Just a Daisy in the Meadow

This is an older pic, but it just made me smile today . . .  Sometimes it’s good to step back and reminisce a bit . . . Here I am at the close of the day trying to wind down, wishing that my children would’ve been better trained at leaving the house in a better state of orderliness . . . Ah well, tomorrow I can try again.

Had the most fun in the flowerbeds this evening . . .  went outside all decked out with bug spray and long sleeves and shoes and socks to protect myself from the hordes of mosquitoes, but it really wasn’t as bad as I expected as long as I stayed busy.

On Thursday I had invited a gal over to enjoy the afternoon with me and after some tea and swing time in the front yard, we proceeded to tear into one of the flower beds that needs some major “maintaining”.  Basically, we started shoveling everything up and getting all the crab grass roots out that we could and setting the perennials aside for replanting later.  I wanted to start a bunch of baby hollyhocks in that bed so the other hardier, less preferred stuff had to go somewhere else and this evening after a day of rain, I dug up sod by one of my rosebushes and a few other flowers that were growing around the birdfeeder that is no longer there.   Just such a lovely feeling to enlarge my “borders” a bit, dig in the dirt and envision the beauty yet to come.

Just browsing Japheth’s laptop and came upon this picture that I’d forgotten about . . .  Life goes on, but the memories of bygone days when you’d pop in for a bit still linger . . . Miss you, Judi!!!

Ahhh, so often,  I respond in frustration and anger and loud words I regret . . .  I try to do better, I repent, I pray  . . . but it keeps happening over and over and over again no matter how determined I am to stop this unChristlike behavior.  And the days fly by and I am still  not the mother I wish to be, that God has called me to be . . . and I read this and somehow it helps me . . . I understand more fully what exactly in going on and what I am doing and I am challenged and inspired and being renewed in the spirit of my mind and I think it is making a difference in my life . . .

So here is a portion of Ann Voskamp’s book “1,000 Gifts” . . . ( I wish I could buy and give out her books to everyone I meet . . . )

“Why?”  My mother-anger could crack vases.  He’s smirking.

“Why,would you throw that at him?”  I’m too shrill, too gaped, too blind-white angry . . .  I’m mad.  I’d like to will myself out of it but the blood is pounding loud in my ears and the sons clash at each other with dagger eyes. Why?  Can I just go back to the moon and brazen glory?  Wind and trees and sky wake me and I’m Peter on the mountaintop, stirring to see The Glory in all it’s God-radiance, stammering  out that it’s good to be here; let’s build shelters and never depart (Luke 9:28-36).  But there’s always the descent from the mount.  The meeting of the crowd, the complaining, the cursing.  Obvious and immediate transfigurations, faces that once changed appearances.  We betray Who we know.  Didn’t Peter?

. . .A boy drives a plate hard back down the table at his brother.  And God tries to gently drive the words of Cuassade from the knowing of my head to the bleeding of the heart:

‘You would be very ashamed if you knew what the experiences you call setbacks, upheavals, pointless disturbances, and the tedious annoyances really are.  You would realize that your complaints about them are nothing more or less than blasphemies – though that never occurs to you.  Nothing happens to you except by the will of God and yet (God’s) beloved children curse it because they do not know it for what it is.’

A blasphemer.

I pull out a chair from the table, sink down.  The sunflower heads have turned low.  The Tall-Son is chewing toast too loud at the other end of the table.  What compels me to name these moments upheavals and annoyances instead of grace and gift?  Why deprive myself of joy’s oxygen?  The swiftness and starkness of the answer startle. Because you believe in the power of the pit.  Really?  I lay my head on the table.  Do I really smother my own joy because I believe that anger achieves more than love?  That Satan’s way is more powerful, more practical, more fulfilling in my daily life than Jesus’ way?  . . .

This poor blog . . . (sigh).  I could just write a few words . . . If I can get my mind in gear here.    Each day is a roller coaster of meals, school books, dirty floors, laundry and tiredness topped off with sweet notes from the children, soft baby skin, baby jabber, learning new songs, hiding God’s Word in our hearts, piano keys dancing away and sunshine and spring and new hope . . .

I think these are the best days . . . if I have time to think about it . . . and as long as I can keep my head above water we are doing ok.

I’m counting God’s gifts . . . and trying to live in the specialness of the moment . . .and spring is such beauty.  One brave pussy willow pushing out hope . . .cheering us on . . . And meditating on Noah, one person CAN make a difference . . . and the cloud of witnesses that are witnessing our journey . . . Am I remembering that each moment of each day is being recorded? . . . Am I keeping those “little” sins repented of? . . . Am I doing all I can for God’s kingdom? . . . in praising and giving thanksgiving, in being cheerful and ungrudging in hospitality, in being an example of joy in the mundane? . . .

