How does your garden grow?

This is my second year having a vegetable garden. I am pleased to say that last year was a huge success. We grew tomatoes, squash, green beans, peppers, cucumbers, cantaloupe, okra, and watermelon. And even though my husband started out saying it was a "vegetable graveyard" not a garden, he literally ate those words all summer and fall.


This year, we have doubled the size of the garden. We started planting two weeks ago. We started with two types of corn, one called "chubby checker" which is a sweet corn that has both white and yellow kernels. The other is also a sweet corn and is called "ruby red". It is a beautiful reddish-burgundy color, I can not wait to try it. Beez helped plant all the kernels. I went down the row and made the holes, and she dropped one kernel in each one. We already have little corn plants about 3 inches high....that is so exciting!!!

On a side note, when I was 5 years old I lived with my dad and went to kindergarten at the Marine Corps base where he was stationed. On our way in each morning, we would stop along the side of the road, next to these HUGE commercial corn fields. I would jump out and run over and stand next to it to see if I was taller than the stalk. I remember when it started to get close, and then finally the day came when it shot up past me. Then it was my dad's turn to stand next to it. And each day we continued, until once again it was taller than he. I am looking forward to doing the same with the Beez. I hope to build great memories for her too.

Now back to the here and now. Aside from the corn we are also venturing out with other vegetables. We are adding carrots, radishes, zucchini, eggplant, 8 varieties of peppers, turnips, and going from 8 tomato plants to 30.

Last year, we had enough for our family, my sister's family and even some to share with church members. This year, I hope to do more canning. Last year was my first attempt at canning. I did salsa, pepper jelly, pickle relish, and figs. The figs were a horrible disaster. Really awful!!! They looked beautiful, but gosh were they nasty!!! This year I hope to can tomatoes to use through the year, as well as some creamed corn, salsa, and jelly.

Finally, a funny ha-ha. Yesterday, Beez was telling her daddy about the garden. She was giving the update of what we planted, and about the little baby corn stalks. She finished with this: "Daddy, guess what else is coming up? We have RASHES growing in our garden daddy. Aren't you so excited?

She of course meant radishes...but you gotta live a four year olds vocabulary.

Jealousy

The following is one of the many posts that were started and never posted due to the time constraints of our remodeling process. This was from the first week of April.

I have so much I want to share. Our life has been very chaotic the last week with both a wedding and a birthday on our schedule, hence all the stories that I want to throw out there.

First let me start with the wedding. A friend of ours was getting married, we have known the groom for a while, and we have gotten to know the bride over the past few years, but we have never met any of her family or friends. My husband was asked to be a groomsman, which I looked forward to since, as I have stated before he is not a suit wearin' man, he's a jeans wearin' man. So, when the opportunity arises for a tux, I get a little beside myself.(In thirteen years, he has never worn a traditional suit, and he has only worn a tux at our wedding and both my sisters weddings...so I was due for a day of refinement)

As the day approached, I was looking forward to a day of fun and relaxation. I was sadly mistaken. When we arrived at the rehearsal, it suddenly hit me that someone else was going to be on his arm during the ceremony, and that did not sit very well with me. You should know that I, by nature am NOT a jealous person. If I were to calculate how many jealous bones were in my body, I would have to confess that maybe the little toe on my right foot struggles at times. But really, it is rarely something that I have to deal with.

That being said...forget it.

When my eyes fell upon the young, blond, never-had-a-baby-flat-bellied, twenty something girl, my almost forty something husband was going to escort, my entire being became green with jealousy.

I tried at first to cut her some slack, maybe she was sweet and harmless. But then she started to lean into my husband and giggle as they rehearsed the recessional. That did it, I was on the verge of falling out. (As in take her out)


Somehow, I made it through the rehearsal and the wedding, but then came the reception. I was like a hawk on the prowl, with my eyes set on the varmint. Now, let me say, on behalf of varmints, that field mice do not know that they are varmints. They live their life scurrying about, not knowing that they could possibly be scooped up and ravished by a mother hawk, hence becoming dinner for the offspring. In nature that may work. But we were not in nature, we were in the country club. And, let me give a shout out to all twenty somethings out there. When a man is spoken for, back off. Don't giggle, and for sure don't touch his arm when you do it. That is like putting a target on your back, and it makes it much easier for the prey to lock in and go for the kill.


One of my dearest girlfriends, who will go unnamed to protect her identity, totally had my back. She was ready to either pray me through this episode, or to hold down the varmint as I laid her out. She, like a good friend, totally understood my point of view. Her husband was the only other none 20-something in the wedding party. On a side note, we were HILARIOUS!!! I mean to tell you, we had every angle covered.(as well as every exit!!!) I had pretty much decided that she, the varmint, was either CLUELESS or STUPID. Either way it did not matter, I had my eye on her.

