God's Gift to Us - Christmas

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Gala

Everyone’s dressed in their finest

in burgundy, golds, and rusts

as a celebrated guest

each year come Oktoberfest.

You’ll see some, though,

wear emerald

and come as they are

to the gala.

The gala is held on a sunny day

and is free to all, there’s no need to pay.

This gala might last for a few days.

Some travelers come from far away.

What is it these travelers come to see?

What is it that brings a sense of glee?

These travelers are sightseers, you see,

come to see the colors of the autumn trees.

For in autumn the trees are ready to party

dressing in pleasing colors, never gaudy.

There’s goldenrod yellow to maize-tinted gold,

bittersweet orange to mulberry red, so bold.

Mixed among these autumn colors

are emeralds in multi-colors

of pine or forest green evergreens

towering throughout this stunning scene.

Soon the trees colors will change and drop

when brown siennas, and umbers, and chestnut

leaves fall

each fall.

Make a date today

to view the vast array

of autumn leaves this year.

Your spirit will be cheered.

* * * * *

And when you do go to this gala

take along some Gala apples

for an autumn picnic

or maybe you’ll go pick.

Do something special to celebrate autumn.

You’ll find there’s so much to do for fun -

apple picking, leaf viewing,

pumpkin craving, Thanksgiving.

A thankful heart

is just the start

of a celebration that lasts

long after autumn is past.

Praise the Lord.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his loves endures forever.

Psalm 106:1

Give thanks to the Lord Almighty,

for the Lord is good;

his loves endures forever.

Jeremiah 33:11

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.

ABLAZE

 

ABLAZE

The hills are alive with a blaze of colors.

Among the green: red, orange, and golden yellow,

as if the painter’s palette had spilled

splashing the trees upon the hills.

The deep burgundy of the red maples,

the bright orange splashed upon sugar maples,

a magenta red drawing attention to the sumac,

autumn's golden yellow foliage never seems to lack.

When the sun shines, the hills are ablaze

under the autumn sun’s golden rays

calling attention to us today to gaze,

to take a moment to capture this blaze.

It will take your breath away

to see their beauty today.

Enjoy before this color leaves

when the rain falls on these leaves.

For when the rains come,

these leaves are soon gone.

Floating down they gather in a pile on the ground

where several afternoons of work will then be found.

Mottled leaves lie there,

crispy ones join in pairs.

The pile turns to brown

as these leaves pile on the ground.

Another year has come and gone,

another season is done.

A time of renewal awaits the trees.

A time of reflection for you and me.

A time to count our blessings

with a song of thanksgiving

from a glad, thankful heart.

Let's everyone now start.

* * * * *

Counting our blessings everyday

is a habit that will well pay.

One payment will be a happy heart

from the moment each new day starts.

You’ll discover more blessings to add,

even if the day turns from glad to sad.

Those with a heart full of thanksgiving

are thankful for their many blessings.

Counting our many blessings

causes us to look for blessings.

There’s always one more

around every corner.

Counting our many blessings

is much better than stressing.

You’ll find you’ll have more energy today

despite the ups and downs of the day.

Do you have a blessings jar?

If you don’t, it’s not hard.

An empty jar, slips of paper,

daily blessings written and dated.

One day you may take time to look back

and give thanks to God who never lacks

in giving many blessings individually

which, in turn, blesses others collectively.

The blessing of the Lord brings wealth.

Proverbs 10:22

You will eat the fruit of your labor;

blessings and prosperity will be yours.

Psalm 128:2

I will bless them...

I will send down showers in season;

there will be showers of blessing.

Ezekiel 34:26

A happy heart makes the face cheerful.

Proverbs 15:13

You are my God, and I will give you thanks.

Psalm 118:28

From Life Is a Garden Party Vol III

available via Amazon.

DAPPLED

 

DAPPLED

Dappled sunlight can be seen

on the afternoon grass so green

through the maple tree's leaves.

Its picture does somehow please.

Peace it evokes

as pale sunlight pokes.

There's calm found in the shade

where there are green grass blades.

Where sunlight pokes

bees are seen, not slow pokes,

in the clover blossoms.

Busy bees. More than one.

Squirrels seen gathering in the afternoon shade

scampering around the hosta's broad blades.

Their fluffy tail

does tell a tale.

Blue jays now seen flying overhead

on their way to the sunflower bed.

Seeds will be dropped to the ground

where next year more will be found.

Red maple leaves seen falling down

making a gentle rustling sound.

One day soon the dappled light will be gone

when the trees no longer their leaves will don.

Weeks later shadows stretch out,

where leaf-green grass once did sprout,

on cold, white drifts of snow

and the winter wind blows.

Keep a lasting memory of the dappled light.

Get the camera to take a picture just right

of the ever-changing dappled light

on an autumn day that was just right.

* * * * *

Peace. Peace is hard to find

everyday, all the time.

Troubles wear you down.

You think you might drown.

The Bible calls it being at wits’ end.

That’s usually when we seek the Lord’s hand.

We usually seek God last

when we should seek him first.

