The Secret Garden Chronicles: Waiting and Watching Updated for Lent 2026

Good Morning on this first Friday of Lent, 2026.  I haven't been out and about much this week due to all the previously discussed issues we were working through, so I don't have anything new to share today. Therefore, I decided to go back into the archives of previous years to see what I was writing about "Lent".  This particular post goes back to March 25, 2017, when we were still living in our home in the national forest and also where my "Secret Garden" orginated.  I hope you will enjoy this walk back to the Secret Garden with me..

Original Post 3/25/2017:

I bought this beautiful old antique bowl today at the local flea market....

with the idea of using it for a bird bath in the Secret Garden.  So, I've set it up here

And now I'm just sitting here waiting and watching to see if the birds will try it out.  They probably won't while I am sitting here...and where it is placed it can't be seen from the inside of the house...so I may have to rethink this plan.  It is so pretty...I do hope the birds will appreciate it!

Meanwhile, while sitting in the garden my attention was drawn to Lamentations 3:22-26, which speaks a bit about watching and waiting:

22.  "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed.

Because His compassions fail not.

23.  They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

24.  'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul,

'Therefore I hope in Him!'

25.  The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,

To the soul who seeks Him.

26.  It is good that one should hope and wait quietly

for the salvation of the Lord."

What are we waiting for?

We are waiting for God's mercies and compassions...

they are new every morning.

We hope in the Lord..

We wait for His goodness,

because He is good to those who wait for Him...

We wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord...

In verses 40-41, as we sit and wait on the Lord:

40.  "Let us search out and examine our ways,

and turn back to the Lord;

41.  Let us lift our hearts and hands 

to God in heaven."

If we already know the Lord, we have nothing to fear...but it is good to take time to examine our hearts and repent of any lack of trust, lack of faith, and lack of honesty before the Lord. Let Him cleanse our hearts anew and refresh our spirits so that we are able to worship Him in spirit and in truth.

This is a wonderful time...during the Lenten season leading up to Easter...to prepare our hearts for renewal and revival.

I noticed that one of our local churches is having a revival this week...and I wondered in my mind, "Do people still go to revivals?"  And if they do, who goes...the "sinners" or the "saints"?

It's been a long time since I attended a true revival, and it seemed as though only the "saints" were there...but guess what?  A lot of "saints" recognized that they were also "sinners", and there was a lot of soul searching and repenting going on.  So, I guess a revival is a good thing for both the saints and the sinners...we never know when a "lost sheep" will come home to Jesus and be saved...and perhaps there might be some sheep who truly needs to make things right with the Lord as well.

So I'm praying for this church and its revival services. May the Lord do a mighty work that overflows into our whole community, resulting in a true revival where hearts are changed and souls are saved.

While sitting there reflecting on the words of the prophet Jeremiah, the author of Lamentations, 

I couldn't help but start singing this favorite old hymn:

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

1 “Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not

As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Refrain:

“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!

2 Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Refrain

3 Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside

Refrain

Amen!

Oh How Great is the faithfulness of our Lord!!! Yes, we who know the Lord are truly blessed with all that we have ever needed...and beyond!  May we watch and wait for Him every day with hope and faith!  

Back to the Secret Garden....after waiting all that time to see if the birds would try out the new bird bath (note the pictures of the birds above...they were all watching and waiting for me to leave)...I decided to go back inside, but I moved the birdbath to a location where it could be observed from inside the house.

And then I came in the house and started writing this into the computer...and it wasn't long before my attention was brought back to the window...

And there was Mr. Catbird...taking a drink from the new bird bath.  I had put a smaller bowl of water inside the large one, which is also filled with water,  in case the birds were fearful of the deep bowl.  After he took a drink from this one, he then flew over to the other smaller birdbath that is in the garden:

And there he sat and took a bath...even though it sits a little cockeyed.  Then Mr. Cardinal also came and drank from this birdbath:

And so I decided to go back out and take out the smaller bowl from the new birdbath and lower the water level a little bit to see if they will try it out that way.

