Headed South for Warmer Weather!

Well, it has been chilly here, to say the least! I'll be heading south tomorrow to visit some relatives...and hopefully find some warmer temperatures!
Typically I would wait a few more days before heading out - since Thanksgiving is still a week away. But my great Aunt Elma will turn 100 years old on Friday. And I just can't miss that! I cannot imagine living 100 years - but cherish the opportunity to celebrate it with her.
And then, I'll stay on through Thanksgiving, and eat more than I should with the rest of the family.
I am most fortunate to have a friend who will come over and stay at my house while I'm out of town. That gives me peace of mind - not only to know my kitty will be cared for, but also that someone is there looking after the place. You know, empty houses can be targets of much mischief - so I'm thrilled to have someone stay for the week.
Hope you and yours have a Happy Thanksgiving!

I'll miss you, Dale.

Heard the tragic news this evening that my friend Dale was killed in an automobile accident today. I guess I'm just looking for a place to gather some thoughts, and this is the sounding board of choice.
I am still in shock, even though the news immediately brought tears to my eyes. I am horrified at the loss - for this earth...yet I know it's Heaven's gain. Dale was a Godly man - loved Jesus - and served Him faithfully. He will be welcomed in Heaven, and with a twinkle in his eyes, he'll say "Sweet!"
I hate what death does to this earth. I praise God for the victory over death - the sting is gone for believers, because we are assured of eternal life with the Lord. But too often the enemy gets in and takes out one of our own, and it really makes me mad. I have bought 5 sympathy cards in the last 3 weeks. It's not a routine I want to develop, yet this earth is sentenced to suffer the consequences of the fall. And death will ironically be part of this life - until Jesus returns to take us all home. Lord, hasten the day.
Until then, I'll miss you Dale. I'll miss your smile, and your hugs at church. I'll miss seeing you worshipping with such passion. But I am confident of this - you've only begun to worship. What you now behold face to face is the fuel for our worship - and one day, we will join you on those streets of gold - together all believers will proclaim "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty!" Til we meet again, Dale, I love you brother.

Snow Pictures

Finally got home from work - so I took a few pictures. It's difficult to take good snow pictures when it's still snowing, and very windy.


Nonetheless, you'll get the idea. This one is from the deck, into the backyard.

And this one of the deck - not the best use of furniture out there, I know.

And yes, I measured it to see how much we have so far.

We're at 10 inches, and still counting. It's supposed to snow all night and then tomorrow too. I wonder what the total will be?

October Snow

Apparently summer is over. I'm not even sure we had fall. But currently there is snow falling, and lots of it. When I went to bed last night, it was raining, but when I peeked out the window this morning at 5:00, I was shocked to see about 3 inches of snow on the back deck. It looks like a winter wonderland - except for the blistering cold wind!! I am not a huge fan of wind. Messes up one's hairdo...you southern women should understand.
But we're in for it. They are predicting up to a foot of snow today and tomorrow. And it's the heavy kind, where shoveling is not simply a few minutes of exercise, but rather a dominating task to snarl at.
Alas, it's Halloween time in Colorado. Snow is inevitable.
Should make for some interesting snowman possibilities for the trick-or-treaters. I may have to pull out my Calvin and Hobbes book to get some ideas.

October sunrise

We had a nice sunrise here in northern Colorado on Monday morning...for about 5 minutes. Then the sun disappeared behind a very big cloud, and it refused to peek out the rest of the day. Glad I had brought the camera to work...just in case. This was taken from our parking lot.

I've learned to recognize some things in cloud formations and sky patterns, and can usually tell if it's worth the time to take the camera along. Plus, being up here in God's country means most days are beautiful, in one way or another.

It didn't have as much color as some mornings, but it was nice. And the lone duck out there paddling around was a nice addition. I wonder if she was thanking God for the beautiful sunrise too? From the rising of the sun, to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. Selah.

Arches National Park

Ok - so you may have noticed that I have not been blogging lately. Basically, I just don't have time for it; but I don't think more than 3 people actually read it anyway. Not that you 3 aren't important. It just doesn't seem to be the best use of time.

On the other hand, I have discovered better use of time to be taking pictures and hiking in incredibly beautiful places. Like Arches National Park, for instance. This is the North Window, near sunset last Thursday evening.

And this one below is of Delicate Arch - again near sunset, but on Friday evening.

Yes, I know. The color is amazing as that warm sun hits the rock - it explodes with color.