At one point during the reception I went to speak to our pastor and his wife. Don't think too highly of me, for I was not going to seek counsel, I was just going to say "hi." During our chat, my pastors wife said, "I thought it was so sweet during the ceremony, when Jeff looked at you and winked." To which I responded, "Ms Donna, I am having a hard time recalling the sweetness of that moment since it was followed by my husband having the arm of another, much younger women wrapped with his" She replied, " I know isn't she the cutest thing?" Trying to control myself I added,"Ms Donna, don't bait me, right now I really want to take her out." At that, my pastor sealed the deal with, "I'm not worried April. You could TOTALLY take her." I knew I loved him.

My opinion was sealed when, during the reception she danced with a bunch of different guys in ways that, in my opinion, were not wedding reception appropriate.
I hit the limit when, while my man was dancing sweetly with our daughter, she was dancing with the aforementioned parade of men. I promise you , I was ready to bum rush her at the first sight of her coming within 3 feet of my man. I was really sitting there, with my back-up(my girlfriend) just waiting. I really thought it was going to be an all out girl fight.

Luckily, for her, she was distracted or in fear, and she kept her distance. As we packed up and headed home, I thought the jealousy would subside. I knew the next morning in church, I would have to come clean, and deal with the sin that fueled my behavior. I was not looking forward to the service, knowing that somehow, whenever I have to deal with something, the Lord ALWAYS makes sure that the sermon hits me straight between the eyes.

Well, it did. In a way I never could have imagined.

Our pastor is known for using a lot of relevant news and world happenings in his sermons. Well, this one was no different. The Internet and probably your email has been smack full of items regarding Oprah and her "spiritual" teachings on the web. I had really not cared much about all the hoop-la. Although I am a fan of some of her shows, I am not a die hard nor a "follower." But then he played a clip from the web cast. I have tried to find it, but I guess I am not the Internet savvy.

In the clip she takes a video phone question from a viewer. She asked Oprah how she rectified her new beliefs (in regards to the new ageism) with her Christian beliefs that she was brought up with.

Her response was something like this. I have always believed in a power greater than myself. And during times in my life I have conformed to certain religious beliefs. But the turning point for me came years ago as I sat in a very prominent church and listened to the message being given. From the pulpit, the minister said, "God is a Jealous God." And I started to think to myself, well, I know that He is a loving God, and a righteous God, but Jealous? God is jealous of me? That made me realize that I did not want to adhere to the belief system.

I felt so sorry for Oprah at that moment. And my Pastor, immediately corrected her thought process, by reminding us that God is not jealous OF us...He was jealous FOR us.

During the rest of the sermon, he sighted verse after verse of how God is jealous for us. That He desires for us to only have eyes for Him. That His jealousy was a righteous jealousy...for our benefit, He desires us to love him completely and to love Him exclusively. It was VERY powerful. I saw my actions from the night before in a new light. Not necessarily justifying my thoughts, but definitely giving them perspective.

I started to see that I was not jealous of the twenty-something. I was jealous for the attention of my beloved.(which, by the way, I never really questioned...my focus was always on the varmint) I was however, threatened by the fact that she could draw his attention away from me and onto her. I was Jealous for my husband. Simple as that.

But more importantly, I started to see how my daily actions, robbed my Lord from my affections. Oh, how wonderful to follow a God who is not jealous of things that take our focus off Him. But instead He reserves His jealously, strictly FOR us. He is not swayed (like I was) by the distraction that takes our attention. He is solely focused on us, and our attention on Him.

That is where I made my mistake. I focused on the distraction.

Oh, Lord keep my eyes on you. Help me to see truth in a dark world. Guide me to your heart that I may dwell in the presence of your glory. May my heart belong only to you and may I be given the opportunity to serve you daily. Thank you for this life lesson. Thank you for loving me so much that anything that takes my love away from you makes you burn with jealousy. I am humbled that you love me so much that you are JEALOUS for me with divine jealousy. Make me ever aware of where your jealousy resides...for me not of me.

These are a few of my favorite things...

So how about every Friday we share some of our favorite things??? It could be a new product, or a great buy, or even a special moment. Like a Top 10 list for the week...this could be fun.

Ready?

Here is mine:
10. Gotta love my V05 Passion Fruit Smoothie shampoo...my husband is still barking, but I LOVE IT
9. Working in the garden with my sister this week.
8. Dunkin Donuts coffee...now available in a store near you....it smells AMAZING (my husband swears it smells like donuts)
7. My son turning 10.
6. NOT bouncing 10 checks, like I feared I would, because of an error.
5. The Cubs had a great week and won their 10,000th game ( only the 2nd team in history to do so!!!)
4. Great time in the WORD this week...I am loving Romans right now.
3. Someone, who will remain unnamed, attempting a Master Cleanse Fast, and us laughing our heads off...good times, good times...even better with a cup of Joe and a sandwich...right?
2. My brother graduating from the Sheriffs Academy...maybe he'll start calling again.
and my number 1 Favorite thing this week....
1. The Kitchen Cabinet are finally installed and look BEAUTIFUL!!!

