Dec. 23, 2006
Christmas memories
Posted in Its a CARNIVAL
This is the final installation of the
G.I.F.T Challenge which was sponsored by
www.StainlessSteelDroppings.com
This is also the
500th post since joining HSBlogger and we reached over
50,000 hits this week.
Thank you so much for reading and for your encouraging words throughout the time I have been online. I pray we have many more blogging years together.
The Most Memorable Gift I Have Ever Received
As a child I spent some time at my Meemaw and Pawpaw's home in Louisiana. I would spend a week or two at a time. When I went there were always toys for me to play with. I never had to take anything because there were the special things that were only used at their home. Among those things were some dolls and books and a little floppy teddy bear. My brothers and I had our own special toys that were exclusively our own and did not have to be shared. The bear was that toy for me. Over the years I played with him until he just hardly had any stuffing left in him.
Over the years we spent Christmas either at home or at my Grandparents home. If we were at my Meemaw's home she had this little tree she put up on a table or piano. I still have that tree in my attic and will use it again someday when we have room for another tree to be displayed. I also have a plethora of little ornaments she made over the years. I had a close relationship to her and I still treasure that to this day. Christmas often makes me think of her as does Thanksgiving. Many of my favorite recipes come from her and I use them with my own family.
The year before she died my Meemaw came to my parents home for Christmas. I was home from college and it was going to be a cozy time with just family. We spent evenings enjoying some traditional television in front of the fire and we enjoyed the traditional foods. It was all a typical Christmas. We opened presents on Christmas Eve and we took turns opening up packages as others looked on. As we opened things my father, who played Santa's helper for the Christmas Eve festivities, brought me a little package. It was wrapped in paper I knew my Meemaw had saved for years. She often collected things and reused them. She grew up during the depression and had so many things boxed and labeled in her home that she might use again someday. After she passed away we even found old ration coupons that she did not use so she would have them if she needed them. She also had stacks of S&H Green stamps saved back, too.
Anyway, I carefully opened that paper and then tore the tape off the little box inside. As I pulled back the tissue paper I saw that little bear. The one I had always played with at her home. I began to cry for several reasons. It was such a special toy and here she was giving it to me forever. She was a crocheter and he was wrapped in a little afghan she had crocheted just for him. I cried for the fact that I was growing up and would no longer be playing with toys at her home. There was also a reason I cried for a year later when I truly understood why she had given it to me. As she passed away and we had her funeral I realized she knew she was dying. It was her way of giving me a piece of her. It was her way of saying she would always love me. It was her way of saying goodbye. I did not understand that at the time but now, as that little bear sits on my shelf, it is a reminder to tell my children about her and about the time I spent as a child with her. It reminds me of the gift she gave me in shaping who I have become. It is a reminder of a more innocent time when life was simple and of the love she had for me that still lives on today in the memories I have of her.
Here is that little bear today...
Over the years I received lots of great things from my family. They are all appreciated and many remembered with fondness but that little bear was the most memorable and precious little Christmas gift I have ever received.
Dec. 20, 2006
Christmas songs
Posted in Its a CARNIVAL
People talk about Christmas songs and Christmas carols. Have you ever wondered what the difference is? You can
read more at Wikipedia on Christmas carols and songs.
A favorite Christmas Carol of mine...
Silent Night
Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight,
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavely hosts sing alleluia;
Christ the Saviour, is born!
Christ the Saviour, is born!
Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
Check out the
history and see it in German and English.
When I was studying ASL a few years ago (which I need to pick up again, btw...) this was my favorite one to sing and sign. You can
see it and learn it here...
You can also see it performed here.
Looking for lyrics to your favorites? You can check out...
Christmas-Carols.Net
Caroling Corner is loaded with lyrics for some pretty obscure songs as well as some traditional favorites of both carols and songs.
Dec. 19, 2006
Christmas movies
Posted in Its a CARNIVAL
My favorite Christmas movie is...
It's A Wonderful Life.
...but not for being a Christmas movie although we do watch it this time of year now.
Dan and I both love this movie for a very personal reason.
