I am immensely grateful for each and every one of you who read my blog regularly, occasionally or just look at the photos! My site host reports more that 2,000+ “hits” online at my website/blog every month! 🙂 And that doesn’t count many of the 500+ subscribers who only look at the email version nor most of the 650 Facebook Friends who look at the one feature photo without clicking the the link to the post!
I also appreciate the hundreds of comments left on the posts monthly and many “contacts” or messages through my contact page or by email. Just yesterday I responded to a man in England with questions about photographing wildlife at Esquinas Rainforest Lodge and a friend in the States commented with a meaningful Bible verse about my post yesterday on hugging the 800 year old tree. Nature is fun! :-) And you who read or just look at the pictures are the ones who make it fun for me! :-) THANKS! Keep reading or looking at the pix! And click the gallery links for more pix!
As usual, I’m ending the year with 12 photos from this year, equaling one per month but not literally from each month, since some months have weaker or fewer photos. Nor are these necessarily my top 12 favorite photos from this year, but are representative 2023 photos from “Retired in Costa Rica” this year, with birds and butterflies obviously being two favorite subjects again! :-) One shot here for the email version and eleven more online with a quick click below of “Read More”!
“Open your eyes wide in wonder,” said Jesus . . .
And for those who like a Biblical inspiration for immersing yourself in nature, check out this quote from Jesus in Matthew 6, The Message:
22-23 “Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a musty cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!
24 “. . . You can’t worship God and Money both.
25-26 “. . . Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.
27-29 “. . . walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? . . .
30-33 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? . . . respond to God’s giving. . . Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
34 “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
Observing and loving nature is to me one simple way to love and worship God and a God-like way to live. Here’s hoping your 2024 is immersed in Nature, wherever you live, and that you will see nature as art, the art of God! :-)
Happy New Year!
¡Feliz Año Nuevo!
¡Pura Vida!
I was pleased to read that so many people follow your writings. So often I have wondered how many folks “out there” are appreciating your efforts and showing natures beauty here in this wonderful country. Now I know there are many.
😁Too bad you missed getting a picture of that macaw parrot sitting in the tree next to your casita a few months ago. I still refer to that as my “Bigfoot “ sighting. 😁
¡Muchas gracias Steve! ¡Feliz año nuevo!
Thank you so much, Charlie, for all your photos, identifying names. and places where you have taken the photograph. I may not be able to travel to all these places, so I learn from your photos.
¡Con gusto Pat! ¡Feliz año nuevo!
Charlie, just got home from New Year’s Eve 9am worship service at Forest Hills and your email and this post are the perfect ending for 2023. I really liked the “monkey” photo as I can almost see in his impression at he is thinking about something. I hope 2024 will continue to be a year of good health for both of us and more nature experiences for you. By the way, my friend Dr. David Allen just told me in December that by body was not 82 years old so keep on staying active and traveling. Pura Vida!
Thanks Reagan and so glad that we are both “basically” healthy for our ages! 🙂 Happy New Year!
Oh Charlie! So Profound! So Beautiful! Thank you for making the world a more beautiful place. God is so good!
Love & Prayers,
Gordona
xoxo
And thank you for following the blog Gordona! God created a beautiful world in nature and we can learn a lot from it (Him)! And I plan to continue sharing nature photos! Happy New Year!