Free to Be Happy

The focus today is on being happy,or full of joy.

I know,I know,I have not had much to say about happiness recently,but by God's grace that must change.

I am fully aware that we all have seasons in our life when happiness takes a back seat,but these are not meant to last forever.

The other day my granddaughter,Kai and I decided to visit the local beach.More correctly,she asked to go there.

I love this picture of Kai running along,without a care in the world.

I think she is watching her shadow here.

Children have such a simple trust and joy.

We grown-ups on the other hand know how to complicate everything.

I think I for one spend too much time worrying about the 'what ifs'.

God is in control and He has promised to take care of each of us.

I need to take more time to play in the sand and spend less time fretting and being sad.

We found this old tree,its limbs going in all directions but  straight.

I look at this and I see that even though the tree is not growing the way we think it should,it still is producing green leaves and does what trees should do.

All photos taken with my iPhone.

My life is not always going in the direction I would like,but I can still be fruitful and live as God would have me live.

One of the things that I believe God wants to see in HIs children is joy and happiness.I must look for happy things and events,see God in all around me.

Yes,I know that tears will still fall from time to time,but I want to not waste my days wallowing in self pity and misery.

Thought for today:

Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect,

It means you decide to see beyond the imperfections.

Recent Flowers

I'm back,after a week away from posting.

I have survived a difficult week,but that is now in the past,and I want to focus on the present and the future.

Today I share with you a few flowers from my garden and one other one.

This pretty Columbine grows right outside my door.

I had forgotten that I had one in this color,so I am really enjoying it now.

Also just beside the Columbine is one of my Fern-leaf Peonies.

These plants were a gift from a friend,so they are extra special.

Last year they never bloomed.but I have been enjoying their pretty flowers this year.

This little fountain stands at the end of my new flower bed.This is where we used to have a small pond,but I have turned the area into a flower bed and just added this fountain.

Finally,this pretty little bouquet greeted me at the restaurant where my friends took me for breakfast,for my birthday.

My good friend had taken the flowers there before she picked me up.Also greeting me there was a brightly colored Happy Birthday balloon.

I am so thankful for friends,who care enough to go the extra mile to make my day special.Many of you have done just that over the past months and I am very grateful for your friendships.

Though for today:

Tender little memories

Of some word or deed

Give us strength and courage

When we are in need.

Special Days?

I may as well admit it,I do not look forward to this week.

You see,it holds three days which have been special for various reasons.

On June 9,1972,I married the man of my dreams,but this year I am alone to remember that day.Anniversaries are not meant to celebrated alone,and I do not look forward to this day.

God gave me the following verses,back in July of 2010.

When you pass through the waters,I will be with you;and when you pass through the rivers they will not sweep over you.

Isaiah 43:2

This picture shows how I feel some days.The river is full and flowing fast.

I have to rely on God's promise,but there are days I feel like I will be swept away.

On November 10,2010,God took the man of my dreams home to glory.I am thankful that I know I will be reunited with him someday,but for now the loneliness continues.

Each month as the 10th rolls around,I feel an added sense of sorrow.

On June 11,1949,I was born into this world.

Seeing that all three of these are coming at the end of this week makes me feel a great amount of sadness.

No,I'm not asking for pity,but rather for your prayers.

God will not leave me,of this I am sure,but the sadness is something I need to work through.

The raindrops on the Tulip symbolize the tears which flow freely from my eyes on most days.

I'll Fly Away

I have never been very successful at getting flight or take-off pictures of the birds.

On May 23,when I was out with my friends,one of them did me a great favour.

This young man walked right up to where these Mallards were sitting.

I had my camera on them,wanting a picture in the water,but when they took off,I just held the shutter button down and these are the results.

Some of these pictures are not as sharp as I would like them,but I am pleased with most of the results.

I like the water action on this first one.

Again,the action shows up well,as they are in a hurry to take off.

THe female is somewhat blurry,but I kept the picture because I liked the way the wings show movement.

Look at those wings on the male.

As the water droplets are falling,this male hurries to join his mate.

One last shot,before he moved out of focus range.

My young friend started to apologize for walking where he did,but I must have had a smile on my face,so he knew all was well.

These pictures reminded me of the song, I'll Fly Away.

Some glad morning when this life is o'er,

I'll fly away.

To a home on Go'd celestial shore,

I'll fly away.

It's time to look on the brighter side of life.

I have a few random pictures to share,which I have taken over the last while.

I had the opportunity to go to Winnipeg with some of my friends,last week.

We went in hopes of seeing lots of birds.Unfortunately the weather had other plans,it was quite cold and windy,so the small birds were not very active.

At Fort Whyte nature Centre,we saw this family.To me it looks like the parents are sharing a secret,or a surprise for the little ones.

We visited St.Vital Park,and once again found that it was just too cold to do much birding.I caught this Canada Goose just as it was almost done flapping its wings.

I liked all the detail of the feathers at the wings leading edge.

A stop at the English Gardens in Assiniboine Park yielded many colourful Tulips.

Thankfully you can't see how cold I was during this time.

 The last picture was taken a few days earlier,and was at a park in Morden.

I had gone for a walk and found these pretty flowers.

I know I have taken pictures of them before,but they are pretty enough shoot again.

Thought for today:

In this changing world,may God's unchanging love

Surround you and bless you daily,in abundance from above.

Then and Now

The following two pictures depict my life,as you will clearly see.

Both pictures are taken at the same place.The first one on July 8,2010.

The second picture was taken on May 16,2011.

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;

may the name of the Lord be praised.

