Back to the Shoe Girl

My H and I attended an early morning surprise Birthday party last week. Guests were already enjoying their breakfast when we walked in and one of the first people I saw was a MGCC friend. I got my food and sat down at a table next to hers. Pretty soon, as it goes with women, a group of us were sitting and chatting . . . the farmers and businessmen having their own conversations . . . when I looked down and noticed them . . .

I did not realize that I was prone to check out people's shoes, but maybe this is an exception you cannot really miss. I said something about wishing I had my camera, when one was passed to me and a few days later the photos were in my inbox. . . . I just had to ask for one more special photo that was missing.

Can't you just see fun written all over her face as well? Marg, you are sporty, classy, down-to-earth and genuine as can be. I am so privileged to know you as a friend!

Garden Checkup

These days one has to be quick on the draw to spend some time ouside without getting wet. In years gone by I've been out there watering my pots daily ... but this year I forget that I have flowers. The ones that are in a sheltered area get neglected unless my H gets to them, while some of the ones that are in the open are not looking so good.

The other day, before the drops came tumbling down again, I took a stroll, breaking at least one sticky spider web, to take some pictures of my favorite die hards. When I loaded my pictures I was pleased with how well some have fared. The picture of the begonias above was taken mid May

and here they are three months later.

Another one taken in May... a hanging basket of begonias . . .



and proof that they do not need much sun.



The beautiful petals of this potted dahlia had me out with the camera earlier already. The detail and the way the color runs just amazes me!



 I like how these little daisies in a pot are reaching down to adorn the steps.

In the garden, the hydrangea bush is getting taller than I am . . . and in full bloom right now.

The lilac colored hosta bells are thriving under the red oak tree . . .

and the easy going astilbe are at a pretty stage right now.

This thistle shows promises... maybe someone can tell me what it's called. I should have known better than to ask my H . . . who offered a quick "pussy willow?"

This is what it will look like next month. We've had this bush in our garden for over 20 years and I've never done anything to help it along or really "seen " how beautiful it was . . . until last August when I was trying out the camera I got for my Birthday. I'm sure my gardener H has taken his clippers to it to make sure it knows its boundaries.

And talk about thistles, in the very back of the yard we had two cultured blackberry bushes blooming beautifully. Recently one suddenly just dried up. No idea what happened to it! The one that's left is doing well for now. The grapes, also, sharing the back fence with the berries, are full of tiny beginnings.

And that's it for my little garden tour today.

Guess Who

I just happened to look down and could not help but find some delight at these unique shoes she was wearing.

And when they matched her apron so perfectly ...  I just had to share.

The Aspiring Princess

 

At first she was afraid
to go down the fireman's pole at the playground,
but then Papa gave her a hand and she giggled,
wanting to slide down again and again!

Climping up the ladder
she stopped on the landing at the top and,
eyes sparkling, she exclaimed,
"When I'm a princess, maybe I'll be a firefighter too!"

The list of things she will do
when she'll be a princess, is growing.
Ah, to have her kind of faith and zeal
where nothing is impossible!

It Matters

 

Don’t you sometimes wonder what people say about you? Does it matter to you?

There is a passage in the Bible ( Matthew 16) revealing that even Jesus asked this question, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” After the disciples sited several opinions that were out there, Jesus asked, “But who do you say I am?”

In a recent sermon at church a pastor gave us three aspects of genuine faith:

1. It professes Jesus as the Son of God. There have always been those who say He was a good teacher or those who call him a prophet, which is all good, but, from His disciples He was looking for more. Bruxy Cavey, in his book called the End of Religion, points out that if we believe Jesus to only be a good teacher and prophet, then we have to conclude that He was either arrogant or totally deluded, because He claimed to be the Son of God. Cavey surmises that, “If Jesus can’t even be trusted on the matter of his own identity, why would we consider him a worthwhile teacher on any other topic?” Genuine faith agrees with the claims of Jesus, or we call Him a liar, not a good teacher.

2. It perseveres through persecution and competition. From the time of Stephen (Acts 7) to today, there have been those who have been willing to die for the truth, rather than deny it. Many of us may not be faced with this kind of opposition, but the desires of this world such as money, relationships, success can so easily choke out good intentions and put God on the back burner. Genuine faith is like the seed that is not choked out by the cares and desires of this world, but grows and produces fruit.

3. It is practiced in day to day life in a walk of obedience. Genuine faith is backed up by what I practice.

If Jesus asked the question outright, “Who do you say I am?” I believe it must be important. It matters what I believe about Him.

The Port Mann Bridge

The Port Mann Bridge, crossing the Fraser River between Surrey and Coquitlam, has been a beautiful Hwy 1 landmark since the 1960's. To me it has more often, than not, signified a trip to a special destination. When I was a child we'd to head off to family gathering on my mom's side of the family, going east, delighted when the big orange bridge would come up to signal the trip to Uncle John's was almost half over. I remember when the side rails were tubes of fluorescent lights that lit up the night sky. In later years the bridge became a major crossing point for my H every week as he headed west from his home, to see me. Once we were married, we'd cross over that bridge to see my family or, as in more recent trips, enjoy an evening or day in downtown Vancouver.

 

For a while now, they have been working on a new bridge that is going to replace the old Port Mann. This past week I almost gasped at the sight of how far construction has come since I last saw it. Coming down the hill toward the Fraser River, the sight of what looked like huge sail masts, near took my breath away!

And then I saw the old and the new, side by side! The orange bridge that always looked so big ... now looked so small beside the new, proud cables reaching to the sky.

Quite amazing! 
But when that old bridge comes down . . . I think I will be a wee bit sad.