Inspired by the sun

What is happier than this? Doesn't she look like she's looking up at God and just welcoming the day? I love the way the face tilts toward the sun.

I had to get in between the corn and the sunflowers to get this picture - but it's so worth it - seeing the dew on her face.  I don't know why I keep calling this one a "her" - it just seems fitting to me.

i love this one bending through my tomato cages.

this one makes my heart sing...  it makes me think she's covering her eyes, not wanting to wake up....

Here's a baby...

and this one, I think this one is a boy sunflower, standing at attention...

I love the way they stand guarding my garden.

Yes, i know it needs to be weeded, and yes, the squash is out of control. and no, the corn did not fair so well this year...but it did give me this...

If this move goes through, this is what I'll miss the most.  This little patch of land, on a dirt road, in the middle of the city. It's given me so much to appreciate the past 4 years.  I've loved it here.

It inspired me to keep.going.  even when i thought i couldn't.  Thank you home. Thank you garden.

Linking to Melissa's Inspired By.. Friday's posts 
and to Darcy's Sweet Shot Tuesday

Ties that Bind.

It will be good for you, my daughter, to go with his girls, because in someone else's field, you might be harmed.

-Ruth 2:22

This verse probably isn't one that ranks high on the list of  "power verses".  I'm sure a lot of people have read right through Ruth and never given this small, quiet verse much of a second thought. But the message, oh the message...

In short, this passage stems from the story of Ruth and Naomi,  a mother-in-law, daughter-in-law friendship, formed when Naomi's husband and sons die, and life just.gets.really.hard.  And by hard, i mean, you have no idea what these poor women experienced until God places them in Boaz' field.

This verse itself, is Naomi encouraging Ruth to follow Boaz because it means safety for her daughter in law.
  

What if you changed ONE letter - in one word above - it takes on a different meaning.  Capitalize the H, as in "....His girls".

I know i wax poetic over much that Kristen Armstrong has written in her devotional that i own, but she calls us to look at this verse and surround ourselves with His girls.

Do you have those girlfriends? You should.  Seek them out.  I have relationships that have come from childhood, marriages, children etc, but the ones that i think most highly of are those that i know i can call and say "Please pray for me." And they do. Right then. No questions asked.  What is more safe place to be than being surrounded by a group of women praying, interceding on your behalf? I can't think of anywhere.

Here is my heartfelt thank you to Kimberly, Natalie, Lisa, Laura, Diana, Connie, Paula... the list goes on too long, as i am very blessed to have friends that will hit their knees for me. i heart you all.


This post so sweetly inspired by Melissa over at The Inspired Room




 

Getting over myself.

Hey chickies. :0)

Obviously, i have been a little absent from my blog - there's a lot going on in our household - a graduation, a graduation luncheon and the influx of multiple family members, a college orientation,  a move to said college, 2 birthdays, an end of spring football party, end of the year grade school parties, vacation, buying another house, oh, and of course, the wedding.  Which is getting lost in the importance of all of our children's plans. And, that is more than fine by me.  At this point, our pastor in our living room, in shorts doing the job is looking pretty good.

But one thing i have been faithful on, if it's not writing, is talking to and spending time with God.  My schedule is slipping daily, but at some point, i am stopping and thanking God for the absolute purest joy He has given me amid this chaos of our lives right now.

I wrote a post awhile ago on my old blog about how i wished for "instant gratification" or "immediacy" from God.  Forget this patience crap.  I.WANT.WHAT.I.WANT.NOW.  Do you know the feeling?  I have found that God always answers you, but in His time, His way, and His answers - whether or not we agree or like them.

I was reading Lysa's blog today about "breaking bad", if you haven't stopped by there - i encourage you to do so, because she is an amazing sister of faith that we can all relate to.  Her post was about losing your cool over things that you should just let it go and find the joy in the situation instead.  I was there this week.

The ex and I had a misunderstanding about my youngest son's birthday festivities. I immediately went to the vault of stored up anger, hurt, resentment, and blame that I promised God I would leave behind.  There were words said, crying jags and lots of "well OF COURSE"'s going on. And at some point, i looked at the devotional sitting on my desk, and remembered my promise to God - the one I had just broken.  And...the waterworks started again.  I  took a breath, and just prayed to God, asking for forgiveness, asking him to fix this problem. I prayed for peace between my ex and I on this stupid, small argument that i let get out of hand.

Girls, within 15 minutes, my email chimed as a new message came in, from my ex - an apology.  A heartfelt, sincere apology, and an offer to resolve the conflict. To type that it was out of character is not fair to my ex, but i will say that apologies are not handed out easily between the two of us.  That was nothing short of being spirit led.

It was a good reminder of something I have read in the past from Kristin Armstrong's book "Happily Ever After".  She said she was once told to "triangulate" - take what you cannot resolve directly with someone to the Lord and allow Him to resolve it for you.

I will leave you with her bible verse on that subject.  Happy happy Wednesday girls!

If it is possible, as far as it depends on YOU, live at peace with everyone. - Romans 12:18

A letter to my stepdaughter to be. On boys. And self-worth.

A few weekends ago we cleaned the house like a couple of people possessed so that we could scurry to the beach for a few hours before the bad weather came back.

After spending 3 glorious hours without kids, laying on the beach, and watching all the other parents chase their children around - we decided to pack it up and head to this local dive that had live music for a burger and a beer, not necessarily in that order.

While Vance ordered, i ran to the restroom and when i came out of the stall, there were these 2 girls - young women of drinking age - standing at the sink.

One of them was sobbing, and from how the conversation was going, it didn't take long to determine it was over a young man. Her cheeks were stained black from all the maybelline mascara making her cheeks look like an atlas.

Girl #1: "...and then i said, Jjj..uhh..ssttii..nnnn, sniff, we just nnnnee-eed, sniff, to, like, and work on it..., and like, NOT SEE OTHER PEOPLE..."

Girl #2: "..look, you just need to TALK to him, and not, be like, all EMOTIONAL..."

Girl #3: "... I knnnoo..wwwWWWW"

And for just a split second, i thought about pulling a Miranda in the SATC episode where she overhears a conversation between girlfriends about why a guy hasn't called - all he's just not that into you- and telling this sweet, sobbing co-ed to suck it up, get over it, and get on with having fun.

Good lord. If i was her age and (and weight again) - I would SO be rockin my worth and NOT be sobbing over a man. What you learn at 30 versus 20 amazes me still.

Anyway, before i got the opportunity to insert myself unnecessarily, girl #2 walks over behind her sobbing friend and places her hands on each side of mascara dripping cheeks and tilts her friend's head so they're both looking in the mirror....and says:

"you are SO bringin' sexy back"

and i about peed my pants. i laughed, the masacara mess of a girl laughed and for a few split seconds, Justin whatever his name was, was forgotten.