I have always loved the skies!  For me, “The heavens are telling the glory of God.” (Psalm 19:1).  I am most apt to experience God’s presence in the beauty of the sky…it always makes me feel close to God.  Here are some of my experiences of the beautiful skies of Croatia and Italy at sunrise…

Dawn in Dubrovnik looking out our window the first morning we were on the boat.

Another morning seeing sunrise over the Adriatic Sea from our boat.  The water was a beautiful midnight blue, the exact color you see in the photo on the right.

Early morning along the coast as we left Zadar and headed north by land.

Sunrise from our hotel window in Opatija where the beautiful woman holding the sea gull graces the shore line.

My last view of Venice the morning we boarded the water bus for the airport.  I held this in my heart as I said ,”Goodbye”, wondering if I would ever return to this beautiful city. I didn’t want to leave.

I managed to stay awake most of the 10 hour flight home so I could go to sleep at a decent hour by Texas time.  Then I awakened Sunday morning to a light bursting forth over the horizon out in my own back yard…

Wow!  The grace of God flooded my heart as I witnessed the most beautiful sunrise of all.  I had come home. I suddenly remembered the words written by my Grandpa to me in a letter.  I received it as a young girl and have saved the letter all these years.  Here is a portion of his letter just as he typed it with that old typewriter…

I suppose we never know where a very few simple words have the power to speak at a volume that lasts a lifetime.  “You do not have to go far to find the beauty of God’s world.”  SO TRUE!  Thanks Grandpa.  I love you.

nk