Some Friday Thoughts

 I saw this on Facebook today, and it really spoke to me.

This is so true. Sad. But true. People just don't take the time to sit down with others and really get to know them anymore. Especially our elders...grandparents, older parents. So much wisdom is being lost when we ignore the older ones around us. Take time to ask them about their youth, their childhood, the things they did in life or wanted to do. Write it down and remember it so that their memory will never fade.  

I tried to do this with my father in his latter years when I was spending a lot of time with him after my mother died.  I did write down some of his stories and have shared them here in blogland occasionally.  HERE is a link to some of those stories. (that one has 3 parts, and the links are within that link)   Here's another one, Christmas at The Cabin There's more, but I won't list them all here.

Of course, those of us here in Blogland probably know more about each other than some of our closest family members and/or friends.  Why? Because we write about our lives and dreams and hopes and sorrows and silly stuff and things that make us happy and things that make us sad and things that are important to us, and we actually read these things about each other and write comments back to one another and share our lives in a special way. Some of us share pictures of everything we do, what we eat, where we've been, where we'd like to be, the people we love, the things we love...and we take the time to look at those photos and ooh and ahh and appreciate what each other are seeing and doing.  I guess that is why sometimes I feel like my best friends are here in blogland, because you probably know more about me than people I sit next to at church, or people I used to work with, or maybe even my relatives, because to my knowledge, most of those people never read my blog.  (Now we'll find out if that's true or not, because some may suddenly pipe up and say "I read it all the time! I just never tell you!"  LOL. )   Actually, one of my nieces contacted me today and said she had read my last blog about the Peach Dump Cake, and she had some questions about that and also about how we were feeling, and that really blessed my heart and made my day!!

I just asked Google about some scripture verses regarding "old age", and this is the list it gave me:

"The Bible contains many verses about aging, including some that offer comfort and others that encourage respect for the elderly:

• Isaiah 46:4: "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will sustain you, and I will rescue you"
• Psalm 73:26: "Though my flesh and my heart fail, God is the rock of my heart, my portion forever"
• Leviticus 19:32: "Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly, and revere your God"
• Job 12:12: "Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?"
• Psalm 92:14: "They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green"
• Proverbs 23:22: "Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old"
• Job 32:7: "Those who are older should speak, for wisdom comes with age"
• 2 Corinthians 4:16: "That is why we are not discouraged. Though outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are renewed day by day"
• Psalm 90:12: "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom"
• Psalm 46:1: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble"

I like that list!  Not sure why I have "old age" on my mind so much today...probably because somedays I am really feeling my "old age" more than others...like this morning the steroids I'm taking gave me a spurt of energy so I went outside and mowed the lawn with the push mower.  I mowed for about 30 minutes, and I've been recovering ever since! LOL.   Me thinks I did more than I should have for still being in recovery mode, but it felt good to get outside (at 9 a.m. before it was terribly hot...still hot, just not as terribly as later) and actually do something!  I came in and took a shower and sat in front of the fan and basically died for about an hour or so, and then it was time to fix lunch and take a nap.  LOL. 

Speaking of old,  when we took a little ride yesterday to go to our walking place, I spied this other Century Plant standing tall and blossoming for all it's worth!  Remember I told you about another one HERE a little while ago.

This one is really amazing and is in full bloom! 

Notice all those "PUPS" around the bottom...new plants that will eventually grow and maybe in another 30-40 years they will bloom too!

"The common name "century plant" stems from its semelparous nature of flowering only once at the end of its long life. After flowering, the plant dies but produces adventitious shoots from the base, allowing its growth to continue.[8] Although it is called the century plant, it typically lives only 10 to 30 years.[9] It has a spread around 1.8–3.0 m (6–10 ft) with gray-green leaves measuring 0.9–1.5 m (3–5 ft) in length, each with a prickly margin and a heavy spike at the tip that can pierce deeply. Towards the end of its life, the plant produces a tall, branched stalk adorned with yellow blossoms, which can reach a height of 8–9 m (25–30 ft).  Wikipedia"

Sometimes it takes us to finally be getting towards the end of our lives before we truly stand up and bloom where we are planted...maybe here in Blogland, or wherever the Lord may lead us. The important thing is to let your light shine for God, and leave a legacy behind you that will carry on to the next generation as a witness for what God can do with a life yielded to Him.  Share the wisdom you've gained from life's experiences with others, even if they don't seem to be listening...write it down, put it out there...someone will pick it up and read it and it may change their lives!  

