# 123 Hospitals

I spent some time this last week with one of son's in the hospital for a major surgery. Thank God for a very positive result! It is hard to be picked and poked on by those who are there to help you heal. The doctors and nurses could not have been better; but you end up feeling like you are being pulled apart. We are blessed to live in an age when medical knowledge is superior. It always still amazes me though, that man can cut you wide open and God will start the healing process immediately. I doesn't hurt to be young and strong either! My best council is to keep a good attitude. I always tell the story that I used myself in cancer recovery: if you have a bad day...make it a GOOD bad day. Break a dish if you feel the need.(then you have to clean it up) Yell and scream if you want and get the "why me?" out of the way. and make it a good...bad day. Then make up your mind you had your bad day, now get busy having a good day. I never allowed myself to have two bad days in a row. Sometimes I had three bad out of five days...but never two in a row!

27 

Proverbs 27

1 Do not boast about tomorrow,

    for you do not know what a day may bring.

# 122 A Cane

" At the end of every life there is a cane"

This quote was from my mother. I am not sure if it was life observations or personal experience that gave her this wisdom. Her cane is one of her personal items I have kept these many years.

 I may need it one day!

I spent the weekend west of Ft Worth at the Acton Nature Center selling books and talking to people about birdhouses. There were lots of canes and walking sticks in attendance. I saw proof that as we get older we appreciate things around us even more. I have expanded here more than once the benefit of slowing down and enjoying simpler things. That being said it was a busy couple of days for me. I did manage to work in a nap one day that helped considerably! Book sales of my  Woodcrafting for Birds and Wildlife, have gone very well at the event and  in general the past few weeks.

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,  they comfort me.

# 121 Stay The Course

It has been almost 2 years to the day that I sent an application to Texas Parks and Wildlife requesting to open a new Paddling Trail on Lake Conroe north of Houston. We are closing in on the final stages of approval! I hope by this summer I can post some pictures of the grand opening. I made it out this weekend for a nice paddle to look at the route once again. It is one of my favorite things to do. 

Glide quietly on a smooth stretch of water and fish a little and enjoy God's creation a lot!

I am excited to have as community partners; Texas Kayak Fisherman, 37,000+ avid kayakers and fisherman, and the US Forest Service who manages the land around the launch site.

I am sure I will be posting more information in the future.

If you are interested in the Paddling Trails or TKF just click the links for more information.

If you are committed to a project, stay the course, take the time and see it through to the end.

 I heard good things come to those who wait!

Psalm 27

11 

Teach me your way, Lord;

    lead me in a straight path

    because of my oppressors.

12 

Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,

    for false witnesses rise up against me,

    spouting malicious accusations.

13 

I remain confident of this:

    I will see the goodness of the Lord

    in the land of the living.

14 

Wait for the Lord;

    be strong and take heart

    and wait for the Lord.

# 120 Simple Pleasures

The weather here was warm this weekend, in the high 70's. The visiting goldfinches do not seem to mind. I spent a couple secessions sitting in a bush in the yard photographing birds. simple pleasure..until it comes time to edit. When you are able to capture a shot like this one it is a thrill ( at least to me) I thought this was a female finch but upon further review I realized it was a new bird for my life list! The bird in flight is a Pine Siskin.
I have  more than once advised here that you should slow down and enjoy God's creation. I did just that. I hope you will make some time this week to do the same.

Psalm 46

7 

The Lord Almighty is with us;

    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 

Come and see what the Lord has done,

    the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9 

He makes wars cease

    to the ends of the earth.

He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

    he burns the shields[d] with fire.

10 

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

    I will be exalted among the nations,

    I will be exalted in the earth.”