, so I plan to give that one to Rose for their house, since of course they have doggies.

Today was the Memorial Service for the man from our church who passed away from cancer last week. It was a very nice service and well attended. I was so surprised to turn around and see two ladies that do not attend our church and are not family members of the deceased...but they are the managers of our local Dollar General store that is right here in the entrance to our neighborhood. Our friend who passed away also lived in our neighborhood, and apparently he shopped at that Dollar General quite often and must have been very friendly with these two ladies, as they are both very outgoing as well and we have a good rapport with them every time we go to the store to shop, which is quite often since it's so conveniently located about a block from our house. I know our friend who died was a very godly man who shared his faith openly with anyone, and it was quite impressive to me that he had made such an impact on these two ladies (who do not appear to be religious at all) that they wanted to come to his funeral.  That really touched my heart to see them there.

Here is our friend, who was in the Navy and loved all things about the sea...

So it was fitting to have this poem in the bulletin for his service:

I had never seen this poem before so I looked it up to see where it came from, and here is the information I found online:

"A Sailor for the Lord" is an inspirational poem written by Richard John Scarr. [1]

The complete text of the poem "A Sailor For The Lord" by Richard John Scarr, which reflects on an old sailor's final voyage on God's heavenly seas with revered shipmates and an angel at the masthead, can be found in the referenced source. [1]

— By Richard John Scarr [1]

We also sang this hymn, "Eternal Father, Strong to Save", which is also known as The Navy Hymn.

Eternal Father, strong to save

Whose arm hath bound the restless wave

Who biddest the mighty ocean deep

Its own appointed limits keep

Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee

For those in peril on the sea

O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard

And hushed their raging at Thy Word

Who walked on the foaming deep

And calm amidst its rage didst sleep

Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee

For those in peril on the sea

Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood

Upon the chaos dark and rude

And bid its angry tumult cease

And give, for wild confusion, peace

Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee

For those in peril on the sea

O Trinity of love and power

Our family shield in dangers hour

From rock and tempest, fire and foe

Protect us wheresoever we go

Thus evermore shall rise to Thee

Glad hymns of praise from land and sea

Words: Will­iam Whit­ing 1860

Music: Melita, John B. Dykes 1861

One thing I've realized at each of the funerals we've had in the past year, and there have been too many, when given the opportunity for people to share some special memory of the dearly departed one, there have been such beautiful stories told of their faith and kindness and amazing works that they have done for others during their lifetime. I am always blessed by these testimonies, but I am also left with a feeling of wonder...it makes me wonder what will others have to say about my life when my time comes? And each time I come away with this sense that I'd really better get on the ball between now and then or there won't be much to say.  But actually, it's not so much about what I do or don't do that really matters as much as where I put my trust and faith, and when I keep my eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith  (Hebrews 12:1-2), I can run this race of life and finish it with confidence and joy...

"1Therefore 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."

And then I pray that someday it may be said of me the words from this passage from Proverbs 31:25-31:

(especially verse 30)

"25 Strength and honor are her clothing;

She shall rejoice in time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,

And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

27 She watches over the ways of her household,

And does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;

Her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “Many daughters have done well,

But you excel them all.”

30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,

But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,

And let her own works praise her in the gates. "

That would be the description of a life well lived, by God's grace and strength..."A woman who fears the Lord..."...that is my goal for this life.  And please understand that "Fear" here does not mean that I am afraid of God, but I revere Him and trust Him implicitly, no matter what.  That is my goal in life.

Well, it's time to wrap this up and get to bed. Tomorrow is another busy day. Actually, hubby is having an MRI, which is an annual check up to keep tabs on a condition that we want to make sure is still under control with no reoccurance, and that's all I'll say, but prayers are always appreciated. Thank you!

Good Night dear friends.  Thank you again for being special friends. That really means a lot to me.