Well, it’s official…cats are intuitive!
With another snow storm approaching, the cats have decided it’s time for a Disney trip. We cannot blame them, however, it is so funny that today is the very first day that they are sitting in their Mickey Cat beds at the same time as one another.
I seriously think they know the snow is coming and they are trying to tell us something. Little do they know we have been thinking the same thing!
I love following these posts that have something on specific days of the week. So I’ve decided to start a “day of the week post”. Coming up with my own spin on this, here is the first of my Feline Friendly Friday. 🙂
Making memories:
One cat slept this way. Not sure why he likes the blood to pool into his brain. Perhaps it’s his “high”. He does this quite often. Although, this time was a marathon.
The fascination this cat has with the fireplace is crazy. No one can sit in front of it for too long as it’s just too stinkin hot. Well, the cat sits in front of it, much longer than any of us can stand it, and then he jumps down onto the floor sprawling out until he cools down and then does it again.
Our son eating the mussels he so longed to try. He enjoyed them enough that the waitress gave him the recipe. Although, we laughed when she said the chef wasn’t there and that she knew where to find it and that she would make a copy of it for us… ooops! Thank You!
A few of the 15 deer that we woke up to on Christmas morning out our bedroom window. I could only capture a few of them. They were in the yard and in the woods. We counted 15 that morning, and the next day there were 21. Yes, that is all together at once, not spread out throughout the day.
Our Christmas tree with Olaf enjoying warming himself by the fire. ha ha
This year the family has, for the first time in years, felt like the season has come so quickly we just don’t feel as “merry” as we usually do. We have stumbled through the last few months considering the changes that once again are at foot in our lives. With the restructuring of my husbands job and the opportunities for change, we’ve just been too busy.
Well, last week I finally bought a new tree and put it up. We all laughed as it’s a skinny tree that snugs up nicely next to the fireplace. It currently has one ornament on it, and that is all this skinny tree will see other than lights this year. I also put some lighted garland up the banister and a nice scene of snowmen in the front hall. And lastly, there is one large standing ornamental pot with sticks and lights on the counter. We all agree that we need to spend more time in the front hall as it’s the only room in the house (if I can call it a room) that has the feel of merriment.
All that being said, last night we decided we needed to spend family time together and get with the program and enjoy the lights and lawn decor that so many take so much time to put up. We’ve lived in our current home nearly 8 years and we have heard about a neighborhood about 5 miles away that calls itself Candy Cane Lane. People drive from all over to go through it and see all of the houses and their charming Christmas decorations. We had not yet driven through Candy Cane Lane and decided last night we needed to. So, I made some air popped (organic) popcorn (I had to dig out the air popper out of the basement because we no longer eat popcorn) and filled two bags, one for the kids, one for my husband and myself and we drove over to this neighborhood. We were amazed to see the line of cars sitting on the main road waiting to turn onto Candy Cane Lane, which wound around about 8 long streets. It was a beautiful sight and quite entertaining as we saw everything from blow up dinosaurs to flying pigs to the reminders of the birth of Christ. Some of our favorites were the snoopy and Disney themed lawns as well as the simply elegant lighted displays that didn’t offer anything other than white lights lining driveways, bushes, trees and the houses.
The best display of all was one that should be a reminder to all of the true meaning of Christmas. It had spot lights on a simple sign that showed a tree, and a hand holding a stake with a written reminder of the grace of the Lord who sent His son to die for the sins of sinners. I wish I had taken a picture of it as it was quite nicely done. We laughed out loud and thought the funniest display was the house next door to this one that had one sign made out of plywood with lights that spelled out “ditto” and an arrow pointing at the sign next door.
We came home and drove around our own neighborhood enjoying the lights, until we pulled up into our own driveway… We all at the same time said, “Oh look at this house, they must be Jewish.” (you guessed it… for the first time in 8 years… no outside decor dresses this house. Actually… I think it’s the first time in 21 years our home hasn’t seen christmas decor outside. Not even a wreath! Quite different than the days when my husband was just like Clark Griswold and placed lights on the roof. From 1/2 mile away at the top of the street you could see a halo of lights it was so bright.)
We enjoyed our family evening driving around, eating popcorn and looking at the lights. Are we in the Christmas merriment spirit? That’s yet to be seen…
Either way, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope that you will be reminded that this season isn’t about us, lights, gifts or food. It’s about the birth of the Messiah who came in the flesh for the sole purpose of teaching and bleeding for His sheep that are called to follow Him. A sacrifice, for the sins of those who will one day be with Him in an eternal Kingdom.