I'll keep watching and waiting!

Meanwhile...

May your day be filled with the joy and blessing of the Lord!!

For another post on this topic, click HERE

Back to the Present, 2/20/2026:

In case you are wondering whatever happened to that beautiful bowl, well, I rescued it from the Secret Garden before something bad happened to it. The birds never did take to it like I hoped they would, so it came back inside and now, at this house where we moved to from that particular house, it resides beside our bed on my hubby's nightstand:

It actually serves a good purpose for him in that he can roll up his extra smaller throw blankets and put them them there to grab during the night if needed. (no picture of that).   

And meanwhile, as we wait for the return of our Lord...let us not grow weary...

Isaiah 40:31 KJV

"31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; 

they shall mount up with wings as eagles; 

they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

Amen.

Have a blessed day!

Thursday Thankfulness

 Hello from Still Waters Pond!  These photos were taken early in the morning, as the sun was rising behind us in the east, and lighting up the trees in the west with a delightful golden sun!

You can see that Still Waters Pond is starting to fill up again after some nice rains...

And the Sand Hill Crane family had just flown in to say Good Morning!

What a lovely way to start the day!

And this was how the sky looked in the east as the sun was rising up behind the clouds...

A good time to rise up and say a prayer for our nation and the world situation, especially in Israel.

I've been sitting here reading other blogs and appreciating all of the beautiful things you all write and share with us. It is always uplifting and encouraging to connect with you. Perhaps that should be my #1 item on the thankfulness list for tonight.  

These are not really ranked by order of value or importance, but just thoughts and things as I think about them.  Yesterday I had a doctor appointment that I had been waiting on for 2 months to discuss some chronic and frustrating physical issues that I deal with on a too regular of a basis.  I was thankful for a doctor who listened, made copious notes as we talked, and then made wonderful recommendations and  helpful suggestions and a prescription that should help with several issues I am dealing with. She also assured me that there didn't appear to be any serious underlying problem that I needed to be concerned about. So that was a comfort and a blessing.

We are still waiting for hubby's July 1st appointment. Thankfully he seems to be doing a little better as we just take things kind of easy and one day at a time, giving thanks to the Lord for His kindness and mercy and grace.

We are thankful for the daily rain (almost daily, I should say) that is filling Still Waters Pond and replenishing the earth.  It is a comfort to us to know that if we just wait on the Lord, good things will come.

James 5:7-8

"7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 

8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand."

This stained glass ornament hangs in our kitchen window, a daily reminder to me to "wait upon the Lord", and He WILL renew my (and my hubby's and anyone else who needs it) strength. And we shall "mount up with wings as the eagle..."  and the rest of that verse says: "they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."   That is a promise that I am going to claim by faith for both hubby and myself. We are waiting on the Lord to do just that, in His time.

These are just a few of the things I am thankful for tonight. Thank you for being there and visiting with me today.  May God be with you and hear your prayers as you wait on Him as well.  Amen.

Friday Foto Friends

I've been a bit "AWOL" today...but it's been a long day and I have good excuses.   LOL.  It is now almost bedtime and I am just getting around to sitting down at my computer and thinking about what I should write before I go to bed.  Since Friday is for photos, I will share what I have...which isn't a whole lot for this week, but it is what it is.

The day started out really early for me, leaving home around 6:30 a.m. to go with my son to St. Augustine for a medical procedure. He needed someone to drive him home afterwards and since his wife had to work today, I was elected.  So here's a few pictures I took while on the way over and then while I was waiting for him to be done:

The sunrise was breaking through the clouds...

And as we got out onto more open roads I thought I would be able to get a better shot of the sun, but it was playing peek-a-boo with the clouds and every time I thought I'd get a good picture a cloud would roll over it or a tree would block it, so here is the best I could do:

It's still pretty spectacular, as are all of God's glorious sunrises and sunsets! This was a beautiful way to start our day right.

