Wednesday Treasures~It's April!

How about we start out this first Wednesday in April post with some Sand Hill Crane Colts Cuteness Overload?

Trumpet says, "That sounds like a great idea to me!"

Now I know which one is "Spring"...she chooses the flower garden to take her afternoon rest...

At 90 degrees in the shade, I can't say as I blame her...

What a beautiful picture of "Spring"....

Trumpet says, "Hey! What about ME?  Aren't I cute sitting here on my haunches in the shade too?"

Yes,, Trumpet, you are very cute too...looks like you are either typing on your computer or playing the piano this those long fingers...

"I guess I'd better get up and go see where Mom and Dad went..."

"I think they went this way..."

Somehow Spring decided to go for a quick swim and cool off, and then she wondered where everyone else was and why weren't they following her??

"Hey, y'all! You ought to come down here where the water is cool and refreshing!"

"Where'd everyone go???"

"Hey! Save some food for me!"

"Whew! I thought everyone had gone off and left me!"

Mama said, "You gotta stay close to me little ones...I will keep you safe AND show you where the good food is."

Hooray...everyone is safe and sound and happy again.

Meanwhile, our saga with the Muscovy ducks continues...they have found a nice cool spot to spend the hot afternoon, in the shade on the other side of Still Waters Pond.

The folks who came to try and capture them and take them home with them were not successful yesterday, as the ducks stayed over there on the other side, but they showed back up in our yard later in the evening when no one was available to catch them.

However, we've discovered that they have created a nest under our porch, and now have 4 eggs. The people who came to try and catch them said the ducks are all females, so the eggs aren't fertilized. I guess they would be good to eat...but...I'm not quite brave enough to try...however, if they keep laying more eggs I may have to think about that. It went from two to four overnight...

And our sweet Blackie Sue watches all the excitement around her, but she continues to get more rotund with child every day...and I really am not so sure that it is in hers or our best interest to keep her here for the "blessed event".  I was literally praying about this overnight the other night, and asking the Lord to give me some kind of peace of mind about what to do.  We are not really "equipped" to handle multiple kittens here at our house and there are too many predators around who could harm them outside on our porch...

And then this dear lady, who is the same one who is trying to capture the ducks (with her husband), said that she loves cats and has a good place for them, and that she would be very happy to take Blackie Sue home with her and keep her through the birth and care of her babies, and then at the appropriate time she would get Blackie Sue "fixed", and also take care of the kittens and find homes for them! I told her she was an answer to prayer and a miracle in my estimation.

So while they were here trying to catch the ducks, we decided that she would go ahead and take Blackie Sue home with her now as she is thinking that Blackie Sue is getting pretty close to delivery...so she scooped her up and took her to their car and tried to put her in a cat carrier, but it was a little too small for Blackie Sue, and she squirmed and managed to escape from our friend's arms and refused to be caught again...

And so she is still here with us, as are the ducks. They won't be coming back until possibly tomorrow to try again...

And meanwhile, I am having 2nd thoughts about letting Blackie Sue go home with her. I know that once that happens she will most likely NOT come back here to live as she will then be used to living indoors and we are not in a position to have indoor cats here.

And although I haven't asked Sunshine what HE thinks about that idea (I still can't wrap my head around Sunshine being a "HE", and possibly the father of her babies...)

I am very mindful of the fact that these two are very fond of each other and I think they would each miss the other if they were separated.  Do you think cats have those kinds of feelings?  I'm not that much of a cat "expert" (that's pretty obvious I guess!)  but I am conscious of their affection for one another and I just think Sunshine would be very lonely without Blackie Sue.  

And maybe I would be too.

So I continue to pray, and I have also put out a box on the porch, with a sheet in it and some old chair cushions under the sheet, in the possibility that Blackie Sue could go into labor sooner than we think. I don't know if she will go in there or not, but at least I am making the effort. 

Some of who who are more experienced in these matters may have some better advice for me. I'm all ears.

