first Monday in May

my kitchen window ~ my sanctuary!

I am always in awe of what God surprises me with just outside the window!

The tree that the jays love to sit in - is on the left of the picture.

Of course once the leaves come - it will be harder to see them.

Perhaps I will have to put the feeder on a stand.

I took this picture last week Wednesday.

I heard his call - and there he was just on the front flower bed.

I had spilled some seeds there when I refilled the front feeder!

He is enjoying them.

Today is Monday. Rainy. Dreary. Cold (in comparison with last week's temps). But it has been a good day! Sure there has been some of the "usual" which makes every day wonderful (usual means I have had a chance to talk to at least the female half of my kids both in person and in texts).

It has been good because I ran this morning - started WEEK TWO - day 1. I dread the exercise and I love the exercise... especially when it is done! Can't figure this love/hate relationship out - but I am thinking by the time I run my first goal of 5K (Lord willing in Sept) I will be in a love/love relationship I hope!!

Monday - it has been good because I had an impromptu coffee with my friend B. I have to tell you about her (perhaps have blogged about her in the past). Her and her husband have become very very good friends... like family! And often on a Monday - it starts out talking impromptu on Facebook, and then leads into the occasional impromptu coffee at _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

My most FAVORITE place. Ya, you know!

So today we met - always with a hug. Usually a visit with laughter. She loves to laugh and has this sense of humour that makes me laugh too! We sat and visited over a large cups of coffee. Today was a short and sweet visit since me and the "girls" as B. put it ~ well, we had a "bra fitting" app at Curves. (Ya, they brought in a bra specialist, and I had a 2:15 fitting). Our visit ended with a hug again, and a couple "i love you's" shared. You know - that is something I love ~ when friends can say I LOVE YOU without feeling silly.

Then off I went (with my girls) to Curves. I was able to buy 3 new bras for the cost of the last one I bought at a boutique (each bra bought was at a 35% discount!) and then well, since I was there, I did my workout. (which meant I got to change the exercise ticker on my blog, and now - I have really done some good intentional time, over and above the 4 hour goal I had!)

Then back to Mountain Bean - to use the wireless internet with my computer and book a couple flights to Calgary (me and my mom in law are going next Monday for a few days). It is just easier with wireless. Usually with dial-up by the time I go to book - it is timed out!!

Now I am home, but Alvin isn't yet. I have supper ready for the most part. I had the kitchen window open and got a few "kisses" from God a few moments ago... I am just so thrilled at the amazing creation around us. I don't think I have been so aware of nature as I have been since I quit working. The time to just take it all in - has been a gift to me. I am eager to enjoy the new land too! (and will be quite sad to leave this beautiful property we have called home for the past almost 27 years). But - back to a few moments ago.

I opened the window because I could hear the bluejays... once you know what a jay sounds like - you can identify them even with the windows shut! Just outside of the kitchen window - in the back yard is a french lilac tree. I had a bird feeder in there until the big fat squirrels found them again!! So, a couple weeks ago, I found something else - a little "cage" thingey that hangs and in it you drop a block of suet/birdseed. The one I put in was especially for the jays and woodpeckers... although they all seem to love it. I heard the jays, and looked, and there was one again - in the tree - hopping from branch to branch and up onto the cage and started chowing down on the suet block. It is actually quite beautiful to see them. He is a big bird, and the jays are actually a bit of a rascal bird... chases away everything else, including his cousin the redheaded woodpecker. This is the same tree that a week or so ago, I saw THREE blue jays in it at the same time.

You know - I love what I see outside of my kitchen window. It has become a "sanctuary" spot to me - lately I have been hand washing a lot more dishes since we had a bit of a situation with our dishwasher and have to pick up and install the new one. So, I stand there many times during the day! On my ledge is a picture of our little Jay. With a "willow tree" ornament of a woman with blue birds on her outstretched arms. The title on this ornament is "happiness" and I actually bought it after Jay's birth but before we knew little Everett was on the way. It was a reminder to me that God would redeem our brokenness for joy. Who would think that doing dishes would be a place of peace! And the scene from my window such a joy as well!

There are many little birds that come to the feeder, they are not all so pretty as the jays and woodpeckers, but we have many varieties including many many sparrows! The robins are constantly walking around pulling up worms. The other day Alvin and I watched three squirrels chase each other (I think they were young ones, but they were healthy ~ go figure, we are feeding them cracked black sunflower seeds straight up!) We also watch deer in our yard on a daily basis and well - there is the occasional stray cat.

I can't help but be reminded of what it says in the Bible about the birds. I ;am sure you know which verses... I went to http://www.biblegateway.com/ and here they are:

Luke 12:6-8 (New International Version)
6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies[a]? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

8"I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.

and Luke 12:6-8 (New Living Translation)

6 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins[a]? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. 7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

8 “I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man[b] will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels.

Imagine how precious we are in the eyes of the Almighty!

Now that just makes my Monday complete!