Tiny Feathered Friend...

My daughter Bri went to spend the night w/my mom. They were sitting out on the porch chatting, and low and behold, they had a visitor or two to the hummingbird feeder. Bri captured these shots of the little fella.

Did you know:

• That after feeding and doubling its weight, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird flies nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico during migration. The flight takes about 20 hours
• The hummingbird cannot walk (it uses its feet for perching), so it has to fly to get about
• The hummingbird can digest nectar very rapidly and efficiently. The nectar will pass entirely through the hummingbird’s digestive system in less than 20 minutes!
• Even though they have an extremely high metabolic rate, hummingbirds do not eat until they are full at every opportunity. During daylight hours, the hummingbird will eat frequently for short periods of time. At night, the hummingbird will eat as heavily as the nectar supply will allow. The hummingbird may store a third of its weight in nectar to ensure that it will survive its overnight fast while maintaining its normal resting metabolic rate.
• While hovering, a ruby-throated hummingbird beats its wings up to 75 times PER SECOND
• The hummingbird has many other unique features that set it apart as a special witness for God and Creation.

Isn't God's creation magnificent? Such a tiny little miracle!

Fall? Well, kinda, sorta....

It doesn't feel like fall. (Read--we have the a/c on!) But, it is almost October! Yikes!
In light of that, the kids were in a festive mood, and put out all of the fall decorations... here is a shot of my flag with my flowers all still blooming in the background.

So, here is one of my favorite flags--in honor of giving thanks and praise to God. :0)

I think that fits no matter what the season! Don't you?

I LOVE being spoiled!

About 10 days ago-it was my birthday! My darling daughter made me a four--yes, you read it right--4 layer cake! (No calories there!) It had caramel in between the layers, and vanilla icing. It was good--trust me! (I know my cake!) LOL

Can you believe that isn't all? My family also made me steak, shrimp scampi and more for dinner- YUM!

Getting old does have it's perks!

Lining Up For Lunch!

No, we're not lining up for lunch, our garden caterpillars are! They absolutely adore our parsley, and we actually plant extra as these guys will eat us out of house and home!

ALL of the caterpillars pictured here are different, they are not pictures of the same ones!
They can actually flatten a stand of parsley in a day or two....So, you may ask, why do you put up with them?? Because they turn into these....

A Stroll Around The Yard...

As you can see, we're still getting some produce from our garden.

As you can also see, Chips likes to help with harvesting produce. (IF you don't watch him close enough--he will eat it!)

Our morning glories truly are glorious!

And, the zinnias that my husband planted late are gracing our garden with color...and, our sunflowers are still showing their sunny faces!

Our Ecchinacea is finished blooming, but I thought it still looked interesting. :0)

Chips is particularly fond of the lavender growing in my son's garden. How do we know this you ask? Because he ROLLS on it!

Chips Goes to Homeschool!

So far, Chips is really settling into the new homeschool schedule nicely...

But, I think his favorite subject is...naptime!

Music To My Ears....

How many of you have children that play instruments? Isn't it the best music you ever heard? (Not that I am biased!) Well, the only instrument my children play at this point is the piano... here they are working on a duet!

I must say, hearing them play is a great blessing to Phil and I! We can gather around the piano and do our own hymn sing, or Christmas carols! It is also a great ministry to visiting guests, or at the nursing home, or church etc...

If you have children, I highly recommend having them learn an instrument! You'll be glad you did--and so will they! They can really use this talent for the Lord!

I wish we had learned this earlier, and had them each learn 2 instruments! But, am thankful for the one!

Thanks Linda and Amy for teaching them--your investment is paying off!

Take it Patiently...

I am constantly amazed at the goodness of God! He provides for me-in every way... Recently, my family has been going through a difficult trial. (What trials aren't difficult?) :0)
I was so blessed today in my Daily Bread because God used it to minister to me perfectly, and provided me with the perfect guidance. :0) (now why am I surprised?)

