Symphony of Light

I heard the rain on the skylight and could see the young tree dancing in the wind from the front door. I anticipated that the following edge of the storm would bring some incredible light shows, so changed lenses on my camera.

I drove to an open space and began to see lightning. I have gotten a few shot of lightning before, but tonight lent itself to numerous successes. Thank goodness for digital cameras. I probably deleted 20 shots to get three keepers. Then the sunset through the thunder clouds followed. Reflection of the pinks on the rain soaked roads in front of a sunset through the trees was simply a symphony of light!

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...the Lord shall be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory and your beauty.
Isaiah 60:19

Double Delight

She found froggy pajamas
and my ginormous frog.
I'm sure that these pictures
will show up on her blog.

We spent time together;
twas a double delight
when Gram came to watch over me
through the night.

Mom and Dad were so grateful
to sleep for awhile.
I gave my gift to Gram:
this wonderful smile.

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And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
Mark 10:19

The Banquet Table

I got to take a break from church, family, and work activities to dive into a craft project yesterday morning. I was searching for some green cone thread to edge a sheet to use for a tablecloth when I found some fabric marked down to $1.50 per yard. It was such a happy and perfect print for some green and blue dishes I found at a garage sale a month ago. Two yards was enough to make the tablecloth and edge a few napkins. My friend Jim taught me that just the simple addition of a cloth napkin enriches a meal with a touch of elegance. It doesn't have to be complicated.

Setting a beautiful table is such a gift to your guests, and even yourself as you serve food in a table scape. It affords, in this fast-paced world, a time to share a meal sort of wrapped up as a whole present. It really does not take much longer to set out than throwing plastic or paper plates on the table. Really.

I came upon two gluten-free suggestions for teriyaki marinade. I miss Kikkoman teriyaki terribly, but it uses wheat in processing. So I set about combining some ingredients and came up with a winner to make some teriyaki steak on the grill for dinner. I did baked potatoes and carrots in the crock pot and put together a simple salad.

It was so nice to be able to lead my husband to the table and serve him the courses on this table. I wanted him to know, through this setting and food preparation, how much I love and appreciate him. His financial provision and hard work cover me to be able to do other things for family, friends, and church community. My serving others through my gifts also waves a comforting banner of love over those I serve in the name of Jesus.

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The Song of Solomon can, in part, be understood as the love relationship between God and his children. He leads us, His love, to a banqueting table. Can you but imagine how it is set? What overload of the senses through abundance of wonderful food, color, taste, and not the least; knowing we are under the banner of His love. When we take the time to set a beautiful table we are giving a gift of time, service, and a banner that reads they are cared for. Don't we all need that?

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He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love (for love waved as a protecting and comforting banner over my head when I was near him).
Song of Solomon 2:4

A Future and a Hope

I know that God is giving her an amazing future and hope. I have been receiving a prophetic picture of her that she will...

open her arms to the poor and extend her hands to the needy.
Prov.31:20

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I believe this little girl will be a blessing to many. She will have strong arms for her tasks, ears to hear, and eyes to see. I pray that she will receive great wisdom and strength, and know her worth.

A Happy Heart

A happy heart makes the face cheerful...
Prov. 15:13

A Cheerful Look

A cheerful look brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones.
Prov. 15:30

With Singing

I have so enjoyed capturing the expressions of my new grand daughter this past week. These two seemed like she was singing and praying to the Lord.

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...come before his presence with singing...
Ps. 100:2

In His Hands

He's got the little bitty baby in his hands.

Not by Sight

This sweet picture of this new baby spoke volumes to me. Thou she had her eyes closed, she had peace and was secure because she was grasping the hand of her momma. She was confident, though she was not literally seeing momma's face, that she had not been abandoned.

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We live by faith, not by sight.
2 Cor. 5:7

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
Psalm 139:9

Little Red Dress

Those of you who know me well, I am here to tell you that already posing my grand daughter in little dresses when she is less than a week old was not started by me, but her mother. This little preemie dress might not make it on again with all the clothes this child already has. Nonetheless, you know I'd have a rhyme:

This little babe in polka dots...
you must know I love her lots.
If this photo had a tag?...
"I pledge allegiance to the flag..."

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Aren't you glad God made us with the capacity to love Him and one another?

A GREAT BLESSING!

I had the great fortune to spend her first night with my new grand daughter, Riley. She and mother, Amy, are doing well. I was relieved to be able to still read the cries, change the diapers, and put the new babe to sleep with singing, prayers, and a covering of safety and love.

It is good to be able to comfort and be trusted by your children. It is also a great relief that Riley took to her grandmother as a person of comfort and safety. My bucket is full and I am SO tired. But I wanted to show you these sweet memories before I go to take a little afternoon nap.

It is truly a blessing to see one's grandchildren.

