On Friday, Sweet Pea and I visited a botanical conservatory in town. Some friends met us later, but we had almost an hour to spend exploring before they got there. Since it was kind of small, we spent most of that time...
WATCHING the fish in the koi pond:
But it was when we found out we could feed the fish that Sweet Pea got really excited about them.
It was a conservatory so there were lots and lots of LEAFY things to see. I particularly enjoyed these leaves/flowers in the shape of water pictures that my friend pointed out to me.
It seems petty to complain, when I really did enjoy it, but that is, I believe, inherent in the definition of a FIRST WORLD PROBLEM. Who advertises a "fall decor" great for pictures and mostly means skeletons, spiders, and even giant rats? The backdrop for the pumpkin pictures was a witch. On the flip side, Sweet Pea was fascinated by the "birds!"
And after petting it for awhile chose to fly like a bird, giving me some sweet shots.
Part of the time while Sweet Pea watched the fish I took pictures of flowers. It was nice to have them so STILL when I am used to the wind blowing them all around.
Over all, Friday was A GOOD DAY.
In addition to the sweet time with my daughter and eventually our friends, the day included lunch out with my husband and spending the evening with another friend while Huckleberry was at a youth event. Now if tomorrow can just include a trip to the Pumpkin Patch we might even class this as a Great Weekend. After all, I got to participate in Scavenger Hunt Sunday...always fun.
I love Scavenger Hunt Sunday. I have been missing it quite a bit. Who knows how often I'll be able to do it, but this week seemed like a good time to play along.
Something Colorful
Today I went with a friend to Scott Kelby's Annual Worldwide Photowalk and made some new friends. It was a very pleasant day.
Light
Sunflower wanted me to go outside with her to take pictures. I couldn't say no because the light was beautiful I love my daughter. She wanted me to take a picture of her giving a hug.
You
This one is from a few months ago. I submitted it to my photo club for self portrait because it makes me smile, but I was quite surprised when it won. Now my husband has an 18 inch version of it hanging in his office. I'm not sure it makes me smile that much.
In Motion
Sweet Pea still loves the swing...especially if you keep it in motion. Now she screams high, high, high to make you push her higher. At times I forget how fast she likes to go and think she is greeting me, "Hi, Sweet Pea!" does not make her happy.
Afternoon
Now because Sunflower is at school all day, the afternoon is the only chance I have to take pictures of her during the week. I was glad she proposed the shoot on Friday.
Sometimes life, no matter how good it is, just feels exhausting. Our little...okay, medium sized...family is doing well, very well. We are still working on finding balance on getting things done, but when we "fail" the trade off seems all the more worth it. For instance a day at the park celebrating the Chinese Moon Festival resulted in too tall of grass...possibly too tall until Spring. Oh well.
But when the world and politics force themselves on me; honestly it exhausts me...and makes me feel a little bit, possibly a lot bit, stupid. Oh, I have strong feelings about a lot of it, and I especially have strong feelings about how Christians seem to be handling it, but every time I sit to write it out, I get overwhelmed. After all, in a lot of Christians' minds (based on their facebook memes) I am too liberal...and in non-Christians I am too judgmental and conservative. Then there is in my mind the fear that I have lost all critical thinking skills. If you can give me a well thought out or reasoned response--or maybe one that just sounds like one--you could possibly sway me to your opinion.
So while feeling exhausted and overwhelmed and just a bit stupid, I sat down to do my Bible Study. Because one thing holds true for me; God is where I go to get answers.
And while I still don't know which way to vote next election, this is what God said.
"Give thanks to the Lord with your whole heart;
Recount my wonderful deeds.
Be glad and exult in Me.
Sing praise to My name, the Most High. Psalm 9:1-2
For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever. Psalm 9:18
Someday, I, the Lord, will arise.
Men will not prevail.
The nations will be judged before Me!
I, the Lord, will put fear in them.
The nations will know that they are but men!" Psalm 9:19-20
The mess the world is in; the sins we all accept and condone; will be dealt with. Not be me or any other person, but by God.
"He does not forget the cry of the afflicted." Psalm 9:12b "He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with uprightness." Psalm 9:8
My poor, overtired, confused brain does not have to figure it out. Do you know how reassuring that is?
"He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8
Oh sure, it is still difficult to ascertain what justice is but I do not need to seek people for the answer, whether they are a Christian or not. I need to walk humbly with God and He will show me. Easier said then done, but WAY easier than pleasing everyone with my opinions and spending time sucked into the quagmire of emotional, political, and religious arguments.
"Oh Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!"
Psalm 8:1 and 9
But it was when we found out we could feed the fish that Sweet Pea got really excited about them.
It was a conservatory so there were lots and lots of LEAFY things to see. I particularly enjoyed these leaves/flowers in the shape of water pictures that my friend pointed out to me.
And after petting it for awhile chose to fly like a bird, giving me some sweet shots.
Part of the time while Sweet Pea watched the fish I took pictures of flowers. It was nice to have them so STILL when I am used to the wind blowing them all around.
In addition to the sweet time with my daughter and eventually our friends, the day included lunch out with my husband and spending the evening with another friend while Huckleberry was at a youth event. Now if tomorrow can just include a trip to the Pumpkin Patch we might even class this as a Great Weekend. After all, I got to participate in Scavenger Hunt Sunday...always fun.
