Saturday "WONDERING" Where I've Been?

I'm sure you are "wondering" why I would put a picture of a naked chicken on my post?  Well read on to find out.

 Hello friends...Here is it Saturday, and instead of my usual Saturday "Wanderings", I bet you may be having a Saturday "WONDERING" where I've been?  Yes, I've been MIA pretty much this week.  I did manage to get the Tuesday 4 post done, but that was the end of my activity here in blogland. Why? you may ask... well if you're a Facebook friend you may have noticed this picture posted earlier in the week:

Psalm 118:14 NKJV

14 The Lord is my strength and song,

And He has become my salvation.

I had previously posted a little blurb about "being under the weather" on Facebook...and so I was.  It started actually late Monday night with a scratchy throat, which strangely developed during a very fierce thunderstorm just as we were getting ready for bed.  Not that the storm could have had anything to do with that as we keep our windows closed and have the AC on, but still, that's how I remember it.  I figured it was an allergy because we had mowed the grass that day and at that time it was pretty dry and dusty and I breathed a lot of dust and grass pollen, etc.  But anyway, I went to bed, and woke up the next day thinking I should probably take an allergy pill because my throat still felt kind of funny, and my glands were kind of swollen.  Our son called and said he and Rose had sore throats and felt like they were getting bad colds, and it had started for them the night before as well, with a scratchy throat during that storm! Weird, huh? I thought so too.   But as the day progressed I started feeling worse, like a really bad cold was coming on. Hubby said he felt fine.

Then I started hearing from different ones at church that others were sick with bad colds, and then one lady reported she tested positive for that dread word, covid.   Uh Oh! Now we were on high alert! Benton and Rose had helped serve communion on Sunday morning, and we do it in our church where everyone comes forward and is served at the altar, so they had contact with everyone in the church. John and I also served communion to the people sitting in the choir and those who are unable to come forward from their seats to be served. We do this every week, and I look forward to serving some very special dear ones face to face.  But that was Sunday, and none of us felt sick or had any sign of any symptoms then.  

As a matter of fact, here is a picture I took of Benton and Rose on Sunday after church at our house. They looked so nice and we are so proud of them and thankful for the sweet dear couple they are. They are actually getting ready to take a trip to Minnesota for a few weeks, but their departure had to be delayed because of this development. Thankfully they are both pretty much well now and hope to be able to leave by Monday, Lord willing.  We will certainly miss them.

So to make a long story short, as the week progressed, I got worse and worse, and finally went to the Doctor for a Covid Test, which was positive. They do the testing in the parking lot and don't allow you inside the building unless you test negative. So they gave me some packets of supplements to help build the immune system and gave me prescriptions for both my hubby and me for a zpack, even though at that moment he was not yet symptomatic, but they said he would be, and yes, he is now and is pretty much miserable, but we are SO thankful for the advances they have made in the treatment of this nasty virus.  God is good, and we are so very glad.  

And so today is actually the first day I have even felt like doing anything here on the computer. Oh, and back to this:

So,  I woke up this morning thinking how much I wished I had a "boiled chicken".  You know, where you boil (or stew) a whole chicken in a pot with celery and onions and maybe a carrot, until it is falling off the bone tender and delicious? And then you can either make your own chicken noodle soup (so much better than the canned stuff I've been eating this week), or chicken and dumplings or some other wonderful chicken dish.  But of course there was not a piece of chicken to be found in my freezer! I usually keep some breasts or thighs, but there was not a one. 

 I thought I was feeling so much better this morning so that I could get dressed and run to the store, wear a mask and run in and out so fast no one would recognize me, and get a nice plump chicken to stew.  But I soon discovered that just going out to our mailbox and back was about as much "running" I could manage today.  So a little later I was talking to Benton and Rose on the phone and they said they had a few little errands they had to run today to get ready for their trip, and I mentioned how much I wish I had a whole chicken to boil. I thought my son would never stop laughing at how funny that sounded to him, but he said he would be happy to go get me a chicken to boil.  And sure enough, he showed up at our door a little later with a sack and said, "Here's your chicken to boil! Enjoy!"   Gotta love him!

