This mama deer stepped up onto our deck and was resting on our patio rug. This is the first time something like that has happened. We didn’t want to frighten her and have her kick at the glass slider.
Thankfully she turned around and went on her way.
We were told that this is probably a doe with a nursing fawn and that is why her ribs are exposed. I didn’t research that so not sure if that’s true.
Victory for Me
I’m walking with Jesus each day, yes I know;
He helps me to conquer in this world below;
Abiding, confiding, I’ll trust to the end;
Jesus is victor, on Him I’ll depend.
Refrain
There’s vict’ry for me! yes, vict’ry for me,
Thro’ Jesus my captain there’s victory;
No ill can betide, with Christ by my side,
For He’ll gain the vict’ry for me.
Tho’ fierce be the battle, and long be the fray;
The Savior has promised to lead all the way;
So following closely, I’ll shout as I go!
Victory! victory, o’er every foe.
Refrain
And when to the end of life’s conflict I’m near,
Death cannot affright me, no grave do I fear,
For Jesus hath conquered; once dead, now He lives!
Jesus my Savior the victory gives.
Refrain
Words: Anna P. Hughes, 1909.
Swimming lessons started this week and Addy has graduated up from the pollywogs which involves a parent to the next level. She’s getting braver everyday and is letting go of the wall. JJ is in daddy’s arms the whole time so that makes things easier.
Here the grands are doing their best impersonations of what strength and being brave looks like to encourage their Uncle Joshie with a tough task. Love all these expressions and the two different boots on JJ’s feet.
Do you need encouragement?
Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Two more Thursdays in July. Looking forward to read the Bible Verse/Verses you choose to share this week.
Exodus 15:2:
The Lord is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
From Maristella:
“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:10
From Vera:
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:1-10 ESV
From HappyOne (Karen):
Isaiah 41:13 KJV
For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, fear not: I will help thee.
We’ve had bucks and does visit regularly during our heat and lack of rain. The bucks rest in the shade under the shed roof on the back of the garage. The doe rests under the variegated willow.
We’re happy to leave the water in the pool so the does and bucks can get their fill. A couple days ago we spotted two does drinking from the pool. That reminded me of these verses in Psalm 42.
Wednesday Hodgepodge is taking a week off and will be back next Wednesday.
We bought this inflatable pool from Wal-Mart during our one hundred degree + temps and last week when the Colville kids came for dinner we had the Grands try it out.
The air was hot the well water was cold.
It took awhile for sister to make the commitment to step all the way in. They came out to warm up wrapped in a towel and then they would head back in for more cold fun.
The next day at the river they had more water fun.
We kept the pool up and inflated with water in it just in case the deer could use a drink and today we spied one drinking for a long while. I’ll share some deer photos on another day.
Addy and JJ started swimming lessons on Monday at the city pool.
Most of the daylilies in our yard are yellow but we have a few of these. They are my favorite.
Happy for a relatively quiet week ahead. Hope you have a good week.
God Moves in a Mysterious Way
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
Words: William Cowper
After a long day in Spokane for my Cataract surgery and follow-up we saw this tell-tale sky view as we approached downtown Colville. Later at home we learned that a new fire broke out in the small community of Rice between us and the Columbia River. Our fire fighters are having a rough fire season. This is one of those years where we talk about our 5th season.
My left eye is doing well after surgery. Now that I can’t wear my corrective eyeglasses we had to pick up some readers from Costco so I could see things close up. Distance is amazing and from about arms length on is great but I need help with reading. Once everything is all healed up they’ll check my eyes to get a good corrective reading for the adjustments I’ll need to my reading, phone and computer time.
Thank you to all who prayed and left encouraging comments for me about my latest surgery.
1 Corinthians 2:9
But as it is written: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.”
This weekend the annual lavender festival begins in Sequim Washington. It was so wonderful to go to the festival in years past. In honor of the festival and other lavender festivals around the area here are the lavender plants on our acreage at our country bungalow.
Today is my second cataract surgery on my left eye. We left home at O-dark-thirty again to get to Spokane in time for the surgery. We will be in Spokane all day as my follow-up appointment is on Friday afternoon. Back to drops and more drops 4 times a day for a while.
We are under severe fire warnings right now and there are several wildfires that are making our skies cloudy with smoke not pretty fluffy clouds. The air quality is not good so we stay inside as much as possible. Hoping for the containment of all the fires in the Northwest! Hope the skies are clear where you are.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 