The weather was perfect - in the 80's and not a cloud to be seen. Very thankful for such trips!

If you have never ventured to Moab, Utah for scenery such as this, you may want to consider it.

Still alive here...

Sorry I haven't written anything in a while. Things have just been very busy, and I have found myself to be quite occupied with other things. The garden, yardwork, re-caulking the tub, visiting my aunt in TN, brushing the cat... You get the idea. And as it is, I really have no deep insights to share today. So I'll quickly post this with the prayer that you are reminded today of God's amazing love for you! This crazy world spins round and would appear to be out of control some days; but I assure you, our God is very much in control. His kingdom is never shaken!

Crisp Air, Cat Hair and Crankiness

Did you ever have one of those weeks that was so overly busy, you didn't have time to sleep? I just finished one of those. And this morning as I headed to work, I realized how exhausted I was. I pray I'm nice today, and not cranky because I'm so sleep deprived. I think I am typing to stay awake!! HA!!
I'm sure Romeo thought I was living somewhere else, and just showed up to feed and brush him. Poor kitty. By the way - he hates to be brushed. He tolerates it, a little; but he hates it. I can get a couple of strokes in, and then he gets up, moves about 3 feet and lays back down. So I scooch across the floor, start the brushing again, and without fail, he tolerates about 3 or 4 strokes, and moves again. It's like a game we play across the living room floor. But because he is so blessed with wonderful fluffiness, I have to brush him quite often. One would think he might be used to it by now, but no. Perhaps his previous owners did not man the brush as often.

Regardless of the cat hair, Monday has arrived, and I need a nap. I have my doubts about today's productivity. I will rely heavily on my trusty co-workers, and slightly on the rest of them! It is a beautiful morning, though. Blue skies, sunshine, crisp Colorado air. We've had crazy weather this spring and summer. It's not been typical at all. It's been very mild - usually July is hot, well into the 90's or even to 100. Not this year. We've had a couple of 90 degree days, but this weekend probably didn't even break 82. But praise God, it's always beautiful here in Colorado. I believe that if God ever took a vacation, He would come to Colorado!! Have a great week friends! Know that God reigns - and He loves us so much!

Hike - Again

This weekend I hiked up to Isabelle Lake. It's not a strenuous hike at all, but is so very pretty. With all the moisture we had this spring - and yes, even now as I type - everything is so alive and green. The wildflowers are blooming, but not at their peak yet. And there was still a lot of snow to be seen. I'll post a few pics:

Hope you enjoy!

Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless His holy name!

Hike

Went on a short hike this morning. One of the benefits of living in Northern Colorado is the easy access to the Rocky Mountain National park. I still believe it to be one of the most beautiful places on earth.

I didn't want anything too strenuous today, but just enough to be out, enjoy the scenery and get a little exercise. So I hiked up to Dream Lake (photo at top), and then on to Emerald Lake. Round trip is just under 4 miles, so it was short and sweet, and I was home before lunch.

The hike along the way is just as rewarding as the final scenery.

I thank God for His wonderful creation, and the beauty of His handiwork.

Cell Group Cookout

We had our first cookout last night, and I think it was much fun. I'll post a few pics so you can see who I'm talking about.

This first one is Andrea and Dan - hmmm, yes, posing.

And then my very silly girlfriends, doing some type of glamour thing - or something.

And this great couple is Lorrie and Dan. Lorrie is the one with the awesome testimony of how God delivered her from leukemia! Praise God!

And then the group! Yes, they rock.

I think we had enough fun that we'll do this again soon. Hanging with friends and loving Jesus...yeah, life's pretty good.

Loving His Presence

Has it been a week already?? Really?
I'm not sure where the time went - we've had weird weather, long days at work, LSU winning the CWS, lawn care, Bible study, and house-sitting to fill in the days since the last post. Oh, and one really awesome night at church!! The presence of God was so thick last night, you could cut it with a knife. Holy. It was holy. No other description seems appropriate.

Can you wrap your little brains around the idea of spending an eternity in God's pure, uninhibited presence?? Complete light. Complete peace and love. And never having to think "I wish it could be like this forever."

I understand that some folks are content to go to church, sing a few songs and listen to a quick sermon, and then head to Cracker Barrel for lunch. But there is oh, so much more. God literally dwells on the praises of His people, and when we can lay aside an agenda simply to worship Him, His presence is sweeter than any cobbler I can buy. He loves it when we praise Him, and He delights in meeting with us. I pray that our hearts are increasingly drawn to Him, and the things of this world cannot satisfy that longing. Only spending time in His presence can feed the deepest part of man's heart.

