FOXES

I purposefully went to Evergreen Mountain in my dreams last night. I miss seeing these beautiful foxes. I think the ones above represent three or four generations I have met while visiting in the spring and fall months. They are such exquisitely beautiful animals. I have had the pleasure of seeing a few of my favorites bring their kits by to see me.

It is hard to see the hierarchy of nature when you see the evidence of their hunting and being hunted. Even the pecking order of the birds coming to the feeder in the morning is quite a lesson in nature. But even with that reality ever present up on the mountain, I take a sighting of each creature as an extreme blessing. It was good to revisit them in my dreams last night.

My friends and I give blessings to the animals when they come by. I haven't had the pleasure as she has of blessing the bear on his hind legs stretched high and watching her bake in the kitchen. Oh my!

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Preach the gospel to every creature...
Mk. 16:15

When he leaves town...

PAINT!

Here are the results of my work today. I taped off, cleaned out corners, bought paint, and got the whole thing done from beginning to end. Reminded me of the times when my husband travelled earlier in our marriage. He would come home to a newly painted room. He is really good about it, because I do a good job and have an eye for color. I love to decorate on a dime and don't think he has ever not liked the result, so I am not taking too much of a risk.

I was really tired of all the builder beige. I haven't decided if I will glaze with a light gold/flotrol treatment.
Now, the rest of the story...
I found the tassel on the lamp for 25 cents at a garage sale. I found the satin box with tassel for a dime at a garage sale. I found the three trunks packed inside each other for 5 dollars. I found the metal flower tin for a buck. The picture frame was a Goodwill buy for $2.99. I added the cactus green accent with some of the wall paint. The wire-wrapped wooden cross was a garage sale find also.

The scroll metal piece, Home metal piece, and the two candle holders were all purchased at Hobby Lobby today 50 per cent off.
Did I tell you that I just love a bargain???!!!

I hope my husband will say upon his return,
A prudent wife is from the Lord!

The Flower Tasters

I began working on a photography book this afternoon I am titling
THE FLOWER TASTERS.
It has been a very relaxing task to go through my photos and remember where I took each one. Amazing that our Creator did not make just bees to enjoy the nectar, but a plethora of butterflies, moths, dragonflies, hummingbirds, and countless other gorgeous creatures that are drawn to the sweetness and color of His bountiful gardens.

As these creatures are drawn to the flowers, so are we drawn to a relationship with God.

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O TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD!
Psalm 34:8

Creation Speaks His Love

If we do not praise Him, the rocks will cry out. I believe it! Sometimes looking at a view that can hardly be taken in by the human heart or translated by a camera lens, all I can do is weep with the rocks at what God has done. How can I understand the immense beauty of our God when I cannot even wrap myself around the beauty of the changing lights in the Grand Canyon?

Sometimes when I need to think on such things that are lovely, I visit these memories in my thoughts and dreams. I am in awe that the Creator of this loves me!

Joy in a Boy

Here I am with my grandson, Charlie. Yesterday we celebrated his fourth birthday. He is an amazing boy with such a loving, sweet and joyful spirit. Don't get me wrong...he is not always nice and kind, especially to his older sister. But I think that is pretty normal sibling stuff. The thing that gets me about this young man is his sweet disposition. When grilled by family members for birthday gift ideas, he would simply say that whatever we got him he would like. It should be a surprise. Remember, this is coming from a 4yr. old boy! What joy and pride filled my heart! This child knows that he is loved by many, no matter what stuff he does or doesn't get for his birthday.

Well, it was time for the arrival of the afternoon party guests. Mama had baked and designed a firetruck cake. The living room was filled with balloons. Charlie was free with hugs and kisses. Full of energy, he greeted the attendants and escorted them inside. He was patient to let the eating and conversation pass. Then it was time to open the gifts. Three times in response to three different gifts, as if each was the favorite and most especially prized of all, he responded to the contents with the exuberant phrase...
"I have been wanting this for YEARS!"
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It reminds me of William Young's phrase used by the character representing God in his book, 'The Shack". The character says quite often:
"I am especially fond of that one."

Each of us is His precious, prized creation. We may be humbled that God is especially fond of us and don't really deserve it. But at the same time, we will still be judgmental and stunned with disbelief that He could be fond of some of the other ones He made. It is hard to get our works mentality around being loved not for what we have done, but who we are:
God's children.

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Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
And whoever welcomes a little child like this one in my name welcomes me.
Matt. 18:4-5

See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father...if a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
vs.10-14