On the 4th Day of Advent My True Love Gave to Me...

On the 4th Day of Advent my true love gave to me, 

a Scrub Jay in a pine tree!

For those of you who do not know what a Scrub Jay is...here is more information:
http://fl.audubon.org/birds/florida-scrub-jay    But to sum it up...This elusive bird lives only in the scrubby woodsy areas of Florida.  The Ocala National Forest, where I live, is an excellent habitat for the Scrub Jay, as the forest is also known as "The Big Scrub".

So, today, on this fourth day of Advent, my true love (hubby) took me to walk where we are searching for our (what I am calling) Charlie Brown Florida Cracker Christmas Tree.  So named because the Christmas trees grown in Florida, at least in this part of the state, are not your perfectly shaped spruce, fir, or scotch pine type trees that you can get in most other parts of the country.  The natural Christmas trees that you can go out and cut here in this part of Florida are known as sand pines...because they grow in the sand and have  shallow root systems.  They grow very tall, but before they do, there are some areas where, with a permit, (and payment of $7.00) we can go and cut our own Christmas tree!

So that is what we have decided to do this year, replacing our almost 20 year old artificial tree with a real live Florida Cracker Christmas tree. I call it a Florida Cracker tree because the "Florida Crackers" were the first pioneer settlers in Florida...mostly cattle and citrus farming people and just good old country folks.  They would go out in the woods and cut their own tree for Christmas, and they weren't the fancy trees of their city and northern friends...just ordinary little pine trees that served the purpose just as well.

Since we live out here in the forest, and these cutting areas are close to where we live, I figured it was a good time to try it out and see how it goes.   We got our permit yesterday, and now we are on the search for the perfect tree.  I'm not in a big hurry, because I don't want it to die before Christmas if we cut it too soon.

So we went back to the woods today to continue our search, and that is when we saw this beautiful Scrub Jay, flitting around from tree to tree and to the bushes, calling us and welcoming us to his part of the scrub woods...

 When we go back again I intend to take some unsalted peanuts and see if he will come to me, as they are known to be very friendly birds.  We shall see how that goes...

Isn't he beautiful?   I feel honored to have had this special visit with him today.  He really didn't seem to be very afraid of us, even though I am sure he doesn't have much opportunity to communicate with humans very often.  Perhaps he is lonely out there in the big old scrub woods!

Of course, there are plenty of other creatures out in those woods to keep him company, I have no doubt.  We saw plenty of tracks of coyotes, bobcats, rabbits, turkeys, and even bears...so you can be assured he isn't too lonely...but maybe he just likes to meet and greet strangers...and has the gift of hospitality!

Perhaps he would make a good innkeeper...and would welcome 

the Holy Family to his woods....

Thinking about which...since it is the Advent Season...the time of preparation for the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ....the time of celebration of His birth...and the time to look forward to His soon return...

I wonder how many of us would make a good innkeeper?

I saw this picture on the internet the other day

How about you?  Do YOU have room for Jesus in your heart and life today?

Would you welcome Him into your home if given the opportunity?

Christmas is more than just the perfect  (or NOT so perfect) Christmas tree, gifts, parties, and even more than church programs and musicals...Christmas is about accepting the greatest gift of all,

Jesus,

born in a manger,

died on a cross,

rose from the grave,

came back to tell us that because He lives 

we can face our troubles and sorrows 

and look forward to eternity in heaven with Him

Forever!!

Hallelujah!!

Amen!

I hope you have enjoyed the opening of this Advent Window for today!  We just never know what surprises we may find in our ADVENTure  preparing for Christmas!  Who'd ever thought a Scrub Jay would appear?  A special gift along the way...Thank you, Lord, for brightening our way!

Click HERE for an UPDATE to this story!

Something a Little "Light-er"

This is the view from my dining room table looking out the kitchen windows when the light is on in the dining room, reflected in the window...

Ok, so the past couple of posts have been rather heavy...talking about death and dreams and identities. If you missed them, you can go back and read them later.  Tonight I wanted to say something a little on the "Light" side...so I've posted a picture of my dining room light as reflected in my kitchen windows.  I always notice this reflection from my place at the dinner table, and I love how the light looks like it is actually hanging outside in the trees! I've often thought of taking a picture of this view, but usually I get so bogged down in eating and cleaning up that I forget to stop and capture the light before it disappears.

I think that is true about human nature.  We tend to get so bogged down in our daily chores, responsibilities, worries, and activities that we forget to take time to enjoy the beauty around us...the way the sunlight filters through the spider webs so intricately woven and ready to surprise the unwary bug as he passes through..

the way the birds are busily flitting around from tree to tree,

gathering in the seeds and insects to feed their families for their evening meal...





or perhaps the hawk that is perched and watching for his meal to slow down just long enough to be grasped in the his talons.

We get too distracted with so many important issues that we forget the simple joy of stopping to smell the roses that are poised and waiting for us to be blessed by their sweet fragrance...


We walk so fast with our head in the air that we don't even notice the tracks and prints of others who have already passed our way....

We may not even realize that danger could be lurking just around the corner because we just aren't paying attention...  I mean...bears could be walking right across your front lawn and you are totally oblivious because you're too caught up in the stuff that could probably be set aside for a little while!

There might even be a rare or rarely seen bird sitting right above you, but you are too caught up in your plans, your computer, your book, your own little world to even look up.

An almost extinct Scrub Jay, rarely seen in our woods anymore

I know I often even forget to just stop and "GIVE THANKS" for all God's bountiful benefits

that He has so richly bestowed upon me. All this beauty surrounding us,

my family, my friends, my job, my home, my church, my health, 

my country, my freedom, 

So many things that I tend to take for granted.

As I am sitting here safe and dry and comfortable in my home, I am at this very moment listening to the 

news that is reporting the horrific outbreak of severe storms and tornadoes that have 

just swept across our country's midwest and central region. 

Suddenly my "Light-er" emphasis is feeling a bit too lacking in depth and sincerity.

Others are suffering while I am feeling blessed.

I can't explain that, and I don't know how to compensate for this.

It makes me realize just how quickly all of these blessings could be taken away...

and it causes me to stop and pray...and be all the more thankful for what I do have, and

pray that those who are hurting and suffering tonight will be comforted and cared for.

In Matthew chapter 5, verses 3-4, Jesus went up on a mountain and taught this to His disciples:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are those who mourn,

For they shall be comforted."

A little later He said,

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden...." 

"Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house."

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."   (Matthew 5:14 -16)

I can't do anything significant about the tragedies in the world, but I can try to let my light shine where I am to bring light into the darkness.

I pray that God will help me to be a light - bearer in all that I do.

Then I will be doing my part...

and I can trust God to take care of the rest.

"This little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine.

This little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine,

let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel, NO!

I'm gonna let it shine!

Hide it under a bushel, NO!

I'm gonna let it shine.

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Let it shine 'til Jesus comes,

I'm gonna let it shine!

Let it shine 'til Jesus comes,

I'm gonna let it shine,

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

Won't let Satan put it out,

I'm gonna let it shine!

Won't let Satan put it out,

I'm gonna let it shine,

let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

This little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine!

This little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine!

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!"

Lord, help me to be a light for YOU.

In Jesus' Name I pray,

Amen.

How about you?  Is your light shining brightly? Let it shine! Let it shine, let it shine!!

Some other "Light" posts you might enjoy : The Light Has Come  , Let There Be Light, The View From My Open Window at 4:30 AM