  It's done boiling now, but I am waiting for it to cool so I can take care of the rest...it smells SO good! That's real comfort food!

Oh, and earlier today I actually enjoyed taking some pictures of some real live birds, the Bluebirds and others. I haven't even hardly looked out the window all week, but today I know I am getting better because I am enjoying seeing all the beauty God has provided around us once again:

Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird have been quite active the past few days actually feeding the babies inside the house. I know they must be getting bigger, because the parents are bringing food and then taking some back away in order  to entice them to follow them out of the nest. This is how they do it when the babies are ready to leave the nest...

Here's Mrs. Bluebird  looking out the window and looking rather grumpy, I might say. It must be getting too crowded inside that little hot house!

Here comes Daddy with a juicy bug...

Hey! This is my bug!  You can't have it!    LOL.

My that looks tasty...

Not sure what that is...is it a wasp or a bee or a spider? Whatever it is, it's what's for dinner!

Here's Mama with another juicy tidbit for her family.

Earlier these small white Egrets were out on Still Waters Pond looking for something good to eat.  

Yes, the pond is still very shallow and almost dry in places. Although it is raining right now as I write, it will take a lot more rain than what we've been getting lately to fill this pond back up. All those lily pads  are probably going to die and become the next layer of muck on the bottom of the pond when we do finally get some significant rainfall.

The Egrets don't seem to mind at all. This is their kind of place!

Well, friends. I know I've missed out on all of your posts this past week, and I know I probably won't be able to get caught up anytime soon, so I'll just have to start where I can and say hello as I go. I've missed you and pray that you are all well.  

I am VERY thankful to God for His kindness and care and healing. That I am most sure of.

Isaiah 40:29 NKJV

29 He gives power to the weak,

And to those who have no might He increases strength.

Praise God from Whom ALL blessings flow!!

Tuesday 4 Questions about Me?

 

You...

It's time again for Tuesday 4 in memory of Toni Taddeo, our founder.

Let's talk about you this week.

1. How are you unique or different from your friends or family? How typical are you?

Well, the first thing that set me apart from my family was that I was "the little redhead"... see below:  

I know you've probably seen these pictures before in some of my previous posts, but I always say "A picture is worth a thousand words".  I was the only one of my siblings to inherit the red hair from our father...which, by the time this picture was taken, his hair had already turned to a very dark auburn, and eventually a handsome snowy white (below).  My hair is still somewhere between a rather faded auburn and lots of white streaks suddenly appearing here and there.

This was the last official family portrait in 2005 before my mother died in 2006:

In my genealogical research I believe I finally discovered that the red hair gene came from my father's mother's father's side of the family.  My grandmother was adopted as an infant, and so we never knew her birth parentage until I did the DNA test and figured things out through Ancestry. com last year.  

Besides the red hair, which you would be amazed at how much that becomes a major part of your identity...when I meet people I grew up with who haven't seen me in a long while, the first question they often ask me is "What happened to your red hair?" Anyway, besides that "claim to fame", I am often told that my sister and I look like twins. We both know that isn't true...she was the cute, petite brunette, and I was the tall, freckled redhead.  But somehow over the years we have melded together and have many same expressions and features. We often end up wearing the same colors and/or similar outfits to a gathering when we live two hours apart and never consult each other about what to wear. And we like a lot of the same things...a tea party, singing in the church choir...and family gatherings.  But she has the green thumb in the family and my talents tend to be more about photography and writing to you all.    

2. How do you spend your spare time? books, hobbies, visiting, tv etc.

I probably answered that above...writing, photography, family and church activities and singing in the choir, and reading.  Lately hubby and I have enjoyed watching Murdoch Mysteries together, and prior to that the Midsomer Murders.  When we run out of those series to watch we will have to find another interesting and "fun" series to watch.  Or else he'll go back to just watching sports and I'll have to occupy my time elsewhere, like reading a good book or writing to you.  In the summertime we spend the majority of our day indoors because it is too hot outside to do much besides our daily early morning walk and evening walk and occasional rides in the country.   When "fall" finally arrives here in Florida, we enjoy being outdoors a lot more.  I am very much looking forward to fall.


