the back yard again

About 6 a.m. I take our boxer dog out for her first "outing" of the day. Usually we go out front for a quick 'relief" and then back in for breakfast before our morning walk. However the last few days, because of the intense heat here in Las Vegas (112 degrees!) other dog owners are up early also ---and some without dogs on leash. Izzy does not do well with other dogs---so we have been going out back on the golf course for the first "outing" of the day. Probably not legal in homeowner rules but no one has said anything -yet.

The point is the temperature in the back yard on the golf course is unbelievably cooler than on the front street side of the house. Now we've all been aware that cities hold their heat even overnight--- and a lot of that is due to asphalt streets holding their heat. But I never realized how much that would be true even in a suburb such as we live in. Probably some of that retained heat is because of the unbelievable daytime temperatures here-- (I sure wasn't aware of this is Vermont!). But nonetheless it really does make a point of what urban/suburban growth has done to our planet. No lectures here on global warming but wow---what a lesson.

I will continue to enjoy my early mornings on the golf course---and be aware of man's impact.

God gave us this beautiful planet. Are we caring for it? Are you?

Blessings-Penny

location, location, location

In all the horror and tragedy of the past week, there was a lovely reminder of the beauty and peace of nature, of God, in our backyard. Yesterday morning a baby robin perched on a small fence surrounding our patio. Daddy robin sat next to him offering a berry. The baby sat there for many minutes---maybe 20--- before getting the nerve to try his wings. Mother and dad flew by several times, chasing away an intrusive cat bird. Finally baby tentatively took flight---not very far but mom and dad remained right there as he tested his wings. .

And then this morning robin parents were again very active in the same area....same robins or another family, I do not know. As I sat with newspaper and coffee and followed their flight I spotted the nest---nestled in the trunk of the tree where the limbs started to spread....just above the patio. I watched all morning as they flew back and forth from nest to grass to nest-clearly feeding babies still in the nest.

When my husband came out, I showed him the hollow where the parents busied themselves. "That's a great spot." It made me think of the realtor suggestion when buying a house, "It's all about location, location, location."

Thank you, gracious God, for giving me a few moments of peace and delight --reminding me to place all trust and faith in your presence---your presence in my life and the lives of the families and friends touched by all the violence of the past week. Help us remember your arms surround us and hold us---always.

Blessings-Penny

three little words

Heard on tv last night. "The three most important  words in a relationship are not, 'I love you.' The three most important words are 'I hear you.'"
Isn't that true? We all just want to be heard. Don't think you have to fix it. Just hear me--my thoughts, my dreams, my hopes, my doubts, my fears, my opinions.
God hears us.
Do we hear Him?
Blessings-Penny

sadness

I was talking with a friend this week about sadness. She recently attended a family reunion which apparently triggered a lot of memories associated with a particularly significant loss of many years ago. The loss was of a career, a profession, in which she had a very personal connection. It was truly who she saw herself as---not just a job---but essential to her core. The loss was related to her addiction and she acknowledges it was truly her own fault.

I was empathizing that the anniversary of my daughter's death is coming around again and the anniversary triggers the depth of her loss again. My friend's comment was meaningful. "You know you put the loss aside on a daily basis. You go on and realize that you have to get on with your life. But when a trigger such as my reunion or your daughter's death anniversary comes around, the pain returns. It's not like it was years ago---it's like it was ten minutes ago or 10 days ago."

How do we go on when the sadness is so core? When it again invades our nighttime and daytime dreams and thoughts?

The only way I know is to pray. To ask God to help me feel His loving arms holding me. I don't always feel that every day. There are certainly times I even wonder about the whole existence of God.
And yet, in times of deep sadness, there is a real comfort in prayer and even the hope that God is holding the sadness with me. "Faith...the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen."
Blessings-Penny