A New Beginning

This gorgeous sunrise is in honor of the new life my sister and her wonderful husband will be begnning today. This morning my youngest sister is getting married. I am so happy for Leigh, and for little Malaya, who gets to have her "Daddoo" for keeps.

Dad will be able to walk Leigh up the aisle. He will walk using his cane. Then when he's given my darling sister away, we'll have the wheelchair and oxygen ready.

Thank you for your prayers for Dad. He has had a very discouraging week, and is getting frustrated with the neck brace he has to wear--it is giving him nightmares. I would appreciate your prayers for him this coming week. It is so hard for him to be away from home for so long. But his place has to be prepared before he can go back. Pray we get it all done quickly so Dad and Mom can go to their beloved homeplace.

Friendship

While visiting my sister, I caught this sweet moment between kitten and cat. The beginning of a fine friendship!

Ghandi Stood Here

I took this photo from the old sound booth of the abandoned mega-church. As we explored the stage, my sister Clytie told me that in its heyday, many famous people visited here. Ghandi was one of them. I was flabbergasted. To actually stand where Ghandi stood, was mind-boggling.

I might not agree with some of his teachings, but Ghandi is an incredible example of one simple man who's ideas changed the entire world.

Perhaps I can make a difference in my world, too.

Two Sunflowers

When I was a child I read the wonderful book The Secret Garden. There is a gorgeous old house near here where the gardens are exquisite. They've always reminded me of the garden described in the book--even down to the swing, gates and hedge. How delighted I was to discover the owner of the home had actually planted her garden with that very story in mind!

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Daddy Update: The wound specialist believes the bone still exposed in Dad's scalp will most likely heal over by itself without surgery. Dad's tests have come back looking great. Please pray for my parents outlook--it is so hard for them to be away from home so long. We are preparing the house so they can go home sometime mid-September. We are praying we can get it done by that time--Mom must return home so she can teach the first of October.

Fiery Profile

"Look! The sky is golden," Mom cried, pointing at the skies glowing above the curtained windows. I ran into the kitchen, snatched my camera from the counter and flew out the door. Color pulsed in the skies and I was in awe.

I walked along the streets clicking pictures as I went. Barefoot I made my way to the big meadow next to the grade school. I'm sure the neighbors must have thought I was crazy, but I did not care--The skies were fiery with color.

When I looked back through pictures of the sunset, I found the profile of a man just above the trees. Do you see him? What do YOU see?

Angel Gaze

Yesterday afternoon Mom and I were on our way back from picking up her new glasses, when we stopped for a few things at the grocery store. What a surprise to see an angel cloud gazing at us over the treetops! If you look at the trees, you can see the angel must have dropped some gold pieces into the leaves!

Tippy Top

What an unexpected sight! A few days ago, perusing overhead I noticed an angle in the clouds. When the sharply bent cloud drifted over the peak of our house--it looked decidedly odd. So I clicked this picture. Weird, isn't it?
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Daddy Update: Dad is doing very well. We hope to have the home place ready in a few weeks, so our parents can be comfortably set for the cold autumn and winter months. Please continue to pray for Dad's healing and that we will be able to finish all the work which must be done in order for them to go home. Dad would feel much better with his own things around him.

Indigo Heart for Clytie

We were winging along the Columbia Gorge River highway behind a hearse when I spied this heart cloud floating over the river. I immediately thought of my darling Sissy Clytie and snapped the photo.

To be truthful I was amazed at how well the picture came out, considering we were following that hearse at speeds sometimes well over 75 miles per hour!

What a race! Our dear Florence (in the coffin) was most likely watching overhead, laughing herself silly over the antics of everyone in the long line of cars endeavoring to follow that speeding hearse on its way to the cemetery--through rush hour traffic no less! (gasp) I have to say--I've NEVER followed a hearse in such an allfaldaral hurry before! What an adventure! But so appropriate for our lovely Florence, who's quirky sense of humor brightened every one's lives.

A New Friend

Walking down the alley alongside our home, I spied a long orange cat watching me from the crook of an old apple tree

I called to him in "cat talk. " With an answering trill, he ventured a little closer. Here I caught him peeking through a knothole in the wooden fence.

Then he crept forward upon the moss-covered branch of the old apple tree for a better look. I was not sure--neither was he.

But as you can see in this last flirty photo, he's made up his mind. I am to be trusted. I have a feeling he and I are to become friends!

Porthole in the Trees

I am endlessly fascinated with this gorgeous porthole in the trees. I can see it from my back yard. Every once in awhile I fancy I catch a glimpse of another world.

Skywatch

There's no doubt about the incredible clouds filling the skies these days. I've never seen anything like them. I am sure this must be another of God's angels watching over us.

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Daddy Update: Dad made a breakthrough this morning! He actually got up and made coffee this morning. He was able to go outside with his walker yesterday afternoon--he even walked a few paces with his cane. Dad is healing faster than anyone could predict. Thanks to the prayers of people everywhere, I believe we are watching a miracle unfold! Thank you! Keep praying--Dad sees the neck doctors the first of September!

Angel Singer

The clouds have been spectacular so far today--here I found an angel singing praises in blue skies bathed with morning sunshine.

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Daddy Update: Dad is doing very well. Please pray for his neck and head wounds to heal more quickly than any doctor's prediction.

Bug House Condo

This is an unusual clustering of what we used to call "bug houses." They probably not really bug houses at all. When a bug house is broken, one can see a delicate structure of soft honey-colored webbing filling the interior.

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Bug houses can be great fun. Growing up, my siblings and I found many uses for them. They float, they can be used as "tossy balls" and when batted with a length of branch , they blow to pieces quite satisfactorily.

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Daddy Update: Daddy Update: The plastic surgeon and consultants have determined skin grafts will not be applied until Dad's broken neck is healed. Dad will be wearing a neck brace for five more months. The surgeons are sure the exposed bone will not heal over by itself. Since the wound vac has been removed, Mom and I have been changing the dressings each day. It seems to us that his head is starting to heal. I would appreciate your prayers for the broken bones in his neck to heal, and for exposed bone to grow new skin overtop. Nothing is impossible with God. Miracles happen every day! Thank you!

Rainbow in my Garden

I had gone outside to gather blackberries from my garden, where they cascade over the fenceline. There I found magic in an unexpected rainbow of color.