Footprints in the Sand and other Poems by famous authors

 One night, a man had a dream.

He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Across the sky, scenes from his life flashed.
For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand:
One belongs to him, and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
He looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along his life's path, there was only one set of footprints.

He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him, and he questioned the Lord about it.

"Lord, You said that once I decided to follow You,
You'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life,
There is only one set of footprints.

I don't understand why, when I needed you most, you would leave me."

The Lord replied,
"My son, my precious child, I love you, and I would
never leave you. During your times of trial and
suffering, when you see only one set of footprints,
It was then that I Carried You."

A Psalm of Life by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time.

The Objects of Life by George Wyte Melvin 

To tell of the great example, the Man of compassion and woe;
Of footprints left behind Him, in the earthly path He trod,
And how the lowest may find Him, who straitly walk with God.

The Education of the Sons of God by Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

And did you ever walk out upon that lonely desert island upon which you were wrecked, and say, "I am alone, — alone, — alone, — nobody was ever here before me"? 

And did you suddenly pull up short as you noticed, in the sand, the footprints of a man? I remember right well passing through that experience, and when I looked, lo! 

It was not merely the footprints of a man that I saw, but I thought I knew whose feet had left those imprints; they were the marks of One who had been crucified, for there was the print of the nails. So I thought to myself, "If he has been here, it is a desert island no longer."

Arthur unknown 

An elderly man, who had lived his life and had left this world to meet his Maker, asked the Lord a question.
"As I'm looking down on the paths I've trodden, I see two sets of footprints on the easy paths.
But down the rocky roads, I see only one set of footprints.
"Tell me, Lord, why did you let me go down all those hard paths alone?"
The Lord smiled and simply replied, "Oh, my son, you've got that all wrong!
I carried you over those complex paths."

By Robert Schuller 

The pilgrim arrived in heaven, and God said to him, "Would you like to see where you've come from?"
When the pilgrim responded that he would, God unfolded the story of his whole life, and he saw footprints from the cradle to the grave.
There were not only the pilgrims' footprints, but another set of prints alongside.
The pilgrim said, "I see my footprints, but whose are those?"
And the Lord said, "Those are My footprints. I was with you all the time."
Then they came to a dark, discouraging valley, and the pilgrim said, "I see only one set of footprints through that valley.
I was so discouraged. You were not there with me. It was just as I thought–I was so all alone!"
Then the Lord said, "Oh, but I was there. I was with you the whole time.
You see, those are MY footprints. I carried you all through that valley."

Author unknown 

A young woman who was going through hard times ... began to pray to God for help.
Suddenly, in her mind's eye, she saw two sets of footprints side by side on a sandy pathway.
Immediately, her spirits lifted, as she interpreted this to mean that God was with her and walking beside her.
Then the picture changed. She now saw the footprints in a vast desert wilderness, and instead of two sets, there was only one.
Why was God no longer beside her? As despair settled back over her, she began to cry.
Then the inner voice of God softly spoke and said, "I have not left you. The one set of footprints is mine.
You see, I am carrying you through the wilderness."

2019 Jan 16-18, 🚙Trip to Gulf Shores , Fairhope, Orange Beach & Foley, Alabama ( 3days)

Jan 16, 2019, Wednesday,

Hubby and I traveled to Gulf Shores, stopping at Jack's Restaurant(1360 Hwy 43 West, bypass Russellville) for breakfast. 

We both ordered a sausage and biscuits with strawberry jelly at 8:56 A.M. and spent $7.06.

We ate lunch at KFC Thomasville at @1:17 p.m.

My Hubby ordered a box meal, and I ordered a three-piece wings meal with biscuits (that I saved for the birds); we spent $13.46.

We stopped for gas at Marathon at Rams Food Mart, 19039 43 hwy, Northport, and spent $22.08

Arrived at Gulf Shores just before sunset, 4:45–5:14 P.M.

We rode to the beach before checking in at the hotel to see the sunset. 

The moon rose before the sun set, appearing as a ball in the red sky.

Gulf Shores Sunset 

After the sun went down, we rode to Staybridge Suites, 3947 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores, AL 36542. 

We booked for two nights, which cost $170,84 for room 114. 

Their computers were down, and the night manager said we could join everyone in the dining room for grill night.

At the food bar were grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. 

I fixed a plate with ham, potato salad, chips, and a glass of wine.

Dinner: hamburger, potato salad, chips, and a glass of wine.

There were fountain drinks, tea, and a variety of wines and beers.

We checked into room 114, which is on the ground floor, and myHubby took a long, relaxing bath in the tub.

I stretched out on the bed and turned on the Television. My eyes were giving me a fit, so I put in eye drops. My eyes felt like something was in them; they hurt all night.

