Sunrise At The Beach

Husband had a great idea for a little excursion Saturday. He had seen some beautiful sunrises on his way to work this past week and thought it would be fun to hit the beach and catch one together. His thought...I am generally up anyway, I think it must be an age thing, so why not? We got there a little after sunrise but it was still beautiful.

After our walk on the beach, we got refills on our coffee and decided to do a Trader Joe's run, then headed home...just in time to go to young grandson's soccer game...I felt pretty productive for a change

Thanks to everyone that prayed and encouraged, my situation has not changed but my attitude is beginning to and that's a step in the right direction. There are always blessings that can found even when things are difficult...I found many today

When It's Not All Sunshine And Rainbows

I heard some teaching the other day on Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fiery furnace... it has really given me something to think about especially in light of things we have been struggling with the last several weeks. Let me remind you of the story.

King Nebuchadnezzar had this gold statue made and everyone was commanded to fall down and worship it. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to worship the image that the King had set up. When the King found out, he told the three that if they did not fall down and worship the image they would be thrown into the fiery furnace. Now heres the part that I have been "chewing" on a bit the last couple of days....listen to what the three tell the King.

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from your Majesty's hand, but even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.  Daniel 3:17-18

How does this apply to me? Well I am not being asked to bow down to a gold statue or anything like that, but I have been in what seems to be a fiery furnace of sorts. Health problems that include a poor immune system that is prone to infections (perhaps caused from the medication I took for breast cancer) and blood pressure that has been difficult to control. Lately I have found myself more and more discouraged because, how I feel, is beginning to effect my day to day. I can't always do the things I need to do, let alone the things I want to do...it can be frustrating.  I believe I serve a God who can deliver me from this fiery furnace, but even if he does not, well thats the part that's a work in progress in my heart right now.  I can waste these days waiting for deliverance from this fiery furnace or I can use them to glorify him in the midst. My prayer is that He can use this weak vessel to do just that. Reminded of one of my favorite quotes

           "Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass it's about learning to dance in the rain" 

Spiritual Lessons In The Ordinary

Don't you love it when God uses something in the natural to demonstrate a spiritual principle or scripture? I know this may be difficult to see but this is a petunia growing in a sidewalk crack. There were no petunias nearby so I figured the wind or some bird probably deposited a seed.

Now there are two ways that you can look at this little plant from a spiritual point of view. One would be that need to sow the "seeds of the gospel" wherever we go because we never know when there is going to be a little fertile ground where it can take root. Who would have thought there would have been any fertile ground here. It really isn't up to us to determine if the ground is fertile enough to sow that seed

Then another way of looking at this is that this is a plant that probably doesn't have a good root system, it wouldn't do very well in the hot scorching sun. It would need someone to help cultivate it, water it, perhaps chip away at some of that rock so it could develop roots. We are all to play a part in this process, sometimes we are sowers of the word, sometimes we get to play a part in the cultivation and sometimes we get to reap.

A scripture the Lord has been reminding me of again and again lately is Ephesians 5:15 "Be very careful, then, how you are to live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil" A good word for distractable me

Touring Through The Gardens Note Card Party

One of our favorite excursions is a trip to the Botanical Gardens near our home. The Garden's cover 155 acres, with over 40 themed gardens. I can't think of a time of year when I don't enjoy visiting. It's a beautiful place to take a walk, with lots of areas to sit, tucked all through the gardens. If walking through 155 acres seems a little daunting, you can hop a tram or take a little boat ride. Each time we go we chose a different direction to walk, you never see the entire Garden with one visit, that's why we get a Family Pass each year.It's hard to pick a  favorite time of year to go, there is Spring with the beautiful azaleas

But I also love the Bicentennial Rose Garden that begins blooming around the end of May

With Summer the Perennial Gardens are blooming, and this year they hung baskets on the                      bridge... gave me all kinds of inspiration for my own garden next year

The hours change with the arrival of Fall but the Garden is still a great place to visit that time of year. Temperatures are cooler, so the walking a little more pleasant and the fall color is beautiful. Starting in December till the first part of January, they have the Garden of Lights, this helps keep interest up in the Gardens all year round

I know it's not the same as being there but I hope you have enjoyed this little tour of the Gardens. Linking up with  Vee today and her Note Card Party