Well, just a quick admonition to make the time to praise and worship the Lord. It is SO worth it!!

Happy Father's Day

Wishing a Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!!
It's hard to believe that it's been four years since my dad went to Heaven, but time has a way of just passing on by, even when you aren't looking.


As you know by the name of this blog, I was very much a Daddy's Girl. I was the "apple of his eye" as mom used to say. My dad was very much a sweetheart of a man, gentle and loving.
This was his Army days - with time in Korea, and in Okinawa, Japan. Handsome, isn't he?? But then again, we're all suckers for a guy in uniform.

And this is one of my favorites - I don't even know where it was taken, but I love the shot.

And then this last photo of dad in the yard - this was in 2001, four years before he died. In case you didn't notice, he has a great smile in all of them. That was typical. He was a happy man, and he loved life. He found his joy through Jesus, and spread love and kindness pretty much everywhere he went.

Happy Father's Day daddy. I love you.

Asking for the Big Things

Shortly after moving into this house, I knew the Lord wanted there to be much love and laughter within these walls. In April, I started a cell group on Monday nights. In case you're wondering what a cell group is - our church has many home groups, called cells. The basic idea is that the body is made up of many cells, but it functions as one body. (A quickie lesson in biology would cover it enough.) But the church is the body of Christ, with each person being a vital part. OK - I could ramble, but this is not where I'm headed. But you get the idea of a cell group.

But we started a study on Bill Johnson's book, When Heaven Invades Earth. If you haven't read it, and you know Jesus as your Savior, you should read it. If you don't know Jesus as your Savior, email me, and I'll be thrilled to introduce you. And then you should read it. It's a powerful book about the Kingdom of God, and the reality of it's superiority. The Bible clearly teaches that this world as we know it, is temporal...it will pass away. But the Kingdom of God is eternal - it's the unseen realm that is eternal, and thus superior to this visible world.

This single concept should be enough to rattle the strongest cage of any believer. We simply cannot afford to live life without expression of faith. And I mean, real faith. Faith that acts. Real faith that reaches out for what is realized. Example - if I realize that there is no sickness in Heaven, (and there isn't) then I will be quick to act when I see a sick person here. Jesus said we would do the things he had been doing (John 14:12), and from I read, that involves healing the sick. Just a rabbit trail here...Jesus didn't just say 'pray for the sick'...He said "heal the sick" in Matthew 10 - among other things.

OK - so when I realize the Kingdom principles, I begin to act accordingly. And it's been pretty cool to experience this. I see it, not only in myself, but also in the people in my cell group. As we understand that we are co-laborers with Christ, His Spirit urges us to take the risk to pray for someone we don't know. And this past cell group meeting, my friend brought her parents - who were both in need of miracles. Can I just say my groupies converged on them like dogs on raw meat! Praying down the power of Heaven, telling sickness to leave, and giving all glory to God. We didn't see immediate results - that's OK - because they would have to be medically examined anyway. But we also asked for the big things that were visible - after all, our God is able to do more than we could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). And since the dad has 2 prosthetic legs, we asked God to create new legs. No, it didn't happen right then, but I believe it will. A year ago, I don't think we would have even wanted to pray for something that looks too huge in the natural. But our perspective is changing. We are aware of a Kingdom where no sickness, no disease, no prosthetic limbs exist. And we are in for the long haul - pressing in deeper until we see those new legs. Wouldn't that just blow the doors off every religious church in America?

Press in, friends. The Spirit of God is moving on this earth. Don't be content to stand on the sidelines and watch the game. Put on your jersey, tie your shoes, and start running. The victory is already won, and our Champion is Lord over all.

Prayer and Plumbing

When I moved into this house 7 months ago, I knew that I would gradually have to work on some "handywoman" type projects. Don't get me wrong - the house was move in ready. But some things were out-dated, and I just wanted to add my own taste. I took care of the most important things first...like my bathroom. It had the original 1980 mocha-colored toilet, not to mention nice dark brown shag carpet. Yes, the bathroom. That was changed before I ever moved in - and a nice white toilet, and ceramic tile now adorn the bathroom.

