After I retired in 2001 from 31 years of teaching, I bought my first digital camera in order to capture on a daily basis God’s glory in the amazing beauty I was witnessing in my flower gardens. About that same time I started journaling snippets about my renewed faith journey, my garden, and the things I was observing in the natural world. Eventually I bought a bigger, better digital camera and began putting my photos and written musings together so I could share them with friends and family via email. Then last October with their encouragement under my belt, I took another step and launched this blog. However, only a few weeks after I started my blog, I had a stroke, and to save my life a surgeon had to remove two clots from by brain. As a result I am now not only still alive, but the Lord guided his hands so that the artery walls were not damaged during the procedure. The Lord then blessed me even further because I have no residual physical or mental deficiencies from the stroke or the surgery. So it was that after a brief period, I was able to begin writing on my blog again. Now even though there are days when I ponder whether anyone really wants to see my photos and/or read what I have to say, I keep posting entries because I want to bless Jesus in every way I can for His miraculous mercy and the new life He has granted me. It is my prayer that my photos and words serve and glorify Him and bless in some way all who see and read them. Natalie
You are an inspiration. Your blog is a beautiful tribute to life. Blessed indeed. Please keep sharing. God bless you. Jx
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Why thank you kind sir. Indeed I am blessed by the Lord and all the lovely people like you who choose to come to my little corner of the world. Peace be with you and have a wonderful week in whatever little corner of the world you are currently calling home. 🙂 ❤
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Thank you madam! I’m on my way to Spain for a little while, to find some answers. Peace be with you. Seek the light and it shall find you. Which is exactly what you are doing… so well. Jx
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Tenga un viaje bueno y seguro! La paz sea contigo tambien! 😊❤️
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Gracias!! Muchos. 😀
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Oh yeah!! I’m in! I’m definitely in!
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Thanks! 😊❤️
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Natalie, I came to browse because of a referral by dawnlizjones. I have enjoyed my visit. We share an amazing gift from the Lord – that of coming through an almost insurmountable health issue. I had my story on my blog but I messed up some stuff on my menu the other day and don’t have it posted – at least not where it was. My issue was a acute heart attack and aorta dissection while I was at a family reunion in Granby, Colo. It took about 5 hours to get me to a hospital in Denver (sent Flight for Life for me). Amazing how that could happen and I am as functional as before. I did decide at that point to find some way to contact and hopefully influence people. That’s when I decided to learn about this blogging arena. Your site here has so many beautiful things; mine is plain Jane, but I hope to be making interactive contacts. Have achieved much of my goal. I’m following.
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Thanks for coming to look at my blog and choosing to follow. Yes indeed we are both walking, talking miracles as my daughter calls me. I’m looking forward to getting to know you. Blessings, Natalie 😊
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Thank you for following my blog. Your following is an honour. Jo
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Thank you for following mine as well. 😊❤️
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Wow, you are truly blessed 🙂
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Indeed I am! Thank you for visiting my about page and for choosing to follow my blog. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
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Looking forward to reading more from and about you…
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Why thank you! And I you as well👍🌹
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😊❤️
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I started blogging in earnest after a stroke, too, in April of ’14. It does tend to focus the mind when you have a close call like that.
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Yes it does for sure‼️😊
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You’re so very welcome sweetie pie❣😘
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I love what you wrote here. It isn’t about how many read, I think. It’s the sacred connections we make with God and ourselves… and then those connections guided out of that… however few or many.
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Thanks and I agree with you 100%❣😊
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I love your heart and your spirit! Always keep sharing! I know I’m not the only one that feels that way!!!!
xo
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Awwww how sweet of you❣😘 Thanks‼️❌⭕️
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I’m happy I came across your beautiful blog! It’s nice to connect with you. Take care, Jenny
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Why thank you Jenny. It’s nice to meet you too. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
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Thank you Natalie 🙂
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You’re welcome Jenny‼️😊
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👍😊❤️
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Wow Natalie what an experience you went through. God did have His hand in guidance through it all for you! It is a miracle He brought you through, and this blog is a thoughtful and beautiful tribute to Him. Your pictures are amazing! Keep up the great work!! 🙂
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Indeed He did as He always has! My daughter calls me her walking talking miracle now that He brought me through stroke! So yes, I owe it all to Him and will praise Him with every breath I have left. Thanks for the lovely comment and compliments, Deb! 🙂 ❤
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Your daughter is right! You’re very welcome. 😊
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😊
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👍😊❤️
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Now I am encouraged! May Jesus be continually glorified through your life and testimony. I am blessed to connect with you
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Why thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement‼️ I’m blessed as well to be connected with you now😊❤️
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Hi Natalie,
My dad had a stroke last May when he and my mom were RVing about 500 miles from home. We’re so thankful that he is doing much better now.
