Imagine a 1/4 mile hike on a concrete paved, wide trail, in the dark, but with enough moonlight to see the way. As we approached the Platte River we could hear the cranes but not see them. As the sky began to brighten slightly the birds began to stir. We waited on an old railway bridge (now a walking and biking path) with others here for the spectacle. As the sky got lighter more people showed up. The birds began to rise in clouds: first in fifties, then hundreds, then uncountable thousands. Their song was louder with each group. It was marvelous! As the sun got brighter, a mist formed over the edges of the river. The birds continued to rise. One photographer said the birds on one sandbar-like area usually departed early. We decided they were teenagers and sleeping in today.

This was our first sunrise on the Platte River for the Sandhill Crane Migration, the largest Sandhill migration in the world. This migration map from iBird show their migration ranges.

The day we were there they broke their record for birds in the area. A plane flies over and calculates the total population. There were over 650,000 birds.

At night the birds rest in huge groups in the shallow waters of the Platte River on sand bars. During the day the cranes glean the corn fields. I started calling them Ruth and Naomi. They are difficult to photograph up close as they are extremely skittish. So my photos do not include close-ups.

What an amazing spectacle! The big snow storm closed the area a few days after we left. We were fortunate to have blue skies and warm weather.

If you are fortunate enough to visit Kansas City, you might get to see these artists at work. This first guy has on slacks that mimic a cinder block wall in black with brown mortar. Notice the design on his back pocket!

The weather was lovely. The paint fumes were thick. Some artists wore masks. Girls gathered in front of the wall as background of their beauty shots. The colors were amazing. There were a few working from sketches, but most of the work seemed to be random creations. The music was constant and some guys wore earphones for their own tunes.

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Amazing stuff. I could not tell you anything that was said in the words in the paint, but the colors and designs were fun.

I have been honored to participate with a group of praying women – regularly – since November, 2016. We have formed bonds by travailing together in prayer for our church staff, elders, ministry team leaders and missionaries. The list of our prayer topics used to fit on a 3 x 5 card. Then both sides, then a 4 x 6 card both sides and now is printed on much larger paper with a longer list. We take turns each week doing the group leadership. We write an outline based on “Prayer Portions” by Sylvia Gunter (used with permission) or create on our own from Scripture. We have sections on Praise, Thanksgiving, Personal Confession, and Intercession.

I do not think any of us understood the impact this discipline would have upon us individually or corporately when we began in 2016. There is a core group of seven women. Not everyone can attend every week. Sometimes we have to cancel for inclement weather or when many activities involve church members on that night ( like kids Drama Camp practice).

When my husband and I traveled to a museum in Oklahoma he found this tile which so expresses our group for me.

We have learned so much together about spiritual strength and how to lay down self interests. Within the group we have learned to grow in holiness and purpose. We seek to encourage one another as well as those we pray for. In our weekly meetings and through texting, emails and phone calls we share life together. This long standing group has required that we each learn true humility, genuine concern for one another, and commitment to the work of being intercessors.

These women are friends that I value so much …. words fail me. We continue to pray for the unity of the Holy Spirit among us. May the Lord bless our efforts to His glory.

Today in 23 degrees with a stiff wind I lost count at 38 clumps of daffodils around our property, not counting the front garden!!

And yet the birds await us. “Please fill the feeder!” they seem to say. They take turns on the suet block which is already out there. Even the yellow-bellied sapsucker who rarely comes this close is willing to feed on the suet this morning.

Thirty mph gusts knock the snow off the deck railings and at last the birds have a place to perch without fighting snow. The wind almost knocked a cardinal off a tree branch and he had to seek a lower perch.

As I watch my husband fill the feeders, wearing his warmest down jacket, scarf, hat and removing a glove to open and close the seed holder, I wonder where the birds shelter when it is this cold? They are saying in our current conditions frostbite can occur on skin in thirty minutes. What about the birds’ toes? After a sudden snow squall moved through at twenty-five MPH the cardinals each had white snow around the feathers surrounding their eye on the side that was exposed to the snow. The red-bellied woodpeckers were lined up on one side of a thick maple tree like planes on a runway, but out of the blowing snow.

