Flower Garden Premium Jigsaw Puzzle

Me too

Aussie- watched the glorious Southern Lights on the news last evening. Were you able to catch their glory? Boy, now wouldn't that make a great puzzle (hint, hint TEAM).

No BayGrannie, bit cool in the evenings to go out now. One thing I would like to see before I go are the Northern Lights, they are just so beautiful. Hugs.

I haven't been in your side yard; but if it looks like the puzzle, I would like to see it!

Would love to see the northern lights as well. I heard Sweden is the best location for northern lights. Then I heard Alaska was a good spot.

Alaska is a good spot, best in March & September. Way too light to see them now - we're in the period called "civil twilight", which means we can do anything outdoors without the aid of artificial light. Won't really start getting dark again until September.

I just saw on the news that a photographer was taking pictures of Old Faithful (In Yellowstone Park, Wyoming). All of a sudden the Northern Lights appeared! They were very bright and beautiful, and the they made a beautiful backdrop for Old Faithful! It's very rare to see the lights that far South in the States...

WOW! That sounds like it would be an incredible photograph!

It does! Did you get a pix, Joyce? My all time late night experience was when we went to Lithuania to adopt our 2 children. It was light at night til 10:30pm. You could hear children playing--that was when I started to get scared. Our orphanage & their Director were just lovely. One night, the kids went out to pick mushrooms for soup. Simply delicious to eat w/rye bread. Our 2 had been picked out for us and what an experience--they were prepared to meet their new mom & dad & go to America. We were traveling w/another couple fr om Vermont. On our first visit, we got to know the kids and gradually were able to spend more time by ourselves & left gifts for all. We went back a second time within 4 weeks & then went to the old KGB HQ's--which was now being converted to the Lithuanian system. My H. & VT M. stayed at Hilton Hotel w/kids, while I & Vt H. went to Court to finalize adoption. It happened! They were ours. For the last night, they went back to orphanage for a final good bye party the next day. We went out to dinner, saw a rainbow over the city, & decided to have a beer for our last night of "freedom". I picked out a can w/polar bear on it & we went to pay. The lady at the desk still used abacus to add up our purchases--& showed the barfolk what I had picked out! The crowd cheered me on b/c little to my knowledge, I had picked out a 12.5% brew. Since I was 100% Lithuanian, I was official translator--but then was speechless!

What an incredible experience! It is one I am sure you are going to treasure!

No, BayGranny, I didn't get the pix, I just saw the story on the news. Even on the news the Northern Lights were awesome! I hope the photographer publishes his pictures!

Your Lithuanian memory reminded me...My best late night experience was on top of a hillside in Switzerland. Our band group was finishing up our month long tour of Europe with a wonderful Fondue party (my mouth waters just thinking about it! ) at an adorable Chalet restaurant. After dinner, the ump-pah-pah band played and my best friend and I went wandering out where we could see the stars up close and personal. As the Alpen horns began playing and echoing off the hills, we began hearing soft ringing of cow bells. We had wandered right into the middle of some cows grazing! They just kept on grazing. It was like being right in the middle of an awesome movie! Such a wonderful memory!

Actually that was way back in 1996. Thank God my mom from Philadelphia came up North to help me. The kids were fascinated w/light switches. So my new son turned on the switch for the garbage disposal, heard the noise, stuck his hand in-w/luck mom was there & pulled it out. I'm still not sure what she said to him, but that was Lithuanian I had never heard before! (But It Worked)

A year later, he got ahold of my boom-box & was somehow able to transmit sounds of his toy helicopter over it. Besides being proud of his intelligence, I really became nervous...just how smart was this kid? Next, they got ahold of one of the cassettes I brought back from Lith. They (my new daughter) and son started to tape over those songs & started talking over their almost lost accent from the old country.

Have been to Alaska, Yellowstone and the Grand Teton national park. Looking forward to bringing home our puppy. She's in training right now.

BayGrannie, my Switzerland experience was in 1971. Just a little while ago!

I've been to Switzerland - oh I loved that country. Beautiful scenery. One day we were near a ski resort Gstaad. We pulled over to get out of the car. We couldn't get over the breathtaking view. It was the mountain in the background with a lake in the foreground. There was a reflection of the mountains on the lake in the background. It was quite warm that day. We even took a photo of us together - my sister and I were with our grandparents.

Carol & Joyce--here's another good beauty inthe night story. The Leonid Meteor showers were at their best some(? ) years ago in New England. Kids were still young then. I woke everyone at 4:30am & we drove down to Narragansett Bay to a vegetable stand we used to purchase produce from. We brought sleeping bags w/us to lay on the ground. The sky was perfectly clear & then it started. Weather people estimated 1per minute. We ALL really enjoyed ourselves that early am. Then since nobody had school or work that day, we went out for a big breakfast buffet!

That sounds like a nice memory to cherish. Seeing the Leonid Meteor must have been a once in a lifetime event!

Olamae, it will happen again in November around the 17th, I think. It's a yearly event and well worth getting up to see from a dark place. We drive up to a local ski area and watch from the road inside our nice, warm car!

Oh, Grannie! You just sparked another wonderful memory! (Here I go again! ) I'm not positive, but I think it was the same meteor shower...I was at a Women's Retreat in the mountains. We had heard that the best hours for viewing would be from 1-3 am. Since we were way up in the mountains away from any city lights, the viewing would be spectacular. My friend and I decided to stay up and watch them, but none of the other women wanted to stay up that late. We had so much fun laughing, giggling, and singing to keep ourselves awake! When the showers began, they were so spectacular that we both spontaneously broke out into:
"Oh Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Olamae, you are so right, it was a once in a lifetime event! I have never seen a fireworks display that could even compete with that meteor shower!! Even our voices sounded like the angels, in perfect harmony!

