:: A New Awakening-

 

Yesterday was so sweet!  Thank you everyone for such warm thoughts and wishes on my birthday.

My youngest daughter brought me…carbs    breakfast-   Yummie!  How could I resist my favorite carrot pecan muffin… and a couple of sausage Kolaches?!    Good thing my birthday only comes ‘round once a year!

I indulged and it was so GOOD!   Tonight she and her hubby took us to Road House Steak house for dinner.  I did way better there… no picture, but I had Steak, Sweet Potato and Green beans… with a couple of tall glasses of unsweet tea!    THAT! was delicious.  Best steak EV.ER!

 

My oldest daughter and her daughter, brought me hand picked flowers all along their country road… Little jonquils, Iris, Red Bud (from a tree) and er, hmmm… some blue bonnets (from their field) BEAUTIFUL!

• My neighbors Red Bud tree!

Both yesterday and today were such lovely weather days, though  yesterday was cooler and a bit windy!  It was still sunny and nice! 

 

• Wisteria …starting to bloom! Very soon they’ll be big and showy… more pictures to come.

I’ve been out in the yard looking at all the flowers that are starting to bloom—Spring is finally here! The flowers are beautiful but… 

I’m hoping more than anything—to get something planted to eat! (Crazy weather has this gardening amateur…off schedule for sure!)

 

• My very own Red Bud tree—purchased from a nursery 2 years ago.  This is the first time to bloom.  It’s still so small…but I’m so happy to see it bloom!

• Iris (purple)  about to bloom… I only discovered these in my yard a few years ago.  All the rest are white! 

I love seeing all these early happenings of new life!  Little buds everywhere… it all makes me smile!

‘Til Next time, Be Blessed

Patricia

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:: A Routine Life is Good

~Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
~Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.  ~ Psalm 103: 4-5

Budding Plum tree with streaming sunlight

* affiliate link included in this post

Today (Wednesday) was gorgeous!   The sun was shining and the ground had dried up in some areas… Honey was able to get on the mower and get part of the yard mowed. After that… there was still a good bit of the afternoon left, so I hung out some laundry I had washed while he was mowing.   I don’t generally hang clothes the same day he mows…

because well… the obvious!

Our daughter has been back to work for the second week… and I think we’re getting a pretty good schedule down.  Today was a little odd—both boys napped at the same time!  Miracles of miracles.  Sebastyan has colic—I feel for him.  His mom and I are discussing options—as he has had his formula changed twice already and nothing is helping.  She is ready to come around to my way of thinking…Probiotics- In the way of Kefir.  I’ll share with you how that goes hopefully by next week and we’ll be seeing an improvement.

Anyway, back to the schedule.  Once I get Bash asleep and Vince is playing with blocks, cars, what ever grabs his attention (a.k.a: The Honey) – I’m able to sit at the table with sister and do the instructive part of school.  She is learning to read and she’s coming along in math pretty well too!   The rest of her schooling comes naturally throughout the day, in a more unconventional setting—she’s doing quite well with all of it.

I’m able to stay pretty busy with house work, through out the day—and squeeze in some of the daily and weekly household chores in between activities with the kiddos.  The Honey has been dubbed “Trash Captain”  and he does dishes.  You don’t know how happy that makes me!  I’d rather do ALL THE LAUNDRY. ALONE. Than wash dishes.  I will wash dishes and I DO wash dishes.  It’s just not my favorite. Our kids were taught to put their cups on the microwave hutch when they were young;  I’ve taught my LITTLES to do it too- this way, I’m not washing cups all day.  Each has their own color and that simplifies things.  The dishes don’t really pile up, because the breakfast and lunch dishes get washed as soon as we’re through with that meal. 

Before I let the kids outside to play today—I turned on my dvd I bought a while back and walked.  I’m using the Leslie Sansone – dvd.  It’s called  Just Walk…(the ULTIMATE 5 DAY WALK PLAN). I bought it last year and it still had the plastic wrapper on it today when opened it!   I was walking before—but I was streaming it on YouTube.    The LITTLES joined in and did it with me.  We laughed for about half a mile!

I felt great after that workout! Why didn’t I do this all winter?  I. DON’T. KNOW.

All in all this week has been a good one.  I’m glad I’ve taken the time to meditate on the scripture I’ve shared with you.  When I’m hanging laundry, swinging on the porch with a baby, cooking, or crocheting (I’ll be honest haven’t crocheted much this week) …but my point is, whatever I’m doing I’ve been thinking about God’s benefits and I’ve been thinking happily about my birthday… Today, (Thursday, by the time you read this) and I’ve been counting my blessings!   I have so much to be thankful for.

