Just a Daisy in the Meadow

God is worthy to be praised!

Oh, the beauty and joy he provides!!!  It’s unequaled!

Love those Texas wildflowers!

Bluebonnets.

. . . and wild roses

Love how God created us to be “two by two” or two blended together to make one!

. . . Though sometimes the process is a bit painful.  God uses us to file off some of the rough edges of each other

But He also uses marriage to show me more of how I can be one with Him . . .

The weather was absolutely gorgeous!  . . . Perfect in my book.

And the fresh morning air with the heavenly scent of flowers everywhere . . . Well, that’s hard to beat!!!

We’d be missin’ somethin’ if God left out the color and shades of pink. I’m tellin’ ya!!!

I was expecting this Arboretum to be more staunchly perfect, if you know what I mean,  not sure the right words to describe some of the flower gardens I’ve seen, but I LOVED this place!  All the roses were the old-fashioned kind that smell outa this world.

Cascading down over trellises . . .

and over arbors . . .

and benches . . .

A special day . . . with a very special guy!

What a joy to travel through life with your best friend on earth!

. . . and be soul mates . . t o be able to share in walking with God, and share about the things He’s doing in your own heart and in the heart of family and loved ones.

With open faces . . . keeping nothing back . . . comfortable and happy, totally satisfied in each others presence.

Purple tulips, pansies, and cream tulips, stone wall, singing birds, fresh air . . .

All some of the best physical gifts in this world!

But the best is . . . being together!

God, I don’t deserve all these wondrous gifts . . . A faithful loving husband, friend to hold my hand through thick and thin,  a great father to all my little people, one who delights them by love and attention, a father who is by far more patient and tender  in love and discipline,  all the heavenly scents and fragrances that delight my heart, the beauty and loveliness of  a soft, velvety petal, the 3-Dness of life, the freshness of each morning, with dewdrops and mistiness, with twitterings  and twills of songbirds, watching the butterflies hover over a blossom, the expanse of water rippling in the sun, and I could go on . . . but I haven’t the time right now.

But God you’ve blessed me beyond measure . . . and I know you are good, even when I don’t feel blessed and when despair and hard times hit . . . You are good nonetheless!!!

But today, I just want to say, thank-YOU!

And today THANK-YOU for this guy you brought into my life,

for the almost ten years that I’ve known him,

For the times good and hard, we’ve had together.

For creating the ability to feel love

. . . and sorrow

For sharing Yourself, creating us in Your image,

Showing you Great Love, by sending your precious love, your Son,

Loving us enough to let Him suffer for us . . .

Such love . . . No other love,

God,

can be compared

to

the

love

with what

You

love

us!!!

“By the Word of the Lord

Were the heavens made.

Their starry host

by

the

breath

of

His

mouth.”

- Psalm 33:6

Yeah, I know I’m talking about the heavens and the stars . . . but I just don’t have any pictures that can do it justice (well I can’t do the flowers justice either, but . . .)

I’ve been inspired with these verses after seeing Louie Giglio’s “How Great Is Our God”.  And his one on hope . . .   I can’t remember all the details about the planets,our solar system, all the millions of galaxies, and the greatness and the magnificence of the stars . . . He compares the earth as a golf ball and one of the stars as the Golden Gate Bridge twice (the distance), and then us on that golf ball . . . Imagine . . . And a even bigger star as Mt. Everest and down on the bottom the golf ball and then find yourself on that tiny golf ball . . . and that is just not even a drop in the bucket!  How great IS our GOD?!?!?!?!?!??!

“For He spoke and it came to be

He commanded and it stood firm . . .

From heaven the Lord looks down and sees . . .

But the eyes of the Lord are on those

who fear Him

on whose HOPE

is

in

His

unfailing

Word . . .

to deliver them

from death

and keep them

alive

in famine . . .”

God can keep our foot from slipping . . . God can move mountains in our lives . . . God can renew our strength . . . God can make us soar on eagles wings . . . God can give us hope for the future . . . . God can _____________  When you look at His splendor in the heavens, it just makes praise well up in your heart and burst through your lips!

. . . These flowers – they just look like regular stems of grass,  that blooms!

In heaven – the streets mind you are made of gold.

Boy, I can’t wait to stroll all over Heaven’s meadows and God’s Flower Park (or God’s Arboretum).  The Bible says He’s up there preparing mansions . . . I’m sure He’s working on the landscaping too!!! (That’s what I’m interested in. )

But no, the best part of all is the Everlasting God who does not grow tired or weary . . . Who loves me and cares about my life and daily and even every moment happenings and spiritual growth or my  stagnant complacent heart chosing once again to take the wrong path.  The best is . . . He helps me and lifts me up! . . .  He gives me strength to go on . . . He gives me power to say no to the devil, power to make those “small” daily choices of following God’s way . . . The best is – I can hear His still small voice in my heart . . . The best is – He’s with me each step of the way, enabling me to make the stones, stepping stones and not stumbling blocks.  The best is – He increases my poor, weak efforts . . . He increases my strength.  The best is HE and I can connect and be one in body, soul and spirit( in a earthly way).  . .

And yet the best is . . . the BEST IS YET TO COME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“Do you not know? . . .

Have you not heard? . . .

