Spellcheck Not Enough

There have been several complaints going across the waves of WordPress about them eliminating the spellcheck feature and while that is a concern and something I use each time I am at the computer…with me, that just isn’t enough – I need a WORD check. I apologize to all who read my words…I promise I do re-read and edit before I post…yet I still miss blatant errors. It’s embarrassing…I even went to college! – like that would make a difference.

Recently I posted on my Instagram page to come over and see my blog for encouragement, flowers, dogs and silliness. So I went through the Instagram site to see how they would see things…”oh mi gudness”!! How did I miss that, oh and look at that dumbness…so embarrassing.

So yes, I feel like a dingbat but I remember reading an article where your brain knows what you are trying to say or read and does it for you eliminating the error in your brain. Even those silly games where the letters in the center are wrong and if you can still read the sentence, you are supposed to be smart. Yea I am good at that but still mess up here. Good grief.

And for those of us with ADD or who have brains that go two sentences ahead of what you are trying to say or do, its a real problem, especially if you are trying to convey and important message.

So I apologize in advance and hope that is not the reason you would never be interest in the book I am getting published this fall. I have editors to fix that nonsense. But if you are a lover of dogs and a believer in the rainbow bridge, it may be a book of interest to make you laugh or not, no pressure.

Regardless, I appreciate you stopping by to read my blog, even with my poor editing ability. Hope those mistakes can now bring a smile to your face as it does mine. We have to be able to laugh at ourselves and the silly harmless mistakes we make and go on without it dragging us mentally down a dark tunnel. Life is too short for that. Laugh and let those around laugh with you, then re-punt or start over.

And in all things, remember to always be kind. That kindness you share, even when you don’t feel kind, may be the very thing to remove that dark cloud that has engulfed you.

kind storm

Do Spiders Fly???, Fun Challenges

The antics of spiders in web-making is amazing to me…as long as they stay outside. Jansen Photo’s challenge today is Radiant. I was not sure if I could play with this challenge but the picture I took of the web I thought was neat showing the sun radiating across it and the light fracturing as it hit the window and camera lens.

IMG_20190625_083709 — Web is over 5′ high and measures nearly 6′ in length to a nearby flower

I so enjoy sitting on my couch writing where I can watch the antics of the birds a they come to feed on my three feeders. Today they became part of Cee’s photo challenge of 3. Three feeders and three birds feeding if not more.

IMG_20190625_095230

Or how about the beauty of my miniature orchid with it 3 flowers on one stem.

IMG_20190625_104026

The fun we have sharing our enjoyment of photography and blogging with each other can be so inspiring. Thanks to all who share what they love.

And as we share the fun, remember to share in the kindness of the fun. Kindness brings smiles and makes the fun last.

Attitude of Hope and Love

There is so much sadness in this word today. So many broken promises, so many hurts both physically and mentally but I cling desperately to the spiritual truth of God’s love for me and all of mankind and of course for His creation with all its components. He said after creating the world at the beginning that it was good.

creation2

And it was meant for good but alas, it failed due to the weakness of man and the trickery of the evil one. It failed due to the misunderstanding and distrust of man of God. It failed because man forgot the first love. Not our first love that we remember but we have forgotten that HE loved us first.

So many have become so complacent with the world that God is no longer even in their picture. Then they question those of us who still hang on to God’s hand and His love for us asking “WHY??”. My answer to them is…

I would rather live my life fully believing in a God that loves me, will take care of me, will guide me in all ways but when I go to die, only to realize the belief I encourage myself and others of the joy and peace we felt through our entire lives was only our imagination and none of our beliefs were true and once you are dead its over….. Than to live my life not thinking anything about a God that loves me, throwing all of my life and cares to the wind and doing everything that pleased only me, never thinking of the harm or discord I brought to anyone or anything else, then to die and realize in horror that I was wrong. There was in fact a loving God who loved me and cared for me and now…it is too late for me and I am lost forever.

That would be the saddest scenario that I can imagine. May we all strive to believe that there is a just, loving and compassionate God who left us an instruction book called the Bible to guide us in any way that we need, to help us face our toughest day, and to show us how to feel the joy of His peace that he offers us through His grace to all of His creation and that He does dearly love us.

And may we remember to reflect His love by showing the kindness He so heavily graces us with so that we in turn we can give it to those who have forgotten His ways and maybe bring them a smile and a hope of His love for them.

kindness 19

FOTD – June 24, 2019, Lily

My large lilies are finally opening.

