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  2025 Amsterdam to the British Isles and Back Again            Summer 2025 Amsterdam is the Netherlands’ capital, known for its artistic heritage, elaborate canal system and narrow houses with gabled facades, legacies of the city’s 17th-century Golden Age. Its Museum District houses the Van Gogh Museum, works by Rembrandt and Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum, and modern art at the Stedelijk. Cycling is key to the city’s character, and there are numerous bike paths. Some say there are more bikes than people in Amsterdam.   Bruges, the capital of West Flanders in northwest Belgium, is distinguished by its canals, cobbled streets and medieval buildings. Its port, Zeebrugge, is an important center for fishing and European trade. In the city center’s Burg square, the 14th-century Stadhuis (City Hall) has an ornate carved ceiling. Nearby, Markt square features a 13th-century belfry with a 47-bell carillon and 83m tower with panoramic views. ...

  Independence Day, known colloquially as the Fourth of July or July 4th, is a federal holiday in the United States which commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America.   The Founding Father delegates of the Second Continental Congress declared that the Thirteen Colonies were no longer subject (and subordinate) to the monarch of Britain, King George III, and were now united, free, and independent states. The Congress voted to approve independence by passing the Lee Resolution on July 2 and adopted the Declaration of Independence two days later, on July 4. Freedom isn’t Free… It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be f...

Memorial Day is more than a day off of work, cookouts, travel, sales (even though I love a good sale!), and the unofficial kickoff to summer. The federal holiday honors military personnel who lost their lives defending the country. It’s observed each year on the last Monday in May, this year it’s tomorrow May 26th. Memorial Day was originally called "Decoration Day" and was recognized as early as the 1860s after the Civil War. After World War I, the focus of the holiday shifted to honor American soldiers who died in any war, not only the Civil War. Since Memorial Day is a solemn day to remember the fallen, the Wounded Warrior Project advises people to say: "Have a meaningful Memorial Day," not "Happy Memorial Day."   However you spend the holiday, I hope it includes real rest—and a moment to remember the service men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice.   So, have a  ​M eaningful Memorial Day!   ​   Be Blessed!

  When God Gives You The Silent Treatment (Praying Through Unanswered Prayers) About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachtani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46 As Jesus hung on the cross for our sins, darkness covered the land. John was the  only  disciple of the 11, along with four women, who risked everything to show up in the middle of Jesus’ suffering. The scene stood in stark contrast to the day Jesus’ earthly ministry had begun three years earlier. When Jesus was baptized, the heavens opened and the Spirit of God descended like a dove upon Him. God’s voice could be heard saying, “This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him.” But on Good Friday, no one heard God’s voice. Jesus cried out from His cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Jesus was in the center of His purpose, fulfilling God’s perfect plan, when He felt the  most  forsaken and alone. Remember, Jesus did...

  "What is Palm Sunday?" Palm Sunday is the day we celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, one week before His resurrection (Matthew 21:1–11). As Jesus entered the holy city, He neared the culmination of a long journey toward Golgotha. He had come to save the lost (Luke 19:10), and now was the time—this was the place—to secure that salvation. Palm Sunday marked the start of what is often called “Passion Week,” the final seven days of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Palm Sunday began with Jesus and His disciples traveling over the Mount of Olives. The Lord sent two disciples ahead into the village of Bethphage to find an animal to ride. They found the unbroken donkey and the colt, just as Jesus had said they would (Luke 19:29–30). When they untied the donkey, the owners began to question them. The disciples responded with the answer Jesus had provided: “The Lord needs it” (Luke 19:31–34). Amazingly, the owners were satisfied with that answer and let the disciples go. “...

  The Hood Merganser Photo by Cheryl H “Hooded” is something of an understatement for this extravagantly crested little duck. Adult males are a sight to behold, with sharp black-and-white patterns set off by chestnut flanks. They are black above, with a white breast and rich chestnut flanks. The black head has a large white patch that varies in size when the crest is raised or lowered, but is always prominent. Females get their own distinctive elegance from their cinnamon crest, dark eyes and long, slender yellow bill. Females and immatures are gray and brown, with warm tawny-cinnamon tones on the head. Hooded Mergansers are small ducks with a thin bill and a fan-shaped, collapsible crest that makes the head look oversized and oblong. In flight, the wings are thin and the tail is relatively long and rounded. Hooded Mergansers are fairly common on small ponds and rivers, where they dive for fish, crayfish, and other food, seizing it in their thin, serrated bills. They nest in tr...

  Owls Owls are nocturnal birds of prey with over 200 species. They have large heads, silent flight, and sharp talons. They hunt mammals, insects, and birds, found worldwide except polar regions. Like hawks and eagles, owls are called raptors, or birds of prey, which means they use sharp talons and curved bills to hunt, kill, and eat other animals. It is considered good to have owls around your house because they act as natural pest control, primarily preying on rodents like mice and rats, which can significantly reduce their population in your yard and surrounding areas; making them beneficial for gardeners and homeowners alike. Owls can symbolize wisdom, intuition, and the pursuit of knowledge. They can also represent a connection to the spiritual world. However, the meaning of owls can vary depending on the culture and the situation. Photo on the left was taken at the Audubon Center for Birds of  Prey in Maitland, Florida; photo on...