The truth of God's love, the Encouragement we all need and occasional humor
Author: anitashope
Retired Quality Manager but still have the "Why" curiosity drive so I am turning my love for Christ and nature into my new why chase and am trying to discover more of His word as it relates to His love for His creation.
Cee has wonderful fun challenges for us to play with and today I am going a little off path with the Flower of the Day.
Between working part time, playing with the children at Party in the Park events, blogging and trying to write a book, several days in a row of heavy rain…who has time to cut the grass.
FOTD is supposed to be flower of the Day, well flowers are growing beauties, so I reached in and pulled out my clowning silliness and I give you….’shrooms.
Yesterday’s view
Boy, the difference a day makes….
This morning’s view
They are kind of cool and I was going to wait and share the one below for Sunshine’s Monday Micro but its going to be tomorrow before I have a chance to mow so we will see what they look like tomorrow.
Beauty all its own
Each creation has a beauty all its own and as poisonous as some ‘shrooms are, they can really be beautiful.
Remember the beauty of your creation as God made you special to do what you do. Allow your beauty to shine and reflect God’s love on others.
Since they both happened pretty much because of preparing for a solution of a problem, I figured we could post them on the same post. The problem was – needed more bird food, the solution – go to Lowes and while we are there you know we have to look at all the pretty flowers….I was very good…I did not buy flowers this time.
However I did buy dirt for re-potting a house plant. But here is the beauty for Flower of the Day. Evidently you plant roses in the fall…who knew? Not me.
Was slightly disappointed as it had no fragrance that I could tell
Still experimenting with what the birds seem to like the best. I know the thistle seeds are a favorite for the Goldfinches. Cardinal’s love the back oil sunflower seeds but they come with peanuts which draw the squirrels. But the squirrels like the sunflowers seeds as well. The safflower seeds were a big hit with the finches and squirrels don’t like them but the birds make a mess by scattering them too much on the ground but… that brought in the morning doves. Oh well. We will just keep playing to see what shows up. For now enjoy lunch time.
All creatures great and small. It is the Lord God who made them all. And while that is technically not said in the scripture it is reference throughout the scriptures and God is the creator of all things. So enjoy all of creation, use caution when necessary, and let the things He loves remind you of just how much He loves you. Then let that love go out and ripple in waves of kindness wherever you go creating joy as it moves.
Since Granny Shot It challenged us to focus on the water around us, I have been finding fountains that I never really paid attention to. I think as a whole, blogging has made be be more aware of life around me so that I can enjoy each others photographs and share the ones I take.
The fountain in today’s post has historical significance as well as the beauty it has and the soothing sounds it makes which makes us stop and pause in the peace creates for us.
As a well respected physician and judge, he saw the need to beautify the riverfront and create a place for the towns people to come and enjoy the river. A small park was also created with a bandstand which gets much use during the summer. I will create a post later showing the fun and beauty of a summer dance night.
As you enjoy your areas summer fun places, remember the value of kindness, like John Dillon did, and how it can draw people together in friendships to promote the general good for all.
I have been in some cities where they allow in the imagination of various groups to decorate the fire hydrants tastefully to enhance an area of the city. Not us. We are boring. When I was young, down south, they were all red, then when I was a teenager, I remember a mass repainting of them all to silver. Here they are a flat boring yellow – both sides of the river, different states, same boring yellow, different style caps.
Below are some of the more creative ones google had in their picture library which I thought were awesome and wanted to share. The gumball machine was really cool.
I vote for more creativity that displays real talent, not just slapping on paint to be different. In Cee’s Fun Foto weekly challenge, she sent us off to find fire hydrants, possibly looking for ones similar to what google has… we don’t have those here.
What a fun club to be a member of, even with no talent we still get to play. And thank goodness it is a month long. Wow, where has this summer gone. I have several books I color from but lately I have been playing ion the Animal Kingdom book by Millie Marotta.
After being around children all summer, I am still in child-like language, so “bear” with me. Last month I colored a Hippo-promise. This month I colored a Go-ril-lil-la. Next month I plan to do a Rino-cer-us. Thank you to Linda Hill for creating such a fun to share the things we do so we can sleep at night, ie “The Escapist Coloring Club Prompt”.
Colorful Ape
I caught in the picture of my banana tree leaf as I thought it appropriate. Don’t look too close or you will see where I got outside the lines…some spaces ate tiny. Tension relief is the object, not accuracy. And it does relax me, even the tiny spots.
Color your world in fun, laughter, happiness and creativity and remember to always be kind.
Dutch Goes the Photo has given us a fun challenge of a word of “key” that could go in MANY directions. I have chosen four angles on the word key and looking forward to seeing others ideas. Come join in on the fun of Tuesday Photo Challenge.
First we have my grandmother’s china cabinet with a key my children loved to play with when young.
The next variation I chose is key ingredients in making yummy oatmeal cookies.
Making some on Saturday…yum
The third variations deals more with a Christian truth we hang onto as a key of hope.
Revelation 1:17, 18
The fourth is a lot more illusive with more variations than the word “key”. The KEY to Happiness. To me happiness is not a fleeting feeling but an inner joy of hope we have in Jesus Christ and staying in tune with his words. Will things blow up, yes. Does life get hard, yes. Do I fail at it daily, yes. Do others not believe as I do, yes. But for me, I have that Key hope that He will always be by my side, guiding, comforting, loving and I always try to pass on the key of hope He gives us by being kind as a key way of life.
Fairy tales are noted for taking those humble well meaning people with no visible riches and taking their story up a notch to give them the visible riches that matches their gifts of love they give to those around them, as in Cinderella.
But sometimes riches come to people unexpectedly, like the lottery, and because they have never had them, they don’t know what to do with them, and they waste them on un-needed items, then the riches are gone. Putting them back into worse conditions than before.