More importantly, what about the homeless man in our neighborhood? He walks and walks likely many miles per day. Sometimes he uses the toilet at United Dairy Farmers. Once I saw him go in there and slipped the cashier five dollars for him. He refuses things we have offered him and I thought she might have more luck if I did the offering anonymously. Our son has even offered to buy him fast food and he always refuses. Last year someone gave him a thermal jumper like some outdoors workmen wear. He wore it until it fell apart in the spring. But where is he today in this thirty minute frostbite warning? Where did he sleep last night? What about tonight?

Sunshine is forecast for this afternoon but the wind chill warning continues into tomorrow afternoon or longer if they extend it. I will pray for the man who is living out in this weather. His red hair and beard always confirm to me that, yes, it is the same guy. I do not know what ails him that he feels he must live that way, but Lord protect him. If there is some way we can reach out to him, please show us and we will do it speedily. Maybe I will run up to “The Dairy” and find out if they have seen him the last couple days. Perhaps buy a gift card for them to give to him?

We were out shopping recently and a few of the houses had built snowmen from the recent snowstorm of 6 inches here. One across the street from my daughter’s house was sporting a red hat. I only saw it from the rearview mirror. It looked like a red beverage cup?

In another neighborhood there was another snowman sporting a red hat that resembled a red beverage cup. Must be the new style?

Sadly, I did not get a photo. Maybe tomorrow I can send my in-house photographer out to get one?!

My daughter said they likely got the hat from a snowman kit. Hmm…

Searching for the photo of the Snowman Kit I also found a pattern to knit a snowman hat! Yikes! Do people really and truly have that much time on their hands when the homeless in the streets need warm hats and scarves? All a matter of priorities I suppose!

Chankanaab is a National park in Cozumel, Mexico. We visited there many years ago for our wedding anniversary. For a first time snorkeler it was a dream come true! I laughed so hard (because I was having so much fun) that I repeatedly blew my mask off and had to rise to the water surface to put it back on!

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The edge of the water used to have steps cut into the coral so you could just sit and watch the many colored tiny fish or go in gradually from that point. The water is so salty that you are made naturally buoyant. This is a gift to those of us who are not strong swimmers as the salinity makes it hard to sink below the surface.

Then Bob pointed out to me that there was a dock out in the water that we could swim to. If I got tired, I could get on that little perch and rest before we swam back. Little did I know that submerged in the water was a statue of Christ looking up at us with His arms open towards us. I was delighted.

Lord of the wind and waves , spoken of in Matthew 8:27 and Mark 4:31, honored in this lovely place of salinity and fish. Bless the ones who put the statue there, Lord. Thank you for the gifts of seas and fish, buoyancy and sight!

I am married to Mr. Tidy. He knows I call him that. We are not quite alike in this matter, though he has trained me fairly well over 48 years!

So the Christmas tree come down December 25 as we were finished with the family celebration. And the mantle decorations changed to winter instead of Christmas. Table is being changed over, also.

Why all the rush? Well January 3 Bob is being admitted for a scheduled surgical procedure. The critical illness of January 4, 2018 left him with damage to one of the heart nodes that regulate heartbeat. His pulse is often 38 whereas mine can run 100. Normal is 60-100 beats per minute.

This is basically the same way the doctor showed the pacemaker to us in his office. Bob will be admitted after the procedure for overnight monitoring. They want to be certain that everything is regulated properly.

Everyone assures us it is a simple procedure. That sounds fine until it is your heart (or the heart of a loved one) they are talking about! Bob is looking forward to warmer hands and feet, more energy, less dizziness, fewer headaches, and overall feeling better.

More energy?! Not certain how I will keep up with him then!! He is scheduled to return home January 4. We are hoping this is the end to the illness that nearly killed him January 4, 2018. May the year 2019 be much healthier and calmer. Lord, hear our prayer!

This came in an email from Printery House. I just love the detail and the topic! Especially the King who laid his crown at the feet of Jesus.

What more can I say? I welcome my King.