Monday Monday! Cats, Flowers and Doppelgangers!

Happy Monday morning from Still Waters Pond!

If you were sitting in my "Room with a View" and looking out the window above my computer in the early morning just after sunrise, this is what you would see most every morning: 

Look at those faces...Yes, this is what they do as soon as they know we are up and the lights come on in the house...they sit outside my window and watch and wait...

When they know I am looking back at them, they sometimes turn their heads or pretend they really aren't looking at me...

But the underlying message is, "Don't you know it's time for breakfast?"  LOL.  I try to at least finish my hot cup of tea before it gets cold, but with them sitting out there watching me and patiently waiting, I find that I can't concentrate on what I was trying to do (mostly reading your comments and posts and/or trying to write something sensible...)

And so they win the contest and I go out and feed them...(although this morning I had to chase away that pesky Muscovy Duck before I could feed them...)

And once again peace reigns on Still Waters Pond... (after I chased away the duck a couple more times...)

Now, here's a fun story...well, may be funny now, but it wasn't at the time...this is what happens when you try to do something in a hurry and don't take the time to secure things on the top of a shelf cabinet before trying to move it in order to get to the air conditioner filter to change the filter...Yes, there was a gallon of bleach on top of that cabinet, and somehow the cabinet swayed when I was trying to reach around it, and the plastic jug of bleach fell off the top and of course the lid blew off when it hit the floor of our laundry room, spilling bleach all over the rugs and floor...and splashing all over me!  These are my pants...thankfully they were what I call "house pants" already, ones that I only wear inside the house and not out in public because they might have already had some stains and spots on them, but now they are REALLY pants that I probably won't even wear outside to do yard work...well, maybe I will do that, but that's about it! LOL. Or maybe I'll just start a new style...At least they aren't ripped jeans! LOL. (and people pay good money for those ripped jeans...I wonder what I could get for these??? LOL. ) 

Thankfully the floor was not damaged, and believe it or not, the scatter rugs that I have on that floor did not show any sign of bleaching!  Those inexpensive woven rugs from Walmart must be made of something special....recycled plastic bleach bottles maybe. LOL.  Anyway, I learned a valuable lesson about being in a rush and not taking the time to secure things before acting.  My One Word "Wisdom" might have come in handy for this situation.

Proverbs 15-16

"15 Only simpletons believe everything they’re told!

The prudent carefully consider their steps.

16 The wise are cautious and avoid danger;

fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence."

Oops!  I guess that "fool" who plunged ahead with reckless confidence might have been me!  Lesson learned!!

Okay, moving on to something pretty...I bought this lovely Portulaca plant at a farm market the other day. It just made me smile, and I needed some color on the front porch:

Of course, it closes up in the late afternoon, but it opens back up in the sunshine.  I hope it survives!!

And speaking of flowers...we took a little walk early this morning before it got too hot...and we went back to that walking trail where the vacant lots are where old historic houses used to be...

And now there are lovely Crape Myrtles blooming where those houses once stood! There's something new popping up everytime we go by there! I love it!

Again, a reminder of those who once lived here and loved their homes and gardens and planted beautiful flowers that would stand the test of time way beyond their own lives here on earth...

There's a lot of this Lantana blooming everywhere around there as well...It's kind of a wild flower, but many people planted them. They are colorful and lovely...and attract butterflies!  

I didn't see a butterfly this time, but there's some kind of little bee/bug on that flower above, enjoying the nectar!

And now for the mystery "Doppelganger!"  

If you are a member of my family, or if you knew my father and saw this picture on Facebook yesterday, you might have wondered where this picture came from and where was he?  Because when I saw this picture on a friend's post, I about fell over.  This man was at a wedding of my friend's nephew in Ohio over the weekend.  He is apparently the brother in law of our friend.  

And even though my mind knew it couldn't be a picture of my father, because my father has been in heaven since 2011, to say I was flabberghasted would be a huge understatement! It also sent me scrambling to find a picture of my father that would corroborate my thoughts...and this was the first one I could put my hands on.  And yes, I know there are subtle similartities and differences, but if you knew my father, you would definitely see what I saw in that picture above, and be just as amazed. He's even wearing a plaid shirt, similar to what my father loved to wear!

I immediately texted my friend and asked her who that man was, and she told me his name and some other basic information.  Of course, I wanted to know MORE...like, who were his parents, was he on Ancestry.com and could we possibly be matched somehow by DNA...you see, because my father's mother was adopted, and even though I've done extensive research and have discovered who her birth parents were, there's still so much we don't know...and anyone who has done the DNA test knows that we have distant "cousins" all over the world.  But I didn't want to bother our friends or their relatives any further and interrupt their happy weekend celebrations by probing and asking more questions, but it sure got my attention!! And the more pictures she shared of him throughout the weekend, the more similarities I could see between him and my father, and even my grandmother! 

