Sunday Evening "It's About Time"

I thought you might like to see that the Sand Hill Crane couple still stops by in our weedy yard every so often to say hello, 

My poor zinnia garden is pretty well toast and weeds. They also had a fungus and didn't do very well at all. I've planted some new seeds in a different location, and if they make it I will let you know. It's just been too hot and dry for anything nice to grow.

And to get a drink from the swimming pool that we keep filled up just for that purpose since it's so dry and Still Waters Pond is still very dry.

They seem to be most appreciative.

And Blackie loves to watch them from a distance. He's knows better than to get too close. It they had babies with them they would definitely chase him away...

"Hi Mom! Don't worry, I'm being good."

Here it is Sunday evening, and we are winding down with July as well as the photo-a-day-challenge. Today's challenge was 9 o'clock!  Well, at 9:00 this morning I was getting ready for church and didn't have time to take a picture of a clock.  And now it is about 8:11 p.m., and I don't feel like waiting until 9:00 to take a picture tonight. So, I cheated a bit.

This "Anniversary Clock" has been sitting on the Secretary Desk for ages, and it needed a new battery put in. So I decided to go ahead and put in a new battery and set it for 9:00 so I could take a picture. But by the time I got the battery in and the time set, and the mirrored back put back on and arranged it in such a way so you couldn't see my reflection in the mirror so well or on the glass...well, it was already past 9:00! 

I tried a couple of times (actually several, because of the reflections...I didn't want you to see my hands on the camera)

Or too much dust in the corners so I had to take it apart and clean it better...LOL.

This clock was given to us by my husband's Aunt Florence many years ago. She owned a furniture store in New Jersey, and I can't remember exactly when she gave this to us, but I'm thinking it's when we went there to visit her. BTW, the Army Soldier in the background was my hubby's father...and Aunt Florence was his sister. So this clock holds special memories, dust and all!  

And by the time I get finished writing this post, it will probably be 9:00! LOL

Today was a lovely day. We were blessed this morning to receive 10 new members! That is quite remarkable for our small church! Such a blessing! As you can see by all the gray heads in the pews, we need to keep bringing in new members, and especially some that are younger! 

It was also wonderful that our "kids" were here for lunch after church. Here's Rose and Benton and our grandpups Sugar and Spice. We were having some "cool" dessert, Marie Callendar's frozen Key Lime Pie and/or Banana Cream Pie. They were refreshing and I didn't have to bake.    Scott was also here, but I failed to take his picture.  He was busily enjoying his piece of Key Lime pie too.  We also had Fried Chicken that I picked up at the grocery store on the way home from church,  along with some coleslaw and Hawaiian Rolls. I did cook some mashed potatoes and made a tossed salad. It was nice not to have to cook anything but the potatoes, as it is SO hot, and I didn't want to ask Scott to grill anything outside in the heat.  All in all it was a good meal and a good time visiting with our kids. Always such a joy.

I had mentioned the other day that we needed to have some tree work done on Friday. One of the windy storms we had earlier in the week had knocked down some very large and heavy branches from some oak trees in the woods lot next to our house. Thankfully they weren't close enough to the house to hit it, but they did land on the chain link fence and needed to be cleaned up. So our son Benton came over and also a fellow from our church who helps us with our yardwork, and they worked really hard in the extreme heat to cut back those branches and clean it up the best they could.

It really was a bigger job than what they had equipment to handle, but they got the worst of it done and we are very thankfuly they managed without injury or too much heat exhaustion.

It was only 9:00 in the morning, and yet, it was already so hot that they really couldn't stay out there for very long.  

Someday when it's a bit cooler  than it has been we will get a lot more work done, but right now they did all that needed to be done.

Since our photo theme was about time, I thought I would close with a few Scripture verses about Time:

Isaiah 64:4  NIV

4 Since ancient times no one has heard,

no ear has perceived,

no eye has seen any God besides you,

who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.

Psalm 31:14-15a

But I trust in you, Lord;

I say, “You are my God.”

15 My times are in your hands;

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

A Time for Everything

1 There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Well Folks, I did it! I managed to keep writing until 9:00, and then I had to run around like a crazy person taking pictures of clocks before they changed the time. so these are the ones I managed to get!:

(on the bottom of my computer desktop screen).

The kitchen wall clock

My cell phone screen

The clock that sits in front of our TV in the living room.

My wrist watch. I almost didn't get there in time!

