Don't Fail to Tend Your Garden

Photo by Don Brumbaugh http://Lookingglassguy-Photography.com


I finally got a chance to do some weeding in my garden, today. Wow! Those weeds can get ahead of you. I have been so busy I have had only enough time to take a few quick passes over the garden to pick a squash or pull a random weed. There has been no time at all to smell the flowers and the prettiest ones have been hidden by the rapidly growing weeds. I love working in my garden and today was a real joy for a couple of reasons. The most important was that God had a message for me. I love it when he uses daily experiences to speak to my heart. As I worked my way through the vegetables, weeding and picking, I enjoyed the neatness of the newly weeded rows and the fruits of the garden. But it was in the flower garden that He really spoke to me. As I pulled the weeds around my flowers and exposed their beauty, I detected a fragrance that I hadn't noticed before. Lavender! I could smell lavender. That unmistakeably sweet, comforting fragrance. Lavender is a fragrance that I can't get enough of. Because I had not spent time in the garden, I had no idea that there was lavender growing in it. And there it was. That still small voice. "My daughter, sometimes you get so busy with life that the weeds crowd in and you don't notice the sweet fragrance of my love and presence." The message was clear. I can't fail to tend the garden of my heart. I need to spend more time with my BEST FRIEND. I need to smell the fragrance that I can't get enough of. His love and peace is what keeps me balanced. Spending time with Him is what keeps the weeds at bay and my heart at peace.

I Am Amazingly Blessed.

I can't believe I haven't blogged since January. I realize that I don't blog very often but that is way too long of a time to not be posting. I can't believe all that has occurred since then. We have moved to the valley. I thought I would never say that. I have compromised with Randy. We are half way between good bass fishing and the kids and grandkids. The setting is rural, which we both love.

I have started updating my nursing skills. I didn't think that I would ever go back. In fact, it seems that I told some that I would never go back. Well, as I have told my girls, never say never. God is sure to lead you in that direction. I find that I am enjoying my nursing more than before. Even though it keeps me busy, life is much less stressful than it has been over the last number of years. I have actually discovered that, although it started out rusty, my brain is still able to learn. Actually, the more I am learning the more quickly I seem to catch on to the new things and remember the old.

I am making new friends and renewing old friendships. What fun! I could do more of this if it wasn't for the nonstop pace I have maintained since moving. Did I say I am less stressed? Really, I am.

In the last two months I have moved, restarted an old career, planted a vegetable garden, unpacked many boxes, (with many yet to go) taken many nursing courses to update my skills, made numerous trips to Nampa, (which is nice to be able to do) hosted family from out of state and close by, sat in front of my window and watched the world go by and have doubly enjoyed being a grandma.

"Yaya", the sweetest word to my ears in this new season of my life. Jenna has grown into a fun, energetic, intelligent and sweet toddler. It has been an amazing year and a half. She is now joined by her baby brother Cole. What a precious little bundle he is. I am sure that he will double the fun I have being a grandma. All I can say is, "God is good and I am amazingly blessed."

My Green Pastures

"He makes me lie down in green pastures....He restores my soul"
I read, today, that "green pastures" are the times and places that God gives us to restore and refresh our souls from the wear and tear of the daily grind.

The year 2007 provided many of these green pastures for me.  There were enough that I can't begin to mention all of them, but they were interspersed throughout the daily grind and more than enough to uplift and refresh my soul on a daily basis.


 My Little Funny Face
On January 7, Josh and Krissy presented us with our first grandchild.  She is now 1 year old and has been a joy and delight for all of us.  We had the pleasure of sharing their summer as they stayed with us, so that they could work in McCall, between school semesters. What fun I had while babysitting Sweet Jenna.  She was full of antics and smiles as she grew quite rapidly.  She made me laugh and filled me with joy as we spent time together.


Jenna and Her Daddy
I also got a chance to get to know our son-in-law.  What a pleasure that was. It is so good to see how much he loves his family, what a good husband and daddy he is and to see the Godly man that he is.  We love him a lot and are blessed to have him as a son. He and Krissy will both graduate from college this year.


Our Girls
We have watched our girls grow into successful, Godly women.  The first part of the year Jennie worked at a christian camp's office.  This fall she moved to the valley and is working in the educational field again.  Krissy finished her Junior year of college and the first semester of her Senior year.  The girls have grown closer together and become friends as adults.  It has been fun to watch this new season of their lives start.


My Best Friend
It is a joy to watch Randy as the father of adults and a grandpa.  He does it with such ease and so much love.  How blessed I am to have him.

As you can see, I have spent much time in green pastures this past year. Even when things didn't appear so green, I always knew that God was in control.  He has gotten us through some tough times and blessed us with even more good times.

As the new year starts, he has given us many promises.  He always fulfills those promises.  This I Believe.

Big Sister!