Spring has come here and Monday's Prayer

Spring has come to my part of Ohio--southeastern.

I took time Saturday for a drive out west of town.

This water area had definitely perked up with bright greens.

These pinkish/purplish trees winked at me

everywhere I looked.

A 4-wheel drive version of a golf cart pulled over to let me pass,

not realizing that I was enjoying the scenery too.

They had to pass me here as I snapped photos of this row of color.

One of my favorite spots--it is still untouched by stripping or fracking.

"When you don't take enough time to be alone with God,

you can become depleted.

You may feel like an eggshell

 that could be crushed with every little outside pressure.

That means you need more of God in your life.

There is nothing on earth more important than Him.

There isn't anything else that can satisfy the hunger you feel inside

except more of His presence."

Stormie Omartian

Monday's Prayer

Lord,

You are my light and my salvation,

You are the strength of my life.

Of whom, then, shall I be afraid?

I will be strong and of good courage,

for I know that You are with me wherever I go.

If I have gotten my mind off of You and on my circumstances,

help me to reverse that process

so that my mind is off my circumstances and on You.

Help me to be strong and unshakable

so I can serve You all the days of my life.

In Jesus' name I pray.

---GOD'S PROMISE----

If anyone thirst, let him come to Me and drink.

He who believes in Me,

as the Scripture has said,

out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.

John 7:3-38

From: THE POWER OF PRAYING--

HELP FOR A WOMAN'S JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE

By Stormie Omartian

Blessings on you as you begin your week!

Corner View: Bridges and Back Roads

I am featuring my Ireland trip this week

to illustrate corner view's topic.

Look to the back of the above photo 

and you will see the bridge 

that had to be crossed to get 

to a part of Dublin.

Back road on an island off the coast.

After crossing on a ferry,

we walked the island.

Back on the 'mainland' this is in the Connemara region,

which is quite rural with narrow, winding 'back roads'.

The back roads could be treacherous as the driver of this car discovered.

Looking down into an area of countryside in Connemara.

For more views from around the world,

please check out Francesca's place.

Barn Charm: # 71

Several years ago I was able to get two quick photos of these barns.

They are on a curve in a hill on my way to school and back.

The best shot of them is to be taken on my way home

when the barns are on my left side --driver's side.

There is road work intermittently along my route to school.

Yesterday a temporary stop light was waiting for me.

I was thrilled to see that it put my stopped car

right beside these barns!

Those of you who are not familiar with hilly landscapes

will wonder at how these are built.

It's called necessity--you go with the lay of the land.

Firs the group of them on a far shot.

Closer.

Middle shed/barn

One on the right.

This one is in the curve of the road.

Left one.

View to the left of the barns.

If you look closely you can see a pair of black cows.

There is more to this farm.

It has a big farm house and several more small outbuildings.

Then on the other side of the curve

and up behind these barns,

nestled into a flattened out area of yet another hill

is a long, low cattle barn.

Unless hubby drives me there,

I will not be able to get that one.

It is in a spot that will require someone being quite attentive to traffic (hubby)

while the other one (me) snaps the camera.

For more barn views from all around the world,

please check out Tricia's place.

More Prom and Monday's Prayer

I've known this young lady since she was a new-born.

Her dad has been vice-president of my ex's family company for many years.

I have been friends with her mom before this young lady was born.

She does not go to our high school,

but to a vocational school.

The boy is from our high school,

but goes to the same vocational school as the girl.

Ah-ha!

I was surprised but pleased to see her there.

The parents gathered inside the convention center and it was a bit chaotic.

Several of us teachers 'new' at these things 

have some different plans in mind for our years,

such as a red carpet

and seats for the parents---outside.

We would like to make it an event

 where the couples get center stage

walking into the prom.

The high school where my kids went

did this.

The fathers were valets.

But we parents did not have seats

and that was fine too.

I wanted to show you the camouflage dress from the front.

This is definitely a 'country' girl's choice--from a hunting family.

The counselor and I were taking pictures of the girls.

I got mine printed today.

Tomorrow Diane and I will put our pics up on a bulletin board

for all to see.

Then when we take it down, the kids can take the pic of their choice.

These colors are so VIVID!

And underneath . . .

BOOTS!

The theme was "A Country Tale"

and boots were encouraged.

Diane and I thought this was a cool choice of a dress

that this young lady will be able to wear in college.

The one on the left is usually not flamboyant,

but the one on the right dresses with pizazz at school.

The one on the left has her cell phone tucked into the middle of her top!

Only K. would do that and forget about it for a picture!

