Anniversary Sunset

Today the sun is setting on our 36th wedding anniversary. The sky was full of many intense colors and patterns; not unlike a long marriage.

Thirty three years ago, on our third anniversary, I spent the whole afternoon in hard labor delivering our first girl. This afternoon I babysat our grandchildren. God has blessed our days and we have a goodly inheritance! I am blessed with a husband, daughters, sons by marriage, and grandchildren all going forth as fruit of our marriage. Blessings abound!
~~~~~~~~~~~

The boundaries have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.
Psalm 16:6

Make a Joyful Noise

On Saturday morning we had our Ladies and Girls Tea at church. We used musical instruments for some of our centerpieces. The theme was, "He is my Song" based on Psalm 118:14. The morning was filled with praises and it was wonderful to see the young ladies full of enthusiasm as they showed their love for God through making joyful noises.

I remember taking some criticism for a church evening many years ago, for the choice of using Kazoos to make music. It was deemed as an irreverant instrument. I think God loves Kazoos used to give Him praise, don't you??? Whatever instruments you use to praise him, I hope you will sing, bang on something, blow into something (an empty oatmeal box comes to mind for both of these), and become as a little child full of the joy of the Lord, as you give Him praise!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD,
Praise the LORD.
Psalm 150:3-6
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Mighty Rock

These were taken at the base of the cliffs
along Muddy Creek at Kremmling, Colorado.
~~~~~~~~~~

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress,
I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor
depend on God.
He is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times,
O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
Psalm 62:5-8

Pinkies

Yesterday morning at our Ladies Tea my friend was coaching my granddaughter on how to hold the pinky finger up as you sip your tea. It started me thinking about how traditions and heirlooms are passed on in so many ways. The tea cups were passed on to us by my husband's grandparents. I have used them so many times for special events. My granddaughter remembered drinking from them at other times.

Sometimes, because of favorite stories or patterns, the children will set the tradition instead of the parents. For example, my grandson always has to sit in the chair with my husband and read "Bear and Mrs. Duck." Likewise, on family night, both grandkids think they got robbed if they don't get to take a bath in Gram's big tub. We have all sorts of games we play with their bin of bath toys.

Recently, both grandchildren told their mother, before coming over to go on the most recent train ride, that they needed snacks to take with them. She questioned that necessity. They informed her that there were tables on the train, and we "always" ate snacks on our way into and returning from the big city.

Passing on lovely traditions, and making new ones, is a sure way to make wonderful memories. They are part of our inheritance as much as any tangible thing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children.
Proverbs 13:22

Like a Little Child

~~~~~~~

Sometimes pictures speak louder than words.
~~~~~~~~~

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell ;you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
Luke 18:16-17

While Waiting

While waiting for the train I got to see my grandchildren play, and also watch a beautiful egret fly overhead. Sometimes I get in the moment and actually realize that what is happening WHILE I am waiting is just as beautiful and exciting as the BIG thing for which I am waiting.

His presence in the present is the gift...He never leaves us!
When I take time to be grateful, my eyesight improves to see how much I am blessed.

Beautiful Feet

We took our daughter and grandchildren on the TRE train to downtown Ft. Worth yesterday. Part of the tradition is to go to the children's section of the Barnes and Noble bookstore. I didn't realize until the second visit there with them that I had such a wonderful vantage point upstairs from which to photograph the angels on Bass Hall.

The third photograph is from the street below, but the other three taken from across the street show how incredible they really are. Every facet of the wings, hands, robes, feet, and faces was exquisite. I always imagine they are pointing towards heaven and proclaiming the good news of peace and salvation.
~~~~~~~~~~~

How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!!"

Hummingbird

Before my recent trip to Colorado I was hoping the hummingbirds would be there. I also greatly desired to see 'Light' the fox again. Just so you know my list of 'I wants' was not deficient, I also wanted to see a bear and a moose. I ask boldly and abundantly. I believe that so often we do not have because we do not ask.

But I also believe that God does not indiscriminately give all things on a list just because we ask. I didn't see a moose, although where the moose tracks were it might have been better not to have seen him right there on foot far away from the car. I didn't see a bear, either. I didn't see 'Light.' HOWEVER, I saw six different adult foxes and three kits. I saw lots of deer, elk, and antelope. I saw wildflowers I've never seen before. But the hummingbirds were in abundance everywhere; especially half a dozen that zoomed from their perches in neighboring branches up to the hummingbird feeder and hanging plants right outside the kitchen window.

I think I got a pretty good deal!

