Black Swallowtails

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." - Romans 1:20

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"Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into light." - Helen Keller

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Tammy and I came home from work today to find that two Black Swallowtail butterflys had emerged from their chrysalis'. They really are quite beautiful. Within a few minutes of opening the door to the butterfly house both climbed to the top of the cage then flew off climbing upwards in a Westernly direction.

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I am constantly impressed by the design of the created world around me. When you examine the wing of a butterfly in detail it is truly a thing of beauty. When you consider that it did not exist 10 days ago in butterfly form and that it was transformed during its pupa stage of development after begining life as a caterpillar it is a marvelous reminder of our creators world around us.

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There are more pictures of the Black Swallowtails on my web album.

Comments on Health Care

"Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people." - Matthew 4:23

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The Healing Window

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The term "Health Care" and the subject of its reform within the United States has dominated the news outlets, the watercooler discussions, and thoughts of many these past weeks. Advocates for reform decry the neccesity of change while others question the need for any change at all. Several things have become very clear to me and I am not encouraged by most of them.

1) I am not aware of a single news outlet that provides unbiased fact based reporting on issues of national importance.

2) I am discouraged by the consistent use of labels and categories, such as liberal, conservative, democrat, republican, socialist, rich, poor,etc, when discussing issues of national importance.

3) I have yet to hear anyone offer up a clear definition or description of what the term "Health Care" means.

4) I am concerned at the gross oversimplification of complex human centered problems and the belief by some that the right process, system, or law will correct what are essentially human choice/behavior issues.

5) I am concerned about the the reduction of human suffering through illness to numerical analysis and statistics.

6) I am concerned by the number of people that do not understand economics and the way in which our government funds its efforts through taxation.

7) I am hopeful that the current "Health Care" discussion will open up all peoples minds to the subject of health, wellness, and personnel resonsibility as well soften their hearts to the subject of compassion and the example of Jesus Christ.

Grace & Peace,

CAS

Grandparents

"What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies." ~Rudolph Giuliani

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August 2009

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Swallowtails

We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever. ~Carl Sagan

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If nothing ever changed there would be no butterflys. - unknown

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This evening while watering the bronze fennel plants in the butterfly garden I noticed several caterpillars. Tammy moved the two potted plants into the butterfly cage and now we are hoping to release swallowtail butterfly's in the next couple of weeks.

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Epiphyllum oxypetalum

"God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars." - Martin Luther

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"We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls." - Mother Theresa

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Once again I am amazed and in awe of the beauty of the created world around me. Tammy recently aquired an Epiphyluum oxypetalum or Night Blooming Cereus. This species from the cactus family is known for its flower which blooms late at night, only lasts until morning and has an intoxicating fragrance. We were treated to a bloom Friday night and took these pictures Saturday morning.

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The bud a week prior to blooming.

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aka Lady of the Night, Queen of the Night, and Dutchman's Pipe

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A few hours after the picture above was taken.

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Sunset at Ft PIckens

"When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in the worship of the creator." - Mohandas Gandhi

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The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Psalm 19:1

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When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

Paslm 8:3-4

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