It's Summer...or is it? It was Spring or was it?/

Hello there.. Sorry it's been a whole month since I've put up a post. Yep, spring is gone and summer is here! Well, at least that is what the calendar says!! But I wonder sometimes. Our spring had record highs into the 100 degrees!! I'm still shocked by those days. I miss my cool spring rains and temperatures. But, here we are into summer and we've been having lower temps and rain! Actually, we're having flooding in the area....then tonight it has been pouring, with lots of lightening..sad I feel so bad for those who are evacuating their homes due to the flooding.

As you can see by my picture I've had lots of birds at my feeders this year. A couple nights ago there were 8 mourning doves out there eating. I couldn't hardly believe my eyes!! I guess they know a good place when they see it...ha! ha! I'm even getting Cardinals again. We put out some seed that they like. I always wonder....how do they know when you change the food?? God must have given the some superior senses!! 

I know it's really hard to tell, but there is one dove on the deck railing, 4 at the first feeder, 2 at the other feed and one by the wheel barrow! Eight....can you believe it??

There was even this bunny rabbit at the pan eating the seed. (I think it was eating the corn). It looks like it's hiding here. smile...

My son was playing this weekend at a couple different places.  They were both outside. This was the first one where they played around 3 or so. Then they jumped in their vehicles and headed off to the next one a few hours away..ha! It was a busy day for them. His wife went with him, they stayed overnight last night, then drove into the city this morning. It was soooo nice to see them. Randy is the lead guitarist and is on the right side in the red plaid  shit. He loves his music! One of these days I will share a video. (I just need to figure out how to do it.)

My daughter Brenda is going through some medical issues and I would really appreciate prayers for her. I just hope she'll feel the comfort and love that only our God can provide.

Thank you again for all your good thoughts coming our way and try to enjoy yourselves where ever you are on this planet that we all call home..

Bye for now...

And So It Has Come To An End

 

Another year has sped by like these cars. Some are glad to see it end due to all the negative and sorrow that were experienced. But through those things we grow and hopefully become stronger. Personally, I've experienced another loss again this year, but have also found blessings galore. I do have faith and hope, and with these things God will help and watch over me.

 

I pray that in this upcoming year you will find good health, love, understanding and happiness.

 

"As we look ahead to the new year, lets remember that God has always been and always will be faithful." (from Our Daily Bread devotional)

 

My morning started with the sounds of the snow plow dropping it's blade against the cement of the street as it made another sweep around the block and by my house. (along with -35 below wind chills and 3 and a half inches of snow) and so the night ends with the sounds of fireworks going off around the city! (Not as many as the fourth of July...probably since it's 18 degrees below zero, with wind chills of -33...)

See there are blessings all around! ha!!

 

Bye for now...

Baptisms

I have a friend who was going to her grandson's baptism this weekend. I told her to take some pictures so I could see. It reminded me of a time long ago (like 21 years ago. smile...) I've always taken pictures it seems. ha! Anyway, our granddaughter and grandson were baptized the same day. So, I was taking pictures of the two families. The camera I had, used rolls of film (remember them??) I always tried to use the 24 picture ones. But you would have to wait to use all of them to develop them. Anyway, I was snapping away and the camera went..zzzzzzzzzzzz (I had used all the film and it was rewinding!) Oh my gosh how embarrassing!! Father stopped and said, "We'll wait for you"...ha..ha..

 

Isn't it funny, how life stirs up memories for us??? God has given us such an amazing gift...memories! Be sure to enjoy them...as there are diseases that can steal them from us too. But that is just part of this life...

 

Glory be to God, as we pray for this little baby who was baptized this weekend and may he make lots of beautiful memories during his lifetime. amen...

A Little of This and That

 

Everyone knows what serendipity means right? To find something unexpected. When we saw this beautiful deer the other day, it was unexpected since we hadn't seen one in a long...time.  Isn't that just like God to put him in our way, to make us surprised and happy???



 

I spotted this bird the other day and thought is was something different then our usual ones we have around here.

 

After I looked at another shot, I realized it must be a robin. And I think it may be a juvenile one. Do you think I'm right or just a weird looking one...lol

 

I spotted these down at the Cancer Center the other day. Pretty aren't they? (Course I think all flowers are beautiful aren't they??) I was just thinking if you like/love flowers (like me) you need to go over to  Beth's blog at Beyond the Garden Gate. Her gardens are absolutely gorgeous!! I wish I could go and visit her..smile...