God is the God Who Is Enough!  God is the God Who Cares.  God cares enough to keep track of the number of our hairs, He has to care about more important things in my life than that, but He has enough time and energies He’s letting me know that He hasn’t forgotten about me and the things that bring worry to my day . . . God is so Wonderful?  Did you ever hear of any other God caring like that? or even being alive to care?????

God, You are Beautiful!  You are spring!  You are our hope and encouragement, our Light on dark days and our joy on sad days . . . You just ARE.  The I AM in each moment . . .

I pray for my children to be cheerful, responsible young men and ladies . . . to love the Lord their God with ALL their heart, soul and body!!!  What more can I ask for?  My hearts desire if for my family to grow up in Him and choose Him!!!

The clock ticks each moment by . . . The days run together in a blur . . . The children are growing up . . . and my time with them is limited . . . Will I have done what counts, what it takes? . . . That is the question . . .

One of my favorite photos of this year!

Japheth took this of our pathway the other night.

It’s in the season . . . This beautiful, dazzling, fluffy stuff that God created for us to enjoy.  And as long as I don’t have to go out in it too much it is sweet!  I love winter.  Life just maybe slows down a bit if that is possible, at least there is no grass to cut, no weeds to pull.  School makes the winter’s full now that my children are that age, but  I still enjoy a few moments here and there knitting, sewing, playing games and making popcorn and hot chocolate for the family.

Last night seemed like a party!   . . .after a weekend of people and busyness we all donned on soft, clean, comfy pajamas and read stories and the children were wild with excitement about sleeping out in the living room, running about fixing their “nest” here and there and then changing their minds and finding another place!  Such is the life of  a youngster, simple joys!

Right now most of the children are in the basement roller blading – not that we have place for such activity down there just a hall and a bit of floor under my clothesline , enough to get in each other’s way and have accidents and fun!   Normally it last about ten minutes until someone is crying.  I’m thinking about limiting the people on blades at a time.

Settler’s of Catan is the rage around this household now.  Many hours of playing that game and even the mother enjoys her turn at playing!  Japheth and I are working on a quilt.  Fun doing it together.  Never dreamed my husband would enjoy such things much less take the lead in it!

The trees are showing off their white garments so gracefully . . . Think I’ll sneak away and take a short walk in a quiet world of snowflakes brushing my cheeks . . .

Love to all who ever come here anymore!

Shining Eyes!!!

Faith – Love – Hope

- Some of the greatest things in life, aren’t they?  I mean when you think of it, what do you value most in life?

Okay, so these are just notes of what I shared in a devotional at our ladies sewing circle . . . but they are also  something God just put on my heart.

We always thank God for all of you and mention you when we pray.  We continually recall before God our Father

–       The things you have done because of your faith.

–       The work you have done because of your love

–       That you continue to be strong because of your hope. (New Century Version)

FAITH -being sure of the things we hope for, and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it (believing).  Faith is the reason we remember great people in the past . . .

Abel died but through his faith he is still speaking . . . When we are gone will our faith still speak or will our weakness obliterate into silence? . . .

By faith Noah, heard God’s warnings about things he could not yet see . . . He lived out his faith . . . He listened and acted on them because He had faith – He believed.

By faith, Abraham obeyed God’s call to go to another place . . . not knowing the outcome.

Though faith, Sarah, received strength to conceive seed and deliver a child.

Faith – seeing faith lived out is about as inspiring as it gets.  Examples before our eyes, in our lifetime, in people we know and admire . . . Now sure how or where or when, but believing God . . . Some can be quite personal in our lives, our marriages, our relationships, and they may be hidden, but one day will be revealed.  Seeing faith lived out is so encouraging!!!

Hebrews 11:13 . . . they died in faith, NOT having received the promises, but having seem them afar off.

Without faith it is impossible to please God, he that comes to God MUST believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Say my daughter Violet was hungry and tired, but instead of gazing at my face and outstretching her arms and hands upward to me expecting me to feed her and care for her, she would just sit there listless, and lethargic with dull, sad, empty eyes . . . no faith whatsoever in that I would take care of her . . . With faith, believe me, YOUR EYES ARE GONNA SHINE!

I Peter 1:7 These troubles come to prove that your faith is pure.  This purity of faith is worth more than gold. The purity of your faith will bring you praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is shown to you.

In heaven it will be revealed ( maybe hidden to others here) all those times you’ve held out your arms to God, and cried expecting . . .