The Lord is the Everlasting God

The Creator of the ends of the earth

He will not grow tired or weary

And His understanding NO ONE CAN FATHOM!

HE gives strength to the weary

And increases the power of the weak . . .” – Isaiah 40

There’s a certain prayer that has been ascending from my lips many moons.  And that is being answered while I’m writing!!!  I could just jump for joy and shout “Hallelujah!” The number of sewing machines on the shelf waiting and waiting and waiting is getting empty!!!  Finally, with the new employee, Steve, Japheth is getting actually caught up with fixing machines.  Well, they keep comin’ and that is good especially when some people are out of work.  But it’s not like he’s way behind and can’t keep up.

So just want to praise the Lord and let everybody know of our answered prayer!!!   God is good!

Oh . . . and I got to bed on decent time and the “Lord gave His beloved sleep.”  Violet slept all night.  It was a wonderful boost after two rough days!!!  Yes, in His time He makes all things beautiful!

Just a quick note to say what has been the greatest blessing these past few weeks!!!

Our newborn has had colic( been extremely fussy in the evening with gas\stomach pains until the wee hours of the morning at times) . . . All of our children have been this way . . . this time I was just extra frustrated and desperate, I guess, due to more children equaling  more laundry, more squabbles, and more mess . . .

Anyway, a few ladies had mentioned staying of milk\dairy products . . . and I’m still not totally sure cause I never actually got that far to trying it . . .

But one friend found that if she took Magnesium and Selenium she didn’t really have to worry about milk\dairy stuff anymore.

So right away I called my husband at work and he brought me home some Selenium (I was already taking Mag.) and I stopped drinking milk from a glass (though didn’t worry about dairy any other way) and just in a matter of two-three days we had a happy contented baby once again!!!!!! Praise the Lord!!!

So I just had to share this . . . if ever it might help some other mother\baby\family out there . . . it affects the whole family in some way or another

The prayers and loving support of a faithful husband is one of the greatest blessings God can give . . . I praise the Lord for a man like this . . . Thank-You, Father, for my Lover and Friend!

( I know this picture is kinda old . . . but I love it!!! It’s one of my treasures!)

“In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths . . . “

This has been a tough week for me . . . weary and exhausted, trying to keep things under control (house work and children ) and just needing lots of rest and quiet . . .

And of course this had to be an extremely busy week for my husband ( he’s on the quilt show committee this year).  Somehow when we’re both bus and tired at the same time it is tougher . . .

But God has poured out his tender loving care on me this week also . . . Three mornings in a row I’ve had a few hours to myself, of quiet reflection  and rest.  And yesterday I actually slept a bit in the mid-morning and also a bit in the afternoon . . . now this is miracle stuff for me because I usually can’t sleep during the day no matter how exhausted I am . . . Anyway, I just want to praise His name and say that He cares . . . He really does . . . He came to me “in person” these last few days and ministered to my needs . . .

No, God doesn’t always answer my prayers this way . . .  but He’s the Lily in my Valley anyway . . . no matter what . . .

“I found a Lily in my valley – in my valley,

I found strength when I was worn- Oh, so worn

I found a place to leave my burden,

I found a refuge from the storm.

A place to trade my dark skies,

For beaming rays of sunshine – God’s sunshine

I found a Lily in my valley

And He blooms all the time . . .”

“He found him (me) in a desert land, (feeling alone and in despair)

And in the wasteland, (a Monday morning mess or any day for that matter . . . ) ,

A howling wilderness; (I feel like I can NEVER achieve – be the parent that meets up to my expectations and the expectations of others . . . a howling wilderness . . . yeah)

He encircled him (me), He instructed him, (me)

He kept him (me) as the apple of His eye,

As an eagle stirs up its nest,

Hovers over its young,  

Spreading out it’s wings, taking them up,

Carrying them up on it’s wings,

So the Lord alone led him (me) (  . . .  He’s mothering me . . .)

. . . He made him (me) draw honey from the rock . . .

With the choicest wheat,

And you (I)drank wine, the blood of the grapes . . .”

O Lord, You are my comfort and my joy . .

My Strength and My Song . . .

Thank-You for loving me and caring for me . . . and I as a little child can come to You . . .

and You will gather me up in Your arms, in a loving embrace and just hold me . . .

when my heart is hurts and is weary,

You O God, are my Refuge . . .

Today’s venture involved a drive . . .  beautiful beyond words . . . of course we had to stop several times along side the road . . . but, hey, we we’re in a hurry . . . that’s the most fun . . .  taking time to “stop and smell the roses”

“Oh, Lord, my God . . .

When I in awesome wonder

Consider all the world

Thy hands has made . . .

Thy power throughout the universe displayed

Then sings my soul . . .

HOW GREAT THOU ART!!!”

Some of the last of my flowers . . .

How does one describe the delicate, velvety, soft texture of a petal . . .

How great Thou art . . . my God . . .

How great!

At times I feel helpless to keep “the frustrated, angry tone” out of my voice and I have problems keeping the volume soft . . . I am finding that it’s God . . . it’s THROUGH God, that I CAN DO all things . . .

“Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies . . .”

It’s God . . . God who puts this “crown” of loving words, loving firm\soft words . . .  as I relate to my children in the daily grind of chores and duties, joys and sorrows . . .  He crowns me . . . Oh, it is joy . . .