Dear Reader:

For the past couple of weeks the tripod sprinkler system Michael installed for me in the garden has had a ‘mind of its own.‘ It was, originally, set to come on for 45 minutes each morning from 7 to 7:45…to get the garden off on a good start with a refreshing drink of water first thing in the morning!

Lately, however, some days the timer  would come on…others days not…as if it just decided to sleep in some mornings. 🙂

When Michael came to to cut the grass two days ago I told him about the  persnickety timer and he discovered there was, also, a flaw in the tripod mechanism…instead of watering the whole garden…it was getting stuck on one spot and drenching it…a faulty purchase. So he returned it and got a new one and re-set the timer.

He told me to check and then let him know yesterday if it came on at the right time and watered the whole garden evenly. I got up and went out to check on it…then scurried back inside to get a coat. It was in the forties…burr! It felt like a beautiful fall morning. The sprinkler was doing its thing.

After the watering stopped I walked around the garden where the sun’s rays were catching water droplets off the flowers, bushes, and trees. It looked like fairyland.

As I walked behind Lachlan’s Japanese Maple the sun, suddenly, burst through the oak tree branches lighting up the top tips of the little tree… to the point that it looked like the “burning bush” from scripture. It was glorious. I was filled with God’s Presence right in that beautiful moment…the  gift of being at the right place at the right time…a special spiritual “surcie.”

No matter the circumstances we find ourselves in during different passages of our lives…there is always something good, exciting, and beautiful we can discover… if we keep looking up instead of walking around down-trodden and worried.

It is true “Good things are coming” but we shouldn’t sit back and wait for them to come…we should be making and finding “good” in every single day. What is that noteworthy cliche…“Every day might not be a good day…but there is good in every day.” 

The people who wait on life to come to them end up letting life pass right by them. I don’t think there is anything sadder than to see someone wishing they had lived their life differently towards the end of it. The time for action is now…so there won’t be regrets later.

Whatever we spend our time on…manifests itself larger and larger. If we spend our time worrying about the here and now and even more so of uncertain futures…these negative feelings and thoughts manifest themselves completely out of proportion to the reality of the situation.

If we decide to spend our time, instead, focused on all the beauty and joy God has given us on a daily basis…this becomes our reality…our mantra for life. The choice is up to us.

So until tomorrow…Let’s treat our negative thoughts and worries like I decided to treat my cancer…by diminishing its importance in my life…I was determined, no matter what or for how long “little c” was not going to steal my joy.

Let’s not let the cares of the world, the problems beyond our capabilities to fix them, dictate our life. Let’s turn what is beyond our control over to God and live the life He created for us…a world of laughter, joy, compassion, and love.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Stopped by yesterday afternoon to drop some spaghetti off for Anne…and she showed me her vegetable garden…squash, egg plant, peppers, tomatoes…etc. She also showed me her new and improved deck on the back…she has someone in the process of fixing it up. John and Mandy are doing the same thing with their deck.

In Anne’s “spare time” she continues to make more masks- so colorful…like quilting! 🙂

With so many summer vacations being cancelled it appears that Americans are fixing up their homes…especially outside grill areas, putting in a pool, adding a recreation room…so summer vacation can be in-station this year.

My mums are starting to pop up now in spring time…especially love this one- hanging basket on the pear tree…so pretty!

After Anne fell a few weeks ago on her bike when her flip flops ‘flipped’ at the wrong time…she cut and bruised herself badly…and broke a toe in the process. The wonderful zany adorable Dee from our church heard about the accident from me and sent Anne this card.