A Very Nice Day

Today was a very nice day. How often can we or do we say that? Especially over the past four months or so, have we really thought much about having a really nice day?  I know times have been difficult for everyone in different ways, and for some having a nice day is something you can only pray will happen again.  But even in our darkest days and hours, there is always hope. God has never forsaken us, and He never will.  We can rely on Him. Yes, there will be very nice days again.  In the meantime, we need to look for them and treasure them when they come. Not take them for granted like perhaps we may have done in the past. If this pandemic has taught us anything, it is to never take our "normal" way of life for granted, or never forget to appreciate the beautiful ways God has blessed us even in small ways.

Here is one of my special blessings of this very nice day:

A few weeks ago, on Memorial Day, we decided to go ahead and reestablish our Secret Garden here at our new house. Instead of having two separate gardens, we have combined the "Secret Garden" with the "Memorial Garden" that we had in memory of our son at our other home.

And today the first rose bloomed on the Memorial Rose bush that we brought with us from the Memorial Garden...well, I say the first rose...I mean the first rose that has bloomed since we moved it into the new "Secret Memorial Garden" on Memorial Day.

I know, I still need to actually plant the rose bush in the ground, but I was waiting to see if it would like the new location and bloom here before planting it in the ground. And today it answered that question.

The Rose Bush not only bloomed, but it reached out toward the sign that we made in memory of our son, it reached out toward his memory as it also reached for the sun and the beautiful Still Waters Pond in the background. So yes, I believe the memorial rosebush is happy here in its new location, and so we need to go ahead and get it planted, along with that Rose of Sharon bush in that other bucket. It hasn't bloomed yet, and I think it is because it needs to be planted. It also came with us from the other house and the Memorial Garden.  So now we know...it is time to plant these special plants and let them thrive!

The other part that made this a special day was we finally went out to eat at our favorite special place on the St. John's River, "Corky Bells".  We haven't been there in many months and we've really missed it. They are still at 50% occupancy, but because they have many outdoor places to sit and dine and watch the boats on the river, it was a safe and lovely place to be this afternoon with our family. If you are a Facebook friend, you may have already seen these pictures. But for the rest of you, I wanted to share our lovely afternoon with you.

Here we are, hubby and me, while waiting to be called to our table. 

Such a lovely view of the boats on the river while we waited:

It was a beautiful day, although a bit breezy on the water, but it didn't stop these people on their jet skiis or in other boats from having a great day. We've all had "cabin fever" much too long.

Oh, look who's here! Here's our kids Rose and Benton, taking a stroll on the dock. We decided that we needed to celebrate something today, so we celebrated their third anniversary of their engagement, which was three years ago this week. Then they got married just a few months later in November. It definitely has been a "marriage made in heaven".  So thankful for this precious couple.

Oh, they found Daddy, sitting on the dock waiting...

And then along came another of our handsome sons, Scott, to join the party.

So proud of these three wonderful men!

Finally we were called to our table, and were so pleased that it was right up on the deck overlooking the river, and in the shade, with a wonderful breeze...thank the Lord, as it was 90 degrees today!

My son loves to take candid shots of me...but can you tell I'm happy? I was...I am...

You can see more of the view of the river beside me.  I just wish someone would have told me that my "strap" was showing...don't you just hate that? 

This little lizard was doing acrobatic tricks on this fence wire alongside our table...

He kept us entertained while we waited for our delicious seafood dinner to arrive...

He managed to work his way down each wire by turning flips over the wire and hanging down to the next one. Very talented!

I especially loved seeing this boat with the American Flag waving proudly in the breeze!

From the parking lot we could see this Osprey on her nest in the top of a tall dead tree. There were babies in the nest because we could hear them chirping all the way from where we were. I guess they were hungry!

That's all the pictures, but now you see why I said it was a "very nice day".  

Oh, one more thing:

This book and workbook arrived in the mail today. I ordered this last week after listening to Anne Graham Lotz talking HERE , and HERE, and I thought this was a book that I wanted to read and maybe even do a Bible Study with some ladies this fall...so I am anxious to get into reading it. (Thank you Sandy and Barbara both for mentioning her in your blogs.) We need to encourage each other more in these days of so much confusion and anxiety. 

