We don't get as much fall color as the rest of the country, but this year we have had good color for Florida. These early cool snaps have helped. From this bench, I can watch the sunrise; we have seating areas on all four sides of the yard. It's like those 360° theaters--complete with surround-sound. 
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Have a cool Sunday, may it surround you with beauty!
Metamorphosis
Biology. A change in the form and often habits of an animal during normal development after the embryonic stage. Metamorphosis includes, in insects, the transformation of a maggot into an adult fly and a caterpillar into a butterfly and, in amphibians, the changing of a tadpole into a frog. -- American Heritage Dictionary
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Nature declares the truths of creation. How could we gain even a small understanding of the change we will experience from Earthly beings to Heavenly creatures if we did not see earthly examples?
who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Philippians 3:21
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Appreciate not only who you are today, but also who you can become.
Sometimes, we choose to see things as disappointments that could really be blessings, if we would perceive them in the proper light.
Mexican Daisies at Dawn
The sky this morning showed no hint of pink,
just subtle morph from black, to blue, to gray;
a disappointing dawn, I chose to think,
a dreary way to greet a brand new day.
But, when I turned and looked another way,
I saw my daisies bathed in morning's glow;
above the roof, long, slender stems now swayed;
a hundred suns were putting on a show!
10/29/06 Cheri Neuman Herald
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Psalm 98:1 Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things;
May today hold an unexpected surprise for you.
Psalm 5:3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
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What a glorious morning for quiet time. Two hours had passed before I knew it. Enjoy this beautiful new season!
Our class recently hosted a "Literacy Night" at the primary school where I am interning. We decorated the walls with "Super Papers" displaying each student's best work, drawings inspired by the book we are currently reading as a class, and a prominent corner sported a big tree on whose leaves were vocabulary words and definitions created by the children.
After signing in at the hostess table staffed by members of the Rotary Club which sponsored the event, the children were given a pack of three tickets and a ditty bag in which to carry home their treasures (with all sorts of goodies inside--pencils, erasers, bookmarks--all courtesy of the Rotarians.) The tickets were traded one-at-a-time for books selected from the colorfully laden tables lining the walls. We had small reading areas, made from clusters of chairs and desks or tables, in the hall and throughout the classroom. In between selections, the kids took their books back to their families and either read them to their adults, or had the books read to them. Siblings were welcome, but did not select books. I spent a lot of time on my knees listening to excited voices read me selections from their new, to keep books.
The weather was beautiful, so we enjoyed pizza, salad, juice, and cupcakes outside at covered tables. Rotarians provided the meal, served, and cleaned up for us. They were impressively efficient!
The local paper covered the event and took pictures of our families reading together. Our Principal and Assistant Principal came to share the evening. The children were so proud of their work and were thrilled at having a chance to show off for their families. They could hardly wait to introduce us to them. My teacher had selected a wonderful variety of books (also paid for by the Rotary) with each child's taste in mind. There was a good mix of fiction and non-fiction.
It couldn't have been nicer. I am so lucky to have been a part of this during my interning!
Sunrise Service
Chorus rises with the sun
syncopated surround sound.
The first big black and yellow bee
plays his part on the trumpet vine.
Doves arrive singly
wait patiently
before descending to the birdbath
as a pair.
Neighbor passes, nods.
We speak, restate the obvious
It's a beautiful morning!
2006 Cheri Neuman Herald
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Have a beautiful morning!
To Savor the Sun
The tallow wears a new red leaf.
It’s too early to consider fall
yet, there it is
like that first surprise grey hair.
We cut a pineapple just yesterday
gold as summer
and twice as sweet.
We laughed as the juice overran our lips
set the spiky top on the counter to dry
for planting this morning.
The fish in the pond are fat,
wrens feed an invisible nest
deep in the blue Bengal vine,
a squirrel nibbles the edge of a mushroom
fresh from last night’s rain,
butterflies in full bloom
dart from stem to stem in fragrant frenzy--
life at full tilt.
A red leaf in the tallow
whispers the inevitable.
I linger a little longer in the garden
to savor the sun.
8-20-06 Cheri Neuman Herald
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Savor your Sunday!!
Just For Me
These early morning things are just for me,
dew-drenched and wrapped in rosy lighted hue,
the world is still asleep and doesn’t see;
I marvel at the private gifts from You.
Rabbit startles
at the birdbath crew
a new rose peeks
where small webs glint the grass.
The universe is filled with galaxies,
six billion souls on Earth are breathing now;
the skies above, the seas below, all teem.
These early morning things are just for me.
8-13-2006 Cheri Neuman Herald
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I hope you appreciate how very special you are. Have a wonderful Sunday!!
