Thanks Giving

As always, the beauties of nature leave me in awe of the hand that created them. The storms mixed with sunshine of late have made for some breathtaking scenes. 

As I watched the sky this night I was listening to one of my favorite hymns of Thanksgiving and the combination overwhelmed me with profound gratitude.

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

Another evidence of divine power, the miracle of life! I am waiting with anticipation for the big reveal!

Happiness

A sweet friend of mine gave me this' little book of cheer' for my birthday. It has some profound snipets of wisdom that echo my own feelings about nature and happiness. I am feeling rather sentimental today so I think I'll share a few...

 "The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things."

 -Henry Ward Beecher

"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy, is to go outside...
 amidst the simple beauty of nature."  -Anne Frank

"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength
that will endure as long as life lasts." -Rachel Louise Carson

"Happiness... not in another place, but this place, not for another hour, but this hour." -Walt Whitman

"Today, whatever may annoy, 

The word for me is joy, just simple joy: 

The joy of bright blue skies; 

the joy of rain; the glad surprise

Of twinkling stars that shine at night;

The joy of winged things in their flight;

Whatever there be of sorrow

I'll put off until tomorrow!"

-John Kendrick Bangs