Flowers

Spring has finally sprung...or is it summer?  This is Texas and it's been in the 80's and 90's for a couple of weeks now.  I'm not looking forward to the triple digits we will be seeing later.  This time of year is one of my favorites.  My flowers are all blooming!  Well, most of them anyway.  Poppies and nasturtiums have yet to show but this week my sunflowers made their appearance!  I could not be more pleased!  My hydrangea is also flowering.  Since I was so pleased I took about a dozen pictures I thought I'd share some with you.

These pretty little flowers grow wild all around us as well as many black-eyed susans which are also blooming now.  Probably should've cropped the neighbor's house out.

These were here when we moved in.  No complaints!

These I planted and I'm in love!

Just look at that butterfly! This one is my favorite!

"Stand By Me"

When the storms of life are raging

Stand by me,

When the storms of life are raging,

Stand by me,

When the wind is tossing me
Like a ship upon the sea

Thou who rulest wind and water

In the midst of tribulation 

Stand by me

In the midst of tribulation 

Stand by me

When the hosts of hell assail
And my strength begins to fail

Thou who never lost a battle

Stand by me

When I'm growing old and feeble 

Stand by me

When I'm growing old and feeble

Stand by me

When my life becomes a burden

And I'm nearing chilly Jordan

O thou "Lily of the Valley" 

Stand by me

Sometimes difficult times come our way and the month of May has been one of those times for us.  When I face difficulties I turn to music and especially this song.  It's such a comfort and consolation and I'm sad I don't hear it more at church.  In His Word God reminds us to keep a song in our hearts, "singing and making melody unto the Lord".  Right now, this is my song.

Note:  Initially when I posted this I incorrectly quoted the song.  These are the correct lyrics to verses 1,2 and 4.

Empty Nest Syndrome

Baby birds beginning to end!

(Mama sitting on the eggs)

(fuzzy ugly hatchlings)

(cute fuzzy babies!)

And now....

The birds have flown!  It was much faster than I ever expected too.

The empty nest!

It has been entertaining to say the least.  The kids are glad their chirping won't be so loud now but I will miss them.  Bye bye birdie!

These Are a Few of my Favorite Things...

Now that's a title that leaves me a little nostalgic.  I love that song but I thought I'd change the lyrics up a bit:

Roses in bloom with the dew in the morning,

Checking to see that my garden is growing,

Birds in their nests and dogs filled with glee,

These are a few of my favorite things!

Goats when they're jumping and their bleats sound like laughing

Ducks when they're quacking and splishing and splashing,

Waking to roosters that crow in the morn

These are a few of my favorite things!

(these are actually geese but it still counts right?)

When the dog barks

When the kids scream

When I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things

Then I don't feel so bad!

We Live, We Learn and Sometimes We Cry

It's funny how a bad moment can ruin an entire day or a bad day can ruin a week.  The truth is this only happens because we let it and my sad truth is, I did let it.  

Tuesday evening the aforementioned sick gosling left us.  I was a little disheartened but not terribly.  I was not prepared for what I woke up to the next morning.  Two dead buff ducks and an injured pekin.  The culprit, one of our own dogs.  I was sickened to say the least.  

(The two remaining goslings and the injured pekin)

The dog has been moved to a more secure location but he will stay with the family.  I have been told that even the best dogs go through this as puppies at least once.  My goal is only once!

I made it through the day with a few tears, but I made it and the days since have not been that bad.  I admit I'm not as enthusiastic as usual but we can attribute some of that to this cold snap..in May?  I don't think I've seen that in Texas before.  I once saw snow in June in Oregon though. 

I have an update to the birds in the garage.  I got a picture with the camera instead of the phone and you can see their ugly fuzziness.  They have a high-pitched squeal that I can only hear when the door is opened but the kids can hear when it's closed.  Hmm...I must be getting old.

Despite the setbacks and losses in our lives we go on.  Each day is a new opportunity to learn, grow and experience life.  Each day there is a new adventure.  You can either live it, or let your setbacks steal it from you.  I have lost two birds.  I may lose a third, I don't know.  What I do know is that a year from now they will have been replaced and we will finally begin reaping all that we are sowing today.  So tomorrow I will get up, I will make sure all the animals are taken care of.  I will water my garden and I will go on with my life facing each challenge head-on either with joy or with sorrow, but facing it knowing that each day is a gift from God.

 La 3:22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

(KJV)