Thankful Thursday and Happy September!

Happy September! Better a day late than never!

This was the sunrise yesterday morning, September 1st. Not long after we had quite the rainstorm blow in and the rest of the day was quite wet and dark, and then surprisingly cool!  It actually felt like a September day!  I only wish it would have lasted a little longer than a day. Today was back to normal hot and sultry.  

But we know fall is coming!  The calendar tells us so!

So on September 22nd we will expect the temperatures to turn crisp and cool and perfect!

Well, at least a girl can dream, can't she? I know, I do live in Florida...it may be more like the end of October before it begins to feel like fall. 

September is my favorite month because it is also my birth month. I guess that's why I always have such a special feeling when September comes around!

Don't you just love this picture by John Sloane? This is his Country Seasons Calendar, and I absolutely love his paintings.  Wouldn't you just love to to be there in that old country store with that sweet old doggy and pretty kitty?  Yes, that's my kind of place!

But, then again, I also love to be in a lovely tea room, visiting with friends over a hot cup of tea...

Maybe like this quote from my Teapot & Tea calendar:

That sounds delightful, doesn't it? Oh, I wish we could all get together someday and do just that.

Lily Grace and I sat outside on the swing for a little while the other evening eating a popsicle.

Lily loves to try and guess the riddles found on the popsicle sticks.  I call them the "POPsicle Quiz"...remember when we used to have "pop quizzes" in school? Who liked them and who didn't? I guess it depended on how much you had paid attention to the lessons all week!!

Anyway, this quiz riddle says:

"Why was the farmer upset?"

 Can you guess the answer?

"His cows were MOO-DY".  Ha Ha Ha! 

 

Now for the thankful part of this post:

  

1. Praise God that our "kids" are doing SO MUCH BETTER since they had that antibody infusion! It is like a miracle how quickly and wonderfully that helped them to start getting well. Yes, they still have a ways to go to regain their strength, but they sound SO much better, and they are even feeling more like doing things around their house again.  They probably won't be able to go back to work until next week after they get a negative Covid Test, but we are all just SO thankful they are feeling so much better each day. Praise God!

2.  As most of you know, our kids own a business in St. Augustine, "Dixie Cottage", which is a coastal themed furniture and decor store.  They are the sole proprietors, and if they can't be there to work, then the store has to be closed. That is a very difficult situation for them financially, as you can imagine.  Well, they have a couple of ladies who are vendors in their store, putting items in the store on consignment.  They both volunteered to take turns keeping the store open every day this week so that our kids won't lose their income and  customers!  Praise God again!! That was a real surprise blessing!

3.  Today I had a follow up appointment with my Pain Management Dr. regarding my neck issues.  Although the appointment went well enough, she has decided to refer me back to the neurosurgeon for further testing and evaluation.  Why is this a praise item? Well, I really wanted a 2nd opinion before we went any further with more "pain management" techniques that, to me, were a bit "unnerving"....pun intended...because it involves nerve blocks, etc.   I am not sure that is the route I want to go at this point and asked for some time to think about that, and she recommended that I visit the neurosurgeon. So I already have an appointment scheduled for next week! That was quick! And yes, I consider that a praise item.  But also a prayer request that I will get some answers that will truly help me and not prolong the inevitable...God knows best and I will trust His judgment on this issue.

4.  And I am very thankful for each of you, my friends out here in Blogland. Thank you for your prayers, your friendship, and fun!  I know many of you have serious issues in your own families and lives, and it is wonderful that we can lift each other up and encourage one another here.  I apologize that I have not been quite as active here lately, but several things come into play...my physical issues mean that I must not spend so much time sitting at my computer, and also our family needs this past week were very great. I am so thankful that we were able to help our kids even if "from a distance".  I told my hubby that if we  hadn't have moved here to this house 2 years ago, we would have had to commute from 30 miles away to help them out, and that would have been difficult.  God always knows what is best for us even way in advance.  He sees the bigger picture we cannot see, and oftentimes the way we are directed now could be for some need in the future that we know nothing of.  God is in control...even in our country and world events.  It may be hard to see that right now...but in time we will better understand it all.   Until then, just keep looking up and wait on the Lord!

We read this passage in our devotional readings yesterday morning:

("Olive Tree and Lavender" by Winston Porter)

Psalm 52:8-9

8  "But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God;

I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.

9 I will praise You forever,

Because You have done it;

And in the presence of Your saints

I will wait on Your name, for it is good."

 Amen!  Have a good night my friends.