Thanksgiving… a time of the year when the smell of the food tantalizes the memory bank of years gone by. From childhood memories of family Thanksgivings at a grandparents house, with cousins, aunts and uncles and laughter sprouting from every corner to the memories that we are making today. From the turkey that baked all day to the traditional recipes passed down for generations. The potato dumplings dance in the pot and the whipped cream salad chills out in the freezer just waiting for their hour to be presented to the mouth watering family patiently waiting for their once a year feast. Our days are quieter than they once were, yet the joy and laughter still roars though the house bouncing off of the walls, reminding us that what’s more important than anything is the things that we can be thankful for.
“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson
With times of uncertainty, we do ourselves great disservice if we cannot be grateful for the blessings that we have been given by the hand of our Lord Jesus Christ. Some of the things I am thankful for are: (in no particular order)
I am thankful for my children who are growing up making the Lord a first priority in their lives and whose laughter warms their mother heart.
For family and friends who stand by us when we need them the most.
For a loving God who saved me out of the ashes to call me one of His own. Praise God… For once I was lost, and now am found.
I am thankful for the years we have been able to enjoy a cottage, where we could hang our hats and relax while the world went on without us. (Even though the realtor is coming tomorrow… sigh)
For the roof over our heads and the food that we enjoy at the giving of the Lord. (Even though we had a day of cold showers due to the hot water heater having issues and the fact that the kitchen sink is broken.)
For the gift of safety when traveling. (And for the nice police officer that did NOT give me a ticket even though I was speeding to get here…)
For the snow that reminds me of the changing over of seasons. (Even though I got stuck in the ditch going down the driveway and then got stuck half way up the driveway due to the great amount of snow.)
For the healing in my body and movement. (Even though I’m tired and achy…)
For the many friends that I have met through this blog. You keep me smiling and keep me going. 🙂
The last few days have been spent working to get the cottage ready to sell. Cleaning out closets, cleaning up after mice that thought they would take up residency since we haven’t been here in a few months, cooking and preparing for today. Now that today is here, I find myself relaxing in front of a fire watching the snow fall gently from the sky and trees while also smelling the turkey that warms itself in the oven. How could one not be grateful. We are blessed and there is no question about it and no reason to complain…. about anything!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! It is with great hope that your day is filled with thoughts of thankfulness, no matter where you are or what you are doing, that you will find something to be grateful for.
“There’s no place like home… There’s no place like home…” A phrase I kept repeating one night on our journey as I thought of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.
We made it home safe and sound! The journey back was long since we added in a visit to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. I am finding myself exhausted and had a two day migraine I am hoping will scamper away soon enough. Joyful however that the Lord found favor upon us and brought us home safely.
The trip home had one frightening moment in time, when we left Yellowstone only to find ourselves in the mountains once again, in the dark, on a two lane road with 20 mph speed limits and open roaming of cattle. Yes, we saw two cattle on the side of the road at one point, and no we did not see many cars for over an hour as we climbed a mountain in the dark. I mistakenly took the wrong exit out of Yellowstone only to find myself in near tears, feeling lost with my kiddos somewhere in and out of Montana and Wyoming. In all honestly it was another one of those moments when all you can do is keep going even when you didn’t know where you were going nor where you would end up. I suppose it’s much like Lyme Disease. For over the last year it’s been a way of life, just keep going, there has to be light at the end of the tunnel. My prayer as we climbed higher and higher and I was getting more and more tired was that God’s mercy would provide energy to my body, peace of mind, and a stopping point sooner than later. I asked for safety as we were visibly unable to see what was ahead of us or around us. When we finally did end up in a town, one hotel was out of rooms and we nearly spent the night in the car. Fortunately, we checked the bed bug registry to find another hotel nearby and the two hotel stewards graciously gave us a lower cost on our room along with free breakfast the next morning. Praise Him for giving us all that we needed to make it through that night.
My glass is half full attitude kept telling the kids that if we had not gone out that exit, we would never have seen the moose in Montana next to the road, nor would we have seen the herds of bison that continued to walk in front of our car near the exit. It was quite exciting and made for more memories in the memory bank.
I could not help to be struck once again by the beauty of our country. From the rolling hills, to the plains, to the mountains that stretch high into the skies. The beauty of the animals roaming freely from one hillside to another while we sat in our cars, driving around their homeland, captivated by the activity of their everyday lives. Made me think of a song we all once knew:
Original poem (1893)
America. A Poem for July 4.
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!