I found your site from Deanna W’s site.
Yesterday, I posted some memes on my blog that I’d love for you to share with your readers. I took the photos with my Nikon, which I am learning how to use, and I added scripture relevant to the photo.
-Stephanie
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I just now found this Stephanie! I’m so sorry that I didn’t respond. I use a Nikon too and will definitely come and check out your photos now. Hugs, N 🙂 ❤
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Oh, that’s okay, Natalie!
I’m going out today with my Nikon to take some fall pictures around the pretty part of town. I’ll try to have the post up by this afternoon. I just learned about RAW images, and I’m trying to learn a little bit about photography at a time. I can do the artistic part, but the technical part is the hard part for me.
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You’ll learn a little at a time and have fun in the process! 😊❤️
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This is so beautiful and inspiring… It is so uplifting to read about your wonderful experience, and how the LORD has helped you! I am looking forward to reading more of your entries, May GOD bless you.
Maysa Rose
http://www.maysarose.wordpress.com
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Thank you so much! May the Lord bless you and yours as well😊❤️
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You are an inspiration. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you! You are so welcome‼️😊
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You were blessed by the hands of God. I’m not sure how I lost touch with you after you made a comment on my blog some time ago, Thanks to God you are back to being you and what a blessing that is for you and all who know you. There is a purpose for you now-, Only it is up to you to find that purpose and the reason that you survived the stroke.
Sincerely,
Yvonne
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Thank you, Yvonne! Did your blog used to have a different name? I remember your name but not this name above. I’m glad we back together again too. Thank you so much for the lovely comment. Blessings and hugs, Natalie 🙂 ❤
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I can only remember my daughter’s blog which I wrote for her beginning in the Fall of 2010 and I continued until about August 2011. I think she called her’s The Vet to Pet of Austin. She didn’t want a blog anymore because she was getting sick and her practice had gotten to be more than she could handle. It took 2 years of living hell for her to finally get a diagnosis of a variant of RA. She is now in “sort of” remission but is about to begin taking Enbrel again. She is not really able to work. It has been very hard for her and as her mother it’s just about done me in watching her in so much pain and depression.
But back to the name. I’ve always called my blog Pets, People and, Life. I’ve got a little of everything on it. As they say “soup to nuts.”
I love those gorgeous photos on your blog. Are you the photographer? The photos are breathtaking, especially the flowers.
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Oh I’m so sorry to hear that about your daughter! And as a mother I know how hard it is to watch our child suffer! I pray that the Lord would heal her and restore her health and wholeness‼️🙏 And unless I indicate otherwise many of the photos are ones I’ve taken! Thanks for the compliment. Hugs, N 😊❤️
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Thank you for the prayers. What lens are you using if I may ask?
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You’re so welcome! I have a DSLR Nikon D80 and I use a 18-200 mm lens. Have a great day! ❌⭕️
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A great lens and it shows in the pics.
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Thanks‼️😊❤️
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You are definitely blessing Jesus and me! Thank you!
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Thank you so much😊❤️
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What a beautiful testimony of God’s grace in your life, Natalie! I love your beautiful blog!
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Thank you so much. I pray that your life too is filled with His amazing grace always! Blessings and hugs, N 🙂 xoxo
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Thanks so much’😊❤️
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This is so motivating to read this. I wish you all the very best for your endeavors. Life throws us one challenge after another (why I still have no idea… what is the meaning of all this??) But still this is the fact we can’t give up … and the least we can do is to move forward… everytime this happen.. thanks for sharing this..
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You’re most welcome! Thanks for reading it. I have a little wisdom about why life throws challenges at us which I will share with you if you’d like. 😊❤️xo
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Sure. I would love to have it 🙂
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What a wonderful thing for your to write and for us to read. I wish you a speed continued recovery. Good for you – most inspirational.
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Thanks❣️😊🌹
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