A Place at God's Altar

Singing songs with my friend yesterday we marvelled at the imagery and the beauty of this one:
"I will seek a place at Your altar,
humbly draw near to You;
I will hide myself in Your shadow,
worship in spirit and truth."
"Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself...a place near Your altar, O Lord." Psalm 84:3
This afternoon I went to a first birthday party of a dear little girl. So cute! It reminded me that a year ago I had just completed 5 weeks of radiation. I thought I was done...

In His shadow,
Sandra

Refresh-ment!

What another beautiful day! I have friends over from Alberta so I am enjoying their company and doing lots of visiting. We sat downstairs in my cool basement this afternoon and did some quilting. This evening we went for a walk around Mill Lake and when we came home we sat on the deck and ate a delicious homemade popsicle! It was so refreshing!

Love, Sandra

Cool as Popsicles

Phew... I worked hard today. I swept my deck, cleaned my barbecue, played piano, picked up groceries, did 2 loads of wash, cleaned out a kitchen cupboard, and made popsicles! As I was cleaning the cupboard I found my popsicle maker. I don't even remember ever using it before so this afternoon I put it to good use. It certainly is the right weather for something as cool as popsicles!
Have a good Sunday tomorrow.

Blessings,
Sandra

Pulling Weeds

I did a little gardening this evening - pulling weeds, trimming my roses, pulling off the dead blooms from my petunias and geraniums, and just tidying up. That felt good and it looks a lot neater again. I have some beautiful, yellow roses but they grow all over the place and start falling over and block my sidewalk so I have to keep them trimmed back.
It was pretty cloudy and overcast this morning so I thought it would be a good day to make a pot of soup. It did warm up a lot this afternoon - but I made the soup anyways and it was delicious!
Take care and enjoy the summer days!

Love, Sandra

Birdsong

A rehearsal, wedding, and a visit with family all kept me occupied the last few days. I played for the wedding so I did some serious practising as well. My arm is still sore, but no worse than before. It seems to be at a standstill - not getting better, nor getting worse.
I sat out on my deck and listened to the birds singing in the trees.
Best of any song
is bird song
in the quiet, but first
you must have the quiet.
(from A Timbered Choir by W. Berry)

Resting in Him,
Sandra

Home again

My niece and I arrived home in beautiful weather today. It was gorgeous as we drove home from Kelowna, unlike yesterday when we even hit snow!!!! in the Rockies. It was down to 1 degree!! It's good to be home again and sit outside on my deck in the sunshine. My flowers looked so happy and they're blooming beautifully! I wish my arm and shoulder would allow me to do more gardening. Oh well... in time.
Take care and have a good day tomorrow!

Love, Sandra

Wind and Rain

Whew! We're having a huge wind and rain storm right now! What a weather!!! Today has been a relaxing, home day. My niece and I are packing up again because we're heading back to B.C. tomorrow. We'll do the trip in two days again, stopping in Kelowna this time. I hope the
weather's a little more decent by tomorrow morning. The forecast is just rain, and more rain. Sounds like B.C., doesn't it?

Love, Sandra

Birds of the Air

Yesterday I went to visit a friend who lives out in the country on a farm. She has beautiful flower gardens and a gorgeous yard and as we sat outside I was fascinated by all the birds. She told me about the pine siskins, the purple martins, the finches, the woodpeckers, the sparrows and the wren that's made a nest in one of her little bird houses. The mama wren scolded us as we sat on the deck because we were in the way of her flight line to feed her young. In the evening I saw the brilliant yellow finches come by to the bird feeder. What a beautiful colour they are! I could become a birder yet!
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable that they?... Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow... " (Matt.6:26, 34a)

In His care,
Sandra

Summer Fun

What a marvelous day! It was sunny and warm and perfect for a trip to Heritage Park. We had such a good day together - going on rides, wandering through old houses, watching a play, eating an ice cream cone, and riding on a paddleboat. Good thing we slathered on sunscreen first and saved ourself any sunburns. Yup - it was a wonderful day!

Love, Sandra

Learning Contentment

Today was cold and blustery, rainy and very "un-summer-y." It was a good day to stay indoors and do some journal writing, reading, crafts, etc. Tomorrow is supposed to be a nicer and warmer day.
Yesterday morning we had a sermon on contentment. "...for I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances... I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation..." and then moving on to one of my favourite verses: "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." (Phil.4:11,12,13)
Help me to be content, Lord, and so be strong in You.

In Him,
Sandra

Wild Life

We're here in Alberta at my sister's place. Had a good day of driving yesterday. We saw three elk, one coyote, four deer, and we did see a moose but it had been hit and was dead on the side of the road. Ugh - poor thing. Last evening we went for a walk on the park trails behind my sister's place. It was windy, but good to get out and walk. We saw a tree felled by a beaver. This morning we went to a huge farmer's market! It was fun to roam up and down the rows and rows of booths. Alright - my nephews are going to wash my car for me. I better go and move it into the driveway for them.
Have a good weekend and may you be blessed through praise and worship with God's people tomorrow.

Love, Sandra

Driving to Alberta

Guess what? I'm on my way to Alberta with my niece. We're driving and though it was pretty busy on the road today, we had a good day. We're taking our time and doing the trip in two days so we're staying overnight in a motel. The mountains are so majestic! Hey, maybe we'll even get to see a moose tomorrow!
Time for bed now. I think my niece is almost asleep.

Love, Sandra