Lots of Morning Pictures

I'm back at my Tuesday & Thursday yoga classes (yay for me and how I feel better, more limber).  Which means I'm only getting my morning walks three (if I'm lucky 4) days of the week. I don't know what it was, but Wednesday morning I just noticed lots of beauty around me.  Some of the pictures get cropped so far-in they end up kind of fake and grainy looking.  My lack of photographic skill is obvious.  The pictures are mostly a reminder of things I notice anyway, so I'm not much into perfection there.  It's just for me.

I came across this article this morning that I thoroughly enjoyed.  I loved the background of the word / name sacrament.  I think we often don't give it quite the recognition it deserves for all the sacredness that we share in it each Sunday.

Origin of the word Sacrament

Received my statement from the insurance company in today's mail.  About had an attack when I looked through the numerous pages to see more than once the word "Denied ".  Spent 20 minutes on the phone with the insurance company.  It seems like I'm ok, and don't owe any money.  (I loathe debt in most all forms) and it's up to the vision center to take care of their part of the billing if they want to get paid from the insurance company for my cataract / glaucoma surgery.  It feels like all I've done this summer is go to the doctor.  Not my favorite.  And of course I mentally bristled when the guy at the insurance company wanted to make sure we're getting our annual physicals, even wanted to know the date which I wanted to say was none of his business (yes, I'm bristly) but finally decided it didn't matter, they'll get the claim for the physical anyway.  And then it'll be yet another round of bills, claims, and dogging issues.  Sigh. I guess I'm glad it's Friday.

It may be still August, but it's starting to look like fall.  Noticed a large display of pumpkins-jacko'lanterns outside the grocery the other day.  Snapped just a small portion of the smiles.  (It's true the seasonal decor goes on display way too early, but I'm ready for October!) 

The picture of the pretty jay (their blue is so stunning) I had to take because he kept flitting around me and landing near in several places on my walk the other day.  I love them. The rose of sharon is a favorite of mine, seems like there are fewer varieties of flowers blooming around here in the hot heat of late summer.  And the tree with the orange berries?  When I see those berries it feels like a fall signal. 

So today, even through my grumpiness, I'm grateful for life.  Even the challenges that can cause such stress are good for me.  It's good to learn how to do whatever it takes to conquer them.  It's a wonderful blessing to be able to have my vision fixed so I can see. The world is so much brighter without the haze of the cataracts. And even though the process can be troublesome, I'm so grateful for insurance.  NO way would we have been able to afford that surgery without it. I'm grateful for the visit we had last night from a couple friends, she brought me some homemade strawberry freezer jam.  I can't wait to try it. (I might become a jam convert.) How lovely to be the recipient of thoughtfulness.