I am going to try this again. My Nook was acting totally screwy this morning and even though I wrote a complete blog, it wouldn'r save it or publish it. I think it might have been because I did something wrong but I guess we will see.

It is really great to be back home and in my recliner in the sunporch. It is great to hear my birds and watch my squirrels and listen to familiar neighborhood sounds. My neighbor next door left for work right on schedule as evidenced by the sound of her car. My neighbor across the yard is having a roof replaced and the sounds of the scraping and hammering is almost comforting too.

The place looks great. My neighbor across the street kept my yard mowed for me. Sister-in-law Karen and daughter Julie kept the indoor plants watered and God certainly kept the outdoor plants watered. The phlox has grown a foot and is in full bloom as are the Stargazer Lilies. The tomatoes are loaded down as are the cucumbers and the squash. Julie filled the feeders this past weekend so I have birds to watch this morning as well as the fuzzy tailed rats. Life is just plain good.

We had a grand vacation. It was relaxing and it was wonderful to get to see Heather and the kids. However, I am getting to be more and more of a homebody. I like being in my home, surrounded by my stuff, sleeping in my bed, and pouring coffee any time I want to from my coffee pot. I am, by my own admission, a routine-aholic. We have seen a lot of beautiful sights and gained a life time of wonderful memories when on vacations over the years; but as Stephen Foster wrote; "There's no place like home." Maybe that is why I feel so blessed and at peace with my life.

I offer prayers of gratitude this morning to our great and onderful God. I thank God for our safe travels, and I thank God for takng care of all of you while we were gone. I thank God for great neighbors and friends and family that look after our place while we are gone. I thank God for our parishioners who take care of the church and each other whether we are here or not. I also continue to lift up Sheila andvByron as they struggle with Byron's cancer. I can say and I can certainly feel that it isn't fair that he has been stricken with this horrible disease; but then again he might out live me. I won't question God's ways. I only ask that he and Sheila be allowed quality of life and a sense of peace and happiness for every day that they have together.

It appears my Nook is workng properly so I must try to save and publlish. I wish for you a day of peace and a total sense of God's presence in your life. Take a moment to realize that God was continually filling your life with blessings even as you sat and read my silly blog.

Have a wonderful day!