Well, now it is TIME for bed, so I will say good night and God bless you all!

Family Blessings and Fun

Yesterday we finally were able to connect with our "extended" Florida family and celebrate Christmas together! We traveled about an hour south of us to meet up with my sister and her hubby and my husband's brother and his wife and son for lunch at a restaurant and a good visit.

This is my "little big sister Doris with me.  I call her that because she's "littler" than me, but she's still my "big sister".

Here she is with her hubby Art.

These are the "Steiner Men". It's very difficult to get a good picture of all of them at once, so this will have to do! LOL. They put on such shenanigans most of the time.

A certain nephew doesn't like to have his picture taken, so now it has become a big joke and event to try and get Nick to smile and be "normal" for a picture. It's all in good fun,

This is the "Steiner" clan, yours truly, our DIL Rose, Benton, hubby John in back, nephew Nick in front, BIL Bill and his sweet wife Peggy. Their daughter Shannon was unable to come.

Somehow my sister managed to get these two pictures, one of me giving Nick a hug and the one below where he looks like the handsome young man that he is. He really is a sweetheart, and we have good fun together.

And here is the "Mursch/Hutchinson/Steiner" clan, a.k.a. my side of the family:

Sister Doris and hubby Art, yours truly, son Benton, DIL Rose, and hubby John.  

Can you tell it was cold and windy? Well, it was!  The temperature kept dropping all day  and we really weren't all properly prepared for such a drop.  I mean, this is Florida, for goodness sake! LOL.

Our son Scott had to work so couldn't join us yesterday, but he came by here today and we had a fun time with him.  Uncle Billy and Aunt Peggy gave John and Scott some fun "toys" for Christmas gifts, so the "boys" had to try them out:

I have some fun videos of them playing with these, but I can't seem to download them from my phone to my computer for some reason, so I guess you'll just have to take my word for it that they had a lot of fun!  Boys will be boys!!

I guess our family is a family that enjoys playing together and still has a lot of the "child" left in us.

Sugar and Spice were not forgotten with some more new toys from their "Aunt and Uncle",

And Benton and Rose got some new Tervis insulated cups in addition to some other fun things that I forgot to take pictures of.

And Lily Grace was not to be forgotten: She got a pretty new dress and black patent leather shoes to match.  

This beautiful snow globe has a lovely nativity scene inside! Really pretty!

And my sister always remembers to give me a new Teapot Calendar each year...

Along with the latest little Madame Alexander Hallmark tree ornament doll...

Who joins the family at Pamela's Victorian Cottage...

She has quite a few new sisters to get acquainted with...Our little family has certainly grown!!  I expect there will have to be some new stories in the near future about what's going on at Pamela's Victorian Cottage!

I can imagine what some of you are thinking...don't these people ever grow up?  Well, to be honest, no. I guess we are all big kids at heart and our family seems to indulge this fun and happy side of our personalities.  Maybe it's because when you've been through the hard and sad times of life you stop and realize that life is just too short to be so serious and stoic all the time.  Yes, there is a time to weep and a time to laugh...Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says it best:

1 "To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:

2 A time to be born,

And a time to die;

A time to plant,

And a time to pluck what is planted;

3 A time to kill,

And a time to heal;

A time to break down,

And a time to build up;

4 A time to weep,

And a time to laugh;

A time to mourn,

And a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones,

And a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace,

And a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to gain,

And a time to lose;

A time to keep,

And a time to throw away;

7 A time to tear,

And a time to sew;

A time to keep silence,

And a time to speak;

8 A time to love,

And a time to hate;

A time of war,

And a time of peace."

This past week it seemed as though just about everywhere we turned someone was losing a loved one...in one week alone our little church was touched by at least 5 deaths, either from former members or loved ones of members...most notably our former Pastor here for over seventeen years passed away rather unexpectedly.  He had just turned 70, and had a good report from the Doctor that he was doing better and improving. He had been dealing with health issues for a long time, but nothing that appeared to be that severe...but he passed away peacefully in his sleep early one morning...and I am sure he woke up in heaven and heard the words, "Welcome Home, Good and Faithful Servant!" 

I used to share his "Sermon Notes" here in my blog each week, and here is the post I wrote from his last sermon to us when he retired in June of 2019:  "Sermon Notes: A Season of Change" 

In loving memory of Pastor "A.C." Myers, here with his wife Leslie.  He will be greatly missed by his family and everyone who knew him.