Momma and Me Feb 20, 1966  … I was 11 mos. old.

‘Til next time, Bless the LORD~
Patricia
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:: Comfort in the One

Who heals all your diseases; ~Psalm 103

We had somewhat of an exciting day today…
first off, it was sunny and beautiful.  There is water standing in puddles throughout the yard and in the bar-ditches.  But overall the weather was wonderful.
I was outside with the kids for a little while. Bree had come in a told me she heard the police cars… a bunch of them going down the road, then right after that, The Honey came in from the mail box and said he saw an Ambulance pass by our road…followed by about  SEVEN Sheriff’s Vehicles…
Well naturally, we’re wondering what’s up… then we heard what we thought was the Care-Flight helicopter.  They came circled… and left without landing.  That was odd… It was followed by two more helicopters!  In the distance through the trees I could just make out where they had stopped. …with my binoculars.
Yeah… I was curious!  I also had a 5 and 4 year old… outside watching the choppers fly over.

Having seen the first one leave and none of them landing… I told Honey to check the news.  Sure enough…there it was!  On the TV and outside my door…just some distance away… about 10 acres maybe, 20?  Just on the other side of the cow pasture!

A woman had stolen an Ambulance.  She had been at the local hospital (some 20 miles away) being treated when she just decided to jump in there and take it!   I have no idea what prompted her to do that.  She is currently in jail waiting for bail.

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I had no intention of writing all that tonight when I sat down here at the computer—I was going to write something a little different.  But this has got me thinking about the human condition, and this woman’s story – whatever it may be, goes along with what I originally wanted to say.

Who heals all your diseases; ~Psalm 103   So … forgetting not all God’s benefits; I’ll say this…

One of the benefits mentioned here in Psalm 103 … is that God heals all our diseases.   Having been diagnosed with T2 Diabetes in 2014… and in 1999 with Psoriatic Arthritis…(auto immune) I have clung to this promise from God’s word.  Not the promise that He WILL heal my disease--- but the promise that HE CAN.  AND HE DOES.    But many people, those that know God intimately and those that don’t know God… but know about him… they will say something like

           —but God promises to heal our disease, and my mother died of heart disease and T2 diabetes… and he didn’t heal her…

- or,  My baby had childhood cancer and GOD took him from me.

…and I’m mad at Him for that.

-or,  How can I worship a God that does that?

These are true statements. True, because people are desperate.  Just like the woman for whatever reason stole that ambulance today… the bottom line is, she was desperate.  In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye…she perceived her circumstances wrongly.   When we hurt from pain or lose a loved one from a debilitating disease…something they’ve suffered long from.  Our perception can become skewed our emotions will lie to us (another topic all together) God has allowed this thing… to take our loved one or take our life and we curse Him.  Why?  Because …we err, and do not know the scripture nor the power of God.~ Matthew 22:29 

We forget that He is sovereign over all these things.

Do I pray that He will heal me?  Sure I do!  I pray it in faith.  I don’t want diabetes or P.A. (psoriatic arthritis)  and all the problems that accompany those diseases.  I want God to heal me!  Do I think he will?  I can’t answer that.  

I stood outside today… with my camera, and watched without knowing what was happening. I conjured all sorts of scenarios in my mind what could be happening just beyond the rise in the field.  But when I turned on my television, and saw the woman be shackled and put into the patrol car.  My heart sank.  I felt hurt for her.  Because she was desperate.

   

Do I think He can heal me?  Now that is the question… YES! He does heal all our disease.  But he never promises that He will. 

• Friend, if you’re reading this right now.  I hope that you will cling to the truth of God’s word and know that He cares for you. He wants us to know him and understand that He knows us and what we have need of more than anyone. Whatever pain or fear or desperation we may be experiencing… it isn’t as great as His name, Jesus.  There is comfort in that name.

‘Til next time, Bless the LORD~
Patricia
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:: Getting Hung up on the Details

 

 

Who pardons all your iniquities,  ~ Psalm 103:3

There are times when I think I’d like to write.

Not just here on my blog—but write stories.  The problem is- I’m a stickler for details when it comes to story telling.  I can go either way with the details.  I want the details , I need the details… yet, sometimes I forget the details!  A mystery novel… forget it!  I get hung up on details and just when I think I’ve got it figured out—the details are what trip me up, and keep me confused!