 

My Grandma Elva Sowers Hill Mursch

However, I've decided that after I finish this post I will let it go and just chalk it up to one of those strange "coincidences" in life...like perhaps there really is such a thing as a "Doppelganger!" I know I've been told that I look like a lot of different people throughout my lifetime...

Per AI Google Search:

"A "doppelganger" is a person who looks almost exactly like another, but who is not related to them. It's a term borrowed from German, meaning "double-goer" or "double walker," and can refer to a ghostly double or a person who resembles another. “Canadian photographer Francois Brunelle spent 12 years tracking down real life Doppelgängers -- two individuals who are not related but could pass for identical twins -- and photographing them” as mentioned in an article on chasejarvis.com.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Meaning:
The word "doppelganger" literally translates to "double-walker" or "double-goer" in German.

Appearance:
Doppelgangers are known for their striking physical resemblance to their counterpart, often including facial features and hairstyles.

Not Related:
They are not related to the individual they resemble and are not identical twins.

Folklore and Literature:
In folklore and literature, doppelgangers are often portrayed as supernatural entities or ghostly doubles, sometimes with sinister or ominous connotations.

Real-life Sightings:
While often associated with the supernatural, doppelganger sightings have also been reported in real life, leading to discussions about their potential existence.

Modern Usage:
The term is now commonly used to refer to any person who closely resembles another, even if the resemblance is purely physical. "


I will close with these few Scripture verses about the image of whom I really want to resemble in life...That is the image of of Christ...not in looks so much as in my whole being and spirit and heart...

2 Corinthians 3:18
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.


1 Corinthians 13:12-13
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

And the most important thing to remember is this:

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

And with those thoughts to ponder  I will close this post.  Have a blessed and beautiful rest of your week...

Moments of Grace: Who Do You See in the Mirror?

Yesterday as I was going through my morning routine of washing my face, brushing my hair and putting on makeup, I caught a glimpse of my face in the mirror that reminded me of my maternal grandmother.  It was a fleeting look, a certain pose that I remembered seeing in a photograph of her that used to hang on the wall in the home I grew up in.  It rather startled me at first, but then it was such a pleasant thought..."I look like my Grandma Tedlie".  No one had ever said that before.

 Since I've recently retired, I have more time on my hands it seems...and I suddenly felt like playing with this little scenario.  After searching out a copy of the familiar portrait of my grandmother, I decided to dress up similar to the way she was dressed, and then see if I truly did look anything like her.  My husband was willing to humor me and said he would do the honor of taking my picture.

Here's my beautiful Grandma:

And here I am, trying to look like her.

Then, crazy woman that I am, I put this on Facebook.  The reviews were mixed.  Some said yes, definitely! Especially the cheekbones. And others said they couldn't see any resemblance at all.  Those who know me well declared that I must be "losing it" and that I need something more to do with my time.  Could be.

As I pondered this I wondered to myself just why did I do this kooky thing? Am I "losing it", or am I just having a little fun and playing "dress up" like a little girl again.  Is that so bad?  One of my friends said that she thought the side by side pictures would please my grandmother very much.  I like that thought. I never got to spend much time with my grandma.  We moved to Florida when I was only five, and my grandparents lived in Ohio.  Consequently, we got to see them only once a year when we took a summer trip to visit.  Unfortunately, my grandmother was not well for quite a few years, and then she passed away when I was fifteen.  So I always felt like I really didn't get to know her and she truly didn't know me either.

Okay, enough of this nostalgia.  What is really going on here? Perhaps it is a type of search for my identity.  I've often wondered about my ancestors, and have thought how wonderful it will be to meet them all face to face someday in heaven and discover who they are and who I really do resemble.

More than all the ancestors, however, I look forward to seeing my Lord and Savior face to face...and hopefully discover that He is the One Whom I resemble most of all.

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."  

2 Corinthians 3:18

Here is an old hymn that expresses my thoughts and desires:

O To Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer  By Thomas O. Chisholm, written in 1897.  (Click on the link to hear this beautiful hymn)

O to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Refrain

O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

O to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

Refrain

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.

Refrain

O to be like Thee! Lord, I am coming
Now to receive anointing divine;
All that I am and have I am bringing,
Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.

Refrain

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Refrain

"For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.  

Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."

I Corinthians 13:12

Lord, I pray that day by day I am being changed into Your glorious image. 

Forgive me when I take my eyes off of You and focus more on me or the things of this world.

And thank You, Lord, for the marvelous gift of God...Salvation...

"For by GRACE you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves,

it is the Gift of God,

Not of works, lest anyone should boast."

Ephesians 2:8-9

Amen.