Cooper Hawk

It is so hard for me to tell most of the hawks apart. The red-tailed and the red-shoulder are easy for me. I see them every where.

Yesterday as I was heading into the Mariner, I saw one of the other photographer waving me down.

"You want to see a cooper hawk?" He asked.

I parked that car and out I went with camera ready to go. There just down the trail was the cooper hawk. You can tell by its tail. It is not straight at the end. It has a curve. That is how you tell it is a cooper hawk.

I love learning new things. I love hawks. I just love anything I can learn about nature.

Why wouldn't I want to learn all about God's wonderful creations. They just make me smile. And these days I need those smiles.

Seeing Double

I needed to go out in this cold for milk. Once I got out it was not as bad as I thought.

So I decided to drive around my viewing spots. When I got to the pond off of route 40, I was seeing double. This was the first time that I have seem two wood ducks swimming around the poud.

I have seen many mallards, ring-neckeds and cootes. There are always plenty of Canada geese and gulls. But two wood ducks, now that was something new.

This is why I like to go back again and again. I never know what I will find.

Swan Constant

Everyday I have to visit my swans. Seeing them there helps me to see that some things stay the same even though things in my life are changing. They are my constant. I hope they are around for a long time.

Yet they are not my only constant. I know whereever I go I have a constant in God. It does not matter how far away I travel, what valleys I enter or how high a mountain I climb, God is there.

Everyday when I visit my swan I also visit God. I am thankful for these constants in my life.

I Miss Singing With The Choir.

Today as I watched the choir sing, I felt a sense of longing. I miss singing with them. It was good to see many friends worshipping the Lord through song.

I do not have to be a part of a choir to sing. I sing in the car, shower and while I am out taking pictures. Through song, I can express my feelings.

It is when I sing to the Lord, that my spirit soars. While I do miss singing with these great people, I will never miss singing to my Lord whenever I get the chance.

Another GNO Success

Karla and her team did it again. Girls Night Out was another success. A night out in Paris brought out the artist in us all. Learning new dance moves, playing new games and drawing the tower made for an active night of fun.

Throughout the room you could get a hand massage, a facial and do stamp projects, along with other activities. Of course there were plent of food to satify the soul.

The room was filled with black and white stripped shirt and other French attires. The decorations help to make you feel you were in Paris.

The most important thing, it was good to see old friends and new. Here was a place for to let you hair down and be yourself. It was a time to make new memories, refocus on past GNO's and looking forward to the next one.

Thank you Karla for once again getting it right and allowing a safe and fun place for us girls.

More Than One Way

When I am taking pictures of anything, I like to get it from many different directions. There is more than one way to get the shot I am after. Like this butterfly, I wanted to get a side view so that you can see all the patterns surrounding him.

When I look at people, I like to view them inside and out. There is more than one way to get to know a person. It is not just what I see, it is what I don't see that interests me.

The same thing about learning about God. There is more that one way to get to know Him. Reading the bible is the best way. Yet my understanding falls short. So I join bible studies and ask more knowledgeable people. I try to utilize the many ways to grow in God.

There is always more than one way to learn about God. But there is only one way to Him and that is through Jesus.

Twins

There must be something in the water. It seems that everyone coming in to register at Babies R Us are pregnant with twins. I can not say that I know what it would be like have twins, What I can say I know what it is like to be a twin. In fact there were two sets in my family.

My older brothers were identical twins and I was part of a faternal twin. Mom would enter us in twin contests and we would win trophies for most look alike twins and least look alike twins. We were always the topic of conversations where ever we went.

There is something special about being a twin. There is a blood connection.

I have a special connection with someone else as well. Through the blood of Jesus, I have a connection with God. I cherish this just as much as I cherish being a twin in my family.

A Giant Goldfish Cracker

A friend posted this statement: "Do you think they made that thing that floats over Harford county the shape of a giant goldfish cracker on purpose?"

I had to laugh at that. But it was the statement that his friend added that really cracked me up. "Bet if they made it orange with a smiley face less people would be panicked over it."

