~breathing deep

Relaxing, letting down and breathing deep...

do you know those feelings?

Listening for the sounds of all...

the bullfrogs croak

and the crickets chirp

Our awareness awakened

(making) taking the time to escape

Remembering TIME is in HIS hands

from the rising to the setting

the lungs are filled

no shallow or fast breaths

no hurried feelings

Amazed by HIS gifts

God's color wheel is so much more vivid

color coordinated :)

relaxing and resting

in HIS beauty

brings refreshment

to the soul and body

"need to get away"

this phrase is used by all

living in this world of fastness

our bodies know

We were made for a "getaway" with

Our Creator.

We are freshened in HIS goodness.

We become fixed on God.

We leave focused on HIM.

These shots were taken one evening back in March,

my husband and I slipped away to chase a sunset

and we stayed way to late...

but, it was so worth it.

Today, as I began putting this post together

the LORD used these captures again to remind

HE is desiring a "getaway" with me.

~~~

Just a personal update.  It has been quite some time

since I posted.  My family was "sweet" to me and

were able to "make do" without me for almost a

week, as I visited with my mother and mother-in-law.

Time slipped by as I prepared for the visit

and when I returned life was busy.

~from decorating for a bridal shower to sitting in a dentist chair

and a few other things in between~ :)

My mother has remodeled her home and I helped

put things back in place. A dear friend of

mine came over one day and we had a fun time

decorating. I know I'm bad, (I did not take any pics),

 but when I return, I promise I will!

She is enjoying all the work and it looks really great.

Prayer request to all my blogging friends.

  Please pray for my mother, she is having

health problems.  She has lost alot of weight and is

continuing to lose, the doctors have found a bacteria

in her stomach along with a lung condition.  She

will be having a biopsy on her lungs next week.

I am overloading you with updates,

but one last thing, that I am so excited about!

My sweet mother-in-law and I are planning

to attend a weekend retreat at the Potter's House.

Nancy and Pat have created

a weekend "getaway" for ladies to spend

time with the Lord in the mountains of North Carolina.

Click on Potter's House and read more about

this great place.  I can't wait to meet them

and see what God has in store, while we are there.

I will share when we return~

Karen

Tea Time Anyone?

I've always been an "iced sweet tea" kinda girl.

But, I've matured with age.

Afternoon Tea Anyone?

My mother-in-law told me about the

Blueberry flavored and so...

this afternoon, I enjoyed

a cup of Celestial Blueberry Flavored Tea.

It was so delicious and I encourage you to try it.

(No compensation for sharing this product with you.)

Tea should be taken in solitude.  ~ C.S. Lewis

~touches of sweetness

just little reminders

 are needed

to let others know

they are special and loved

adding a touch of sweetness

always makes life more enjoyable

Happy Valentine's Day

to all of you who have encouraged and

scrolled the pages of

Places of my Heart~

The best and most beautiful things

in the world cannot be seen

 or even touched.

They must be felt with the heart.
~Helen Keller

~INTO

Wednesday's capture with my phone

while headed to eat lunch with my sweetheart

Have your heart right with Christ,

and He will visit you often,

And so turn weekdays into Sundays,

meals into sacraments,

homes into temples and earth into heaven.

~Charles Spurgeon

Roots Exposed ~

The ride to the bluff was a treacherous one...

bumps, washouts and ruts

it was twenty four days into November

we made the late afternoon ride to mark it with
 a 2 and a 5
 to remember the day we said "I do"
~~~

the tree that bore the first markings

as fresh sweethearts

 was no where found after a lengthy search
we had hoped to mark the years spent
underneath the first

maybe the wind, man or other forces

 had taken toll?

~~~

the knife with skillful hands

 carefully scratched the years

in the smooth bark of a new beech 

as I waited with camera in hand

my eyes and heart were not able to miss

the sight of the tree's base down below, 

 the beech tree roots

 running on the ground

 reaching for nourishment

but exposed so raw

 tall and straight
roots bare and sprinkled with colors of beauty

but exposed to forces of nature and man

My hearts condition lay bare
at the base of the tree
the LORD stirring my heart

with full exposure
the shutter clicked

convicting thoughts tugged
~~~
send your roots deep
prepare for the storms of life

desire a fresh word
~~~
how am I to withstand the
"mama said, there'd be days like this"

standing straight to the trials and the forces
 that come with the living-life
~~~
 the inevitable but unseen and unknown
making their unwanted visits


The unwanted is no respecter of persons
~~~
My roots must be covered
they must run deep into God's Word,
be buried in His way.

Landscaping using His Word to cover
and watering with prayer to add beauty
of My Saviour's Love

 within a few short weeks,
of the ride to the bluff, life storms blew
the inevitable was encountered
death visited our family
...How did we stand?

with the support of God's ever-ready
 comforting peace
and the love of family and friends

“The tree on the mountain

 takes whatever the weather brings.

 If it has any choice at all,

 it is in putting down roots as deeply as possible."

---Each New Day” ― Corrie ten Boom

I found this on pinterest

a few weeks ago - 

just another affirmation

of His desiring us to be grounded

In HIM.

Source: be-the-change.tumblr.com via Karen on Pinterest

I pray you are sending your roots down deep.

In Him,

Karen

fun in the midst of trials

Thank you for your visits to Places of my Heart.

I am experiencing problems with blogger

at this time.  I disabled comments on two posts

and was unsuccessful enabling for the post about
St. Mary's Cathedral.

Thank you for your quiet visits and for the emails received.

It has blessed my heart to know that you have

been able to capture the beauty and reverence

of this historic place of worship.