However, I had not done much in the guest bathroom. The tub had only the faucet, but no shower. I talked to a few contractor-type guys at church, and they told me the best way for me to remedy the "no-shower" issue. So today, there is now a shower head installed. It was easier than I anticipated. Basically just had to remove the old spout, put on an adaptor to the existing pipe so it could house a new universal spout with a divertor - and then attach the new shower hose/nozzle to it with a wall mount. I was happy. Nothing leaked.

So I moved on to the faucet at the sink. Not so easy. I have never done any type of plumbing before - but didn't really want to shell out the $$ for a plumber - so that was incentive enough to at least try it. But the existing faucet was the type with one pull knob. I'm sure lots of people like those - not me.

And since I had already replaced the light fixture, I wanted something to match. I found a great Delta faucet, and set out to become a plumber apprentice. I managed to get the old faucet off, with the help of my brother via telephone. And soon had the new one on. But I quickly realized that was only half the battle - as the drain plug also had to be replaced. That involved a new drain assembly. Hmmm...was I ready to tackle this? The logical path was - "what's the worst that can happen?" I knew that if I screwed up, I could indeed call a plumber to fix it. But if I could accomplish this - and save my $$ for something else - I would be much happier. I called my uncle (as my brother was no longer available) to get some advice, and he was confident I could do it. So I tore into it, and started removing things and soon held the drain assembly and p-trap in my hands. I tried to follow the instructions and do everything it said...and attached the new drain. The true test......would it leak?? Heavy sigh...yes...it dropped a couple drops of water underneath from the bottom of the sink. I must have stared at those few droplets for about 10 minutes. After regaining my senses, I took the drain assembly back off, added a GENEROUS amount of plumber's putty, and re-attached the seal. I tried to use more muscle this time, and got it tighter.

Test # 2. Turn the water back on, and let it run....and run....and run.... No Leaks!! Hooray!! I waited for a while, and ran the water again - I pulled the plug up and let water hold in the sink, and then let it drain, all that stuff. And hallelujah, no leaks! So this is my new faucet.

So I am quite thrilled. It's amazing what you can do, if only you try. Did I mention I prayed a lot during this??

A Colorful Spring

Thought I could share a few more flower photos. It hasn't rained today...yet...and I had the chance to mow the yard. I was amazed at how much the peonies in the backyard have grown. So after a quick bite of supper, I darted out the door with my camera to capture a few beauties.

The white bush, though outnumbered by it's pink comrades, is finally blooming, and they are wonderfully large blooms. And you can see that almost the entire back fence is guarded by these beautiful things.

But even though the peonies are pretty, my love for the iris knows no match! They remind me of days long ago, and spark the memories of Louisiana spring. We had wild iris "in the circle" - which was out under all those glorious oak trees. It seemed like nobody ever tended to the iris, yet every year we enjoyed the blooms. These 2 incredibly different groups are also in the back yard. The deep purple is at the south end of the peonies, and this creative, orange masterpiece is at the north end of the yard. Totally beautiful. (The three dark orange centers almost look like pipecleaners - you know, those things we always had to use during VBS craft time when we were kids. ) The purple ones bloomed first, but the orange wasted no time is showing off. It's turning out to be a colorful spring. Daily I am thankful for this place God has given me.

Slow Motion

I'm a little tired, and blurry eyed this morning. Had a meeting with the leaders of our women's ministry at church last night - which was good. But getting home late, after being gone all day, left me with little time to play with Romeo. He was crying for attention, so we played his favorite game of "pull the mouse on the string, and let me pounce on it til I'm tired" until I was tired. Apparently he wasn't finished, so he followed me into the bedroom. I usually let him sleep in the living room, but I felt like I'd neglected him (being gone so much) so I let him pounce on the bed. He seemed quiet enough, so I turned on the fan - and went right to sleep.

Until about 1:30 - when he was up and climbing over me to see if I was awake. All efforts to hush him were in vain, so I got up, scooted his behind into the hallway, and closed the door with hopes of getting more sleep before the alarm sounded at 5:00. Yes, I did go back to sleep, but those nights usually leave me in a state of "slow-motion" for the next day. Today would be one of those days.

So on these days, I need to look at something wonderful and peaceful. This photo is in the Indian Peaks Wilderness area - and I can almost hear the sound of the water as it tumbles it's way over the rocks. The smell of the wildflowers and the crisp mountain air tend to mingle with the music of nature. All creation sings a song to the Creator, if only we will observe, and listen. And even in my 'slow-motion' day, a song of praise forms on my lips, and I know that my God is worthy to be praised.

