Today has been another beautiful fall day with blue sky and bleached white clouds. The birds have been scarce but the butterflies are all over the yard. I’ve seen cloudless sulphur butterflies, sharing zinnia blooms with the majestic tap dancing monarchs, and little yellow skippers and black swallowtails feeding on the fading blooms of the red geraniums.

Oldest brother came over for a porch visit this afternoon and mentioned that his birds are scarce too. We decided they must be eating berries around somewhere. I haven’t seen a hummingbird in a few days so I wonder if they have left on their travels to South America. My million bell flowers, in their four big urns, look so sad but the bees are enjoying their sparse blossoms so I’m letting the plants look bedraggled now so the bees can gather the pollen and sip on the nectar. On quiet mornings I can hear the bee symphony buzzing around the urns.

Birds live such a simple straight forward life. Like us they need food, water, and shelter. They spend the majority of their hours foraging for food. They clean and preen their feathers, build nests for their babies, bathe in the bird baths, sing and socialize with other birds. We do most of those things — we eat our meals, drink our bottled water, shower in our bathrooms, and lay our heads down on our beds at night. We socialize with our loved ones and friends and some of us sing in the church choirs. Like the birds, we live busy lives, too. But unlike the birds we accumulate so many “things.” Imagine having to pick up and migrate once a year dragging along all our stuff with us! I’ve moved twice, from Roanoke to Alexander City and back to Roanoke. Not moving again unless I am packed up and shipped to Shady Oaks.

I love college football Saturdays. I root for Alabama but I’ve been rooting for Auburn University, too, since my nephew, who overcame a life threatening illness, is attending college there. I will of course root for Alabama when they play Auburn but I’m faithful to Auburn till that game. I miss Chief when I watch the ball games. We always watched college football together and would have what we called a ball game tea party. I made nacho cheese dip for the Alabama game today. Penelope begged for a chip the entire time I was snacking. I honestly thing she is a vulture reincarnated. If she hears cellophane crinkle she’s on the prowl like a shark looking for prey.

Found a great quote today. “Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love time is eternity,” — Henry Van Dyke

When we are waiting for something we long for, time moves so slowly it seems to take an eternity. Remember waiting for Christmas to come as a child. When we fear something it comes on fast, no matter how much we dread the situation it will eventually come to pass. Even in our darkest hour, when we feel alone, God is there with us. We really don’t need to fear things when we have God’s assurance that he will help us through the trials. He will comfort us and help us not feel alone in our moments of distress. He does not abandon us in our times of need.

When we rejoice, the celebration is soon over and the happiness of the moment wanes. But for those who have a genuine love that love will live for all eternity. When someone dies we don’t stop loving them. In the endless nature of grief, we continue to love them through our memories and occasionally we feel their loving presence beside us. Love conquers time and time is eternal without borders.

We can always rejoice in God’s love and know we will one day reside in heaven with him. God’s love is unconditional. There is not a moment that God doesn’t love us. We can find peace through God’s love.

“Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God,” – Ronald Reagan.