Do you realize the Lord is now waiting to hear from you?

Not just when you have no peace and are stressed with much to do,

but also to hear you say “thank you”

for keeping all His promises to you.

If you are in the habit to telling God thanks,

then seeking God will be something you do first.

Don’t wait to seek God just when big problems burden you.

Do seek God concerning everything and thank Him too.

…they were at their wits’ end.

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,

and he brought them out of their distress.

He stilled the storm to a whisper;

the waves of the sea were hushed.

They were glad when it grew calm,

and he guided them to their desired haven.

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for men.

Psalm 107:27-31

I do have photos of dappled light on the grass.

Not able to locate promptly.

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.

COLORS

 

COLORS

I've noticed the burning bush and dogwood are turning red

in celebration of the changing season just ahead,

as if putting on their party dress.

They certainly do get noticed.

The hostas and peonies are turning yellow.

Tomorrow more will turn yellow in my hollow

as if the sun is shining

although it's been raining.

The maple tree is turning gold

then will shine in the sunlight bold

for a few days before its golden leaves

quietly float down – causing some to sneeze.

What once was green, now is orange.

As summer came and went, it turned

into a plump round pumpkin which now waits

to turn into a jack-o-lantern for someone to make.

Round green concord grapes turning purple

will later make a tongue purple

when someone makes purple grape juice,

but there's none if the goose is loose.

Cloudy gray skies

gives way to blue skies

as the celebration draws near

when autumn comes year after year.

Other leaves turn colors

like a bouquet of flowers

of red, orange, yellow, gold -

autumn's here, we're told.

Everyone gets dressed

in their festive best

to celebrate autumn.

Isn't it just awesome!

* * * * *

There's something to celebrate everyday.

Sometimes it's when your child receives an A.

Or maybe when the last of the hay

is baled then put in the haymow today.

Celebrate when the doctor's report comes back okay.

Always when friends come to visit from far away.

Of course, when there's a raise in your pay.

Especially when good news is conveyed.

Celebrate when someone chooses the right way.

Definitely after forgiveness is displayed.

Celebrate when less you weigh,

perhaps by shopping today.

Celebrate with a bouquet.

You'll make someone's day!

Celebrate – go out and play

maybe with a sled or sleigh.

Much celebrating is done at a cafe

or even around an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Yearly celebrate special days:

birthdays, anniversaries – always.

Celebrate when a long-awaited answer comes after you've prayed

or when troublesome anxieties are finally allayed.

Celebrate the blessings from the Lord each day

when you praise and thank Him each and every day.

Celebrate God's goodness without delay

under the sun's rays or clouds of gray.

Celebrate with someone special today.

There's much to celebrate each day. Yeah!

This is a day you are to commemorate;

for the generations to come

you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord -

a lasting ordinance.

Exodus 12:14

Then all the people went away to eat and drink...

and to celebrate with great joy...

Nehemiah 8:12

We had to celebrate and be glad,

because this brother of yours

was dead is alive again;

he was lost and is found.

Luke 15:32

I will exalt you, my God and King;

I will praise your name for ever and ever

Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;

his greatness no one can fathom.

One generation will commend your works to another;

they will tell of your mighty acts.

They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,

and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

They will tell of the power of your awesome works,

and I will proclaim your great deeds.

They will celebrate your abundant goodness

and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

Psalm 145:1-7

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.

October 5th Flowers

We needed rains during the summer months.  It came during September, sprouting more seeds and blossoms.

Starting to look like autumn on the hillside:

Despite chilly days and chillier nights, daturas are still blooming.  Looking a bit nipped.

Dautra buds in various stages of opening:

Dahlias (each with a story of who gifted to tell).

Been covering at night.

Cosmos self-seeded.  Due to late rains, are now blooming.  If you collect seeds, these are easy self-starters.

Other cosmos:

Autumn crocus still has plenty of color:

Butterfly bush still has plumes.

Did see a butterfly today but it wasn't cooperative.

Many strawberries forming, but...season not long enough.

Same with pink raspberries.

Johnny-jump-ups (TY Ruby):

Gloriosa Daisy reblooming:

Hen with her chicks:

Rose of Sharon blossom fell to the ground in the grass:

The best-ever ferns the beginning of the season

but disappeared due to the dry summer.

September rains have restored.  Rebirth:

Brought begonias into garage when night temps were below 40.

Now blooming profusely:

Zinnia:

Mexican Sunflower started from seeds from friend.  Need to collect:

Dogwood seeds.  Dogwood bedazzled with jewels:

Dogwood putting on her party dress:

These are hardy mums.  They have returned for many, many years.

If your mum does not return it's most likely a garden mum.

Burning Bush putting on her party dress and jewels (seeds):

Nasturiums:

Sunlight and shadows on nasturiums:

Hungry bee (not fond of me):

There were other photos to be taken, BUT when I told something to slither away it became aggressive so decided it was time to put my tools away.  Did put down a powdered substance that is supposed to keep them away.  

He sends you abundant showers,

both autumn and spring rains.

Joel 2:24