soggy manitoba

driving to work this morning was wickedly slow ... the ridges in the highway collected with water and wanted to take my car in directions i didn't want to go! so i had to slow down, and just peer between the fast-moving wipers to make sure i stayed on the straight and narrow!

imagine my delight when the sun made it's appearance (for 5 minutes!) when i got home ... it looked so lovely that i had to take a quick walk to the beach and snap a pic or two ... here is one for you ... tho' the clouds were pulling in again ...

for my blog buds that are suffering through droughts ... i am so sorry and would happily share our liquid gold if i could ...

blessings on your weekend ...

Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes. Psalm 119:135

transformation

Dr. Werner von Braun, well-known for his part in pioneering the U.S. space program, said that he had "essentially scientific" reasons for believing in life after death. He explained: "Science has found that nothing can disappear without a trace. Nature does not know extinction. All it knows is transformation. If God applies the fundamental principle to the most minute and insignificant parts of the universe, doesn't it make sense to assume that He applies it to the masterpiece of His creation -- the human soul? I think it does."

check out the rain!

you couldn't even see the lake today - the rain was that heavy ... it just poured buckets and filled the ditches up ... i'm glad i was snug inside our condo central ...

though the exuberance of youth was evident in the neighbours boys ... they had their swim trunks on and they were running up and down the street! just enjoying the soggy weather and obviously enjoying life! made me smile and think about the energy one has as a youngster ...

I am sure it is a great mistake always to know enough to go in when it rains. One may keep snug and dry by such knowledge, but one misses a world of loveliness. ~Adeline Knapp

Sunday greetings

just leaving a sweet little "Sunday type" image, before i dash off to the salt mines in the park ... blessings on this Lord's day to you!

the cross, where our faith became sight ...

photo by saija

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

i was coming out of the grocery store the other day when i happened to look across the street at the old anglican church ... i loved the image i saw ... i ran for my camera before the shadows and light changed ... cool, eh!

rain

it was a rainy day today ... and foggy ... and warm ... and restful! leo and i had a nice morning together, then watched a movie in the afternoon ... of course the evening was for hockey night in Canada (for leo anyway!) ...

i am starting to get excited about my summer off ... it is amazing how tiring work can be - i must admit to a bit of aging happening ... ? ... go figure eh!

each day seems to bring another confirmation of my decision to "retire" from the salt mines in the park ... i love it when God speaks to a listening heart ... and His peace settles any last doubts ...

the pics i've posted are just ones i snapped today ... flowers by our garage ... and the view from our front window ... serene, eh? i am counting my blessings - day by day and minute by minute! ...

"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds." Matthew 6:25-26 (the message)

the blooms of spring

i snapped this pic today, as i came home from work ... i love being greeted by "smiling" flowers! today is my Friday ... i just wanted to say "hi" ... *smile* ...

If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom. ~Audra Foveo

tv's, satellites and helpful neighbours

Cartoon by Dave Walker

i saw this cartoon a while back ... it made me smile ... especially since we have downsized ...

and speaking of tv's (oh? were we? *chuckle*) ... our satellite reception was giving leo major problems this afternoon ... in fact, he was talking to the tekkies at our provider for over an hour! all they could conclude was that something was unplugged ... but leo had tried all the connections ... poor guy was just sweating when i got home, that type of bending behind tv sets isn't the best of positions for a guy with back problems! ...

when i got home, i looked at the actual dish perched on our roof ... then, compared it to our neighbours dish ... and sure enough, something was unhooked ...

our condo central is a 50+ place ... we are the "kids" here ... but our neighbours (some of whom are older then our parents!) have been so helpful and sweet ... they knew something was up when they saw leo going to the garage for a ladder ... our 85 year old neighbour rushed over to help carry the ladder for leo!! then our 70 something, other neighbour, stopped what he was doing to go climb up the ladder and snap this part back into place! and we had clear reception again! not only that, once this little community project was all finished, the sky opened up and it poured rain - but the job was done! :o) ... doesn't that make you smile? the sweetness of folks we really don't know, and their willingness to jump in there and help! Praise the Lord for kind-hearted neighbours ...

a meme

i was tagged by osray from being there and Kathleen Marie from The open window ...

the rules: post 7 (or 8) random facts about yourself. here goes:

1. i hum all the time
2. i love to sit in a room full of books, i find them comforting ...
3. swimming is my very favourite activity
4. i love the desert
5. i still think of myself as a young person (with a 53 year old body!)
6. i take pictures of sunrises, wondering if Jesus will be returning soon...
7. i love church, tho' we don't have a church home ...

if you want to share some random facts, please let me know and i'll come over and have a read! *smile* ...

for now, it's off to bed and then another 5 days at the salt mines in the park ... tho' i am counting down! blessings sent your way ...

it's greening up!

