Welcome to My Little Town

Indiana weather, like the weather throughout much of the United States, has been very unpredictable this spring. In the past few weeks, we have fluctuated from 85 degrees, back down to 45 degrees. The warm days forced many of our trees to flower and flowers bloom.

 I wanted to share photos I took around my hometown. I live in a small, but growing town, where "downtown" is a mere 5 blocks long and wide. We have some things we are known for, but not by most people. So take a little stroll with me through my little town.

Rows of Flowering Pear trees in full bloom line the sidewalks!

Flowering Redbud in front of a historical building. (Old Jail Museum)

Daffodils in bloom on a street corner.

Our county courthouse...built in 1884.

In one of the downtown alleys are several paintings. This one is of John Dillinger,who in the 1930s robbed the police station in Warsaw, Indiana, stealing guns and bulletproof vests.

The alley where there are a number of wall paintings.

 Greeks Pizza makes the best hand-tossed pizza in town!

After a couple slices of Greeks, we can walk just a few stores down to Kelaney's Ice Cream Shop!!

"Courthouse Coffee" {The store with the balcony} offers lots of flavored coffees and smoothies, as well as soup, sandwiches, and pastries. . I often go and use their free wifi and sip on my favorite Vanilla Chai. It is a favorite meeting place for people of all ages. Facebook Link

These are just a few things that make this a fun place to walk around. 

Hope you enjoyed this mini-tour of my little town.

I continue to share my blessings through the Joy Dare!

 3 gifts redeemed 
572. My coupons, as I shop for groceries at my favorite grocery store.

573. An adorable line of gift and personal items introduced from DaySpring(Called "Redeemed").

574. Ephesians 1:7-8 "We are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb."

 3 gifts entwined

575. The crown of thorns that sat on Christs head...reminding me of His suffering, yet He truly is the King of kings!

576. A grapevine growing in my back yard...knowing it will soon produce grapes.

577. Hearts entwined (defined-  For one person to twine together with or to twine around  another person....a symbol of eternal love between man and woman.) This kind of love is a true gift from God!

3 gifts of His promises

1.     578. In Him, we are a new creation!!

579. If we acknowledge Him, He will make our paths straight. (Proverbs 3:6)

580. "God is patiently transfiguring all the notes of my life into the song of His Son.  I can say it certain now: All is grace."   Ann Voskamp

 3 gifts uncovered
581. Garden pond, uncovered from it's winter plastic.
582. Pot of fresh vegetables, on the stove.
583. My dogs, sleeping down by my feet, under my bed covers.

A gift heard, a gift held, a gift hoped for
584. Heard - Favorite Easter songs
585. Held -my husband's hand
586. Hoped for -  Finding the right house for our family to live in.

 3 Gifts Round
587. An Easter Cupcake
588. My favorite music cd's
589. My 25th anniversary ring

 3 Gifts White

590. Easter lilies

591. An undecorated Easter egg

592. New crew socks 

Linking over at these Bloghops:

Jumping Tantem Sunday 

Multitude on Monday(A Holy Experience)

On Your Heart Tuesdays (A Pause in The Path)

Sharing His Beauty (Beauty In His Grip)

Sun and Moon

Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars.      (Psalm 138:3)

He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down. Psalm 104:19)

I took these pictures  with my digital camera while walking down my road. On the same day, at the same time, I looked to the west and the sun was setting. I turned directly around and looked to the east and saw the moon, high in the sky.(I wish I had a 360 degree camera!). It was breathtaking!!!

West

East

The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets. (Psalm 50:1)

The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon. (Psalm 74:16)

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised. (Psalm 113:3)

Linking over at these blog hops:

Word-Filled Wednesday (Internet Cafe')

Brag on God Friday (Beholding Glory)

Heartprint Halellujahs (Heartprints of God)

On Your Heart Tuesday (A Pause on the Path)

Barking Spiders and Other Funny Poems

A joyful heart is good medicine...

(Proverbs 17:22a)

 A 'real' spider from my garden.

Sometimes it's just fun (and good for us) to laugh a little bit! I found this children's author/poet  (CJ Heck) who writes some cute and fun poems specifically geared for kids. The title of two of her books have a specific theme that caught my attention. . . they're about 'barking spiders'. Have you ever heard about barking spiders? My first memory of hearing about them was through my dad. My father was always kind of a quiet, serious guy. Most of the time he was all business, probably because he had to raise a family of 4 kids on a home-owned and run business that wasn't the biggest success in our small town. He was a very hard worker, though. So when he mentioned to us kids that there were barking spiders nearby, that got our attention. We soon learned what it meant and would go running the opposite direction, as to not get a "whiff" of these invisible arachnids!