I never watched the movie as a child. The first time I saw it I was a senior in college at Hardin Simmons University. My Meemaw had just passed away from ovarian cancer and I was a pretty sad person. It was late October 1988. Dan and I had been dating through college and we were both thinking about marriage but neither of us dared mention it yet. I did not know it at the time but Dan had been paying on an engagement ring for two years and had already asked my Dad if he could marry me. He was also planning on asking me over Christmas.
He changed his mind because of the death of my Meemaw. It was the right time because I had been so devastated by the death of my Meemaw. So, he planned a night at his house to watch a movie and eat dinner. We often cooked at his house on Friday nights and ate together. It was usually four of us with Dan and his two roommates and me. I often cooked with one of his roommates that wound up becoming a chef (and now here I am in culinary school at 40... LOL). We ate dinner and went in to settle in for the movie and all of a sudden the two roommates had "something important" to do. They took off one going out for the night and the other heading to his room to study (on Friday night???). Something was going on...
Dan and I cozied up on the couch and started the movie. By the time we got to the place where George and Mary were both listening on the phone Dan and I both were in tears. What a great movie this was. I kept wondering why I had never seen it before.
We finished the movie and headed back to the dorm. I was a resident assistant in the freshman dorm and had a curfew to meet - I had to be an example setter with my job. ;) So we pulled into the parking lot and we both got out of the car (a 1976 Dodge Dart - remember we were in college in the late 1980's). I started to walk toward the dorm when Dan took me by the hand and led me behind the bandhall where there was a small courtyard, barbeque pit and the back door to the bandhall. It was a lovely courtyard with stones shaping the ground, walls and flowerbeds. There were beautiful vines that grew all over the tops of the walls in the spring and summer but they were still lovely in the fall even though they were starting to shed leaves.
At this point the world was spinning so fast all I can remember is that Dan took something that looked like a little box out of his coat pocket and got down on one knee. He was asking me to marry him and I just started to cry the most joyful tears I had ever cried in my life. Of course I said yes...
That was 18 years ago and we still watch that wonderful movie every year but now we watch it over Christmas when we have more family time. I still cry at the scene where George and Mary realize that they love each other on that phonecall they never hear. LOL I am a big sappy girl when it comes to that movie and I love it!!! Dan loves it, too. I am his sappy girl and always will be...
Oh, and btw, Aunt Vera is keeping kiddos - yes, all four of them - so we can have a couple night on Friday. It is a birthday present from her to us. Guess what movie we are watching after we eat dinner...
ummmmm, YEPPERS!!!!!
Dec. 16, 2006
Christmas poems
Posted in Its a CARNIVAL
This is one of my favorite hymns/poems sung this time of year. It is a poem set to music.
Here is the history of the poem and following is the poem itself with all seven verses...
"Christmas Bells"
(The original poem, complete with all seven stanzas)
"I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Then from each black accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Dec. 13, 2006
Christmas traditions
Posted in Its a CARNIVAL
Dan and I grew up with different traditions in our families so when we married we decided to meld the best of those when we were able to do so. We spend Christmas at my parents one year and Dan's the next so we have to get them in where we can.
I grew up opening presents on Christmas Eve, had Santa and stockings on Christmas Day and there was not really much more than Christmas Eve and Day that we celebrated. My parents were putting the tree away by a day or two after Christmas. We did put it up at the beginning of December so we had it up for several weeks.
Dan's family was pretty much the same way but they opened presents on Christmas Day along with getting Santa and their stockings were always full of stuff. Whether because of procrastination or just out of not putting the tree up too early, Dan's parents got their tree up later in December and left it up through January 6th (Epiphany) most years.
We have decided to put our tree up the Weekend after Thanksgiving when we are home. We leave the tree up for the entire season and take it down around January 1st. We do not wait until Epiphany because Dan has to head back to school before then and we want it down when we start back to school, too. We have added something that our parents did not do. We celebrate Advent. We spend out Sunday evenings reading scripture and talking about Jesus birth and second coming. It has changed our focus in many ways. We are not looking forward to the presents and focusing on what we get so much anymore. We buy one big Santa for the kids and have scaled back our presents quite a bit. We still fill those stockings with fun things but the grandparents and aunts and uncles help with that, too, so we don't buy too much. Stockings are more of a group effort with the children now.
