Yesterday's dawn had many complexions... a rare treat to catch the sunrise at the beach.
Have a blessed day. And, remember, you are never alone, God has sent His angels to be with you in all your ways. Look for the good in every circumstance.
Love and peace,
Rae Karen
With the record-breaking 9-inch snowfall in northern Florida, I dug up an old fable published in the newspaper many years ago. A remedy for peace in our world today.
The Weight of a Snowflake
"Tell me the weight of a snowflake," a coal-mouse asked a wild dove.
"Nothing more than nothing" was the answer.
"In that case, I must tell you a marvelous story," the coal-mouse said.
"I sat on a branch of fir, close to its trunk, when it began to snow--not heavily, not a raging blizzard--no, just like in a dream, without a wound and without any violence. Since I did not have anything better to do, I counted the snowflakes setting on the twigs and needles of my branch. Their number was exactly 3,741,952. When the 3,741,953rd dropped on the branch--nothing more than nothing, as you say--the branch broke off."
After having told this story, the coal-mouse ran away. The dove, who is since Noah's time an authority in peace-matters, sat thinking about the story a little while, and than spoke to himself: "Maybe we are only missing the voice of one person to come to peace in the whole world." (Author Unknown)
Love and peace,
Rae Karen
(photo: Suebee Sheldon)
Ha! I didn't know there was such a thing as a whistling duck that first time I saw one while journaling in the sun-room, I happened to look up. There he was standing on the long cable across the sky, looking at me as if to say pay attention. His funny antics made me laugh, brightening a gray morning. I watched as he slowly inched along the swaying cable, trying to stay balanced. What was he up to? He could point his big orange beak upward and take flight to the lake where a duck belongs. His pink rubbery web feet were made for paddling, not clinging to high-wires.
Whenever a bird or an
animal makes a spectacle, pay attention to the behavior at the time. It could be a heads-up for a lesson coming your way. An angel message from nature to put
into practice to maintain harmony and peace. I got it. The daffy duck was playfully illustrating the need to maintain your balance while communicating on-line with others. Stay up high and don't get your feathers ruffled. The advice was well-taken and helped me to stay more centered.
Yesterday hundreds and hundreds of black-bellied whistling ducks were at the reservoir by the bakery in a nearby town. Such gentle, happy birds, I closed my eyes to listen to soft melodious whistling that filled the atmosphere. These ducks are social and travel in large numbers, whistling to keep in touch. Imagine a duck that whistles rather than quacks. Turns out, that Black-bellied whistling ducks represent fertility, transformation, and abundance.
Enjoy a short-clip of their cheerful whistling...and have a blessed day.
I woke up at 2 a.m. and couldn't go back to sleep right away. Outside my bedroom window, I remembered the view of my neighbor's house that afternoon. I hadn't previously noticed His power line was now interlaced with a wild growing vine of golden heart-shaped leaves swaying in the breeze. An angel message of love filling the atmosphere. During the night, Angels thoughts inspired this comforting poem. A sweet reminder not to despair. Love will always make a way.
Whatever you may be going through today, the angels want you to know that you are not alone. God loves you and has sent His angels to watch over you. God is Love. The best is yet to be.
Love and peace,
Rae Karen
Many years ago our dear 90-year-old poet friend shared a poem that touched my heart. (I found her poem this morning in an older angel blog. Now on the other side, maybe Marian stopped by for a visit, leaving her footprints to share with you.) Although Marian didn't say who had paid her a visit, I thought about her adult son who had passed on.
Footprints in the snow... remind me of Christ Jesus who comes just when needed, an answer to a prayer. We feel the warm comfort of His loving presence, and see His footprints in the snow leading up to our door.
Remember you are never alone. God loves you.
Love and peace,
Rae Karen
Waking up this morning, a funny duck swam into my consciousness. A black-and-white speckled mallard with a big yellow beak named Smorgie, short for Smorgasbord.... Okay... I laughed, feeling a touch of childlike silliness. I'd asked the angels to experience joy today.
His comical presence stirred the waters of happy memories daily feeding the ducks. Four months ago Hurricane Milton swamped the lakefront. Our morning routine changed. The park closed. The beautiful lake no longer accessible. And, the old cypress tree where I circled the cracked corn stood in two feet of water.
Smorgie's comic image turned out to be an angel thought. Go back to the lake today. We did, hoping for the best. All went well. The waters had drastically receded so our car could pull in a short distance from the main road. The lake front houses farther down now had access to the road at the far opposite end to come and go.
