Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Fun Field Trip

We took advantage of half-price tickets to the aviary in Niagara Falls today. Fun time! We all enjoyed seeing God's creative handiwork!
First, a rainbow over the river...

Then the amazing bird colours and varieties...
Kookaburra...


Toucan...


The happy crew!


Blue and Gold Macaw...

A group of Scarlet Ibis...

Royal Starling...

Red Crested Turaco...

Australian Rainbow Lorikeets...

Mystery birds (if you know their name, please let us know!)...

Austin called this the "love bird" picture...we don't know their name either.

This is the reptile crew...


This is the NON-reptile crew...

The frozen Niagara River...


The falls...





We, of course, made a quick stop to the Hershey store....yummy Special Dark for all of us! Then we took the scenic route through the lovely town of Niagara-On-The-Lake....and we are so glad we did. We saw 9 deer, including one buck, on the golf course, plus the highlight was that we saw a red fox! He was out in a field and we were able to pull over to sit and observe him for a few minutes. This animal-loving crew was quite excited!
Blessings!



Tuesday, February 24, 2009

My Blog Name

I had mentioned to some friends awhile back that I would share about my blog's name. I have been trying to write this post and keep getting distracted, so while the chicken is in the oven, the little girls are being entertained by Elmo and Cookie Monster and the big kids are happy in Lego-world, I am going to try to put an imaginary tent over my head and computer and try to focus on this post. ;)

I never wanted to be a blogger...never. Not that there is anything wrong with bloggers. I have dear friends who have beautiful blogs, and I enjoy reading them with great interest. I just was not interested in having a blog of my own. I have never really been a consistent journal keeper, so why would I think I could be consistent with this. Really, who would want to read it? Who cares about what I have to share? And what do I have to share? But the Holy Spirit was speaking to me, again and again...I want you to start a blog, Scarlett. I asked Him, again, who would really be interested and what do I have to write about and when do I have the time and what in the world am I going to call it???? As soon as I asked that last question, He immediately answered with The Scarlett Thread. I laughed out loud! Oh, great. That's the perfect name for my blog. It's a great name. I love it. Seriously!

How could I say no? So, out of obedience to the Father, this blog was born. The reason that The Scarlett Thread is the perfect name is because it is actually where my name came from...the scarlet thread of redemption that runs through the Bible. What in the world is that? Well, it comes from all the references in the Bible to the colour scarlet, which point to Christ, His blood and that only by His shed blood are we redeemed (rescued from our sin). Here are a few of those verses...

When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist and said, "This one came out first." Genesis 38:27-28

Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim worked into them by a skilled craftsman. Exodus 26:1

Its skillfully woven waistband was like it—of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen, as the LORD commanded Moses. Exodus 39:5

The men said to her, "This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. If anyone goes outside your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head; we will not be responsible. As for anyone who is in the house with you, his blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on him. But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear." "Agreed," she replied. "Let it be as you say." So she sent them away and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them. Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them. They said to Joshua, "The LORD has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us." Joshua 2:17-24

When it snows, she has no fear of her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. Proverbs 31:21

"Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Isaiah 1:18

They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. Matthew 27:28-31

And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:18-23

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1:18-19

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

Quite an explanation, eh? Yes, there is rich and powerful meaning behind my name. When I was younger, I used to get a little annoyed by how difficult my name was for some people. (I wish I had a dime for every time I've been called Charlotte, Carla and even Velvet. Get it...red velvet). But I quickly embraced my name when my Dad explained the meaning to me...wow...how unique and special! And what a privilege and joy to bear a name that represents the love the Father has for me and the sacrifice that Christ made on my behalf. Incredible. And it makes for a nice blog name, too!

It's all for His honour and glory!

Blessings.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Bug Fun!

We went with some friends to our local botanical gardens today. It's one of our favourite places to visit and today we had the bonus of experiencing a cool, new exhibit that just started...GIANT animatronic bugs, interactive displays, plus a display of live insects and arachnids. Austin, Ben and Ava loved it. Emma and Maya - not so much, but they endured (and then they came home and pampered themselves, which I'm sure made up for some of the agony of scary bugs!). We also visited one of the indoor gardens, which is always lovely.






Yes, it's alive! Eeeeek!







Bird of Paradise

Beautiful bougainvillea

Fish pond





They could spend hours with the fish.

Bug rubbings



Not too thrilled



Oh, pampering is so much better than icky bugs!
Blessings!