What were your highlights for the week?

Quirky Things

For some reason, I have been thinking about quirky personality traits and preferences. I have a whole passel of them and so does everyone else. For some reason, our own never seem too weird or "out there" but when you think about others, sometimes we think, "they're crazy!!!"

My husband really likes spaghetti. But don't even think about mixing the sauce with the noodles. He hates that. He likes a heaping helping of sauce right on top of his noodles, and then HE mixes it up. Even when making his lunch for the next day, I send one container with noodles and bread, and the other with sauce.

He will drink a soda, right out of the pantry at room temp.

He thinks that any burger, even homemade, will taste like a McDonald's one if you put ketchup on it.

He dries off completely while still in the shower...that one makes no sense to me.

If the house smells good when he gets home, it automatically seems "clean" in his mind. (pine sol rubbed on the door jams 15min before he gets home works wonders on his mind!!!)

Me, I have my own as well.

I would rather not drink milk or OJ at all then to have to drink it in a plastic cup. I like mine ICE COLD and in a real glass.

Same with my coffee. No Styrofoam or paper cups please...and don't get me started on lids on coffee. I need a big hefty mug and a comfy chair.

If I am going to get the luxury of a long hot bath, I like to jump in the shower first and get all clean. That way I can soak in CLEAN water, which is much more relaxing to me then in dirty water.

I enjoy cooking so much that I really HATE going out to eat on special occasions. Give me fifty bucks and let me go buy steak and scallops and artichokes or asparagus and I am pleased as punch to make my own birthday lunch or Mothers Day lunch.

What freaky things do you like or dis-like? I would love to know so that I am not alone.

Truth

This past Sunday, our Sunday School was discussing what it means to be "on fire" for the Lord. The conversation eventually evolved into what keeps you from being "on fire" for the Lord. I sat there, usually one who speaks up and banters back and forth within the discussion, kind of dumbfounded. Each person, who chimed in about what kept them from being "on fire" stated something different (life, kids, job, stress) and with each reason, I saw myself.

But instead of agreeing with them, I sat there and had the quiet realization that each of those reasons, was one thing. SIN. No matter how it was sugar coated, or what excuse was given, they were all sin.


In my mind, while sitting quietly, I became convicted about how often I excuse my behavior instead of just owning up to the fact that I am sinner. And somehow, instead of beating myself up about it, and hence making excuses. I found an amazing freedom. I realized that only after I acknowledge my sin and bondage, can I be set free.


The Lord did not send his only Son to take away my excuses. He died for my SIN. Therefore, I need to stop excusing my sin, and instead, own up to it.


I am not just talking about the BIG sins, the ones most of us steer clear of like, murder, theft, and blasphemy. I am talking about my own sins that put Him on that cross. Back at Easter, I posted this

Instead, Lord, fill my mind with all that put Your Son on the Cross that day.

All my own short comings.

All my sins.

All my denials.

All my fence walking.

My idol worship that spit in the face of your only Son.

My pride that gambled for His robe.

My gluttony that pierced His side.

My anger that ridiculed Him.

My bitterness like vinegar to His lips.

My blasphemy like thorns around his head.

Reconciling our sin with the cross is or should be every believers goal. In reconciliation, we find freedom, and in freedom we find our purpose. For God did not save us so that we would remain in bondage to sin, He saved us to be set free, and in living the free life, we honor Him.

Honor and discipleship can not be hand in hand with excuses.

I vow to take every thought captive, every word in prayer, and every breath in freedom.

John 8:36 (NIV)

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

Galatians 5:1-3

"Freedom in Christ 1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery"

I'm still here...I think

This is my 10th entry in the past week. I am sad to say that none of them have emerged from the edit column to the post column. That is the consequence of only having 5 minutes of time to tell days worth of stories. I will catch up I promise. Our new cabinets have been installed, baseball ahs begun, and our school year is coming to a close. More on all that later. As for now, here is one thing of note, God is doing some serious stuff in our lives right now. REALLY BIG stuff...not necessarily fun stuff, but amazing in that GOd kind of way. Pray for us, pray for me.

