Flower Photos

Today turned out to be another beautiful warm day, perfect for the garden. We had prayed for warm growing weather and the Lord sent it!

I joined a group of ladies going blueberry picking at the Barrens today, we had a good time fellowshipping and I ended up picking three more quarts.

Just for fun here are some pictures from our flower garden...

A Lilly

Canterbury Bells




A Pansy




Double Impatiens




Our carrots gone to flower

Days doings

While walking my dog in the woods yesterday snapping pictures, I had the opportunity to get a neat shot of a red dragon fly. I was amazed that it stayed where it had landed long enough for me to creep up close, hit 'macro' on the camera and catch this photo...

Also yesterday, I started a jumper which has been waiting a looong time for me to get to it. Butterick #3966, style B, I love the pleats, I am doing it in a blue denim. This marks the beginning of my second project on my own, the first was a revolutionary war costume vest for my brother, (Butterick #3072). Sewing is so much fun, what a joy to see a garment shape beneath your hands!

Today we went to the abortion clinic in Duluth Minnesota where we plead for the babies that are about to be killed. We ask the mothers to please not do this to their little ones and offer them help and resources. We are called Sidewalk Councilors because we stand on the public sidewalks and council the woman not to kill their child.

There were nine of us out there today, standing near three entrance ways. I cannot describe how horrific it is to see those mothers hurry past us to get into the building. It reminds me of the verse, "Their feet are swift to shed innocent blood." While we wait for the mothers to come we pray together and sing praises to God. Six woman came today and we talked to each one saying whatever God laid on our hearts at the moment for each individual.

It's not that I can't find better things to do with the time God has granted me, I do not like standing in public and declaring the words of the Lord, this flesh of mine resists the discomfort of the situation, but I truly believe God has commanded us to plead for those that are appointed to death. In Proverbs 24:11-12 it says, "Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, "Behold, we did not know this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?" (ESV).

How could it be more clear? I fear not to obey.

None of the ladies changed their mind that we know of...we will not know until Heaven how many lives were spared through this work. Sometimes a mother will come out and tell us that she has changed her mind, then oh what joy fills our heats! We give these mothers help in the form of lodging, food, clothing, whatever they need. Once in a great while sidewalk councilors get to hold a baby God has used them to save, my family has not yet had this privilege but it looks like a possibility in the near future.

The Lord Jesus Christ is so very wonderful, He deserves endless praise!

I had the great blessing today of spending time with some friends and their children. Two little bitty girls, two and one year olds, were so adorable and such fun to be around. It causes me to be so aware of what I am doing since they mimic everything.

I need to go walk and feed my dog...so long folks.

A Wilderness Adventure

The 'Barrens': a rough and rugged sandy land, characterized by scrub oak and jack pines, raging fires, bracken fern and sweet fern, ruffed grouse, black bears and...wild blue berries. Every year we head out to the Moqua Pine Barrens to pick those wild blueberries and this year was to be no exception. Accordingly late this morning we loaded up the van with water jugs, a backpack, compasses, trail mix, coolers, buckets for picking, my dog Abby and the four of us, (my parents, nineteen year old brother Michael and myself). Now, all roads in the barrens are gravel, rocks and sand, an adventure in itself, so my very skilled father took the wheel and we went merrily on our way. Soon the smell of the country rose to meet us, sweet fern, a distinctly sweet unforgettable smell. All around us was a newly burned area, acres upon acres of blackened land now covered in new growth. Fires in the barrens are a major part of it's eco system, they are now, more often than not, controlled burns started by the DNR (Department of Natural Resources), they rid the land of foreign plant invaders and among other things, help the blueberry plants.

We found 'our spot' which has not been burned for a couple of years and began looking. And guess what we found?

Blueberries!

Loads of them, we have never seen such a good year, the plants were heavy with berries and they were much larger than normal. We think this bumper crop must be due to the cold spring and abundant rain that we have had this year.

We had a great time picking!

My brother Michael

The weather was fantastic and the view from 'our' ridge we amazing.

We are very blessed by the Lord and are ever so thankful. We picked a little over two gallons in four hours, but before you think we are slow pickers let me give you a perspective on this, the berries are about a quarter inch in diameter this year which is about twice their normal size. So...to accumulate that many berries you have to pick allot!

We can hardly wait for our wild blueberry favorite, blueberry cheesecake!

On our way home, as an extra special treat my Dad took us all to A&W and treated us to burger combos! This is 'big time' for us healthy eaters!

A Greeting

Hello folks! In the posts to come I hope to share with you a little of my life and to keep a record of God's faithfulness. I love to write, though I am not always grammatically correct, I enjoy putting thoughts on paper, or in this case a digital form. I hope this blog will be an encouragement and a blessing to you. Your comments are welcome!