3. What was high school like for you?  

Well, I was very thankful to live in a very small town and go to a very small school, where everyone knew everyone and most of us grew up together the whole 12 years of school. I had a lot of friends and had many opportunities to participate in school activities like cheerleading, acting in school plays, singing in the chorus, participating in the FHA (Future Homemakers of America), and just generally having a good time!!  I wasn't the greatest student academically, mainly because I was too busy with all these other activities and so I didn't apply myself like I should have.  My father once asked me why I couldn't make straight "A's" like my cousin, and I said "Because I'm too busy enjoying everything else in school".  I wasn't that interested in going to college, but I did go to the community college for one year where I met my husband, and the rest is history...

4. This question has multiple parts:


a. Handbag: designer style or any will do?  I only change bags seasonally... and for church I may change to a more dressy style to match my shoes/outfit if I am in the mood or have time to do so.  I once had a tapestry bag that I carried for almost 20 years because it was that good. It was handmade by a sweet little old lady, and it held everything I needed for work and to carry a bank bag to the bank each day incognito, and it was washable...and it went with everything. I loved that bag, and only gave it up because the lining finally ripped and became unrepairable.  I still have it in my closet, however.  I really loved that bag. Maybe I will go find it and take a picture of it...

Those of you who know how much I love tea parties and pretty hats will see why I loved this bag so much.

b. Pajamas or night gown? This link will tell you about my favorite nightgown.  You will have to read that whole post to get to the part about the nightgown...and I'm still wearing that same gown. I have others, but I just like that one best.

c. Shoes: sturdy or pretty ? Comfy is more the word I would choose.  I wear Skechers most all of the time, even on Sunday, as I have a pair that are more like a black leather flat, except of course they have rubber soles and are very comfy, and they look fine with my black slacks. If I decide to wear a dress, then I have a couple of pairs of low heeled dress shoes, one navy, and one black. I occasionally wear sandals, but only if the outfit requires it. I really am not a sandals kind of person, even if I DO live in Florida!

d. Home decor: classic, modern, farm house style, traditional?  You've seen pictures of my house/furnishings before.  I would call it classic traditional shabby chic farmhouse hand me down style. How's that?  Nothing modern except the TV.


e. Movies: feel good, drama, romance, action?  Not really into movies that much anymore. I prefer old classic movies that actually have some real actors and actresses in them. I do like drama, romance  action, and funny movies. I loved Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, Gregory Peck, etc., etc.  Actors from that era.  I often feel like I was born too late.  Most everything I really love came from way back when. I guess I'm just an old fashioned girl.

So now I hope you will check out what others are sharing today as well on Tuesday 4.  

Personal Note: I want to thank all of you for your kind comments on my yesterday's post regarding our kids w/Covid.  Last evening was kind of scary. They both had been coughing so much all day that they finally decided to go to the Emergency Room.  My sweet DIL has pneumonia in addition to the Covid. However, they were eligible to receive the new Monoclonal Antibody Treatment.  They each had the infusion last night, and were able to go home around 9:30.  They finally were also given other prescriptions that should help them recover.  Why their Doctor couldn't have ordered this sooner I do not understand, but I am very thankful they went last night and were taken care of.  This virus is really running rampant in our area, and every day we are hearing of more people with it and many have died. I was at my PT this morning, and a man came in to tell the therapists that his mother would not be coming back for therapy anymore because she died from Covid yesterday.  It was just heartbreaking.  We thank the good Lord for sparing our kids and we trust they will continue to heal and get stronger day by day, but prayers are still much appreciated.  Thank you so very much.  I haven't been able to get around to reading everyone's posts because we've been doing a lot of other extra things to help take care of their needs without actually being able to be there with them. I am just so thankful we live close enough to be able to do these things for them.  God is with us.  God bless you all, and hug your family while you can.  Things can happen so fast, which sadly several of our friends here have already had to experience.  