8        You have not seen Christ, but you still love Him.  You cannot see Him now, but you believe in Him.  So you are filled with a JOY THAT CANNOT BE EXPLAINED, A JOY FULL OF GLORY!  . . . and you are receiving the goal of your faith – the salvation of your soul.

With faith our eyes are gonna shine . . . because God IS (real)!

Is anything more important or noteworthy than Jesus (God) reaching down to those with outstretched arms, tears coursing down their cheeks, expecting in faith? . . . Is anything more PRECIOUS than Jesus reaching down and picking you up??? . . .

LOVE – the work you have done because of your love.

Taking care of your families, praying, teaching, cooking, cleaning, supervising, organizing,  . . . being patient, kind, cheerful – even when it’s difficult and you might be “dogpaddling in the Sea of Overwhelm.”

All these things need love or they are just a clanging symbol . . .  I see each one of you loving your families and doing your best . . . not deserting or giving up, but bravely holding up your end and giving it all you’ve got!

God\Jesus is like a mother (We mothers are made in His image)  God takes care of us daily, leading , guiding, planning, being patient with our wanderings and weaknesses and loving us through it all . . .

HOPE – to want and expect or  DESIRE AND BELIEVE ) ( Col 1:21-23) One time you were separated from God – You were his enemies in your minds. . .   God made you friends again.   . . . IF you continue strong and sure in your FATIH, and not be moved away from HOPE.

Hope is soooo essential – to desire, believe or expect!  Hope and faith are a lot alike  . . . If you have hope, your eyes are gonna shine also!

Romans 8:4 who against hope believed in hope . . .

8:24 we are saved by hope

Heb. 6:19 hope as an anchor

Psalm 42:5b “I shall put my hope in God and KEEP praising Him. (arms upraised)

I Peter 1:3 Lively hope by Christ’s resurrection

I John 3:3 Hope purifies . . .

Romans 5:5” And hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out His love to fill our hearts.”  Hmmmm, how can that be? . . . you desire and believe and your hope will never be disappointed?  How does that work? . . . I tried to reconcile this with a relationship in my life that has been so disappointing . . . It’s in those times where my arms have fallen down a bit, but God’s telling me “KEEP THOSE ARMS UP!”  I need you to believe . . . to ask . . . to hope . . . Yes, maybe that relationship or person will not change for the better, but you will not be disappointed because I will pour my love into your heart and THAT NEVER DISSAPOINTS!!!

I Cor. 3:12 “We have this hope so we are very bold.”

We hope for the blessings God has for His children.   These blessings which cannot be destroyed or spoiled or lose their beauty are kept in heaven for you.

Psalm 42:11 Hope thou in God, for we shall yet praise Him!

71:5 Hope in God and forget not his works

130:5 We wait and hope . . . “I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope.”

130:7 Hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and with him  is plenteous redemption.

Prov. 10:28 Hope of the righteous  shall be gladness

13:12 Hope fulfilled is a tree of life –

19:18  (Chasten thy son)  Do something while there is hope (don’t wait until it is too late – speak to a friend)

Psalm 16:9 – “I have set the Lord always before me;  because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.  Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoiceth.  My flesh also shall Rest in hope.”

Psalm 31:24 “Be of good cheer and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.”

Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

12:12 Rejoicing in hope . . .

15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you – with all joy and peace – in believing, that ye may ABOUND in HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I Thes 2:19 What is our hope or joy or crown of rejoicing? . . . Is is not in bringing in family and friends before Christ’s coming? . . .

II Thes 2:16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father encourage you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.  God loved us and through his grace He gave us a good hope and encouragement that continues forever.

Titus 3:7 Blessed hope (desire and expectation) and glorious appearing – God coming for us

Heberews 3:6 If we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm till the end. – We are Christs.

With faith, our eyes are gonna shine, with love our efforts will not return unto us void and with hope we can rest in His promises, and be a shining light for our God!

Judi really misses not having the children next door . . .  This was our very first time at their place.  They were married in February . . .

And it was so much fun visiting her in her very own home . . .

Uncle Reuben is so much fun!

Going for a walk at their place . . .

All of us . . . We stopped at Richland Center, WI, on the way to Harlan, IN to see Japheth’s other sister, Juanita.

One year old . . . Bright eyes and a sweet heart!

Violet absolutely loves balloons!

Somehow in the bustle of life this fall, we never got a cake made . . . Instead, she enjoyed a helium birthday balloon to it’s fullest!

Can you tell I love my Sweetie!?

What a GIFT from ABOVE!