I thought it might be fun to post a photo of the view above my new office. I love living in the mountains again! (Wish I could post a photo of the night sounds that come from the woods that back up to my house.) This sky reminded me of something Oswald Chambers wrote in the book The Love of God: “God engineers our circumstances as He did those of His Son; all we have to do is to follow where He places us. [The problem is] the majority of us are busy trying to place ourselves! But God alters things while we wait for Him . . . . [The fact is] a Christain is one who can live in the midst of trouble and turmoil with the glory of God indwelling him, while he stedfastly looks not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. We have to learn to think only of things which are seen as a glorious chance of enabling us to concentrate on the things which are not seen.”

After having dinner with Fotosmilie last week, I decided to add these photos to my Website. I’m still learning how to use this new camera. But she was a great encourager. She kept saying, “These are sharp. . . . Look at this one.” I think I’m just too critical and my current computer and Photoshop set up is way less than ideal. But I got an email from the IT director where I work asking what type of Mac I need. So, help is on the way.

Week before last, we stopped off at Smithgall Woods. After being there only a few minutes, I knew this would be a place I would want to return to often. While this photo isn’t the best, it does provide a quick look at the beautiful scenery. The camera was hand-held and taken on the run while being pulled along behind by a squirrel-chasing cocker spaniel.

We passed through just one of the many fern glades at Smithgall.

We didn’t have time to hike to the water fall, which was several miles away from the visitor’s center. But we did enjoy the natural beauty of this really cool state park.

Finally, here’s a symbol of new life and new beginnings—a photo of a lone butterfly at Cooper’s Creek near Vogel State Park.

Okay, this past 4th was not filled with fireworks (Cocoa hates the noise), but it was filled with lots of rest and time given to being together. I also was reminded while sitting on a deck watching a beautiful sunset just how much Cocoa loves being outside and keeping taps on the local wildlife. In the photo below, she is waiting for a deer to cross the area beneath the deck and the small lake where we were staying.

In this photo, Cocoa Joy and Chip wait for Sandy to take them outside to be with the other dogs. I felt badly for Chipley because he was so deep in thought. The solitude of an empty classroom at Dog School 101 brought a fresh rush of reality: this maybe my last “real” visit to this wonderful facility.