Tomatoes!

We have been house sitting for a family while they are off on vacation.  Their tomato plants are producing such good, sweet, juicy vine ripened fruit for us to enjoy!  Unfortunately it seems that they are all going to get eaten before the family returns...but I guess they must have realized that they would ripen while away, for they told us to be sure and pick them.  They are just the right size to pop in the mouth for a tasty treat.

There is Beauty all Around...

 So many flowers in bloom...just gotta share!

Day at the Beach for Women Only

A day after the real beach outing, I got to attend a Beach brunch for women only.  A few hearty laughs were good for the soul...

 The decorations were awesome

The food was authentic...

 and good!

Music included sign language

Learning the art of hula dance

The 'professional youngster' teaching the art of hula hoop to the 'expert older'

What a wonderful group of ladies

Thanks for all the work put into this event.

A Day at the Beach

We recently had a family get together at the beach with my in-laws.  It turned out to be perfect weather...gentle breeze, lots of sun and waves!

Our "buffet" picnic table

We set up a tent for shade...or rest

.

 They must be newlyweds:)

The cousins

The sis-in-laws

 The boys dug holes

And got "connected" below the surface.

Then before we left, people stomped on it to make it 'cave-in'.

We stayed until it was almost dark.

The creative one in our group...
We all agreed that it was a much needed break from the 'norm' of our usual activities.

The Tongue

If anyone among you

thinks he is religious, 

and does not bridle his tongue

but deceives his own heart,

this ones religion is useless.

James 1:26

Let the words of my mouth 

and the meditation of my heart 

be acceptable 

in in your sight 

O Lord,

my strength and 

my redeemer. 

Psalms 19:14

Whoever guards his mouth 

and  tongue 

keeps his soul from troubles.

Porverbs 21:23

Help me Oh God to use my mouth to encourage, strengthen, and impart grace to those within my influence.

Dear Abby....

I remember the days when we read the column "Dear Abby" in the newspaper for the latest wisdom.  Some of it was worldly, some of it was not.  
Someone shared this one recently, and thought I would post it here.
This is some advice from someone who played the role as mediator, peacemaker, and an advocate of conflict avoidance.

1. Learn to disagree without being disagreeable.  It is all right to be assertive, but not aggressive, abusive or abrasive.
2.When someone says something with which you disagree, try not to be judgmental
3. Maintain eye contact when greeting people, and shake their hands.  Touching is important.
4.Be kind and courteous to everyone.
5.Remember that civility is a sign of strength, not of weakness.
6.Speak softly.  (People tune out loud, angry voices)
7.Saving face is important.  Give your opponent the opportunity to withdraw.
8. Your attitude is more important than your aptitude.
9.Mutual respect is the key to avoiding conflict.
10.Give the other person a chance to be heard without interrupting.
11.The shortest distance between two people is a smile.

by:  Peter S. Chantillis, Attorney Mediator

Some of these principles I think I have discovered somewhere..in my Bible...just in different words...!

Laughable Moments

The day was full of errands, shopping, and being out and about.  By evening I  arrive home, and as I get out of the car, I notice the above picture.  Mis matched socks...and nobody told me!  Surely someone noticed...!  Makes me laugh!

Book Reading

Recently a friend came for a visit  from out of state.  She told me about a book that she had read, and found it to be helpful.  When she shared with me how it had affected her...and told the name of the book..I remembered that I had heard of the book...in fact I think I had that book!  I looked on my bookshelf, and lo and behold there it was!  My dad had given it to me a couple of years ago, and I had stuck it on the shelf...and there it had been sitting.
It gives a step by step procedure on how to manage physical pain when there is no medical reason for the pain.  It addresses the emotions, especially negative ones, and helps know how to process through the different emotions that we stuff down into our subconscious mind throughout our life.
The author promotes 5 steps to the healing process.Here they are in summery:
*Establish a strong mind-body-spirit link.  (Address repressed emotions)
*Take control over your subconscious mind. (Through Imagery ,Concentration training, Relaxation and Visualization)
*Write about your emotions
*Spend time in prayer and meditation
*Resume physical activity
To really get the benefit of this 6 week program you need to read the book.  It tells how to do the in-depth journaling that is necessary to process the stuffed down emotions that have been filed in our subconscious minds since childhood.
I happen to  know... I get irritated, annoyed and angry easily. I want to identify where it is coming from, why, and what to do about it!

