Ewww

I'll warn you in advance,

this post contains pictures that may

disturb your sleep.

It has taken me three weeks,

but I definitely have found some details about

Texas that are a little less than attractive

in my humble opinion...

and for the sake of my mom - who I know will

highly appreciate all of it - I decided to share.

First off are Los Scorpions, whom I have mentioned previously.

I've only spotted this one pictured above thus far,

which my hostess kindly caught on a piece of tape and froze

for me as a souvenir of sorts...

Since I haven't been stung yet, their presence doesn't

bother me. Much.

This big guy, while still very creepy was just

ever-so-slightly cool.

Don't worry, he was on his back and very dead when

I found him (outside).

Imagine the pranks you could pull with something like this...

This is the part where it gets kind of bad.

The other evening, my friend and I were busy cleaning

up the kitchen after dinner - when her parents

called from the road where they had been taking a walk.

They'd found something that Kate might like to see,

and weren't too far from the house - so

we drove down to take a look....

There are a few things I probably wouldn't have done

(like walking around outside bare-footed after dark...)

if I had any idea there were tarantulas as big as

tennis balls running around.

(He was a "small one" by the way.)

If spiders rule on my list of creatures I can't stand;
then tarantulas are just completely off the charts.

They've been doing an excellent job keeping me out of
the jungles of South America.
Little did I know that they had cousins right here in TX...

Sweet dreams everybody.

Yulia's going home

A few weeks ago, I shared about a sweet little girl named Yulia - whose story really touched my heart. She was born with a terminal condition, but has spent the first three years of her life on her back in an orphanage crib. A lady who really has a heart for orphans with special needs, shared her story on her blog - and within a few days was able to raise the grant money needed to fund Yulia in finding a family. Well, the news is out today - Yulia is now Julia, and she has a family that is coming to get her soon. That really brought a smile to my face, and I just wanted to share the miraculous outcome of her story with all of you. I'm really praising the Lord for his faithfulness to this little girl.

Armadillos etc.

One absolutely obvious thing that I love about

traveling, is experiencing the newness.

Savoring the distinction of sights and scenery that have

no comparison to what I've experienced before.

Glancing through my photos, I found a few that definitely

would fit under that category...

New.

Here are just a few of the completely new-to-me sights

that I've spotted along Texan roadways...

Cacti.

There seems to be a little of it just about everywhere,

in case I need reminding of where I am.

Signs like this one...

While we could certainly use one in our yard back home;

this is not a sign I see everyday.

(They could use a few more of them in that stretch,

judging by the dead cow we spotted...)

Oh, and Armadillos...well, sort of.

We spotted this poor little guy earlier today...

I don't make a practice of photographing roadkill -

but coming from the land of raccoons and opossums,

I personally found it to be rather noteworthy.

Sorry I don't have pictures of the four foot snake or

of the scorpion specimen I'm bringing home...

I kind of figured you didn't want to see those anyway...

Hiker's Heaven

Just a little update from Texas...

and more importantly; a few pictures.

Saturday we got to go to Enchanted Rock - and hiking/climbing

enthusiast that I am; I had the time of my life...

There just aren't big rocks like this where I come from.

From what I've seen, Texas is a gorgeous state.

Definitely put it on your list to visit someday if you haven't yet.

You know the days when...

It's Autumn enough for falling leaves;

and Summer enough for green grass.

Summer enough for procrastinating tomatoes;

and Autumn enough for apple cider.

Autumn enough for the Autumn clematis to bloom;

(and smell oh so wonderful.)

and Summer enough for the butterflies to enjoy it.

Summer enough for short sleeves;

and Autumn enough for light scarves and sweaters.

Autumn enough for walks in harvested fields;

and Summer enough to experience it bare-footed.

I think it's called September,

and boy, am I going to miss it.

What a graceful way for Summer to leave the stage.

Speaking of leaving;

Lord willing, I'll be heading out myself in a few hours...

I'm taking a long overdue trip to Texas to visit a dear friend of mine.

You may hear from me before then though;

I can be unpredictable; as you might have just noticed...

My Chickadees

Well, I said I would stick to the reality,

and I'm so awfully glad that I did.

Those terrible moments that come and go are somehow needed;

They make the little miracles that follow all the more sweet.

When our little September batch of chicks got wiped out;

we never suspected the little surprise planned for the very next day.

Another momma; with seven more.

Isn't it so true that God gives, and takes away;

and yes - gives again.

These little munchkins are dreadfully cute,

and noisy, and quick.

Kind of hard for a camera to focus with all that hurrying about.

I ended up with lots of "empty shots" after little

chickie decided to take off about the time the shutter clicked...

I also got lots of "diaper shots" - but they've got a charm too.

There's nothing quite like "chickadees" in the shrubbery

to make your day all warm and fuzzy.

All that darting around will wear you out though...

As for those first two that survived the opossum attack?

Well, their poor mom is dealing with a serious case of

post-traumatic stress disorder or a variant thereof...

She's protecting her little guys with everything she's got,

which is totally understandable; but ouch - does it hurt...

In the process of trying to help her out, Mom and I got a

taste of her slightly over-zealous fury a few days ago.

We pretty much leave her alone now...

Except for yesterday, when I had to sort out some custody

disputes going on over chicks;

they aren't very adept at figuring out whose is whose yet...

Fleeing from the paparazzi...

We're enjoying these little guys (albeit from a safe distance.)

I hope that you do too!

Yulia

A few days ago, I was re-acquainted with a little girl from the Ukraine named Yulia. I had seen her picture before, and I finally got to read her story. It touched me so deeply, I just felt that I had to share about her here.

She's almost three years old, and has spent basically her entire life in a crib - on her back, in an orphanage. Yulia has an illness that in taking it's course - will cut her life short; and those precious moments she has here are slipping away - even now; as she waits.

There is a sweet lady named Adele who has such a heart for adoption. She has shared Yulia's story, and is currently raising money in faith that God will soon send a forever family for little Yulia. A family that will cherish and care for her in the time she has left. A family to demonstrate God's love to her. Click on the button below to read this sweet little girl's story, and if God leads you, maybe help out. She will break your heart. At the very least - pray for little Yulia, that God would send her family - as soon as possible.