While I was waiting for my son I took a walk around the building and snapped a few pictures. It was a beautiful morning ...

This boat market was across the highway...

Of course we are near the coast and the Intracoastal waterway, so people need those boats! (At least they think they do! LOL)

Since I missed saluting our flag at home this morning I saluted this one instead...

And I just thought that barren old dead tree was interesting, along with the sunshine up in the corner of the picture.

Everything was finally over and all was well  (Praise God!) and I could drive us back home again, so no more pictures since I was doing the driving. We did pull into a Dunkin Donuts so he could get something to eat and I got a cinnamon donut...something I haven't had in ages. It was messy while trying to drive, but it was still good.  Once we got back home we ended up picking up my hubby and also our DIL had just gotten home from work and we all went out to lunch.  Then we came back home and I took an extra long nap, since I had been awake since about 4:00 a.m.  I didn't need to wake up until 5:00 a.m., but the anticipation of having to wake up and get up so early ensured that I would be awake for an hour before I really needed to be...of course.  So the nap this afternoon was much needed and appreciated.

Tonight we are thankful to be getting some much needed rain. I just wish it would last a little longer, but at least it watered my plants, and I am most grateful. 

Now, for a few pictures from a day ago.  We've been paying close attention to the Sand Hill Crane family, as it appears that they are getting closer and closer to hatching time, probably some time next week.  Look at the size of those two eggs! Do eggs get larger as the babies inside develop? They sure look like it.  I don't think they do, but these eggs sure do look BIG!

Here she is very gingerly sitting back down on the nest.  I think she can tell the babies inside are getting big and ready to hatch soon.  But she continues to patiently wait for the right time for them to make their appearance.  The mother and father cranes continue to take turns sitting on and guarding the nest. 

I will keep watching and will let you know as soon as I know anything more!

Here's some food for thought tonight as I close this out and head to bed:

Romans 8:18-19

18 "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy 

to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

19 For the earnest expectation of the creation 

eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God."

Have a good night my friends!

God is with us!

 

Be Still My Soul...

Hello! I was just sitting here in my "Room with a View", looking out the window as I was trying to decide what to write about, and there were these three Sand Hill Cranes walking about on the other side of Still Waters Pond. So I hopped up and went out on the porch and took a few pictures...

I hadn't seen them lately...they are the little family that would sometimes fly in and fly out, I thought earlier in the year looking for a good place for a nest, but the Canada Geese had already beat them to it so they went elsewhere.

But then a few months later came back and brought their "baby" with them. So they show up now and again and have a snack on the pond and then fly up and over the house and away to who knows where for the night.

So, just after they flew away, and I do mean literally up and over the house right up in front of me...I thought they were aiming right for my window but shot straight up and over the house at the last minute...not long after as I was trying to once again organize by thoughts about what I should write...the sky looked like this, and I had to run back out on the porch to take some more pictures...

I mean, who can resist a lovely sunset right before your very eyes? 

I know I can't. I wait until the very last, or until the bugs start biting ferociously, whichever comes first...

Snapping pictures every minute as the skies change right before our eyes...

And finally the bugs got the better of me and I headed inside, but it was worth the pain of a few bug bites...

Previously I had been sitting out on our swing, enjoying the sounds of the frogs on the pond and the stillness of the evening setting in, wishing I had some friends and family to come join me in the afterglow of day...but I had to realize that summertime in Florida really isn't the time to sit outside in the evening for very long.  If it's not too hot and muggy, it's definitely too buggy.  When I relayed my feelings about wishing we could have a gathering outside in the evening, my hubby reminded me of those details, but promised when the weather cools down in the fall and the mosquitoes go away, we can begin to really enjoy our back yard and set up our firepit and do all the things I love to do.  

