Trying to keep the temperature down in the house by not opening the covering over our large west facing window – by mid- afternoon they cause the temperature to rise higher than any other part of the house. 

    It is a mixed process, I enjoy looking out it as I write, but I know that when I leave it open my air conditioner comes on much earlier – thus more expensive.

    Hard to believe it is the first of July already.  I am still trying to cope with April going by the wayside.  Well into my 70 years of seasonal weather changes.

    When we first moved up here Carla could plant her tomatoes in late March, now we are doing it in May to keep them from being frozen out.  Winter seems to be coming earlier, just the normal cycles of life here on earth.  But, it does take some getting used to; especially for the garden.

    The Dalles celebrated Independence Day yesterday.  There are a number of people who are upset that they don’t do it on the traditional 4^th.

    Of course, the 4^th is arbitrary, the signing wasn’t completed by the fore fathers until well into August – or so I have been told.

    Personally, our family has celebrated many holidays, birthdays and other special times on some other day than what is on the calendar, so it doesn’t make much difference to me.

    Police, hospital personnel, fire departments, 9-1-1 operators, air plane personnel as other transportation personnel, as well as many other professions that must be working 24 hours a day 7 days a week don’t have the luxury of standing down and celebrating that special time on the calendar.

    The important thing is the celebration takes place, and in regard to Independence Day, we have it every single day, so far, as we live, work and play in our country.

    We shouldn’t need ‘special’ days to remember loved ones, friends, country and of course, the blessings of God. 

    We should remember to be thankful, daily.

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Genesis 1:1 KJV  “ In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

    The other day I was outside when I was buzzed bombed by a hummingbird.  I was too close to one of the feeders for his liking.

    As I watched him flying around, watched him go to one of the feeders and then rest on a limb of the tree, a wave of thankfulness came over me.

    God created this little guy.  He is unique in the bird kingdom, he can fly forward, sideways, backwards or just hover.

    He has beautiful feathers as the sun glints off them, his beak is long so that he can reach the deeply into the flowers.

    Tiny, aggressive, using his skills and gifts not only to survive but to help pollinate flowers, eat small insects – which help man - he is specially created by God.

    Man is also created by God.  While we may have some things in common, we are different from everyone else.  He has given us each skills and gifts to survive, but also the ability to help others.

    We get so wrapped up in our daily grind, so focused on the job, or the news, or even our family that we forget that God is also there and wants us to focus on Him.

    He understands our need to do so many other things, but when we leave Him out all our skills and gifts mean nothing. 

    As the hummingbird flits around doing what God wants Him to do, so must we do what God wants us to do.  However, to find that out it is our responsibility to study His Word and pray with Him DAILY.

    Every creature, every plant on this earth has a purpose in life – so do we; we just need to find out what it is and DO IT:

          Romans 8:27-28  KJV “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

    Later, Art (-: