Winding Down

These last days of Summer are all the sweeter because I know they are almost over.  Our backyard will all too soon be covered in snow.  But for now, I am enjoying the crisp air and soft sun combination while listening to the spray of our sprinklers.

Our Mouthy Blue Dinner Guest

 For days I've been taking photos like this...

 ...and this.

Once I was near the door when our visitor dropped by.  I even had my camera close.  However, when I reached for my camera I dropped my crochet hook on the floor... my metal crochet hook.  It was noisy.    Needless to say, I missed the moment.

 Day after day I'd take photos of Bode's dog dish.

 I'd wait and wait, listen for my cue, then miss the shot I waited for.

Sometimes I'd almost get it, only to have Bode disrupt the scene.

But last night our little dinner guest squawked overhead for a bit.  I've come to learn that he announces his arrival to the neighborhood.  This time, Bode was sleeping.  I quickly got my camera and then sat as still as I could on a chair in my living room.  I waited and THIS time it paid off!  Can you see our dinner guest in this photo?  Sorry, but I had to zoom in and of course lost a lot of photo quality that way.

He hopped down by the dog dish and looked around a bit.

Then he helped himself to dinner.

He flew off but I heard more squawking and sure enough, he returned for dessert!    

 He took one more piece and was gone for the evening.  I was satisfied.

Who knew that blue jays enjoyed Purina?

Trust and Faith

Sometimes you may feel the road ahead is bleak and you can't see where you are going.  Sometimes you just have to keep moving forward and trust that a way will open up for you.

Ok, I realize now you may be worrying about me.  Perhaps you are thinking I just can't see a way out of some emotional canyon or something.  Nope.  I'm fine.  I just had some cool canyon and tunnel photos and wanted an excuse to post them. 

It's true, though.  Most of us do go through times when we just can't see far enough ahead to feel comfortably safe.  That's where faith and trust come in, don't you think?

Bleak Destruction and Magnificent Beauty

I guess I should update you on our local fire.  It is now 100% contained and they are allowing most evacuees back up the mountain.  Unfortunately, 37 residences were destroyed, along with many outbuildings.  All human life was preserved but an unknown number of animals lost their lives as more than 15,000 acres burned.  I have not heard an official announcement but the word around town is that this was arson caused.

We all know that forest fires are scary and dangerous but also that they do some good... eventually.    Fires clear out debris that accumulates on the forest floor.  In time, new and more vibrant growth will erupt.  It will again be lovely.  Unfortunately, that takes a lot of time.

On Saturday Mike & I went to a wedding in Colorado.  Our friends getting married are both youth directors and have spent a lot of time at church camps.  Their wedding was held at one of those camps.  I was looking forward to a beautiful drive!

We drove many miles through the Poudre River Canyon not far from Fort Collins, Colorado.  Earlier this summer that area had also experienced a forest fire.  I remember hearing about it but I had NO IDEA of the level of destruction we were to see.  That fire burned more than 87,000 acres.  Because it is along a river flowing through a canyon, it was sort of a long, skinny fire.  The burn went on for miles and miles and miles.  The river, even now, has black sludge all along its banks.  I read that 259 homes were burned in that fire.

I admit, I did not take all that many photos of the fire area.  I had trouble seeing the beauty of it.

Finally, though, after an hour and a half drive, we got to the church camp.  There, beauty surrounded us!  

Is that not beautiful?  Can you see that little bit of last year's snow still up at the top of the mountain?  Although signs of Fall were everywhere, that day was hot.  The wedding was held at a beautiful outdoor chapel with mountains in the background.  It could not have been more lovely.  

I took this last photo on our way back down the mountain, just before we again approached the big burn area.  The photo doesn't quite give you the take-your-breath-away feeling but you get the idea.  Don't you just love the beauty of the mountains?

Entertaining Angels

New International Version (NIV) Hebrews 13:2

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

I loved the verse from yesterday that spoke of angels watching over our precious ones.  I love this one as well, but it kind of makes me nervous.  I'll tell you why...

I have some gifts in this life, as do we all.  I've long noticed, though, that I don't really have the gift of hospitality.  At least, that's what I thought.  You see, I'm not the one who just loves cooking the big holiday meals.  I'm not good at noticing when someone's glass of lemonade needs refilled.  Actually, I'm not always even hospitable enough to remember to offer then a glass of lemonade in the first place!  I think you get my point.  For some people, entertaining comes easily.  For the rest of us, it isn't our most natural gift.

But, if you also don't feel you have the gift of hospitality, not to worry.  I think we're still ok here.  I don't think this verse is talking about setting a beautiful table or even being a good cook.  I think it is talking about how we treat strangers.

