The Grinch

We have all heard the story about the Grinch. It touches the hearts of many children. It is a timeless story about a changed heart.
Each year the Kennedy Krieger's Institute puts on the Festival of Trees. It is a way to reach the hearts of many to support the on going effort of Kennedy goal to meet the needs of the special children who attend. Since my grandson is one of those special children I get to go each year with my daughter and grandson to enjoy the many displays.
Not only do they displays the many decorated trees they also show off the many ginger bread houses.

All the trees and houses are enter to win ribbons and are sold to raise money for the institute. There is a section for the children to explore and enjoy the rides, games and have their picture with Santa. Through out the weekend there is also several entertainments going on at the center stage.
If you are incline there are many booths with things to buy your love ones for Christmas.
I hope one year you get to go. I love it and plan on going every year. I don't want to be like the Grinch and take away anything from Christmas except a changed heart.

Swans Act Two

The other day I could have kicked myself for not having my camera on me. As we pulled to a halt at the stop sign my husband notice a falcon sitting on a prey just within feet of the car. I tried to use my phone camera but it was just to hard to get it up and running before the falcon flew away.
A little later I decided to stop by the marsh to see what is new and to my surprise there were two swans swimming. Of course I did not have my camera. Well I just hurried myself back home got my camera and took this picture.
I have not seen the other swan for sometime now. I figure it must have passed or just flew away. These swans are much younger. I am hoping that they stick around. It will be like swan act two for the marsh.
I can only hope that this spring there will be little ones.
No matter what I will not leave the house again with out my camera. I just miss out on too many opportunities to capture that one of a kind picture.

Mini Cyndi

As we spent the day at my  sister in-law's place for Thanksgiving I got to enjoy seeing my grandchildren.
While taking them around the Radmer's Farm to explore the surroundings I notice how much my granddaughter looked like my daughter, who is her aunt not mother. It was like looking at a mini Cyndi.
My grandson looks so much like my older son who is his uncle. There is no denying the family resemblances.
We are made in God's image. When other people meet me I want them to see the resemblance of God in me. I want them to know by my actions that I belong to the family of God.
Each day I seek to become more like Him. I can only do this by studying His word and doing them. I want to be a mini version of the goodness of God.

Thanksgiving's Eve

The day before Thanksgiving. Turkeys are being prepped, pies are being baked and the last minute shopping for the feast are being done. Yet, my thoughts are on those who may not have plans for tomorrow.
The homeless, lonely and singles who will spend this day dreaming of the perfect Thanksgiving will seek soup kitchens and other avenues to get a meal.
So my prayers will be that the angels of God will minister to their needs. That they will know that there is a God who cares and there is hope for tomorrow.
Thanksgiving is about being thankful for the many blessings of God. It should also be put into action by passing on to others things to be thankful for. What can I do today to bless another?

Focus Turkey

As we focus on the turkeys that will adorn the dinner tables this Thanksgiving I can only remember the many turkeys that I have cooked through out the years.
I have tried many different ways to cook the turkeys. Last year I cooked it upside down. It was supposed to make the turkey more moist. I can say it did, but the turkey fell apart and was difficult to carve after I turn it over.
So much focus is on the turkey. What size or brand? Should it be frozen of fresh? Will it be stuffed or not?
This year I will just cook it the old fashion way. A little bit of salt and pepper to season the buttered turkey and home made bread stuffing inside.
I want my focus to be on the blessings of this season. I am thankful to be with family and friends. My prayer this Thanksgiving for everyone is to have a safe and joyous time. May God bless you with a bountiful feast. He is the reason I celebrate and give thanks.

Thanksgiving's Week

Today for this week I will bring share memories of past Thanksgivings. One of the most exciting Thanksgiving I had is when I spent over twenty-four hours cooking and backing. I was expecting many of the neighborhood teenagers to stop by to eat.  The oven ran nonstop backing pies, cookies and breads. After they were put aside I put the ham and turkey on in the early morning.
Each hour I would pull the turkey out to base it. What I did not know was that the throw away pan that I was using for the turkey had a small hole on the bottom. So the juices was slowly dripping to the bottom of the oven.
I put the potatoes on to boil, had the turkey giblets boiling to make homemade gravy and had  my vegetable cooking. This dinner was going great.
One last time I pulled the turkey out to base and the friction of the pan rubbing against the oven set it ablaze. The whole oven was engulfed in flames.
The quick reaction of my husband got the fire under control. Since everything that was cooking were covered in foil and lids we did not lose any of the food.
So we had our feast, cleaned the mess and thanked God for the bountiful blessing of the day.

Longer Nights, Shorter Days

The nights are getting longer, the days are getting shorter and yet is seems that I am busier than ever. Why? Because I am working at a toy store and we are getting ready for the big weekend.
This day seems to give some people nightmares and others great anticipation for the bargain hunters. Whatever person you are this is the day of the start of Christmas Season.
But I want to focus on what I am thankful for in my life. So while the days will be long and hectic I will be thanking God for each one.
When the guest complain about us not having the products in stock I will give thanks for the many blessings I have at home.
My longer nights and shorter days belongs to God.

Deer Watch

I don't have to travel to far away place to get a shot of wild life. Sometime they are just in my own back yard. Of course Harford County is my back yard so to speak.
While visiting a group of very fine painters at the Fallston's fire hall I headed off to my car and saw these deer grazing.
I had the wrong lens on  my camera so I had to get to my car without them noticing me. With the right lens I proceeded to take pictures. But they all had their heads down. So I had to make some noise to get their attention.
The deer you see looking right at me never took her eyes off of me the rest of the time I snapped off pictures.
It wasn't until the rest of the deer ran into the trees that she finally turn around and dart into the trees as well.

