The things you see on the driveway

I went out to get the newspaper off the driveway on Saturday morning, and was greeted by this wonderful moon just above me. Of course, I had to run back in to get my tripod and camera! Wish I could have gotten a better photo of it along with the brightness of Venus just to it's left but was pleased with this offering from the camera.

On That Day by Jayne Nelsen

Shared by a friend on Facebook. Touched me...

Prayer Beads

One of my blog friends noted that when she is more intentional about daily prayer, her life seems to be so much more centered and focused. Prayer *is* a discipline and one that requires taking and making time to address. I love to be able to offer up intercessions for those in need of prayer, but admit that I am sometimes randomly just throwing thoughts up there without having a regular time when I am quiet and present. I had some Anglican Prayer Beads, and each morning after sitting here reading blogs and listening to soothing music, I'd pick up my prayer beads and pray the Fruits of the Spirit before heading out for the day. It centered me and helped me be present, as I then was able to focus on those who need my prayers at any given time. Then sadly, one day when I picked them up, they broke. And along with that break, the discipline of making time to be present went by the wayside as well.

So, the other night, I went searching for some new prayer beads and went to Etsy, my favorite place to find pretty, unique things. I searched for prayer beads, and came upon the beautiful beads in the photo here at the prayerbedes store. I can't wait to get them and get back into a regular routine with my prayer life. Making time truly does make a difference.

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For those who are interested, here is how they are used:

Chipping Sparrow Hide-N- Seek

I've had quite the flock of sweet Chipping Sparrows!

How many Chipping Sparrows can you find below??

Give thanks to the risen Lord

Here is another favorite hymn that our choir sings. The alleluia descant on the last two verses makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck and is always so much fun to sing. Hope it blesses you today! (Thanks again to Stacey at Do What You Love for the use of her gorgeous images in creating this movie.)

Sort of like a duck in a tree?

I saw this little male Downy Woodpecker out my kitchen window and the vision was rather incongruous? Sort of like seeing a duck or a turkey in a tree? A woodpecker sitting in one of my feeder cups? Snow makes birds do all sorts of things I suppose!

Vlogging

From my friend, Songbird's blog....

You are more than welcome to play along!

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Vlogging, I hope
The lovely Coasting Anon posted a Vlog at Other Pieces of Me...won't you play, too?

Here are the prompts:

Say these words:
Aunt, Route, Wash, Oil, Theater, Iron, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Sure, Data, Ruin, Crayon, Toilet, New Orleans, Pecan, Both, Again, Probably, Spitting image, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, Mayonnaise, Syrup, Pajamas, Caught

Answer these questions:
•What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?
•What is the bug that when you touch it, it curls into a ball?
•What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?
•What do you call gym shoes?
•What do you say to address a group of people?
•What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs?
•What do you call your grandparents?
•What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket?

(I meant to say my "car" was hit by one in the Ingles parking lot! LOL!)
•What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?
•What is the thing you change the TV channel with?

New yard bird for Chickadee!

I've seen others post beautiful photos of White-throated Sparrows, but I'd never, ever seen one in my yard... until the huge snow we had! I suppose many of the birds who can usually fend for themselves found it necessary to go where the mobs were eating to try and find some sustenance under all that white stuff. This little guy was only around for a short time, but I was able to get at least a couple of shots of him. Yay! Another bird to add to my yard list!

Spring in January

Back in October, when I was really struggling with being in the choir, our organist had brought a gift for me. I did not know it was in the choir loft area until weeks later when she saw me at church and said, "I think there's a package up there for you." I went up after a service to find a nicely wrapped gift and a card from her. I was so very touched.

I brought it home and unwrapped it. And I smiled. A Narcissus bulb kit for indoor bulb planting in the long, cold winter. I'd seen other people do this, but I never had. I followed the instructions and put those bulbs in the planting medium.

In only weeks, they'd sprouted. Then, they started growing and buds appeared. Spring... right there on my kitchen table... in January. By the time they bloomed, I had returned to the choir and took a photo of them to her. She was delighted that they'd bloomed, but even more delighted that I'd returned. A gift of love, and waiting... until "I" was ready to bloom again.

Thanks Theresa!

