FOTD – May 29, Peonies

I am becoming more aware that I need to take my camera everywhere as you never know what you will miss if you don’t. Today, it was the drive thru at Wendy’s. Creamy yellow tinged with pink peonies. I have never seen this color and they were beautiful.

I know I was in the wrong direction with the sun but I was in the line that was backed up with lunch rush. So what do you do. Take what you can but you can still see its beauty.

As surprises can often pop into our lives, lets enjoy them and share them with others. To help with that several of us are painting Kindness Rocks to scatter about bring smiles to who ever finds them. its part of the Covid Relief Kindness for Iowa. But you can create these and take them anywhere for anyone to find. Here are a couple of mine. Spread kindness wherever you can. You would be surprised of the smiles you would make.

Always be kind.

A Refracted Bird??

I have seen the odd bird once in awhile sit on the support arm of one of the cameras around our church but this by far was the weirdest bird. Every time the wind blew he fluttered his wings. Wish I could have gotten a video of it for you because then you would really laugh.

The head and beak and eyes are well defined

I actually pulled out my camera before it turned into a bird. It originally was a pair of large yellow googly eyes as it slid across the churches camera lens. What is this strange creature that changes shape…its a raindrop.

I am always amazed of the shapes and colors that can refract through water. Rainbows are an amazing example. This orange bird is a reflection of the guide stripes in the parking lot. So now that you have joined in on my fun for the day, I hope you have a fabulous weekend. Here in the US, it a highly respected weekend. Memorial Weekend, where we remember those military men and women who gave us the ability of freedom where we can laugh at raindrops making funny shapes as they slide across a lens. At my church, on Sunday, we also honor those loved ones who passed on to be with Jesus.

Regardless of what the weekend may or may not mean where you are, remember the value and honor of kindness.

Encouragement of “That Day”

Good morning friends. I hope this day is bright and sunny as you look around the beauty of today. I want to share with you the gleaning I received from my morning devotion. After several days of needed rain, it is refreshing to see the bright sunshine and beautiful blue sky.

Scriptures remind us that some days will be stormy, and I am not really speaking of weather. Life is hard sometimes but we can be lifted to the peace and beauty of the heavenly places through the baptism of the Holy Spirit and then Jesus can teach us the truths of God.

Just as Jesus stood unblemished and pure in the presence of His Father, we too by the mighty power and effectiveness of the baptism of the Holy Spirit can be lifted into that relationship. Oswald Chambers.

All we have to do is ask….

What a great honor to be able to speak, pray and be one with the Father. Being able to come to the Father in this manner proves His love for us and proves our union with Christ is real and absolute.

Once in that wonderful position, having been placed there by Jesus Christ, we can pray to God in Jesus’ name in His nature. Oswald Chambers

So relax and feel the peace of “That Day” – It is not a day in the future but is in fact any day. And remember that not everyone understand this truth. So reflect the Love of Christ as you go about “That Day” and be kind. Kindness is a pure reflection of God’s love.

FOTD – May 27 – Foxglove

Today for Cee’s Flower of the Day challenge, I am sharing my miniature Foxglove. I had a standard height one in the back two years ago but the extreme winter last year killed it. So we are trying again. They are so interesting to me.

Hope you have a wonderful day. Remember to be kind. It can be a bright spot on someone’s day.

FOTD – May 26 – Superbells

Thanks Cee for the ability to share the beautiful flowers we see for Flower of the Day. Each year I plant several varieties of Superbells in my yard. They are like a miniature petunia but their color varieties may be wider. And I think they all have yellow centers, at least any that I have seen.

Purple…my favorite – with a tiny yellow center…and a friend

Then there are ones with multiple colors…

But the solid colors are just as special…

So as you enjoy the beauty of spring into summer with flowers, spread the beauty of kindness wherever you go.

Fun with Flowers & Macro

Recently I bought a real camera instead of always using my phone. While the pictures on the phone were quite good I was not able to get really close, like seeing some of the bugs I am now seeing. Heavens Sunshine used to have a Monday’s Macro Challenge – and yes I know its Tuesday – but I thought I would post these anyway for my first try at getting really close. All of you experienced macro users can tell me what I am not doing correctly. You will not hurt my feelings.

My yard in macro:

I used to tease Irene that her photos of orchids looking like angels. This iris looks like an unhappy creature with slanted dark eyes, puffy cheeks, a long nose covering its upper mouth and maybe a hairy tongue? Only our imagination can take us to such places.

In this next one, I was amazed how the sun came through the outer petals making the inner petals almost luminescent.

Then the last one shows off what I assume is considered the beard of the iris.

Macro photography shows the beauty of up-close and personal. But flowers as a whole have a beauty that can not be matched.

As always I remind you of the value of kindness. All of creation understands the feel of kindness and needs it shared with them often.

FOTD – Bearded Iris and Friend

On today’s post of Flower of the Day, I give you more than the bloom. I also give you the blooms ‘friend?’. Not sure what his true motive is as he spins his web around the trio but I an sure he or she have an ulterior motive probably equaling a meal. But first I give you the lovely trio just as the morning sun was coming through the trees.

And then one of nature’s guest as he or she weaves a web between then to hopefully catch a meal.

The bearded iris really is a beauty with it inner beard spread out as she open her petals.

Even though her blooms may not last long, her beauty is remembered through her many varieties. We too can show our beauty by showing the kindness that is on the inside.

FOTD – May 24 – Calibrachoa

When I first saw this at the flower store, I thought they were nasturtiums due to the leaf shape. I love the thick rounded petals and then over the weekend, this long stem popped out with this delicate flower.

Then as we look at the small flower with its tiny yellow stamens, it really is quite beautiful.

Come join Cee with her fun challenge of finding a beautiful flower each day.

So now that we are are the start of a new week, remember the value and power of kindness. Its use can have a profound and lasting effect.

FOTD – May 23

I enjoy Cee’s FOTD but today we are doing it with a twist. While I was having another adventure today, these roses caught my eye but when looking at them on my computer, they caught my eye in a different way.

Raindrops on Roses…

Two separate flowers on the same bush…and their fragrance was lovely.

Raindrops on roses really are a favorite thing. Don’t know if its the song, the movie or the flowers. regardless, they make me smile. Another thing that makes me smile is kindness. Use it often and make others smile.

Helping Out Fellow man

What you do with the gifts God gives you shows others, who are watching, the value of the gifts you have been given.

Today, my church participated in the World Vision Waterwalk for 2021. Our goal was $1500.00 and we met our goal. Knowing what some people in some countries have to go through just to get clean water is scary for those of us who just turn on a tap and there you go. May we never take it for granted as one day it may all may be compromised.

Enclosed are some of the photos I took of our church using our gifts to try to put a drop in the bucket of much needed water across this globe. If this stirs you heart, it is never to late to give.