When The Sun Shines

Finish your outdoor work

and get your fields ready;

after that, build your house.

                        Proverbs 24:27

We have been outside, soaking up the vitamin D, using those forgotten muscles that are needed for pulling weeds, and getting the greenhouse ready for seeds. Tonight we got another estimate on clearing the back of our property. Someday soon we'll have a lot more sunshine for a bigger garden, a nice fenced pasture for a couple of cows, and a barn full of hay.  It sounds like I'm dreaming, and I am - but it is getting really close to coming true.  :)

Have a great week!

Blessings,

Red

Church With My Dad

My Dad is a man of faith. Real faith. Deep faith.  An amazing man. Truly amazing.
Years ago he had to have a hip replaced and ended up with a blood clot in his lung. The clot was dissolved and the new hip was marvelous, but life changed after that. Soon the knees became bone on bone, but the doctors would not operate because of the history of blot clots.  Still my Dad refused to give in to a wheelchair. He lives in a great deal of pain and yet praises God joyfully.

One of his biggest regrets is not being able to attend church very often anymore.  He has a small travel chair that works similar to a real wheelchair, but it is not easy for my Mom to maneuver.  So yesterday my sister and I loaded him in the car and off  to church we went.

We got there between services and that gave Dad an opportunity to visit with many friends he hasn't seen in quite awhile.  One of those friends helped us get him situated in the sanctuary just in time for the beginning of the service.  He was beaming.  It was so obvious that he was thrilled to be there.

The sermon was excellent and the congregation was invited to come forward to take communion.  We waited until most of the people were through the lines and then my sister wheeled my Dad down the aisle to the table holding the silver trays.  The table was too high for him to reach and so I was able to serve my Dad communion.  It was incredibly emotional.  My sister and I were streaming tears as she pushed his chair back up the aisle to return to our seats.

The rest of the service was powerful and uplifting, and by the time it was over we all knew it was a day we would never forget.  What a gift to all of us. God is so good.

Blessings,
Red

I Have Much To Be Thankful For

Though I am constantly occasionally whining dreaming about "my" farm in Northern Idaho, ( you know, the one I don't have but still wish I did), I do realize that my home here in Oregon is a gift.  The house will probably always need something else repaired, maintained, or replaced but what house doesn't?

There are blessings all around me when I just take the time to look.  This picture is of the back of our property.  The trees are enormous and it's a very peaceful place to wander.

And when my wandering spirit gets it's fill, I can come back and visit with "The Girls".  My how they've grown!

Then a sweet snuggle with this old guy -

Or a game of catch with this little one.

I can do a little bird watching -




Or forge a new trail through the Ivy.

This year we found something amazing in the Ivy.  A small bird had built her nest in the Ivy on the ground! Have you ever heard of a bird nest on the ground?  We never have.  It certainly left us scratching  our heads.  Tim put a fence around it so the dogs couldn't get to it and we would not accidentally step on it.  If you click on the picture below (twice) you will see the eggs in the nest.  It is almost dead center in the picture.

With the spring comes the Peonies.  They are gorgeous and I don't have to touch them.  God takes care of them.  I told you I was blessed :)

I love color.  Lot's of color.  I think it's because we live under grey skies for so much of the year.  This is the beautiful hanging basket my son brought over for Mother's Day (even though I was in California).
 

What a sweetheart.

Thanks for stopping by!