Some years I send out Christmas cards. I did not make it this year. I just did not think about it so much this year with so much other stuff on our plates. I may start making it a New Year's Letter and change that up a bit, too.
We go to concerts and church events but not too much else. we are not party animals and don't go to lots of that kind of stuff. LOL We have scaled much of it back in recent years to take all the stress out of it. It has just never been fun for me to run myself ragged and then crash on Christmas Day night sick with a cold or other ailment from overdoing. We have let that stuff go much more in recent years and I am grateful for that.
Oh, and we obviously wear hats while decorating...
We have other little traditions that we have developed over the years for our family. We let the children open a pair of pajamas every Christmas Eve and then we open everything else Christmas morning. We make cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning and then we make coffee and hot cocoa to have with them. Yeah, we load them with sugar and then take them to Grandma's house... LOL We still try to have Mexican food on Christmas Eve and that is made easier since we live in El Paso and the tamales are made in abundant amounts this time of year. The Mexican food tradition was one both our families shared, btw.
We also have this angel that the kids take turn putting on the top of the tree. We also let the kids put the tree up and decorate it now and I really like sitting back and watching it happen as long as there is no fighting going on. I step in every now and then to put a few ornaments on as does Dan but for the most part they are getting older and can do it themselves. I am hoping that I will walk in someday and they will surprise me with it all being done and I won't have to do a thing!
Oh, and we still decorate in shifts. We put the tree up and then later we will do the lights and then later still we will do ornaments. It may take us a day or two or even a week to get it all up now.
We also bake cookies and make candy together. We have made those prefabbed gingerbread houses in past years but will be trying our hand at one from scratch this year. We will see how that goes to see if it will really be a tradition or not. LOL
First batch of the season...
Scottish Shortbread for our Christmas Around the World Unit
So, those are some of our traditions and how they came to be...
What are some things you do?
Dec. 9, 2006
2006 G.I.F.T. exchange...
Posted in Its a CARNIVAL
Stainless Steel Droppings has put together a blogging challenge - the 2006 G.I.F.T. Challenge. Giving Inspiration, Fostering Tradition.
What you
agree to do, if you choose to participate, is to partake of and/or post
on any 4 of the following:
Christmas movies
Christmas songs
Christmas poems
(won't be my own 'cause I am NOT a poet.)
Christmas traditions
Christmas memories
I will be posting on the above topics between now and Christmas Eve. Wanta join me? Just hop on over and check out the post for yourself.
Nov. 1, 2006
Beauty of Justice
Posted in Its a CARNIVAL
The Beauty of Justicea Carnivalcreated by Sallie at Gracious HomeJustice is one of those words that illicits a variety of responses. There is the justice of the world and that does not always seem fair. My husband reminds our children when they repeat that phrase, "...but that's NOT FAIR!" that, in the words of a counselor in an episode of Becker (an old CBS show that was cancelled a few years ago), "Fair is a place where hogs go to compete for ribbons." LOL Life is not always fair and justice can seem unfair or it can seem like just what you want. The difference between God's justice and the world's justice can be very different, too. Grab a cup of your favorite hot beverage and sit back and enjoy the following submissions as we take a look at some different perspectives this week on the Beauty of Justice...Chel at Chasing Contentment reflects upon the coming time of Election Day in America in her eloquent plea for all of us to exercise our freedom to go to the polls and vote. Her post called Rock the Vote is a beautiful encouragement to vote your beliefs and exercise your freedom come Election Day.
**********
A Dusty Frame takes time to reflect on God's justice during the week in which her incarcerated husband's appeal should be decided in Justice. **********
Blair at Scribblings shows us how our idea of justice and God's idea of justice just might not be the same. We seem so intent these days on what is "fair" and making sure all things are equal...in our eyes that is. What if we stop to consider for a moment what God allowed To Demonstrate His Justice
Thanks for reading!!!
Brought to you by...
Jul. 19, 2006
Carnival of Beauty presents:
Posted in Its a CARNIVAL
The Beauty of Play
a Carnival of Beauty created and sponsored by Sallie at A Gracious Home
and hosted this week right here at the Prattling Pastor's Wife
Kim Anderson at Mother-Lode invites us to play a summer game of Hot Moms Challenge with the media's latest model of motherhood in Hot Moms Play It Cool.
