Windex Clean

House cleaning is not one of my favorite tasks but as we all know it has to be done at some point in time. The blessing that goes with cleaning for me is that God uses that time to speak to me. As I was cleaning windows in our home this is what He shared with me.

I sprayed the Windex on and used a rag to wipe the dirt off. At first appearance the window seemed to be clean yet there was a slight dull finish to the window. The finishing touch was to take a soft rag and wipe over it again to make it shine.

Our hearts are the windows to the world. Over time they get dirty and they need cleaning. Confession of our sins will clean us but God is the soft rag that makes us shine - the finishing touch!

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16

My Daddy's Birthday

Today is my daddy's birthday. He is celebratinng 88 years! Yes, 88. I am so blessed to have him. I am praising God for his health. He still does pretty much everything he wants to do. We got together at my sister's home on Sunday to celebrate.

My sister's birthday is actually 2 days later and she and daddy have always shared their birthdays together.

What a great day - Food, Fun and Family!

Even the Sunflowers Know

I love this time of year. No, I'm not crazy! I am not fond of the heat, the gnats, the yellow flies or mosquitoes. What I love about this time of year in south Georgia is that we have some of the best tomatoes and watermelons you have ever eaten and the most beautiful sunflowers you have ever seen. I love a good ole tomato sandwich this time of year and letting watermelon juice run down my arm as I eat my watermelon. Mmm, Mmmm good.

Charlie knows how much I love sunflowers so he planted some sunflower seeds for me about a month ago - just regular bird seed you buy from Fred's. I pretty much forgot that he had done that until I looked out into the field next to the house about a week ago and realized that there were blooms on the stalks. And now I am enjoying the fruits of his labor.

From the yard . . .

to our home.

That's the way God is. He uses some of us that are willing to plant (the seed of salvation). He uses others who are willing to water (nurture the seed of salvation). And others who are willing are used to bring it to harvest (lead someone to Jesus). Maybe you have been blessed to be a part of all three - planting, watering, harvesting.

By the way - the sunflowers in my yard are lifting their beautiful heads and facing east - even the sunflowers know who is in charge.

Yep, I love butterflies!

Butterflies come from a caterpillar. Not very attractive from their beginning source are they. However, they wrap themselves in a cocoon and after a period of time they burst forth as one of the most beautiful creatures God created. A New Beginning! God took that caterpillar that He created and transformed it into something beautiful. So glad He has transformed me!

You will see lots of butterflies in these cards - big and small. Thank you for looking.

Love this new stamp from Penny Black, "Betsy Bluebell". Sentiment is from Hero Arts. Inside of card reads "Have a happy, funny, silly, sunny, grinning, easy-going day!"

As you read may your day be the same.

Butterfly is digital stamp from Hero Arts. Sentiment is from Hero Arts. Made the flowers from a scallop punch. Inside of card: "May your day be wrapped in sunshine. Thinking of you!"

Butterflies are from Verve (Flutterby), Sentiment is from Hero Arts. Inside of card: "May each day bring new strength, hope, grace and joy. Thinking of you!"

Again, butterfly is from Verve, sentiment is from Hero Arts. Inside of card: "All you do, big and small, has made a difference to us all."

Majestic

It is not possible to describe or to even capture in a photo the majesty of God's creation. We were so blessed to be able to take a cruise out of Seward, Alaska to view the mountains, the glaciers and the sea life that is a part of this area.

We boarded our boat around 9:30 a.m. and spent 8 hours soaking in the beauty of Kenai Fjords. It was another lovely day and I think we took for granted how blessed we were to have so much sunshine. From the very outset we saw otters and 3 types of whales (orcas, hump back and grey). We played chase with porpoises. Saw lots of birds including bald eagles and the ever evasive puffins :-)

As we approached the glaciers, they were absolutely amazing. I didn't realize there was color variations to the ice. Standing there watching we could see at times small portions breaking loose and falling into the water. Other times there would be larger portions. Big or small they all made huge sounds as they fell into the water. It was absolutely awesome to watch and at the same time it was sad to see - knowing that with each breakage of ice, that glacier was gradually receding.

How Majestic!

Parts of the above glacier breaking off

Saw lots of otters

Orcas

Dall Porpoise

Our boat for the day - served us prime rib and salmon - yum, yum.

Just one of many jaw dropping sites.

Thank you so much for stopping by and reading :-)