Yes, there is "a time to be born, and a time to die", " a time to weep, and a time to laugh"..."a time to mourn and a time to dance"... we all go through different seasons in our lives, and oftentimes we can get stuck in one season or another, especially the season of grief.  I know this all too well, have been there and certainly don't want to go back...once in a while it still creeps up on me and I find myself succumbing to the need to weep and mourn again...but when I think about heaven...and the joy that is waiting for us there...and the loved ones who have gone on before us who will be there waiting to greet us at heaven's gate...well, that helps me to get back into "the time to laugh", and the "time to dance".  It helps me to rest in the joy of knowing where my loved ones are, and WHO they are with...Jesus! The One Who made heaven possible for us to enter...through His great sacrifice.  And it also allows me the freedom to enjoy the happy things of earth while I am still here...the love of friends and family, the beauty of God's creation all around us, and yes, even the joy and sweetness of allowing myself to be a child again...to be filled with that kind of joy and peace and trust...

Matthew 18:2-4 says:

2 "Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 

3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, 

you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 

4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

And most importantly to share that love and faith and trust with others. especially those who may be weeping or mourning and grieving...the faith of a little child that gives us great hope for our future.

So I must close this post for tonight and move on. I pray that whatever "season of life" you are in currently, that you will find the kind of rest and peace and yes, STRENGTH, that you need to carry on. There's only one place I know of to find it...in the Presence and Person of Jesus Christ...

Here's the sunset over Still Waters Pond right now as I write: 

"You will keep him in perfect peace,

Whose mind is stayed on You,

Because he trusts in You."

Isaiah 26:3

Amen...and Good Night

 

Tuesday 4 ~ Time

 Time

Time again for our Tuesday 4 Meme of just four questions weekly...in memory of our blogging friend Toni Taddeo.

Our hostess is Annie from Cottage by the Sea.  Thank you, Annie, for coming up with these questions each week!  It takes a lot of "time" to do this, and we appreciate you!  Here is what Annie has written for us to respond to and then my replies:

"Time flies and weeks just seem to fall by the way side faster and faster. We all have time on our hands at some point and we all find that time gets away from us at other times. It takes a lot of work to manage your time because it seems to be at odds with freedom and creativity in some ways."

Perhaps we might talk about time and how we use it.

1. Early to bed, early to rise? Do you have usual times to go to bed and get up in the morning? How do they work out for you?

Even though we are retired, we still tend to keep to a regular schedule for bedtime and time to get up. We normally are in bed by 10:00 p.m. and up at 6:00 a.m.  I find that I do much better when I stay on a schedule like this.  I am a morning person, and I love being awake in time to see the sunrise and all the activity out on Still Waters Pond early in the morning.

We proudly put the American Flag out each morning at sunrise, and sometimes I stand on the porch and sing, 

Oh, say, can you see

By the dawn's early light

What so proudly we hail'd

At the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars

Through the perilous fight

O'er the ramparts we watch'd

Were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket's red glare

The bombs bursting in air

Gave proof through the night

That our flag was still there

O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free

And the home of the brave?

I know our neighbors must think I'm a bit crazy, but then again, they just might wish they could sing along! LOL. They'd certainly be welcome to do so.

Usually the only "neighbors" awake at that time are the birds, and they are busily singing their praises to their Creator as well!

2. Ecclesiastes says "To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven."

How much time is devoted to work, housework, hobbies? What about religious pursuits like study, prayer, services? In other words, how is your time apportioned?

Well, let's see...I am retired, so no "real job", but we do volunteer at our family store, Dixie Cottage, at least 4 mornings a week. 

Housework? Oh, well, isn't that something that just never seems to end? I am not a real dedicated houseworker person...but I get it done as needed. That is one area I could use some "help", literally. Hubby does help with the floors, but keeping the bathrooms cleaned and dusting done and laundry, cooking, etc., is pretty much left up to me. Quite frankly, if I could afford a housekeeper to come in every other week and take care of some of this I would be thrilled.

  

Hobbies?  Hmmm, I think writing this blog is my main hobby, and taking pictures of whatever I see out there that is deemed picture worthy.  Blogging and keeping up with all of you does take some time. I usually try to do this in the early morning (like right now), and then again in the evening hours after all the supper dishes are done, etc. Some weeks I just don't have the time like I'd like to keep up, but I do the best I can.  

