Don’t Fear the Storms

Into every life a little rain must fall.

Isn’t that what they say? I’m deep into the psalms in my morning quiet time and storms do come but the testimony of God’s people is one of faithfulness and steadfast love, of rescue and salvation, of deliverance and praise.

He is mighty to save, abounding in steadfast love and mercy.

Maybe that’s why I love a good storm. I see the clouds moving in and feel the change in the air and know that the world is going to be washed clean.

After the thunder fades and the lighting ceases I know there will be a freshness, a newness to the earth. Some things will be removed and washed away. Some things will be refreshed and nurtured.

And no matter what the earth will still stand, upheld by his hand.

Do not fear the storms that come your way, friend, no matter how fierce they seem.

“When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.” Psalm 94:18-19

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Just Another Macro Monday*

Good morning! I hope you had a good weekend. We took a quick trip to visit the Porters in Monroe for Em’s birthday and as usual had a lovely time and ate well. Both of our families enjoy all things food so cooking together is a common part of our life together.

We also went to a Superbowl party last night that also had some pretty delicious eats and boy was the sunset amazing!

Lots of things bumping around in my head from books I’m reading and conversations I’m having and I hope to sort some of it out and share some of what I am thinking about out loud. I enjoy the process of needing to organize my thoughts to write them out but also the conversations with you that sometimes come from a blog post.

But today there is a mountain of laundry to conquer and other home tending to do so I’m just going to drop a few macro shots here for you to enjoy and maybe tomorrow we can have more of a visit 🙂

One of the many things I love about our new home are the magnificent old oak trees on the property. They have these beautiful ferns growing along parts of the trunks and limbs the name of which escape me so if you happen to know what they’re called let me know, okay? It’s the sort of thing I know I know but can not seem to bring to the front of my brain and it’s niggling at me in that annoying way forgotten things often niggle.

One other thing that fascinates me with the trees is the sheer number of acorns all over the ground. What makes this fascinating is the fact that there aren’t a bunch more oak trees sprouting up everywhere. God granting a tree to be born out of the ground only when He chooses is a beautiful natural display of His sovereignty and one that gives me comfort. There is a time and season for everything.

Have a beautiful day, friends!

*Bonus points if the blog title made you hum an 80’s song!

A Foggy Morning

DPP ~ Day 6

Did a little driving around and exploring with Sam today.

Got back home and was delighted to see this storm rolling into the backyard. The light created by clouds is unparalleled. I especially loved the way it made the autumn colors pop.

Certainly worthy of a dpp, don’t you agree?

DPP ~ Day 19

So more holiday cheer around the house. This little bubble vase is one of my favorites and it looks so very pretty on the coffee table.

DPP ~ Day 13

Raindrops on roses…or Christmas greenery as they case may be. The heavy fog burned off today and gray skies rolled in. Unfortunately the rain (off and on) hasn’t brought any cooler temperatures with it so far.

But it does make for some excellent raindrops after you set your porch decorations out in the rain for a good watering.

Wordless Wednesday ~ The Evening Sky

Baby Bird Update

The chicks are staying awake more this week and are finding their voices. I wish I could get a good silhouette shot of them when they are all poking their wobbly little heads up squawking for their breakfast. So far I haven’t been fast enough to get close enough at the right angle but I did get some cute pictures of them.

 I try to be quick grabbing the pictures because I don’t want to cause the parents any undo stress. Their prehistoric grumpy lookingness is so adorable.

They caused me a little undo stress because it seemed the nest was looking a little wonky and unstable…kind of tilting to the side. We were worried they would fall out so I carefully shifted the wreath so that it straightened the nest up.

We’re still praying that predators stay away and we will get to see these little guys fledge in a few weeks.

***Update***

It is not unusual for me to prepare a couple of blog posts at one time when I actually have the time to do so. This one I got ready on Monday or Tuesday and  unfortunately, we woke up yesterday to find that a predator had gotten to our sweet little birds. We think the nest must have somehow fallen during the night and a raccoon or something of the sort got to them.

I don’t think I am going to hang that wreath up next year. Our house is like the equivalent of bird hood and it’s just not safe. This is twice that it has happened and I think we will probably be the house that all the teenage birds dare each other to fly up to.

Silliness aside it is pretty sad to loose the babies but the worst was watching the mama and daddy birds come looking for them. Hopefully next year we may be planting a tree or two in the yard now that the grass is doing so well and they can make a real home if they choose and have a better chance at survival.

On My Front Porch

A few years ago I posted regularly about the sweet little family of birds that built a nest in the wreath on my front door. We were so sad when one day they just disappeared because a predator had gotten to them (apparently snakes can climb which is a thought almost worthy of therapy).

Well, a few weeks ago we noticed two little birds darting back and forth and sure enough we have another nest and it wasn’t long before we found four pretty little blue eggs inside.

We try to use the garage going and coming a little more often but the front door still swings open and shut quite a bit. (A total aside…if for no other reason I am thrilled to host their little home because it has actually made Sam more careful when he opens and closes the door. Something I have not been able to accomplish no matter what I tried.)

The first time around the parents-to-be where super quick to dart away if anyone was anywhere near the door, inside or out. But these guys wait until we are actually at the door and then kind of dive bomb away. Rob has actually had to gently knock on the door so they would fly away before he could open it to leave for work.

On Sunday we checked and still had eggs. On Monday I checked and low and behold three of the four eggs had hatched!

There was much rejoicing and oohing and ahhing. Tuesday afternoon I waited until mama flew away and then got the ladder out so I could take some pictures with my real camera and not just the cell phone.

At first they were all huddled up in a fuzzy little bunch. Sam saw the picture later and commented that they were so ugly they were beautiful.

The shutter click on my camera woke them pretty quickly and they have the sweetest little voices. And boy were they hungry! At first it was just the one holding his wobbly little head up with his beak wide open.

He looked so disgruntled when I had nothing to offer.

I guess he thought maybe I wasn’t listening so he got one of his siblings to join the chorus.

They made enough racket that a third joined in.

So far we haven’t seen the forth one yet. I think he is a little behind the others since his arrival was after theirs.

We are taking much pleasure in watching these little guys and it gives such a beautiful look at the amazing God that created all that is in heaven and on earth. 

And God blessed them, saying, 

“Be fruitful and multiply 

and fill the waters in the seas, 

and let birds multiply on the earth.

Genesis 1:22

The Beauty of the Hyacinth

If thou of fortune be bereft,

and in thy store there be but left two loaves,

sell one,and with the dole,

by hyacinths to feed they soul.

~ John Greenleaf Whittier