(click on pic to enlarge)

i went for a bike ride today ... look at how my little town is starting to green up ... doesn't it just make a heart glad? *smile* ... at the town docks, i chatted up an old gentleman fishing ... he was enjoying the day ... and why not ... God's blessings are all around for us to see ... He gives us all good things to freely enjoy!

country music ...

do you listen to country music?

i haven't in a while ... however, the radio at work is tuned to the country station, so i quickly got reaquainted with the sweetness of that genre ... one song in particular seemed to be playing constantly - especially as i prayed about my work situation - "should i quit, shouldn't i quit?" ...

you can hear the song by doing a search on www.youtube.com ... the simple cowboy lyrics were relateable and comforting ... therefore, worthy of sharing with you, my blog buds!

"Me and God" by Josh Turner

There ain't nothing that can't be done
By me and God
Ain't nobody come in between me and God
One day we'll live together
Where the angels trod
Me and God

Early in the morning talking it over
Me and God
Late at night talking it over
Me and God
You could say we're like two peas in a pod
Me and God

He's my Father
He's my friend
The beginning
And the end
He rules the world
With a staff and rod
We're a team
Me and God

I am weak and he is strong
Me and God
He forgives me when I'm wrong
Me and God
He's the one I lean on When life gets hard
Me and God

He's my Father
He's my friend
The beginning
And the end
He rules the world
With a staff and rod
We're a team
Me and God

He rules the world
With a staff and rod
We're a team
Me and God
We're a team
Me and God

when is enough ... enough?

back in the 70's, as a newlywed, i started my first full-time job ... it was for a huge conglomerate, yet located within a small town ... i was a dewey eyed young thing, and my coffee time chatter involved our domestic plans and how after a few years in the work force i would "retire" ...

leo had set a budget for us, one that we stuck to religiously ... we wanted to always be able to live off of leo's salary and have mine go into savings or extras ...

i still remember the response from one of my colleagues ... i thought she was ancient at the time (maybe in her 50's ... *grin* ...) ... she sat at her desk, which was always piled high with paperwork ... a chain-smoker, her ashtray overflowed with butts ... her yellowed fingers held a cigarette, while the other hand stamped invoices and shuffled paper ... in between drags, she looked at me with world weary eyes and said "when is enough ... enough?" ... she said there will ALWAYS be something a person wants and will continue working for ..."just one more thing and it'll be enough"... apparently she'd had plans to quit for years, but she continued on for a boat - then a bigger boat - then a new car - then a fancy trip ...

the thirst for things was never quenched ...

i still think of her now and again ... and wonder if she ever retired or just died there in her little corner of the accounting department ... wanting one more thing ...

today - for me - my enough IS enough ... i handed in my notice at the salt mines in the park ... a new chapter begins ...

of course it is a bit scary ... but the Lord has always faithfully supplied our needs and blessed our lives with the desires of our hearts as well

"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6

where eagles soar

(click on picture to enlarge)

i was almost at the office ... in the salt mines of the park ... when an eagle flew across the road, some large (quite dead!) animal in it's mouth ...

i had time ... so i turned the car around and tried to snap some pics of this magnificent looking bird ... but ... he didn't cooperate, my zoom wasn't strong enough and i did have to get to work ...

however, this will give you an idea ...

cool, eh? ... *smile*

I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.

~George Washington Carver

thoughts to ponder ...

salt mines in the park

I thought i'd post a few scenes from my "work" place ... taken today ... even though i don't have my desk on the beach - it is wonderful to be able to enjoy scenery like this ... as you can see - the trees are yet to bud - even without the vibrant greenery, the area is still beautiful ... to view the pics closer, just click on them and they will open up ...

the winds of change continue to blow gently and persistently in our little world ...

what now, you ask ... well - i will be calling it a day re working at the salt mines in the park ... i plan on handing in my notice next week ... i will work this month and then spend the summer here at condo central with my sweetie ...

i don't know why this is the time ... i just know it is ...

i wonder what lies just around the corner? i wonder?

We Christians must simplify our lives or lose untold treasures on earth and in eternity. Modern civilization is so complex as to make the devotional life all but impossible. The need for solitude and quietness was never greater than it is today.

~A. W. Tozer

Afraid? Of What?

photo by saija ... design by GOD


Afraid? Of What?
To feel the spirit's glad release?
To pass from pain to perfect peace,
The strife and strain of life to cease?
Afraid -- of that?

Afraid? Of What?
Afraid to see the Savior's face?
To hear His welcome, and to trace
The glory gleam from wounds of grace?
Afraid -- of that?

Afraid? Of What?
A flash - a crash - a pierced heart!
Darkness - light - O heaven's art!
Each wound of His a counterpart!
Afraid - of that?

Afraid? Of What?
To do by death what life could not?
Baptize with blood a stony plot
Till souls shall blossom from the spot?
Afraid -- of that?

~E.H. Hamilton