That is why I have not posted lately. But oh, the sights we saw! One of my favorites was the synchronized diving white pelican, but I cannot post the video. Absolutely cracked me up one of our last days on the road when we stopped for lunch in Granite Falls. I also had no idea there were pelicans in a fresh water river. I had only seen them at the ocean.

So here are these big birds, with really big feet, sitting around. Then they start to swim together and all at once they dive together!

Bottoms up, boys!!

“The world for which you have been so carefully prepared is being taken away from you by the grace of God.” -Walter Brueggemann

Change is inevitable. Come to Expect it. – Anon.  I heard this as a teenager and hated the saying. I wanted to keep the fun parts of my life going on forever! Why would I want change?

The only constant in life is change. – Anon. I found this on a bookmark in a parking lot one summer. I had big plans to help build a storage building at a Homeless Shelter in a few days. That same day I tripped over the dog’s tie out, fell in our driveway, and broke my arm. I was not going to be able to help at the Shelter, or cut up my own food, or use my arm and hand for quite sometime!

I heard a minister preach once that control is an illusion. I argued with him all the way home from church. Now that I am older and wiser I know he was right in every way!

Do you remember the song “To everything turn, turn, turn, there is a season, turn, turn turn?”  Wikipedia says: The lyrics are taken almost verbatim from the book of Ecclesiastes, as found in the King James Version (1611) of the Bible (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8), though the sequence of the words was rearranged for the song. Ecclesiastes is traditionally ascribed to King Solomon who would have written it in the 10th century BC, but believed by a significant group of biblical scholars to date much later, up to the third century BC.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, a time to reap that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

The Biblical text posits there being a time and place for all things: laughter and sorrow, healing and killing, war and peace, and so on. The lines are open to myriad interpretations, but Seeger’s song presents them as a plea for world peace because of the closing line: “a time for peace, I swear it’s not too late.” This line and the title phrase “Turn! Turn! Turn!” are the only parts of the lyric written by Seeger himself.The song is notable for being one of a few instances in popular music in which a large portion of the Bible is set to music!

Humans do not like change, regardless of age, race, nationality, religion, ethnicity, or gender. Guess that is why we need grace and patience as life unfolds! Try to go with the changes today.

I’ve always learned best with object lessons. Case in point, Psalm 32.
Verses 8–9 reads: “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not keep with you.”

Now this is a promise of God that I need and cling to. I am always thinking of ways to help remember it and to help others remember it, too. Once we shopping in Adams County at an Amish store that specialized in belts, shoes and probably other leather items. Walking along one wall looking at accessories I spotted a shiny steel item that I was not quite certain about. I asked the owner what it was. He told me it was a pony bit, for training and leading a young horse.

Of course, I went to replace it one the hook as we have no horses or ponies at our house. I did not replace it before trying it in my mouth. I bought two!

I actually like it best when I am lead with the Lord’s eye upon me; however, I’ve also been known to need a bit and bridle in order to follow the Lord closely.

If you need a reminder, I have two! One hung on my office wall for years! The other is in the drawer. Just be careful when you place it in your mouth that you don’t chip or crack a tooth! Trust the Holy Leader.

Yet another example of treasure in plain sight as I studied Joyce Rupp’s book.

I was looking for a quiet place to read the next chapter. Stumbled upon an empty Executive Board room with comfortable looking chairs. Made myself at home and looked for a coaster to place under my beverage.

Yep! There it was again. A coaster set with a selection of door photos, shown here on top of my book.

I actually finished the book before I left the grounds.. A lot of work, but SO worth it.

Blessings to you as you pursue the Blessing Giver, Molly D.

I usually read on my Amazon Fire until I fall asleep at night. Beats insomnia! Lately my husband has complained that I often drop my Fire on him when I fall asleep. Now I am trying to be more careful to tuck it away as I fall asleep.

Last week I was alone on a private silent retreat. I often had trouble finding it the next day when I decided to recharge it. NOT a treasure in PLAIN sight!

Do you remember the tooth fairy? You got it! If my Fire is missing I am learning to go look under my pillow.

THERE IT IS!! My man has me trained! Guess this old dog CAN learn new tricks. We joke saying after almost 48 years of marriage saying, “ It is to late to train a new one!”

So if you are missing something, always look under your pillow. You never know! It might be right there 😉

Years ago while driving to New York with our family I heard this song on a then new recording from Twila Paris. It pierced me to my core. So simple, yet so piercing. It describes a yieldedness I try to maintain in my everyday life. I found this recording on YouTube with a video I love. The great blue heron is one of my favorite birds and she is featured! I hope the words will lead you, too, to a deeper commitment to His plan for you!

Seems with the unrelenting heat and humidity in Cincinnati this summer, we are all tired of summer. I came across this journal entry from April, 2018. Perhaps it will refresh your soul?

Each twig is crusted with snow this April morning
The junco never looked so lovely
Jumping from branch to branch he blends
With grays and whites of early spring
That looks more like winter

The white hyacinths in full head of flower
Are also topped with a snow cap
It is a wonder their stems can hold such a load
The more sensible daffodils
Just bow and then rise with the thaw

Birds changing branches cause snow loads to
Plop to the ground
The birds are often unseen
Discerned only by lumps of falling snow
As temperature rises there are more plops than visits

The people generally complain
About the hold winter seems to have upon us
But I find the snow preferable to
Long rainy days of cold and wind
Nothing else paints a landscape quite so lovely

Soon I will be transported
By airplane and car to the height of summer
Days in the 80s and 90s
Sun, sand, shells and warm breezes
This morning I say good bye to winter
With a nod to her majestic painting