 

I bought this pot (filled with pretty flowers) last year, well I finally asked the lady that I got it from at the Farmers Market if she'd repot it . I have another one also and she's going to repot that one also. It's so pretty and I know as she said it will fill out nicely!!

 

Tom has been fighting a sore throat for the last few days, he thought he was doing better yesterday when we went to the Farmers Market. Then last night he must have had a fever, as he woke up totally soaked, clothes, bedding etc. We assumed his fever must have broke.. How scary is that? He's still got his cough, but it is much looser today. (prayers please..)

 

Did you have a nice weekend? We had some decent weather, it wasn't too hot or rainy (thank goodness!)

 

Hope you're in for a wonderful week.

Trust...

His truck he is driving.

Just recently my son was without a job, and I kept praying he'd get another one that would be good and he'd like it. "I" kept looking back (which you shouldn't do...as a new door will open), time went by with nothing, money was getting tight, he was getting depressed...(even though his wife was so supportive!) I kept praying and voila! He applied for a job, and it just happened, he was at the right place at the right time (God's time!)° He now has a wonderful job, and making good money! We must Trust!

 

Today, I was doing some work on the computer and came across a recording I made of a church service, where our friend who recently passed, conducted the service. Tom came in and said, why are you crying? It was just so moving to hear him preach the word, sing the songs and crack the jokes. I am so glad I recorded that. (it was at one of our South Bottoms Reunions..) so there were lots of others who were on the recording who have gone on to be with the Lord also...

 

Our weather has been lovely today, but very, very windy. Tonight we're suppose to get rain (which we desperately need.) As well as the next few days...hopefully we'll get some in time. smile..

 

Have a blessed SONday!

 

 

Busy Monday..

 

Oh, I forgot to show you the twins going for a walk the other night. Their Grandma put up a video on FB and since I couldn't figure out how to share the 'video' I didn't do it. Tonight, I figured it out!! smile... And here it is....aren't they adorable?? Starting to walk already...Wow!!! I know things have changed...but I believe mine were around one. Actually, my daughter walked on her first birthday!! smile...

 

Oh, yes...frost (or should I have said freeze) on the pumpkin?? We've been having some really cold nights around here..(I believe it was 7 above last night) and yet this 'ugly pumpkin' is still looking good... (funny using ugly and good in the same description..lol) Not sure how long it'll hold out...at least until after Thanksgiving I hope. Note: Our neighbor has a really pretty pumpkin display in her front yard.  However...the other night when we got up (about 3 a.m.) Tom looked out and said the deer were in the her yard...eating her pumpkins! Oh my...I bet she wonders who is getting into them when she wakes up in the morning...(the little buggers...) [We're thankful, but not sure why they don't find our 'ugly' one appetizing...lol]

 

 

We went to the doctor this morning, for our check ups. Like I've said, I really missed my coffee....and had a bad headache..(must be due to the lack of caffeine..). My blood pressure was 170/?, once I heard 170, I didn't hear anything else.. tonight it was 124/70 or something. So, I will keep checking it until next week, when he wants to see me again. Otherwise we are okay...smile.. We'll get our numbers on the cholesterol later.

 

When we got home, Tom got the Christmas lights out and put them on the bushes! They are so pretty...I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!! I figured we wouldn't turn them on until later..but when we came home tonight, I saw a lot of lights and thought 'why not?' Have you done any Christmas decorating outside??

 

Later in the afternoon, we took Karen to the Cancer Center. When we picked her up...look at these gorgeous skies! God just said...goodnight my loved ones...in a way, only He can do..

 

Blessings...my friends...

 

more as it happens here in the city............... 

Alabama Bound...and more....

Look at our little Lorelai....her and her sweet Mommy and Grandma and Grandpa headed out to Alabama yesterday to attend her Great Cousin Ashley's wedding!! smile... Her Grandpa told me today that she was a great traveler! Yeah!! I will share more about this wedding as it happens. I know Ashley (bride) is getting so excited, and is really happy about it all! She made some "welcome" bags for the out of town guests (so thoughtful) and one of the items was the 'pink boa' for Lorelai...ha..ha.. I said "gosh..her and I would really have fun with our boa's...smile..." (Her's being pink (for the girls under 50) and mine being Red!)

