Day 50.  Matthew came home tonight for a few days.  He is taking Arabic for his foreign language so he brought his book to show us.  It is so cool how they illustrate the letters and even words.  It is a form of calligraphy.  I tried calligraphy several years ago.  I got pretty good but it sure didn't look like this.  Maybe I should try again.  

Day 49.  Bloom where you are planted.  Or, in the case of these cut flowers, just keep blooming.  They are beautiful, but they have reached their peak.  It's only down hill from here for them.  What a sad thought.  I don't want to go down hill.  I want to keep on blooming, keep on growing, keep on learning, and keep on being useful.  The way I see it, as long as I stay in the fertile soil of the Holy Spirit there doesn't have to be an end.  So, bloom I will.

Day 48.  My memory may be a little fuzzy on some things but I remember this day vividly.  Twenty five years ago today I married my best friend.  Seriously, we had spent almost three years just being friends and hanging out.  When I had a bad day she was there to cheer me up, when I was ready to give up she wouldn't let me.  She knew all my secrets and my faults and she still hung around.  We were inseparable.    One day I realized that I was taking advantage of this good thing and had better do something to insure it kept going.  So, I asked her to marry me.  For me, that was the best and scariest decision of my life.  I liked being single, I was never getting married and I was not having children, period, end of story.  But, I couldn't let her get away.  Man how my life changed, and I wouldn't have it any other way.  And, today, she is still my best friend, still cheers me on and still won't let me give up.  Today, we will celebrate our silver anniversary with friends and family, and look forward to the next 25 years.  They will be spectacular!

Day 47.  I can't believe I actually got this shot.  There were a few storms around us tonight.  And, as usual they move to the east and right past our little town.  But, they seem to migrate to right behind the house.  So I sat up the tripod and stationed the camera at the back door waiting for the right moment.  And the moment didn't happen.  Either my reactions were too slow or I had just stepped away when there was a great flash.  Then, just as I was giving up, I hit the shutter button and walked away to take care of something.  When I came back and looked,  this is what I saw.  It really surprised me.  But, what a great surprise.  I really know that it wasn't me and it wasn't luck.  God showed favor on me.  So, Thank You God.

Day 46.  Ugh!  Ok, I can do this.  First of all, thanks dad for teaching  me basic mechanic skills.  I might not be able to overhaul an engine but I think I can fix this.  First it was the water pump, then the thermostat, and today the radiator blew up.  Literally, it blew up.  I flushed the radiator this morning and everything was going good.  When I was finished with everything I took it out for a drive.  On the way home it began to overheat.  I parked and turned off the motor and as I was about to get out, boom, and steam started pouring  out from under the hood, on three sides.  I waited for it to cool down and this is what I found.  So, it's back to the parts store and probably another skinned knuckle or two, and it will be running again.  It's 16 years old but I really enjoy driving it.  Anyway, with so much going wrong I know that something really right is about to happen. 

Day 45.  Just picked up a great watermelon from a friend.  He grew it in his garden and just picked it yesterday.  It is really good.  But, it reminded me of a time long ago when, as little kids, my brothers and I would get to go into my grandparents watermelon patch.  We got to choose and pick our own melon.  And, then we carried it in to the house and all the family and friends there would dig in.  One day I found a huge watermelon and I wanted it.  Every one said it was too big and I wouldn't be able to carry it, but I didn't care.  I picked it.  It was so heavy!  But I was determined.  I tried and tried and heaved and heaved and finally I had it picked up and on the way to the house.  By this time the others already had their watermelon in the house and were back out "cheering" me on.  It was about this time that, well, I dropped it.  It busted and splattered all over the ground.  I know everyone gasped but I didn't hear them, I could only hear the sound of my heart beating in my ears.  That sound was soon replaced by laughter and teasing.  I was devastated.  When I was ready to go crawl under a rock an amazing thing happened.  Papa came over, bent down, and picked up a piece of the busted watermelon and ate it.  "I think that is the sweetest watermelon in the patch, good job."  is what he said.  Soon my dad was there joining in the feast.  It wasn't long until we all, the guys that is, were eating it right off the ground.  It was the best melon ever.  I am now 49 years old and my brothers still won't let me carry the watermelon when we get together.  Some things you just never out grow.

Day 44.  Closed, open.closed, open.  That's what this butterfly was doing with his wings.  Dugan noted that when his wings were closed they matched the bark on the branch he was sitting on.  So when they were closed he was very camouflaged.  When they were open he was very noticeable.  But, when he was quickly opening and closing them it was like a strobe light.  He wasn't trying to scare me, he was trying to get the attention on the other butterflies around.  Some times I stay all closed up because I don't want to draw attention to myself, and sometimes I open up.  I really don't like to be in the spotlight so I don't open up much.  It makes me feel vulnerable.  One thing about ministry that really blesses me is how the Holy Spirit opens me up and uses me.  But, it's not me that is showing off it is the Holy Spirit bringing glory to the Father.  If I show off for myself I don't shine nearly as bright as when He shows through me.  And that is alright with me.