Got up with the miseries today. No reason or rhyme for it, just random feelings of sadness and loneliness. After I walked Penelope, I sat down in the swing and when the warm sunshine from the beautiful azure blue sky hit my face, my angst was immediately taken away. I sat in the swing like Daddy, one leg up in the swing, the other dragging slowly across the porch floor, pushing the swing. I shut my eyes and imagined I was now in a picturesque wooden fishing boat named Repose, craftsmanship so fine it had to have been sculptured by Jeb Ewing, each layer of wood a different grain and color, woven together tight, sturdy and strong, a boat, yet a beautiful work of art, crafted by an artist’s hands.

I was floating in a deep, still water lily pond, dragging one leg over the side of the boat, making waves and ripples, slowly floating through exquisite pink and white water lilies. The swing chain squeaks were water birds in the reeds along the shore. It was so pleasant in the sun, I almost went to sleep. The sound of the air brakes on the UPS van and Penelope’s incessant barking at the truck roused me from my drowsy pleasantness. That dog! She hates any thing that drives or arrives in a truck.

The day was dressed up in her pretty blue sky and warm sunshine, warm enough to spend the day pondering on the porch. I’ve missed these porch days. My yard was full of songbirds and a flock of 12 mourning doves. Research says mourning doves are graceful. I think the are hysterical with their bobbing heads and lack of balance on the power lines. I filled up the bird feeders and was glad nothing had disturbed them. I put the raccoon cage on the back deck. Might have another one, I’ve caught four in all.

I was filling up one of the finch feeders and almost got hit in the face by one of the neighborhood kestrels. He swooped down looking for breakfast on the feeder. Missed the bird but almost got me. I could feel the wind from his wings on my cheek. He’s a handsome, colorful little falcon with long blue and rusty orange wings, the wing feathers dotted with black. He has two black slashes on his face, dark pert eyes, a notched beak, and rusty orange legs. He has a mate that lives on our street, too. Occasionally they will screech “Klee, Klee,” and fly around the neighborhood together. They both love to snatch songbirds unaware off the feeders.

I get so much pleasure out of bird watching. I enjoy their singing and their squabbles over the perches on the feeders. I love to watch the patterns they fly as they fly from feeder to feeder, up to the sky, to the oak tree branches, to the power lines. Such simple little creatures of the heavens, adding beauty and joyful songs to the landscape. Matthew 6:26 reads, “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.” God takes care of the earth’s creatures and he will take care of us. He doesn’t want us to worry about our lives but be free of worry like the song birds, going about our daily activities, knowing God is always there. He will catch us when we fall, answer our prayers when we ask, and carry our worries in his hands.

Came across this quote today. “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams,” Eleanor Roosevelt. We all have dreams we want to accomplish. I think our dreams give our lives a purpose and direction. We have to believe in ourselves and our dreams to make them happen. Sometimes our own doubts and fears set our dreams on hold. We have to have courage to follow our dreams.

When everyday life challenges us and our dreams, we need to search for self-confidence and believe in ourselves. God always believes in us and in our abilities, knowing we can achieve our dreams with faith in his plans for our lives. Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” Never give up on your dreams! God doesn’t.

“Every morning you have two choices: Continue to sleep with your dreams, or wake up and chase them.” — Carmelo Anthony