Hoping for Sunshne

It has been gray and gloomy here for so long that any bit of sunshine is cherished. While I sit here the song we sang as kids has come to mind.

"Sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray.
You'll never know, dear, how much I love you
'Til you take my sunshine away."

And who can forget John Denver's Sunshine On My Shoulders?

So to all who have the sunshine enjoy and cherish it!  For us who are still waiting for it, find a song to sing that will brighten you day.

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

Pleases stop by and visit Karen at Sunlit Sunday and offer your bit of sunshine today.
  

  Today's link to Provident God.

Joy On the River

Today I join Meri for Share the Joy Thursday.   For I believe we need to find it in my life every day no matter the realities in which we live.  God is Good in so many ways even in times of trial.

Joy comes in many forms.
And this day has the potential of
being just as grand as
Sitting on the River

And wishing for Spring!

    ~~~~
Life on the river
Must have be challenging
Not all romantic!

Lifting and toting
Loading the barges, hard work
but feeding family

Joy comes in the smiles
Satisfaction in the job
Joy in the child's hug!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

Wisdom of the Fathers

Sunrise and sunset
Mother of beauty and grace
Warms the hearts of all

~~~~~

Great Spirit, Great Spirit, my Grandfather, all over the earth the faces of living things are all alike...Look upon these faces of children without number and with children in their arms, that they may face the winds and walk the good road to the day of quiet

Black Elk (1863-1950)

Oglala Sioux holy man 

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

Pleases stop by and visit Karen at Sunlit Sunday and offer your bit of sunshine today.  Then visit Mosaic Monday at The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.  You'll enjoy that, too!!!
  

  Today's link to Provident God.

Joy in the Icy Cold

Today I join Meri for Share the Joy Thursday.   For I believe we need to find it in my life every day no matter the realities in which we live.  God is Good in so many ways even in times of trial.

Joy comes in many forms.
And this day has the potential of
being just as grand as
The ice sculpture created by 
Mother Nature

I must be open to it!

    ~~~~
 It's so very cold

Yes, so very, very cold

my fingers are numb

Numb are my fingers

But joyful is the knowledge

That the heart is ever warmer.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

Sunlight and Desert Shadows

What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery 

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

Pleases stop by and visit Karen at Sunlit Sunday and offer your bit of sunshine today.  Then visit Mosaic Monday at The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.  You'll enjoy that, too!!!
  

  Today's link to Provident God.

Haiku My Heart and Share the Joy in HOPE

Today I join Meri for Share the Joy Thursday.   For I believe we need to find it in my life every day no matter the realities in which we live.  God is Good in so many ways even in times of trial.

Joy comes in many forms.
And this day has the potential of
being just as grand as
celebrating the beauty in
a diamond thats name is
HOPE

Hope Diamond Taken at the Smithsonian, 2007

I must be open to it!

    ~~~~

          With FAITH we learn trust        

HOPE gives life to tomorrow
But LOVE brings us peace
~~~~~~

So, trust in tomorrow gives rise to hope for peace.
At least that's my HOPE.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

Sunlit Sunday

“How sweet the morning air is! See how that one little cloud floats like a pink feather from some gigantic flamingo. Now the red rim of the sun pushes itself over the London cloud-bank. It shines on a good many folk, but on none, I dare bet, who are on a stranger errand than you and I. How small we feel with our petty ambitions and strivings in the presence of the great elemental forces of Nature!” ― Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories, Volume I

Love this quote written by one of my favorite authors.  Wishing all a beautiful Sunlit Sunday!!!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

Pleases stop by and visit Karen at Sunlit Sunday.  Stop by and offer your bit of sunshine today.

Finding Joy in Winter

Today I join Meri for Share the Joy Thursday.   For I believe we need to find it in my life every day no matter the realities in which we live.  God is Good in so many ways even in times of trial.

Joy comes in many forms.
And this day has the potential of
being just as grand as
celebrating the beauty in
all that surrounds me.

I must be open to it!

           
~~~~~
                  

Cold and icy day
Cause dreams of warmer places
 And of warmer times.

Times that warm the heart
Joys to numerous to count
That makes it all cool!!!

~~~

When it gets frigid and cold we always want it warmer...When it's hot and humid we want cooler!  We are never happy!  But the joy is in the memories!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

Winter Wonderland

Winter wonderland

Of white crystals and snowflakes

Mind's fascination 

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Unable to play outside, I have chosen to play inside with PicMonkey...Oh, what fun it has been!

Visit The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.    The pictures all are an inspiration!

  Today's link to Provident God.

2013 in Review

From the rising of the sun to its setting the year, 2013, was extraordinary!  There were two, count them, TWO family reunions that brought us to our beloved Colorado twice.  Ron and I celebrated 45 years of marriage and thanked God heartily for all his generosity!   The joy we have shared with family and friends this last year has be such a blessing!!!

The year comes and goes

There's cloudy days and rainbows

But God's always there!!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Today I join Meri for Share the Joy Thursday.   For I believe we need to find it in my life every day no matter the realities in which we live.  God is Good in so many ways even in times of trial.

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

And you are welcome to stop by Provident God to visit the wisdom of the Saints.

Christmas Memories

Because of the kittens this year the the large tree was not erected...so I went back though some older photos and came up with this collage. But be assured the tree will be erected next year. Merry christmas one and all!!!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Visit The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.    The pictures all are an inspiration!

  Today's link to Provident God.