Monday Praise

 Yesterday's sermon by our Pastor about prayer was right on...from Luke 11:1-13.  I think you will enjoy it...but first you'll have to listen to the Praise Team singing "We'll Soon Be Done with Troubles and Trials"

"Some of these days I'm going home where no sorrows ever come,

We'll soon be done with troubles and trials.

Safe from heartache pain and care we shall all that glory share.

Then I'm gonna sit down beside my Jesus, sit down and rest a little while

We'll soon be done with troubles and trials

Yes in that home on the other side

Shake glad hands with the elders, tell my kindred good morning

Sit down beside my Jesus, sit down and rest a little while.

I shall behold His blessed face, I shall feel His matchless grace

We'll soon be done with troubles and trials

Oh what peace and joy sublime in that home of love divine.

Then I'm gonna sit down beside my Jesus, sit down and rest a little while

We'll soon be done with troubles and trials

Yes in that home on the other side

Shake glad hands with the elders, tell my kindred good morning

Sit down beside my Jesus, sit down and rest a little while

We'll soon be done with troubles and trials

Yes in that home on the other side

Shake glad hands with the elders, tell my kindred good morning

Sit down beside my Jesus, Sit down beside my Jesus

Sit down beside my Jesus, and rest a little while

Sit down and rest a little while, little while.

The part that struck me most about the Luke 11 passage was this:

Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking

9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 

10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 

12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 

13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

I have not been on Blogger much this past week, and only a few of you know the reason why. But I feel thankful and blessed so much right now that I want to share with you what has been going on.  

Our Son Benton and his wife Rose (picture taken last fall).

Saturday was our oldest son's 50th birthday! We had planned to have a wonderful family celebration for him on Friday because of their scheduling, etc.,  and family and friends were to come from quite a distance to honor his birthday.  Well, last Sunday our sweet Rose developed a fever and started having a cough and sinus issues. Yes, she tested positive for Covid. The next day Benton came down with the same symptoms, and therefore of course they had to close their business and stay home all week. Needless to say, the birthday party was cancelled until further notice. Thankfully my hubby and I had not been with them for over a week prior to when they got sick, and of course we have stayed away from them all week. We have, however, been cooking some meals, picking up groceries, etc., and delivering them to their front door. Of course they didn't open the door until we were way out of the way.

So, those verses our Pastor preached upon yesterday really hit home with me.  If a son asks for bread, would you give him a stone...or if he asks for a fish, would you give him a serpent? Or if he asks for an egg, would you give him a scorpion?    I am sure you would all agree with me in responding "Of course not!"  We would do anything within our power to help our kids and relieve their suffering in any way possible.  If we could take their pain away and take it ourselves, we would.  But thankfully God has not asked us to do exactly that.  What He does ask us to do is Ask, Seek, and Knock...."A.S.K."  Ask God and it will be opened to you...Seek God and you will find...Knock on the door of God's heart, and it will be opened to you.  

That is what we've been doing this week...asking, seeking, and knocking...praying for healing for our kids.  It's been a rough week for them...and last night Benton was very concerned for Rose as she just didn't seem to be getting better. He was planning to take her to the hospital today if she wasn't significantly improved.  (BTW, when you test positive for Covid, they just send you home to fend for yourselves.  They had to call their doctor, and she told them what OTC medicines to take...no prescriptions were given or offered...just fight your way through this, and if you can't breathe, go to the emergency room, which is full, and our hospital is full, etc., etc.)  So when I heard that, my "asking, seeking, knocking" on heaven's door was turned up a notch.  I spent a rather restless night, and every time I couldn't sleep, I was praying for Rose to be better today.  Of course I prayed for Benton too, but he seemed to be getting stronger while she was not.  

So you can imagine my joy and elation and thankfulness when I called them this morning and Rose actually answered the phone, and she almost sounded like her "old self".  Still sounds like someone with a bad cold, but she sounded stronger, and she even giggled when I told her how happy I was to hear her voice this morning.  My heart is overflowing with thanksgiving and praise.  God heard my prayers and I do believe He has answered them.  I do believe they will continue to regain strength from here on out.