Of course you all know I would have loved to have been with them, but we get to Facetime the wedding Friday...yeah! I told Tom we have to dress up, just in case they see us...ha..ha... No one would like to be at a wedding in their sweats...smile...

Yesterday, I got a phone call from a gentleman who was at the South Bottoms Reunion, and entertained our guests with his singing. We weren't able to attend this year due to some of my health issues and he just wanted to let me know he was thinking about me and Tom, and said he'd prayed for us daily after he found out I had MS and saw Tom helping me. sweet Now isn't that just so nice??

Then, Tom brought in a package for me...and of course I was so excited (who doesn't just love getting a package??) I won these from my new friend over at "Home is Where the Boat Is"! Her blog is amazing...if you ever need an idea on how to decorate or want to see a garden shed to die for, her blog is the place you want to go to...smile...

This morning I read the word and it mentioned how we sometimes have pain and have to go forward through the pain and yet God gives us little pleasures to help us get through these painful times. How true this is...just as an example look at yesterdays little pleasures!!! 

I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the last days of spring before summer sets in....smile... (of course this isn't true for my friend down under...as she is going into a different season...brrr...)

more as it happens here in the city............

A Testimony I Must Share...

Thursday the weather was so nice in the morning...and since Tom had put my chair on the back porch I decided to sit out and read a new book I have! smile... The blooming crab apple tree was so full of blossoms, it was beautiful! As I sat there, I heard the air conditioner making a weird noise...sad... I told Tom and he said we needed to call the company who put it in. He came out yesterday and checked it. He found some bolts that were loose, and tightened them. He said it was really good that we caught it, if it had gone on the replacement would have been about $2,000! Yikes!!! So to me that was God putting me out there that day...and hearing it making that noise! Thank you God!!

Surprise! Mama Oriole came to eat on the orange too.. You know how the females are usually colorless. But they both are colorful...however she is not quite as pretty as he is...as you can see below.

Yep, he is much brighter. Tom said the males were chasing the female off the food. How can that be?? Bad husbands...lol He's sure not like mine...

About time for bed...good night everyone!!!

more as it happens here in the city............

Blessings?? Oh ya.....

Our skies were so beautiful this morning...as I walked through the kitchen this morning, heading down to exercise...I got a glimpse of this sky out our window. I asked Tom (once again..smile) to take a couple pictures of this sunrise!! He gladly did it! 

I promised I would share with you how God worked in our lives the other day. I got a call from Walmart.com asking if I had just made an on-line purchase with them using my credit card? I said "no!" After having this credit card for 30 some years, now I've got a problem!! It turned out, someone had stolen my credit card number and had charged something on it. So, I had to cancel the card. Since it was a small amount ($80), I asked why they called and questioned the charge.  She said they do a random check on their on-line charges and this one just came up! (Now if that wasn't God...I don't know who it was!! smile...) If I hadn't had that call at that point in time, who knows how many charges there would have been on our card. (Amazing how God works in such mysterious ways...smile...)

Earlier this morning, Rusty was out and barking his head off! Tom stepped out and said..."you wouldn't believe all the turkeys in our backyard!!!" I believe he counted 14 of them!!! This was the first time we've seen them in a long time...

After church we out to Red Lobster with our church friends. As always it was wonderful! When we were leaving I spotted this birds nest! They are amazing in their own right aren't they?? (That's a God thing too....smile....)

I hope you've all had a wonderful weekend and are looking forward to a good week!!!

God is so good....

The last few days have really done me in...smile... After our drive to see the therapist, taking my shot and another busy day yesterday I just have not had the time or energy to do my blog, which I am so sorry about. 

We spotted this pumpkin farm Monday..wish I had zoomed on on it more. You know how it is when you are driving down the road and spot something that catches your eye? No time to zoom...ha.. just snap and hope for the best...smile... Have you gone to a pumpkin farm this fall? I always thought they'd be fun for the kids.. 