Thank you for your kind thoughts and little prayers for this situation. I just want to do what is best for all concerned.

Okay, NOW, it IS April already, and of course that means it is time for the roll call of the calendars!  Here you go:

This one is in my bathroom, and I love the view of the picnic table on the shore of that beautiful lake in the sunset.  I can just envision sitting there with my hubby and enjoying watching the sunset together as we have our evening supper or just sit there and relax...if only there weren't any bugs...

This is the John Sloane Country Seasons painting for April! "Spring Market Day".   I love the old Trolley /street car, don't you?  Have you ever ridden on one?  My father grew up in Crafton, PA., which is a suburb of Pittsburgh.  They used to ride the streetcar down town. And then before my mother met my father, she lived in Crafton with her older sister for a while, and she actually met my father's sister at the streetcar stop in their neighborhood, and they became friends, and one thing led to another, and my mother was introduced to my father by his sister, who later became my Aunt Marion, and they lived happily ever after.  In case you've missed that story before, you can read all about it HERE.

Next comes the Thomas Kinkade calendar, which is in my hubby's bathroom.  We were both looking at this one today, and remarking about how interesting this "Spanish Cafe'" is.  There is SO much detail in this painting, I could look at it all day and still see new things.  I love the verses on this calendar also:

And this is the Teapot Calendar...I love this pretty dainty rosebud teapot and set.  

Interesting and fun quote:

What do you do when you're "freaked out?"  Drink tea? Hmmm, well, I do find it comforting.

Okay, I love this Susan Branch calendar for April...

And my pretty songbird has come out with her Spring Bonnet on...I can hear her singing already...

Here's some thoughts for today from God's Word, The Bible:

John 3:8 New King James Version

8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, 

but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. 

So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Well, my friends, Oh, I almost forgot!  Hubby's eye appointment yesterday went extremely well. He is doing so well that the doctor doesn't want to see him for 6 months! He told him that he was "lucky" that the eye condition that he has has not worsened and seems to be doing well.  My hubby told him that he is not lucky, but blessed. And that's the truth! We praise the Lord for this wonderful news, as the eye condition that he has could mean further surgery on his cornea, and that would be much more involved, but the doctor doesn't seem to think it is going to be necessary, at least not anytime soon, so we are very very thankful! So Praise the Lord for this answer to prayer!

We have an Administrative Board meeting at church tonight in a little while, so I need to get a move on. We need to be there since I am the Secretary and hubby is the Chairman of the Board. LOL.

I'll be back soon, and hope to get around to visiting you all soon...but I'm way behind because it seems like I spend a lot of time watching the birds and the cats and doing other things.  So bear with me. Hopefully things will calm down soon.

Bye for now dear friends.

 

The Secret Garden Chronicles: The Rushing Mighty Wind - Revisited

This post originated last year on 4/25/2017...but today is Pentecost Sunday...the day we recognize as the time when the Holy Spirit came upon the Disciples after Christ had ascended into heaven...and so I thought this message would be appropriate today...

Original Post:

Yesterday evening I sat in the Secret Garden watching the wind blowing the trees to and fro...and thought about how strong the trees were! It occurred to me that often times the trees are bent so far in the wind that it is a wonder why they don't break in two.  Of course, sometimes they do, if the wind becomes too fierce.  But on a day like yesterday (and even this morning it is still pretty breezy), the trees sway back and forth and always bounce right back into their original posture when the wind finally dies down.

While I was watching the trees blowing in the wind, these two Pileated Woodpeckers flew onto this dead tree nearby and stayed there long enough to let me catch a couple of pictures before they flew back into the woods, making a lot of racket as they flew!

 They don't really have anything in particular to do with this post, but I thought you'd like to see them since they came just at that moment when I was sitting there contemplating what the Lord would say to me...So there must be SOME significance to their appearing at that time!  It's not often that we can see two such amazing birds together at the same time like this!

Then the Lord brought this verse to my attention:

"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it,

but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes.