Join along in Cee’s Flower of the Day, FOTD. What a fun way to share the beauty of nature.

While you are smiling at the beauty of flowers, share that smile with others to make them smile, that makes others smile…..

kind smile

And always be Kind….

The Warm Fuzzies

Jut got home good from church so I am still feeling the warm fuzzies. That doesn’t always happen but today Pastor Rob really struck home on some key things for me as a Christian. No, he did not preach on warm fuzzies but on the power of prayer. We are all familiar with the golden rule, some may not realize it is biblical because it expresses something we all want, to be treated fairly. John 6:31 – Do to others as you would have them do to you.

I found this picture of a explanation by Michael Josephson sometime ago that to me sheds a different light on that rule and I liked it.

Golden Rule — **Its About WHO WE ARE, not who they are!**

John 6: 27-36 goes into other details of why we treat all people with kindness, even people who may mistreat us, as kindness is an expression of God’s love. It is easy to love those who love us but infinitely hard to love those who are mean to us just because they can be.

John 6,27 28

But we are to be reflections of God Most High and He is…Love. He is Kind to the unkind. Verse 36 tells us – Be merciful, just as you Father is merciful. And if you just can not do that face to face because you know the rebuttal you will invoke, then pray for them. Always pray.

power of prayer

The benefits of peace you will receive from the prayers you make or the kindness you give will never be removed from you.

One of the songs we sang today was When Peace Like A River. It is such a wonderful visual image of His love continually flowing over us like a river, soaking us with His peace. The warm fuzzies of peace. And like the last song that we sang, Better Than Life, its closing line says Your loving kindness is better than life!

So I encourage you today to come join me in the warm fuzzies and remember even in the meanness that you sometimes come upon, always try to be kind. Sometimes when we are nice to meanness, it stops it in its tracks as it tries to understanding why you were kind…and maybe it will begin to change.

kindness14

Photo A Week & SoCS, Leaves & Flowers

Nancy Merrill’s challenge and Linda G Hill challenge both fall into today’s task – dead leaves and new flowers. The winter was very harsh with crazy amounts of snow and what little spring we have had has been so wet the flowers are just not doing well. They need sunshine as well. We are toward the end of June and we have not had an 80 degree day yet to speak of. Weird. Those who despise the heat, like my daughter, are happy about that but I like my heat. An now that I have said that July and August will probably be awful. Go figure.

So you see below the effects of too much rain and not enough sun. Leggy plants, dying leaves and poor bloom production. All the petunias in this area seem to be so sad.

I went Wednesday and bought replacement for some of my pots. Went with Zinnias and Marigolds as they are hearty and very colorful.

IMG_20190618_183313

My lilies look to be opening soon so I will post those when they do.

IMG_20190622_133311

But today I needed a new filter for my fridge which took me to Lowes which has an awesome garden section…yea, spent another chunk. Its okay, I will pay it all off next winter. That’s something I don’t want to think about – this past one never seemed to leave.

Gardening and writing are my two “me” times, oh, and then there is also the clowning and face painting. Some of us are just on the quirky side but if my quirkiness brings a smile, then the quest has been accomplished. My goal is that if I can make someone forget for two minutes the trials they are going through and smile at my flowers or my silliness, then that is a day well spent. Never forget the power of a smile, a kind word or a gentle gesture. It shows the reflection of God for that brief moment and shares hope with all that come in contact with it. So smile often, speak gently and periodically hug when you can…and always be kind.

nature — When you show kindness to others, you bring out the best of yourself. A side effect of this kindness brings a brightness to their world and a happiness to yours.

Gran-ma’s Cellar Door

Grand-ma’s Cellar Door

I stand and remember the wonder of this place, familiar smells are embedded forever

The three legged milking stool to stand on as she worked, with sun shining in her hair

The herbs are still there, were there even before, as great gran-ma was most clever

By planting them by the cellar door, the door great grand-pa had built for her to share

So when winters blast came through out the land, with white seeming to go on forever,

With simmering smells floated through the warm home, the cold could not compare

The love of family around a small table, only a candle for light, a memory that last forever.

Anita Neal

Come join in with Sue Vincent’s Thursday photo writing prompt. Use the image above as inspiration to create a post on your own blog… poetry, prose, humour… light or dark, whatever you choose, by noon (GMT) Wednesday 26th June. Don’t forget to use the #writephoto hashtag in your title so your posts can be found.