Colors in the Yard

Well, it looks like all that rain is doing wonders in the yard. I have some wonderful colors scattered about, so I felt like sharing them. First is the clematis vine out front. Is that the right word? I hope so.

These blooms are huge, I tell you. They are gorgeous, and the vine itself is nearly covered with them. I took this next photo just for perspective on the size.

And then in the back yard, along the fence I have several bushes of these lovely gems. I think they are peonies??? Boy, this is bad. But the flowers are pretty.

Such a rich color!! So far, this is the only bush in bloom, but the other 4 are covered with buds, so I'm excited to see them swallowed up in lush beauty!
And I also have a few snapdragons in the front, along the sidewalk. I see the first bloom popping it's head up today.

And finally, and yes, somewhat least, I have some puny columbines along the house in the back. I dearly love columbines, as they belong to Colorado, but these look pitiful. The color is dull, and the blooms are small. I am sure it has something to do with too much sun, or not enough water. Nonetheless - they get posted, because they are in my yard.

Well, this is the best bloom on the bunch - and you really can't tell how small it is. Trust me, it's lacking. But I'm encouraging it to grow!!

It's fun to see such diversity in God's creation. He simply could have done everything in black and white, and we would never have known the difference. But He created colors so rich and true, and brushed them across the earth in magnificent fashion - just so we could enjoy them. Psalm 104:24 "How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all..."

I believe God delights in the beauty of His creation, and even more so when His children stop to admire His handiwork...and say "thank you".

Ponderings

As the rain continues to fall and graciously water my lawn, I'll drop a few thoughts here. The Living Proof Live conference was wonderful - as always. The praise and worship was great, and the teaching of the Word was timely. Beth taught from Psalm 66 - and how the Lord trains us. He brings us to a place of abundance, but "he trains us first". Points like He trains us to think bigger, and He trains us to praise louder, and He trains us to follow through better - are things I will not quickly forget.

The opening session made the biggest impact on me, even though the whole conference was God-inspired. Two questions she presented to us left a huge impression on me, and I still have them rolling around inside me. 1 - Are you willing to be trained? (because regardless of what God calls you to, training is required); and 2 - Who is it that you really want to be?

I may have a picture in my head of who I think I am - or even who I wish I was - but when it gets quiet at night, who do I really want to be? What do I want out of life? What do I want people to remember about me when I'm gone? Each person has to answer these things individually. There is no club for this...because what I want in life may be different from what you want. Rainy weather makes for good ponderings.

Even Romeo found a place to ponder things! He wasted no time in curling up in this paper bag - he hardly gave it time to hit the floor, and he darted into it.

God is still God

Howdy! This may be quick - I have lots to do before morning. Tomorrow evening starts the Living Proof Live conference with Beth Moore, in Laramie, WY - and yes, I'm driving up there. The woman is anointed!!

But I wanted to give a quick PRAISE GOD testimony. My friend Lorrie had been diagnosed with leukemia a couple of months ago. She came to my home group, and we prayed for her, and then felt a strong prompting from the Holy Spirit to really seek God on this. We continued to pray for her healing, and fasted (as a group), believing that God was going to heal her. I am thrilled to report that her recent blood test came back 100% normal - and her bone marrow biopsy report came back today - negative for leukemia!! No cancer!! Those are shoutin' words!!! Praise God He is so faithful and good. His power knows no equal, and He so totally reigns!! He healed the sick 2000 yrs ago, and He's still doing it today.

Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." Amen!!

Discipline and Wisdom

My friend Becky is doing the challenge of reading a chapter of Proverbs each day for 31 days, and I've been trying to keep up with it. It's not dull reading, I tell you. It's rich with insight and good practical teaching for our lives. Proverbs 6 caught my attention - several things about it. Verses 16-19 tells us of the things the Lord hates. Yes, hates. This gives me reason to sit and meditate...and understand that I would do well to hate the same things that God hates, and love the things that He loves. It makes sense, doesn't it? Selah.

(You knew I would get more pictures in here somehow, didn't you?) (Well, this was one of my contemplating/meditating moments at the Grand Canyon. How can one absorb such majestic beauty, and not meditate for a minute?? )

Another thing in Proverbs 6 is verse 23 "...the corrections of discipline are the way to life." This intrigued me because of the previous day in Proverbs 5 - where it was verse 23 again that spoke of discipline. It says that the wicked man "will die for lack of discipline". Pretty strong words.