Religious pursuits, etc.: We have our Bible reading/devotional time in the morning before breakfast. Praying is kind of an ongoing thing throughout the day, before meals and bedtime and as needed when I hear of special requests. Church services and activities: We attend church regularly. My hubby teaches our adult Sunday School class and the Men's Bible Study. I attend our Ladies' Bible Study and Choir practice (and sing in the choir on Sunday). I try to participate in the Women's monthly fellowship, but it conflicts with the time we are at Dixie Cottage, so I haven't been able to participate as much lately. I am hoping that can be changed in the future as I miss being able to spend that time with the ladies of our church.  Our church activities are a major part of our lives and always have been, especially since we were in the pastoral ministry for the majority of our working years. Thankfully, since we retired, we are no longer "on call" 24/7 as we were before, but then again, as Christians we are always "on call" if Jesus calls us to duty.  

Our church and fellowship hall

3. Do you think you manage your time well or would you like to improve? How would you improve?

There is always room for improvement.  I find that I am not physically as able as I used to be to keep up with things like I would like to. I definitely do need to be more consistent in my time management at home, but it is what it is. 

4. Do you think time travel is possible? Why or why not?

Now that's an interesting question.  No, I really don't believe that "time travel" is possible, except for in our minds.  I can "imagine" going back in time to a less stressful and more peaceful time, and then when I really stop and think about it I realize that we have always had stresses and issues that are not so peaceful, no matter what era it may be.  So I am thankful to be living right here and now and wouldn't want to tamper with what God has done in placing me here right now. One thing I know for certain, God's timing is always perfect, and I prefer to stay in His time that He has chosen for me.  

King Solomon summed up time the best:

A Time for Everything

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NIV

 1 There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

And with that I will close as I have run out of time for writing this morning. LOL.  Must stay on schedule!  Have a blessed and beautiful day my friends...and most of all, make time for enjoying this day...spend time with God in His beautiful Creation around you...listen to the birds singing, look for signs of spring, hug someone you love...or even hug someone who just needs a hug...maybe a stranger! Make time for others and share the Love of Jesus wherever you go.

Okay, let's go see what others are writing about today at Tuesday 4.  Bye bye for now.

Change Is In the Air

There are subtle changes in the air...even though it is still very hot and steamy here in Florida,

there are little signs that we are about to go through a seasonal change.

 

This little dragonfly has been busily sipping nectar from the ends of these wildflower plants that are just about ready to start opening up.

I've been noticing them every time we take a walk, and there is a particular kind of wildflower stem that has little buds right at the tip top ready to bloom, and these dragonflies love to land on them and get a little sip of something good.

In the tree tops the Red Shouldered Hawks have been very active. This one is in the tall pine tree next to our house.  The Mississippi Kites who were guarding that spot seem to have disappeared, and now the Red Shouldered Hawk has regained his command of this watchtower.

Isn't he beautiful?

He rules the bird kingdom surrounding Still Waters Pond.

Just below his perch is this magnificent holly tree, and I couldn't help but notice how many berries it has! It is fully loaded, and they are beginning to change colors from green to yellow and soon to red. I don't even remember seeing these berries in the top of this tree last year...so maybe this huge crop means we are going to have a colder winter...(In Florida that might mean we'll get to wear our jackets and gloves occasionally!)

This is that same tree as viewed from the porch. It also shades our Secret Memorial Garden.

Around on the other side of our yard overlooking the pond is another big holly tree, and its berries are almost red already!  This seems really early to me.  But the birds are really going to love all these berries!

On the far side of the pond are these lovely maple trees, and they are already starting to turn red!

When we see maple leaves turning color, we get all excited because that means fall is just around the corner...or else it means we are in some other state because Florida really doesn't have as many beautiful autumn leaves as most places to the north of us. So we treasure every rare sighting of them.

I am looking forward to sitting on our porch and obeying every one of these "rules" as soon as the temperatures drop about ten more degrees, with no humidity.

Golf anyone?  I saw this strange sight in our wooded area on our property today, and I thought our son had forgotten to hit this golf ball and left it there on a tee.  Upon closer inspection I realized it was a mushroom!

Sure fooled me! It was even the same size as a golf ball!!

Along the edge of the pond there are a lot of grassy weeds growing. We were going to have someone come and cut them back so it wouldn't look too "snakey" around the pond. But upon closer inspection I found many new buds of wildflowers about to open.