I was recently bestowed the Stylish Blogger Award by my new blogging friend Theresa over at The Run*A*Round Ranch. The rules that go with it state I must tell you 7 things about myself and pass the award on to 5 more bloggers. After five years of blogging, I've decided not to post rewards on my side bar or tag others, so just play along if you'd like! You're all Stylish to me!

OK, let's see... seven things about me:

1. I adore the ultra-fine Sharpies (mostly the blue ones), and will prefer to write with them over ink pens any day.

2. HOWEVER, if I am writing with a pen, it's a Pilot G-2 black rollerball 0.5mm always!

3. I am a user of Pantene 2 in 1 as I really detest having to shampoo and THEN apply conditioner as I wash my hair in the bathtub after my bath! I really don't care for showers.

4. I am so paranoid about running out of gas that I pretty much always refuel when I have 1/4 tank left! And no, I've never run out of gas in my life.

5. I remember lyrics to most all songs I've heard repeatedly over the years and find I can pretty much sing along to any pop song on the radio which is older than one year!

6. I adore Pepperidge Farm 12 Grain Whole Grain bread (hearty slices) and have been known to go from store to store to find it! THE best bread! Hands down!

7. I NEVER, and I mean, NEVER make out a grocery list. I can pretty much get what I need and know where those things are located at Walmart, Food Lion, and Bi-Lo! (OK, so I'll admit if I am making a new dish, I will write down what I need to get... but this happens rarely as I really don't enjoy cooking!)

This Little Light of Mine

Last Sunday, we had a guest speaker (the husband of the priest who was filling in that day) who shared his memories and reflections of being at the March on Washington in 1963. He'd requested that we sing This Little Light of Mine, and we wondered how we could adapt it so that it was reverent during Communion. Here is how we ended up singing it... quite lovely I thought.

But, the funny thing is that as we were singing it, the priest had realized she'd forgotten to bring our organist Communion. She came back to the choir area, and was standing there as we were finishing the second verse. Anne, our organist, looked up, simply stopped playing to receive, and we continued to sing the first part of verse 3 a cappella, which I thought in the end, really made the song!

Be sure to let your own little lights shine!

Why I adore blogging

Where else would I meet such talented people as my bloggy friend Kelly? This amazing artist participated in a "100 Paintings in a Year" challenge and did it! She can knock out a painting faster than I can compose a blog post. Back in the fall, she posted this absolutely stunning painting of a Chickadee. I immediately wanted it... to buy it... and hang it here... on Chickadee.

I wrote to Kelly and asked her if she sold her paintings, but she explained that she's not quite ready to do that, but would be glad to have a print made for me! No way! And so... it came in the mail a week ago, and it is just as stunning as the painting, and she even put it in a gorgeous cherry frame which matches my bookcase here in the office where the computer is located, so I can simply turn, grin, and stare at it any time I like. I was so honored to be able to have one of her beautiful prints, and again, thank my blessings for my blogging friends every single day.

Hello sweet one!

During the snow, all sorts of birds came to the kitchen window feeder area...

but I have to say I was most pleased to get a quick photo of this sweet

Eastern Phoebe who came to perch in the Crepe Myrtle while resting.

Group of bandits

Another bird that I rarely get to see at the kitchen window feeders is the Blue Jay! During the snow, I had SIX in the Crepe Myrtle doing their best to steal all the good seeds away from the regular visitors. You can't help but like them! They are so colorful and funny to watch.

Lord, For Thy Tender Mercies' Sake

Here is the anthem we did at church yesterday. I thought it turned out just beautifully.
It's so good to be back with them.
Hope everyone enjoys it!
(Thanks again to Stacey at Do What You Love for the use of her magnificent photos!)

"Lord, for thy tender mercies' sake,
lay not our sins to our charge,
but forgive that is past,
and give us grace to amend our sinful lives.
To decline from sin and incline to virtue,
that we may walk in a perfect heart before thee,
now and evermore."
--Richard Farrant (1566)

Robin's Robins are Rockin'!

OK, so if you haven't already, you need to go check out

my friend Robin's blog! He has such a wonderful eye

and I find myself dropping my jaw on a regular basis

when I visit. Scroll down a few days and check out his

unbelievable shot of a Purple Finch! Robin RoCkS!