Classic model type.

Some of us teachers.

The teacher in the white and black skirt with boots

is our art teacher.

She was the advisor for the prom.

I'm behind her in classic long black skirt

with black heels and a simple gold metallic v-neck.

The prom king and queen begin to dance

as everyone snaps pictures.

They really got into it.

He twirled her around---was fun to watch.

They are good friends but are in long relationships with others.

Then everyone got to join in the dance.

A lot of the boys take their jackets, shirts, and ties off

and just wear their vests on top because of the heat.

The girls take their shoes off.

One huge difference since my high school days

is not just the style.

Yes, we wore long sleeves and modest necklines,

but most of us did not have much to hold up a strapless dress! Ha!

I am constantly amazed at how old the high school girls look today.

It's got to be all the additives and such in our food---surely.

(The counselor Diane got such a kick at of how all the girls

would simultaneously grab their tops and hoist them up

before a picture.

Actually they 'hoisted' them up most of the night!)

Monday's Prayer

Thank You, Lord, 

for Your Infinite love.

Make me an optimistic Christian, Father,

as I place my hope and my trust in You.

Amen.

Short and sweet and to the point this week!

Hope you have a wonderful week!

Corner View: Architecture

Nine years ago my husband and I celebrated our fiftieth birthdays

with a trip to Ireland.

Some of you have already seen my Ireland photos.

However, I decided that some of the finest examples of architecture

in my photo collection were from Ireland.

Therefore, I am showing these photos again.

A humongous home that became a Catholic girls school and is now open to visitors.

The next three are of a church in Dublin.

This next photo shows the charming stone homes

 that are an integral part of Ireland's architecture.

They may not qualify as stunning to some,

but the attention to detail in these humble abodes

are stunning to me.

It is late and my mind is foggy, so the specific names of these buildings and places

are shut away in a back room in my brain.

I apologize for not giving more detail.

Next up are photos from my hometown.

The town is on the National Historic Register as a Victorian Village.

I have shown this house before also.

It is across from the home where I grew up.

I considered this my dream home. 

I introduced it on my blog here.

I was thrilled when it went on the real estate market.

I posted reasons why it was my dream house here

 and the reasons why it wouldn't work for us, here.

Here is another home we looked at.

But it was up for auction without a clear title.

Our lawyer advised us to leave it alone.

We complied.

These two photos are of our Gay 90s Museum.

It is a stunning example of Victorian architecture

--at least for us small town folks!

For more views from around the world,

please check out Francesca's place.

Barn Charm: # 70

When I, camera in hand, drive on a favorite road out west of my town,

there are two farms that I can see way down in the valley.

Some day this summer I hope to go exploring with hubby

and find the way down to them.

I got a better shot of this one on my way back to town.

It is much further away than it looks.

This barn is one I've taken before, but never this early in spring.

For more barn views, head on over to Trish's place.

"My Girls"

These are "my girls" as I call them.

Five senior girls who entered my life four years ago as freshmen.

They are now seniors.

I have taught them Advanced English two years

(the other English teacher and I alternate).

I have witnessed drama in their lives

and so much growth in themselves.

The above and below photos were taken in September

for Homecoming.

They were the queen candidates.

There are always shots taken for the newspaper

to highlight the court several weeks before the festivities.

This was taken before they each got in a pick-up truck

'awaiting' them to be their country version chariots

to take them to the football field and the crowning.

This one is for Sweetheart Court.

The four in front are the seniors for queen.

A., the girl in the purple and white checked shirt standing to the left of the tractor

(in the homecoming candidate shot),

could not be a candidate again because she was crowned Homecoming Queen.

So there are four together here.

This is the night of the crowning when they are dressed up in their lovely gowns.

Here they are dancing together at the Sweetheart Dance.

They are best of friends.

This was taken this past Saturday night at our 2013 Prom.

I asked them to gather together so I could get a photo of "my girls."

K., second from left in the orange, was crowned Prom Queen.

T. and M., the last two on the right, were the other ones up for the title.

The two A.'s, one in the short dress and one in the long peach dress

were the queens for Sweetheart and Homecoming. 

They are all in their bare feet by this time of the night.

They do not dance in their heels!

They are very special girls.

I hope to finish up the year with their graduation photos.

Monday's Prayer:

Dear Lord,

make me a woman of constant prayer.

Your Holy Word commands me to pray without ceasing.

In all things great and small,

at all times,

whether happy or sad,

let me seek Your wisdom and Your strength . . .

in prayer.

Amen.

Blessings to you all as you begin this week.