Today

This has been in my kitchen for 10 years. It reminds me to *smile* though I don't see it often enough....

Picture Time

I walk past these many times.  I just am awed at how many are blooming right now.  Truly...spring has come!

Something to ponder

We will never have the hearts of our children 

when the only words they hear are words of censure and rebuke..

Potatoes!

I have been enjoying watching these potato plants as they grow...seemingly before my eyes!  I can almost hear them.  This is our first year planting purple potatoes.  We really like this kind, and hope that they do well.

Final Round

of required vaccinations for J.  By the time he needs any others, he will be on his own...

We went to the local health clinic early in the morning to be the first in line, as they do not make appointments for vaccinations.  And wait we did!  I had just gone and asked what the delay was about when they called us in.  Finally completed this mission at 10 a.m., and was glad to be done.  The clinic is in a building that partners with WIC, and there are lots of  little kids running around in the waiting room...with little supervision. 'nuff said...

Never Give Up

Go over,

go under,

go around 

or go through

But never give up!

This a reminder to myself....

Essence of Leaership

A true leader has the confidence to stand alone,

the courage to make  tough decisions, 

and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. 

He does not set out to be a leader, 

but becomes one by the quality of his actions

and the integrity of his intent. 

In the end, leaders are much like eagles;

they don't flock, you find them one at a time.

Excellence!

Excellence is never an accident,

it is always the result of high intention,

sincere effort,

intelligent direction,

skillful execution

and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities.

Just for Today

I have chosen you and not cast you away:

Fear not for I am with you;

Be not dismayed,

For I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you.

I will uphold you

with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:9,10

The Foundation of Excellence

Our achievements are shaped

by the terrain of our lives 

and the strength 

of the foundations we set.

In building the life we've imagined, 

we must be true to our beliefs,

dare to be ethical,

and strive to be honorable.  

For integrity is the highest ground 

to which we can aspire.

Make It Happen

Greatness is not in where we stand, 

but in what direction we are moving. 

We must sail sometimes with the wind 

and sometimes against it...

but sail we must, and not drift, 

nor lie at anchor.

Oliver Wendall Holmes

Favorite Quote of the Day

Do not listen to the enemy's suggestion to stay away from Christ until you have made yourself better, until you are good enough to come to God.  If you wait until then you will never come.  When Satan points to your filthy garments, repeat the promise of the Saviour, "Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.  Tell the enemy that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin.  Make the prayer of  David your own: "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." Ps. 51:7
P&K p.320

Pathfinder Camporee

With our children involved as counselors or club members with the local Pathfinder club...(similar to Awanas in other churches...or boy scouts or girl scouts....or 4-H clubs), we as their parents tend to follow them to campouts or camporees...to be a volunteer where needed or be an adult presence to encourage right thoughts, words or actions.
This was the very  first event hosted at  this  particular camp.

 

Porta pottys, porta showers, porta sinks  porta kitchens, and porta tents made up the little 4,000 plus populated city. In other words... facilities have not been built yet.

With 40+ mile an hour winds the first night, 5 tents broke...the girls hunkered down in the bus, as well as other stragglers throughout the night.  Thankfully the rain held off until the next morning when the adult men were able to stake down the tents with extra rope we had along...and then it cleared up and quieted down for the rest of the camporee.
It was great to know that at least one of our campers chose to get to know Jesus in a more intimate way ... we are hoping other lives were touched also. That is worth the sacrifice of the conveniences we left at home.
We also enjoyed running into friends we hadn't seen for awhile...and didn't know they were going to be there!