And those who know my writing, always know I close in a reminder to be kind. Kindness is a reflection of God’s everlasting love for all things.

kind8

The Old Stone Door

Garden door

The Old Stone Door

This door seems too narrow, with no way to lock, a wedge pushing it always open.

The stone is so old with odd colored splotches, green moss growing all over it’s face.

This can’t be the way, no look at the door. It looks to small to be used as was spoken.

This is the garden, I know that for sure with tales of peace and beauty of this place.

But many remember a time of no peace, with shouts of anger and shedding of blood

With torches ablaze and sharp swords flying, an ear was taken, but now back as new

“Put away your sword”, he said firmly in love as they struggled standing in dark wet mud

Shall I not drink this cup the Father has given me? A cup allowing for of all things new!

Now, centuries later the garden lays quiet with forgotten memories of that time gone by

I walk through the beauty of flowers and trees and feel the reality this has had on me

Will I feel His love when I walk away from here, the beauty of flower and bright blue sky

Will I be able to use the love I feel, and bring it as proof, an everlasting love for all to see.

Anita Neal

There are times when fellow bloggers post a picture that is so inspiring that I ask permission to try to write a post worthy of its beauty. Today, Ken of tallulahbass created a post for Norm for the Thursday doors and posted this door. I thought it was a beautiful door and thought of the Garden of Gethsemane wondering what it would be like today to walk through that garden.

As we remember the everlasting love he has for us, let us remember to share that love with a loving smile, maybe a gentle touch for a hurting soul or a helping hand for those in need. And always remember to be Kind.

kind17

Revitalized Doors, Thursday Doors

It’s Thursday and a day we join in with Norm and our shared loved of doors. What wonderful stories the imagination can have as we look at some of the really old one. We have an area that we are trying to revive bu calling it a historical neighborhood. We aren’t all neighborhoods historical that were built over 100 years ago. Now that I am older, 100 years doesn’t seem that long ago.

This neighborhood has it usual transitions of original fine homes that got neglected and people left. Then other people moved in not understanding the value and letting it decline further then sold for “pennies” to those who could barely afford the “pennies” who showed no love to the homes only to leave them abandoned. Now investors who see the value in the wonderful homes have moved to revitalize them and bring them back to their glory days. I have seen this pattern i n every city. We are currently fighting for the beauty and value of our courthouse.

But today I offer you glimpses of revitalization of this neighborhood showing the condition of how some still are but the transition of the revitalized ones.

The beauty of this one is hidden by the tall grasses but as it sit on the hill surrounded by massive oak trees, it was probably a beautiful porch to sit on and enjoy the rockers.

IMG_20190613_115316

I love how this garage was turned into a fun living space and the owners understood the value of doors as he worked on repairing and staining one.

I though these two interesting. The larger door is a revitalized firehouse. No sure if it is a working firehouse or now a home. It’s still a neat door. The other picture is a set of doors we pass daily that I have always wondered “how many garage doors do you really need?”

Other pictures below show continued revitalization of this neighborhood. Some houses quite striking and some kind of plain but still reflecting new life.

As you look at these wonderful doors, remember we ourselves are also beautiful doors. Some of us older still with many wonderful stories to tell; some with a face lift trying to fight that ever present aging factor and some with new parts as some parts just no longer work properly. But we all can be beautiful in what is on the inside of that door if we allow our hearts to shine forth the kindness God once intended us to show. So even if your door seem a little worse for the wear, open your door and shine forth the gift of kindness that God so wants to to share.

kindnessdoors

Our Firm Foundation, One Liner Wed

I had such a wonderful meeting with my friend Rob yesterday and he reminded me of how the “father of lies” can easily deceive us into believing we are not good enough, not doing anything right and just how poor a job as a Christian we are being. I stand on the rock knowing he loves me and that these thoughts are just what they are lies.

In the devotion book by Sarah Young called Jesus Calling today’s devotion is just a reminder of how much he is always by us and always has our hand.

I AM YOUR FIRM FOUNDATION on which you can dance sing and celebrate My Presence. This is a holy calling for you: receive it as a precious gift.

My guidance for each of my children is unique. That’s why listening to me is so vital for your well being. Let me prepare you for the day, point you in the right direction. I am with you continually, cling to my hand. June 19.

Wow, what a joy to know he is always there for us. May you each enjoy his peace and love this day. Hold on to him tightly and he will guide your way. Enjoy the beauty of this day…and my flowers. That is one way he makes me smile.