The man in the moon was still up when I walked Penelope this morning. I’ve enjoyed looking for him in the mornings, dressed in his pale luminous pajamas. Can’t find him some nights, though.

Today was so delightfully fall. Blue sky, clear and cloudless as far as the eye could see. Guess Father Sky decided not to draw any clouds on his sky canvas. Bright blinding sun warming the day like it was summer. I watched two black vultures wind their way up in the sky canvas, twisting round in circles like the key on a wind up toy. I watched them till my neck hurt. I just wonder how high they are when they become black specs against the blue sky. Black turkey buzzards can fly almost four miles high! They must have a beautiful view of the earth.

Ate my late breakfast perched in the swing, watching a fall morning come alive around my neighborhood. The leaves were dancing to the ground from all the old water oaks and when the wind blew a little whirlwind it gathered some leaf friends and spun off down the street with them. A few loud magnolia leaves slapped themselves down the street chasing the whirlwind. The squirrels were pulling acorns off the oak limbs, high in the tops of the trees, running up and down slender branches. Two of the squirrels drank thirstily from the bird baths. Lots of doves wearing their grey coats and little pink high heels, bobbed their heads and prissed around the yard. The squirrels are too arrogant to even pay them any attention.

Mr. Yellowhammer, the northern flicker, is around in the top of the oak tree. I know he’s a mister because he has a black mustache on his face. Haven’t seen a female near the tree. Saw Mr. Downy Woodpecker on a suet basket but he didn’t stay long. All the songbirds and Fatty the squirrel were enjoying their mid-morning snacks when the neighborhood hawk swooped down for his snack. He missed sinking his claws in anyone but he ran the birds away for a good while. His wing flapping sounds are loud and scary. That’s the second time this week he’s come for lunch and left empty handed. He’ll snatch a songbird off the feeder and a few downy feathers sadly float down as he flies off with his catch. I know that’s nature’s way but still makes me mad.

The wind chimes and an old howling dog composed a yard symphony for a while and then everything was quiet except for the birds calling their mates. A lonely loud wailing train came by, clicking and clacking down the tracks, its woo-woos echoing in the still air. The chipmunks, five of them I counted, were running all over the yard and porch, chasing each other and fighting. Penelope was watching them, her head going back and forth like she was watching a tennis match. One ran right over my foot while I was on the phone with oldest sister-in-law. Thank goodness it didn’t run up my blue jean’s leg. I always put my legs up in the swing just so that can’t happen. I almost learned a lesson the hard way. At least it wasn’t Balthazar slithering across my foot. I’m hoping he packed up and left after I gave him a shower of clove and cinnamon oil.

I sat in the swing all afternoon waiting for the sun to slide down the horizon. Her bright light was like a flashlight beam on my face in the swing, her life giving light, hot on my cheeks, had to raise my hand to shade my eyes for a few moments. Mother Nature was again using her palette of pastel watercolors and brushed the horizon in a pale aqua blue, beginning another sunset masterpiece. As the sun got close to bedding down, the horizon was bathed in a pure golden light, so ethereal and beautiful. Father Sky bent over to kiss the sun goodnight, probably had to wear his sunglasses, and promised the sun he’d wake the moon and pin her nightlight stars in the dark heavens.

Life is full of beauty and joy but we experience grief and loss, hate and regret, sadness and misery. No one leads a perfect life. Life is difficult for everybody. We all face the same trails and tribulations. And we know that there is much work to be done before we get the rewards.

Some of us are haunted by the past and can’t let things go. Our attitude is what guides us through life. Put the past behind you and live for today. If you dwell only on the things that you feel aren’t going right in your life, you will never appreciate all the blessing in your life. During hard times God is standing by our side. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

The Lord is a strong fortress and we can run to him and be safe. Even when you feel you can’t keep going and the path is too hard to walk, don’t stumble alone, grab the hand of God and make your way. The Lord never leaves us, he’s always in our heart. Our faith and prayers offer us security when we are facing storms in our lives. I know from experience the power of prayer and the healing that comes from believing that God hears and answers our prayers. God is always watching over us. Psalm 121:8 reads, “The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.”

“In the darkest moments, remember that God is watching and working behind the scenes.” — Bible Reasons