Okay, that's my words of wisdom for today!  Keep writing friends! Your life has much value and is needed in this sad and dark world today.  

• Psalm 92:14: "They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green"

Wednesday Treasures from Still Waters Pond and Beyond

Happy Wednesday! I know, the day is almost over, but it's been a busy day and I am just now sitting down at my computer to read and write and try to get caught up with "stuff".   This may be a montage of various pictures from the past few days because I don't have a lot of "content" to talk about.  

It's been too hot to take very many walks lately, and the promised rain storms we were supposed to get here this week have not yet materialized in our neck of the woods.   Tonight it was a couple of degrees cooler (actually, quite a bit...84 now as opposed to the 99 we had earlier in the week), so we took a walk and went past the "Century/Agave Plant" that I've told you about over the past month. 

 I last told you about the Century Plant HERE.  Well, that picture above is how it looks now! It finally "gave up the ghost" and laid down to die.  It had a good life and brought some smiles to many people as I've posted pictures of it over the past few weeks here and on Facebook.  But like Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 

"To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:

2 A time o be born,

And a time to die;"

And so I guess this plant finally reached the end of its season.  I hope that when it is my time to lay down and die it can be said that I brought some smiles to many people along the way. That, along with sharing the love of Jesus with others is a worthy goal and purpose in life.   Oh, before I forget, I wanted to share this song with you that our choir sang this past Sunday morning:

You may recognize the song as familiar verses from the Bible, John 3:16-17

John 3:16-17 KJV

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,

 that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

If I don't share anything else with you ever again, this is the most important message that could ever be shared.

I guess I could just close this post with that, but I did have some other pictures I wanted to share with you, so here we go:

I watched this interesting scene the other evening out in our yard beside Still Waters Pond.  If you look carefully at the tree, you will see at first one bluebird sitting on a branch, and up in the branches above you will also see a Red Shouldered Hawk, and they are both watching each other very carefully.

Here's a close up of Mr. Hawk:

Pretty soon Mrs. Bluebird joins Mr. Bluebird on that branch, and Mr. Hawk continues to watch them, but they don't seem overly concerned.

This little standoff continued for quite a while until finally Mr. Hawk decided he'd better go look for his supper elsewhere and away he flew.

A little later I captured this picture of Mrs. Bluebird in her house, sitting on her nest. She is looking out the window and her mouth is open as if she is either gasping for air because it is so hot in there, or she's calling for Mr. Bluebird to bring her some supper.  Either way, it's quite a picture!

This is where she is sitting. That is Still Waters Pond in the background, but it might as well be called "No Waters Pond" right now, as it is getting so dry you could just about walk across it, but I wouldn't recommend it. The bottom of that pond is pure muck, and you would sink up to your knees very quickly...yeah...it's yucky! I know, I've tried it before!  That's why we need that rain so much! It will fill back up once the summer rains start, but until then it is pretty dry!

In between all the other excitement of the hawk and the bluebirds, Mr. Ruby Throated Hummingbird has been coming and going to the bird feeder, minding his own business and enjoying a cool drink of sugar water...

Hi there folks!  Nice to see you again!!

Speaking of the Red Shouldered Hawk again, I told you recently HERE about how unhappy the Hawk has been about having so many trees removed from the lot next door to us.  Well, I took a walk over to that lot the other evening and I was surprised suddenly by a rush of activity and some very loud screeches coming out from among some trees.  I was shocked to see not just one, but THREE hawks fly up into the tree above me, and they were all quite upset with me for being in their territory!  I managed to take a few pictures...I believe the two that you see in this tree are actually juvenile hawks, so apparently there WAS a nest in the area and no wonder Mrs. Hawk had been so distressed!

These two stood there squawking at me for some time, while Mama Hawk apparently went back to hunt for some supper for these noisy kids.

I was getting nervous about the way they kept looking at me, like I might become their dinner if I didn't watch out! LOL.