At the summitt

I absolutely loved this image of a sweet

little Song Sparrow on the summitt

of a stack of snow on the deck post.

Wonder what he was thinking?

I am JUST as pretty as him!

Now, what have we here? You sort of look familiar, but you are not ringing a bell for me...

"Excuse me? What do you mean you don't recognize me? Is it because I'm not as flashy as my mate? Is THAT what you are trying to imply?"

Oh, wait! I know! You are a female Red-wing Blackbird! You totally threw me off as you are so much prettier even than him!

"Well, of course I am! I shall take a bow now, thank you for your noticing that, and continue to enjoy the feast some kind woman has left here for me."

Towhee in the snow

Now, this was a treat for me! I so rarely see the Towhees at my feeders, and when I do, they tend to scratch around the periphery of the feeder area and it's hard to get a decent shot of them. I had no idea they are actually considered to be an oversized sparrow! During the snowfall, I saw three males on the ground at the feeders in the back yard, and was tickled when one decided to check out the offerings below the platform feeder outside the kitchen window. I never did see a female, but was so thrilled to get this close to one, period!

Resident Red-shouldered Hawk

And, of course, this beautiful guy showed up during the snow to check out the scene. My sister shared that they typically would rather feast on small mammals and rodents than birds. Maybe that's why my birds don't seem nearly as spooked by him. Now, when a Cooper's or Red-tailed is in the yard, the tumbleweeds roll!

The Colossal Snow Event

In this part of the country, it's seriously odd for the weather people to actually come out and say, "We are going to get 6-8" of snow people!" Northwest Georgia just does not get that kind of precipitation, unless... it comes up from the Gulf of Mexico... and then, all bets are off! So, it did and we got a whopping 8"+ of snow!

It did not start until around 11:30 Sunday night and by the time I awoke at 3:30 in the morning, and peeked outside, everything was fully blanketed! Wow! We've not had this much snow since the great blizzard of 1993.

Sam was supposed to go back to school from Christmas break on Monday, and now, there's no telling when they'll make it back as the buses simply won't run if there is any chance of ice and the temps will not get above freezing long enough to start melting all this. All I can say is thank goodness for Jif peanut butter and no loss of power! What a winter wonderland!

(For the record, this *is* me in these shots.

I do, however, have on one of Sam's coats!)

Persister persisting

My counseling is going well and I have gained a good bit of insight into my particular issues with perfectionism. One of the things we discussed is how my base personality is that of the nurturer, however, I am also a huge persister. Had I not been, I would never have been able to deal with Sam's issues and provide him the help and support he needed to be the best he can be. However, as Jean pointed out to me, one thing that persisters can do is get locked into a pattern where they "should" all over everyone. I thought that was an apt euphemism in my life at this point, and what has caused me the most stress in relationships.

My perfectionism makes me identify in my mind what people SHOULD do or how I think they SHOULD act, and then when they don't, the persister kicks in makes me start feeling angry and frustrated that it's not going the way I think it should. Don't they see what I see? I've identified several other instances where people did not behave in ways I thought they should and so I either felt hurt or backed away from friendships with them due to my disappointment. Yep, me and my righteous indignation. I've sent letters of apology to two different people this week. Sheesh.

The thing is that no one is going to see themselves or their lives the way I see them. And, I have no clue what is going on in their minds or lives which might precipitate their actions. They are doing what they CAN do, and I am passing judgment based upon my own false perceptions. The only person who suffers... is me. Holding tightly to my need to be right and to be in control has had a real negative impact on my life recently. I am so ready to stop this pattern of thinking and behavior and I have to say, simply realizing this is what I tend to do has been like lifting a load of bricks off my shoulders. Stay tuned.

Nature's Treasures

When we were in Savannah over the Christmas holidays, we stayed just around the corner from the City Market. We wondered into a shop called Nature's Treasures which had all sorts of neat candle holders, book ends, and such made of natural stones and agates. But it was the display in the back of the store on the wall that made me gasp. Butterfly art sculptures! Yes, real butterflies. (I apologize that I could not seem to get a shot without the overhead lights reflected onto the Plexiglas cases.)

The owner explained that they are all mostly from South America and Asia and are raised and grown on farms in protected enclosures. There, they are allowed to live and grow, with a good portion of the eclosed butterflies being released back into the wild to help keep the populations of these glorious creations in healthy numbers. I was still not quite too sure how I felt about these becoming "art" but had to admit that they were simply stunning to see.