"In my distress I called upon the Lord,

And cried out to my God;

He heard my voice from His temple,

And my cry came before Him, even to His ears."

Psalm 18:6

For those of you who knew about this, I want to thank you for your prayers on their behalf.  And for those who are just now learning of this, prayers are still needed.  They still have a ways to go before they are ready to get back to work. They have a business to run, and everyday they are closed they are losing money.  Thankfully they had two women they know who are vendors in their store, and they volunteered to open the store on Friday and Saturday so they could hopefully make some sales.  And praise God, they made enough on those two days to actually cover what they probably would have made if they had been open all week!  God is so good.  This week is another issue, but again, I believe God is going to take care of them. He knows their needs and He knows exactly how to provide whatever they need.  Our God is an awesome God, and we are blessed and so very very thankful.

Thank you for taking the time to read all of this.  You are all a blessing to me. 

Prayers for a dear friend.

 I was going to do a special post tonight about my husband's birthday, but I just went on Facebook  and saw that our dear friend Terri, from "Your Friend From Florida",  just posted that her dear hubby Joe passed away this afternoon from complications of COVID-19.  My heart is breaking for Terri as I know many of you will also be in shock at this news. This virus has not been kind to  several of our dear blogging friends and their families.   

So in respect for our friend Terri, and in memory of her dear hubby Joe, I just cannot post my happy birthday post for my husband tonight.  I am so thankful to still have my wonderful husband and thank the good Lord every day for the blessing of having him as my loving mate for almost 52 years.  Dear friends, if you are still blessed to have your mate with you, please hug them a little closer tonight and thank the good Lord for His kindness and grace.   And please pray for our dear friend Terri and their sons and families as they grieve the loss of this very dear, sweet man. They are one of the first of our blogging friends that I was privileged to meet in person. 

Wednesday Treasures ~ And a Prayer Request

 

I started to publish this post last night, and then when I went over to my Facebook page I saw this announcement from our dear friend Barbara at Sweet Tea and Sandals:

"Tom Mims is being transferred to hospice care tomorrow. All of our children and grandchildren are en route now. Pray for sweet times together. Visits will be severely limited due to COVID restrictions. Pray we have more time with my Beloved, the love of my life. Holding on to Joshua 1:9, "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear for God is with [me]."

To say I am in shock would be an understatement. We've been following the story of Barbara's "Beloved" Tom for the past three weeks, as he has been in ICU with COVID, but the hope was, until last night apparently, that he was getting better and would soon be transferred to a different hospital that specializes in lung care until he could go home.  However, after reading Barbara's post in her blog (highlighted above), his lungs are in very bad shape and it seems as though Hospice is the best option for him at this time.  My heart is breaking for them and for their family. This picture was taken of them when they came to visit us in our new home last fall. They so graciously brought us some storage totes that they no longer needed after their big move the previous summer into their new home about an hour away from us. We had such a great visit with them. Such gracious and loving people. Tom celebrated his 70th birthday this past Sunday, and their 50th wedding anniversary is upcoming in December. Please keep Barbara and Tom and family in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.  

After that news I really wasn't sure if I wanted to continue my regular post.  But since it was already written, and perhaps we all need some beauty and joy in our hearts right at this moment, I will go ahead as planned...but my heart is truly heavy this morning as I prepare this.  Here is what I had already written last night:

I hope you don't mind if I share a few more pictures of the Robins and Cedar Waxwings in the holly tree. They are still diligently at it, eating every berry in sight. I believe the tree will be bare by Thanksgiving Day! I can't imagine how they can eat so many berries in such a short amount of time, but there are a lot of birds and they just keep flying in and out all day long.  It has been fascinating to watch. The only downside is they like to fly back to the big oak trees in our front yard and sit there until they are ready to fly back to the holly tree for more berries. While they are in the oak tree, they are right over top of our car, and you can imagine what they are doing to our car while they sit up above...yes...so we have had to park our car in a different location until they are gone! What a mess! We had to take the car to the car wash yesterday morning.

So enjoy these pictures of the birds while I look for something else to share with you for my Wednesday Treasures:

Look at that face!  I think he sees me!

