Thoughts from May 7

     Dear readers:

     Now presenting, Holland II!

     So, our cat has a new hobby -- shell collecting! We have a bowl on our table filled with shells from various beaches we've gone to. Bentley carried a small shell all the way down the hall to the other end of the house to one of the bedroom! A bit later, when I was doing my piano practice, I heard this sound on the table. Bentley was sitting by the bowl of shells, playing with it. I turned around in a moment and he was on the floor behind the piano bench, playing with this large shell!

     "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 1 Thess. 5:16-18, NLT.


     Bye,
     Christina Austine

Thoughts from May 5

     Dear readers:

     I'm still typing "April" when I try to title my posts! Here's your National Pet Week photos:

     Pardon me while I try to remember just what I actually did yesterday . . . ;)

     Well, this morning I gave Mrs. M her weekly violin lesson. She is progressing very nicely! It is exciting for me to watch her improve, as she is the first person I started on violin.



     Yesterday I took a few photos of our garden:


     This rose (left) has descended from a rose that went across the country in a covered wagon!

     The rose covering our arbor came from a rose that survived being covered by 20 ft of water after hurricane Katrina. When Mom got it, part of the profit went to help rebuild after the hurricane.

     I enjoyed taking photos of our David Austin roses, and playing with some special effects that my camera does. I
just love this rose shown above, with its peachy pink
and subtle yellow! We also have some
strawberries coming ripe.

     "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:6-7, NLT

     Live this out, and bask in His peace!

     Bye, 

     Christina Austine

  

Thoughts from May 4

     Dear readers:

     Yesterday we all worked in our garden and I got some weeding done. I finished the last few problems in my math book for this year. Just this morning, we saw the grosbeak again!

     Here's your National Pet Week celebration for the day (after I followed him out of the shopping bags, by the window, onto the table, back to the window, trying to get a clear photo of him in a split second when he wasn't moving ;D ) --

     Also, I chatted with my Grandpa yesterday. He's the greatest! I am so excited that he and Grandma will be visiting us in a few weeks.

     "So Judah defeated Israel on that occasion because they trusted in the LORD, the God of their ancestors." (2 Chron. 13:18, NLT) Trust in God, and He will help you defeat your challenges, too!

     Bye,
     Christina Austine

Thoughts from May 3

     Dear readers:

     Happy National Pet Week! At least that's what my calendar says, so I will be celebrating by, each time I post this week, trying to include a picture of our cat and/or our dog. So here we go!

     This is our yellow Labrador retriever (who does not retrieve), Holland II -- but we just call her Holly. :) She is super loving and friendly, with those big brown eyes and a tail that is always wagging.

     And this is our part-Manx 9-month-old kitten, Sir Bentley. I have a whole post about him when he was younger here: https://cabinintheclearing.blogspot.com/search/label/Sir%20Bentley%20the%20Cabbit He is extremely sweet, fast, vigorous, playful, and energetic. He also loves water! And, he hates closed doors.

     Mom made waffles for Friday night supper. YUM! And, pizza for lunch this past week. YUM again!

     Not much else to say, as I just wrote last night.

     "Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O LORD." Psalm 36:6, NLT

     Bye,

     Christina Austine