Bird Watching, Flowers, and Susie

This is not my photo - 

This morning was a delightful treat! We spotted a beautiful Cooper's Hawk perched on driftwood at our waterfall and tried to sneak a photo through the sliding glass door. Unfortunately, it flew away before we could snap a shot.

Curious about our feathered friend, we learned that these hawks feast on doves and pigeons—of which we have plenty in our yard! They're also known to eat bats and other small birds, making our yard quite the buffet for a Cooper's Hawk.

😢

What a beautiful bird! It's larger than the ones we're used to seeing in our yard. A few houses down, there's a nest on top of a redwood tree, and we've enjoyed watching them for years. It's thrilling when they dive down to hunt! I hope it returns, hopefully with a full and satisfied stomach.

We've had dreary, overcast days with chilly temperatures in the 50s and a breeze. I went for a walk, but it was quite cold, especially with damp hair and my Capri pants!

I like the intricate details found within the bloom of this pond flower. 

We'll say goodbye to these as the weather starts warming up.

Do you like nuts? You can have mine!

I'm feeling better, but I still need to watch my diet. I've got a big bag of Kirkland's mixed nuts on the counter, and I'm realizing nuts might be my nemesis. I used to have an ounce or two daily with lunch, but now I can't include them in my diet. I'm restructuring my meals this week to a lower-fiber plan. Tonight, I'm making potato soup—definitely low-fiber!

 

I’m really excited that March is coming to a close! It was a LONG MONTH. I felt like it just went on and on, but I’m ready to move into April. 

Susie, the office manager, always checks every blog post I write to ensure its quality! 

Susie approves this post! 

See ya in April! 

Debby

P.S. - You know, when it comes to preventing diverticulitis, they often suggest getting plenty of fiber. But here’s the tricky part: when a flare-up happens, it can mean there’s too much fiber stuck in those little pockets of the colon. During those times, it's important to give your colon a bit of a break. Depending on how you're feeling, that might mean sticking to a liquid diet for a few days or going for lower-fiber foods, or sometimes both. Once you start feeling better, you can gradually ease back into eating fiber. The key is to find that sweet spot that works just for you—because everyone’s different!

Brighter Days are Coming

 

The other evening, I had a diverticulitis flare-up. It has been a while since the last one.  Diverticulitis can be quite challenging, especially for someone like me who enjoys a variety of high-fiber foods. Last week, I may have exceeded my tolerance by consuming many high-fiber items, including raw carrots, spinach, unsalted nuts, corn, artichokes, apples, avocado, and strawberries. While these foods are beneficial for overall health, in excessive amounts, they can lead to complications for someone with diverticulitis. 

I had to eliminate high-fiber foods and focus on a restricted diet temporarily. This typically includes clear fluids, broth, and low-fiber foods. I bought some white bread and cream of wheat to adhere to this restrictive way of eating.  Diverticulitis really knocks you out - I felt engulfed in fatigue.  After resting all weekend, and sleeping in until 11:30 a.m., I have begun to feel better. I cautiously reintroduced chicken breast sandwiches with lettuce and tomatoes on toasted white bread for lunch, which marked a positive step in my recovery. Although there is still some tenderness on the lower left side. It feels like my colon is bruised on the inside. 

My son (Foodie), who is a dietitian, frequently emphasizes the importance of being mindful of my food choices. I'm now beginning to think that is why he accompanies me during grocery shopping trips, which tend to take nearly twice as long due to his habit of reading labels diligently. Not my labels but his labels.  He points out various potentially harmful ingredients such as seed oils, artificial sweeteners, and high-fructose corn syrup. It makes me really think about all the artificial stuff in processed foods - While he acknowledges that moderation is key, he also believes that the typical American diet poses various nutritional challenges and contributes to our overall bad health.  

It’s a cool, rainy day, but it’s not the kind of winter rain that weighs you down. I can feel Spring peeking through—everything is so green, and the sight of trees with fresh leaves brings a sense of hope. It’s a reminder that even as old man Winter holds on, change is on the horizon, and brighter days are coming.

🎱 

The husband came back from church, ate lunch, took a nap, and is now down at the VFW playing pool and connecting with his buddies. 

Oh, April feels much busier than I prefer. I’m working on finding ways to reduce or even eliminate some of my activities.

We’re on Revelation 20:11-21:8 this week. With three more lessons and final reflections, it’s been a year filled with blessings for me and my ladies. What a wonderful study! 

We have one week off before we're done for the season.  I am eagerly anticipating the summer away from BSF, but not from studying God’s word. The Word Go app by BSF offers short Bible studies during the summer. Plus, I still have my study of Isaiah with the church Ladies, which I truly enjoy. 

False! 

One key takeaway from Revelation is the profound importance of staying close to God. By knowing Him, understanding His character, and immersing ourselves in His word, so we can guard against the deceptions of false teachers and teachings. These false teachers often mix just enough truth to create confusion. 

Are you confident enough in the word of God to recognize the false teachings and doctrines of these Christian cults and false teachers? 

That's it for this post. 

1Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 

Regarding what the false apostle Bill Johnson said: 

Jesus performed miracles as both fully God and fully man during His earthly ministry. Though He lived within human limitations, He retained His divine nature and authority. Philippians 2:6-7 emphasizes that He, while being God, chose to become a servant, limiting the use of His divine attributes and relying on the Father and the Holy Spirit.

His miracles served as signs of His identity as the Messiah, revealing His authority over nature, sickness, and death (John 20:30-31). They were also acts of compassion, reflecting His love for humanity and affirming that He was God in the flesh, come to bring salvation and reveal the kingdom of God.