This Cedar Waxwing is doing some fancy acrobatics, hanging sideways on the branch and apparently he is flexing his wing out to give him balance as he picks the berries of the branch.

Now he's a little more upright and in better position.

There aren't as many of the Cedar Waxwings as the Robins, so I am thrilled when I can get a picture of one.

These two robins seem to be working very closely. Maybe they are related.

And this lone Robin sat there looking out over Still Waters Pond for a long time. I think he was contemplating where to go from here. Maybe calculating how far they will have to travel to get to the next big holly tree when this one runs out of berries!

Okay, I found some interesting things, but these aren't my treasures. However, they are vintage treasures from the past. We went out for lunch with some friends after church on Sunday to a different place than where we normally go. This place is a little further down the road, and we've been there before, but they recently changed owners and the new folks have cleaned it up a bit and made it more interesting. I enjoyed walking around taking pictures of some of the things they have sitting around.  Maybe you will like them too:

The new owner has been buying mismatched vintage dishes from the thrift stores and using them for their dinnerware. This pretty little Johnson Brothers saucer was used for our bread.

Here's the pattern/name in case you are interested! I loved it!

They are starting to sell more gift items. I love this vintage gas stove they are using for display:

And this vintage General Electric refrigerator reminds me of the one my parents had when I was growing up. I can remember learning how to defrost the freezer! I was so happy when, for my parents' 30th wedding anniversary, we four kids went together and bought them a new frost-free refrigerator! It was harvest gold, in keeping with the times. 30 years later, for their 60th wedding anniversary, we bought them another one, this time it was a lovely almond color. That one lasted them the rest of their lives as my mother passed away around their 64th anniversary and my dad lived five years longer. I believe we sold it with their house.  Anyway, I digress....let's keep moving on before I get too nostalgic.

I went into the ladies' room, and look what they had!

Thankfully, that wasn't all they had, but I thought, gee! I could've used that last week while waiting for them to come clean out our septic tank...which they did finally do by the way, thank the Lord!!

Also they had this granite ware in the ladies' room, sitting on top of a enamel topped "Hoosier Table"

This is the label that is still on the table. My Hoosier Cupboard originally had a label like that too, but it had been painted over so many times that it kind of dissolved when I stripped the cupboard to refinish it. I always wished I could find another label to put on my cupboard, and I must admit I was tempted  to "borrow this", but I knew better.  Maybe I will print a copy of it and glue it on my cupboard. That would be okay, wouldn't it? LOL.

Gee, I wish I'd known! I could have brought my laundry and washed my clothes while we dined! LOL. How many of you remember using a wringer washer? I know my mother had one on the farm in PA., but when we moved to Florida in 1956 we got an automatic washing machine. It was still a few years before we got a dryer, however, so clothes were always hung on the line. They smelled so good!

Now if you get bored you can always take a little ride around on the tricycle, or in the cute little kiddie car! Hard to believe we were ever small enough to ride in such a thing!

Now, someone tell me. Is this a chamber pot, or just a pretty casserole?

I thought maybe since it was in the hutch it was a casserole or soup tureen? Maybe, maybe not.

They had a lot of old photographs from the little community that used to be where this place was. It's long gone now, but apparently at one time it was a "thriving" little town.

When you step up on the front porch of the restaurant, "Pappy" wants to tell your fortune. He seems to be better at cracking funny jokes and insulting people in a fun way. 

Here is the restaurant: Hog Wild Country Cafe'.  They have great BBQ. Right now they just do lunch and supper. I wish they had breakfast too.  Just seems like it is a breakfast kind of place.  Anyway, we had a good time, and enjoyed seeing all the fun memorabilia. There's much much more to see, but these struck my fancy this time. Maybe next time I go I'll show you the rest of it!

