Better Late Than Never

Yes, there is blog this week - just  day late. We were gone for  a few days and I did not have my computer with me. Perhaps the most important event this week was the birth of our 6th great grand child, Milo Kenneth Raymond Zoromski safely born on June 14th. Another one of God's greatest miracles.

Baby Milo

The decorating of our daughter's pergola on the patio is under way. the old farm tools/equipment that we brought back from Wisconsin (some were in the family for years) have been put up. It looks really nice - am still looking for a few more to add to the collection.

 these were used to haul logs from the woods, actually used up to a few yers ago by my brother-in-law

imagine cutting down a tree with this

an old tractor seat - John Deere I am sure

It is so relaxing to just sit and enjoy the beautiful weather and watch all the critters flitting all over. The birds come right up to the patio and don't seem to mind us being there. Even the small gecko's run across the outdoor carpet while we watch. As we were looking out the back door, a road runner sat on the rock ledge, staring at the ground. Zap - just like that he grabbed a snake, bit off it's head, and flew away with the capture. So many happenings in nature if a person just sits and watches.

 the rod runner with dinner to go

the ever colorful cardinl

 he sat on the rocks right next to me

if you look closely you can see the gecko

On Friday evening we drove to Fort Smith to visit our daughter, husband, and grand and great grand daughter. It is a beautiful drive of about 1 hour - many, many bridges, over valleys and rivers. Perhaps one of the most  beautiful drives I have ever been on. Our great daughter will be 1 year old soon (her party is next Sunday) and surprisingly, she was not really afraid of us (she has not seen us since  last year when she was  tiny baby then).

 granddaughter Sydney and Harper

she loves her toes and always seems to be smiling

On Saturday we drove to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, an artsy town which also boasts of a Passion Play, a visit to the Holy Land, A Bible museum as well as ,,at other Biblical things to visit. We went to the Holy Land - a trip through the life of Jesus. It was very interesting, but wish we could have walked the area instead of riding a bus (with no air conditioning).

 
a very friendly donkey, perhaps the same as ridden by Mary  and and Jesus on Palm Sunday

the temple built according to Bible specifications

the priest in the temple

 the Ark of the Covenant

 brick making in process

 a cave, used for sheltering animals, and perhaps similar to where Jesus was born

early micro wave

the Sea of Galilee - the daughter of the official who was raised from the dead telling her story

 Jesus walking on water - powerful

 a depiction of a well where the women went to get their water

the Upper Room

We spent the night in Eureka, being entertained by the Ozark Country Hoedown, a really funny, great show, comparable to those in Branson, and certainly much less expensive. Sunday morning we went to church at Thorncrown Chapel, a beautiful chapel in the woods designed by E. Fay Jones, a popular Southern architect  who studied under Frank Lloyd Wright. The chapel rises 48 feet high, with 425 windows and 6000 sq. feet of glass. A wonderfully peaceful setting as the thunder rolled quietly and the rain fell softly while we attended worship service.

 it look small, but it is magnificent

from the inside looking out

We drove back to Fort Smith on Suunday, after a few stops at various shop. Our son-in-law prepared a wonderful meal while our daughter treated visitors to rides on their horses. Everyone was tired by the end of a very fun week-end.

son-in-law Darrell getting ready to let every ride

Sydney and Harper - Harper was not too sure about being in the saddle

The sermon in beautiful Thorncrown Chapel related to the fact that we often have trouble seeing the love of God. How do we see it?? God always gives us good things, but we focus on the bad things. Why is that? Good things can't hurt us, but the bad things can, so we focus on  the "what if"? We have to look beyond on the finite and look toward the infinite which is the measure of the love of Christ. God had to  make Paul weak in order to make him strong in Him. And so it is in our lives - God assures it through His love.

Remember this week to practice Agappe love - love beyond human love.