thunderstorm during breakfast

Outside the morning is dark, lightning startles and the distant thunder rattles the windows.

Inside the morning is cozy, candles flicker, yesterday's play dough Inuit Igloo glows as the centerpiece and quiet music calms us as we sit around the breakfast table. We thank God for the storm that displays his grandeur. We thank God that we sit here comfortable, dry, and filled with food. Abundant blessings!

And I remember that yesterday we started off with music, with peace and with God, and that a few hours later the children were fighting, and mom was shouting and the quiet cracked wide open and peace fell into pieces. Explainable but never excusable. Forgivable and with grace forgettable.

Oh that today we be gentle and patient and wise. Pick up peace and quietly try again.

mornings

These are the mornings that I love.

Quiet time spent in devotions.

Children coming down the stairs one at a time

to be welcomed to this new day with a hug.

Music playing softly.

Nutritious breakfast served to hungry little people.

A gentle way to start a new day and a new work week.

sunday

The meadows are full of yellows and purples and the autumn sun shines warm.

The september season is beautiful. Two little ones and I go for an afternoon stroll.

red breasted nuthatch

Since we have been refilling the bird feeders

the yard is a bustle with activity.

Chickadees, american goldfinches, bluejays,

purple finches and the adorable little nuthatch.

The Nuthatch (sitta canadensis) has short legs with large back toes, a flat body and has a short tail all of which enable it to climb head downwards on tree trunks.

It is named "nut hatch" because it can tuck a nut into a bark crevice and hammer it open with its beak.

Its diet consists of seeds of conifers, insects and spiders, as well as the sunflower seeds that fill our feeders.

(information taken from Hinterland Who's Who, which has wonderfully informative bird fact sheets)

flowers

It seems that the garden is buzzing with activity.

The birds are collecting energy for the upcoming migrations.

The blossom's last showing seems to defy the hints of autumn

and gives a lovely splash of colour to the gardens.

A Joyful Life

You have made known to me the path of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence.

Psalm 16:11

This is the path that we should follow: a single-minded pursuit of the character and will of God, a whole hearted devotion to the pleasure of His company and the beauty of His glory.

There is no real lasting joy in this world other than the joy of His presence.

(adapted from Chris Tiegreen's Walking with God)

Do we have this JOY? Perhaps God is not most important in our lives? Do we pursue his Joy in the same manner that we pursue our own imitations of joy? What is it that obstructs our path? Things? People? Work? Studies? Entertainment? Just plain apathy?

Lord, illumine our path!

backlit maples

For 100 years and more these maples

have been catching the morning light.

They stand tall along our property line

majestic in their old age.