A Friend

A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails. Donna Roberts

Our granddaughter, Anne Marie, just returned from spending about a week at the beach with one of her best friends. The header was snapped by me, and the rest of the pictures were taken by my daughter-in-law. For my new followers, Anne is the darker child. She is our only grandchild, so of course I have her on my blog from time to time. I thought that these pictures of her and her friend were so lovely. The contrast of the two girls, one so light and one so dark, yet both so connected and having such fun together. See just how much they are in step with one another, even when they run together. A true friend runs along beside you, and suits their pace to match yours. Never ahead and never behind, but always beside you. Here is a friend like no other.

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. ...I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my father I have made known to you." John 15:13

Everything Is Just Peachy

Today we went to a peach orchard and farm market. My husband worked in his grandfather's peach orchard for a few years when he was a teenager, but I had never been to one. There must have been hundreds of peach trees literally dripping with peaches all over the branches and the ground! There were many different kinds, as well. You could pick all you wanted, then bring them in the store and pay by the pound. That is me picking a peach. And no, I did not go up that ladder! I have enough trouble just walking on solid ground nowadays, and hung onto Phil to get through the lumpy orchard ground. This is some of what we saw inside. They had peach donuts and peach ice-cream, as well. My husband ate the donuts in the car. They were good, but here's a priceless fruit that's much better.

"I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver." Proverbs 8:17,19

Blinded By The Light

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his son, purifies us from all sin." 1 John 1: 5,7

The Shield

I bet you're wondering who our little friend here is. Isn't he cute (or not)? I found him crawling on our back door and went to get my camera. This is a Stink Bug, so called because if he fears any harm, he releases a strong bad smell. Putting up a big stink is his defense. There are over 200 different species throughout the world, and they were origionally found in East Asia. These bugs are in Sweden, too, and my friend Monica found one and posted some pictures on her blog today. CLICK HERE to see them. Her blogs are wonderful, whimsical, and have some very pretty views of Sweden. Mr. Stinky is a sturdy bug, and can withstand most pesticides. He almost looks like he's wearing armour, see? Because of this effect, and because of his shape, he is also called Shield Bug. But he is just a pretender to the name, here is our real shield.

"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. " 2 Samuel 22:31

"We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you." Psalm 33:20,22

Showers Of Blessings

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100:4,5

Welcome to my bathroom! My new and improved bathroom, that is. About a year ago, we had the old bathtub taken out and a walk in shower installed. The wood behind the tub was rotten and the tub was sinking through the floor. With my bad knees and clumsiness, it's one of the best things we've ever done. Ya think I could use a few MORE grab bars? We get kidded about that a lot, because there are four in there, more grab bars than walls! And I'm so glad of that now, because I fell today. I hit the ground hard, and am quite banged up, but not badly hurt and nothing broken. I'll confirm that in a few hours when I go to the doctor. Fortunatly, I fell in the living room, where we have new thick padding and carpet, or I could have broken my hip. But it seems the worst part was trying to get up. I could not get on my knees because they need surgery, and my rotator cuffs are torn, so I couldn't pull myself up by my shoulders. Fortunatly my husband was home, and it took us almost a half hour to get me up. I doubt if I could step over a tub now, and am so blessed to be able to walk in and hold on wherever I stand. So today I am counting my blessings one by one, and will have much to pray about tonight. God is good.

I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing." Ezekiel 34:26

The Peaceable Kingdom

In just a few hours, a new Chick-fil-A will be opening in our city. Whenever a new store opens, the first one hundred people get one free sandwich a week for one year. So at least one day ahead, people begin to camp out in the parking lot. I went there today and walked around, taking pictures, trying to figure out what kind of person would go to this extreme in 95 degree weather, just for some free chicken sandwiches. And I found out. First of all, I did not feel out of place with my camera, or that I had to be very careful with it. Everyone seemed to have cameras, and they were all laughing and taking pictures of one another. They would gladly stop and pose for me, and even apologize if they got in the way of a shot. There were babies, teenagers, very old people. They played games, chatted, laughed, danced and sang. Young and old together, enjoying the moment and each other. It reminded me of Woodstock, the Age Of Aquarius. These people had already been given a gift, and it wasn't chicken sandwiches. It was what I was looking at right in this parking lot. My eyes were popping out of my head. Was I dreaming? Could chicken really have the potential to bring world peace? Who knew? So then, I will leave you with their slogan, uttered by a peace loving, spelling challenged cow "Eat Mor Chikin".

"Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you." 2 Cor. 13:11

The Main Attraction

The butterfly bushes are in bloom now. There are several different kinds, but this kind is easy for me to spot because it looks a bit like a skinny lilac bush. It is called butterfly bush because it never fails to attract butterflys, hummingbirds, and lots of other flying creatures. It's like a magnet to them. These are just a few of the little pretties that I snapped on a bush the other day. Lots of people plant these to attract butterflies, but there are better bushes for that purpose. In fact, this plant is considered to be an invasive and noxious weed. That is because it is not native to this country, and grows rapidly, pushing out other plants. It will survive almost any conditions, and the seeds will lay dormant for five years. It's extremly hard to get rid of, and yet so attractive to so many. Here's someone who attracted many, but not because of his looks. You might say he will always be the main attraction.

"He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows..." Isaiah 53:2,4