This is how shiny Susy greets me every time she sees me. I am in charge of Susy and hanging out with my fun nephew Anthony for the next week while his folks are gallivanting in exotic places. Suzy decided she wanted to sleep with me last night, but couldn't quite hop up on the high bed. Against my better judgment I helped her up. She rewarded me with a few well placed slurps across my face and then lay her head on my chest. She is incessant, but endearing.
She loves Anthony too. Anthony doesn't really connect with most animals but he tells me he loves Susy. He even likes it when she licks his face.
Susy wil not permit anyone not to love her. In this household, what Susy wants, Susy gets. If denied, she will lick you into submission.
After getting about four gallons of dog spit all over me, I dropped Anthony at his job and took off on my bicycle. The bicycle is a loaner from my brother's neighbor and a REALLY nice bike. I felt like I could've biked all day...and it would take that long to dry off all the Susy slobber.
The scenery in this gorgeous area where I grew up is breath-taking. Mountains surround the valley, and the Susquehanna river meanders alongside the historic town where my brother lives. I biked for twenty miles along the river. I wondered if I had appreciated the beauty when I was growing up here. I don't think I quite did. I always thought it was pretty, but now, it was gorgeous. Was it always gorgeous, and it had just become so familiar that I lost sight of just how gorgeous it was? What other wonders of my life had become so familiar that I had become immune to the beauty? Those closest to me? Even maybe God? I prayed as I biked that God would reawaken any lackluster response to the delights of my life that perhaps I no longer noticed because they were so ever present.
I passed Jackson's Pumpkin farm which was one of my favorite places to visit in the fall. They always make amazing figures out of pumpkins and autumn sheaths of corn and hay bales. It was always magical visiting Jackson's farm. Many happy memories of going there to pick out pumpkins clattered about in my head.
As I biked back homeward, watching the river sparkling in the sun that was peeking from behind clouds, I saw a pair of bald eagles! I crossed the street and stood on the river bank watching the bald eagles gliding above the water. After ten minutes, they disappeared behind the mountain. What a blessing!
They were too far away for any picture to show up, but this is where I stood watching them. When I returned home, guess who covered me with fresh slobber? I won't take it for granted. I know when I fly home next week, I will miss her exuberant love.
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Gross
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