I am so thankful

Hello Friends ~ Here it is late Thursday afternoon. I got a load of laundry washed and hung out to dry, now it's sitting in the basket waiting to be folded and put away. I did some tree and hedge trimming, then had to quit as it was just too hot and humid out. I made forward progress here at Plum Cottage. Today I felt a hint of autumn in the air, I think it is that the sun is more at an angle. My DH used to laugh when I'd say 'fall is coming' and we were still sweating buckets in Sept. We won't really have cooler temps until Oct/Nov.

I am ashamed to say that late last Friday afternoon I really had an anxiety meltdown. I had worked on the path and getting some smaller plywood pieces up to cover windows myself. I was tired and stressed over Dorian which was a cat 5 hurricane right then with winds of 185 mph headed right for here. I  sent a text to pastors of my church requesting prayer. Then I sat here at my desk and cried and prayed. They texted back that they would pray, the asst pastor sent a  link to a song on you tube that has helped him when he has been worried. This is an old hymn, and I sang along with tears of thanksgiving streaming.

The lead pastor sent me scripture he had read that morning, which was just right for me right then.

Psalm 121 The Passion Translation (TPT)
God Protects Us

121 A song of the stairway

I look up to the mountains and hills, longing for God’s help.
But then I realize that our true help and protection
come only from the Lord,
our Creator who made the heavens and the earth.

He will guard and guide me, never letting me stumble or fall.
God is my keeper; he will never forget nor ignore me.

He will never slumber nor sleep;
he is the Guardian-God for his people, Israel.

Jehovah himself will watch over you;
he’s always at your side to shelter you safely in his presence.

He’s protecting you from all danger both day and night.

He will keep you from every form of evil or calamity
as he continually watches over you.

You will be guarded by God himself.
You will be safe when you leave your home
and safely you will return.
He will protect you now,
and he’ll protect you forevermore!

I felt so much calmer after the prayers and encouragement from them. I didn't feel so anxious and did not have another meltdown, even though we were still expecting Dorian to hit us.

It was awful watching the devastation that Dorian was wreaking on the Bahamas, for over 24 hours as it stalled there. It was only moving 1 mph and we still didn't know which way it would go. But there were weather patterns, that were predicted to pull it northward and hopefully keep it to the east of FL. Finally it started moving northward, slowly but surely, and kept east of us. Late Tues afternoon I really started to relax as the storm was east and mid state and steadily moving northward. Why were we spared and not the Bahamas? I don't know and I pray for those living there who now have to rebuild their lives. I'm also praying for the Carolinas as they are dealing with nasty weather including tornadoes from Dorian. 

While staying with my friend, I was lying on the bed in the afternoon during some bands of wind and rain and what I noticed in the midst of this weather, was a mockingbird singing away right outside the window, not a care in the world. Reminded me of God's taking care of the birds mentioned in the Bible, and how He cares much more for us.

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Miss Tork and I are so glad to be home, humble as it is, it is our little sanctuary. Now I'll share some photos taken before and after.

Below is the scullery window boarded up.

From inside

Candlestick cassia, photo taken on the first.

International Herald Tribune rose.

 As I was outside this morning, I heard a loud buzzing and it was this hover fly inside a bloom of the candlestick cassia.

You can see him inside one of the blooms and also an ant on top.

This photo was taken from inside. I happened to look up and saw the pink blooms framed inside the heart shape.

 After being away for almost three days, seeing my gardens again really was a balm to my heart and soul. I've lots of work to do in them, and it will get done in time. There are butterflies all over the place, along with bees, pollinating all of the flowers.

Life is precious, let us appreciate the gift of each new day that we are blessed with.

To God be the glory now and forever.

Amen.

FlowerLady