Happy Saturday

Recently when I told someone how long I had worked in the yard, she said, "How in the world could it take you that long? Your yard is so small." So, I am explaining how the yard thing works. We bought our home in 1980. Several years later, we bought the apartments beside our house and Brian remodeled one apartment for his insurance office. It has been very convenient because he walked out the door only a matter of yards to work every day. You can see how close it was in this picture taken in the back yard of the apartments. The back door of the house is just inside the porch. The door to his office is the one you see at the end of the brick walk.


This picture is taken from the other end of the apartments.



In between is a lot of yard that I keep. I have enjoyed it most of the time.


Here is the largest section of grass which I mow and edge.



I've posted pictures of the yard in the Picasa Web Album. (Click on the figurine at the top of the right column.)

Just now, (Fri) Brian took a break from reading and we sat outside and enjoyed the cool of the evening. We watched many of the humming birds and moths flying from flower to flower getting their nourishment. Have you ever read how remarkable God created the hummingbird? Since I live with an encyclopedia on certain topics, he recited to me how the little bird works. I was able to get one good picture of something out of many tries. They are so fast and I needed to set my camera differently to catch him. I am not really sure what this one is but probably a moth. It was amongst the hummingbirds and I was trying to get a picture of them. But this fella' moved fast like a hummingbird.



And here is a picture of my back yard behind my house. There is no grass. There is still work involved but if this was all I took care of, her question would make sense. The tin roof used to be where we kept Bree's rabbits. We removed all the cages and added the wooden floor and a fan. The large "box" inside is Brian's recreation of the Ark of the Covenant to be used at Church. And you can see Millie resting in the ground cover on the right side.



I hope you have a wonderful Saturday. I hope God blesses you through His Word as you open it. I hope your heart opens to someone who needs to hear how He has showered His love on you and wants to bless them also. I am still reading Concentric Circles of Concern and expect practice of these concepts to revive and bless my spirit of evangelism.

Donna's Birthday

"A Friend loveth at all times, and a brother (sister) is born for adversity."
If you have friends like these I've been blessed with, you can amen this verse from Proverbs 17:17. We each have a child the same age. These 5 children were in the nursery together at FBC, grade school, high school, and college at Texas A&M. They are still very good friends today. And so are their moms.
We've been through so much hand in hand. Everything from split ends to a split church. And lots of wonderful events in between. We know what to appreciate and what to over look in each other.
We enjoyed breakfast and lots of visiting in celebration of Donna's ??th birthday, which was on Flag Day but was celebrated yesterday at Professional Pampering. Phyllis worked with Donna's muscles and I got in on that, too. We laughed. We talked about these children. We talked about politics, our husbands, our churches, our aches, our plans, and the present situations we need covered in prayer. And we are comforted to think that we will be together in Eternity talking and laughing and serving our Saviour.
Here are a few pictures.

Thursday June18, 2009

It is a beautiful morning, a slight "cold" front moving through. Brian and I sit outside and read in the mornings. I would like to share from the book I am reading, Concentric Circles of Concern.

"He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him" John 14:21).
If you agree with what God has told you about what He wants you to do and you obey it, Gad has said he will disclose or make himself conspicuous or real in your life. When Jesus reveals his will for your life and you obey him, he becomes conspicuous. He becomes real.
The times in my life when Jesus has been the most real have been those times when I have, out of sheer obedience, said, "Father, I do not know how, why, or what, but I will obey you."


The author, W. Oscar Thompson Jr was able to describe how Jesus has become so real to me when in similar circumstances, when all I could do was respond in the way scripture directed. Specifically, it has often been, give thanks, praise, trust. And Jesus becomes so sweet, so conspicuous, as he says. The book is very good, teaching how to let Jesus become conspicuous in our lives to those in the circles God has placed us in.

I have not been blogging and have considered letting it go. It's a time dilemma. There are so many things to be doing that I don't have time to sit and write about it. So, I think I may try to "journal" here, just to record parts of my days.

Today, I attend a birthday party for a friend. (much older, of course) I'll journal about that tomorrow. The Squash Cook Off at Rule is today at lunch time and I've never been. It would be fun to see the Rule folks. This afternoon, I may shop. Brian wants something to darken our bedroom windows so we can sleep a little later. I am more caught up than usual in the yard and the house but there is still plenty to do. We've had so much change lately that I am still recovering. It is a wonderful day.

Millie is Quite Relaxed

It became dark and suddenly the bottom dropped out. We had a fast and hard rainfall for a while this afternoon. Millie, who is not allowed inside except at night and then only into the utility room, shot through the door when Brian came in. She ran into the study and jumped up into this chair. My folks had this chair when I was 15 I'm sure, not sure how long before that but a number of years. I let her stay and eventually, she covered hoer eyes and had a nice nap, not at all worried about the loud thunder and the heavy rain.

"Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid..."

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

When I go to bed, I think of many things I want to see completed: several pieces of furniture need the old varnish removed and new stain, some pieces I purchased with the intention of painting roses on or learning faux techniques, weeds removed from flower beds, flowers transplanted to new locations, make new slip covers for outdoor chairs, one of our apartments needs to be updated for possibility of my parents living in and I'll help with some of that, and gathering and preparing items for a yard sale. These are just a few of the things that need my attention today. There are books I would like to read. I would like to work on one of the quilts I have started - or one of the samplers. I need to help my folks out with meals and I do spend time with them every day. My daughter moved out of one of our apartments and left her things here for the summer. She took care of most of it but I would like to rearrange some of the things she stored in her old bedroom.

When I get up, I pray, Lord use me today to do what you want done. Show me. I want to serve you. I know there are lots of elderly people in my town who would appreciate a visit. People I have known for years. I believe that it is my privilege to be a Godly wife to Mr Wonderful, so show me Lord how to do that this day.

While it is not possible to get all these projects completed today, I can make some progress on one of them. And I can "do whatever I do as unto the Lord." I just want my eyes open to act of kindness and ways I can serve others today. I know that I may not always have a great word of wisdom for the people I come into contact with. I may not have the answer they need for whatever is on their plate today. But I think I have the option to make them feel a certain way and for today, I believe that is what God wants me to be aware of in my relationships with family, friends, and anyone I come in contact with. My words and actions make people "feel" something. They can feel acceptance or they can feel like they are being judged. They can feel loved or they can feel like they are insignificant. They can feel like I appreciate them or like I believe they are incapable. I believe every thought or action between myself and the people I see today has an emotion attached to it and I am in control of the intention behind my words and actions.

So, I may not complete all the tasks and I may not get to enjoy the "crafty" projects I've planned, but I can let the Lord create in me a clean heart through His Word so that encouraging words and actions can bring life to those I am around. That is the most important project for the day - His work of creation in my heart.

Pink Saturday

I was on my way to bed and realized I had not posted for Pink Saturday. I think this will be my last Pink Saturday for a time. I have many projects and my parents are needing more of my time. And I seem to need more time for reading and studying, time to be quiet and "know He is God." I will look at your posts when I have a moment though.

My first picture is a bowl that was in my grandmother's "nice" set of dishes.


I love the little roses. I Must have inherited my love of pink from several folks.


I drew and stitched this "sampler" around 30 years ago.


This little bookmark was a gift.


I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Visit HowSweetTheSound for more pinks!!

Pink Saturday

Hello,
Here I am again posting pictures of pink. I enjoy yard work. I actually love house work most of the time. But all this work in these worldly things isn't the most important work, right?
Here is a picture of my front porch. I guess the bricks have a pinkish tint. And there is a basket of pink petunias that will soon need to be planted in the ground and pinched off so they can bloom again.



These wispy blooms are on the mimosa tree.



This a basket stand holding 4 baskets and two of them are pink bouganvilla.



I think this is called a Century Plant and it has these pink pretties at the end of the tall spikes.



Last are a couple of petunia plants.



You are invited to view more pinks by clicking HERE for HowSweetTheSound, hosted by Beverly.

35th Wedding Anniversary!!!!!!!!!

Today we celebrate 35 years of marriage. I love Brian more every day and that is the truth. As the days and the years pass, his commitment to the Lord and to me is more evident. Whatever I am doing, working in the yard, buying groceries, cleaning house, he is in the back of my mind. I am always looking forward to "reuniting" with him. I do not show him the way I feel like I should.

He sent me 12 beautiful red roses. I made him a card. He sings at a funeral early this afternoon so he doesn't eat lunch. We will have a nice meal tonight. We will watch a rental movie. It will be a fun evening.

If you are my age, you have realized that life is short, very short. We attended the funeral of a dear friend, Dewey, yesterday (where Brian sang also). We met him when he was about the age we are now. He lived his life helping other people. One after the other, folks stood up and told how he had bought them new tires when theirs were worn out, how he had sent them a check in the mail right when they needed it, etc. One told that years ago when he was a just a neighbor kid on the farm, he had watched Dewey plowing one day during hard times, when money was hard to come by. The next day or two, Dewey gave this boy a $20 bill and told him that he wanted him to buy a Bible with it. This man still carries that Bible.

Our THIRTY FIFTH anniversary plus the words at this funeral cause me to recommit myself to looking for ways to help other people in the days I have left on this earth. I am way too self centered, unlike Dewey.

I hope you are having a wonderful day.

Love,
Jennifer

PS My cousin, Alexia, sang I Know Who Holds Tomorrow at our wedding.