dad, through the years...

scanned these today to list on my fb page...

I started one for all of my cousins to share news and photos...

been working outside today...

cleaning out the car and truck...

the deck...

around the deck and shed...

still have a little bit of standing water, but the most of it has gone down...

still too muddy to play in the dirt...

and then we just got 3 baby kittens in, at least a month old...

they have their teeth and mom deserted them...

so they are just hungry...

fed and stimulated them and they are napping...

they are so cute...

photos tomorrow...

have a good evening...

;)

Happy Birthday, Dad...

he would have been 78 today...

the funeral is going to be Monday afternoon...

and we will not be trying to go...

just too far for me...

but that's ok, because we talked about it long ago...

we will meet up later...

;)

my dad is in the arms of Christ...

God called my dad home this morning...

and I know he is busy hugging Christ with all he has in him...

he was so tired and weary...

this life was so hard at the end...

but he is laughing and smiling and dancing around now...

something he hasn't been able to do for so long...

he is happy now...

I am so grateful that God took him out of here and out of that body he was trapped in...

its been way too long and far too much...

but please pray for my step mom with all you have in you...

she is having a hard time letting go...

he was her world and she took such good care of him...

and she loved him so...

thank you all for all your prayers for my dad through all of his illnesses and trips to the hospitals...

its easy letting him go when all he had was suffering here...

and I will see him again...

soon enough...

he's is such a lovely place with his parents, brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles...

and my sister...

there are so many that love him on the other side...

join me in rejoicing his homecoming...

another preacher called home!

can I get an amen?

;)

Lakefront property...

we have had rain here...

lilac...

lots of lightening...

which makes one of my favorite things...

the tulips are starting to show some color...

nitrogen...

the south yard is flooded and we have more rain coming tomorrow...

I would bet we don't work out here this weekend...

the knock out roses are greening up fast...

columbine surged over night...

pear blossoms are opening...

and the trees are leafing out...

you can see hints of green everywhere you look now...

and the undergrowth is green, too...

the farmer really needs to tile again...

I would imagine his tile is clogged up...

peonies are up...

with the drought last year, they didn't get to finish blooming...

just tight blooms that faded away...

it really looks and feels like spring here...

so glad the winter is past for us...

Mr Wiggles does not like wet feet...

and he loves standing on this rock...

making green beans, bacon and potatoes this morning...

some potato salad...

going to fry some butterfly pork chops this evening for supper...

and I am thinking some chocolate chip cookie dough needs to be whipped up just in case we have the urge for something really good...

was up most of the night with the storms...

the critters took over my bed and it was just easier letting them have it...

got in a lot of me and God time...

praying for Boston...

our country...

the world...

just plan old peace in general...

you have to wonder what kind of tormented souls could do some of this stuff...

what have they seen and felt...

what if just one person would have shown them good?

would it have changed the lives of so many?

one smile, one helping hand, one kind gesture...

one hug...

one prayer...

what if WE...

as a whole...

and as individuals...

reached out to that one person who is bitter...

and we all know someone who everyone steers clear of because they are so sour...

would we change the world...

could we change the world...

its easy to be nice to nice people...

its a little bit harder being nice to a cranky pants...

but maybe its time we put some effort into this loving and caring thing...

I am looking for a cranky pants...

how about you?

;)

Phase 2 of the island...

we have been in and out today...

in between rains...

and then the news this afternoon kind of slowed us down as we watched bombs explode at the Boston Marathon...

prayers for those who did nothing wrong, but will suffer long for those who did...

makes you just enjoy and appreciate your peace and harmony in your own little world...

evil can happen any time, any where...

no one is exempt...

but God protects his own, with angel wings...

and some he calls home during the chaos...

we must always be ready to leave...

it could come in the blink of an eye...

embrace your peace today...

let the drama go...

and just enjoy this time with those your love...

with God's blessings all around you...

just take a moment to look around at all the little things He has sent your way today...

a busy day for Heaven with all the prayers going on right now...

take time to listen to the birds' song...

pray for all the rescue people who are running non stop to get people loaded in the ambulances...

they are at risk just staying in the area...

pray for the doctors and nurses and hospital personal who are treating all the injuries and dealing with the shock of the families as they try to find out about their loved ones...

pray for those who did this...

for they need God's love more than anyone else...

for their pain has to be so great to have it spill out this way...

let this change their lives for the good...

that they get the help and prayers that they need...

I just cannot imagine wanting to hurt others so much...

to plan something like this out...

and then to carry through with it...

what goes through their minds?

lies, lies and more lies from the devil himself...

I am sorry, but these things just upset me so...

I just have to stop what I am doing and talk it over with God...

and after we got done out here today...

 this is the result...

a friend started the tacky yard war again last fall and left the pink flamingos in my yard...

but I am embracing them...

I kind have grown attached to them...

and they add some pink color to the yard...

I am so going to miss that puff of bright yellow out there...

 so wish the forsythia stayed yellow all summer...

but it will turn green...

and other things will pop up...

thinking of putting my 4 o'clocks out here...

a blogging sister sent me some seed last fall and I have been looking for the perfect place to put them...

I think this will be their new home...

so, got spaghetti on the stove...

DH is due home anytime...

and our evening will begin...

keep praying for our country, our world...

its worth it...

and so needed...

hugs