Veracity invites us to join her as she shares the joy she gets from watching her daughter play in her post entitled Play.
Jennifer@ Snapshot looks at the purpose of play in Unfinished Works.
Ellen at MzEllen & Co. sees the Beauty of Play in not only the play you enjoy, but also who you enjoy it with.
Our responsibilities as adults so often get in the way of the need for play. While Blair has never seen herself as a "playful" person, she recognizes that God has ordained "a time to laugh". You'll want to join her at Scribblings by Blair where she demonstrates the importance of "play" in her post Rolls Like a Tumble Weed and Stung By a Bee.
Ecclesiastes 3 tells us there is a time for everything -- a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot ... Read Carolyn's thoughts on a time to play at A Prairie View as she reflects that there is a time to play as well.
...and Leann proves you are NEVER too old for fun and cartwheels in Taking Time to Play as a Family.
Jul. 18, 2006
Taking time to play as a family...
Posted in Its a CARNIVAL
I just returned from a vacation. We spent the week doing a whole lot of what I thought was nothing. As I look back on the week we actually did a whole lot of playing. Have you ever noticed that people at play are never frowning or scowling? How could you possibly be angry when you are having fun? The times that our family is the most happy seems to be when we are playing and enjoying each other through either planned or spontaneous play. The spontaneous play seems to be the most memorable, though, doesn't it?
I tend to be all about the work and never about the play at home. On the road and away from the temptation of work I can let go and have more fun. I married a man who is ALL ABOUT THE FUN!!! LOL He is a pickleball playing, frisbee wielding, tickle fight kinda guy. God knew that he would be the perfect compliment to my very serious side. He has taught me how to play and have fun. Our children have, too. Having three boys is conducive to play, too. They are fun-loving boys that have a very hard time being serious. I am not sure if it is the nature of boys or if it is just that their daddy is so good at having fun and has taught them that. Whatever the case they do know how to enjoy life.
Over the last week I have rediscovered frisbee, playing a marathon round of Skipbo, watching kids movies (Hoodwinked to be exact), eating homemade peach cobbler with ice cream on top, running with the kiddos barefoot in the grass and doing cartwheels. I just thought I would share a few pictures to prove that I can still play with the best of them. So without further delay here is me and the family at play...
...and last but certainly NOT least. The cartwheel champion of our family is the nearly 40 year old MOMMY!!!!! Yes, it is me upside down and great form...
Jul. 15, 2006
Coming up...
Posted in Its a CARNIVAL
If you are contributing to the Carnival of Beauty this next week then you have come to the right place. I am Leann and I will be hosting your Beauty of Play posts this week. For more information you can see Sallie's blog here... I am still out but can be reached by e-mail with your posts up until Tuesday at 3:00pm EST. I cannot wait to read your post on the beauty of play. Thanks for participating!!!
Jun. 28, 2006
I love coffee, I love tea...
Posted in Its a CARNIVAL
I love coffee, I love tea
I love the java jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the jivin' and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup!
I love java, sweet and hot
Whoops! Mr. Moto, I'm a coffee pot
Shoot me the pot and I'll pour me a shot
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup!
Oh, slip me a slug from the wonderful mug
And I cut a rug till I'm snug in a jug
A slice of onion and a raw one, draw one.
Waiter, waiter, percolator!
I love coffee, I love tea
I love the java jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the jivin' and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup!
Boston bean, soy bean
Green bean, string green bean.
I'm not keen for a bean
Unless it is a cheery cheery bean boy.
I love coffee, I love tea
I love the java jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the jivin' and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup!
I love java, sweet and hot
Whoops! Mr. Moto, I'm a coffee pot
Shoot me the pot and I'll pour me a shot
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup!
Oh, slip me a slug from the wonderful mug
And I cut a rug till I'm snug in a jug
Drop me a nickel in my pot, Joe, Takin' it slow.
Waiter, waiter, percolator!
I love coffee, I love tea
I love the java jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the jivin' and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup!