O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife,
When once or twice, for man’s avail,
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain,
The banner of the free!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!
Well…we made it! Across the midwest to California. Memories that will last a lifetime.
We left on a Monday and by Tuesday we were 1/2 way across the midwest to our destination. With a stop to see family we also enjoyed the hot springs for detoxing and an open jeep ride in the hills of Colorado.
The things we have seen thus far in the week and a half we’ve been on the road: Glenwood Hot Springs and Glenwood Canyon, Salt Lake City, Great Salt Lake Desert (Amazing), Tahoe Forest, Lake Tahoe, Half Moon Bay, Napa, Mount Tamalpais, The Red Woods in Muir Forest, Lombard Street, Fisherman’s Wharf, the seals off of Pier 39, China Town, Golden Gate Bridge, Grand Teton National Park….
I would say that I am physically tired, however, I am also having the best time with the kids. Sharing the driving, laughing, listening to loud obnoxious music, and watching the sights through their eyes as well as mine. I cannot imagine a year ago that I would be doing this. I remember being too sick to even climb the stairs of our house let alone being able to drive across country. The blessings of the Lord are abundant and we are most content.
Today we enjoyed seeing the buffalo and a moose in the Tetons. We have only eaten one meal out and have been creative with a crock pot and coolers to keep our healthy whole food meals cold. We’ve been checking the bed bug registry so as to stay only places that are “clean”. One hotel we checked into, we checked back out of 10 minutes later as there was a bug on the sheets. From then on I checked the registry. Of course, as all adventures go, we also checked into one motel only to have to ask for a second non smoking room because the first non smoking room they gave us smelled like smoke. The second room they gave us hadn’t been cleaned yet, so we ended up with a third room that also had a kitchen and eating area. This of course should have cost us a boat load more, however, they still gave us our discounted price off of booking.com.
I look forward to sharing some of our helpful travel hints that got us through our two weeks (that is what it will be when we get home) however, for now here are some pictures of our fun. Hope you feel as though you’ve been with us:
Selfie with the my brother and the kids in the jeep. This was GREAT! No doors, top off and riding on the back roads.
Western CO near Grand Junction. Crazy beautiful!
Salt Lake is behind us. (Salt Lake City Utah)
Great Salt Desert. This is amazing.
Seals off of Pier 39 in San Francisco. So fun to watch.
Wine Tasting in Napa. (Silver Oak was our favorite.)
Half Moon Bay where the waves were the biggest I had ever seen. People were seriously being toppled over. My husband went to get his feet wet on the sand when a wave came rushing in and nearly took him down. He was soaked from waist down. It was a priceless picture that was not taken due to all of us being so surprised over the event as it unfolded.
Mount Tamalpais overlooking San Francisco.
Red woods in Muir Forest.
Snake River in Idaho before heading into Wyoming.
Buffalo in Teton National Park.
Yes, two days it hit 96 and 97 degrees while we were driving.
We still have more of our adventure to report on so we will share more when we get back to the home front. Thanks for looking.
Proverbs 4:7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,and whatever you get, get insight.
Ecclesiastes 7:12 For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money,
and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
We recently returned from another Highland Festival gathering which took place once again in Canada. We decided to take an additional few days before the games to take a tour of the north eastern part of Canada since we were going to be so close. So off to Quebec City we drove. There is so much to share about our trip, yet one part of it continues to haunt my thoughts and is something I have been praying over for the last week.
When I began writing this blog, my earlier posts had a theme of “why”? I thought it would be interesting to write in that direction, however, many other things popped up that had me writing and sharing outside of that why box. Well, I have over the last week continued to pray about and ask why about one small hour in time that took place on our trip. I know and am very aware that this subject could be a hot point and am not certain how many will continue reading once I get to my point, however, I certainly hope that more will at least consider that this is me asking why and maybe they will consider my question and God’s truth on the subject. After all, 2Timothy 3:14-16 says “14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
On our country tour of Quebec City, we were taken to St. Anne’s Basilica, or as the French call it Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Shrine. My first why was questioning “shrine”. In the dictionary this is how they describe shrine: a building or other shelter, often of a stately or sumptuous character, enclosing the remains or relics of a saint or other holy person and forming an object of religious veneration and pilgrimage. My second question was more of a “who” rather than why. Who was St. Anne? On the tour bus we had the explanation given through our tour guide describing her as the mother of the virgin Mary. Now comes the third question, why is the mother of Mary a saint? Well, saint in the dictionary reads as such: any of certain persons of exceptional holiness of life, formally recognized as such by the Christian Church, especially by canonization. Did she lead an exceptional life? Her name is not listed in the bible and from what I researched it is only listed once in the middle of the second century in the apocryphal Protevangelium of James. Everywhere I looked for information about Anne, there were different stories and legends about her life. From her being barren and sharing the same story as Hanna and Samuel, to her being married once to her being married three times and having three daughters. I repeatedly found the word “tradition” used when describing her and her importance. Making me wonder what the definition of tradition was: a : an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom)
b : a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable.