Feed the Birds

~~~~~~~

Had a pretty good snow here this week!!!  Ron has diligently worked at keeping the birds fed.  Reminded me of Mary Poppins and the woman who fed the birds.  Have been humming the song all weekend.

Was so disappointed that I could not go out and photograph them so tried it through the kitchen window...the window screen added to the effects.  Not exactly what I had hoped for but here it is nonetheless.  Wishing all a grand week!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Visit The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.    The pictures all are an inspiration!

  Today's link to Provident God.

Mosaic Monday...The Change of Holidays

Change is ongoing in life and at this time of year all sorts of decorating changes take place.  First there was Halloween...And then preparations for Thanksgiving Day.  The day before there was delivered this gorgeous bouquet with all the glorious colors of Fall!  By the next day considerations for Christmas decorating began.  We live to change and yet "change" is so very hard to accept sometimes.

So the bouquet is will not be overlooked.  I have placed it where I will see it each morning for breakfast, until of course its flowers wilt and fade away.  

Still preparation for Christmas must go forward...and because we have two new kittens there will be no Christmas tree this year.  Wait 'til you see what the stand in will be.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Visit The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.    The pictures all are an inspiration!

  Today's link to Provident God.

Haiku My Heart

To soar like a bird
Flying higher and higher
Fresh and rare the air

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I join Meri for Share the Joy Thursday.   For I believe we need to find it in my life every day no matter the realities in which we live.  God is Good in so many ways even in times of trial.

Joy comes in many forms.

And this day has the potential of

being just as grand as

celebrating the beauty in

Giving Thanks.

I must be open to it!

~~~~~~~~~~

                             

Thanksgiving Cinquain

Give thanks
For those we love
Gathering together
Family

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Link to Provident God here.

Give Thanks

It's been a year for looking back and truly giving thanks.  I was able to visit my native Colorado not once but twice.  That in itself was a cause for great joy.  I gathered with family and shared wonderful stories of the past and new memories made. It is true that I have been truly blessed!!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Visit The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.    The pictures all are an inspiration!

  Today's link to Provident God.

Peace and Harmony

Today I join Meri for Share the Joy Thursday.   For I believe we need to find it in my life every day no matter the realities in which we live.  God is Good in so many ways even in times of trial.

Joy comes in many forms.

And this day has the potential of

being just as grand as

celebrating the beauty in

Peace and Harmony.

I must be open to it!

~~~~~~~~~~

I thank God for the days of peace and quiet, the time for reflection,  the time to REST!

~~~~~~~

                                   

Peace and Harmony
A gift not often treasured
Nonetheless a gift

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

The Alpaca

Today I join Meri for Share the Joy Thursday.   For I believe we need to find it in my life every day no matter the realities in which we live.  God is Good in so many ways even in times of trial.

Joy comes in many forms.

And this day has the potential of

being just as grand as

celebrating the beauty in

the alpacas at
The Woods

I must be open to it!

~~~~~~~~~~

Knitting is something my mother taught me when I was 12 years old and for that I am truly grateful!!

It brings me joy, satisfaction and appreciation of God's nature.  The yarn with which I am knitting this prayer shawl is alpaca from the WhiteViolet Center at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods here in Indiana.  The yarn is a blend of two alpacas, Basilide and Linden.  Oh!  The joy this brings!!!

~~~~~~~

                                   

The Apaca wool
Soft and gentle to the touch
Just as the Masters

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

Right In My Own Front Yard

Today I join Meri for Share the Joy Thursday.   For I believe we need to find it in my life every day no matter the realities in which we live.  God is Good in so many ways even in times of trial.

Joy comes in many forms.

And this day has the potential of

being just as grand as

celebrating the beauty in

all that surrounds me.

I must be open to it!

~~~~~~~~~~

                                   

The Glory of Fall
It is all in the colors
And the joy it brings

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

A Beautiful Friend

After the Summer of 2012 in all its harsh heat and arid days this lovely tree in all her majesty is gone.  She will be sorely missed by me when I visit The Woods.  She exhibited such strength.  But it is a reminder that even the strong will succumb to the will of God.

~~~~~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Rainbows and Blessings

Wishing you all Beautiful Rainbows this weekend!!!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

I'm also joining Lou Ceel at Haiku Friday.  Come play with words.  It's such a joy!!!

Shelter from the Rain

As we anticipate the first holiday weekend of the Summer Holiday Trilogy, those being Memorial Day, The 4th of July, and Labor Day, I am struck by the joy and sadness these holidays represent.  In fact, they are a celebration of life for those who gave and we who have received.

Joy comes in many forms.

And this day has the potential of
being just as grand as
celebrating the beauty in
all that surrounds me.

I must be open to it!

~~~~~~~~~~

Shelter from the rain
Waiting to feel the warm sun
Finds security

Wrapped among the leaves

She awaits her fulfillment

Bursting forth in bloom

~~~^j^~~~

Wishing all a grand weekend of family, friends, food, and fun!!!  OH!  Don't forget, it's time for the INDY 500!!!

~~~~~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Today I join Meri for Share the Joy Thursday.   For I believe we need to find it in my life every day no matter the realities in which we live.  God is Good in so many ways even in times of trial.

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

I'm also joining Lou Ceel at Haiku Friday.  Come play with words.  It's such a joy!!!

Still Spring

It's still Spring. . .

Spring

Spring is life
Spring is hope
So is love and
happiness.
Spring renews.
Without spring,
life is forlorn.
Spring is nostalgia
after bitter storm.
Put spring in your heart 

Archie Greenidge

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy
Visit Macro Monday,  too.  Lisa has a wonderful time planned for you.  The pictures all are an inspiration!