God takes this discipline thing quite seriously, and our society seems to give it little thought. Actually, it's the athlete who understands the principle of discipline, but spiritual discipline goes much farther than just an exercise routine. I believe it ties closely to Jesus' teaching of Matthew 16:24, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Denying self is not a popular teaching...but it is the way of the Kingdom.

I encourage you to spend some time in Proverbs this week. Yes, I know it takes discipline to mark out time each day to study God's Word. Hmmm, we may be on to something here. But just think of the opportunity you are giving God to impart His wisdom to you? Not a bad deal, eh? The wisdom of God...hmmm...let's have another photo as we meditate on His wisdom.

This was taken at Hopi Point, as the sun was beginning to set. The colors were radiant!

Only my God Jehovah could have such wisdom, power and creativity to make such a massive, yet beautiful canyon - simply so His kids could enjoy the beauty. Let us be disciplined enough to seek Him daily. The rewards are even bigger than the canyon.

He is Worthy

As we traveled through Colorado, Utah and Arizona, I was constantly reminded of the majesty of God. His creativity often blows my mind...and this first view of Canyonlands National Park left me with that feeling. Personally I think the mountains alone would overwhelm me, but when I combine them with the vast canyons and rock formations we saw, it's a bit much for the intellect to grasp. So - put the brain on the shelf, and just let the emotions soak in the bounty.

I have never wondered if there is a God. I have always known. And the ever-present display of nature's beauty is proof. Never could I think that this world just "happened". Who else would put such a beautiful flower on such a painfully prickly thing? God is just so cool.

As I see more of His works, and learn more of His ways, it stirs the desire in me to know Him more. And it feeds that part of my soul that longs to praise Him. He is worthy.

Psalm 63: 1-4 "O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands."

Vacation Teaser

Well, first of all, Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there.

And second...I'm back from vacation. Wow - what a trip. Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, the Grand Canyon, Four Corners, Mesa Verde - and the beauty was endless.

I'll post more pictures in the days to come, but I'll stick one on here for now.

The weather was absolutely perfect the whole trip, and we saw more in 5 days than some folks see in a lifetime. Praise God for a safe and wonderful trip!

Vacation, Anyone?

Spring rolls around, and folks start thinking about vacations. Maybe I'm the exception. I've been thinking about vacation since December. Perhaps that's because I haven't had too many real vacations in the past few years...and by "real" vacations, I mean somewhere other than visiting family. Don't sneer at me - we all have our things. This is mine. I visit family every year, and will continue to do so, but sometimes a girl has just got to go somewhere else. If for nothing else, a change of scenery. And if it's scenery you want, I've picked the bomb! I'm headed to the Grand Canyon this week!! My friend Gwen and I are leaving Tuesday morning, taking the scenic route through eastern Utah to catch Arches and Canyonlands, and then heading on down to that great big hole in the ground.
When I come back, I intend to have more photos than you could possibly want to see. I'm thrilled to be taking this trip...it's something I've wanted to do for a long time. I'll see ya'll next week!!

New Life

OK, this is for Sandy. At church this weekend, she encouraged me to post more photos of what is springing up in my yard. I'm happy to oblige.

So these little pink cuties are in the back yard, next to the garden spot. They are very petite, though somewhat splattered with dirt since it rained last night. I thought we might get more rain today, but so far, only some clouds.

And then I have several clumps of things that are beginning to seriously grow. I think my neighbor said they were probably peonies. Is that spelled right? Anyway, I was hoping my neighbors could help identify things since they've lived here so long. But along the back fence row, I have these. And I left the metal ring/stake things that the previous owner had. You may notice I'm pretty new to all this.

Call me a novice, it's true. But it's good. And I am excited for spring to speed it's arrival. Bring on the warm weather!! Usually every year about this time, I've had enough of the cold, and just want to do away the jackets. But this is Colorado after all, and I know better. But I get the glimpses of spring as new life sprouts up, and am so thankful that God is in charge of the seasons...whether it's for the plants, or for my life. He is the God who reigns. And without Him, there would be no new life to blog about.

Food For Thought

I found some very old photos that my brother had sent me. One of them is of me, at about 8 or 9 yrs old. I would post it, but it's horribly faded, not to mention blurry. Regardless, I've stared at this picture until my eyes have crossed. And for what it's worth, I have no recollection of it. I don't remember the clothes that I'm wearing...which are cute, by the way. Red striped t-shirt and white overalls. I don't remember ever having those.
What's worse, I don't recognize the house this picture is taken in. The room has very loud wallpaper, and you would think a person could remember something like that. Not so. Nor does the furniture look familiar. Tragic. I hate forgetting things.
I guess it's a sign of getting older. So let's get off this road onto another...I could use fewer signs.