Very soon Mama flew to this branch and they joined her there, so I am thinking she actually brought them some supper:

Mama left them again, and they continued to keep a "hawk eye" on me, so I decided to start heading back to home:

Besides, it was starting to get dark, and this was the last view I had of one of the hawks watching me go:

However, when I got back to our back yard I was able to see Mr. Bluebird one more time, standing guard over their house as the sun was finally setting behind me.

And with that, I think I will let the sun set on this post and put it to bed for the night.

Psalm 113:3 NKJV

"From the rising of the sun to its going down

The Lord’s name is to be praised."

Amen.

Memorial Day Monday

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." 

John 15:13

"Oh beautiful for heroes proved

In liberating strife

Who more than self, their country loved

And mercy more than life

America, America may God thy gold refine

'Til all success be nobleness

And every gain divine"

We sang this beloved hymn, "America, The Beautiful", yesterday in church. That is the verse that stood out to me as we honored the memory of those who gave their all for our country. It really makes us stop and think about all that we hold dear...how quickly it can be taken away, and if it weren't for the courage of men and women standing for what is right and true and good, and being willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country...what we have could be lost forever. Something to think about, and thank the Lord for these precious heroes.

So how are you spending today? Perhaps some are having a picnic or barbeque with friends and family?  Our church is having an annual cookout at the Parsonage today, but we are unable to participate this year. Hubby is having a "medical procedure" tomorrow that requires extensive "preparation" today, and so we are staying home.  We are sorry to miss out on the fellowship with our church family, but some things just can't be helped.  We did have a nice lunch with our kids yesterday after church here at home.  I cooked a Boston Butt Roast in the crockpot on Saturday and made it into pulled pork, so we had pulled pork BBQ sandwiches, potato salad, and Rose brought some deviled eggs. We also had coleslaw and/or  a tossed salad with some of Rose and Benton's fresh cherry tomatoes from their own garden! It was all good, and there were plenty of leftovers for me to eat to today so I don't have to cook anything and tempt my hubby with tantalizing aromas while he is unable to have anything but liquids.  

The only "picnickers" at our house today are the Sand Hill Crane Family.  They pass through every so often to say hello and check the yard to see if there's anything good to nibble on.  Can you believe how big George and Abe have gotten? They are now two months old, and the are just about as tall as their parents.  I don't think they are flying yet, at least not that I've seen. From what I've read, they probably won't start flying until they are about 3 months old, so probably sometime toward the end of next month.

George and Abe, or is it Georgianna and Abby? Or George and Abby? I don't know. They are both very close in size, so it is difficult to tell if one is decidedly bigger than the other, which would indicate that it is a male. Time will tell...maybe...

Not sure if I showed you the latest pictures of the "Century Plant (Agave)."  I showed them on Facebook, but not all of you are there.  Yes, it is blooming, and the second picture shows you just how tall it really is.

As you can see, it is as tall as the electric pole! Pretty Amazing. It looks like a giant asparagus to me! LOL. 

Kind of reminds me of "The Jolly Green Giant". LOL.

Well folks, I really don't have much to share today. Thank you all for your kind words on my recent post about the "anniversary" of our son Matthew's passing ten years ago. Your kinds words were very comforting to me.  I did not take the time to answer everyone, but each and every message is a treasure to me. Thank you.  These kinds of  "anniversaries" are never easy, as many of you also know from your own experiences with the loss of loved ones.  However, I think it is important to keep the memory alive of our dear ones in whatever way is "comfortable" for us. Sometimes it is just too painful for some to do that, and that is understandable. But we each do what is most meaningful to us.  Thank you again for your understanding.

Okay, dear friends, I need to wrap this up. It is quite warm outside, about 94 degrees, and bright and sunny. I'm thankful for a cool house and that I don't have to go out and work in this heat. My thoughts and prayers go out for those who do.  And also for those who are having bad storms and other serious weather issues. I have a feeling this is going to be a difficult summer.  May God be with each one of you and your loved ones and keep you safe and sound.

Oh, in case you'd like to hear it, our choir sang a really pretty song yesterday entitled "Peace". It was very appropriate for times were are experiencing now in our world.  

Here it is: 

(be sure to go all the way to the beginning of the video to hear/see the song)

"Lord, give us peace..."

Amen.

