Excellent Writing Advice

I came across this awhile ago and think it's a wonderful power boost for when you don't feel like writing. What's your favourite writing advice?

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."

~Psalm 139:14

Recently I cut my thumb and removed the top layer of skin. Instantly, it started to heal itself and make the skin anew. And not just any skin--perfect skin. And a new finger print, too! How amazing!!

There are those moments sprinkled through everyday life when you stop and look at this wonderful world and you just know that everything was divinely created. Sometimes it takes a moment when we're pondering birds wings and how they undeniably formed and fashioned by an all wise Creator, to help us understand that He knows us and He has a just as perfect plan for our life.

I marvel at the range of colours our beautiful world has.

It is the seeds of springtime, the zinnias of summer, the way leaves fall in autumn to make a cover for the sleeping earth, and the ice pictures in winter, the way plants can heal, the birth of animals, eggs hatching, caterpillars becoming butterflies, the miracle of life that help to grow my faith along with God's words in the scriptures.

The way frost edges these in perfect order!

 Then when I study in more detail cells and other such things science, I know, I know, I know that everything is with a purpose; nothing is a mistake. God knows me and loves me and made me perfectly to fit the wonderful plan He has for me. Fearfully. Wonderfully. Perfectly.

Everything is perfect (how many times have I used that word in this post?). Everything is a miracle.

"God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars." 

~ Attributed to Martin Luther

Look at this zinnia!!!

Praise the Lord for His marvelous works!

Yours truly,

S. F.

In Honour of these Happy 3 Years

Time is passing. The weather is growing cold.

The first day on this month (being October 2016) was the third anniversary of the beginning of "On Solid Ground". Three years! Ah, it's been a good adventure. I personally have changed much in these three years, and this blog shows it, doesn't it? Let's take a look and see what I've done. . .

2013-
-Started On Solid Ground
-Did the 30 day LOTR challenge
-Awarded the Sunshine Award
-Started Three Fangirling Sisters

2014-
-Awarded for the Liebester Award, and the Sunshine Award.
-Added blog pages
-Posted a lot about needing to post more (*sigh* ☺)
-Got a bit excited about a certain movie. . .
-Wrote Misty Streets
-First Year Anniversary
-The Things That Make Me, Me

2015-
-Awarded/tagged the Blogger Recognition Award, Authorly Bucket List Tag, Sweater Weather Tag, and 12 Days of Thanksgiving Tag
-Took a blog break
-Designed quote pictures
-Created and reported on my summer bucket list
-Designed my compass blog design
-Participated in a photo challenge
-Second Year Anniversary
-Participated in an End of Year Link-up

2016-
-Tagged for the Happy Tag and Quote Tag
-Designed my sycamore blog design

Well, that was a nice little recap. :)
Thank you so much for all the fun adventures you've been a part of! I simply would not be blogging if it wasn't for my dear, dear friends, most of whom were there when I did my first post and others who have joined along the way. You are all so special and enrich my life so much. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!

And with that said, let's continue on to the next year of blog adventures for S. F. :)
*picks up walking stick and sets off* And you say, "But wait, S. F.! It's autumn time, remember? Don't for get your hat and scarf and sweater!" *halts and comes back* See? What would I do without brilliant friends like you! Here's a hug for each of you!

God bless you all! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Yours truly,

S. F. (who sets off on her new-blog-year-adventure again, this time with a hat, scarf, sweater, and thankful heart)

Reflections from My Dresser Top

I took a look at my piled dresser top and thought something like, "To sort or not to sort, that is the question." . . .
Well, the answer was sort. (Obviously.) And so I ended up taking everything off the dresser top and out of two "stuff drawers" and making a pile akin to Mt. Everest on the bed. :D Yes, it took a while to "sort" and yes, I still have to organise it all properly. . .but the point I'm heading for isssssssssssssss. . .I removed lots of particles (and piles) of dust (and one spider! O.O) which made me feel good.

A couple of days later. . . I took a look at my hibernating blog and a thought something like this came to mind. . . "DUST." Dust? Yes, dust! Something fresh and new and brilliant! I think I'll start with the design first. The water colour/compass design has been up for over a year, so I'll try something new (not quite sure what just yet. . .any ideas?) and then do a little updating of things here and there. The other changes I'll make I'm not quite certain of, but they will most likely insure that I post at least once a month from now on. ;) I'm looking forward to it! *happy happy happy*

The empty dresser top.

Any ideas from when you've "dusted" you blog?

I hope you have had an excellent summer, my dear friends! God bless you all!

Love, S. F.

Make Today Count

"We shall have all eternity to celebrate the victories, but only a few hours before sunset to win them." ~Amy Carmichael

 We only have one life. And believe me, it may go faster than most of us expect. If we aren't aware of what is going on around us, we will suddenly realise that the time has swiftly gone from sunrise to sunset.

 How can we make today count? How do we wish to live our lives? What do we want to exchange our days for?

"Through this toilsome world, alas!

Once and only once I pass;

If a kindness I may show,

If a good deed I may do

To a suffering fellow man,

Let me do it while I can.

No delay, for it is plain,

I shall not pass this way again."

~ Unknown

That one day. That one chance to do good and help another along. We must take the chances "for it is plain, I shall not pass this way again."

Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.
Has anyone's burden been lighter today
Because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?

Then wake up and do something more
Than dream of your mansion above.
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.

~Will L. Thompson 

When the sunsets everyday, we should ask ourselves "have I done any good?" And the more you think on it, the more you'll realise how many chances you have to help others, whether you took them or not was your choice.

 
This is a lesson the Lord is teaching me more and more everyday. I have to decide what I'm going to do, who I'm going to serve, how I'm going to live. It's a choice we all are making all the time.

". . .Choose you this day whom ye will serve. . .but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

~ Joshua 24:15 (KJV)

 I wanted to share this message with you all because it's SO IMPORTANT! Life is happening no matter what. And the encouragement I'd like to share is that any good deed that you did in a day makes it a golden day to treasure forever. Every day is worth living because every day the Lord provides ways for you to succeed and grow. He is with you every hour of your life.

While I'm on the subject of how we spend our days, I'd like to let you all know that, despite my lack of posts and comments and emails and whatever else, I'm still here. Blogging has slipped farther down on my list of priorities, but be assured that you friendship has not. I often think of my wonderful Blog friends as I go throughout my day and I wonder how you're doing and hope all is going well. And so, while I do take a long time to reply sometimes, I have not left. :)

I hope all has been going splendidly in all you have been doing this year!

 Your friend,
S. F.

Note: All pictures in this post be me and my sisters.

February 29th

"Thirty days hath September, 

April, June, and November; 

Thirty-one the others date, 

Except in February, twenty-eight; 

But in leap year we assign 

February, twenty-nine."

 ~Unknown

Image from the Internet.

 Happy Leap Year Day 2016! 

Just think, today there was no last year and there is no next year! :)

Endings and Beginnings

 The old year has gone, like the dying sparks of a fire.

Now the new is here; 'tis a fire blazing bright.

Have a wonderful 2016!

Once and Only Once

Just a little (or rather, not very little) thought. . . 

Photo © S. F.

"Through this toilsome world, alas!

Once and only once I pass;

If a kindness I may show,

If a good deed I may do

To a suffering fellow man,

Let me do it while I can.

No delay, for it is plain

I shall not pass this way again."

~ Unknown