My Sanctuary - August 6, 2025

What a beautiful morning it is out on my deck! 68 degrees…unbelievable for this time of year in Arkansas! This is usually the hottest and most humid season of the entire year and yet, here I sit, enjoying all the birds and loving my beautiful backyard. It is truly my “sanctuary”…a place I can steal away to and feel “hidden” from the world…away from all the chaos and confusion…anger and hatred we see growing in our world. Often, in the early morning hours, I just come out here, sometimes when it is still dark, and listen intently for the first bird chirps as they awaken. Although my backyard is not as pretty as last year, I am still enjoying seeing all my azaleas…and the crepe Myrtle’s (9 of them in my backyard) are stunning this year. My zinnias are prolific, growing alongside my fence. Even as I sit here, I see a little white breasted nuthatch feeding on the peanuts. He comes so often…several times every morning. So I decided to paint the little fella! (See painting below.) "Lord God, I am thankful for all your blessings...may I not take them for granted!"