Yippee

Just had to stop and sit down in all my painting mess and let God have His due. Like I posted, the remodel has been all headache and no reward. I was so sick of the frustrations, one in particular, the ceiling.
After removing the popcorn texture, which was SO easy, even if REALLY messy, we fixed some of the problem areas. When we removed the wall, there was obviously part of the ceiling that needed to be patched with drywall and joint compound. Once again, not too difficult, but a little time consuming to say the least. But then we really hit the headache. After much discussion and research, we had decided to re-texture the ceiling by hand, not with a hopper. We thought at the time this was the less mess, less hang up option. But after SIX days of disaster..with not even one application going as we hoped, we had given up hope.
On Wednesday night when I got home from church, my husband was bummed with the progress or lack there of, and was ready to buy ceiling tiles to cover the entire kitchen ceiling. That is not the look I was going for and in my mind I just saw more opportunity for problems.
So, I asked my DH if I could take one last shot at making it work. He was hesitant, but agreed. I agreed, as well, that if my last ditch effort failed then we would go with his option. So this morning, before my feet hit the ground, I covered my ceiling in prayer.
I know, that seems silly, but I just asked that the Lord give me wisdom and patience. And that my husband, not matter my failure or success, would not be stressed with the situation. I pleaded with my Lord, not for a miracle, just a respite. Just a little light at the end of this mess.
I guess, you already know that HE showed up in a HUGE way.
After six days of trawling the texture on with no success, and six days of trying to roll the texture on with even LESS success. I had the idea to apply the texture with one of the huge sponges that we cleaned the grout with when we laid the ceramic tile. And guess what? It totally worked, it looked GREAT, and it is done!!!
Yes, I said done. After six day of failure, one morning of prayer led me to the promised land. I completed the entire kitchen and hallway in about 4 hours.
How about a little praise dance yall? This was so huge in so many ways...you might not fully get it...but I do. And I am grateful.
Who knew He was such a pro at kitchen remodeling? Especially with the hangups and the disasters?
I guess, He has been practicing lately.
I wonder what he has been remodeling here of late?
Could it be me?
Yes, indeed!!!

Remodeling...more than I bargained for

We are still working on our kitchen remodel. We decided 3 weeks ago to have custom cabinets made and installed by a professional. We were kind of stuck after the cabinets that we planned to install ourselves were discontinued. Since we were not going to be able to match our existing ones, we decided to start all over and pay someone else to have the headache. I was so looking forward to doing "our" part and let the heavy weights handle all the hard stuff. We were going to have 3-4 weeks to patch the drywall where we had removed a wall, remove the popcorn from the ceiling and re-texture it, fix a plumbing issue, and remove the existing cabinets.

Easy enough, right?

WRONG!!!

It has been one headache after another. Both my DH and I were wearing thin, and it was really getting to the point of not even being excited about the beautiful cabinets that would be arriving once we tackled "our" part. I was ready to throw my entire kitchen out the window...and would have, but that would have been one more drywall patch that I would have to do and it just wasn't worth it in the end.

Everything, and I mean everything has been a problem. Not one thing went according to plan. Most things didn't even go by plan B or plan C...that's how bad it has been.

Then just when I think I see the light at the end of the nightmare, I see that God has a remodel of His own in mind.

I shake my head in wonder. What is HE thinking? Why now? Why this area? Why can't I just remodel my kitchen now and my soul later?

Then I am reminded that God often speaks to me when my world is already slightly off kilter. Like when there is all kinds of turmoil around me and everything seems shaken, He comes in and shakes me. I am beginning to see that I often miss his subtle clues and hence when I finally pick up on His still small voice, it is only because I have given up on everything else. I am at my whits end, and unable to take any more.

And there He is saying, "Did we really have to go through this all again?"

Than slowly, it unravels before me. My hindsight is amazing! I mean, I could really get lost in bragging about how clear I see the signs when I am looking at them from this side. Yep, there it is, the small nudging of my Father to slow down and listen. And there it is again, that verse that came to me...out of the blue. And then I see Him speaking to me through others, and then in my prayer life...and YET I never listened and heeded.

And now, here I am. Disheveled and ashamed of my own "cabinetry". Aware of every flaw, and in pride, still pointing out that everybody else is worse off.

I guess my life, like my kitchen, was in worse shape than originally believed. And only in removing the old, and tearing down the rotted frame work, was the real transformation even possible.

I want more than anything for my real kitchen to be beautiful and a shining example of the hard work that has been put into it.

But more than that, I want to be a new creation. A shining example of what a True Master can do with a shabby excuse for a disciple. I realize that remodeling is always more work than new construction. Instead of building from the ground up, you must weigh what is worth keeping and what must be replaced.

Remodeling always involves removing the old and replacing it with the new. It just hurts so bad.

I am trying to be a visionary. Trying to find that place of new creatures, of solid foundations. But the cost seems so steep. And I am not feeling worth it.

But maybe I can cling to the fact that He says I am.

Not only that, but that I can be transformed. Made new.

Me and my kitchen, are gettin a face lift.

Bear with me. He's not done with me just yet.