Responding To Criticism
Read: 1 Peter 2:4-12
whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:12

Abraham Lincoln knew what it meant to face criticism. He is quoted as saying, “If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how--the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what’s said against me won’t amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”
Lincoln, against huge opposition, went on to reunite the fractured United States, win the Civil War, and abolish slavery in the US. Had he allowed his critics to defeat him, Lincoln would not have accomplished what he did.
The apostle Peter understood the dangers of unfounded criticism. He wrote, “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God” (1 Peter 2:12).

Criticism can consume our lives to the point of emotional paralysis, or we can set our hearts to serve God faithfully undeterred by that criticism and put our God on display. When we do that, we won’t need to answer our critics with words--our lives will say all that is needed. --Bill Crowder

If we keep doing what is right--And serving Christ each day,We need not fear what others think Nor what the critics say. --D. De Haan

The most powerful testimony is a godly life.

I also read these verses this morning in 1 Peter 3: 14-17

14But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
17For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

1 Peter 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

If you're going through a trial, I hope that this will touch your heart and encourage you to seek God and His will with all of your heart--and may we all have the strength to stand for Him in every situation--so that we can finish our Walk with Him STRONG!

Summer...going out in a blaze of glory!

Bri captured these pics from our kitchen window this evening. Isn't God's handiwork glorious!?

Splish Splash I was takin' a bath...

Well, thankfully not ME, but a couple of blue jays were taking a bath and Bri captured it on film...

They must have known we don't like mixed bathing....they bathed one at a time. :0)

A Legacy...

In a day and age of electronics...he took the time to hand write letters of legacy...

In a day of hustle and bustle...he took time to invest in young men...most of them he never met...

In a day of self-centeredness...he was selfless...

In a day of serving self...he served Christ...

In a day of slang language...he spoke eloquently of things of God...

And at the end of the day...he left a legacy. I can only write of a small part of it-the part that I saw unfold and flourish in my own home.

I saw the investment he made in a young man (my son) make a difference in his life...

I saw him give godly challenges and get results...

I saw him sacrifice his time and be faithful-even though he was a busy husband and father...

I saw not only a young man poring over his letters, but the adults doing it too. All of us gleaning from his wisdom...

I saw a reflection of Christ...

His name? Mr. Bob Schultz. His legacy? Eternal.

My son Brad's beloved mentor, Mr. Bob Schultz died June 13, 2008. We grieve his loss, but look forward to the day we finally meet in heaven -face to face.

You too can benefit from some of the awesome wisdom of Mr. Schultz. Christianbook.com carries all three of his books written for boys. They are life changing books!

This is so neat--and so much fun!

My wonderful daughter found new settings on the camera--and we tried it out today! She found sepia, and black and white....what do you think? Some of these are hers, and some are mine. :0)

Chips Meets Uncle Dickie, Aunt Natalie, Kelsey....

...Knickers, Skye, AND THE DUCKS! LOL

Yes, my brother and family have a gorgeous white german shepherd, a very regal cat, AND three adorable ducks.
This was Chip's first experience with poultry (Is it ok to say poultry? Or is that term only used if they're going to be dinner?) perhaps I should say...barnyard animal instead-even though they live in a lovely neighborhood-not a farm...?--anyway- he did surprisingly well!
I must report however, that twice, one of the ducks was able to sneak up on him from behind and tweak his tail! :0) (Don't let that get around though)

Knickers was totally bored with the whole mess--in true feline fashion.

Looks like feathers were flyin' here!

Sorry, this is an old pic of Skye--we must have been so fascinated with the geese (read trying to keep Chips from attacking-or being attacked) that we forgot! LOL

I think the ducks were quite ready for a nap by the time we left. :0)

That Chips really gets around!

p.s. Thanks Uncle Dickie and Aunt Natalie for inviting me--Luv, Chips

From Start to Finish...

GRAPES BEFORE: GRAPES DURING:

GRAPES AFTER:

(they are in the purple jars to the left-the others are spaghetti sauce) Another new thing I learned this summer!