So now I am getting ready for Thanksgiving. Started doing some housecleaning today (writing on Tuesday) and will finish that up tomorrow. (Wed.)  I have a friend actually coming over to help me a little bit. She does house cleaning for a living and needs some work right now, and I need some help with some things so it sounds like a win win to me.  Then I will get busy and bake the pumpkin pies and start getting other things ready to cook Thursday morning. My sweet daughter in love is cooking the turkey at their house and will bring it here when ready! What a blessing to have our children living near by. And as of this moment, my sister and her immediate family will be coming to join us for dinner. If the weather is nice enough, we may just dine outside on the porch, to help keep the fresh air flowing around us. Pray that everyone stays safe and healthy. That is our biggest concern for this day.

I hope that you and yours will have a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving. No matter how big or small our gatherings may be, let us take this opportunity to truly thank the Lord for bringing us safely through this year and all that it has involved. And for those who have had illness or even may be fighting it right now, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, praying that the Lord will give you strength to keep going and the peace to know that God is with you and will never let you go. (Praying especially for Barbara and Tom Mims, and also some of our other blogging friends who have also been diagnosed recently with Covid.) If we've learned anything lately, it is that this illness/virus is truly a serious and vicious foe that is not to be toyed with. 

The 23rd Psalm seems to be the most appropriate message I can share with you today, in light of all that has transpired in the past 24 hours:

Psalm 23

23 The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

3 He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

Sunset on Still Waters Pond, 11-24-2020

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

Amen.

Sunrise~ A new day is dawning. Let us give thanks to the Lord, and not take anything or anyone for granted. May God be with you all. Amen.

Prayer Request for A Special Friend

 

Hey blogging friends, many of you here know our friend MaryJane at Visits With Mary  She is also one of our beloved Facebook friends.  Well, I was missing seeing her there so sent her a message, and she says she is in the hospital with Covid, and to please pray for her.  Those of you who know Mary know that she also deals with COPD and must wear oxygen most of the time, so she is definitely in a precarious position. She didn't say just how sick she was, and the fact that she was able to answer me on Facebook is encouraging, but with this illness we just don't know from one day to the next. So please keep Mary in your thoughts and prayers if you will. 

Thank you!!

Is It Safe To Come Out Yet?

Is it safe to come out yet?

 This Tufted Titmouse has taken up residence in the birdhouse that was originally intended for bluebirds, but they never came back to move in.

The Bluebird when he was just visiting with Bobby the Squirrel earlier this spring.

 And then the Chickadee started to set up housekeeping in there, but apparently they decided to go elsewhere too.

One day I peeked inside and saw this lizard in there, and I closed it back up real quick. He's a funny looking bird.

And so I was happy to see this Tufted Titmouse poke his head out the other day. I hope she's going to actually stick with it and maybe  we will finally see some baby birds around here.  Sometimes I think they are just all "playing house" and aren't really serious about staying.  Time will tell.

Other activity in the bird kingdom beside Still Waters Pond...This Blue Jay was scolding this Hawk. They were making quite a racket, and then they flew away. Apparently the hawk was getting too close to the Blue Jay's nest or baby birds...

I guess we are all asking if it is "safe to come out yet?"  I've spoken with several different people, and depending upon their age and location, their opinions are varied.  Some refuse to leave the house without a mask...and others do not feel that a mask is really protecting them or anyone else and could even cause some harm to the wearer. I personally think it is a decision that each person must make for themselves, depending upon their own comfort level and health factors.  I do not believe that people should be forced to wear a mask, nor should they be ridiculed if they don't. Likewise, those who do not wear a mask should also be respectful of those who do wear a mask. There are so many conflicting opinions on this subject even among the medical community that I don't think anyone really has a totally correct answer.  So therefore, at this point in time, and depending upon where you live and other factors involved, each person needs to decide for themselves and do what you are most comfortable doing. 

I know that some people are still not comfortable going out to eat in restaurants or being in other public places.  And again, that is something that each person must decide for themselves. If you are not comfortable...please don't go! But on the other hand, for those who are ready to get out and enjoy some good food and fellowship with some friends, by all means go! Yes, we need to be respectful of those around us and maintain a safe "social distance", but again, I think we need to be realistic and realize that at some point in time we have to be ready and willing to embrace life again, and walk in faith and not by fear.

