Sorrow & Hope

     Life has been busy and difficult lately. But it's also been incredible. On Super Bowl Sunday, my Daddy had a weird attack, which we believe was a gall bladder/liver problem. He was sore all week, but felt better by the next Sunday. Throughout the next couple of days, he kept saying that the attack he had had was one of the most painful experiences he'd ever had, but now that it was over, he felt amazing, and believed it was the best thing that could have happened to him. He began eating better, trying to heal his liver, and we continued with our everyday life.
     Then last week, on February 19th, I walked into the living room to find my Daddy dead in his chair.
     They believe it was a heart attack. It was unexpected because he had been saying for the past couple of days that he felt fantastic. And Daddy never lied about how he felt. But suddenly he was just gone, and it's still a little surreal. I can tell myself he's gone and not coming back, but I will sometimes think "I bet Daddy would like this," or, "I can't wait to tell Daddy about this!" and then I'll remember he's gone. But even as I type this, I'm not sad. I know he's so happy right now. On the night of the Super Bowl, when he felt better after his initial attack, he called us all into his room and said, "I know I talk a lot about how I can't wait to go to heaven, but as I was on the floor, in pain, I realized I wasn't ready to leave yet. You know how when people think they're about to die their past life 'flashes before their eyes'? Well, I didn't see my past, I saw what I would miss in the future if I left now....I wouldn't see the new grand-baby, I have the garden I want to grow, I don't want to leave y'all yet....spiritually, I'm ready to go, but mentally I'm not."
     We were all so grateful that he survived that night. We got another week with him, and then God took him home.  He won't get to see the newest grand-baby, but we all know he's so much more content right now. That was one of the main comforting thoughts during last week...he's in heaven praising God. No more pain, no more sorrow, no more stress....I almost envy him. :)
     Our church family, extended family and friends were incredibly supportive during this time. We lack nothing. And experiencing their love is one of the ways God has brought peace to my family during this time. Daddy will not be forgotten soon. God used him in so many wonderful ways, and I'm so grateful for the 21 years I got to spend with him.
   
     1 Thessalonians 4:13-18: But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as other who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Colorful and Monochrome

Decorated with Rain

Black and White Selfies

Felt like doing something that looked dramatic.

Icy Morning

Mount Cheaha Hike Part 2

Mount Cheaha Hike

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Christmas Lights

Everything...Even the Little Things (A Small Post of Praise)

In one of my previous posts, I posted a picture of a leaf. It was standing upright between two planks on a walkway, and I took it at a low angle. I really like that picture, it's one of my favorites from that post, and I want to talk about it for a minute, because after I got home I got to thinking about how amazing that shot really was. No, I'm not praising my photography skills, I mean how amazing the set-up of that shot was. I didn't place that leaf in-between those boards. I found it that way. And that's amazing. Because it was an answer to prayer.

I have a habit of getting excited about going somewhere that I know has great picture potential. So when we decided to go to that park, I immediately started thinking about the fall colors, and how wonderful it would be to get a picture of the red and yellow trees reflecting in the water. Well, I started praying that I wouldn't get upset if I didn't get a picture of what I wanted, and if it was the Lord's will that I would still get some good pictures and have a good time.

I didn't get the picture that I wanted, with the trees reflecting in the water.

What I did get was the picture of the leaf.

I prayed for good pictures, if that was the Lord's will, and He ordained for a leaf to grow, fall and get stuck between two boards at the specific time that I was on the walkway with my camera. And we could go back even further. Before I was born, He was already preparing to answer my prayer, because He has everything preordained. Some people may consider my request small, and insignificant. But no request is small to God. If it's not His will to answer a request, then He won't answer it. Period. He didn't have to answer my prayer, but He did, and I can't get over it! He uses little things, like a leaf on a walkway, to show Himself to us, so that we will praise Him. I will probably look at that picture years from now and still be in awe. Because it's amazing to me how He answers prayers, even small ones. Sometimes, we see Him more in the small things, because we usually see the small things as insignificant and unimportant, and then suddenly, we see God.  

God revealed Himself to me through a leaf on a walkway.

He answered my prayer for a good picture, not because I deserved it, but because He was planning for me to see Him in it and praise Him for it.

He cares about everything in His children's lives. Even the little things.

And I think that's incredible.     

Gorgeous Cousin

I decided to go back to the walkway (see previous post) and get some pictures with my cousin. She's gorgeous, sweet and so willing to pose for me. I love taking pictures of her, and/or just hanging out with her. <3

A Beautiful Walkway

I love it when I don't have to set things up. I found this leaf stuck between the planks, almost dead center on the walkway.

This one is my favorite. You might see it again in a new post, because I'm considering trying different filters on it to brighten the colors a bit more.

Georgia Flower