~~~

We've had a visitor.

The birds had to share the birdfeeder yesterday.

Excuse the quality of the picture,

it was raining and I snapped the picture

through the dining room window.

He hung around most of the day.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

 

St. Mary's Cathedral ~ Natchez, MS

~this past November we made a stop in Natchez, MS

the above picture was taken standing on the bank

of the Mississippi River over the state line in Vidalia, LA

looking back across the river to Natchez

The sun was beginning to make its first appearance

 on that Saturday morning.

I love how the sun's glow is highlighting

the church steeple.

We drove back across the bridge and took our

youngest on a quick drive through downtown

Natchez.  He enjoyed the drive through the

historic downtown, as much as a teenage boy

would.  But, I insisted that my husband stop

and let us go inside...



the steeple that was captured in the

first picture belonged to this grand church

I was very surpised when I entered the foyer

and there above the doors was this sign

Eucharist ~ Thanksgiving

as we stood in the foyer and read the words of how to

enter the church in reverence... I prepared the youngest

who had never entered or attended a church of this faith

all new surroundings for him awaited as he opened the doors

~Breath-taking~

he was in awe & I too was still over-taken with the beauty

My husband and I had made a visit to St. Mary's Cathedral

back in the early 90's.  But, the beauty and architecture are still amazing as the first visit.

it was the mid morning hours and

the sun was streaming in the windows

as we stood in the quiet,

with only whispers to each other



thoughts came of my Saviour's life, death, and resurrection

so thankful He rose from the grave

 after the horrible death on the cross

~~~

but, after loading the pictures I thought of the

scriptures found in Isaiah 6:1-5

describing God's glory

His train filling the temple

and how Isaiah describes himself

In the year that King Uzziah died,

 I saw the Lord sitting on a throne,

 high and lifted up, and the train of His [robe] filled the temple.

Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings:

 with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet,

 and with two he flew.

And one cried to another and said:

 "Holy, holy, holy [is] the LORD of hosts;

 The whole earth [is] full of His glory!"

And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.

So I said: "Woe [is] me, for I am undone!

 Because I [am] a man of unclean lips,

 And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;

 For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts."

Isaiah 6:1-5 NKJV

Hope you enjoyed the tour~

Karen

~Once in a lifetime...

jealousy would be wrong...

 but just to think my duck hunting guys get to see this

 ~ I am a little envious ~

the above picture was the first view my eyes rested upon

when we arrived at the duck blind last Friday morning

every second the view was changing

because of the fog on the river

The boys had been wanting me to go for quite some time.

I agreed, but almost backed out.

45 degrees & 4:30 a.m. - not my favs

We were in Louisiana at our son's home for Thanksgiving.

I heard the oldest & youngest along with their dad

getting suited up in the living room.

Putting on their layers of clothing while dad broke

the news "mom just don't think she can do it".

In a split second,

I had a change of mind ~ just like I'm prone to do.

But, I must say when I loaded in the boat, with help,

 at the launch on the Red River,

I wished my toes & my nerves had still been resting

under the warm covers back at the house.

IT WAS SOOOO FOGGY!!!

I covered my stocking cap head with a blanket

and never peeked until we pulled into the duck blind.

~Words I could hear through the layers wrapping my head~

Dad, I can't see the tree line.

you are on the other side of the buoy where the rocks are

turn the light off I can't see anything with it on

what was that?

there should be another marker - I don't see it.

oh my, there's the port - almost turned in

I had a wonderful prayer time on the 15 minute boat ride.

Mom looked for beauty all around

~when the ducks don't fly

I posted the pictures in order of the morning events.

Fog would thin and then thicken.

The ducks could not see where to fly into.

So needless to say - no ducks, just decoys.

The sun had a really hard time burning through.

A breeze started blowing and blew the fog out.

Or at least that's what the guys said.

I enjoyed every minute ~ even savored my morning coffee.

Just don't think I'm cut out for riding the river.

The oldest son had prepared me for his change in appearance

before we arrived last week.

He had started growing his duck hunting beard back in September.

The shaving date is set for February!

 Oh, my!

The youngest tried to grow one for the week. :))

~the duck hunting make-up is lacking alot

I didn't even give it a try.

Such beautiful pictures painted

 just for our eyes to behold and enjoy.

So glad I did not miss it!

Dad enjoying his time off and time spent with his boys.

  The ride home!



Joining the others for Outdoor Wednesday