pruning

 

Today my muscles are quite sore, my face is slightly sunburned, and I am very satisfied.  After months of tending to the “gardens” of others, I found that I had woefully neglected my own.  But with the help of two of my many stand-by-me friends, the old is new again.  Much thanks goes to Lora for her labor-love, and to Sonja for the clean fresh pine straw (thanks to Jeff too).  If only I had taken a “before” picture . . .

 

pruning and pulling weeds

 

new additions

       

 

                               

 

                    I am His garden . . .                                      Song 4:12-16

glenda

orange

 

Not quite yellow, not hot enough for red, orange is a warm cozy  in-between.  When I spy something orange (my favorite color these days), it makes me smile. 

downtown anchorage

 

            fall paved

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

caney lake ‘shrooms

 

 

goose print

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

nachitoches hibiscus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

stay warm . . .

glenda

butterfly blur

 

A student and I were walking along the sidewalk when we noticed a flock of butterflies hovering around a multicolored lantana.  I don’t know if they are officially called a “flock” but we both had never seen so many in one place.  The student immediately went about trying to catch a few in her hands, and I, not having a camera, took out my phone to capture them.  They were quite elusive but we drank in their bright orange color, and for a few minutes we slowed down just to watch them flutter around the tiny blooms . . .

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

take flight . . .

glenda

breaking through

 

A cold front is moving through today . . . pushing out the hot, the dry, and the stale . . . bringing in the rain and the crisp clean wind . . .

And the light breaks through the dark clouds . . .

“Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away . . .”      Song 4:6

glenda

pathways

 

If I want to get from one place to another, I must take a path, a road, a certain way.  Sometimes the path is well-worn by the travels of others who have gone before me, and the way is clearly mapped out.  At other times it seems as if the path is being forged even as I make my way through, not knowing where I might end up or what shape I will be in when I arrive.  Many times the way is filled with light and peace and the journey is quite pleasant; but often the road is filled with pot-holes and dangerous hills and curves, and fear wants to accompany me.   

One thing I do know: whether day or night, sunshine or rain, I know I never travel alone . . .

alaskan trail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

bridge in new hampshire

 

    park path

 

 

 

 

 

natchitoches passageway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

dogwood point, lake hamilton

 

“All His paths are mercy and steadfast love . . . “                      Psalm 25:10

glenda

the red eye

 

Red can be found in many shades ranging from that of blood to pink or deep orange.  Our English vocabulary makes good use of the word: we wave the “red flag” to warn of danger; we catch people “red handed” in criminal activity; and we describe spicy food as being “red hot”.    We cut through the “red tape” of bureaucracy; we “see red” when we are angry; we celebrate “red letter days” such as birthdays and anniversaries; and most of the time, we obey the order to stop when signaled by a “red light”. 

I could go on and on, but instead, why don’t  I  just share a few “red” pix . . .

 

melody’s red glass

 

red barn through the rails

 

natalie and the red glass beads

 

junction city steed

 

judy’s snapdragon

 

 

glenda

“Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you as white as wool.” 

Isaiah 1:18

 

contentment

 

If I am happy and satisfied, I would say I was contented; but there seems to be a deeper meaning. My handy word companion, the Illustrated Oxford Dictionary also includes this little bit, “willing to be content “.  Yeah, there is the catch.  Am I willing to choose contentment?   Even when relationships are experiencing adjustments?  When my body doesn’t endure like I think it should?  When I feel disappointment and pain?  Can I choose to live contented? 

I am always free to choose . . .

  at ease

at ease x two

 

learning how to be content . . .

Philippians 4: 11-13

glenda