I sure hope he remembers his promise to do this in the fall, because things might be a little different for me this fall.  In case you've wondered, I did finally get the results of the MRI I had a few weeks ago on my neck...(remember THIS post a while ago?)  Just as I kind of figured, my neck is a mess with bulging disks and impinged nerves, etc., etc., and I have been referred to a neurosurgeon for further examination.  I finally got a call from his office today, telling me the earliest appointment he can see me is September 1st! Wow!  Meanwhile, I am on some strong medication to relieve the pain and spasms in my neck, but I don't know how long I can stay on that without further treatment. So, unless the doctor gets a cancellation and can see me sooner, (or if we decide to look for a different doctor who isn't so booked...but this one came highly recommended)...I'm kind of being put "on hold" for a while as far as making any plans or going anywhere or doing anything beyond the essential regular routine. Thankfully the medication is helping to relieve the nerve pain, but I kind of feel like I am in "la la land" and don't think I should drive or do anything too "exciting". 

So I hope you enjoy the pictures of the lovely blossoms on the Rose of Sharon bush in the Secret Memorial Garden,

and the myriads of new hollyberries ripening on the big holly tree...

I was thrilled to see so many berries again after last year's record "crop" and the flocks of Robins and Cedar Waxwings who showed up to eat them on their way south for the winter...

All this wonderful rain we've been having seems to have helped them develop and multiply!

For now I've ceased helping out at our kids' "Dixie Cottage" store once a week because not being able to rest during the day was putting extra strain on my neck (I missed my nap! LOL) , and we've also had to put off our plans to go to Maine in October to visit our grandson. I am just having to pace myself and not overdo it or things flare up again.

So that's that. Hopefully there will be some non-surgical alternatives that will help relieve this condition. I really hadn't counted on having to wait so long to even talk to a neurosurgeon, but I guess that is just the way it is these days.  I know I am not alone in having to wait for specialized treatment, and many people are in much worse condition that I am in, so I am trying to remain positive and not complain...just a bit frustrated right now. I don't like taking medicine if there is a better way.

So I tell you all of this not for sympathy or even for advice, but would just appreciate your thoughts and prayers as we seek these answers. 

This popped up in my little "Choose Grace" devotional book. Thought it was appropriate for today and for what I'm currently experiencing:

Yes, Lord, thank You for the gift of "stillness" (beside Still Waters Pond?), and again, help me to learn to wait patiently for You.  Amen.

I just realized as I was typing this that one of my friends at church and fellow choir member has asked me to sing a duet with her in the near future, "Be Still My Soul"... Hmmm...God must be trying to tell me something again...

1 Be still, my soul! for God is on your side;

bear patiently the cross of grief or pain:

leave to your God to order and provide,

who through all changes faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul! your best, your heav’nly Friend

through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

2 Be still, my soul! for God will undertake

to guide the future surely as the past.

Your hope, your confidence, let nothing shake;

all now mysterious shall be clear at last.

Be still, my soul! the waves and winds still know

the voice that calmed their fury long ago.

3 Be still, my soul! the hour is hastening on

when we shall be forever in God's peace;

when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,

love’s joys restored, our strivings all shall cease.

Be still my soul! when change and tears are past,

all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Good Night.

 

Wednesday Treasures: How I Spent My Day

I'm not really doing a "Wednesday Treasures" today, but then again, these blessings are my "treasures".

So, I'm wondering how most of you spent the past 24 hours? Without going into the grueling details of the roller coaster ride we've been on for the past 24 hours, I thought I would show you what I've been doing instead.  I've pretty much stayed away from social media today and have limited TV watching to hitting the highlights early this morning, noon, and this evening. Rather than stressing over what is or is not happening quickly enough, here is how I spent my day.  What a joy to finally be able to capture a picture of this Belted Kingfisher, who often loudly sings his rattling song as he flies over Still Waters Pond, but he is always too quick for me to get a picture...until now!  I consider this one of God's little blessings to help me focus on the beauty around us rather than the other things that aren't so pretty.