Scram!

I watched this male Pine Warbler as he found some Bark Butter I had tossed into the platform feeder. When he saw it, I could tell he was pretty much going to try to make it his own. You could imagine him thinking.... "Hmmm... how can I nicely ask these other dudes to leave so this will be all mine?"

Within minutes, manners went right out the window as I giggled and watched him not-so-nicely tell Mr. House Finch to take a hike!

Sam's New Haircut

Haircuts have never been one of Sam's favorite things, but his

hair had gotten to critical mass, and even he was complaining

that it was "long and hot." So, we went to Great Clips yesterday

and saw Miss Debbie, who did a spectacular job! He was patient

and was handsomely rewarded with a trip to Wendy's. I thought

I'd let him tell you how he feels about his "new do!"

Love Letter to the World

As I have started this process of healing and learning about my tendencies to need people to see things the way I see them, I have found that I am certainly not alone. I found the beautifully written piece above by Kate Swoboda and thought it was worth sharing here. Kate is a life coach and can be found offering words of wisdom and support at Your Courageous Life.

How many times do we forget to really try and understand what is going on in another person's world? We see fear and we hear judgement or anger.... but what is behind that? It's important that we try to understand life through the perspective of the person we so quickly decide is flawed. Walk a mile in their shoes. Stand in front of them and offer compassion for their being very human. They may never be able to let go of the things that hold them back, but that is their journey to take. Your responsibility is to always try to see that most times, it's never anything personal. Do not let it permeate into your spirit and harden your own heart.

Goldfinch in the snow

These guys were plentiful and were quite vocal in

jockeying for position on the feeders during the

snow we had on Christmas Day. This one had me

chuckling as he contemplated just what on earth

was falling from our Georgia sky!

Snow Wren

Oh, how I love to see and watch these little feisty guys.

You somehow know that no matter what, they'll find their way.

Red-shouldered Finial

I saw my regular visitor on my feeder yesterday and was able to

shoot a short video using my little point and shoot I use for work.

It was shot through the kitchen window, but you can get the gist!

Five years ago today

On this day five years ago, I contemplated what I'd call my new blog. My blog. I was going to start a blog. I was stepping outside my comfort zone. I had no clue what on earth I'd post here. What did I have to say that anyone would want to read? (Well, other than you Anne.) So, what should it be called? It came to me easily. I remember being surprised that the name was not yet taken. I liked the sound of it, Journey Through Grace. It pretty much summed up my life. Little did I know, I would be further enveloped in grace as I made the acquaintance of so many very wonderful friends from all over this rather now-small earth.

I'm almost embarrassed to say that over these five years, I've posted almost every single day. Five years and 1,822 posts. There are days when I think I am ready to take a break, but then something happens, or I snap a photo, and simply have to share it here. It feeds both my creativity and my need to feel connected. It's part of the fabric of me now. I sit down here every single morning to visit with each of you and it's such a gift. I feel blessed beyond measure. I could never adequately relay to you what your presence and support here has meant to me.

I've often told my husband that if, God forbid, something happened to me, he should come here to let you know. I'd hate to just disappear and have people worry. And I know you would. So, on this, the fifth anniversary of sharing this journey with you, I want to say, "Thank You" from the bottom of my humbled heart. Thank you for caring, for sharing, and for being a part of my life. My journey is so much richer for knowing you and being a part of such a special community of friends.

P.S. There will be a special somethin' somethin' for one of the commenters on this post. Just a little gift of a few of my favorite things to commemorate five years.

Chipping Sparrows in the snow

I've had a good sized flock of Chipping Sparrows

and they came out in droves to get some seed

from the ground around the feeders.

The fellow below seems to be contemplating

just how much snow was falling!

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As an aside, I just found (this morning), four comments that were left on my blog which were put into the "awaiting moderation" folder in the comments tab. Some were from back in October! Not sure why on earth they were filtered there, but wanted to offer apologies to anyone who did not see their comments posted for some reason. I will be sure to check that tab more often! And, because there were no spam comments at all, I am going to attempt to turn off the word verification and see how it goes. Crossing my fingers!