I must have gotten sand in them; it was very windy when we went to the beach the night before.

Jan 17, Thursday, 

Hubby and I dressed and went to breakfast. I ate oatmeal with nuts, & cranberries, and drank orange juice.

After breakfast, Hubby and I rode along hwy 98 Scenic Highway to Fairhope.

We stopped at Valence & Fairhope Municipal Parks, located along the Coastal Highway.

We saw a statue of Maria Johnson, ducks & geese swimming, boats along the pier, blooming flowers, and lots of old trees.

Fairhope's Municipal Pier, Fairhope's Pepper Nelson Volunteer Fireman's Hall, and the flower gardens are blooming, with yellow and white buttercups.

Fairhope's Pepper Nelson Volunteer Firetruck at Fairhope Museum 

We toured the Fairhope History Museum's outdoor grounds, where we saw the People's Railroad train car, roses in bloom, and a statue of Craig Turner Shelton, the first public state artist in Alabama's history. 

Fairhope's Museum of History is located at 24 N. Section St, Fairhope, Alabama 36532

Inside, we saw permanent exhibits, including Fairhope's founders, the single tax theory, the town jail built in 1868, the old fire department, a fire truck, a fire hydrant, and fire hats & coats.

Fairhope's historic jail inside the museum 

We saw a miniature replica of Middle Bay Lighthouse, John Bowen, Maria Howard, Della Nichols, Shuah S. Mann, Clarence Mershon, and James Bellanger, the people of Fairhope.

We saw old push-mowers hanging from the ceiling.

We picked up some pamphlets from the Welcome Center next door.

We ate lunch at Greers in Fairhope.

We ordered three chicken fingers, corn fritters, green beans, and cornbread.

Our next stop was Daphne at the Little Bethel Baptist Church, built in 1867. We took a few pictures of the church and a nearby historic marker.

Our next stop was the US Sports Academy Walk of Fame in Daphne, where we sat among runners, baseball players, football players, basketball players, Swimmers, weightlifters, Gymnasts, bikers, and golfers.

 US Sports Academy Walk of Fame Daphne  Baseball Player Statue 

We stopped at Daphne's Gator Walk, where we saw a nice wooden boardwalk lined with a marker that said: 

Where are you in the Watershed?

Exploration of Ecosystem

Slowing the flow of Storm Water

The Big Picture of the Ecosystem

It is all about the Alligator 

What is this building for?

Along the Eastern Shore Trail

We did not see any gators along the trail, but we did see a few shorebirds.

After that long, hot walk, we needed something to cool us down, so we stopped at Krazy Frozen Treats in Jubilee Square for a waffle bowl of creamy-flavored yogurt around noon.

We chose cheesecake with cookies and cream.

Krazy Frozen Treats  scoop of Cookies & Cream and Cheesecake

We stopped at the Foley Train Depot to watch men run the miniature trains. (They only run at certain times during the week)

Included in the collection were a Ringling Bros & Barnum Big Top Circus, a mini train carrying circus items, a Ferris wheel (that worked), clowns with balloons, a lion cage, Roadside USA, a man shot out of a cannon, a tattooed lady, Lulu the farebeater, which cost fifty cents, and elephants.

Ringling Bros & Barnum Big Top Circus

The miniature town featured an Aqua Blue Drive-in diner that served fries, hamburgers, shakes, and soft drinks.

Advertisement on the windows that said Speeds Car Wash, green & white car sat next to Car Town (new, used, lease) Dealership. 

A tow truck sat in front, and next to the railroad tracks (Consoled gas and power), 76 Union Gas Station, two-story homes, dogs, people walking, riding scooters, mail carriers, a lineman working on the power lines, 

There were bridges, factories, train stations, firehouses, and trains traveling in all directions on the many tracks.

We watched the trains until they closed.

We ate dinner at 5:00 P.M. at Bubba's Seafood House in Orange Beach.

My Hubby and I split one Captain's combo platter, which consisted of Crab legs, grilled shrimp, chargrilled Mahi, and Mahi served with corn on the cob, new potatoes, and garlic butter. 

We stopped at Rouses Market, where we bought a Coke, a Strawberry cream coffee cake, & three large cannolis.

Sitting in a Large Blue Chair outside Bubba's Seafood House, Orange Beach

Jan 19, Friday

The next morning, we met Hannah at the Ruby Red Slipper in Orange Beach before he headed home.

I ordered a stack of cinnamon toast.

Hubby ordered sausage, eggs, potatoes, link sausage, and pancakes.

Hannah ordered bacon, eggs, gravy, pancakes & coffee.