Barking Spiders
by CJ Heck

The barking spiders all march in
just past dinnertime.
Some big, some small, they come to call
 floating on the wind behind.

Each is clearly noticed,
although they can't be seen.
You're positive they're there though,
'cause your nose is very keen.

You know you can't outrun 'em
and a net won't get 'em caught.
Your friends laugh 'cause they're funny ...
Your mom yells 'cause they're not.

So open all the windows!
Crack the vents real fast!
'Cause these aren't normal spiders 
...barking spiders are just gas.

 

 Barking Spiders in Church
Those pesky barking spiders
followed me to church Sunday.
I tried to make them stay at home,
but they came anyway.

Then I did something naughty
'cause they were being bad.
When people turned and looked at me,
I pointed at my dad.

Here are some more funny poems this author wrote that I just thought were cute. . .

 Toe Jam
Can anybody tell me
what's that stuff between my toes?
My daddy says it's 'toe jam'
but I don't think he really knows.

It's icky and it's fuzzy
and I think I'll tell my dad ...
I wouldn't put it on MY bread
if it was the ONLY jam we had.

Wedgies 
You know what makes me laugh
and puts me into stitches?
It's when I grab ahold and pull
the waist of someone's britches.

It’s fun.  It's called a WEDGIE
and what a super name,
just pull and yell out WEDGIE!
It‘s really the coolest game.

Hmmm ... who should I get,
lil sissy or my big brother?
Or maybe I should get my dad
but definitely NOT my mother!

And you NEVER do grandmas and grandpas.
To do that you‘d have to be nuts
('cause everyone knows that old people
don't even have any butts).

 Take some time to just laugh throughout your day! It's good medicine! (It's also cheaper and tastes better than most medicines.)

Linking up at:
Brag on God Friday
In Search of Beauty

Be of Good Cheer

Source: sunsurfer.tumblr.com via Ann on Pinterest

(John 16:33 NKJV) "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
 

Linking over at these blog parties:

In Search of Beauty
Fresh Brewed Sundays

Jumping Tandem Sunday 

Let it Snow....Let it Snow....Let it Snow

Well, this time of year(between January and April) is my least favorite time. It's cold here, where I live and roads can get pretty icy and hazardous at times. The sun doesn't shine too much and skies are gray. There are a few good things about this time of year:

1. The days are now getting longer and spring will be coming.
2. Because of the cold weather and snow, I don't feel guilty reading and writing and blog-hopping.
3. Even though I don't like the cold, the beauty of the snow falling and layered on the ground and trees is very beautiful!

Here are some winter pictures from the internet that I found reminded me that wintertime and the snow have a beauty all it's own!

“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow
   or seen the storehouses of the hail,
 which I reserve for times of trouble,
   for days of war and battle?

Job 38:22

Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments,
embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour.

John Boswell

Isaiah 1:18 

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

 

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."
William Shakespeare

There is nothing in the world more beautiful than the forest clothed to its very
hollows in snow.  It is the still ecstasy of nature, wherein every spray, every
blade of grass, every spire of reed, every intricacy of twig, is clad with radiance.

William Sharp

Proverbs 25:13 

As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

Prayer to the Snowy Owl

Descend, silent spirit;
you whose golden eyes
pierce the grey
shroud of the world—
Marvelous ghost!
Drifter of the arctic night,
destroyer of those
who gnaw in the dark—
preserver of whiteness.

"Sweet bird!  thy bow'r is ever green,
Thy sky is ever clear;
thou hast no sorrow in thy song,
No winter in thy year."
-  John Logan,  1748 - 1788 

When the snow is still blowing against the window-pane in
January and February and the wild winds are howling without,
what pleasure it is to plan for summer that is to be.

Celia Thaxter

linking up at:

No Ordinary Blog Hop - Theme of the Month

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!

A picture I took of the Canadian geese on a lake near where I live.(Pike Lake, Indiana)

Wishing you all celebrations of joy

as you

leave the past (mistakes) behind

and anticipate

the new beginning (God's plan) that lies ahead!

Happy New Year!!!

Linking on over to:

Beholding Glory

 
Freshly Brewed Sunday