Things Of Beauty, Things of Joy

 I won't go into the reasons of why it has been difficult to post anything recently, that would take too much time and effort. I have taken so many pictures since we returned to Brazil...more than I care to admit...that I hardly know where to begin to be organized! But who needs to be organized? That's not an outstanding forte of mine, probably never will be although I do admire it in others.

But I'm getting sidetracked. 

If it weren't for God's creation (and photography), our return to this wonderful land across the ocean would have been much more difficult. These things have brought me so much joy that I can't describe the half of it. I can't imagine having gone through the first several days here without these and I do thank the Lord for them. 

Following, are some of the pictures I took during these wonderful moments of our first several days...

  

"To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
 the oil of joy instead of mourning,
 and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
 They will be called oaks of righteousness,
 a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."
                                                    (Isaiah 61:3 NIV)

December Scenes

No words needed for these, just some scenes and objects that have caught my eyes this month...and that of my camera. Some are Christmasy, some are not, but all are to be admired for one reason or another.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'll probably add some more later. December isn't done yet!

These are busy days. Do take time to meditate on the many wonderful, heart-stopping, mind-boggling and soul-warming truths of the Christmas story.

 

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given..." (Isaiah 9:6)

 

Trust Brings Peace

 

There is unwavering peace today…

when an uncertain tomorrow…

is trusted to an unchanging God.

                            -Ann Voscamp

 

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in

part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

(I Corinthians 13:12)

 

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee:

 because he trusteth in Thee.

(Isaiah 26:3)

"And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward."
(II Corinthians 3:4)

 

Queen Anne and Her Maidens

Summer officially left us two weeks ago but that doesn't deter me from posting about some summer flowers. I mean, how can I let all my lovely photos go to waste?!

Summer flowers have a beauty that is uniquely theirs, so fresh, light, delicate and, well...summery! And WILD summer flowers are even moreso, in my opinion.

One of the large fields of Queen Anne's Lace.

In July we were at a camp in Virginia. I was impressed with field after field of Queen Anne's Lace. That's right, not just a plant here and there or a small patch but large fields of it! It was amazing, I'd never seen so many at once and I was totally captivated by the utterly delicate loveliness of their white laciness (Wow, did that just come from my fingers??). I was further captivated by the many maidens which surrounded her, seemingly tending to her every whim, bowing and curtsying in the wind. I felt like I was in a storybook flowerland...

*Sigh*. Happily, I have myriads of photos to remember the experience. Please enjoy some of them with me!



Queen Anne herself!

 

One of my favorites. This butterfly has good taste, don't you think? I do believe she was using the Queen for her
helicopter pad!

 

Not a daisy but maybe a cousin. It's a larger version of one that's called "Forever Summer".

 

Black-Eyed Susan. Uh-oh, I see some little purple flowers which I failed to take a picture of...

 

This summer I learned the name of this lovely blue flower: Chicory.
 The roots can be baked, ground and used as a coffee substitute!

 

Wild Sweet Pea. That grasshopper has good taste, too!

 

Looks like Pink Clover but I think it may be something else.

 

Don't know the name of this cute little weed either but I think it resembles an orchid! It might be the wild version of
Lady's Slipper. Yes, that'll work until I hear otherwise from someone more knowledgeable of botany than I am.

 

Another unknown by me but, oh, so lovely. Apparently Miss Ant thinks so, too!

 

The color combination of Queen Anne and her maidens was beyond beautiful,
 I just couldn't get my fill of taking pictures. Does it look like it might be a piece of heaven there? It was.
The place, scenery, colors, weather...head-shakingly perfect.

His creation always turns my heart and mind towards Him. Thank You, Lord, for the loud message of Your
wonderful works of creation!

"As for man, his days are as grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourish."
(Psalm 103:15)

"The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry?
 All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field."
(Isaiah 40:6)

An Album of Beauty Spots

If it wasn't for seeing spots of beauty in my day, some days would be a bit depressing. That's what being down physically does for one! I've had a cold and cough that is going away so gradually it's barely noticeable by me, much less by others. Anyway, here are a few beauty spots in my life that the Lord has sent my way these days, not in any particular order...

Waterdrops that look like ice.

A spotlight of late afternoon sun on a rockingchair.

Oh robin, sweet robin...

A "bally" cardinal on a cold but sunny morning.

Not in focus but I love the look on a granddaughter's face as she looks at her dad.

My new pot of pansies. More about those later!

My new bird feeder and its first visitor, the lowly sparrow.

Golden sun shining through raindrops on the window.

A North Carolina sunset.

A North Carolina sunrise.

Stained glass church windows on a Sunday morning.

Bird on a roof...with little white "floaties" in the air, outlined by the sunshine.

Leftover Christmas poinsettias that a church gave us.

A sunflare that my camera caught as my husband drove out on a cold, sunny, Sunday morning. I had to stay home because of
my cold but this picture brightened my day!

 "...to give unto them beauty for ashes,
 the oil of joy for mourning,
 the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness..."
(Isaiah 61:3