June's end, spring's end

 The Spring of 2016 was one of the earliest, prettiest, and most pleasant I can remember with plenty of rain, mild temps (until just recently) and just generally wonderful. Now we hunker down to survive the hot summer, by far my least favorite season.

A favorite sitting place, but now that everything is getting pretty, it's mostly too hot to sit here. :(

Our first tomato of the year was early! But yummy!

Lessons from a family of robins

We've had the uncommon privilege of watching a pair of robins build their home and start a family. I'm ashamed to say that I was annoyed to see the twigs and straw appear in the hanging pot I'd so carefully planted with caladiums and begonias on our front porch.
But remembering a nest of mourning doves we'd watched in the same planter the first summer we lived here, I relented and let the nest stay. What a delight it's been this past few weeks to witness each step of the amazing process.

 
I'm reminded all over again of so many truths:

 • If God cares for even these little birds who toil so hard to make their home, how much more does he care for His people who are called by His name?
 
 • The mommy and the daddy work together to build their home, protect the nest, and feed their flock. God sets the lonely in families. He never intended us to go it alone.

 • The best things in life require a lot of patience, and they can get pretty messy while you wait. But oh, how worth the wait!