"Sovereign Lord, you made the earth & the sky by your great power & might; nothing is too difficult for you." Jeremiah 32:17

As I said... God is so good... yesterday morning as we were going down to stretch and do my 'new' exercises...the phone rang and it was the company for my Tens unit that I use to help me with my sciatica nerve issue. The unit broke and I had called to see what, if anything they could do about it. They said, I had a 'life time' warranty on it and they would send out another one right away! All I had to do was send the broken one back in the envelope they provide!!!! (AMAZING!!..)  Then I just started to exercise and the phone rang again...and with a heavy sigh...(smile) Tom answered it and it was the doctors office, letting him know the drug company approved him for assistance on helping with his heart medicine, due to the fact he is now in the "do nut hole"... (THIS WAS A BIGGY...& WHO IS BIGGER THAN GOD???? (no one...smile))

I know in my heart, that He moved in our lives yesterday..big time!!!!

Another testimony...Friday when I was at Red Hat, I called Tom to let him know our luncheon was just about over and he could come pick me up. Well, it wound down, everyone had left, the church people were cleaning off the tables...and no Tom... As I was talking to our Queen, I thought I'd better turn the ringer up on my cell phone, (I usually have it on vibrate), within a few 'seconds' it rings and it was Tom, he had missed his turn so was running late.. Now to me that was NOT a coincidence or luck, it was a GOD thing. Isn't it funny (ironic) all the things that happen each day, that we take for granted but it's really GOD working in our lives for our own good....

Tonight I will blog about our day and annual meal last night. It was amazing!!!

We're off today, to the doctor, for our flu shots (sad)...I don't like the effects of them, but they are a necessary evil I guess...smile... How about you have you gotten yours this year??

Better get busy around here...hope you all have a blessed day!!!

Vitamin D

 These were the clouds in our sky last night...kind of pretty, I think.

 And then I spotted these two turtle doves...perched in our tree!

 Soon however, the skies opened up and it started to rain. We were excited...but felt sorry for the turtle dove as it sat out in the rain...which only lasted a short while.  Do you notice how they puff their feathers out...apparently it helps to keep them somewhat dry! smile....

I sat outside this morning getting some much needed Vitamin D (provided by the sun...instead of out of a bottle..smile...) It was so good to be able to sit out there; listening to the birds sing..watching the neighborhood children as they played their antics and feel the cool wind blowing against my face. Isn't it amazing when you take the time to be quiet and enjoy some of God's work? I thought maybe....just maybe I'd see some activity around the 'wren house'...and as I was looking around, I saw this birds nest way up in the tree...what do you think?? Maybe a robin's nest?? That is what I thought anyway, especially since this robin, keep flying around, landing on the fence, walking around the yard, and of course landing on the STOP sign, but never went to the nest, so I'm not sure. Anyone recognize this type of nest? What do you think? 

Hope your day was as nice as mine was! Let me know, I love hearing from you....

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"The Many Thoughts of Grace"

February 20, 1939: We woke up at 4:15 a.m. Jack got up and built the fires. It was 8 below this morning.

(can you imagine?? 8 below with no heat in the house till the fires are built! Are we lucky today or what??)

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more as it happens here in the city.............

A Gift

I'm not sure about you, but when I receive a gift I normally "thank" my giver either in person, phone or by mail! I try never to over look giving 'thanks'...I'm sure you are the same way...but how often do we, me especially,  forget to thank our Lord for all he gives us...family...life and freedom to worship Him!! Yesterday we went to church in this fog! It looks much better here as the day went along... Yesterday would have been my mother's (Grace) birthday.. she would have been 94....sadly she only lived to be 73 (due to brain cancer) But I still think of her and wish her a "Happy Birthday" in Heaven and 'thank' our Lord for giving me such an amzing mother.....

This morning we woke up to a 'white' 'white' world, no not snow....but frost, the trees were all covered with it and it was beautiful! Isn't our God amazing???

As the day progressed, the sun came out, the skies turned so 'blue'...later however, the wind blew a little and as I looked out the window, it looked almost like it was snowing out....smile...as this frost started to loosen up it fell from the trees.

Today was busy...while Tom went to the store I cleaned a little...(vacuumed as a matter of fact...smile...) I started to exercise again....but decided to slow down and not do as much as I was doing before. I got very sore in about a week, but I was pushing it too fast.

I hope you are having a good week! Blessings and good night everyone!

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"The Many Thoughts of Grace"

March 14, 1947: Went to church. Madeline was in a swell humor. Mrs. Crabb hugged me. Went to grandma's for dinner. Ernest and Hazel came a little while. Dad came after me.