Job 1:21

I will freely admit that I don't always feel like praising the Lord,but this I know,He is still good,and He cares for me.

Thank-you and Today's Photos

I need to start this post by saying a huge Thank-you to each of you who encouraged me with your kind words.

I always thought that many of my friends lived in my computer,now I know that for sure.

Your kindness and continuing prayers are overwhelming.

I have tried to remain upbeat and positive on the blog,but I realize that I must be real,let at least some of my feeling show.

Here is a trio of hearts for each of you.

This plant is called Bishop's hat,for the shape of the flowers. 

A friend gave me this Fern Leaf Peony two years ago.

I had always wanted one,but they are sooo expensive.When she discovered these on her new yard,she immediately knew that they should grow in my garden.

As you can see the buds are almost ready to open,I can hardly wait.This is the first time they will be blooming for me.

This little Fuchsia plant is hanging right beside my door.

I like the raindrop on the bud.

Look what I planted this year.Sempervivum.

I have seen these on Betsy's blog,and now I can enjoy them in my own garden.

Walking through our local park I noticed the new growth on the trees.This is an Oak tree coming to life.

I am really bad at identifying most trees,so I don't know what this is,but I like the colors.

Here is one more picture of my Fuchsia.

No,this is not sideways,this is exactly how the flower is growing.All I have done with this picture is crop it a little.

All of the above photos were taken today,as well as many others.I just wanted to share some of the sights that me me smile today.Each day brings with it some tears,but also often,some laughter.For this I am thankful.

Thought for today:

What better answers are there

To prove God's holy being,

Than the wonders all around us

That are ours just for the seeing.     

A Photo and Praise

I chose this picture for several reasons.

I like how the trees standing in water symbolize our lives at times,yet God still lives and He deserves our praise.

The last few weeks I feel like I am one of those trees,swamped by various things and circumstances.

I have been and should continue to be very busy keeping the flower beds looking decent.This is a new job for me this year.

Along with all the extra work,come floods of emotions that are draining my energy.Even though it has been 6 months since I said good-bye to the love of my life,the pain is so very real and the tears come often.I try hard to remain optimistic,but at times fall far short.I do not wish to burden others with my pain,and that includes my blogging friends,so the posting will be sporadic over the next while.

I do wish to give praise to God for being my Rock,even during trying times.

I know that this post has been quite wordy,but I wanted all of you to know why I might not be posting regularly.

Photo and Praise

Tuesday has rolled around again and the time to think on praise.

Many days it would be so easy to give in to complaining and fretting,but that is not what God wants of me.

The Psalmist uses the words,"I will".Praise is a choice and I will choose to give praise for what I have and the blessings given to me.

Photo by Ruth

This sunset picture was taken in July of 2010.

God pulled out all the stops on that day,as He closed the day.

My Story

This above picture taken by Jake one year ago to the day,reminds me of my life.

The road is not always straight or easy,the future is unknown.

The one thing I do know is that God walks each step with me and at times carries me when I cannot take another step.Here is a link to another blog,where a small part of my story is featured.

My Story

 Once again I take this time to say Thank-you for all your love and support.

Happy Mother's Day

Today I want to pay tribute to my mother and my mother-in-law.

Here is a picture of my parents with my son Steve,taken in the fall 1973.

Mom was a hard working woman.She did  not like idleness.

Even when we were not working she like to see my sister and me doing some creative handwork,like knitting,embroidery or crocheting.I guess that is why today I have a hard time just sitting and doing nothing.Mom loved her gardens and produced great crops,that saw us through many a winter.

One of the joys of her life was sending visitors home with armloads of garden produce.

Mom was also a very good seamstress.She sewed all our clothes,and also sewed for others.

This brought her some much needed extra cash,and gave her a sense of pride.

The next picture is at our wedding on June 2,1972.

This is my mother and mother-in-law.

My Mom sewed all the clothes you see here,including my wedding dress.Mother-in-law was a step-mother to Jake,but filled the role of Mother very well.

I have been blessed to have wonderful role models in my life,including Jake's second stepmother,who I don't have a picture of on the computer.

Check out those silver shoes of mine.

All of these women have moved on to glory,Annie,my Mother-in-law in the lilac,was the first to go,after a lengthy illness.My Mom had bowel cancer and after 9 months of intense suffering was released to join her in Heaven.

I still have the other mother-in-law,but Alzheimer's has robbed her of all memory,she is now in a care home.

I pray that I will be able to leave at least as good a legacy for my son as these women have left for me.

Pelicans,Robins and Loon

It seems that spring has finally arrived in southern Manitoba.

I hope this is not just a teaser.

The birds on my yard and elsewhere have been very busy feeding.

I was sitting outside enjoying the beautiful weather,when a fight broke out.

These two Robins did not seem to like each other.

The other day I spent some enjoyable time at our local lake.

I had seen the  Pelicans and all the action,but didn't know at first what was going on.

I soon realized that they were fishing.You can also see some Double-crested Cormorants among them.

These guys were just waiting for a free lunch,the Pelicans were doing all the work.

Her is just another shot of the action.

I spotted at least four Common Loons on the lake,but they did not come very close to shore.This is about the best picture I could get and it is heavily cropped.

I leave you with a path of stars over the lake.

Thought for today:

Let the beauty of the wild leave footprints on your heart.

Photo and Praise

Every day is a good day to praise the Lord.

As I was looking for a picture to go with this verse,I thought of a mountain scene,but decided on this one instead.

A scene like this is every bit as beautiful,in my eyes as a snow-capped mountain. I trust this scene causes you to lift your heart in praise as it does mine.

This picture was taken by Jake,and is from a slide scan.