When I first show the blimp, my curiosity took over and I tried to drive as close to it as I could to take a picture. But it was not until I got home and researched it that I found out what it was there for.

It is one of two that is over Maryland to test sensors that detect cruise missiles heading our way. the other one is going to help weapons lock onto the treats and shoot it down. At least that is the plan.

For the next three years we will be seeing the blimp. So I want to take a vote and say that we get the military to paint it orange with a smiley face. I would rather see a giant goldfish cracker flying over me than a missiles detector. Who is with me?

A Long Journey

This mountain goat has a long journey ahead of him as he makes his way across the mountain. This is something he must do if he is to survive. He does not do it alone though. There is a whole herd waiting for him at the bottom.

Sometime the journey we must take seems too long and far away. Yet we know that we must go in order to make it in life. The good news is that we do not have to make it alone. There is a whole family of Christians waiting for us.

Even more important, we have a God who directs us if we let him. I am on a long journey right now. But I know that I am not alone. I will make across the mountains.

A Caged Owl

This owl looks like he is deep in thought. Being caged up, he might be planning his escape. He could be thinking about the time he was able to fly for miles and hunt for his meals. He just might be thinking that these people who come to see him would just go away.

I know he does not understand that after his injury he was brought here to live out his life. Because of his injury he would not be able to survive in the wild.

It pains me to see him caged. Yet I know this is the best thing for him. There are times in my life that I feel like I am in a cage. But like the owl, I want to fly free. If I take the time to pray about it, I do find that it is for the best and the cage keeps me safe..

A Nice Day

Today was a nice day. It was almost a heat wave compared to the past couple of days. I got some things done around the house, drove a friend to get her car and went to work.

These are the kind of days I wish I could have everyday. It was a no rush day. Everything went my way. Work was slow and steady. There was no storms, no snow and no strong winds.

Tonight I sit here thanking god for a nice day. I know that tomorrow can turn out to be a bad day. In fact, I really don't know what tomorrow holds. But I do know who holds tomorrow and everyday.

God controls what happens in my life and I would not have it any other way. All I can do tonight is pray that tomorrow will be another nice day.

Bird Watching

My cousin and I are planning this summer vacation. The thing I am most excited about is getting a picture of a bird that I have not seen yet. Just like seeing these blue bird hanging out at the marsh for the first time.

I stop by the marsh everyday in hopes of seeing a new bird. Everywhere I go now my eyes are focus on the sky, trees or bushes seeking those feather friends.

It does not matter if they are small, common or rare, if it is a bird I am taking its picture. That is if they will stay still enough to get a shot off.

I can not wait until summer. But since I have to, I will get in practice chasing the birds around here. Who knows I might catch a rare one around here.

A Life Lost

Last week I attended a funeral of a co-worker's son-in-law. I met him when I was hire to take pictures of my co-worker's daughter wedding. I could tell right away that this young man enjoyed life.

At the funeral the testimonies of friends and family showed me so much more about this young man. He was a man who did enjoy life to its fullness. He was not a fair weather friend, but a friend for life. Even through hard times, he did not turn his back on his friends. He enjoyed music, DJing and a prank or two. He was and is a very special person.

While his loves one feel the pain of his lost and their testimonies bring tears and heart aches, time will make these testimonies precious memories to cherish.

Rest in peace Bill, Your life touched many and you will be missed for a life time.

A Big Rock

As I pulled into the driveway of a friend, I noticed a big rock with a red bow on it. I was there to help take down the Christmas tree. When we wrapped up and sat down to eat some pizza, she told me that this rock was a gift from her son.

I could not help but wonder why he would buy a big rock. It turned out to be a fake rock to cover a tank on the property. How clever.

It got me to thinking. What in my life would I like to cover with a big rock? This rock would have to be bigger than I would like to admit.

I am glad that I do have a rock that does cover my life. It is Jesus. He is my Rock.

I Needed Color

Driving around today everything looked so dull. There is just no bright colors. So when I got home, I went to my computer and spent time viewing the file with pictures of colorful flowers. At the botanical garden in Iowa were some of the most beautiful flowers I have seen.