(photo from www.freeimages.co.uk )

First of all, some translations use the word "messengers" instead of "angels".  That is, perhaps we aren't entertaining actual angels but rather someone who turns out to be a messenger of God.  One source I read stated that perhaps the stranger doesn't even know that they are going to end up being a messenger of God.  Hmmmm.... either way, I think the lesson is that we are to be nice.  I think I can do that!  Wait, how nice do I have to be?  Is this going to cost money?

So, who are the strangers?  I guess the lady at the post office could be considered a stranger to me.  The young girl who asks if I need help out with my groceries is a stranger to me.  I suppose it is kind of like the Biblical question, "Who is my neighbor?"  As it turns out, we are supposed to treat everyone with love and respect.  If you want to read another blog on this topic, I suggest you click here.  I don't know the author of the blog but I did like the article he wrote on this verse in particular.

I am not a theologian.  I don't pretend to be certain what this verse means.  I lean more toward believing it is literally speaking of angels, heavenly beings.  I really love the idea of angels walking among us, don't you?  

Grandma Heaven

New Living Translation

Matthew 18:10

"Beware that you don't look down on any  of these little ones. For I tell you that in  heaven their angels are always in the  presence of my heavenly Father."

A Girl and Her Trucks

The other night I got out some of the toys Ben and Sam used to play with and offered them to Cordy to play.  Having watched little boys take those trucks and immediately make truck sounds, it was interesting to watch Cordy's way of playing.

Cordelia's trucks talk!  They say things such things as, "Hello.  How are you today?"

Cordelia's truck carried flowers in the truck bed!

I love watching this little girl grow and learn and love and change.  She's delightful!

Elise!

Elise is plumping up and changing daily.  She's becoming more and more interactive!

She's too cute! 

She gets my jokes!

She listens intently. 

She has great hair! 

And she puts up with Grandma Sue taking a LOT of photos!

New Family in the Neighborhood

I turned onto our street recently and nearly ran into this new family...

We are being warned that a lot of animals have been displaced by the fire and many will be moving down toward town.  I worry about the animals; I also worry about increasing interactions between humans and animals.  We occasionally have mountain lions show up in town and I'm expecting there will be more now.  This photo was taken this week, showing a bear escaping the fire.  I am sorry I can't credit the photographer.  It came to me via Facebook but I am unsure from whom it originated.

Can you see the bear in the bottom right corner?

It's just a reminder that this situation is not only hard on the people with property up there, but also for all the animals who lived there.

Sometimes It's the Small Things

My sister-in-law, Sue, recently gave me the sweetest gift.  She gave me a bowl.  Yes, a bowl.  It is such a pretty bowl!   She suggested I use it for chips, ice cream, cereal, whatever.  I absolutely love it!  She knew me well.

Do you have a special bowl, cup, glass or even silverware that just makes you a bit happier simply by using it?

Maybe just looking at it makes you a bit cheerier?

This bowl does that for me.

Thank you, Sue!

Fascinating in a Scary Sort of Way

I have to admit that when I am outside, I can't stop looking up at the fire.  It grew so quickly on Monday, it was frightening.  The winds have been crazy, which makes this a very dangerous fired.  Here are some of the photos I took yesterday.

As frightening as that looks, our home is not really in danger and I don't expect it will be.  However, I know a lot of people who's property is being threatened.  Yesterday at work I witnessed nurses and surgeons alike, doing their jobs with compassion, all the while wondering if their own property was being burned.  It takes a real professional to be able to set aside their personal concerns while doing their job.  I was impressed. 

Fire on the Mountain

Well, I've no more neighborhood fires to report but last evening, standing out on my deck, I was looking at this cloud.  I had kind of a dirty look.  That wouldn't be strange on a stormy day but yesterday was a clear day.

I moved to get a different view and then I knew; there's fire on the mountain!

I went for a little drive and took this photo.

We had a fire on our mountain a few years ago.  It was close enough to drop ashes in our yard and we could see the flames from our home.  This one is further away and the wind is not likely to bring it anywhere near us.  There are homes and cabins up there, though. 

Once again, I am so grateful to those who fight fire!  The slurry bombers were already at work.  The helicopter was making drops as well.  Again, just so grateful.

Confession and Forgiveness

Following is part of the most humbling yet meaningful parts of our church service.

Confession and Forgiveness

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, 

all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: 

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts 

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, 

that we may perfectly love you and 

worthily magnify your holy name, through 

Jesus Christ our Lord....

Most merciful God,

We confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves.  We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, 

by what we have done and 

by what we have left undone.  

We have not loved you with our whole heart; 

we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.  

For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us.  Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, 

so that we may delight in your will 

and walk in your ways, 

to the glory of your holy name.  Amen.

 In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was 

given to die for us, and for his sake 

God forgives us all our sins.