MY NEIGHBOR'S GARDEN

God is patient with our mistakes.
He is longsuffering with our stumbles.
He doesn't get angry at our questions.
He doesn't turn away when we struggle.
But when we repeatedly ignore His message, when we are insensitive to His pleadings, when He changes history itself to get our attention and we still don't listen, He honors our request.
Max Lucado

EARLY MORNING SUN

TFT: A repentant heart is all He demands.
Come out of the shadows!
Be done with your hiding!
A repentant heart is enough to summon the Son of God himself to walk through our walls of guilt and shame.
He who forgave Peter stands ready to forgive the rest of us.
All we have to do is come back.
No wonder they call Him the Savior.

"When the disciples were together, with the doors locked...Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" John 20:19

ZINNIAS

TFT: Silently the Divine Surgeon reached into his kit and pulled out a needle of faith and a thread of hope.
In the shade of Jacob's well He stiched her wounded soul back together. "There will come a day..." He whispered.
Max Lucado

"Jesus answered the Samaritan woman, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." John 4:10

A NEW GATE

A gate at the entrance to the gangway was a part of the original plans.
It has finally happened!
I am very pleased with the result.
Come over some time and try it out.









































TFT: "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. (peace, safety and provision)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full." Jesus John 10: 9-10

SUNDAY BRUNCH

We extended the wedding weekend to a wonderful time Sunday morning.
And everyone helped.

"This is not easy!"










Chef in training. (the eggs were delicious)












I wish I would have known years ago how handy these boys are in the kitchen !
Brad helped too...constantly running downstairs to get something to keep the whole thing running smoothly!







Enjoyed by all.













And in the words of Dickens' Tiny Tim (and Grandmother Holmes) "God bless us, everyone."

A FAMILY AFFAIR

ROMANCE WAS IN THE AIR

Isn't love grand?

LOVE AND MARRIAGE

A few hours...












Sixty years...













My prayer for Suzanne and Chris...

THIS WEEK: "THE WEDDING"

It all begn with...
The
Matchmakers!

It can be
a dangerous
business...
But sometimes
it turns out just
perfect!
Check back
tomorrow
to see.




Do they look to you like they are plotting something new!

A DOUBLE

This one seems to be trying to make a bloom within a bloom.

















TFT; One thing at a time and that done well
is a very good rule as many can tell.

A STORY

I have lived here on The Hill for over four years now.

There is a house around the corner that has been for rent off and on for that period of time.

No one has ever lived there for more than a few months at a time, and the porch and yard were, well, to put it as nicely as possible, usually pretty much of a mess.

Early this spring I began to notice that something was happening at this address

The yard was always picked up and the porch was tidy.


And then, before long I saw something coming up along the front edge of the yard.
I soon realized it was a double row of sun flowers.

I then began to keep an almost daily watch on the progress of these plantings, and was noticing the whole yard was being transformed into a really neat area with first a swing, then a barbeque grill, etc.

Then some more plantings, a table, some chairs and an umbrella!

The "privacy fence" of sunflowers has grown to at least nine feet tall and has become the talk of the neighborhood.

It's amazing what can be done with a little imagination, not too much expense, and a real effort to make your home into something special.

I love it!

HERE'S LOOKING AT 'CHA

Being at peace with yourself is a direct result of finding peace with God.

JUST ONE MORE

Last week I posted what I thought was the last lily of the season.

And then this gorgeous thing opened up under the clematis vine. I quickly made room for it to show off a bit.

TFT: "The smallest deed is better than the greatest intention!"

"Let us not love merely in theory or in speech, but in deed and in truth...in practice and sincerity." 1st John 3:18

AND HERE COME THE MORNING GLORIES!

This one surprised me.

I keep a daily watch for new growth, buds etc.

But this one seemed to just appear! One of many to come I imagine.

Oh the "glories" of the garden!












Wedding tomorrow. It will be such a grand day I know.

THE ZINNIAS ARE READY TO MAKE THEIR APPEARANCE

If seeds in the black earth can turn into such glorious colors, what might not the heart of man become in its long journey toward the stars?

A point to ponder indeed.

FIELD OF DAISIES

Plant them and they wil grow....
and grow...
and grow..
and grow.

"The splendor of the rose, the purity of the lily cannot rob the daisy of it's simple charm.

If all were roses, the lovliness of the garden would be diminished."

We can learn from the flowers.

THE LAST LILY OF THE SEASON

And isn't it a beauty?

A nice exit to make way for the ongoing blooms of the season. (See tomorrow's blog for what comes next)

TFT: Come what may, hold fast to love!

Though men should rend your heart, let them not embitter or harden it.

We win by tenderness; we conquer by forgiveness.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Spent part of the holiday weekend planting some new greenery in the front.

The eight Larope along the concrete ledge help to frame the space.

I did it all by myself. I really do enjoy digging in the dirt.








How I love to wave the flag!
















Looks pretty good from this side too, don't you think.


















TFT: "I try to make it a rule of Christian duty never to go to a place where there is not room for my Master as well as myself." Anonymous

I shall try to make it my rule also.