Family Time

My hubby is back in Tennessee visiting his beautiful grandchildren. Lauren, Allyson and Isaac.
They love their Papaw Ray.

I remain in Oz this time and enjoyed mine.
They came to spend a few days with Nan, 
and made me feel alive and young again.
Brody and Elyshah dressed in uniform for school.

Then I took time to drive one hour away and spend a couple of days with my elder daughter Femia.

She has a contemporary Queenslander home.

With light coloured walls and roof to protect from the heat. 

The front entry welcomes with Christian decor.

Husband David relaxes with a coffee while he contemplates his next business task.

My daughter Femia works on her photography.

I take a stroll out to the swimming pool. 

I hoped to spot my grandsons pet water dragon.

But he is hiding.

     

I walk down the path towards the back of the house.

But see nothing.

I look everywhere before sighting him.

Yes you guessed right...sunbathing near the pool.

Grandson Luke loves reptiles and found this one on the wall at the local shops..

 Luke dressed in school uniform.

If he could take his dragon with him, he would.

                 He's another Steve Irwin.

Life is not perfect yet we should always see the positive,

 and be thankful.

Femia and I spent much time, coming before the Lord and worshiping Him with Praise.

I am so thankful, to have two beautiful Christian daughters who enjoy to praise the Lord with me.  

                                    

 

Flower Wonders

Psalm 118:29
Give thanks to the LORD,
 for he is good;
his love endures forever.

The gazania.

August our last month of winter, and the flowers still bloom.
When God created the earth, He thought of everything. 
Right down to the beautiful design and formation of flowers.

In the garden of miracles we take our delight .......
In the different colours, shapes, perfumes and sizes...

Fashioned to bedazzle our heart and re freshen our soul.  

The Lord will guide you always,

He will satisfy your needs in a sun scorched land,

And strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well watered garden,

Like a spring whose waters never fail.

Isaiah 58:11

And...a Great Carpenter Bee,

all from my front garden.

Faith as Strong as a Tree

 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his     fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalm 1:4    "Praise the Lord!!"

I liken people to trees.

If our roots of faith run deep we will remain strong through all adversity.

As a child I learnt to sing the song.

"Just like a tree planted by the water side, I shall not be moved."

That illustration is a good one.

Especially for those of us who do live near the water.

In case you don't, I am sharing the Pandanus Tree.

Note the roots of this Pandanus Tree. There are many!! and they dig down deep into the soil to hang on tightly. When the ocean roars and the strong cyclonic winds rip away the sands of the coast, that tree is secure. Nothing pulls it up or throws it away.

                                   

  

                          This one defies nature to try and uproot it.

                             It stands confident balanced and strong.

Maybe the reason we have so many of these trees along the Queensland coastline is because they refuse to be moved.

How about you and I? Can we also stand firm and strong through the winds and adversities of life? Or do we bend and sway? To be truthful I have had my times of  finding it difficult to hang tight. Yet with a God who loves me, and in whom I can find shelter, there is a refuge from the storms....

"On Christ the solid Rock I stand,

All other ground is sinking sand."

No other faith gives a certainty on Eternal Life.

No other than Jesus, died for us.........

  

                                                          

                                                  

Spiritual Sundays, Out back.

Our sunflowers about a month ago before dying off and leaving the seed for the birds to feed on.

This is a female king parrot.

           

One of my favourites is the Bird O Paradise. It grows in my side yard.

                                                                     

The taller plant is a Kangaroo paw, we have them in three different colours.

They grow up to approx four feet tall. The dark pink is a Lilly.

                                                             

                                                             

There are always visitors close by.

                                              

In the Palm tree.

                                                              


And White Cockatoo's on the overhead wires.

                                                          


Frangapani in the back yard.

With the yummy Paw Paw tree.

Its been growing about a year. This is our first crop of fruit. 

Look at the size! They turn a yellow orange colour when ripe.

 

And a little bit of America to help my hubby feel at home.

Where we lived in Tennessee was Cherokee country.

So a chief smokes his peace pipe in our garden.

                                                              

JESUS SAID.....
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

John 14:27

My Tropical Bush Garden

My favourite Bush

There's great delight in a garden.

With plenty of flowers to see.

Kookaburra's keeping a close watch for snakes...

                                     Lambs tail bottle brush bush.

Pointsettia bush in my side garden.

                                    Rainbow lorakeets visit for a snack.
                        Their chatter awakens all, very early in the morning.

  A native bush, unsure of the name, but a favourite feed with the birds.

For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow.

So the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise to spring up before all nations.... Isaiah 61: 11