These in particular I've never seen before:

And so I told my hubby that I'd prefer that we don't mow or cut them down until we get to see just what will be blooming there. Last year when we moved into this house we had someone clear that whole area, and so we never got to see what was growing there. I don't want to miss out on the natural beauty that God paints for us with each new season.

Of course, we still have plenty of the water lilies and lily pads in the pond. Even though the lilies are lovely, I wouldn't mind if someone could come and clean out a large portion of the lily pads so that I could paddle around in the kayak again.  Right now it is just too overrun with lily pads to navigate through them.

Do you see what I see?

Look closely....

And this is just another lovely view of the little island in the pond. I'd love to be able to paddle around it again. Maybe when it cools down a bit the lilies will die back some so I can get through.

Many of you were so sweet to wish our son a Happy Birthday. Here he is blowing out his candles after we sang Happy Birthday to him. On the far right is our Pastor and his wife, who came to enjoy the celebration with us.  Left to right: Hubby, son #3, (Scott), Daughter in Love (Rose), and son #1 (Benton), Pastor Dave and wife Carol. She is also our music and worship leader for our church.

And here I am with Rose and Benton.  We had a wonderful lasagna dinner prior to the delicious chocolate cake and ice cream. Rose baked the cake and also helped me with the lasagna. She is a great cook! 

You will notice that the number on the cake is 49.  Next year our son will enter a new decade in his life! It is hard for me to believe that I have a son who is almost 50 years old! How can that be? Where has the time gone?  Seems like only yesterday that I was anxiously awaiting his very late and long delivery. He was 2 and 1/2 weeks late and weighed 9 lbs. 13 1/2 ounces at birth!  Needless to say I was very happy to have him make his grand entrance into the world!  He is a joy and a blessing, and we are very blessed to have him. (along with the rest of our beautiful family too, of course, but this is about him!)

Seems like only yesterday he looked like this! (at 3 months old)

Makes me think of that song from Fiddler on the Roof:

"Is this the little girl I carried?

Is this the little boy at play?

I don't remember growing older

When did they?

When she did get to be a beauty?

When did he grow to be this tall?

Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?

Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly flow the days

Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers

Blossoming even as we gaze

Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly fly the years

One season following another

Laden with happiness and tears"

Thinking about the change of  seasons and seasons of life always reminds me of this passage from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.  I know it is familiar to most everyone, but when I look at the things that are happening in our world and country these days, these words become even more clear:

1

To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:

2 

A time to be born,

And a time to die;

A time to plant,

And a time to pluck what is planted;

3 

A time to kill,

And a time to heal;

A time to break down,

And a time to build up;

4 

A time to weep,

And a time to laugh;

A time to mourn,

And a time to dance;

5 

A time to cast away stones,

And a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace,

And a time to refrain from embracing;

6 

A time to gain,

And a time to lose;

A time to keep,

And a time to throw away;

7 

A time to tear,

And a time to sew;

A time to keep silence,

And a time to speak;

8 

A time to love,

And a time to hate;

A time of war,

And a time of peace.

Personally, I am looking forward to that "time to love, and a time of peace."  I think we've had too much time to hate ,  and too much time to "refrain from embracing". I think we've also had more than enough time to "keep silence"...many of us need to find that "time to speak"...and there has been way too much "time to kill"...we need time to heal and time to build up...no more casting stones...I'm looking forward to the day when there will be no more weeping and we can laugh out loud once again...and then we need to just dance.     Anybody else with me here?  

Praying for our country to heal...and praying that we will soon be able to laugh, embrace, and dance.

Have a blessed and beautiful Sunday tomorrow. If at all possible where you are, please try to attend the worship services of your choice.  If unable to attend in person, then please tune in to a church service online.  Here is the link to our church if you don't have one:

I hope you will enjoy this message and the music at the beginning.

Our praise the team is singing "Soon And Very Soon"

Soon and very soon we are going to see the king

Soon and very soon we are going to see the king

Soon and very soon we are going to see the king

Hallelujah hallelujah

We are going to see the king

No more crying there

No more crying there

No more crying there

Hallelujah hallelujah

We are going to see the king

No more dying there

No more dying there

No more dying there

Hallelujah hallelujah

We are going to see the king

Soon and very soon we are going to see the king

Soon and very soon we are going to see the king

Soon and very soon we are going to see the king

Hallelujah hallelujah

We are going to see the king!

I hope you are ready to see "the King"... the times and the seasons tell us that it might not be long!!