I’m pretty much an open book or so I thought. 

I’m not very pretentious.I talked frankly to my kids about all the sticky subjects -  I didn’t need a public service announcement telling me to Talk to my kids they’ll listen. When it came to all the bad things out there in life--- I opened up to them.  I gave them an account of my experience.  I spared some of the details. 

THAT BACK-FIRED.

That only made them more curious.  Kids are nosey. Some kids don’t just settle for a little information either; no, they know when you’ve given them a lame answer.

I used to write journals when I was young. After I married, I continued…and there were some entries I wrote and blathered on and on… I wrote volumes.

Sometimes, I poured out my heart into my journal, a young married woman—with no one to talk to while my husband was away, at work.  I would write my pipe dreams.  I would write my angry words. Hurt feelings. Jealous thoughts.  Discontentment spilled out onto the pages.  

My tears filled some pages.

One day- I destroyed those books.  I was released from the hold some of those words had on me. Looking back- I wish I hadn’t destroyed them.  I’d like to read them again, not to recapture those moments or feelings; not to rehash.   I’d  read them again—to see how far God has brought me.

Years later I began writing a gratitude journal. I grew and I changed.  I changed my words to praises, my words became prayers and THANK YOU’s. 

In that journal—I left out details.  Important details.  I wish I’d not done that.  Why?  Because, I think that I missed an opportunity then to recall God’s hand, now.

Some days I want to sit down and tell you some of the crazy things that have happened to me along life’s journey.  What stops me is the motivation behind it.  I get scared. What will people think? Will people walk away from me?  Will they judge?  I know I shouldn’t care about what people think.  I shouldn’t live my life in such a way that is pleasing to people;  but only to One.  JESUS should be my motivation. Is this story going to make a difference and effect change in someone’s life—and if so will that change be positive or negative. 

See?  

I don’t get to choose that.  God chooses that. He knows all the details, whether I tell them or not—and He’s forgiven me. Pardoned me. Removed all those things from me.  The only way I can tell a story with great detail about my Life before Christ—would be if it truly and genuinely Honored the LORD God. 

I’m not sure how to do that—I get hung up on the details.

‘Til next time, Bless the LORD~

Patricia
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:: Bless the LORD, My birthday week-

 

Bless the LORD, O my soul,
            And all that is within me, bless His holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul,
            And forget none of His benefits;   ~ Psalm 103:1-2

 

As it is my birthday week I thought I'd take some liberties in my posts this week…
Well the next 5 days.

 
I've had lots on my mind the past six months or so... And I've made no bones about the fact that turning 50,  not only has my attention and been a distraction; it’s also been quite bothersome for me!

I only know of 2 other birthdays that captured my attention so well.  The first being my 18th birthday!
I remember crying when I was about to be 18 years old. Thinking that somehow at that age I'd be thrust into the world with nothing but the shirt on my back -- and all the responsibility you could imagine would bear down upon my shoulders.
And I would crumple under the weight of it.

Silly?  Maybe.
Of course I was young- and quite full of myself. I think we all know someone that comes of age and knows what they're doing, how they're going to do it and with whom it will be done…

and with what level of energy and gusto!

I am NOT that person.

I'm here just days before my fiftieth birthday-- and still don't know the answers to SOME of those questions!

So yes, I’ve been mope-y and not looking forward to my birthday.  I’ve thought about lots of different aspects of my life. Things that have changed for me.  The first thing being the Type 2 diabetes diagnosis I was given last June— not long after I turned 49.  It was not a happy time for me.  I’ve thought about (and still it’s on my mind) … our home.  Whether we will get to live here for very much longer.  I’ve thought about mortality on so many levels, mine, my husbands, my dads… even my kids.  I know there are some, that have buried a child-  My own son has been through it.  It’s earth shattering. We shouldn’t have to think about that. The biggest change hasn’t happened recently… it’s been gradual over a few years—and that is my focus.

I’ve taken my eyes off Jesus.

The other day—a revelation came to me. Something I’d forgotten—and that is I’m not the center of my universe; and when I am—the LORD is not.

I’ve forgotten His benefits. 

…to the point of questioning myself.  Would I praise Him if there were no benefits?   I would hope so.

This week—and every week. But especially this week—I think it’s important to Praise His Holy name.

In doing so--  MY SOUL WILL BLESS THE LORD.

Turning 50 seems so INSIGNIFICANT now. 

‘Til next time, Bless the LORD~

Patricia
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