For those who truly need to get back to work, I pray that you are able to do so freely. There are some who have lost businesses or are in danger of losing their business, and they really need to get back and try to bring it back if they are able. Praying it's not already too late for them.  Others may not have a job to go back to and don't have any other source of income. and the government stimulus check has run out long ago. People have children to feed, mortgages/rent to pay, car payments, other bills that are pressing...and not all lenders are able to be that forgiving for very long. They also  have overhead bills to pay.  My heart goes out to these people, and I pray they are able to recapture what they've lost.

Most of all, we know that there are many who have been touched by this pandemic in a deeply sorrowful way. I know of those who have lost loved ones, others who have been sick but have recovered thankfully,  and/or there are those who have been working non-stop on the front lines, rescuing the perishing, caring for the dying. They've put their own lives at risk to save those who can't help themselves. Their lives have been painful, heart-breaking, exhausting. To them, our need to "get out and go somewhere" is the last thing on their minds.  We need to be respectful and sympathetic to their grief and pain.

I guess I am writing all of these thoughts because I've been touched by each and every aspect of this crisis in one way or another. My heart goes out to those who are truly, truly hurting. I do not want my desire to be "out and about" to cause hurt to those who are caught in the crossfires of this tragedy and can't see any way out of it at this time.

Thinking about these things reminds me of a gospel song that I have loved to sing in the past.

Does Jesus Care?

"Does Jesus care when my heart is pained

Too deeply for mirth or song,

As the burdens press, and the cares distress,

And the way grows weary and long?

Chorus:

Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,

His heart is touched with my grief;

When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,

I know my Savior cares.

Does Jesus care when my way is dark

With a nameless dread and fear?

As the daylight fades into deep night shades,

Does He care enough to be near?

(chorus)

Does Jesus care when I've tried and failed

To resist some temptation strong;

When for my deep grief there is no relief,

Though my tears flow all the night long?

(chorus)

Does Jesus care when I've said "goodbye"

To the dearest on earth to me,

And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—

Is it aught to Him? Does He see?

(Chorus)

Sung by "The Isaacs"

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: William J. Gaither / Lily Isaacs

So, to sum this up...we are each responsible to make decisions that are right for ourselves and our own family situations. I realize that some are stuck in locations where their government leaders have made life very difficult, and in many cases, unrealistically overburdening their people. Praying that God will give people in those situations the grace and patience to hang in there, hoping that things will soon get better...but again, each person needs to make choices that are right for them.

The important thing to remember is that you are not alone in your struggles. God is with you. Yes, Jesus DOES care...He sees the pain and difficulties you are going through, and He is there ready and willing to help.  We don't always understand why we are stuck in such difficult situations, but one thing I have learned in life is that when the way gets rough, God is there, and He is helping me get through.   He brings us through to rich fulfillment.

Psalm 66:10-12, 18-20

10.  "For You, O God, have tested us;

You have refined us as silver is refined.

11.  You brought us into the net;

You laid affliction on our backs.

12.  You have caused men to ride over our heads;

We went through fire and through water;

But YOU brought us out to rich fulfillment."

18.  If I regard iniquity in my heart,

The Lord will not hear.

19.  But certainly God has heard me;

He has attended to the voice of my prayer.

20.  Blessed be God,

Who has not turned away my prayer,

Nor His mercy from me!"

I have a "footnote" in my Bible by these last verses, dated 5/25/2014, "The Day Matthew died."  I read these verses in my devotional that morning, the day that our son died from cancer. That anniversary is coming up next Monday, I just realized.    Those were very hard days; much harder than anything we personally are going through right now.  But God was with us, and He heard our cries, and He gave us His love and mercy. He showed us He cared. Yes, our son died. But Jesus comforted us. We grieved, but He was touched with our grief and dried our tears. We went through "fire and through water" in our souls, but GOD brought us out to rich fulfillment.  

These times are difficult, and they have been very trying for many...perhaps someone who is reading this now.  But please know, you are not alone. Jesus does care...and He WILL see you through.  And soon we will all be able to say, "Yes, it is safe to come out now"....

Have a blessed week my friends.