We finished breakfast around 8:30 A.M. and began our long ride home. $44.52

We filled up with gas at Love's $29.78 in Loxley, AL 

We stopped at CVS to get some eyewash. My eyes were red, running, and burning.

I washed both eyes out with the eyewash and slept most of the way home.

Stack of cinnamon toast

We stopped at Firehouse Subs in Athens and bought a large and medium steak sandwich with mushrooms on wheat bread. $18.42

We stopped at Aldie in Athens to pick up  a few groceries, and spent @20.77

We had a great trip, ate breakfast with my granddaughter, and saw many sites.

Got sand in my eyes, which burned every time I closed them. 

Dauphin Island Environment Marine

Energy from the Sands of Time

ExxonMobil, one of many oil companies operating in Alabama waters, operates the platform east of Dauphin Island. These platforms extract natural gas (methane), a clean-burning petroleum product. The platform lies in 11 feet of water, with drilling operations to depths of over 20,000 feet. Once natural gas is found and brought to the surface, it is transferred via an underwater pipeline to processing plants on the mainland. 

These photographs demonstrate the porous quality of millions-of-year-old sandstone. Ten percent of the sandstone's volume is natural gas compressed within it. 

Pores to a pressure between 10,000 and 20,000 pounds per square inch. 

The natural gas field found within Mobile Bay and the Alabama Water is the largest field discovered in the continental United States. Concerned citizens, scientists, and state regulators worked with the oil companies to implement an environmentally safe, clean operation with a zero-discharge policy. This policy prohibits discharging drilling fluids, petroleum products, and treated sewage from the platform into state waters. Instead, these materials are offloaded and taken to the mainland for proper disposal. 

Mr. Sand and his friends Part II

The grains accumulate and form dunes. Even as they grow, they move as the wind blows them. 

As the dunes shift and grow, they stabilize once dune grasses, like sea oats, start sprouting. The plant's roots help anchor it, encouraging further dune growth. And the more due growth, the more plant growth- a friendly relationship.

These stabilized dunes attract even more plants, like wax myrtle, yucca, and, eventually, the majestic live oak. 

These rooting plants add moisture and shelter, promoting even more plant colonization. 

More and more animals are attracted to plant growth, from plant-eating insects to insect-eating beach mice to owls, hawks, and raccoons.

Thriving with plant life, a dune will continue to grow. 

But the bigger it gets, the more exposed it becomes to aeolian (wind) and marine (water) forces, like erosion. 

Mr. Sand and his friends, Park III

During autumn and winter storms, sand is blown offshore. Someday, it will be returned to shore to build new dunes. 

So, as the seasons change, do the dunes. With gentle wind and waves, sand heaps onshore in the spring, forming new dunes. In the summer, sea oats and plants help them grow. In the stormy winter, the dunes erode (wear down).

Susceptible to strong onshore winds, Mr. Sand and his friends tend to move inland, covering everything in their path. 

We must help Mr. Sand and his friends by not walking or driving on the dunes. Many places have boardwalks built over the dunes and plants to protect them. 

Sand fences, like boardwalks, are another way of protecting dunes. They serve as obstacles, allowing grains to collect and form new dunes. Planting grasses like sea oats can also help in exposed areas and along pathways. 

These conservation practices can only help if we cooperate. Mr. Sand and his friends, along with the forces of nature, form dunes and beaches for you to enjoy. 

Let's take care of them in the future. 

Mr. Sand and his friends Part I

Come, let Mr. Sand guide you through the life of a dune. Learn how to protect the sand dunes, Mr. Sand, and his friends who live with him. 

Once upon a time, about 250 million years ago, bedrock was formed. The hot, molten rock formed granite and gave rise to the Appalachian Mountains. As the granite and other rocks eroded from the mountains, they formed grains of sand. This sand washed down to the Gulf of Mexico and was deposited on beaches and dunes that are now underwater. 

Waves and currents washed Mr. Sand away from these old deposits, and he and his friends moved onto the beaches we see now. 

The more Mr. Sand and his friends wash along the beach, the more they wear down. They become rounder and more uniform in size and texture. 

Away from the mainland, underwater mountains of sand grow grain by grain, becoming "offshore bars." Some can grow so much that they emerge above sea level and become "barrier islands." 

Dry grains of sand are susceptible to wind, drifting until the wind speed drops.

Once Mr. Sand and his friends land, they collect on the "lee," or sheltered side of obstacles along their flight path.

Marine Debris: A Silent Killer

Marine Debris Timeline

What is marine debris?

Marine debris refers to trash that litters our coasts and oceans.

It includes all the objects found in marine and coastal environments that do not naturally occur there. Marine debris is not only a hazard to ships, divers, and beachgoers but also creates a serious threat to our precious marine life. 