I am so thankful that my God never forgets me. He not only remembers me, but "He knows the way that I take" (Job 23:10). Never does my foot take a step but what He is watching me. He cares for me and ever pours love and grace upon me. Isaiah 49 even reminds me that I am engraved on the palm of His hand. He's amazing. I have His word, that He'll never cast me away or forget me.
But I also have His word that He has thrown my sins away - as far as the east is from the west - and He remembers them no more. (Psalm 103) As His child, I'm forgiven! One of my new favorite verses is Psalm 130:3 "If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?" That Psalm goes on to speak of His forgiveness and redemption.
So I'm confident He will never forget me - and confident He'll never remember my sin. Good food to chew on. Tastes good, too.

Not all is love for Romeo

Well, it's been a whole week since I've written anything. It's amazing what a cold can do to you. Something so simple and common, but really just sucks the zip out of your day. At the moment, I'm not sneezing or coughing, so I'll get a few words in here.

Do you have any insight as to why my cat throws up? Not every day, mind you, but enough to be a nuisance. I'm guessing it's a combination of two things - one, the constant consumption of his wonderfully fluffy hair, and two, he's just a pig when it comes to his food. Most cats are nibblers, eating a bite or two at a time when they want. No, not my Romeo. When I put food in his bowl, he eats every morsel within about 2 minutes, and I can usually hear him licking the bottom of the bowl. He doesn't take the time to chew, but rather just swallows it whole. This is easy to discern because I only feed him dry food - which inevitably results in a "crunch" when chewed. There is no crunching. Just some noises that resemble a small hog in front of the feeding trough. So, I think this is why he throws it back up.

Is this too weird for a blog entry? Sorry, I'll try to more deep and insightful next time. But somedays, you just gotta be real.

He is Risen!

What a great day for any believer...the high point for Christianity. Oh, I know Christmas gets all the lights and fanfare...but without the cross and empty tomb, the manger would have little significance. Praise God for the resurrection!

Luke 24: 2-8

"They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? he is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" Then they remembered his words."

John 20:19-20

"On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord."

I love reading the story every Easter, and trying to imagine the sights and emotions as the women came to the tomb...only to find it empty. Jesus had previously spoken of his crucifixion and burial, and had even told them he would be raised to life (Matthew 16:21). But now they were experiencing it first hand.

When I visited Israel several years ago, we spent time at the Garden Tomb site. I loved it.

This is the entrance to the tomb. It's surrounded by a beautiful garden, and was a most memorable place for us to have communion together. But I could hardly wait to go inside. I remember taking that first step, and peering inside. And you know what? It's empty!! There is no body, no corpse, no bones. The only thing inside is the sign:

What joy!!! We serve a living God! Not some idol carved out of stone or wood, but the true living God. Hallelujah, He is risen!!

Another Easter Memory

What's Easter without a good bonnet!?!


Every little girl in the South probably wore a bonnet at some point in her life. I honestly don't remember wearing this one, but the picture is proof. And besides...it's way too cute not to share with you.

Yes, I know....adorable.

In these Easter photos I've shared, you can see our yard, and some flowers in bloom. We had a beautiful yard, and lots of acres to roam. Mom and dad had a greenhouse/nursery for many years. So I'll share a memory that not too many people have the privilege to claim as their own.

We attended a small church in our little country town, and our family was an integral part in practically everything that took place. But at Easter time, we did something special. We hauled truck loads of plants/shrubs/rocks over to the church to create a garden tomb scene (John 19:41). This was a wonderful scene and it literally filled up the front of the sanctuary - leaving enough space for the pastor to preach from the pulpit. This was not simply done in an hour's time. I can remember working on it Friday evening and then much of the day on Saturday as well. Sometimes we had friends working with us, and even the pastor would help. It seemed like a lot of work just for one Sunday service. But I can say, it was beautiful. We had large rocks (that we moved from around mom's flower beds) that we used to make a tomb...and one large one to be the stone over the entrance. We had it moved to the side, of course, to show the tomb was empty. Mom even would fold up a white cloth to place inside to indicate the linen clothes left behind (John 20:5). The tomb was surrounded by various plants, many that were in bloom, and it truly was a "garden" within the sanctuary.

