It's a Beautiful Day in My Neighborhood

At this moment:
The sparrows are bathing in the bird bath.  A squirrel is chowing down on seeds beneath the bird feeder.  (This is his snack.  He was there for breakfast earlier, then off to the bird bath for a big long drink).  A number of Mockingbirds are singing and squawking all over the place.  The hummer's are zooming around the feeders like crazy.  There's cattle grazing in the pasture next to me.  Tons of flowers are blooming and the grass is green.  The breeze blowing and tingling the chimes (and my hair).  The skies are overcast and no sun is blaring through.  It's still not 80 degrees and it's after noon.

Seriously, it's hard to beat this.  Morning has turned into afternoon as I sit here on the porch.

However, on my heart is Oklahoma.  I'm sure it is on the hearts of many Americans and folks around the world.  Tuesday when I heard stories and saw pictures my heart broke.  I felt a drawing to do something.  But what can one person do?

Later in the day someone posted on Facebook they were going to help.  Teams of people were going to do all kinds of things.  Later my daughter's pastor posted that their church too had a team going.  I called the team leader.  She said the team will be working with "Samaritan's Purse".  The team will be leaving Sunday afternoon and staying to work all day Monday and Tuesday.  The team will be clearing debris.  I have committed to go.  I am grateful I am not working and I am able to help in some way.

Matthew 25:40 (NIV)  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

I don't have a lot of money to send, however, I do have time.  And sometimes, what you can give is money, and that is also a gift.

“To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.” 

One person can do something.  One person can give time and energy and love.  If a lot of people give a little time and energy and love, a lot can be done.

"In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love." — Mother Teresa 

Encourage One Another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.

Blessing and love to you (and to all those in OK), XOXO.

PS Add the smell of rain to my list above...there was no rain in our forecast!   

You Listen With Your Ears

"You listen with your ears!"  That's what Baby Gray told me yesterday as we sat on the porch and he put his hand behind his ear to listen for the sound of the chimes clinking on my porch.

This morning as I wake up, I hear the Mockingbird's song, the sound of light rain touching the grass and a gentle breeze blowing the leaves.  I was planning on riding my horse this morning however, I think I'll stay in bed with my hand behind my ear!

Isaiah 30:21
"Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it."

Encourage one another.  Continuing the journey on fresh paths.
Blessings and love to you.

Finally After 10 Months Almost to the Day...

I see deer from the porch.  And just in the nick of time.  I was reading.  I looked up just to see them fixing to cross from the pasture in front of my house to the road.  In fact the photos are after they have crossed the fence.  Look for three!

 These are not the greatest photos, as the deer were pretty far from the porch, even when I zoomed in.  Boo!

 The three scamper across the neighbor's pasture.

So close and yet so far away.
But they were there.  In full sight of the porch.  I've been waiting and watching with hopeful anticipation to see deer from the porch.  Today...bullseye!

Psalm 18:33

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights.

Proverbs 5:19

A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love.

Encourage One Another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.
Blessings and love to you, xoxo.

Cactus Blooming Time

Sometimes every cactus on the place is blooming.  I don't know if they are not because we have had so little or rain or just because.  However, only some of them are blooming.  While all the cactus look the same, there are a few variations in color of the blooms, from yellow to pink to orange.
Here are just a few!

I'd love to plop them off just below the flower and take them home an put them in water.  However, at close view those spiny little splinters are even touching the flower.  They'll be staying right where they are.

Honey bees are everywhere.  If you look straight down into the center of these flowers they are moving.  The bees are deep, getting all the nectar they can.

Maybe with the recent rains we will have more flowers, a sea of yellow.  If so, I'll get more photos.  If not, I'll enjoy these.  Few or many, they are beautiful!
Acts 14:17

Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”

Encourage One Another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.
Blessings and love to you, xox.

Puppy Love

Have you ever loved a dog?  It's pretty crazy love.  Has a dog ever loved you?  That's pretty crazy love too.

On a recent Sunday Ikey was sick.  The kind of sick he was moving VERY slow, creeping around, wouldn't jump up in my lap, wouldn't even walk down the stairs.  Even though it was a Sunday I called the vet. He was in a lot of pain.  On examination he determined it to be his back.  He gave him some medication and in a couple of days he was 'good as new'.  I don't really think that was it, his back.  However, it has not reoccurred and for that I am extremely grateful.

 A recent road trip took us by a fantastic field of bluebonnets.  Fortunately for me I had my camera.  Ikey did not think he was so fortunate.

 It doesn't take much for me to acknowledge and thank God daily for this little guy.  Talk about unconditional love...it goes both ways.  He wakes me with a snuggle every morning.  He greets me with a smile and a wiggle of his body every time I come home.  He would love to go load up and every where with me any day of the week.  He interjects without saying excuse me every time I have company or get on the phone.  "Hello mom...mom...I'm here mom...can't you see me mom...mom (bark...bark)!"

Puppy love, it was great when I was a girl and it is great years later in my life.

I know that God loves me even more than this.  His love too is unconditional.  His love is ever lasting.  His love is the same every day.  And for that too I thank God every day.
Romans 12:10Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Encourage One Another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.
Blessings and love to you, xoox.

On another recent Sunday we watched "Eight Below".  It is the story of a man who has to leave his sled dogs behind in the freezing weather and his return to see what happened.  I cried all the way through.  Check it out if you love dogs.