I love that hymn Joyce and as I was reading it I came out in goosebumps - what a lovely picture you painted and gave God the glory. Hugs.

Thank you, Aussie! it was one of those magnificent "God moments! " Hugs right back...

Aussie & Joyce-I agree w/you that Aussie must get that sugar level back to where it should be. Aussie, you do such a great job keeping us close to God, perhaps there are newer meds (me, the pharmacist) says. And Joyce I loved the hymn you sent as well. Are you alto or soprano? XOXO

I used to be an alto...Now I just croak along with whatever comes out of my mouth. Four surgeries on your neck and cervical spine do some damage on the vocal chords! I still make a joyful noise to the Lord, just not loud enough to be heard by anyone!

Went to the doctor yesterday and he just increased my insulin which I am not happy about - and my reading this morning was highest it has ever been. I think the Aussie way of reading is different from north America and not sure how to convert it - it was 19.7 - never been that high before. Hugs. Thank you for caring.

Aussie, I am not sure what the difference is between the U.S and Aussie of reading it either. My husband takes a large amount of insulin too. We went to a seminar on weight- loss surgery and he is considered a candidate for it. I was nervous about the surgery for him because of some of his other health problems, but after asking questions and listening to some facts, I feel a lot better about it

JoyceRogers, I have asthma and there are times I would love to croak to praise the Lord. Sometimes, it is a choice between breathing and singing. I don't think the Good Lord would rather I breathe than sing, so I just sing in my head to the Lord, when it is hard to breathe and hope he knows that I am praising him.

"How Great Thou Art" is one of my favorite hymns! I know a man that is a baritone that sings it, and you can almost hear the roar of thunder when he sees it. His name is bob and he is recovering from a leg amputation due to his diabetes. Please prayer for him. ( I consider him to be like an older brother to me since we share the same birthday. Thanks to everyone for praying for him. Hugs and blessings :)

Olamae, I'm so sorry that you have to suffer with asthma. I have some breathing problems myself, but I only use my oxygen occasionally. There are many times when I just mouth the words when I sing. I think God hears it from my heart!

Aussie and Olamae, I know so many people battling diabetes, including my hubby, and I've been Pre-diabetic for years. It's a HORRIBLE disease if left untreated. Several of my dearest friends have lost legs, feet, fingers, and Lives, because of it. I have a little secret that I believe has kept my sugar level under control. I take Cinnamon capsules! (No, I'm not selling them! ) I take 2000 mg a day. It may not do a thing, but I believe they help, so they do! They don't hurt anything, so it's worth a try. I get them at my drugstore, or you can get them online. I'm not usually one to buy into the holistic, health food movement, but this little tip has helped me!

Oh, number-wise, in US terms...Anything under 100 is good. Some of my friends test around 200-300. They're mostly under assisted care now.

Dear God, please teach us to take care of our bodies the way you have intended. Please heal us of all our diseases, but Thy Will be done. In Your most precious Son's name, Amen.

Thank you for the prayer Aussie! I am well aware of how devastating diabetes is. I took care of my mother the last two years of her life before she passed away from complications from it. It made her go blind and then I watched as her foot and then her leg got amputated because of it I try to watch my weight, my sugar intake, and what I eat. Her death was slow and left her an invalid. I don't want to go that way. Blessings, and Hugs to you Aussie! :)

The fireworks at Disney World is really spectacular. I saw them when Disney first opened.

Thank you olamae and back to you. Hugs.

Carol--did you get your puppy yet? We need more specifics please--especially baby's name & color & ALL THAT JAZZ. Congratulations mama!

What part of Australia do you live. I reside in thee Mid North of Adelaide (Port Pirie) South Australia.

I do love the above poem. Where did you have a blackout. We had a state wide blackout in Sept last year 2016 for 2 days and my daughter had theirs for 3 1/2 to 4 days further up north of South Australia in the far outback.

Beautiful poem. What a talented lady you are. Thanks for sharing. Love you tons.

Heartfelt and lovely, aussie. Hugs.

Thanks for publishing another one of Hazel's beautiful poems. Mrs. PW and I enjoy them. Hugs to her and to you for posting them.

Hi corina52, Bribie Island in Queensland. Never been to South Australia, but would love to do so one day. Hugs.

Hi malko, aknan and PW (my fan cub lol) Thank you so much for your kind words. Went to sign up for my new volunteer job yesterday of teaching the computer and the coordinator said there may be a little bit of counselling which I was thrilled about. God certainly replaces those things that we lose. PTL - Hugs.

I love the poem Aussie! Anyone who has loved and lost can relate to it. God bless and Hugs :)

I also love the poem, aussie. Such beautiful imagery I can see the flame of the candle dancing and I can feel the pain as the love light goes dark. NLB

What a beautiful poem. Have fun with your position. I'm sure everyone will appreciate you and enjoy your company as much as we do!!

Thank you Olamae and nlb - I appreciate your comments very much. Hugs to you both.

Thank you so much gtx - I worked for a few years in a voluntary capacity as a pastoral carer and I can assure you that I got so much more out of that time that I ever expected - and I am looking forward to that happening again. You can never outgive God is so true. Hugs to you and yours.

And hugs and blessings to you Aussie!

AS, you have a heart for ministry and will do will in this new opportunity. May God bless you richly as you enter this new phase of your life and give you healing from past hurts.

Thank you PW - I will be changing my name back to my maiden name in the next few weeks, decided not to go the other route. Thank you for caring. Hugs.

Good thought, aussie. Stay strong.

Yes, now that I have made the decision, I feel much better. Will be contacting the relevant government department today and will let you know how long it will take and the hoops I have to jump through. Blessings Aknan. (and a hug or two for you both.)