Hello, God. It's me, Mara.

You know, Lord, sometimes when we're busy, it's breathtaking to take a moment to look around, maybe pay attention to what's around us. Only the items on the to-do-list, so off we go. At one intersection, several kids wait to cross the avenue, the car headed north stops, allowing them to cross to avenue. So nice, especially since, once crossed, they turned and waved a "thank you" to the driver, he smiled.

Then mountains come into view! Depending on the time of year, sometimes even in early summer, there's a wee bit of snow on the mountains tops; always a lovely scene. Traffic is a bit heavy and slow, street views of yards and flowerbeds, most lovely. Sometimes one even notices a fountain - another special sight.

Next stop, the grocery store - a young couple walking, holding hands, smiling at each other; another special scene. Once in the store, a young boy grabs his mother's attention, whispering a bit loud: "Mom! Did you see that lady in that bright yellow dress? She reminded me of the bright yellow sunrise we saw the other morning. Oh, she's already gone, but she, or that dress was just lovely!"

Walking down the aisle, a young lad pauses, looks up to the gent beside him and says, "Grampa, when we're through here, where can we go buy a new flag? The one we had got damaged; Mom doesn't want to patch it, could you buy us a new flag? I love flags, don't you? The devotional you read us this morning(1); we're to give thanks to God for He is good. God gave us a special day, today, too, didn't He? I'm so glad that you are my grandpa. Thank you, Grampa, I love you."

Love, Mara

(1) Psalms 118; 24 & 29 "This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it ... 29, Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is so good!"