Splendor

All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful, The Lord God made them all. Each little flower that opens, Each little bird that sings, He made their glowing colors, He made their tiny wings. The tall trees in the greenwood, The meadows where we play, The rushes by the water, We gather every day. He gave us eyes to see them, And lips that we might tell, How great is God Almighty, Who has made all things well.

From: Maker of Heaven and Earth by Cecil Frances Alexander

Today is Monday and as I pondered this day I realized there were many new "firsts" this week. Saturday John and I went on a 10 mile bike ride along Poudre Creek openspace. It was beautiful and still early enough in the day to make it comfortable. Saturday evening our entire gang went to our local county fair. This was such a fun adventure, our first county fair in Colorado, and it was free. Smaller in comparison to other fairs in California but filled with wonder for the children. We even got to watch a woman's competition barrel racing and this brought back memories of my youngest daughters enjoyment of trying this. I'm thankful that my girls had the privledge of learning how to ride and care for horses. My oldest grandson wanted to know if I had entered a quilt and when I said no, he told me I should next year. Out of the mouths of babes. Today, my daughter Kim, had a prenatal check up and got the o.k. to go to Steamboat Springs with the family for a weekend. I am so thankful that she wasn't put on bed rest. While she was at the doctor's, Carrie&her gang, Kim's two daughters and I went on a walk. Although we have seen wild bunnies in other neighborhoods, I was blessed this day to see one in a neighbor's yard. I know that I wouldn't be so happy if I had a large garden and it was partaking of my vegetables but I am still in awe that we live a place where we see Prairie Dogs, Bunnies, Fox, Eagles and that we can be in the mountains,within an hour, seeing Elk, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goats and the promise of Moose. It is the little things that bring joy to my life. Also on our walk I looked down and saw this beautiful Dragonfly and although it was dead the boys enjoyed my gathering it up for them to examine more closely. I am thankful for the changing weather here, we have had 22 days of 90+ heat but often have light rain in the afternoon. I am still trying to be thankful for the thunder that terrifies one of our dogs and I'm thankful that the other dog is getting a bit deaf and doesn't freak like he used to. I am so grateful that I'm able to stay home and help our daughters out, wear shorts and go barefoot most of the time. That's the country girl in me! There are so many things to be grateful for each day, so often we are in too much of a hurry to stop and look around, seeing with clarity all that life blesses us with.

Look around your world today and be blessed.