The Ink Spots
What a fun song. I have a recording of this and we sing it around our home often. Here is a recording for you if you have never heard it... Go to the amazon page and scroll down a bit and click on the listen button on Java Jive. It is so much fun...
My Love Affair With Coffee and Tea I must admit that I adore both coffee and tea but the desire for hot drink started with coffee. It all began at the tender age of 5 when my Meemaw handed me a little child sized cup of milk and sugar with a touch of coffee added. I had my first capuccino! Over the years I continued this little ritual when I would go and visit my Meemaw. It was a special treat. By the time I got to college I was fully addicted to the stuff. I began enjoying coffee with study sessions. It was the thing that kept me awake enough to pass my tests. It no longer had the milk and sugar. I was taking it straight up. Dan has been a coffee drinker for years so when we would go out to dinner or a movie we would top off our date with a cup of coffee together. The invention of the bookstore with a coffee shop inside was a real attraction for us. We love books and we love coffee. Putting the two together was BRILLIANT! Into our marriage we would have coffee with breakfast and after dinner in the evenings. The addition of flavored blends was such a joy for us. My Dad calls them "perfume" coffees. LOL During my first pregnancy I abstained from the caffeine so the java went by the wayside. I replaced that desire for the warm cup in my cold hands with the discovery of decaffeinated herbal teas. I was hooked...Now, after four babies and a few issues with caffeine I am ALMOST totally caffeine free at home. I have a few breakfast and green teas that are still caffeinated. I don't drink for the pep anymore. I drink it solely for the delicious way it soothes my throat when I am sick or the way it warms me on a cold day. I enjoy the calming effect that it has just after dinner or before bed with the decaf varieties. I will partake of that delicious elixir full strength when out in public but I really try to watch the caffeine now. As I approach my 40's I find that the decaffeinated version and the herbal teas are pleasing and conducive to a good night's sleep. I have discovered a world of wonderful hot beverages over the years. Some favorites include Irish Breakfast Tea, Sleepy Time Celestial Seasonings Tea, Green Tea and Raspberry Iced Tea or the Berry Zinger versions over ice. My most favorite coffee indulgence is a Mocha Decaf Cappucino. With the onset of Dan's hypertension he is enjoying them more and more with me, too. Here is a picture of my stash of teas... I have one for just about every mood and I share them with anyone who shows up at my home.
I am ready for visitors. So if you stop by on any given day I would be delighted to put the kettle on or start a pot of coffee for you. If you call ahead I would even be able to get a loaf of sweet bread ready for our visit, too. So, feel free to stop by... you are always welcomed!
Here are a few links to great products...
Stash Tea
Celestial Seasoning
The Republic of TeaBigelow Tea
Imperia Tea Garden
Lipton Tea
A special coffee we drink from time to time when we want something really nice. It is a local favorite... It is Pinon Coffee
Jun. 22, 2006
It's a Carnival of Homeschooling...
Posted in Its a CARNIVAL
I have not been brave enough or organized enough to actually get something in for this one but I just know you will enjoy reading these entries. Head on over and take a look at the Carnival of Homeschooling #25. Enjoy!!!
Jun. 21, 2006
Carnival of Beauty is back...
Posted in Its a CARNIVAL
The Beauty of Self-Control
The Carnival of Beauty is back and in full swing. Since I am in the midst of finishing my Beth Moore study and this particular week is about Self Control I am going to have to just post something later this week and not be included. That should not stop you from enjoying all the other lovely blogs that posted this week, though.
Go have a look and see what blogging women around the globe are sharing on Self Control...
May. 25, 2006
Some great homeschool reading...
Posted in Its a CARNIVAL
From the Carnival of Homeschooling comes a Progressive Dinner Event. You can read lots of great articles if you check out the above links...
Mar. 31, 2006
Carnival of Children's Literature #3 - Poetry...
Posted in Its a CARNIVAL
Poetry Every Day
A Brief History
My history with poetry is less than exciting. To be quite honest with you, I stink at writing poetry. I am just not DEEP enough, I guess, to really write from that tortured soul perspective. I absolutely did not get why haiku was so popular in elementary school. When introduced to poetry in middle school and high school I wondered how the poetry we studied could even earn the title of poetry when NOTHING rhymed. Then, in college, I really struggled to see the Jesus figure the professor saw in every piece of poetry or story that we studied. Needless to say my INNER POET has been a bit scarred along the way.
