Happy Birthday!

 To MOM!!

Yep, it's Mom's Birthday, and I am very thankful for her. She does a lot for her family and loves us all so much, even though we can be so hard to get along with sometimes. 

She's winking. I guess that's where I got it from. 

Picture by Dad

(Lydia is not actually the tallest person in this picture. She's the shortest. Oh, well, everyone needs their glory at some point).

I love you, Mom!

Happy Birthday!

When the Sun Rises Again...

 

Grab your cowboy hat and horse and get a move on it because the sun only rises once day. 

Give It Up For...

 The Snapping Turtle Baby!

I'm not usually all excited about turtles, definitely not snapping turtles, but this little guy was just too cute. 

I guess there are more than just snakes out there these days.

Little Things

 Little things are nice.

This was a card I made for a very special friend. 

I found a snake.

I think it was a Red-bellied.

Fall blossoms, some of my favorites. 

Another little card for another special friend. I painted this with walnut juice. 

Well, it's about time I skidaddle for a walk and a phone call.

(Yeah, I don't have much of a life, but give me a moment, and you'll be blown away.)

❤❤

✌

Still Standing

* I wrote this a long time ago, but for some reason I never posted it. So, here goes.

When you jump into the unknown, you never know if you'll be standing when you land. I've definitely jumped and fallen flat on my face, but it seems I've also flown high on soaring wings.

Sometimes we jump into the unknown with a gripping fear of what we'll land into or how we'll land. 

The picture above puts a picture in my mind of what life in the Lord can be like.We jumped off the sandy hill and landed on our feet even though the ground was so steep. Instead of being afraid, we jumped with the pure joy of flying. We knew we'd land, but fear didn't stop us. 

I want to learn to follow God into the unknown. Wherever He may lead me. Instead of being afraid, I want jump, maybe even soar, and then possibly even land on my feet. But if not, that's still OK. At least I've gotten somewhere. 

The Sunset is Gray

I walked slowly through the woods, the dreary day not providing the sort of energy I might normally have. It was still and calm, although a slight breeze sent a few red leaves floating softly to the ground. It wasn't raining, nor had it all day. It was just one of those quiet, gray days that makes you feel nostalgic all over. 

I made my way through the underbrush, a few green leaves still hung on. The taller trees were about at peak from sun and chill and wind. The colors seemed more brilliant against the bleak backdrop, but the gathering dusk soon just made them look dark and cold. 

I broke through the edge of the trees and stopped to survey the surrounding countryside from the top of the hill where there was a slight clearing. Some gray boulders dropped off about 10 feet or so into some wild grasses and moss and, of course, freshly dropped fall leaves. 

Off to the west would have normally been a flaming sunset of fiery oranges, or maybe the more subtle but equally stunning yellows, or maybe pinks, purples, and reds. Not today. There was no sunset. Yet, I caught myself in the thought. Of course, there was a sunset. Every day the sun dipped down into the western abyss; some days I couldn't see it, but it still happened. Today the overcast sky kept me from seeing the sun say goodnight, but the slow, steady clutches of night overwhelming the earth told me it was doing just that. 

I took one last look through the gloom and turned again into the darkening woods.

Today, the sunset is gray.

I Wonder

 I wonder if I will ever get to know you. I wonder if I will ever be able to hug you, help you, love you.

I wonder if I will see you cry and wipe away the tears.

I wonder if I will cook you food, wash your laundry, call you in for dinner. 

I wonder if you will be OK with me, feel safe with me, be happy to be in my care. 

I only wonder because tomorrow I go in for an interview, and I don't know what they will say. 

But, no matter what, please know I love you. 

Photo by Anthony.

Fields of Purple

 I love monkey grass. It has a beautiful purple flower sometime in the summer, usually July or August. This August I took some pictures of the monkey grass in our yard. It's a new favorite flower of mine, I think. 

Tata!!

✌

Young and Strong

 He fills my life with good things, 

so that I stay young and strong like an eagle."

Psalm 103:5

Young and strong like an eagle?

Fast and long like a beagle?

Flying, soaring high and higher?

Running, leaping, never tire?

Ah, to be young, vicious, free

To fly by like a careless bee

To flutter in the breeze, a butterfly

To soar like an eagle high in the sky.

But I feel like I'm in the valley low

Moping about like a sloth below

Never seeing the sun rays in full

Never knowing all that I can rule.

Love, Karise

 Sometimes people ask, "How could a good God let bad things happen?"

Sometimes I wonder the same thing, but then another question pops up: "How could a good God let anything good happen to people who deserve only the worst?"

I knew a young lady once who was very ill with type 1 diabetes. Most of our friendship consisted of letter-writing, but I did see her in the hospital and other times. Towards the end of her life, she was very thin, very sick, very weak. 

She used to dance, but the sickness made her too weak. How could a good, loving Father take something so special away from someone? She wanted to dance, but He only gave her sickness. I don't know the answers to everything, but I do know that my life was changed forever because of that woman. 

We wrote for several years, and every time, she signed her letters, "Love, Karise."

Karise had more to give then dance. She had love. The Father had love for her, too, and I think that overflowed into the lives of those around her.

Five years ago today, the Father took His little dancer home, and I will always miss her until I see her again in the Kingdom. But while I wait down here, I will learn to love like Karise. 

Just Thinking Outloud

 It's gettin' colder, and I'm havin' a hard time. I like warmth. Cozy, humid, hot NC days are my thing. I'll get used to the cold eventually, but I don't love the transition. 

I'm glad for sisters who wear big coats in SC in October so that my cold, bare arms can link around yours to keep me warm. 

I am glad to see a friend I haven't seen in a long time. Thanks for hanging out with us. I appreciate you. 

I am glad for two cats. I like when they walk down to the mailbox with me and then follow me back up the hill. 

I'm glad for a friend who cares about me and wants to know how I really feel and what I really think about something. I don't mind if we disagree; I just want to be able to talk about things. 

The world is kind of crazy right now, but I have a Father who cares and loves me and knows what is best.