Okay friends, that's all for tonight. 

"To them God has chosen to make known...

the glorious riches of this mystery,

which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Colossians 1:27

The Secret Garden Chronicles-Thankful Thursday

Today is Thursday...and I am thankful for so many things...

1.  This may seem trivial, but I am thankful that the only flowers that appear to have been hurt by last night's freeze were my lovely wisteria blossoms:

This is how they looked yesterday afternoon:

And here is how they look today...so sad

I hope the new buds will still have a chance to bloom...but if this is all that was damaged, I will not complain.  We are very thankful for the sunshine this afternoon and hopefully warmer temperatures tonight...and praying for all of our northern friends who are still shoveling out of a big blizzard. Praying they have power restored and that they are safe and warm.

That is much more important than my wisteria blossoms!

2.  I had a good report at the doctor this week...all my labs look good and I am very thankful for good health and renewed strength.  Praise God!

3.  Thankful for answers to prayer for several others who have had serious health issues...and progress is now being made in the right direction.

4.  I am thankful that I got our taxes done this week...and we are getting an unexpected wonderful refund!!! Praising the Lord for that bonus we never knew was coming!!!  Much needed and appreciated!!

I am also thankful to see these little bear footprints that apparently walked across our yard last night. There was no picture on our night camera, but at least we know they are still "out there!"

(Pardon the BIG FOOT on the left...just trying to give you a comparison of size...)

These are rather small bear prints, so that means there may be a young bear cub out here....Gotta watch out for mama bear, if that is the case!

These are the most recent bear pictures on our night camera, and that was over a week ago, so I 

don't know if this is the same bear as last night's foot prints or not.  He does look kind of small, but not really a cub.

Now, back to more pertinent thoughts:

One of my goals for this season of Lent was to reach out more to our neighbors.  We have lived in this neighborhood for five years, and because I was working for most of those years I really didn't get around to get acquainted with many of my neighbors.  We actually don't have very many neighbors because this is primarily a vacation/snowbird community, and many of the homes near us are just that...seasonal/vacation homes...and many of the owners have not been back to "vacation" very often at all.  And then our neighbors directly behind us moved back up north last year due to health reasons, and only recently has that home been sold and a new neighbor moved in.  I have been praying about a way to welcome him to our neighborhood and include others nearby as well.   So next week we are having a neighborhood cookout here before some of the snowbirds on the street head back home for the summer.  I am praying it will be a time of blessing for all who participate...and especially praying for our new neighbor, as he seems very lonely and was most appreciative of the invitation. We asked him if he attended church anywhere, and he replied, "No, I like to go fishing...and that's my church."  So, my prayer is that somehow we will be able to find a way to encourage him in his spiritual walk as well.  

This little "prayer-chorus" came to mind as I was thinking about this: (Click on the video for the music and other verses that I didn't have printed)

"Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,

All His wonderful passion and purity;

O Thou Spirit divine,

All my nature refine

Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me."

Then that led me to the following scriptures:

Colossians 1:27

"Christ in you,

the hope of glory."

Galatians 2:20

"I have been crucified with Christ,

it is no longer I who live,

but Christ lives in me; 

and the life I now live in the flesh 

I live by faith in the Son of God,

Who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Galatians 6:7

"Do not be deceived,

God is not mocked;

for whatever a man sows, 

that he will also reap."

Galatians 6:8

"For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption,

but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap 

everlasting life."

Galatians 6:9

"And let us not grow weary while doing good,

for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

Lord Jesus, I pray that Your beauty will be seen in me...and that anything I do will be a reflection of You.  Help me to stay focused on YOU and You alone, that You may be glorified in all that I say and do, both here, and in our neighborhood and community. And help us not to lose heart as we seek to do Your will in reaching out to others. This I pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.

A Benediction of Grace:

"Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ

be with your spirit.

Amen."

Galatians 6:18