So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

John 3:8

Hmmm, maybe the woodpeckers do make a point here...they flew in out of the woods, but I'm not sure exactly where they were from, making a lot of noise, and then took off flying again, out of my view...and I could still hear their loud raspy calls, but couldn't keep up with where they flew...and the wind was so strong at times that I wasn't sure how the birds could even fly...let alone hear each other calling...

"So is everyone who is born of the Spirit..."...When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, His Holy Spirit comes from the Father above and fills us...like a rushing mighty wind...at least that is how the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost, (see Acts 2:1-13)...

"When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, 

as of a rushing mighty wind,

and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

Then there appeared to them divided tongues, 

as of fire,

and one sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit 

and began to speak with other tongues,

as the Spirit have them utterance."

(Acts 2:1-4)

And there are times when His Spirit comes to us as a still small voice...

"And, behold, the Lord passed by, 

and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, 

and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; 

but the Lord was not in the wind: 

and after the wind an earthquake; 

but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 

and after the earthquake a fire; 

but the Lord was not in the fire: 

and after the fire a still small voice."

I Kings 19:11-12

And at other times He provides us with the right words to say at the very moment we need it:

Luke 12:11-12

"Now when they bring you to the synagogues 

and magistrates and authorities,

do not worry about how or what you should answer, 

or what you should say.

For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour 

what you ought to say."

I particularly love those two verses, because there are so many times in life when we feel like we are being put to a test...and we may have this happen much more in the future...when we will have to testify as to our faith in Christ and whether or not we are a Christian...and there are times when we will be uncertain as to what we should or shouldn't say...and God's Holy Spirit Himself will give us exactly the right words at precisely the right moment to respond to those who may question our faith. I don't have to worry ahead of time about what to do or what to say...I just need to stay close to the Father...and let His Holy Spirit do the talking.  Probably not a bad idea in many cases in life...with family members, friends, neighbors, antagonistic people....Let God's Holy Spirit do the talking through me...and not be so quick to think I've got all the answers already.   

There are also times in life when we are like those trees in the wind...being tossed to and fro and we become fearful that we might even break in two under the strain of the wind...whether it be the strain of sorrows, doubts, fear, health issues, family problems, or even temptations beyond our ability to cope... God says:

I Corinthians 10:13

"No temptation has overtaken you 

except such as is common to man;

but God is faithful, 

who will not allow you to be tempted 

beyond what you are able,

but with the temptation will also 

make the way of escape, 

that you may be able to bear it."

Not only that, but when we are at the end of our rope, feeling hopeless and abandoned by loved ones and friends and we don't know what to do or even how to pray...

Romans 8:26-27

"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses, 

for we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, 

but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us 

with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Now He who searches the hearts 

knows what the mind of the Spirit is, 

because He makes intercession for the saints 

according to the will of God."

How thankful we should be for this marvelous gift of the Holy Spirit!  When Jesus left this earth to go to heaven, He did not leave us helpless or comfortless. As a matter of fact, He told His Disciples about this wonderful "Helper" before He was crucified, but of course, they didn't quite understand it at the time...but this is what He told them:

John 14:15-17

If you love Me, keep My commandments.

And I will pray the Father, 

and He will give you another Helper,

that He may abide with you forever...

The Spirit of truth, 

whom the world cannot receive, 

because it neither sees Him nor knows Him,

but you know Him, 

for He dwells with you and will be in you."

I started out writing this post, not sure where it was going, and just as these passages unfolded here before your eyes, God unfolded them to me.  I pray that these words bring hope and encouragement to you today, in this "post-Easter" season, just as I am sure these teachings and thoughts helped Jesus' disciples after He was taken up into Heaven. 

Jesus told His disciples in John 14:26

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."

and in verse 27...

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you;

not as the world gives do I give to you.

Let not your heart be troubled, 

neither let it be afraid..."

There really isn't anything more I can add to that! So I will close here and say, "Amen!"