Gates...........

I love this gate.


I love the way the morning light comes thru

inviting the day into my world.

I love watching the chipmunks scooting back and forth frantically to see who is the faster "chip". Birds swoop in and out periodically too, as there is a feeder on either side of the walkway. The camellia bushes on either side put out the most beautiful blossoms in the early....early spring, really just late winter.

I sit on my deck above this scene each morning, sipping my coffee, thanking God that I have the life I have today. I am so grateful. My life is full of the little pleasures that make each life unique.

The trees that fill the property line behind our house make it nearly impossible to see the 2 house located a hundred yards or so behind us. All morning, I can listen to birds, squirrels, chipmunks and neighborhood pets. They sometime scamper past, but mostly I hear them. It is a nice muffled sound that could actually put me to sleep if I let it, but on the whole it simply reminds me that God is in charge of this neighborhood, and all I have to do is wake up and show up.....

Pretty damn cool, huh?

This why you hire a pro.....

We attended a luncheon this afternoon,
in celebration of David's 35th anniversary with the company. I handed my small camera to the fellow across the table from us, and asked him to take our photo......
He is an engineer....
He is smart......
He understands mechanical thingies.......
He can't take a photo.....
Most people can't take a photo....
There are a few really simple things you must do in order to take a decent portrait....
If you ever need a photo taken of yourself, or your family.....
Do yourself a favor, hire a pro.
Believe me it will not be wasted money.
Uncle Bub cannot take a video, portrait, or document your wedding the way a professional can....Promise.

Now,
that being said...
I love the photo anyway. I am so proud of David. AND I am so glad that we are married because we are so happy with our life together. I have tried to be happy with others. I forced the issue. I was so unhappy. Thank God for leading me out of the "valley of the shadow of death" (no exaggeration) and helping me to find David.

I am blessed.

Life is a Beach....

Isn't this beautiful?

Wouldn't this lure you to want to live in Florida?

Well, it did....

My friend Lisa moved there and created a wonderful life for herself and her sweet young husband....

A three year honeymoon, she calls it...

But home is calling to her now.

She missed her girlfriends and the comfort she gets from their presence.

I know how this feels....

we can live in the finest that money can buy, and yet feel alone....

Friendships, girlfriends, buddies....

that's what gets us thru the difficult times.

Times of loss...

Times of want....

Times of growth......

All of these times require help from sources outside ourselves.