What am I Filled With Today?

"Whatever you are overflowing with will spill out when you are bumped."

What are you filled with today?

Blessings,

Aimee

Notes: 

Quote is an Indian Proverb (via Ravi Zacharias).

His website, which has a lot of great resources is located at:

http://www.rzim.org/

Photo above taken in Seaside earlier this month;

this little girl was overflowing with happiness and no one had to bump her to see it:)

Recently

 Recently I wasn't at home to light my candles a few minutes before sunset,

just as I have been doing since the month of Elul began.

Since I was a bit apprehensive to bring them along,

due to the very dry conditions,

 I didn't--

but this made me a bit sad.

But as a friend and I drove along in the gorgeous countryside,

drinking in the beauty we found there,

I felt as if God Himself had lit my Retreat candles

and I stopped what I was doing to say a prayer to welcome the new day in--

another day to draw closer to Him

and

allow Him to draw closer to me.

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Notes: rural Marion county.

Another Day; Another Journey in Farmland

From late summer 2010---
(can you believe I haven't posted this?)
~

It seems like lately I am spending at least part of everyday in and around farms.

Today was no exception when our journey brought us to a wonderful farm which grows dahlias and one that I had been longing to see for a long, long time...

This is why I have been wanting to come.

Acres and acres, 40 to be exact, of every kind of dahlia you can imagine...
and ones you have never imagined:)

Here you will also find a beautiful memorial to a father.

One that, I am sure, was born out of love and planned with great care.

As the days pass by and as we draw ever closer to my mother's death, I can understand the desire to dedicate a portion of a beautiful garden to a parent. I thought this was a very fitting memorial.

A special moment for me was a hummingbird I found at the top of the memorial. How beautiful and amazing are the special moments we are blessed with in our life's journey.

And now ladies and gentlemen I give you some close ups...

I bet you are having a hard time deciding what one of my favorite colors is.

Yea, I know -- I am an open book.

At least sometimes,
when the place and time are right to be so.

Can you believe I took hundreds of photos while we were here

and then a lot more when we continued our explorations in nearby areas?

My friends and family are used to it.

They KNOW me well...

Oh BTW, today I made up a saying for a bumper sticker for people like me.

I am sure everyone who loves photography would buy one;

it made SO much sense:)

Please, please--

can I stay here,

eat here,

live here?

No, that is not the saying I made up today...

but I am thinking it right now.

But all good things must come to an end

and so we bid farewell to dahlia heaven--

at least for today:)

Blessings, Aimee

And so do you know what one of my favorite colors is and more importantly,
do you have a favorite color?

~
Notes:

Photos taken at Swan Island Dahlias in Canby, Oregon. Here is their wonderful website: http://www.dahlias.com/
By the way, the Dahlia Festival is THIS WEEK at Swan Island;
that's right August 25th!
A BIG thank you to them for giving me permission to post these photos taken at their farm.
As per usual, I am not associated with the farm in  any way but
 I had a great time there and think you would too.
~

A special TY to Grandma Becky who helped kindle my desire to visit the farm...:)

Be Kind

Be ANGRY, and yet DO NOT SIN:

do not let the sun go down on your anger,

and do not give the devil an opportunity... 

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth,

but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment,

so that it will give grace to those who hear.
~

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,

by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
~

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor

 and slander be put away from you,

along with all malice

Be kind to one another,
tender-hearted, forgiving each other,

just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Not easy to do, is it?

I know.

Not easy to respond with kindness and keep

your heart tender when someone does you wrong;

when they speak to you in THAT tone of voice

or use THOSE words.

Especially not easy when the same person wrongs you time and time again.

And yet God, speaking here through Paul,
commands us to not hold onto anger.
~

How well our Creator knows us---

He knows just how costly it is to US to stay angry--
relationally, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
~

So how do you put these Words of God into action when someone angers you?

How do you extend grace to others when they hurt you?

Blessings,

Aimee

Photos:

Northern Oregon Coast

Notes:

Ephesians 4:26-27, 29-32 NASB

"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,

Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995

by The Lockman Foundation.

Used by permission."

Morning Showers

This morning (Saturday morning) was noticeably different.

The sky was gray, overcast

and I felt something strange, cool and most wonderful on my bare skin.

The earth had just received a blessing from heaven-

a precious gift from the Creator...

and I was grateful,

very grateful.

My heart felt different today too;

not a lot, I can honestly say,

but I did perceive a tiny change deep within my soul
and  

that was a precious gift from the Creator as well.

When Thou saidst,
Seek ye My face;

my heart said unto Thee,

Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

Psalm 27:8 KJV

Blessings,

Aimee

Photo:

our beautiful crocosmia today.