I love how the early morning sunshine illuminates the back porch and reflects off the pond, and an extra bonus was the vision of our American flag, blowing in the breeze...reflected in the glass doors as we had our front door open, looking out through the storm door to the front porch. Just a little reminder of how thankful we are to still have the freedom to enjoy such wonders...

Actually, this was my lunch yesterday, and it looked so pretty I just had to take a picture:

If you remember me sharing with you about our refrigerator HERE a couple of weeks ago, you may recall that I mentioned that we needed to replace our refrigerator because of temperature control issues that we couldn't resolve.  However, the replacement refrigerator that we wanted was not in stock and not even available anywhere at that time.  I kept watching for it to come available online, and about a week later it said it would be available in a few weeks. So we decided to take the plunge and order it, praying that our current refrigerator would continue to run well enough to at least keep our basic food cold enough. We just didn't buy anymore ice cream and I constantly monitored the condition of the lettuce and other produce to make sure they weren't freezing.  Well, today was the day! The new refrigerator  was to be delivered this morning.  So I had a task before me to clean out the old, put everything in coolers until the appliance delivery truck arrived, and they could remove the old fridge and set up the new.

Here's the very nice delivery guys taking out the old:

(Yes, I know it looks perfectly fine from the outside, but remember, you can't judge a book by its cover, nor can you judge an older refrigerator by its looks...)

And here is the NEW, all set up and ready to go:

Yes we decided to get a side by side refrigerator for several reasons.  #1, this one actually fit into the limited space that was available without us having to take down a wall.

However, we did have to move the shelf above the refrigerator up several inches because this fridge is taller than our old one.  Thankfully, our carpenter son was able to do that for us ahead of time, and it was quite a job...but he did it perfectly, because below you can see that there is room to spare:

The other reason was that now I can actually open the doors and not bump into the island across from it. The other refrigerator door was much wider, and we couldn't open it the whole way without bumping the island.  I couldn't even pull out the vegetable drawer the whole way to get out my vegetables or to clean it. It was a constant frustration not being able to open that door the whole way.

Now, as you can see below, we have plenty of room and can even get around the door when it is open!

So that was a wonderful blessing to arrive today and keep us occupied and away from TV and Social Media.  Plus, after lunch we needed a nap after staying up so late last night watching you know what.

After supper we took our usual walk. We are having to remember to go a little earlier these days since the time change, as it is getting dark earlier and if we wait until after supper and after washing dishes, etc., as we normally did, it is almost too dark to go. So we try to eat a little earlier and get out the door as soon as possible.

These were the skies this evening as we walked:

Then we hurried back home so we could see the sunset on Still Waters Pond before it was too late:

What a beautiful way to end the day!

And then to come and share it with you.

I do hope to get around to read your posts for today as I can.  I am getting behind in my reading, but now you know why.

Here are some excerpts from the scriptures we read this morning in our devotions:

Philippians 2:14-16

14.  "Do all things without complaining and disputing.

15.  that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, 

among whom you shines as lights in the world,

16.  holding fast the word of life, 

so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain."

Psalm 27: 1-3, 5-6, 13-14

1.  "The Lord is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the strength of my life;

Of whom shall I be afraid?

2.  When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh,

My enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell.

3.  Though an army may encamp against me,

My heart shall not fear;

Though war may rise against me,

In this I will be confident."

5.  "For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion'

In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me;

He shall set me high upon a rock.

6.  And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;

Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;

I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord."

13.  "I would have lost heart, 

unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord 

in the land of the living.

14.  Wait on the Lord,

Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen your heart;

Wait, I say, on the Lord!"

I'd call that some good advice and encouragement during these days of "waiting on the Lord."  May we continue to put our trust in the Lord, no matter what the outcome of these current "events" in our land. Always remember that God is in control, and He will strengthen our hearts and take care of us no matter what.

Be blessed my friends.