Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17

Getting under way with Beks’ ninth birthday last Saturday, this has been a pretty interesting week. Add in Father’s Day, a big birthday for our son Andrew, Beks’ first ballet recital, the official beginning of summer, plus Naomi and Craig’s 15th anniversary, and that adds up to a lot of celebration going on.

Oh, and Rebekah is making great strides (get it, “strides”!!) in her recovery. As you can see in the garden photo, there she is watering – under the watchful eye of Max. We are still being extra cautious, and she is still officially grounded by the orthopedic doctor, but we’re hopeful she will be released by the time family arrive in the middle of July.

It may be hot around here, but summer comes along with bounty such as delicious peaches, fresh country tomatoes, and all kinds of locally grown vegetables. I really can’t complain about 90-degrees when our air conditioning works and I am enjoying an amazing peach with my breakfast cereal and local tomatoes on my BLT.

Meanwhile, we are blessed to be worshipping with the vibrant faith community at Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church, grateful for our home in the woods, thankful for the care we have been able to arrange for my dad, and increasingly mindful that we live in a world beset with such malice and uncertainty that we take none of this for granted. Yet…

I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.

Psalm 27:13

Enjoy taking a look at these “Photo Friday” offerings, reflections of my thankful heart and the way my spirit is always trying to pay attention to “the goodness of the Lord.”

And don’t forget to be deliberately positive and and intentionally grateful. The world needs to see us standing confident in God’s grace – DEREK