Remembering The Summer Garden

This weekend has been the first weekend that it has been cool enough for me to pull some of my warmer clothes out of the closet. Fall has indeed arrived, I have actually been enjoying the cooler temperatures. This is one last post of my summer garden (looks nothing like it now)...looking forward to the colors of fall and the little bit of cooler crisp air that comes with it

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do a small thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow; they toil neither toil or spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Luke 12:26-27

Thankful Thursday

Been awhile since I have done a Thankful Thursday...does that mean my focus has been on things that are dragging me down instead of things I have to be grateful for...most definitely. In that vein these are some of the things I have to be thankful for today

• Husband back to full work schedule, furlough ended five weeks early
• Praying friends, I had an unexpected trip to the ER on Sunday (like there is ever an expected trip to the ER) I had friends texting my husband saying they were praying as soon as he had texted one friend in our small group  (Problem resolved, I am better)
• For my husband who had thought to ask for prayer when I did not 
• The Word of God that gives life and hope...Can you imagine a life without the hope His Word gives. Thank you Lord for the hope you have given me of a better eternity
• Air conditioning, still hot in the south, thankful that I have the ability to cool the house down. I did not grow up in a house with air conditioning, it was considered a luxury that I now take for granted
• A full service butcher shop close to our home, meats are fresh and antibiotic free. We found some chicken quarters (legs and thighs) for .79 lb. Thankful for my deep freeze so I could stock up
• For chrysanthemums...there is still some life left in my garden, these hardy little fall flowers are just beginning to bloom
• A church that preaches the Word of God, currently we have been going through the book of Ephesians. We need to pray for all of our pastors on a regular basis
• Family, I see little girls tomorrow and youngest son planning a visit soon
• Thankful for today and trying to remember... and I don't always do it well..that God has all the details of my life in control, he has a plan and purpose for everything...continuing to learn to trust him and rest in these truths

            Hope you too can find things to be thankful for today, it does help change one's attitude

Promises

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. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:28-31

Not an unfamiliar verse but one that spoke to my weary soul today...perhaps it will speak to yours.

Celebrations

This is birthday season for our family. In a span of two weeks we have celebrated the birthdays of both                                                       sons and one grand daughter.

My grand daughter was twelve this year....twelve. These last couple of weeks I have been acutely aware of how fast time is going by, in another five years my grand daughter will be graduating from high school...I see the transformation from little girl to young lady happening before my eyes.

 Mamas, mamas enjoy those little ones, they grow so fast. I know when you are in the midst of raising a family there are times when you are just trying to get through the day, but take the time to enjoy your children, make the most of every opportunity, teach them in the ways of the Lord, they will be grown before you know it. I think that's why my husband and I jump at any chance to spend time with our grands...after  raising two sons, we both realize how quickly the time passes...they are little for such a short while. I know you have heard it a million times but it is true.

That brings me to the last birthday we just celebrated, that of our youngest son. He's an adorable little boy don't you think? Well this photo was taken over twenty years ago....doesn't seem possible!  Not a little boy anymore.... Make the most of every opportunity!

My youngest son is all grown up, working as a musician. This photo was taken back in June when my husband and I took our grand daughter up to DC to see her uncle 

Life can be so busy that you can forget what is most important. Time goes by so quickly, make the most of every opportunity. 

Changing Seasons

It is beginning to feel a little like fall here. The mornings and evenings area tad cooler and it's getting dark earlier. I am still getting tomatoes and peppers, but my garden is looking very end of summer. Thinking about pulling up some of the spent tomatoes and planting some salad green and spinach for the fall.

I have always been a little sad to see summer end, it's kind of a laid back time of year for us. We spend more time outside, routines are a little loose, meals much more casual. I have to admit some evenings, dinner would be just a sandwich out on the deck..loaded with fresh tomatoes. I am going to miss that.

Summer has always been a time that we have been able to spend extra time with family and friends, this year was no exception.

Our schedules will change a little bit this fall. Care groups will begin to meet regularly again, classes will start at church, grandchildren will have activities for us to attend. A little busier but not too bad. Looking forward to some cooler weather and to some fall color.

It was last September that I stopped working outside the home...I can't believe it's been a year. An easier adjustment than I had anticipated, I guess it was time... I have no plans to look for employment but I will keep my license current and see where the Lord leads...right now it seems to be home, I have enjoyed every minute of it....really.

So a little sorry to see summer go but looking forward to the fall. Trying to remember all the things I like about this season...I will adjust

Needing To Be Refreshed