I came across this beautiful picture on the Internet.  It caught my eye and I just sat and looked at it .  There was no -photographer  listed…so I can not give credit.  I came to realize that that it is made of layers of colors.

See the violet deep down in the water…

Notice the blue/grey at the bottom.

Then you will note a bright lime green,..on both sides of the bridge.

Then the most glorious golden color.

Next comes the orange.

And then a beautiful deep red.

All topped  off,  by  blue sky.

“The Lord has done this, it is marvelous in our eyes.”  Psalms 118:23

 “Be glad…
rejoice in the LORD your God,
for He has given you
the autumn rains in righteousness.
He sends you abundant showers,
both autumn and spring rains…”    Joel 2:23″

EDIT:

I just had a comment from my very wise and very wonderful friend, Rachel.  She commented that the colors are arranged in the rainbow spectrum.  The colors of a rainbow in order are RED…ORANGE…YELLOW..GREEN…BLUE…INDIGO…VIOLET.  (ROY G BIV).  i DID NOT EVEN PICK UP ON THAT AS i WAS STUDYING THIS PIC.   NOW JUST WHO DO YOU THINK PUT THESE COLORS IN ORDER?  THAT IS MY ‘GOD WINK’ FOR THE DAY.  THANKS, RACHEL

One of the things I most like to do is read.  I love books and can get lost in the pages.  And, that is what happened to me yesterday.  I had picked up this book for several reasons.  One is that I read a review on it in USA Today last week.  Also, another blogger who reviews books had recommended it highly.  And, third, it had to do with a child, and that always captures my attention.

Yesterday morning,  while still in bed, I noticed it on the table.  I decided to pick it up and look through the first few pages…and try to save some time later in the afternoon to start reading it.  I got up and got a Diet Dr. Pepper, and propped up in bed to scan the cover and reviews and such.  

WARNING!!!!!  Do not open this book unless you have all intentions of reading it in one sitting.  YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN!!!  I did put it down twice to go to the bathroom, and then once to get another DDP and some Trail Mix.  But, I read all 339 pages in about 5 hours.  And, was totally captivated by this story.

On the dust jacket on the front of the book are these words…”Potent, darkly beautiful, and revelatory.”  And, it can certainly be considered ‘dark’……but not to the extent you would think.  The charcters in this book are in a terrible situation…a desparate situation.  Terrible things happen to them.  The writers lets you know it is happening without going through the details.  But, that is not what is important in this story.  It is the ‘spirit’ of Ma.  It speaks to the maternal instinct and the lengths a mother will go to for her child.  And, the child, Jack, is a  child who is born with such an inquisitive mind  and being so well schooled by Ma,  that at the proper time, he is able to do what is totally alien to him.

And, speaking of LAYERS, you can see in this story how Ma’s mother taught her daughter things that help take her through this ordeal.  Ma, in turn, taught them to Jack.  Jack, then, teaches those around him what is important.

Oh, get this book.  You will not be sorry.  But, be warned…the laundry and the dishes and the dusting, etc. will go undone the day you pick it up and read the first page.

I purchased mine at Target.  Also available at Barnes and Nobel and at Amazon.

I hope this is the beginning of a beautiful week for you and yours.

Just a few things going on at the Creek House….

1. When I was in Birmingham a few days back, Ian brought me a gift. He said since he would not be with me on my birthday, he wanted to give it to me now. He went into a store selling signs with many different sayings but not this one. So he had them make it special for me! I love it! I found the perfect place for it! And, I think it looks great!

I love giving gifts. Always have. I think long and hard about my gifts and am on the lookout all through the year wherever I go. I despise the idea of having to buy a gift, at the last minute, and putting no thought in it. AND, I am so proud of Ian for thinking about what I would like and getting it made. Lots of thought! Thanks, Ian!

(JUST A NOTE)… Why ‘The Creekhouse’? When we began building our house, I found that I felt boastful and inconsiderate when I would continually refer to ‘the new house’. I wasn’t, but I felt like others may begin to tire of hearing about it. And, I wrote about it so often on Gatherings, it just bothered me to continually say …”in my new house…”. Also, being a voracious reader, I always loved it when old Southern homes had names. Yes, Tara was one of those homes. We have a lady in our church who was involved in music all her life. She was the organist at church, and she taught organ and piano for a hundred years (Joy and I included). Her daughter was a special friend and I spent many summers on vacation with them. Anyway, her home was filled with kids taking music for as long as I can remember. She named her home, ‘The Harmony House’. Loved that. My home is on a street that has a creek running from one side of the road to the other. There is also a very quaint wooden bridge that you cross mid way the road. The name of the street is Cross Creek Lane. I could have called it The Cross House, but that felt like we were always mad at one another. So, since ‘creek’ was in the name of the street, and I had to cross a ‘creek’ every time I left or came home…I chose The Creek House.