When ever I get to visit a garden, it is like walking with God. I am in awe with the diversities of the many plants He has created. Some of the plants take my breath away.

If God cared so much to create these colorful flowers for our enjoyment, how much more does He cares about us? He has put so much care into our creation, that He gave all of himself completely. We are all made in different colors, sizes and nationalities.

I find that I just don't need to see the colors of flowers in my life. I need to see the beautiful colors of God's people in my life as well. I thank and praise God for all the people in my life that make it colorful.

Cold Cardinal

Have you hear that it is going to feel like it is below zero degrees tonight? I am so glad that I don't have to spend it outside. When I see the birds like this cardinal spending the night out in the cold weather, I just want to gather them all in to my warm home.

But than God reminds me that He has made them to survive in the coldest of weather. They know what to do. God cares about each of His creations and gives them what is needed to survive.

When the weather gets to the point of freezing, I not only pray for the animals safety, I pray for those who are homeless or living in a place with no warmth. God cares about all His creations. That includes me, you and the cold cardinal.

A Dark Shadow

It looks like this hawk had a dark shadow over him. No matter how much he tried he could not get rid of the shadow above. (Actually it is a crow that was chasing the hawk away.)

Life is like that at times. No matter how far or fast I run I can not seem to shake the dark shadow that hovers over me. It seems to looms there waiting for me to fall or fail.

It is when I look past the dark shadow upward, I see the light of hope that comes from God. When I set my focus on Him the shadow disappears. I do not have to run from my fears but walk through them with the strength of God's love.

Do You Want To Build A Snowman?

I am watching the news and that four letter word was spoken. Snow. Yes we are going to get snow tomorrow. Now there are two types of people; those who are looking forward to the snow and those who dread the snow.

I dread the snow. but it was not always that way. I remember the fun of having many snow fights, making snow forts and building snowmen. The best part of snow was putting a bowl out to catch the fresh snow and making snow ice-cream.

Will there be enough snow to make a snowman tomorrow? Maybe not. But there will be enough for me to remember being a child who could not wait to get out in the snow and build a snowman.

Cats and Christmas Trees

Cats just love Christmas trees. My nephew cat could not help himself. With all the twinkling lights and the dangling decorations, how can he not resisted the temptation that lied before him.

I love Christmas trees. It bring back good memories. I look at each dangling ornaments and recall the reasons that I have them. Many are the ones my children made throughout the years.

Each year, one of my women's group has an ornament exchange and these decorate my tree along with the ones friends and family has given to me.

My cat spends each day doing his best to capture an ornament or two. I am forever chasing him from the tree. But he just can't help it. The temptation is just to great.

But soon the tree will come down, the decorations will be packed away and the cat will go back to exploring the usual places until next year when we do it all over again.

Pigeon Surprise

When we pulled over for gas, my husband spotted a hawk in a tree. Since I always have my camera by my side, we stopped to get his picture. But before I could get the shot off, he flew to a light post.

Just as he landed on the post, a pigeon had the same idea and headed for the same post. The hawk caught the pigeon by surprise. The pigeon made his fast retreat and flew away.

How many times in life have I done the same thing. I think I am heading for a safe place only to realize just in the nick of time that there is danger ahead and make my fast retreat.

I have one advantage over the pigeon. I given my life and trust to God. So when I find myself in harms way, I turn it over to God.

Road Block

There is not a year that goes by that I find myself facing road blocks. This year was no exception. I felt the pain of losing a brother and a sister. I had to stay in the hospital two times. Fell off a ladder and was out of work for weeks. This year has been one road block after another.

Through each road block I felt the love of God sustaining me. It was the prayers of my friends and family that helped to hold me together. It was a rough year and I thank God that it is over.

Today is the start of a new year. With the help of God I will make it through what ever road blocks comes my way. With the prayers of my friends and family I will not fall apart. I thank God for each and every one of you. Keep the prayers coming and I will keep praying for you all.

Happy New Year. May God bless each and every one of us.