Ah, definition b. is where I see the bigger picture. “Commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable.” With such inconsistencies, no clear biblical explanation into her importance, why is she a saint? It must be obvious at this point I am not catholic. I do not understand praying to someone other than directly to the Lord in the name of Jesus.
Back to the trip…off through the country’s winding roads and small towns we went to see a shrine dedicated and named after a woman who is a part of history yet whose name is not even in God’s holy scriptures. The driver went on to explain that St. Anne was prayed to for healing and that people have hobbled into the basilica crippled and walked out leaving canes and crutches behind. As I sat uncomfortably in my seat, knowing that my body is riddled with spirochetes and various other infections, I was no longer concerned over my own health, yet was concerned over the spiritual health of those who pray to someone other than Christ. I began to pray for the miracle of His divine power to change the heart. I began praying for all of those who ooed and awed at the thought of seeing the basilica, seeing her hip bone under glass, and their praying to “St. Anne”. I asked Christ directly to show those who did not know Him to be shown Him. Just as my peace and healing has come from prayer directly to Christ himself, they too can feel healing if they only knew Him.
Exiting the bus, it was hard not to breath deeply at the beauty of such a towering “shrine”. It certainly was beautiful from the parking lot, and from the road. I took a great number of pictures of the beautiful windows that the suns rays shown through, and the enormous copper doors which a local man had made. However, as I studied the sculpture above the door as we entered in, I was wrought with sadness. Sadness at seeing a woman (St. Anne) portrayed as an idol by those who were bowing down before her. (I tried for 3 hours to download the picture, not sure why it will not upload.) Why? Her name is not listed in scripture, she is not the reason for Mary’s immaculate conception, her history is sketchy at best and there is no history of her doing anything spectacular other than being a mom to someone else who was an important part of history. Bus loads and car loads of people unloaded to go into the basilica and pray to her. There was even a campground across the street and a small building behind the church to buy your souvenirs. Why pray to her? Scripture tells us even in the old testament prayers were lifted to either the creator of the earth, our Lord God Almighty, or to man made idols. So, since we know she herself is not God, does that make her an idol? After all, people make pilgrimages to her basilica where miracles of healing are proclaimed and they pray to her.
The following prayer was found laying out for people to read and use in their prayers. (Please note 1/2 way down the page under Before a relic of Saint Anne, second paragraph..)
It must be mentioned that the Catholic Church in 1677 condemned the belief that Anne also participated in the immaculate conception of Mary. Another why… why then is this prayer sitting in a Catholic Church dedicated to a woman who is not listed in scripture enticing people from all over the world to visit and to pray to her?
1 Timothy 2:3-6 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
I know that the answer falls back onto the shoulders of those who taught such ideas, as well as tradition. Tradition passed down from generation to generation. It is possible however, to be the one person to break with tradition and begin reading scripture as God intended for us to do. We no longer live in an age where all we have is personal reflection and stories passed down due to the lack of writing and paper. We have bibles in our stores, churches, hotels and prayerfully in our homes. We have internet, Bible aps and ipads. If one begins reading them and praying directly to the Lord in the name of Jesus Christ one may find wisdom. As Christians we need to ask hard questions when something doesn’t seem right in the teaching of the scriptures. If people do not know truth, how will they know Him?
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
To the reader that has read all the way through, thank you. Thank you for pondering with me the questions which need to be asked. I hope that you will continue to read the scriptures below and listen to the following sermon posts on the first two commandments so you may understand my concern for those who pray to anyone other than Jesus Christ.
I titled this post Beauty or Truth? because I think it’s another pondering question. Would you rather have a beautiful sanctuary with gold and silver relics and copper doors or would you rather have truth? I would rather have truth.
Who should we pray to:
John 14:13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 14:21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.
John 14:14
If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
John 15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
(Please note that the Father in this text is God, not the local priest or pastor.)
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Let us remember:
Deuteronomy 5:6-21
6″I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
7 “‘You shall have no other gods before me.
8 “‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 9 You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 10 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
11 “‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
12 “‘Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant, or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. 15 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
16 “‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
17 “You shall not murder.