Marine debris consists of articles made by people and deliberately discarded or accidentally lost. In most cases, it results from careless handling or disposal of solid waste items, including liquid waste containers; it can also result from materials lost at sea in bad weather, such as fishing gear and cargo.

Marine debris consists mainly of non-biodegradable waste made of persistent materials, such as plastic, polystyrene, metals, and glass, from a wide variety of sources.

(thrown or lost into the sea): brought indirectly to the sea with rivers, sewage, stormwater, or winds, which are left by people on beaches and shores. 

Where is marine debris found:

. Marine debris is found everywhere worldwide, in marine and coastal environments.

Marine debris can be blown around and is found floating on the water's surface. Almost 90% of floating marine debris is plastic. 

. Marine debris is mixed in the water column, from the surface to the bottom of the ocean.

Marine debris is found on the seabed. As much as 70% of all marine debris sinks to the bottom of the seabed, both in shallow coastal areas and deeper parts of the ocean. 

Marine debris is found lying on beaches and shores. 

How does marine debris harm wildlife?

. Entanglement 

Everyday items like fishing lines, strapping bands, and six-pack rings can impede the movement of marine animals. Once entangled, animals have trouble eating, breathing, or swimming, all of which can be fatal. Plastics take hundreds of years to break down and may continue to trap and kill animals year after year. Smaller marine creatures get trapped inside plastic and glass containers, slowly dying. 

Ingestion

Birds, fish, and mammals often mistake plastic for food. Some birds even feed it to their young. With plastic filling their stomachs, animals experience a false sense of fullness and may die of starvation. Sea turtles mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, a favorite food. Due to its durability, buoyancy, and ability to absorb and concentrate oceanic toxins, plastic is especially harmful to marine life. 

Other threats to wildlife 

The seabed is smothered, toxic substances accumulate and disperse, environmental changes are caused by invasive species, and habitat disturbances are caused by mechanical cleaning of marine debris. 

How does marine debris harm people?

Contamination of the beaches and harbors creates health hazards to people.

Marine debris also endangers the safety and livelihood of fishermen and recreational boaters. Nets and monofilament fishing lines obstruct propellers, and plastic sheeting and bags block cooling intakes. 

Where am I?

Dauphin Island is at the junction of Mobile Bay, the Mississippi Sound, and the Gulf of Mexico. It is the easternmost in a series of changing barrier islands that form the southern boundary of the Mississippi Sound. 

Mobile Bay is 53 kilometers (35 mi) long, 16 kilometers (10 mi) wide, and averages 3 meters (10ft) deep. It is a drowned river valley that was once deeper and extended farther north. About 6,000 years ago, the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta formed as Mobile Bay widened and deepened. Mobile Bay has the seventh-largest river discharge in North America (219 to 13,977 cubic meters per second or 5 to 322 billion gallons per day) and is the third-largest in the Gulf of Mexico. 

Most ocean waters that enter the Gulf of Mexico come through the Yucatan Channel between Mexico and Cuba. 

These waters form circular currents that flow across the continental shelf and mix with freshwater from the land. The water exits the Gulf of Mexico through the Straits of Florida between Florida and Cuba. 

Life in a Salt Marsh

A real partnership 

Black needle rush and smooth cordgrass are grass-like plants of Coastal Alabama salt marshes. They provide oxygen to organisms living below the salt marsh surface and serve as a refuge for many animals. 

Decomposing plant matter in an environment without oxygen produces the "rotten egg" odor familiar to marshes. However, Cordgrass and Needlerush root systems are spongy and porous, allowing oxygen into the waterlogged soil. This will enable organisms below the marsh surface to survive. 

Fiddler Crab (Uca  spp) 

Fiddler Crabs and other small mud crabs burrow into the marsh surface, feeding on the plant matter. Their aquatic larval stages contribute significantly to the food chain.

Smooth Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora)

Smooth Cordgrass for Cordgrass along the edge of the open water, below the average high tide line. Cordgrass has flattened leaves and a light green color. 

Black Needlerush (Juncus roemerianus)

The Black Needlerush comprises the largest vegetated zone of Alabama's salt marshes and is near and above the average high tide line. 

Needlerush leaves are round with pointed tips. 

Marsh Periwinkle (Littorina irrorata)

The Marsh Periwinkle is a small snail that inhabits shallow bays, ponds, and tidal marshes. It is often seen climbing Spartina stalks to feed on algae and avoid predators. 

Ribbed Mussel (Geukensia demissa)

The Ribbed Mussel attaches to mature plants at the mud surface and hardens the marsh, helping it resist erosion. These mussels filter a gallon of seawater an hour for food, fertilize the marsh with their waste, and are food for crabs, birds, and mammals.