It wasnt until I took a class in childrens literature and discovered childrens poetry that my love of poetry began to take root. Once I discovered Jack Prelutsky and Shel Silverstein, a whole new world opened up for me. I rushed out and bought poetry books for my personal library and began to seek out other poets and collected works. I rediscovered Emily Dickinson, John Keats, Robert Frost, William Butler Yeats, and the beautiful sonnets of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Then Dan began to introduce me to great stuff by Robert Service, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Robert Louis Stevenson, Carl Sandburg and the hilarious antics of Ogden Nash. Then there is the whole genre of Cowboy Poetry. LOL Dan is a real poetry buff.
Once I was sold on the idea of poetry Dan started writing some for me. He is quite good, by the way, but I digress
Then Came the Children
Once we had our first child and he began to speak we started playing word games. It was as natural to play with language as rolling off a log. We played rhyming games and made little poems and songs. We would make up little stories and funny nonsense words and laugh together over it all.
It did not take me long to realize, that as much as I had thought poetry was a waste of time earlier in my life, I knew that poetry had become a part of our daily lives in a powerful way. It showed up in the songs we sang and in the things we were teaching our children. Watching the children play with the language and discover their own voices has been an absolute joy for us. To hear their attempts at rhyming and putting phrases together to be humorous has been such a delightful part of life.
Now, we just play those games without thinking. We take songs and change the words and make up our own poetry. We tell stories in sing song style. We read poetry from books we have collected. We take delight in the language of the poets and lyricists that make our lives richer.
As our oldest son begins to understand more about language we have begun talking about the poetic patterns in the Bible. We talk about the idea of rhyming thoughts and not just words. We have talked about how the original Hebrew and Greek texts take concepts to develop poetry that translates into EVERY language. That is just so amazing to me how that works.
The Poet in Us All
I have discovered that poetry is for the uninhibited. Children are such geniuses with language because they are not stunted by rules and regulations or patterns that they must follow. I believe the fun of language and poetry began to leave me when I had to struggle over having to do things right to write a poem that would be appreciated. I would never say that it is not necessary to learn grammar and patterns of poetry but wouldnt it be wonderful if we could just play with the language from time to time? Maybe, like our children, we can delight in it and make it work for us to entertain us instead of frustrate us.
You might be happy to know that I have overcome some of my inhibitions. I still stink at writing poetry but you can, on a warm spring day, walk up to our front door and hear the laughter as mommy and the kids sing a song they made up or as we write a poem together one line at a time each person taking the next line. You may hear mommy say something in correction only to have a child singsong a line back that rhymes with the last word mommy said. Then you would hear the tension of the moment dissipate as they all break into deep belly laughter.
If you were a fly on the wall of our 1989 Suburban you might hear a crazy little song that we make up as we drive down the highway when all the radio stations are out of range.
And on that rare romantic occasion when I put pen to paper in an expression of love for my husband, you might see a corny little love poem being penned. Then as the recipient reads it quietly to himself, a tear rolling down both our cheeks, he would lift his head and say, I love it merely because he loves that I tried. It could happen
Leann Richardson
March 31, 2006
Hosted by Chicken Spaghetti
This month's host site is Semicolon
Mar. 28, 2006
Carnival of Beauty - Flowers...
Posted in Its a CARNIVAL
As I contemplated the topic this week these are just a few thoughts I had...
Beauty in the Desert
I am a gardener. I have loved gardening for over 15 years. We moved to the desert about 10 years ago and at that time the challenges began. If you have ever tried to grow things in the desert then you immediately recognize the challenges that I have had. The landscape seemed so dreary and dismal. It still does most days but God has shown me some things through the trials of gardening this harsh land and taught me some lessons along the way.
Good soil is a must.
In the desert there are lots of rocks and lots of sand. Some things grow naturally here that do not require soil treatment but they were meant to grow in that soil. The cactus and succulent plant life that grows here are plants that store water and are used to the drought conditions. The other things that I have tried to grow here have failed until I do one important thing. I have to buy special soil and build raised beds. Once the soil is nutrient full the plants thrive. They need the added nutrients to survive and then to grow to their full potential.
