June 4, 2008  Orange Cosmos

The flower beds are filling in quickly. I have already cut, rooted, and transplanted quite a few cuttings from the coleus, and it just keeps growing more.

It is hard to find the tallest varieties of zinnias at garden centers (I guess they sell more of the dwarf and medium varieties), but they grow easily from seed, so we'll see if I can keep them adequately watered. I haven't had much luck with seeds because of all the birds, so I'm starting these in containers with an old window screen over them for protection. I planted these yesterday, and many of them have already germinated!

June 5, 2008

The zinnia sprouts had already grown enough to start thinning.

These "wildlife" aren't the best quality, but the scene cracked me up, so I had to try to capture it. The cardinal couple has a nest in the old oak tree that shades this area of the yard and our back porch. They were so upset, and you'll see why...

Of course, Queso was way too lazy to care about the silly birds when it was already so hot and humid. A little while later, I realized that the baby birds were out of the nest and about to begin flying lessons. They're so tiny!

Besides Cardinals, I love to watch and listen to the doves. They like to sneak at the leftover chicken scratch, but they don't dive-bomb us or the other pets.

This old chicken feeder was perfect for these succulent transplants.

June 25, 2008

Bogota, Colombia Mission Trip

June 26

There are many stories to go with each photo, but I don't have the energy to explain them all; for now, most the pictures will have to speak for themselves. Thanks for all the prayers--God is doing amazing things!

The Paez brothers

When the boys turn 18, they go to a "half-way house." They are supposed to find jobs and begin to support themselves. It can be a tough transition, and the guys at one house we visited had a bare cupboard before this mad-man trip to the store. Nep did a great job of comparing the body's physical hunger to spiritual hunger. The food provided for them will satisfy them for a while, but the Bread of Life is the only thing that can satisfy the soul.

The Johnson family was finally united!