18 “And you shall not commit adultery.
19 “And you shall not steal.
20 “And you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
21 “And you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.’
Jeremiah 18:15
But my people have forgotten me;
they make offerings to false gods;
Zechariah 10:2
For the household gods utter nonsense,
and the diviners see lies;
they tell false dreams
and give empty consolation.
Therefore the people wander like sheep;
they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd.
Jeremiah 10:1-15
Idols and the Living God
10 Hear the word that the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel. 2 Thus says the Lord:
“Learn not the way of the nations,
nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens
because the nations are dismayed at them,
3 for the customs of the peoples are vanity A tree from the forest is cut down
and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman.
4 They decorate it with silver and gold;
they fasten it with hammer and nails
so that it cannot move.
5 Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field,
and they cannot speak;
they have to be carried,
for they cannot walk.
Do not be afraid of them,
for they cannot do evil,
neither is it in them to do good.”
6 There is none like you, O Lord;
you are great, and your name is great in might.
7 Who would not fear you, O King of the nations?
For this is your due;
for among all the wise ones of the nations
and in all their kingdoms
there is none like you.
8 They are both stupid and foolish;
the instruction of idols is but wood!
9 Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish,
and gold from Uphaz.
They are the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith;
their clothing is violet and purple;
they are all the work of skilled men.
10 But the Lord is the true God;
he is the living God and the everlasting King.
At his wrath the earth quakes,
and the nations cannot endure his indignation.
11 Thus shall you say to them: “The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens.”
12 It is he who made the earth by his power,
who established the world by his wisdom,
and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.
13 When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,
and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning for the rain,
cand he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.
14 Every man is stupid and without knowledge;
every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols,
for his images are false,
hand there is no breath in them.
15 They are worthless, a work of delusion;
I hope that you will consider listening to these two sermons on the first two commandments. Very thought provoking.
http://crbc.us/media_events/953-The-First-Commandment
http://crbc.us/media_events/954-The-Second-Commandment
For more information on biblical teaching of the commandments, visit CRBC.us.
Psalm 127:3 (ESV) Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.
I can still remember the feeling of my children when I was pregnant for them. I remember the movement they would make, the hiccups that kept them jostling around in consecutive rhythm, and the elbow or knee that would poke out under my rib that kept me from being able to bend forward. I remember the glorious feeling that God had chosen me to be their mom on this earth. That he chose me to carry two of His children so that I could raise them up in His word and teach them what I know of Him. What a blessing, what an honor.
Proverbs 22:6 (ESV) Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
My daughter and I had the opportunity to spend some time together a week ago leaving the boys home to meander doing “boy stuff”. The true test of how much I am healing. From not being able to drive at all, to driving the 8 hours one way to our home away from home. The drive back home 4 days later was more of a challenge, yet we made it safely and the memories of our time together will be a blessing for many years.
We cooked, shopped, took apart old watches and made bracelets out of the gears, and began working on quilts from the material we found at the quilt store. We also drove around one day with our cameras and took some photographs of nature and the beauty that God provides. I think many people go through their days not noticing what is around them. Not us, we embraced the moment with two lenses, one lens being the eyes of youth and the other being the eyes of age. We laughed and discussed how glorious God is that he has found favor in us to have given us the ability to see beauty in the things around us. From the flowers blooming in the garden of a older woman, to the trees in the forest lining the road way. We saw deer, a skunk, an eagle, and the black squirrels jumping from limb to limb playing tag. Our weekend was not short of excitement.
My highlight was spending time with my daughter, and watching the doe with her fawns that visited our yard each day. Sometimes more than once. At one point I opened the upstairs window to capture a clear shot and I heard one of the fawns honk as he/she communicated with his/her mom. I nearly cried. I watched as mom looked in all directions before she led her babes across the street, and watched as she led them to the greenery teaching them to forage for food. I also watched the babes chase one another around the yard jumping and running at full speed. It was beautiful and for a moment I felt a connection with the doe. We were both teaching and spending time with the blessing of our womb.
I hope that you find favor in the site of the Lord and that you can see the beauty that is around you. No matter where you are, what you are doing, what affliction tries to carry you away, I pray that you can and will cry out for the eyesight to notice the creations of the Lord. Enjoy the pics, we sure enjoyed taking them.
And the surprise out my bedroom window at 5:30 a.m.
Big, fluffy white coat and a tail that swirled and swayed as he ran into the woods (when I tried to take the screen out to get a better picture) … If only it didn’t smell! 🙂
