For His Service

Do you feel out of place... or in the wrong job?    Do you feel like God has you in an odd job or something you don't feel equipped to do?  Do you feel like this daddy Eastern Bluebird sitting in the wrong nest?   Remember Jeremiah 32:27.        I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? Don't worry about what God has called you to do... Nothing is too difficult for Him.  Rest in Him... and know He will equip you for the job! 

This red shouldered hawk comes often to perch on my bird feeder, looking for moving treats below. Red shoulders hawks  eat frogs, snakes, lizards, and small mammals.   I believe this one believes he has found the Land of the Chipmunks at my house. :)  He is a beautiful boy. 

I saw enjoyed watching the house finches that decided to nest in our window feeder.  All was going well.  Mom and dad came to feed them often and the babies excitedly chirped.  Then, we heard a thud.   It was a hawk!  He unsuccessfully tried to grab a baby.  The brave mom and dad defended their babies and went after the hawk.  I knew we had to do something.  So, our window looked a little red-neck for awhile... as Russ added a large section of gardening wire to allow the small birds in, but keep the bird of prey out.  It worked.  All 5 babies flew into a near by tree...and now we get to watch them from there.   Today is my 43rd birthday..and these are some of the sweetest gifts God gives me.   He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.  Psalm 91:4

Do you see it?  Do you see the bird FEEDER that a bird thought would be a perfect spot for a nest?  A pair of house finches worked for a few days as they quickly assembled their nest.  We were delighted to watch, but if the birds caught sight of us, they quickly flew away.  My sweet husband taped a piece of paper on the window so the birds couldn't see us and  would stop being afraid.    We meant them no harm, but to the birds we had to look like big, scary predators.  The birds couldn't comprehend that we were nothing to be fearful of.  God spoke to my heart and said, "That lump in your breast, the one that is hard, doesn't move.. the lump that the doctor said you have to have more tests done, more scans, ultrasounds to determine if it is breast cancer... that lump.. it is nothing to be fearful of,,  Just like you look scary to the birds, this lump looks scary to your regular doctor and you, but it is nothing.".   ...

Jojo on the left... is showing love to Buddy...  This is about the sweetest thing!  We could take a lesson from them.... persistant... kind.... cuddle... Marriage Therapy lesson for the day ...lol A little love and a little grace goes a long way...

So you might wonder, what is the big deal about this bird?  Well, besides birds with albinism being very rare..as they usually don't make it to adulthood... it is even more uncommon for them to find a mate.  She has both, adulthood and a mate....  Here she is ...building her nest in my backyard...right outside my kitchen window.   I think she has so touched me because 1.  Even though she is different from a "normal" robin..I think she is BEAUTIFUL... 2.  She isn't suppose to have a "normal" mate..and she does.    She is a picture..a reminder or my son John-Michael.  He, too, as a genetic disorder, neurofibromatosis...and I try not to dwell on it, but I wonder if he will have a problem finding a wife... will it be more difficult for him or will some woman see him as handsome and kind?   So, she represents hope to me.  It is one of the pains of a mother.  We all want our children to have the best...to have even bet...

  It is the time of year when birds are flocking back to Georgia.   I saw this pretty girl a few weeks ago and was so excited to have several sightings of her this week....in my backyard!  She stayed!  She is nesting somewhere close by.  I have seen her pick up twigs, pits of paper, etc... to carry to her nest.   She has partial leucisim or partial albino.    These birds are rare because they are very noticeable to prey.    These beautiful birds lack their natural colors that would normally protect them from the energy of our sun, keep them safe from inquisitive humans and predators, and  sometimes prevent them from being accepted as a member of their own social group. It isn't uncommon for the parents of baby birds with leucisim will sometimes shy away from their offspring if they’re too far off their "normal" appearance. Once an albino robin beg...

 I put in the pond 7 years ago.  I hadn't had it drained and cleaned all the way down until this weekend. All the fish were removed, the rocks were pressure-washed, and the liner was scrubbed.  Then, everything was placed, back in place...refilled... and it is just beautiful!   It wasn't without incident.  Yesterday tornadoes touched down less than 10 miles from our house and we received 3 inches of rain..some of which went under the pond liner...oops... because there was no water in the pond, the water wasn't pushed away.   Slowly, it will go back into the ground. the pond before the storm hit... The pond...after the storm hit... see the huge amount of water in the background Leucistic robin (partial albino robin)..isn't he pretty... The crystal clean pond... All clean.... ready for spring.................. and many bird and frog friends...