 

Monday Monday...Pictures of Trust and Praise

Good Monday Morning! I hope this day finds you doing well and that you've had a restful, peaceful weekend.  Ours was mostly restful, except for the time spent trying to mow the yard and the mower wasn't cooperating and it was really hot and muggy outside and we spent the rest of the day in the house cooling down and recuperating...one of the prices we pay for getting older...nothing seems to be done easily anymore, but we are thankful we can still at least try! LOL.  

Here are some interesting photos from the past few days that got my attention:

Sunday morning was beautiful...these were the skies as the sun was rising on Pentecost Sunday...the day set apart to remember the day The Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles in Acts chapter 2.

Praise, O servants of the Lord,

Praise the name of the Lord!

2 Blessed be the name of the Lord

From this time forth and forevermore!

3 From the rising of the sun to its going down

The Lord’s name is to be praised.

4 The Lord is high above all nations,

His glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like the Lord our God,

Who dwells on high,

6 Who humbles Himself to behold

The things that are in the heavens and in the earth?

On Saturday I was looking for something to take a picture of so I could post it on Facebook with a verse for the day. I was wandering around outside and this little Cuban (or Brown) Anole (lizard)Cuban (or Brown) Anole (lizard) popped his head out of one of the birdhouses to see what was going on outside:

He thinks he's safe inside that birdhouse...and he is, until the bluebirds come back and want to start building another nest. I've noticed that they don't mess with him...he knows when it's time to go and so he just moves out until they are finished with the house and then he moves back in.  He's safe from larger predators and he can stay safe and cozy in there.  (Yes, I know this particular species is invasive but they are here and they have found a safe haven, and we actually enjoy watching their antics around our house and porch. And they eat bugs, so that's fine with me!)

Sometimes we need to find a shelter in the time of the storms of our lives...a place where we feel safe and well hidden from the enemies surrounding us.  King David wrote about that same thought, and realized that God is our only true "hiding place" where we will be preserved from trouble and harm.

Psalm 32:7  NKJV

7 You are my hiding place;

You shall preserve me from trouble;

You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

You may know this song and want to sing along:

"You are my hiding place

You always fill my heart

With songs of deliverance

Whenever I am afraid

I will trust in You

I will trust in You

Let the weak say I am strong

In the strength of the Lord"

Moving along to other interesting things we've been seeing...I've noticed this tall plant growing along side the road on the way to where we go take our daily walks:

Agave or Century Plant

"The common name "century plant" stems from its semelparous nature of flowering only once at the end of its long life. After flowering, the plant dies but produces adventitious shoots from the base, allowing its growth to continue.^[8] Although it is called the century plant, it typically lives only 10 to 30 years. It has a spread around 1.8–3.0 m (6–10 ft) with gray-green leaves measuring 0.9–1.5 m (3–5 ft) in length, each with a prickly margin and a heavy spike at the tip that can pierce deeply. Towards the end of its life, the plant produces a tall, branched stalk adorned with yellow blossoms, which can reach a height of 8–9 m (25–30 ft)"

Did you notice in the description above from Wikipedia that this plant only flowers once...at the end of its long life?  It typically lives only 10-30 years, but towards the end of its life "it produces  a tall, branched stalk adorned with yellow blossoms".  

I had to go back today and take more pictures to see if there were indeed any blossoms on the top of the stalk, since they aren't easy to see in that picture above.

Here's what I found:

Yes! There are blossoms opening up on the top!

You can see it is just starting to bloom.  

Now, here's what's interesting about this plant.  It actually has been discarded from someone's yard, thrown along the road along with the trash as you can see in the picture below.  

It was thrown there and left to die...but the amazing thing is, in its dying form it is showing its true beauty.

Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV

"1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,

the oil of joy

instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the Lord

for the display of his splendor."

"to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,

the oil of joy

instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair."

What a beautiful picture of hope and praise in the midst of despair...a display of beauty instead of ashes, and joy instead of mourning!

Maybe there is a lesson for us there...even when we are in the declining years of our lives, may we continue to bloom and display the beauty of Christ living in us. Perhaps we should not allow our difficult circumstances in life to define us, but to refine us and help us give off a "sweet savor" of God's grace and peace.

The New King James Version of 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 says:

"14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing"

I will be checking on it regularly to see its progress as the blossoms open up more.