Happy 4th of July

I was going through pictures of our trip to Montana and Colorado early last month. It's so grand to see the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains. We saw antelope and deer, elk and horses. There were lovely groves of trees and mountain glaciers. Amazing what the glory of God has to offer. All of this is in a country in which I have been privileged to live and explore at my leisure. This country has an abundance of resources both natural and human. Please let us resolve not to waste any of them. Please from this day forward do not take them for granted.

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

The family all begin to arrive tomorrow evening. Wishing you all a GRAND 4th of JULY!!! May all your fireworks be bright and all your gatherings be blessed with friendship and love.

~The Flag, May It Ever Wave~

It is wonderful to see the flag displayed with grace and grandeur. It is also treated with respect and dignity. She is hoisted high in the morning and at sunset she is taken down. She is folded with care and put away until the next day.

And why do we care how she is treated? It is my considered opinion that if we contemplate her origins and her history it's hard to separate her from any part of who we are as a nation. It is a legacy handed down to us and one which is hard to deny. We have a history that at times is dismal and embarrassing. She was there when we have not been a kind and gentle nation. And she was there at the times when we were at our best. We are reminded by her that freedom isn't free and even when this nation is struggling to continue to promote that freedom we have her to bolster and encourage us. Long may she wave!!!

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

Picture Puzzle Day

It has been so long since we've played with puzzles here I thought we'd do it today. Summer was always a good time to put a puzzle together, especially when it was too hot to go outside. Please come and join the fun!!!

Join in the fun! Enter the world of JigZone and play along today! Share one of your pictures for Picture Puzzle Day by linkin to Mr. Linky .

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

A Walk At the Woods

This digital slideshow personalized with Smilebox I have to return to work today, but before I do I just want to share with you A Walk At the Woods. There are only a few pictures to whet the appetite. St. Mary-of-the-Woods located in Indiana is the home of the Sisters of Providence. It's the campus for Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Most of all it is the Shrine of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, foundress of the congregation. Having spent time there again, I can tell you it is a privilege to walk the grounds where the good saint walked, taught and counseled. And it's hard to leave. Wishing all a grand day! ~~^j^~~ Thanks be to God!

~~Mosaic Monday~~

As I was going through pictures I took when we were on vacation I was struck by the value each offers to our life. Today I think I'd like to contrast the beautifully fragile iris and the sturdy evergreen. Both are fragrant. Both most exquisite in their composition. Yet we only enjoy the iris for a short time in the spring. Because of the shortness of it's stay we mourn its passing, looking forward to it's rebirth next spring. The evergreen, because of its apparent strength we take for granted, yet every spring it puts for lovely "flowers" of its own. Without its special blossoms this bold tree could perish. In its strength there is weakness.

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

Please visit Mary and The Little Red House. Her pictures are grand and so are the pictures of others!