Drove home from Peachtree City this morning in the bright yellow sunshine under a clear blue sky. The only birds I saw as I drove home were a group of buzzards enjoying a road kill breakfast.

I went to my granddaughter’s chorus concert last night. They put on a musical featuring music from the movie Back to the Future. Those children had worked hard to memorize all the songs and choreography. I’m so proud of my sweet girl! I enjoyed the program very much and teared up with pride.

Had a Shady Oaks moment this morning before I even got out of the city limits of Peachtree City. Well, I got pulled over by the PoPo! Never in my 70 years have I been pulled over by the police! I was traveling in a turn lane behind a large truck and the traffic light turned red right as I crossed under the light. I could blame it on not being able to see the light well enough because of the truck but I didn’t have time to react when I realized the light was going to turn red before I finished the turn. Soon as I saw the light had turned red, when I was in the middle of the six-lane intersection, I heard the “whoop whoop” of the police car and that PoPo was on my bumper like a bee on honey. I was so glad I had bothered to comb my hair and put my earrings on when I got up this morning in case I had to have a mug shot. Of course I did not have a bra on but I didn’t have to “exit” the car, thank goodness. If he could have seen how I exit the car with my old lady legs he probably wouldn’t let me continue driving. Thank you, Jesus!

Anyway, I drove to the nearest parking lot and parked and prayed, rolling my window down, and watched as an angry looking policeman walked to my car window. He asked me if I knew what I had done. I said yes and told him I live in a small town in Alabama and don’t drive in busy city traffic often. Explained I was behind a large truck and was already in the middle of the intersection when I realized the yellow light was going to be red as I crossed under.

He took my driver’s license to check on me, after the 30 minutes it took me to claw it out of the plastic slot with my arthritic hand. I prayed I had no unknown offenses, fugitive warrants, or an evil twin impersonating me. He was kind when he came back telling me that intersection had lots of trouble with people disrupting the flow of traffic by running the red light. Said he was only giving me a warning this time. Gave me some much needed advice for driving in busy morning traffic which I appreciated. I thanked him for his kindness and he wished me a good day as he walked back to his car.

I have the upmost respect for our police officers. They put their lives on the line for us every day. Drove home very carefully never over 55 miles an hour except downhill when I reached 60 miles and hour and had to stomp the brake pedal to slow it down. I will sweat blood every time now when I visit my son and his family and I have to go through that intersection. I’ll probably cause road rage by going too slow in the turn lane waiting for the light to change! I was so happy to cross back into Alabama and see my front porch.

The first bloom from the garden of sunflowers the birds planted for me opened today. I was so happy to see that bloom of nature’s sunshine. That little five inch bloom faithfully followed the sun all day. I watched like a child and the bloom was always smiling towards the sun.

I waited patiently after supper, perched in the porch swing, excited about the sunset pageant. Tonight the sun was a beautiful ball of orange, her warm honey colored rays lighting up the horizon in a golden light. The sun was dressed in an orange marmalade sequined dress fashioned with kelly green accents. Mother Nature was focused on an orange palette tonight, brushing her watercolors of apricot, tangerine, and peach across the horizon as she painted the stage of sunset. The sun, still glowing in her formal orange gown, took the hand of Father Sky as she rolled down the horizon, dragging the day’s light behind them as twilight captured the landscape. As the serenity of the black abyss of night swept across the sky and covered the earth, Father Sky waked the milky moon and the twinkling stars, lighting the heavens with their night lights. The night comes alive as the day dies peacefully and quiet.

I was just thinking about all the people who pass through our lives in a day, making the day a little brighter and we’ve never expressed our thanks for the sunshine they bring into our lives. My oldest sister-in-law calls me most days and she’s the first ray of sunshine I need to be thankful for. She’s always happy and chipper and I’ve never told her thanks for her many morning phone calls. Thanks! Marcel Proust says, “Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy. They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” I have lot of gardeners in my garden of life, some older, some younger, and some just beginning life, and I appreciate all of you for the sunshine you bring. The Polyphonic Spree says, “Just follow the day and reach for the sun!”

God is our greatest sun and his love warms our hearts and heals our souls. We lift our hearts up to God and he fills us with the Holy Spirit and he helps us grow in his wisdom. God shields us from the harsh rays of life and comforts us with his presence. The sun will always shine just as God is always with us. His hands are stretched out to carry us in his loving arms. If your days are cloudy look to the sky for God’s sunshine. He will bring light to the darkest storm.

“God created the sun, the sun is life and life is….. God!”— Stacy Lynn