Dinner Time

I am so thankful that these birds remind me of a time in our lives when we were first married. It seems like so long ago but the lessons that we learned we will keep with us always. Because of a family business going under we were forced to really think about what was top priority in our lives.  Putting food on the table and keeping a roof over our heads were tops on that list.  I can remember many time when I wasn't sure I could eat another green bean from our garden.  Mark's aunts sent us some of the cheese the government was giving them.  We mixed up instant milk and put it in the milk jugs so the kids would not know what they were drinking.  Several friends would show up with pies and cobblers (the recipes I use today).  We would be invited out for dinner.  dinners would appear at our front door.  It was a very humbling time.

A retired postal worker would always ask me how things were going and he would hug me and give me a hand full of dollars and tell me to go to the store and get the babies something good to eat.  I know that these people and this time made a lasting impression on me.  I am always looking for ways to help others.  I know I have been there and I know what they are experiencing.  I know it is not easy.  It is so hard to accept the goodness of others when you feel so embarrassed.  But that is okay.  Lessons are learned.

Even with the birds that are in our backyard.  I feed them and take care of them because it is my way to give back.  Might sound silly but they are important too.  I get hours of entertainment from them.  They make me take time to sit to rest and reflect.  I think you can always find a lesson in everything around you if you just look.  And there are many opportunities for us as a family to give back and help others.  It makes me feel like I listened to what God was trying to tell me and now it is my turn to help someone hear what He is saying to them.

We have been truly blessed over the years and I hope God will tell me the job He had for me on earth...that I did well.

It's Just The Little Things

I guess that this summer I have been a little more observant of my surroundings. I sit and watch the funny hummingbirds out the kitchen window during breakfast. We now have five and each has their own personality and look. And they are like crazy road rage drivers. They dive bomb each other on the feeders at the window. Sometimes they even crash into the window. I expect that one day I will see one 'playing' dead on the patio.

One day I will be able to photograph them and they will be crisp and clear instead of fuzzy.  Someday...

We have a pair of cardinals that pick out the sunflower seeds from the feeder.

I think the squirrels sit and wait for me to put food in the bird feeders.  As soon as I get inside they are up and chowing down.  This one is pretty healthy I'd say.

I worry about this little fellow.  He is so thin and scratching all the time like he has fleas.

He just doesn't took to healthy to me.  He even let me get really close this morning.  I'm just a little scared of this one.

I am so thankful that I am able to sit and just watch "nature'...as Michael calls it...out the kitchen window.  The little kids love it as much as I do.  They get excited when a hummingbird comes to the feeder.  They are always wanting to feed the birds and they will lay for hours watching the squirrels and chipmunk eat seeds out of the feed off the family room.  I am amazed that God was so creative in making all they types of animals that we can see.  The colors, body structures, how they work, all the textures and colors, how they move in the world together.  Boggles my mind. And I am thankful for that gift and the gift of being able to sit at my kitchen window everyday.

My Mother's Hands

My Mother's Hands

My Mother's hands are tired and worn
The skin is cracked, the wrinkles are deep;
The knuckles are swollen and red with pain
"Years of labor of love" is the message emitted.~ ~ ~ Though her hands appear unattractive
And though they are wrinkled with age;
These were the hands that once lifted me up
To face life with determination and courage. ~ ~ ~
Though her hands are now so very weak
These same hands wiped away my tears;
They comforted me in my hour of need,
And soothed away my childhood fears. ~ ~ ~ These were the hands that wiped my brow
When fever raged and health was not whole;
Her comforting words and her loving touch
Brought healing to body, mind, and soul. ~ ~ ~
Now tired and worn with bulging veins
Her hands are unappealing and seem useless,
But these were the hands that washed my clothes
And showed me the path of self-forgetfulness. ~ ~ ~
My Mother's hands reached out for others
And ministered to those who were not well,
Her loving hands tended to all their needs,
Indeed, her old hands have a great story to tell. ~ ~ ~
My Mother's hands folded in prayer for
The God of Heaven to watch over her family
And keep them safe from the evil one
And finally be saved for all eternity. ~ ~ ~
Many of her prayers were answered for
They moved the Arm that moves the world.
Her prayers had always been for
Daily needs and the salvation of souls. ~ ~ ~
My Mother's hands reached out to Glory
And clasped the hand of her loving Savior
Who died for her on the cross of Calvary
And showed her tender mercy and loving favor.~ ~ ~
Now resting in Jesus, peaceful and sweet
My Sweet Mother, wrinkled, tired and worn
Had ceased from her labors on this earth
Soon to be awakened in the Resurrection morn. ~ ~ ~
Then, in Heaven and in the Earth Made New
My Mother's hands would once more
Resume their labor of love in
Serving Jesus her King forevermore.


Copyrighted © Lydia Haga 2004  

Pink

Pink is my favorite color of this time of the spring for so many different reasons.

Refreshing My Soul

Look what Mark found this morning!  Spring is just around the corner.  I will be sad to see all the snow melt away.  It amazes me that God is so smart that he came up with all the stuff that surrounds us...all colors, sizes, shapes, smells, textures...blows my mind.  I'm sure glad he did!