It is just fine with me if you think it is silly. I don’t mind a bit. I’m still going to call it that, and I’m old enough now to be a little silly if I feel like it.

2. We had 2 very fine men, ‘pillars of the church’ as they are sometimes called, who died on Monday and Tuesday of last week. Neither was a big surprise, but they have been such fixtures at Southside, they will be greatly missed. Both of them had children that grew up with Joy and I, so we have known them as long as we can remember. Both of their wives are still living. I wanted to show you the beautiful flower spray that one of them had on their casket. This gentleman was such an outdoors man…he loved fishing especially. I just thought this was so perfect. Very masculine, and tied to what he liked. The spray on the other casket was equally as lovely, this one was just so different.

Do you see the about midway the last picture…all the way to the right….the fish! There are 2 of them! Neat, huh? And, did you notice the burlap netting in the first 2 ? It all looks so masculine and so appropriate for him.

3. Alex has been having a really bad few days, so I have been getting to have some of the ‘Finn Duty’. We went out a little while ago, and even though he stayed under my feet most of the time, I did mnage to get a picture or two. He is a sweet puppy and just is in love with Alex. He actually whines when Alex moves out of his sight!

Over achiever ? He tried his best to run with this stick, but it kept getting stuck on other plants. Cute, cute, cute!

“Mommy, let me smell the flowers.”

“Wait, Mommy! I need to kiss the angel!”

4. AWARD TIME ! My sweet friend, Debby, of Just Breathe, has honored me with this “CHERRY ON TOP AWARD”. Isn’t that nice? I thank you so much, Debby, and will try to live up to the spirit of the award. (I am so sorry that I can not link to her site, but Ian has not taught me to do that yet on this new blog. Tried to figure it out…couldn’t. She is linked in my ‘LINKS’ section, however)

The rules for this award are:

1. Thank the person who gave this award to you.
2. Copy the award and put it on your blog.
3. List three things which you love about yourself.
4. Post a picture you love.

5. Pass this award along.

THREE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT ME

1. I love the fact that I am not bound by a ‘black/white’ viewpoint. My mind has always been open to quirks and differences and ‘other than normal’ way of seeing things. But, always within God’s laws. I have never been able to color inside the box…there’s just so much wonderful space outside the box!

2. I love the fact that I have learned how to use a computer, and have chosen to write a blog. I love the fact that I am not afraid to let you see who I really am…warts, grey hair, tummy rolls and all!

3. I love the fact that I have dear friends in many differing walks of life. Some from church, some from school, some from childhood, some I have never met IRL, but we meet every day in the Tblogosphere and some…just because. I love that I can share my life with a plethora of friends and am at ease with them all.

And, now a picture I love…Joy and I on Maui in March. This represents fun, and secrets, and support, understanding, and sharing, and love…all the things we share as sisters.

4. While at the grocery store the other day, I picked up a 6 pack of these. I don’t know why…I haven’t had any of these in ages. But, I’m so glad I did, because THIS DRINK IS GREAT !!!!! I had forgotten just how good they were. Very refreshing! AND, they come in 7.5 oz cans that are 100 calories each!

I went back to the store this week, and picked up some more…I thought! However, I did not get the F*nta brand…I got the S*nk*st brand. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE ! I will buy some more, and they will be of the F*nta brand ! I’m just saying…

5. Aren’t these great dishes? Can you see there’s a little nest on the bowl. Wouldn’t they look great on a wooden or woven charger? I think I could probably do a lot with them….if they were mine. They may or may not be living in my kitchen. If they’re not…they should be. And, if they are…well…then…that’s just a good thing! ( The color on the second picture is correct.)

