It has finally cooled off here in northern Alabama. We made it down to the upper 80s. :D The meteorologist said that we’ll hit the 60s at night for the first time in almost two months. Not that the heat is unusual, really. I do live in the south. Of course, it’s only a temporary reprieve as we’ll be back into the 90s by the end of the week.
This last week has been a busy one for me. School started for us–almost two full weeks after public school. The first few days were difficult, but we trudged through them. I hope this coming week is better. Of course, it’s shorter, so that’s always a positive, at least to the kids.
I leave Thursday morning for the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conference. I’m excited and a little nervous. I haven’t been in a few years, but I get to “meet” some of the wonderful authors who blog here, and I get to give hugs to authors I’ve met before, but haven’t seen in a while.
I promised more Alaska pictures, so here they are. The one above is of another growing glacier. If you look carefully just above the t and i of “edition,” there’s a little black speck on the ice. It’s a seal. Here’s a closer look at his pals, which you can see on the right edge of the pic.
Our guide said it was not uncommon to find herds or pods of seals relaxing on the glacial ice.
On our way out of the fjord, we saw a bald eagle, also resting on glacial ice. He looked so regal. The boat captain (we were on a small boat, not a cruise ship), puttered around the iceberg several times, so we could get pictures. The eagle ignored us.
I think there’s a devotion in that somewhere…
When we have our eyes focused on God, it doesn’t matter what’ going on around us. His Word says he’ll care for us. Our job is to trust.
Sounds so easy. And sometimes it is. At other times, it takes extreme effort to keep our eyes off our circumstances and on Him. I know from experience. And yet I also know that His Word is truth and that nothing that happens to me or to those I love has escaped His notice. He never said He’d keep us from going through trials, but that He would be there with us as we did.
I pray your day and week are blessed, and that you feel God’ presence no matter your circumstances.
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Enjoy the conference, it sounds like it will be a special time for you. Love the thought about keeping our eyes on God and all else becomes insignificant. We have four more weeks until term end- and they are going to be extra busy as I have picked up an extra senior history class!
Enjoy your new class.
The weather is cooler in Michigan also. Unfortunately the cooler weather for the past two days brought a deluge of rain and about 50 miles north several tornados with lots of damage with uprooted trees and downed power lines. Fortunately nobody was killed. Thanks for sharing your Alaska pictures. Enjoy the conference. Nashville is beautiful place for a conference.
We’ve had quite a bit of rain as well, but no tornadoes thankfully. I’m glad no one was killed.
I love the Alaska photos. Do you gaze at them while enduring the heat? High 80s does NOT sound cool to this Canadian! Enjoy the conference; I hope to be able to attend one of these years.
It’s not cool, but it’s much better than the upper 90s with a heat index in the 100s.
Alaska is a beautiful place. You have some great photos.
Thanks, Merrillee.
Have fun at the conference! Great pictures.
Thanks, Beth
Enjoy the slightly cooler weather and the conference!
Thanks, Katy.
Thanks for the iceberg and eagle pictures. They are awe inspiring. Enjoy your conference!
You’re welcome, and thank you.
Great photos Ginger!
I hope you have a fantastic time Nashville! It sounds like it will be wonderful and that you’ll have lots of opportunities to see lots of authors and friends. I hope you all are truly blessed and encouraged!
Thanks, Marylin.
Great analogy Ginger about the eagle! I know I’m guilty of looking more at my circumstances than looking up to God and not worrying about what’s going on around me. But I’m learning to go to Him first with my prayers & thanksgiving! It’s a habit I certainly want to adopt :-)
I’m loving more of your Alaska pictures. I especially like the seals, they are so different looking from ours here in Oregon. We have gray speckled harbor seals and sea-lions. They love to hang out on the piers or rocks also. Thanks for sharing all your adventures with us, how fun to get that close to the glaciers! I hope you get to do many more trips elsewhere as well :-) Blessings and happy SONday!
Thanks, Trixi. Our next trip, planned for many years in the future, is to Ireland and Scotland. I’ve long wanted to go, since it’s part of my heritage. Well, not Scotland, but somehow I’m drawn to that country like no other.
More pictures next week. :D
Have a wonderful time at the conference! It’s been warm here in Utah, too. At least it’s been cooling off at night.
We haven’t even had that, Winnie. It’s cool at the moment (8:30 am) at 73, but I don’t expect it to last long. We’re supposed to be back into the mid 90s by the end of the week. :(
The pictures are amazing. What a trip it must have been. Thanks for sharing.
And I hope you have a great time at the conference.
It was an AWESOME trip, Priscila. Thanks for the well wishes.
Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures
You’re welcome. I aim to please. :)