THEY'RE BACK!

      While having breakfast this morning, I noticed a male and female bluebird outside the kitchen window.  They perched on the box that's set up outside my kitchen window, then the male went inside, followed by the female.  They are obviously building a nest.  They flew away, then a short while later, the female returned, with a small "beak-full" of leaves in her mouth.

     She went into the box, where the male was already working, and deposited the leaves.  Afterward, she rested with the male on the water container before flying away.  At the same time, a squirrel was busy burying nuts for the winter.

Lesson:  God presents unexpected joy!
 

"It is Not the Critic Who Counts"
One of my favorite quotes about courage is by Theodore Roosevelt who said: 

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

 

It takes courage to do the right thing, no matter what.  Keep striving, keep going.  Ignore criticism and look to your own integrity and to God for approval.

 

 

 

"I Believe in Love"

    (note:  On September 5, 2010, I wrote the following entry from my journal)

September 5, 2010

     Today is my son's 27th birthday.  It is also a celebration of his marriage to his girlfriend of the past six years.
     Yesterday on a rocky bluff on the coast of Massachuestts, Chris and the love of his life, said their wedding vows in a gazabo overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.  I rejoice in their happiness.  May the love they share today last their lifetimes.