Friday, February 5, 2021

I am Happy the Sun Came Out


Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

I hope you enjoy the sky photos today. I was very happy to see the sun and the break in the gray skies. I can feel Spring in the air.

Sky




The early blooming pansies are surviving.





Reading and Projects

I continue to be busy with the personal family digital project. This weekend I will fine tune it and put the final touches on the first phase of it. I will be happy when it is completely done and I estimate completion by the end of February.

I haven't had much time or mental energy for reading while working on the project which also requires a lot of mental energy.  Sadly I have decided to discontinue reading The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, a classic novel on which the movie, Sir Lawrence of Arabia is based. Truthfully I find it a big bore.  I've plodded through 150 pages and it's taken me at least 10 tries to get that far. I can't remember much of anything I've read so it will go back to the library in a few days.  I hope I don't offend anyone who read it and enjoyed it.  Maybe I will try reading it again one day because i think it's important to try and read the classics but for now I'm aborting my efforts. I did very much enjoy The Book of Lost Names however. This is the 4th book I've read by the same author. I do enjoy her stories. Click on the book titled where I've linked to Amazon for more information. I have a new book to pick up at the library sometime soon.
 


I spent a bit of time knitting a few new dishcloths. I'm not very good at it as my tension is uneven but I find it relaxing when I cannot read.

 Kenya

I'm thinking about my friends in Kenya this week and reminiscing about the many travels and projects I've worked on with various friends. In the first photo there is my friend Jo from South Africa. This photo is taken in Nakuru, Kenya when she and I met there in 2011 while she was living and working with her late husband Grant in the Kerio Valley. Jo has her own blog. In case you haven't read it yet it's called Memorable Meanders and there she writes about her various homes in Africa and her daily life with her many pets.


On that day in Nakuru I was meeting with the boys in the photo, feeding them and encouraging them in life as they were basically street boys and trying to live a clean life with many daily challenges. On this day we were all happy but at the end I cried as I did not know when I would be able to return to Kenya and see them again. I knew they would have many hardships after my leaving and I was not in a financial position to set them up in a better situation since the work I do is all funded from my own resources as a retired person. We prayed and encouraged them, bought some warm coats and a solar lamp and food stuffs and then we had to depart. To this day I have not seen them again and I pray that God would look after them. They will be young men now.


If you are wanting to help the poverty stricken and the very destitute and you want to know your money is truly getting to those that are in great need due to hunger and lack of finances, please feel free to contact me (kerichojoy[at]gmail]dot.com). I have been helping those at the grassroots level for going on 17 15 years (sorry incorrect math).  There are so many needs that every month I must pick and choose who I can help. I work through local leaders in the villages and communities and when I travel to Kenya I meet as many of the beneficiaries as I am able.

Take care everyone and have a blessed and safe weekend. 


Linking to Skywatch Friday.



20 comments:

Red said...

I think you can start to get excited about spring but not here.

Joyful said...

Yes, we have warmer winters but not always shorter ones.

Nancy Chan said...

Beautiful sky shots. Our weather is beginning to get hotter as we move toward March.

Joyful said...

So far the weather has been mild where I live with a lot of rain. I hear next week we are getting a blast of Arctic air and colder temperatures.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

Beautiful sky captures Penny! It is nice to see the sun and blue skies. It was wonderful you were able to meet up with your blogging friend Jo in Kenya. That is a pretty photo of Jo. Take care, enjoy your weekend!

Joyful said...

Hi Eileen, yes it really made my day to have the sun and blues skies appear. I was very happy to meet Jo in person too when I went to Kenya. Some day I would love to meet more people from Blogland and to visit Jo in South Africa if it becomes possible to travel again. Have a wonderful weekend too.

Spare Parts and Pics said...

Beautiful skies. It's so nice when you can start to feel spring in the air!

Joyful said...

Thank you for your comment. It really is nice to feel spring in the air but right now as I look out my window the weather looks quite chilly. I read last night that very cold weather was on the way. At this time of year we are never sure whether we will have early spring or late winter. Have an awesome weekend.

Jeanie said...

The skies are spectacular -- but what really captured me most in this post is the pansy. It is such a sign of hope for a spring to come.

Joanne Noragon said...

Lovely skies. I pray too your boys grew to fine men.

Joyful said...

Yes, I always love first blooms in spring.

Joyful said...

I appreciate your kind thoughts toward the boys.

Biking Chronicles said...

Dearest Penny. Thanks for posting about our meeting in Nakuru. We have been friends for more than ten years! I'd love to know how those particular boys got on. My fervent wish is to go back to Kenya one day. The Kerio valley in the Great Rift Valley. If you're there, imagine how special that would be. Two blogger friends in their favorite African country. All the best with your project. I know how involved it is. Be safe. Blessings Jo

Joyful said...

That's something that would be wonderful Jo. From your lips to God's ears. Much love. ❤️💕🙏

Mari said...

We have been under a winter storm warning for the last three days. So cold and snow, snow, snow. This afternoon the sun came our for about 10 minutes. I was so happy to see it.
I pray your boys are doing well.

Joyful said...

Wow Mari, that sounds really cold. I haven't been in such a storm for years. I'm glad the sun came out for you. Thank you for the good thoughts toward the boys.

Pamela M. Steiner said...

I love that you have such a heart for missions and that you have been able to help so many in these hard places of the world. I know the impact you made on these young men's lives will bless them for the rest of their lives. I pray with you that they are safe and doing well and that their hearts have turned to Christ, Who will lead them in the right paths. Beautiful pictures of the skies...spring in the air there? I guess you are closer to the coast and it must be warmer there than the rest of Canada. Spring is in the air here in Florida too. We've had some cold weather, but now it seems to be on the upward swing to spring. I'm glad. Blessings to yo today. You are a blessing.

Joyful said...

Thank you for your kind words Pamela. I pray the boys will always remember to turn to God in all things. Yesterday it snowed here but it didn't last. The forecast is a cold week ahead though we've had a mild winter so far. I hope that next week we begin to see spring arrive. Enjoy the rest of your week!

Lowcarb team member said...

Thank you for sharing these beautiful sky shots, I enjoyed them.

All the best Jan

Joyful said...

You're welcome Jan! Thanks for visiting.

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