Things were shifting...time heals.
Overjoyed, I waved a bag of cracked corn, calling, "Here, Duckies!"
Gray Baby perked up and paddled through cold ripples slowly making the distance to soggy land. His gray and white tail wagged at the pile of golden corn as I silently gave thanks for all the good present in that special moment. 
A cute pair of brown mallards and a couple of hefty muscovy ducks joined the happy reunion.
Our oldest sandhill crane friends, Papa and Mama waded in to get in on the feast. Papa has one bad eye. That's how I can tell him apart from the other sandhills. And, here they were, together and safe after the
two hurricanes. An answer to prayers. 
Before leaving, a beautiful Great White Egret landed, sharing her grace. These elegant white birds remind me of the Holy Spirit. And, for sure, we had a holy encounter with nature this morning. A smorgasbord of Love. Loving care is the best medicine for the soul. Life is like a smorgasbord, full of choices to sample love in big and little ways.
Remember you are never alone. God has sent His angels to be with you. God is Love.
Love and peace,
Rae Karen
Yesterday a sweet mourning dove rested on the rim of the birdbath. Nature had provided a special way for her to keep warm in the cold winter air. I've never seen such a big dove. She kept her perch through the afternoon, facing the sun. Her peaceful presence made me smile as I couldn't help but notice the dove had been equipped to handle the extreme drop in temperature. As you can see, by puffing out her thick breast feathers, her body became insulated like a downy ski jacket.
Sometimes we don't know what we've got, until we really need it. Then the answer pops up from within. God has equipped us to handle every problem if we still our minds, find peace, hunker down, and listen for inner guidance.
Have a peaceful day with your angels. Remember you are not alone. Your angels are right beside you. Stay warm. You've got what it takes. The best is yet to be.
Love,
Rae Karen
My uncle nicknamed me Snowball when I was a toddler. And I've always loved snow, and miss its beauty and wonder in Florida.
Years ago, I discovered a wonderful book about snow written in the 1970's. Snowflake Bentley, Man of Science, Man of God. Wilson Bentley lived in Vermont from 1865-1931. From early boyhood he dedicated his life to follow a calling to capture and record the beauty and precision of snowflakes. He left a lasting legacy of 5,800 amazing photographs of snowflakes revealing how nature adorns herself in jewels of frost. Tiffany's and other artisans have patterned jewelry and art from Snowflake Bentley's exquisite collection.Bentley was a photographer, musician and farmer, multi-talented, he wrote scientific papers for the Weather Bureau, and traveled the world, to lecture and share his beautiful photos.
He learned something interesting in his scientific studies. No two snowflakes were ever alike. "Each snowflake is as different from its fellow as we human beings are from our fellows." Bentley told his mother one evening.
"But the comparison changes there. For each snowflake, if allowed freedom to develop alone, is perfect according to its individual plan. It is one of nature's miracles."
Another interesting fact... to be
perfectly symmetrical, snowflakes must be outside the range of influence
of other snowflakes. When two snowflakes strive equally to occupy the
same place at the same time, neither can have it, and both will be
imperfect. Something to think about...
Snowflakes do not bloom into full beauty at once. They grow, beginning with a tiny nucleus, and developing around this nucleus a geometrical pattern of amazing regularity. They grow in changing habits. "The finest snowflakes were not the largest." Another good reminder on being patient with our own blossoming, and remember bigger isn't always the best.
With the winter snow storms blanketing many states, it's a wonderful time to be still and reflect on God's beauty in nature.
I miss the powdery white snow... but something amusing happened the other day. A perfectly round flat rock was face down in the street as I walked toward the lake. I felt an angel nudge to pick it up. When I turned the smooth gray stone over--what a surprise! A happy snowman smiled at me, painted by a child.
"Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow?" Job 38:22
Remember you are not alone. Angels walk with you. And, the best is yet to be.
Love and peace,
Rae Karen
Ref. Snowflake Bentley, Man of science, Man of God by Gloria May Stoddard, The New England Press, Shelburne, VT. 1979
The saying, Thoughts are things, is true. What we focus on is what we'll surely attract, so why not stand guard and let positive thoughts rule each day. The 365 lifeguard chair is mobile, on wheels, it is easily moved in whatever area of my life more vigilance is needed. Happy New Year.
Happy New Year, friends and family,
The year began fresh with these wonderful words from the daily devotional, God Calling.
Between the Years - January 1
(photo: web)