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...may you live to see your children's children.
Ps. 128:6

Children's children are a crown to the aged...
Prov. 17:6

Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
Prov. 1:8-9

Just One

I have had so many extraordinary experiences on vacations lately and have returned with a thousand pictures. I have found myself posting connected pictures several at a time. I want to share the beauty of the places I have been fortunate to see this year. But the past few days I have felt the message that I needed to post JUST ONE picture and revel in its simplicity. That is why you see just one picture today of the hummingbird moth I photographed this noon. It is awesome to watch how God matches up the giver and the receiver~~sometimes difficult to discern which is which. We can be both at the same time, I believe. We are beings created in a way to be givers and receivers in the Body.

Today I got to visit a friend in the hospital after having surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. I took a mutual friend with me and we got to spend some time together afterwards in a garden, and then share some lunch. We had ministered to our friend and poured out what God had put in us for him. Then God filled us back up again with a walk in a garden and a healthy lunch. Taking time to balance other and self care is a wonderful way to spend a day, Just One at a time.

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Taste and see that the Lord is good!

Give us THIS DAY our DAILY bread.

Remembering

We (my mother and I) spent my Uncle's last birthday with him a year ago in and around his beloved Superstition Mountain and roads up into the hills surrounding Mesa, Arizona. Even though his legs were swollen and he was in great pain, he insisted on driving and showing us some of his favorite places. He is no longer encumbered by that broken and diseased body, and I can only imagine the wonderful trails he is finding with outrageously beautiful discoveries. Go Uncle!!! Thank you for sharing your precious places and precious time with us. It was an honor.

I bet his place prepared for him has an even better view than the Superstition Mountains at sunset from his backyard.

BEAR JAM

We were heading back to Canyon Village from Norris inside Yellowstone National Park. The conversation went something like this:

"Stop! There's a bear!"
"Where?"
"We just passed him...on top of those fallen limbs. He was digging grubs or eating something on top of the pile."

My husband turned around and we spied him still atop the mound of limbs digging to his hearts content into some delectable find. He was a small black bear, light colored. I was guessing he might have been a 2 year old now out on his own because his mama had a new young one.

We did an about face and got a few pictures. Soon cars began to stop and line up behind us. They were anxious to catch a glimpse of the animal that most will only ever see in a zoo. He seemed to be oblivious to his audience and continued to dig and wander around the area searching for more morsels to devour.

We had been the first on the scene to cause a BEAR JAM! Somehow, being the first to cause a 'jam' has great pride attached. I saw the animal first that was the cause of the traffic jam. My husband asked me how I ever saw him. I had my eyes peeled just hoping for such an opportunity. I had expectancy to see something and watched for movement and color along the road.

So, BEAR JAM is not something bears eat or made out of bears, but is definitely sweet! These 'JAMS' come in other flavors. My favorites are MOOSE JAM, GRIZZLY JAM, ELK JAM, FOX JAM, BISON JAM, and BABY CRITTER JAM.

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Sometimes He has given me the desires of my heart!! Be careful what you ask for...you might get BEAR JAM!!!

Ga Ga Geography

I have been a rock collector since I was a small child. The different colors, forms, textures, and mixtures fascinate me. I remember as a child walking country roads and bringing home my collecitons of shiny quartz, mica, and conglomerates that sparkled in the sun.

As an adult the striations in canyon walls leave my mouth open gasping at the amazing geological formations. I don't take rocks out of national parks, but do take out pictures of the amazing rocks, canyon colors, and hoodoos. All these particular formations of volcanic rock were explained this way: molten basalt (a volcanic rock) flows quickly in streams to form sheets of lava. The cooling crystallizes the basalt and it contracts into columns. These are the Sheepeater Cliffs and canyon walls around Tower in northern Yellowstone.

I went Ga Ga over them! Flowing rock...amazing God!

Watercolor Canyon

We were up at the Canyon rim by sunrise to beat the crowds to the trailhead. The clouds were still hanging in Canyon as the sun began to reveal the watercolor palettes of the walls. The thousand foot drop into the view of the wild turquoise waters at the bottom was breathtaking. I thought of my talented friend Karen who paints so wonderfully, loves these colors, and is quite adept at painting watercolors.

We were getting an early start walking the rim and turning away from the Canyon to walk the Ribbon Lake trail. I thoroughly enjoyed the walk along the sunlit canyon, but the trail did not make my favorite trails list. Even being washed in mosquito repellant did not hinder the little buggers. I managed through all our times in the woods, except for this particular morning, to avoid having to make a 'deposit' in the woods. Unfortunately, the little buggers made a breakfast out of my exposed bum in the process. Not a good time, and the lake at the end of the trail was not easily accessible. It seemed more like a buzzing jungle than a northern forest. But I know from some warnings to tourists and previous trips that the mosquitoes in northern forests are quite annoying and prevalent.

Returning to the rim again and seeing the carved walls washed in sunlight was delightful. I was grateful that we had sprayed ourselves well with repellant, and we gave warning to those headed into the woods to do the same.


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You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you...
Isaiah 55:12