Drive up Ft. Mountain

Today was so sunny and cool that I decided to drive up Ft. Mountain after work. Actually, I was on the look for Mountain Laurel, but never found any. We did find some beautiful flowering plant life, however. The dogwood, wood violets and pink honeysuckle were worth stopping our pace and studying.

Yesterday, I met a young man while getting my brakes checked. He commented about the simple beauty here. He said that God had spoken to his spirit and let him know that he would never truly grow accustomed to any one sight in these parts. Instead, as soon as he became familiar with a particular view of God's world, the LORD would open up new doors and new sights to him, so that he could never, not for one moment, doubt that the LORD is truly infinite. I think that God is teaching me the same lessons, and giving me the same gorgeous gifts of vision.

Also, I've been observing and cringing about Obama and his former pastor these past few days. A thought occurred to me: If we become so concerned about our own reputation and concerned about defending ourselves from what others think, we will ultimately end up tarnishing the reputation of the one we represent. What a motivation for me to learn to suffer silently and to never "promote" myself or my personal agenda! May I instead commit myself to Him who judges righteously and trust that any "promotion" would be for HIS name, not mine.

Paul, Elizabeth, and Bunni

We just downloaded these current pictures of Paul and Liz. I can't help but smile when I see them. Guys, your azaleas are absolutely gorgeous! And so are all of you! What a blessing to have three wonderful daughters and two precious sons-in-law!

Friday Morning Sunrise...and my Bluebird

What a peaceful, quiet morning. I grow to love my little back yard terrace more and more each day.
I'm becoming quite the "senior citizen" these days. Went to a community Fellowship last night and met some precious neighbors. Walked home with one dear, recently widowed, lady and ended up visiting quite a while with her. My little community is made up of a lot of seniors and teachers and is such a supportive neighborhood. We're starting up a ladies' Bible study soon, and I'm even enrolling in a water aerobics class at out neighborhood clubhouse for the summer.
Becca has our Murray and Whitfield County Healthcare Classic to support tomorrow, and I think I'm going to "pass" the 5 K Run this year:( Annie, you'd love how very "health conscious" Dalton is! I'm off to a few of my schools this afternoon. Dad Bishop got home from the hospital last night and I got to talk with him today. Also, Dad Jones is doing better and I got to talk with him this morning, as well. Both talks were blessings!
A closing verse for today, "For He is my life and the Strength of my days". May God allow me to truly LIVE each day that remains of my life to the very fullest!

All in a Day's Work!

Sometimes, actually many times, I feel a bit guilty for getting a pay check for visiting places like this daily. The beauty of the school yards in these parts, coupled with the art inside, is absolutely beautiful!
After visiting the precious Little Buddies at this school (Valley Point Elementary), I trekked back to the office to be taken by dear Helen to the area Methodist Senior Citizens Monthly Luncheon. I haven't eaten food this good since the Bishop Reunion years ago in Hearne, Texas!
And to top it all off, I was able to visit with Priscilla about camping in Tennessee couple of weeks!
Life is such a beautiful adventure!

The sun, the moon, a storm....and two best friends

The rising of the sun, the setting of the moon, and an approaching storm made for some gorgeous skies outside my window yesterday. How much I am humbled that God has given me such a beautiful sky to view from my little back yard. And Charley and Sophie continue to be sources of pure delight!

Sophie

Sophie is growing like a little weed. She's up to 3 pounds 4 ounces now! What a sweet little pooch!

Little Things

"Despise not the day of little things"

More Georgia Spring Flowers

Barnsley Ruins

We were reminded of Nehemiah when he was sent to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem that lay in ruins so that the Jewish people would no longer live in disgrace. What an eerily beautiful place......

Barnsley Gardens Contd.

There'll be one more after this. The tranquil beauty of this place touched my very soul.

Barnsley Gardens

I'll be posting at least two blogs about our day today. The Barnsley Gardens were absolutely breathtaking and I want to share pictures of just a touch of what we saw! Thanks, Helen, for telling us about this beautiful place!

Feathered Friends on a Stormy Day

What a delightful stormy day indoors! Hot chocolate, a good book on Abraham Lincoln's Faith, Charley and Sophie playing at my feet, and delightful friends outside my window at the bird feeder. This has to be one of my best investments ever! It has provided hours of gentle entertainment and delight. I've been able to see so many varieties of birds from my bedroom chair. I'm amazed at God's creativity and diversity. So many colors and personalities. All are becoming quite used to my snapping shots of them and seem totally unaffected by the attention. They do add so much color on a cloud covered day and display the colors of rainbows, one at a time. One only needs wait......

Flowers and Feathers on a Misty Morning

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the trutledove is heard in our land.
Song of Solomon 2: 10-11

Surely the Lord is in this place. Gen 28:16

Becca and I were headed town Barnsley Gardens this morning but the cold and the mist kept us home bound. What a delight from our window! I am continually blessed by God's faithfulness. He does lead us through the valley, and His path does shine brighter and brighter as we approach the coming Day.

A Little Piece of Earth

I feel a bit like Mary Lennox in "A Secret Garden" today. How much I am being revived by my little plot of earth. Spring is indeed coming to the mountains. Charley and Sophie are continual sources of laughter to my heart. God is so very gracious to me. Our precious nest of bluebirds continues to thrive. What a refreshing sight to see the mother and dad flitting in and out of the nesting box with their culinary treasures for their young. The weather has been absolutely delightful, cool and breezy. My daily treks to the mountain schools have been such gifts of joy. I usually play Southern Gospel music as I drive through the countryside, and I find myself singing along more times than not. Becca's Spring Break is next week. I'm looking forward to some day trips in the mountains!

Birthday and Becca

A few pics from yesterday. I look forward to being with Liz and Paul, as well, this weekend, and will post pics of them, as well. Annie and Philip, how I wish you were here! I'm on my way to Macon momentarily to visit with Dad and Bea and to see the gorgeous cherry blossoms!

Scenes of a Misty Day

"The living God....gives us all things to enjoy". "The works of the Lord are great; studied by all who have pleasure in them." What fitting verses in Daily Light these past few days! Even though the past week has been a rainy one (and oh! how we needed the rain), the mountains literally are beginning to look like clouds of cotton candy now. I've never experienced cherry blossoms before. How absolutely beautiful!
Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird continue to care for their brood in our little nesting box on our terrace. They've learned to trust us a little, I think, especially when we sit totally still.
Sophie keeps me smiling so much of the time. She's 2 1/2 lbs. of curiosity and cuddles.
I truly believe that if I stay here till the day I go home to Heaven, I'll never tire of little Dalton, the Blue Ridge, and the beautiful simplicity of my life now.