She was on the alert for danger. She took several steps towards me warning me not to come any closer. That was something she did not have to worry about. I am no fool and kept my distant.
There are many things in life that I need to keep my distant from. God gives me warnings when I get too close. Believe me I heed His warning. I am no fool.

Smokey

You know that I am out of ideas when you see me posted my cat Smokey. One of the things I like about him is the way he sits by my side waiting for me to get done on the computer. Because he knows that when I am done he gets my full attention.

How often does God wait  for me to give Him my full attention. I am always to busy. Life gets in my way and takes up all my time. Yet He waits patiently for me.

I need to set more time aside for God. In fact I just need to give Him my full attention every minute of my life. Only then will I see the many blessings that He has been waiting to give to me.

What Makes You Laugh?

What makes you laugh? Is it a funny joke, a comedy or a person blunder? Sometime it just takes being with a group of friends who enjoy having a good time.
My writer's group is like that. Every time we get together we always have a good laugh. We have some very talented writers and comedians among the poets and novelists. I always leave the meetings a little wiser and happier.
But they are not the only groups that I am involved in. The Fellowship Circle is another group that I am proud to be a part of that also makes me laugh. This is another meeting that I always leave a better person from.
Then there is Faith Circle who helps to keep me grounded. Yet they know how to have a good time also. I always leave them with a smile on my face.
The best group that I am always glad to be a part of is my family. Each member holds a special place in my heart. All I have to do is think about the good times with them and laugh.
What make me laugh? Just about anything really. After all laughter is the best medicine.  

A Duck Like Bird

Do you know how many duck like birds are out there? Ever once in a while I find one that I can't seem to name.
Every week I stop by the marsh in Edgewood to look for the swan. There were about twenty duck like birds in the marsh the other day. I tried to look these guys up in my bird book. But I could not really identify what kind of ducks these were.
I went back the next day to get more pictures and they were gone.
This marsh seems to be a good place for migrating birds to stop over. I am always amazed when I see a new using the marsh. I will keep stopping by hoping to catch them on film.
But in the meantime if anyone knows tell me what kind of ducks these are.

One Fox, Two Fox

The other day I went out hitting my favorite spots for taking pictures. Walked around the boardwalk at Havre de Grace, stopped by the marsh off of route 40 and finally ended up at the mariner in Joppatowne before I got my picture.
While being amused by the antics of the squirrels and the birds something seemed to spooked them and off they all went in every directions. I knew right away by the chattering of the squirrels that a fox must be nearby. So I stood very still and waited. Sure enough a fox came out of the bushes. But he was at a angle that I could not get the picture. So I moved to get a better shot and off went the fox.
There were two young men passing a football around and came over to see what I was taking a picture of. I pointed to where the fox was and to my surprise not only one fox was there but two. So the three of us watch as they seemed to be playing around.
I just love how good God is at allowing me to see his creatures. He just knows what makes my day. Seeing one fox would have been enough. Getting to see two was just icing on the cake.

USNA

Tonight at the concert at Mountain Christian Church a group of young men and women from the United State Navel Academy came to watch. It was a pleasure to see these young service man and women all excited to see one of their favorite singer perform.
When they first came through the door I wanted so bad to get a group picture of them. But my camera batteries died. So I was frustrated at not being able to take pictures through out the evening.
Than I remembered that I could use my phone to take pictures. So I took several shots. Not great shots but good enough to keep for my records. Yet I couldn't shake the fact that I was unable to get a picture of these Navy personals.
So when the concert was over the group came out together and came over to me and asked if I could take a group picture with their phone camera. Of course I said yes.
Who ever read this post I would like to ask a favor. Would you also send a little prayer out for them? I told them I would be praying for them this next year. I know that they have a long road a head of them. I know they would appreciate all our prayers.
Thank you and God bless you.

Forgiveness

Forgiving  is something that is hard to do. When you have been wrong and hurt the last thing you want to do is forgive.
I was listening to a song about forgiveness and one line spoke to me. It tells you when you forgive the prisoner who is free is yourself.
I had to think about that for a while and realized how true this was. When I hold onto the anger and the hurt I am trap in my own prison. I am not free to move forward.
It is only when I let go by forgiving that the weight that holds me down is removed. The prison doors are open wide and a new beginning for my life starts.
Today I need to forgive so that tomorrow I can move out of my prison.

Buzzard's Snack

When my cousins came down to visit last weekend we took them to the Conowingo Dam. While walking around taking pictures a handful of buzzards decided to make a snack out of my cousin van. I guess they must have thought that the van had died. lol.
It is amazing the things that these buzzards will eat. God created them to dispose of carcasses and clean up the messes left behind. Yet we look at these creatures and think that they are gross.
Well, I think that they are pretty cool. Just as long as they quit eating my cousin's car.

I Love Mums

I love mums. They are vibrant and come in many falls colors. I would fill my house with them if I could.
But they would not last forever and would soon fad away. They were only created to last for a season.
I like surrounding myself with God's creations. Yet like the mums they too would soon fad away. There is a time and seasons for all creations.
Only what I do for God will last for eternity. When I hang onto the things that are of God I can let go of the things that are temporal.
I love mums, but I love God more.

One Fish

It was fun to watch the eagles, heron and buzzards fight over one fish. They each took a turn at their chance at eating the fish. They would have to drop the fish when the next bird made their move on the fish. The adult bald eagle made his claim and had a hearty meal while the others watch.
Their focus was on this one fish while I watch fish after fish jumping out of the water nearby. All they had to do was catch them. Yet they just stood by and watch as their meal was slowly eaten by the eagle.
How often I watch others in my life get things that I once had. I stand by wishing that I could have what they have. Yet nearby God is showing me all that He has jumping out of the waters of life. I need to get my focus off others and look to all the blessing that God has for me. Than all I have to do is catch them.