Sunshine is a good thing but...
All sunshine makes Sahara
(this is an Arabic Proverb that I calligraphed awhile back)
We get about 360 days of sunshine here in, what is known as, the Sun City. That makes for harsh summers and lots of drought. It is a refreshing blessing when we see rain in the area and all the plants, trees and grass just soak it up and look so amazingly green on the landscape when we get such rain. When we have no rain for long periods of time and are on drought conditions we are only allowed to water about once a week. The terrain looks sparse and brown and all things green begin to die. That makes for lots and lots of sand and dirt.
Beauty can come from the most desolate places.
There are tiny little specks of beauty that pop up even in times of drought. They show up in the most amazing places. The cactus will bloom for short periods of time and then there will be these beautiful yellow and purplish pink flowers that decorate the landscape. There are little blossoms that will pop up among a pile of rocks. There is even a plant called a Century Plant that will spend 70 plus years growing with no bloom only to finally spend it's dying energy to produce a most excellent bloom and then die. The desert really does have it's wonders...
Water is essential.
Even the most hearty desert cactus must have water to survive. The cactus plant is one that will store water from a rain for long periods of time but eventually it has to rain again for it to survive. For the plants in our yard we water them about three times a week. We recently planted fruit trees and without water there is no fruit and the trees will not grow taller or thrive. One year we had fruit come on the trees but with the drought conditions the fruit shrivelled and died right on the tree. For anything to grow there must be water.
Lessons from the Desert Garden
From these observations God has shown me some valuable things.
Good soil is a must even in the spiritual realm. When Jesus told the parable of the seed and soil it was important to have good soil. When the seed was scattered along the path it was trampled. When it was scattered among the rocks it was baked in the sun and burned up. When it was scattered among the weeds it was choked out but when it was put into good soil it was allowed to grow up and become healthy and strong. When God's word is planted in our spirits is it allowed to grow? Do we have good soil that allows the truths and principles of God to grow strong and stand the test of time?
Sunshine is a good thing but... All sunshine makes Sahara. People that tell us that we should live a stress free, problem free life just have no idea what they are talking about. Should we worry and fret? No, God is very specific in telling us that we should not worry or be concerned with the things of life. He is faithful to provide for us. It does, however, show us that life is not without problems. The problems that come into our lives are not a reflection of sin in our lives or lack of faith but instead a way of making us beautiful. Job's life was not problem free. Paul is another example of trials and tribulations and we get to see in both instances how God made their lives count for Him. They were of value to the Kingdom of God because of those storms that came into their lives. Rain has to fall but it does not have to destroy us. It can make us beautiful and fruitful and we should let it.
Beauty can come from the most desolate places. From the most awful things God can work the most magnificent wonders. We are told in Romans 8:28 that God works all things together for good to those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. The most horrific tragedy can produce the most beautiful faith and witness. Beauty can be found in the deserts of our lives.
Water is essential! Everyone needs water. I am talking about the Living Water that Jesus gave to the Samaritan Woman. Eternal life is that water that EVERYONE needs. Only Jesus can bring the water that doesn't leave us thirsty. Once we know Jesus and have that Living Water it is essential to keep feeding and watering that faith through a growing relationship with Him. He wants to nurture and feed us. He wants to bring us that daily watering through His word. Do you have that Living Water? Do you let Him feed you daily through the Bible and prayer? I pray today that you will make that decision not to die on the vine but instead to let Jesus be your Gardener. Let Him fill your very being with His Living Water of Salvation. Trust Him...
written by Leann Richardson
March 28, 2006
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Mar. 8, 2006
Carnival of Beauty Order
Posted in Its a CARNIVAL
God's Will Brings True Order
God of order
From the beginning of creation God has been about doing things in order, having order and keeping order. He never brought chaos into the world. Chaos came when sin entered into the picture. The only time chaos was used by God in the Bible was to bring destruction and defeat to His enemies and the enemies of the Israelites.
We must understand, though, that order does not necessarily mean our definition of order. We can order our day until we are blue in the face but that does not mean we are in Gods will in the midst of that order. God wants us to desire His order for our lives. His plan is what brings order out of chaos.