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more as it happens here in the city...........

Colors

I'm always so impressed with colors...how they come up with so many differant shades...

Then this morning as I looked out the window and I saw a beautiful 'colored' sky..(which this doesn't really show the true picture I saw!..smile...) So, I realized...all those beautiful colors are actually from God's pallet!! Had He not created these colors for us...we would be living in a very gray and drap world....smile...

This morning the sun was shining so bright...Rusty found a nice spot and took a nap while he was basking in the warmth of it!!!

I hope you had a lovely weekend and did something enjoyable... we just rested and today we saw the movie "Dolphin Tale"...it was a fantastic movie.. if you haven't seen it...it's a great show to watch...but be sure to have a box of Kleenex near by!

You are My Rock...

I saw this on Facebook....looked like little Lorelai was at her Grandma and Grandpa's tonight and she had eaten some 'squash' and her Mom said she liked it....smile... Isn't she precious and getting so fat...smile...

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I read this article in my Our Daily Bread pamphlet this morning! I love these type of stories! 

The story is told of a young preacher named Augustus Toplady, who was taking a walk through the English countryside when a sudden storm swept across the landscape. Toplady spotted a wide rock formation with an opening—a cleft—where he sought shelter until the storm passed. As he sat out the deluge, he contemplated the connection between his shelter and God’s help in life’s storms.

He had no paper to write on but found a playing card on the floor of the cavelike structure and began to write the words to the beloved hymn “Rock of Ages.”

Written on that stormy day in 1775, this hymn has been a source of strength for Christians ever since.

Rock of ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee;

Let the water and the blood,

From Thy wounded side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure,

Save from wrath and make me pure.

Think of your struggles. Do you need a place to hide? Do you need Someone to shelter you from life’s assaults? Do you need the assurance that you’ve been forgiven? As Toplady experienced, we can find shelter and assurance in God.

Don’t stand out in life’s storms alone. Seek God’s shelter. Ask Him to protect you. Make sure you have received His forgiveness. Get close to the Rock of Ages. It’s life’s safest spot.

When the world around you is crumbling,

God is the rock on which you can stand.

If you would like to read these, please go to Our Daily Bread.

Hope you have a blessed SONday!

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"The Many Thoughts of Grace"

March 9, 1937: Dad went to granddad's to dehorn cattle. Betty got sick. I went to grandma's after dad on the bike. In a few minutes after arriving home we had a fine calf. Bill J. came down and rode to Luton tonight. Was in Luton saw Earl M. Bertha Morey girls.

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more as it happens here in the city.....................

Look What Was in my In-Box Today!

Beautiful Lorelai was on my cell phone this morning! What a welcoming surprise! She is so beautiful and can you believe, a whole month old today...Wow where does the time go?? God is so good...just when I needed a boost there she was! smile.... Do you ever have that happen to you?? It's amazing....it's a God thing for sure..........

Tom was outside working this morning.. he opened his box to check for some grilling tools! Look what he found...I believe it is an old wasp nest...Yikes! Maybe that is why we had such a "hot" summer and he didn't get in there when this nest was full of wasps!!! (Thank you  Jesus!)

I am 'always' looking out our window in search of something magical, such as a unique bird or butterfly! Often the butterflies flitter and flutter around so fast...and never stay landed long enough for me to get a good shot!.. But today...this lovely little butterfly landed on our deck chairs and stayed and stayed...until I got these great shots out the window!! smile.... Isn't God good???? And aren't theses butterflies beautiful???

Of course I had to take a few pictures of flowers...smile... Here are a couple shots of our chrysanthemums almost in full bloom...smile... They remind me of fall with their rust colors. Can't wait to show you what they look like when they are in full bloom!! smile...

We did get to go for a short walk this afternoon...I wasn't doing as well today..so it was a short one. But we saw our neighbor, along with her little baby  and her sister. She has a dog, a large poodle by the name of "Gretel"...and Rusty absolutely doesn't like her! So a frenzy of barking ensued...smile....

What did you all do today? Are you seeing any signs of fall in your area??? If so what are they?

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"The Many Thoughts of Grace"

November 22, 1936:

Went to church. Bernidine came down this afternoon. Bob was here too.

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more as it happens....