~~~~~~~~~~

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!
Amen.
Eph. 3:20-21

Ribbons of Rivers

I was overwhelmed with the beauty of the ribbons of rivers stretching out across the meadows, with the mountains in the background. It almost seemed that all of it could not be in the same picture. The Yampa Valley held the winding river, and lots of willow. Supposedly, there are lots of moose out there, but we didn't see any. But with a view like this, even mooseless to our eye, how could we complain?
~~~~~~~~~~~

Let the rivers clap their hands,
let the mountains sing together for joy;
let them sing before the LORD...
Psalm 98:7-9

Generosity and Blessing

The massive and vibrant valleys north of Steamboat Springs were in transition from winter to spring. The swollen rivers were muddy from melting snow, and the old grasses of winter gave contrast to the new greens of spring. These pictures cannot begin to convey the glory and size of these meadows lying between the mountain ranges. Those who have inherited this land have indeed been generously blessed. I pray they are also generous givers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;
those the Lord blesses will inherit the land...
Psalm 37:21-22

By Bit

My friend and I were taken with the care and time the ranch owner took in training his horses. He would be out in the corral for hours using different teaching techniques on them. The public coming to ride horses during a vacation probably has no idea how much it takes to ready these horses so they will be dependable and safe.

~~~~~~~~~

I will instruct you and teach you
in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.
Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.

The Kit and the Magpie

The mom skittered off
but the kit stayed behind.
A magpie swooped in
to see what it could find.

The kit sensed a presence;
it looked left and right.
I thought that this feeding
might end in a fight.

They ate next to each other
until both got their fill.
It was a pleasure to watch them
on Evergreen hill.

As in a Mirror

When I see incredible beauty reflected in nature, I am reminded of these scriptures:


Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor. 8-12

Looks like...

The bottom two photos are of an elk, his velvet horns sprouting. His reaching for the leaves gave me an uncanny feeling that I was seeing a giraffe instead of an elk!

Barns

~~~~~~~

I have mixed emotions when I see old barns and homesteads abandoned and ready to fall over. They are such a reminder of generations past and a much simpler time. Not a time of easier work, but less clutter and clearer understanding of what you reap, plant, sow; you harvest. One barn we passed, which was not in a safe spot along the road for a photograph, I think could have toppled with one good cough in its direction.

I often wonder what kind of world my grandchildren will have. Their world of technology is so far from how I grew up out on a farm in western Nebraska; not not even a black and white television until I was in junior high school. When I begin to worry about what they will have to endure, I remember God has no grandchildren...just children. He will strengthen and lead them as He has done for all the generations who knock at the door, listen for direction, and desire relationship with Him.

Aspen

~~~~~~~~~~~

One of the reasons (like I needed another one (c;) I wanted to go to Colorado early in June was to see the Aspen trees get their leaves. When I arrived the trees were white and grey with no leaves. One week later I took the last picture into the sun of the inch wide leaves. They were fully dressed in just seven days. You can still see through them into the new light green. Before I left the mountain I heard their quaking announce the wind and saw them do their wonderful dance as the currents spun them back and forth.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

He makes winds his messengers.
Psalm 104:4

Every Bird

We saw this yellow-headed blackbird at the edge of Walden, Colorado. I have only seen one once before when I heard a male singing his heart out at the Visitor's Center in Jackson, Wyoming. The song wasn't pretty (to me, anyway) but he was singing his heart out.

This guy took flight, and I was able to capture the interesting white pattern on his wing. It is amazing what new thing God will show you when you are looking for a moose!
~~~~~~~~

I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.
Psalm 50:11