The key here is Romans 12:2.
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (HCSB)
God wants us to want what He wants. His will is perfect and He desires that we want that perfect will and not our own will. How has this been manifest in my life? Here are a few thoughts
My struggle with order in my life
As I have moved through my life I have often made some bad choices based on what I wanted or thought I needed. That has resulted in a house full of stuff that means nothing in the bigger light of Gods Kingdom. In order to fill a void in my life that should have been filled with God I, instead, chose to fill it with stuff that only brought frustration and depression. The more stuff I put into my home the more overwhelmed I became. It has worked its way out in lots of things including me being overweight. I still struggle with this on a daily basis. My ideas about stuff have changed but I am still reaping the chaos that is a result of past behavior.
This time of year brings thoughts for me of spring cleaning and purging the home. The Israelites took time to do this in anticipation of Passover and other groups recognize this in the form of Lent. I believe it is a natural part of our makeup to clean house. We long for order in our very spirit. When we ignore that it only serves to frustrate and overwhelm us to the point that we become paralyzed and unable to wholly fulfill Gods plan for our lives. It is an epidemic!
I see it in my home in the stacks of stuff that lie around. I see the full cabinets, closets, drawers and garage. I see it in my overweight existence. I see it in my impatience with my family. I see it in my ministry life. In our schooling it keeps us from taking time to learn naturally through daily activities. I find myself sending the children out to play so that I can get something done. I used to be guilty of sticking them in front of the television just to get laundry and chores done. In doing my chores each day I find myself not knowing where to start. I have had to make lists and note cards just to move through the day and get something done. I also find myself staying up later and later just to get on top of the things that must be done each day. It is a daily dose of chaos and it handicaps me in every aspect of daily living.
I believe it most directly affects my time with God. It shortens the time that I have to spend in study and prayer. My mind often strays to the chaos that lay around me or to the list of things I have to do for the day. The days begin and the time that I should be focusing on God quickly moves out of reach because the day starts in emergency mode with no organization and order. Emergency mode and chaos become a way of life and then it seems that it is too late to get that time back. The need to start my day to seek Gods will for that day is thwarted by the chaos that calls me away. It is a vicious cycle that must stop.
A Way out of Chaos and into Gods Order
What in the world can be done? I believe that it must be reigned in. It all starts with the way that you look at your home and your stuff. Are you trying to live like the world by filling your home with stuff that people tell you that you need? Are you trying to keep up with the Joneses'? Is having the latest and greatest important to you? Then it begins with the renewing of your mind. How does God see all of this? Discernment, even in dealing with the things around us, is crucial. We must be discerning in EVERYTHING. That includes how you run your home or better yet, WHO is running your home.
The days must start in seeking Gods will. You have to clear the clutter and clean the slate in your mind before He can write your day out for you. You have to turn your days over to God and order your days according to His plan. My plan is no longer the agenda for the day but I will become more sensitive to what His plan is for the day. Where would He have me start? Part of the plan for me is purging this house a little more each day. It is also about putting in the priorities of the day first and letting some of the other stuff go. It is about stopping the cycle of buying and adding to what is already out of control. It is about teaching my children to trust God with their days so that they never have to feel what I have felt in this overwhelming mess. I must teach them that they are not entitled to just float through life while mommy does everything but that they become part of the team in Gods will for our home and life.
What happens when order begins? We have so much more time for what God has in store. We are able to school better. We have time for true ministry. We have the possibility of cooking a meal and taking it to someone who needs it. We can just stop where we are and be available at the drop of a pin. We can find things. We have time for more than cleaning. I get to sew again. I can learn new things and teach my children new things. We have time to go to the park for the afternoon just to enjoy each other. We have family meals and game nights. We do not wake up in emergency mode but instead have time to study Gods word, pray, and read together over breakfast. Everyone knows their job and does it. We move through the day as a team in harmony instead of chaos. We can hear God because there is nothing there to distract us from that still small voice anymore.
Where are you today? What is God calling you to change in order to be a part of His order? What will you do first? Today is a new day full of new mercies and God is calling you to join Him in His plan for your life. Will you ask Him to order your days?
Leann Richardson
March 2006
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