RAIN!!!

Yea, it is raining! Here on the Central Coast we have been needing some rain. There is a storm that has come in now and it is supposed to rain for days! I am ready, checked the generator, filled the gas cans, propane tank, water containers, checked the lanterns and replaced batteries in flashlights. If the power goes out, my family will thank me! The kids are hoping it rains so much that we can't get out to go to school. Out here at my homestead that has happened before, but then I did not have 4 wheel drive, now I do! I hope there will be lots of wildflowers on the hills this spring. Let it rain!
Blessings!

Yard Birds

Out here at my house in the hills, one of my favorite pastimes is to observe the birds that visit my yard. I shouldn't say pastime because then it sounds like I am wasting time but, when I am going about my normal activities I smile to see all the different birds that come to my feeders. While I'm in the house cleaning or folding clothes I can watch them out the window. I have feeders and birdbaths outside the widows of the rooms I spend the most time in. Right now it is winter so there are a lot of sparrows. In the summer they are not here but right now there are white crowned, yellow crowned and rufus crowned sparrows. If I keep the thistle seed sock full I will have American Goldfinches(they are very picky eaters). There are birds that I don't really appreciate that are a bit on the annoying side; the Blue Jays, Magpies and the Woodpecker that is tapping on my house as I type this entry! I still have Hummingbirds here in January and am reminded that I need to boil them some sugar water. One of my favorite little birds are the White-breasted Nuthatch. They look like wind-up toys going all over! Some permanent residents are the House Finch and the Plain Titmouse. In the past couple of years I have seen an increase in the Western Bluebird in my yard. The bird that we have in the greatest numbers (besides the sparrows) are California Quail. What a beautiful bird! They come every day to pick up seeds from the ground underneath the feeders. In the spring when they hatch the babies and they are following around Mom and Pop it is the cutest thing ever!
Birds are a beautiful and watching them and appreciating their beauty reminds me of the infinite creativity and love of their Creator.
"Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs on your head are all numbered. Therefore do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31
Blessings!

Happy New Year!

Another Christmas has come and gone. We had a really nice vacation and enjoyed sleeping in! I love the Christmas season as it is the time to remember and rejoice in the greatest gift of all, God Himself wrapped in human flesh, Jesus, God's Son, coming into His creation to seek and to save the lost. I will never fathom the love involved in that, the love that took Him through His life with us and to the cross, His death and resurrection to make the way for us to be reconciled back to Himself.

Romans 5:10 says;"For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God, through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."

Acts 16:31 says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved..."

Let us never forget that it is all about Christ!

So we look into a new year. What are you going to do with it? Each day is a gift.

He leads us on by paths we did not know;
Upward He leads us, though our steps be slow,
Though oft we faint and falter onn the way,
Though storms and darkness oft obscure the day;
Yet when the clouds are gone,
We know He leads us on.
He leads us on through all the unquiet tears;
Past all our dreamland hopes and doubts and fears,
He guides our steps, through the tangled maze
Of losses, sorrows, and o'er clouded days;
We know His will is done;
And still He leads us on.
N.L. Zinzendorf

Blessings!
Have a wonderful 2010