I don't remember the year that we started it...but it became a wonderful part of Easter. The congregation loved it - as did the pastor - and mom and dad enjoyed serving in this way. They willingly gave of their time and talents to give us a visual illustration of the true meaning of Easter.

Why is it "Good" Friday?

Luke 23:33-34, 44-46

When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals - one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

It was about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.

I was once asked, "How can it be called GOOD Friday, if it's the day they crucified my Savior?"
Well, this is how I see it. Jesus died so I wouldn't have to. Sin separates us from God, and in order for right relationship to be established with Him, the sin had to be dealt with. But as a sinner, I could never be good enough to make things right. That's why there had to be a perfect, spotless sacrifice....Jesus. He died once, for all, and the penalty for sin was forever paid. And when I said very simply, "Forgive me", He did. Now I have that right relationship with God, and also have the promise of spending eternity with Him in Heaven. And that's GOOD.
If Jesus had not gone to the cross for me, I would forever be lost in my sin, with no hope. But I can be full of joy, knowing that my sins are forgiven, and the God of all creation loves me.
Romans 5:8 says "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
That's good news friends.

And there's more to come.....because Jesus didn't stay in the grave....

Easter Sunday

I was looking at greeting cards in the store, and thought it strange that there were "Easter Cards", and then there were "Easter Cards - Religious". How far we have fallen.

So many people never even give a second thought to an old rugged cross or an empty tomb, yet they celebrate a big rabbit and dyed eggs.

As I reflect on my childhood days, I cannot help but be grateful for Christian parents. Sure, they made some mistakes...everyone does. But they did the best they could, and they loved us. And part of that demonstration of love was teaching us about Jesus. They took us to church every time the doors were open. They read the Bible to us, until we were big enough to read it to them. I can remember our family gathering around together in the living room for devotions - reading the Word of God together, and praying. And they taught us the true meaning of things like Easter. Yes, we had a basket full of goodies, and got to have an Easter egg hunt. But never once did we think that was the real reason for such a day. We knew Jesus was the reason. We acknowledged Good Friday, and recognized that Jesus died for our sins. We needed a Savior, and out of His great love for us, He willingly sacrificed Himself for us, so we could have eternal life with Him. And we celebrated resurrection day - Easter - as Jesus rose to new life on the third day! You see, there's nothing wrong with having an Easter egg hunt - or eating a chocolate rabbit, ears first, thank you. But it is wrong to take Jesus out of the picture.

I'm thankful that mom and dad loved us enough to make sure we knew about Jesus - until that day when we came to know Him for ourselves.

So the picture for today is my brother and I all dressed up for church, on Easter Sunday.

And can I say, "thanks mom and dad. I love you."

Easter Goodies

A recent post from my Twinkie friend has spurred me on to reminisce about Easter happenings of days gone by. It has also caused me to turn my house upside down in search of some very specific photos. Well, two days later, and several boxes strewn, I found them. I'll try to post them throughout the week leading up to Easter.

A beautiful sunny day in the south and azaleas in bloom made for a great Easter egg hunt - after church, of course.

I'm about 2 yrs old here, and my big brother is almost 5. What a cute pair we were!!

Please note the matching red tennis shoes, which I'm sure enabled us to go speeding through the yard in search of multi-colored eggs.

With full baskets and tired feet, it was time to sit and ponder. And draw very near to our chocolate bunnies. Oh, the joy of a chocolate rabbit at Easter. Mom learned very quickly that we preferred the solid chocolate rabbits, instead of the popular hollow ones. But it's one of my earliest memories.

I can remember waking up Easter morning to find a basket full of goodies in my bed. This was much better than some trivial visit from the tooth fairy - this involved food! And it was in my bed! Bliss, I tell you. There were plastic eggs, and jelly beans, and always a chocolate rabbit. This particular year in the photos, I had the "Mama Bunny" in the pink box, and my brother got the "Daddy Bunny" in the blue box.

The baskets at Easter continued until we "got too old" for that sort of thing. However, we never outgrew the need for a chocolate rabbit. So mom continued to buy them, and just put them on the table at breakfast. When I moved from home, and experienced my first Easter in a different state, I'm proud to say I received a chocolate rabbit in the mail. Yes, a solid chocolate rabbit from mom.

And when eating a chocolate bunny, ALWAYS eat the ears first!!