But today’s story is a follow up on a previous post of God’s guiding light to shine not only on a bedraggled mutt that was dirty beyond belief and covered in fleas to a now happy home, fully loved by two people, which also gives these people a much needed purpose in care for others. If you don’t know the story, this pup was found in the middle of the road by the church and a neighbor brought it inside to hopefully find its home. People, like dogs, sometimes lose our way as well in hopes of a kind neighbor to rescue us. We all need to be loved and we all need to be able to love. It is how God has programmed us – Love one another as I have loved you. And I think that goes for all of His creation. He created it in love, asked us to take care of it in love therefore we must love.
The last time I talked to his new mom, they still had not settled on a name but that doesn’t really matter, when ever she gets up, so does the new little prince. He follows her everywhere and sleeps in his own cushioned bed next to theirs. If you have ever had anything to do with a rescued dog, you will know that they fully understand they have been rescued and are forever grateful shadowing the new mom/dad with love and honor. See below the pictures from bedraggled pauper and the new little prince.
Remember, God looks at us the very same way. He created us all and loves us all and when we get lost from his care, he rejoices when we return and covers us in his love. Never forget that your heavenly father is a king, therefore you are a prince or princess, so stay fast in his love and show other the kindness he has lavished on you – even when it feels like no kindness may be falling on you at the moment. Let your kindness shine through the storm.
After an exceptionally busy week, I am glad to have today to myself. I need to cut grass but it will still be there tomorrow. So I decided to go the Vander Veer Botanical Park and walk around. Besides the play area for the children, there are winding sidewalks through the flowers, several fountains and the pond that the ducks and geese love. With all that I saw I actually got neat shots for several challenges so this is a 5 in 1 post tying several wonderful bloggers and their challenges in one post. With Nancy Merrill’s weekly challenge of Yellow, Cee’s Fun Photo Challenge of Tree, Granny Shot It’s 2 challenges of Bird of the Day and Water Water Everywhere and finishing off with Cee’sFlower of the Day, almost forgot about that one.
The fun we can have experiencing each others challenges only helps us to grow more and sometimes experience life with a little different view.
Starting at the top with Nancy’s challenge of yellow, evidently that is the theme for this season. Much beautiful yellow was spread in this particular section of the park. With star shaped beds, raised beds, flower shaped beds all nestled around a historical fountain to bring in Granny’s Water challenge.
The fountain shots are in sequence of the water flow timers.
On the other side of the park is the duck pond with many ducks and geese who know that people will feed them from the corn dispenser provided. And the geese are funny chasing off others of their clan showing who is boss. I thought BOTD fit well here, they all wanted to be picked as top bird of the day.
At the edge of the park is a very old tree that is beginning to look rough but still holding its own. Said to be the largest of it specie growing in the US. This is placed in with Cee’s CFFC for tree.
And last but not at all least is Cee’s FOTD, a closeup of one of the yellow mum like daisy beauties. I love it when there are flowers inside a flower. So cool. Things I would never have noticed before taking close up pictures of flowers. You learn every day if you allow it.
With all this fun you can’t help but smile at the beauty surrounding you. So lets reflect this beauty with kindness and make the world a happier place.
The creator of the universe created all things and said they were good. I look at the animal kingdom now through the eyes of the TV with Animal Planet’s fabulous shows and realize (in my mind) that I was right! Animals are just another marvelous extension of our loving God who also reflect his beauty and his love. Animals have the ability the be loving and nurturing, possessive and sharing, teaching and scolding…and angry.
When you bring those values down to our domesticated pets, you add in another layer of amazement and laughter because we get to share it on a closer more intimate level. Many of you have know me to speak of Mimi…half coon hound and half black lab… the ruler of the home…
So much for the protective sheet staying in place, part of her nest
She is also the mighty protector…and gives me this disgusted unapproving look if I ignore her warnings.
But last night was extra funny for me. She is rather spiteful if I don’t do as she wishes and will do something to get my attention to show her displeasure. She usually finds a piece piece of paper or a paper towel I have dropped into her access, then shreds it to pieces and leaves it where I can see her displeasure. Or if there is no paper around and a sock is grabbable, then she is off to her favorite hiding place, under the table, after showing me she has it. She knows it is extra effort for me to climb under the table to get said sock.
Check out the “not looking at you” disgusted pose. This is her favorite expression for “not happy” or “not begging”. Animals do have expressions.
So what prompted today’s funny happened last night as I worked until 3, came home for 30 minutes and then left again to go face paint…the very idea I left and didn’t take her and she got no food to boot(it was too early). So now she is in a state of disgust. But I got home around 8, gave her extra supper treats so all is forgiven, right??? No, because I had not had a chance to be on the computer all day and I had a few things to do, therefore not playing with her. The least I could do was come to the couch to be on the computer for snuggle time. First I get the “not looking at you” disgusted look combined with appropriate sighs. Since that didn’t work, then fine “I will just go to bed” and she did. But not before a display of total unhappiness.
Water bowl
This is her secondary water bowl, one day I will have to explain WHY we have two, there were 3 at one time but that is a story for another day. Most of the water was gone but enough was there to show spite. She of course was on the bed in the guest room. Again don’t tell me they are not emotionally charged.
So I went and got a treat and her ball and we played for a while until bedtime. Then all was well, lesson for mommy I guess.
Remember we all want to be loved, respected, to belong to, so share that love and kindness where ever you can and make everything smile, even animals.
Last grouping of pictures from google. What a great resource to pull from to show the beauty of the world.
However I did buy dirt for re-potting a house plant. But here is the beauty for Flower of the Day. Evidently you plant roses in the fall…who knew? Not me.