6. Don walked in one night this last week, and handed me a shopping bag from Veriz*n. I looked inside and saw this:

Really…and this is the truth…all I knew how to do was open the box. Which I did. Inside the box was a tiny little instruction guide. Obviously it was written for someone who had spent years as a cell phone designer and programmer. It was intended for someone who understands ‘flash’ and ‘froyo’ and 3 Gh and ‘OMAP processor’…and other such foreign words. It had nothing in there for the average consumer who knows that when a phone rings you answer it and say ‘Hello’. I expect a guide to be just that…a guide. It should be in easy to understand steps that doesn’t assume anything. Such as 1. Take the cord and plug it into the phone and the other end into a socket. Wait 2 housrs while it charges. 2…Unplug the phone from the wall. 3…Locate the ON/OFF button…it is located on the upper right corner of the phone…turn it to ON. 4…Good for you! You have sucessfully charged and turned on your phone! What a great accomplishment! You deserve a break…go directly to the nearest Dairy Queen and buy a Blizzard of your choice! We will continue with the next lesson tomorrow and in just 3 short weeks…you will know how to use your new Dr*id 2!!!

That is all…..for now…

Do you have trouble finding somewhere to be alone? It seems to me that as the world gets bigger and faster, more and more of it is being taken up with ‘progress’. While it seems difficult to find, there are plenty of places in the world where you can still be the only living soul around. Not so sure I’d like that. ( Well, maybe on an island in the South Pacific ) . Those pictured here have gone to extreme lengths to find this solo experience.

I think that I cannot preserve my health and spirits, unless I spend four hours a day at least – and it is commonly more than that – sauntering through the woods and over the hills and fields, absolutely free from all worldly engagements. ~Henry David Thoreau

We live in a very tense society. We are pulled apart… and we all need to learn how to pull ourselves together…. I think that at least part of the answer lies in solitude. ~Helen Hayes

No man should go through life without once experiencing healthy, even bored solitude in the wilderness, finding himself depending solely on himself and thereby learning his true and hidden strength. ~Jack Kerouac

I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion. ~Henry David Thoreau

I don’t think this one actually qualifies, do you? His best friend is along for his walk. However, your best friend does tend to know when you need silence.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Hope you find your own quiet spot…and, don’t stand so close to the edge! It makes me nervous!

Joy and I have had a wonderful time this week-end. Just being together is a treat, but being with friends and helping make their days more special is a DOUBLE TREAT! It is Sunday morning and we have to get packed and move on back down the road to Dothan. But first, I want to show you some pics from the weekend!

THE REHEARSAL DINNER

working hard in the afternoon….

…and it was all worth it at the dinner!

WEDDING DAY…It dawned hot, hot, hot! But at least no rain! Joy and I did a few things in the morning, but came back to rest. I needed to let these tootsies rest a little because I was going to direct the wedding and I knew I would be on my feet a long time. We noticed a few clouds as we were going to the motel, but nothing major. Joy took a nap, and I tried to get my computer to work. It started raining a little…and then a little harder….and THEN thunder and lightning…BIG lightning! But, then it began slacking off. We drove to the winery in the drizzling rain, it got lighter and lighter as we got closer. As the wedding party and guests drove into winery, down a dirt road with beautiful vineyards of each side, they were met with the most beautiful rainbow. What a gift! As if God was sending and ‘extra special’ blessing on this couple.

“God has given us these times of joy.” Nehemiah 12 : 43

My friend Pamela…don’t you love her dress…Mother of the Groom…

From Dothan…Donna and John Walker…

…Monty and David Clark…

…Juliann and Tillman Black…and Ron Ellis…Father of the Groom…

…Joy and I…

…Our dear friend, and the Minister for the wedding, Rev. Billy Rich…

Beautiful grapes in the vineyard…

Tonja…Pamela…Joy

And…it was over……

The sun began to set…..

…And, the beautiful Birmingham scenery enthralled us as we drove back to the motel…

The newlyweds are off to Mexico, the Mother and Father of the Groom are taking a day or two to recoup, and most of the friends and family have returned home. What a joy to have been a part of the fun. The couples in the pictures I showed, including the Mom and Dad of Groom, and Joy and my families, have been friends for 35 years, at least. We have had babies together, married children together, buried family members together, some worked in jobs together, and most importantly…worshipped together. How wonderful that God allowed us to grow and share some of life’s happiness and good times, as well as sadness and burdens together. The most important quality that we have shared is our faith. We have grown our faith and taught our faith to our own and each other’s children. And, now we are reaping the rewards of seeing those children becoming responsible adults in the world and carrying on what we started. God is so good!

“We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
his power, and the wonders he has done. ..so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Psalm 78:4-6