Common (but uncommon for me) Redpoll

This was a new bird for us at our feeder this winter. It's called a common redpoll and is only here in the cold, winter months. I do believe this is a female since it doesn't have the red breast mark like the male does. It was fun to get up each morning and look out at the feeders to see where this little bird was amongst the usual sparrows, cardinals, chickadees, goldfinch and blue jays. It stood out because it was different from the others and not a usual bird to see. The other birds accepted it and didn't pay much attention to it.

One cool fact I read about this little bird is that Redpolls have throat pouches for temporarily storing seeds. They may fill their pouches with seeds quickly then fly away to swallow the seeds in a more protected, warmer spot.

I love to watch the birds at the feeders. The bigger ones will get up in the feeder and push the feed out on the ground for the ground feeders. It empties the feeder really fast but I don't mind refilling it for the joy they provide to me.

Magnificent Beauty

This past weekend I was able to view the beauty of the eagle. To see 40 or more of these majestic birds in one tree is breathtaking. Watching them soar and then dive down to catch a fish is beyond words. Graceful, elegant, fierce, sweeping thru the sky as if it were nothing unusual...not realizing the show they are putting on for others. People flock to the rock (Starved Rock) to see them.

It reminds me of how people flocked to see Jesus...the Rock. They came by the thousands to hear him speak and to see him perform miracles. They took the time because they knew there was something special about Him. They were drawn to Him and the words He spoke. They didn't worry about time...about food....they wanted to get as close as they could because they wanted what He offered to them.


Do you want what He is offering to you? Everlasting life....an eternal home in heaven....love beyond measure?

Presence of God

There was such a sweet presence of God at our worship practice last night. To be able to just let go and let it flow from our lips was wonderful. It wasn't just a bunch of noise but it was all in harmony....the instruments, our leader's voice, the backup singers....I love when that happens!

Holly Golightly

I have always enjoyed Audrey Hepburn movies and came across this poem by her in one of my e-mails.

Below is a wonderful poem Audrey Hepburn
wrote when asked to share her "Beauty Tips."
Years later, it was read at her funeral.


For attractive lips,
speak words of kindness.


For lovely eyes,
seek out the good in people.


For a slim figure,
share your food with the hungry.


For beautiful hair,
let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.


For poise,
walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.


People, even more than things,
have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed,
and redeemed; never throw out anyone.


Remember, if you ever need a helping hand,
you will find one at the end of each of your arms.


As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands;
one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

Audrey Hepburn (1929 - 1993)
Source: Audrey herself

Every movie I've seen her in, she does a tremendous job of acting and taking on the character like a second skin. One of my favorites was Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

This is from her biography:

In her later years, acting took a back seat to her work on behalf of children. She became a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF in the late 1980s. Traveling the world, Hepburn tried to raise awareness about children in need. She understood too well what it was like to go hungry from her days in The Netherlands during the German Occupation. Making more than 50 trips, Hepburn visited UNICEF projects in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. She won a special Academy Award for her humanitarian work in 1993, but she did not live long enough to receive it. Hepburn died on January 20, 1993, at her home in Tolochenaz, Switzerland after a battle with colon cancer.

Sometimes I want to be as carefree as "Holly Golightly" but without all the drama she had. But I don't want to lose sight of who I am in Christ and why I am allowed to continue my life on this earth. I pray that God will use me to reach others who need Him but don't maybe realize it or are afraid of what it involves.

ODE TO ELAINE

I was in the process of looking for a purchase slip for my daughter's digital camera and came across this. My husband sent it to me after I had my liver resection last year. He is so wonderful!

My dearest Elaine:
Here is an e-mail for you,
My one so true.
Sore and weary,
But never dreary.
Scarred, black and blue,
But still the same old you.
Recovery is near,
So don't shed a tear.
Love,
dfg

Me to a Tee

As I age...ahem, mature...there are times that I shake my head in wonder at the things I do.

Like walking into a room to get something and discovering in those few micro-seconds my brain has turned to mush. I do believe that this is a way to get us to do more exercising...walking back the way we came to "jar" our memory and then that "Aha!" moment and hurrying back before we forget. I'm tempted to get one of those pedometers to see how many steps I actually take in a day because of forgetfulness.

But, there are also perks to aging...I mean, maturing. We do grow wiser in our parenting skills; too bad the kids had to be the guinea pigs. We grow in our faith. We look back at our old lifestyle and shake our heads, wondering how we ever got through it without killing ourselves or at least ending up with serious injuries.

I do know that the prayers of my mother were heard time and time again in my life. There were so many stupid things I did that my kids will never find out about from me. And now, I spend time in prayer daily for each one of them. This kind of generational thing is good and I pray that my children will continue it with their children.

God's Protection

The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do to me? Psalm 118:6

I was struggling to find something that would help me after my car accident on Wednesday afternoon. A sleepless night was had that night and such awful thoughts were coming into my mind....like...I've scarred a girl for life...she'll never want to drive again...how could I be so stupid....what could I have done differently..."see, you're not so good; you had an accident". Knowing all the while that it was the enemy seeking to destroy my walk with God. I continually prayed for help from the LORD and this is the verse He lead me to on Thursday.

Yes, I was my fault; but I don't need to keep beating myself up about it. I truly did not see the car coming..it was hidden behind a pickup truck bed as I cautiously crept forward. Then "BAM!", out of nowhere this car is suddenly there!

The enemy is like that--lurking, making us think we are safe and then all of a sudden "WHAM", he hits us like a ton of bricks. Our initial response is surprise, but we should never be surprised by what he will do. We need to always proceed with caution--looking twice and making sure it's okay to go on. In those times that the enemy does break through, there is always someone there to help us and protect us...just like the ambulance driver, policeman and firefighters were there to help me...only I also had God's hand upon me. He did not let anyone get hurt and kept me far enough back that my car was not damaged as badly. He calmed me and I thank Him that the girls parents were not angry with me. That was a fear of mine, but after reading Psalm 118:6 and knowing that He is on my side, those fears were diminished.

I pray that His protection will continue to be on that young girl. That she will know her fears can be taken care of by the King of Kings and LORD of LORDS.