Saturday, May 22, 2010

Gardening

Yesterday my neighbor from across the street stopped by. We ended up talking about my yard. If it's possible to have multiple passions then I guess I am one of those people. I have every kind of plant known to mankind and then some. I am sure I have plants that haven't even been named yet or even "discovered" growing in my yard! We bought the house we live in largely due to the beautiful yard. It has been a sort of "curse" ever since. (said sarcastically) I was so sick the last three summers or so that no work was done. The weeds took over and let's just say those lovely 3 feet tall Ferns and Coral Bells, to name only a couple were lost under weed upon weed. One day I took out 22 small trees from my small side yard. Yes! 22. Ranging in size from 5 feet to 15 feet. Speaking of trees we have a red bud in a pot. It's about 15 feet tall and it's been dug up and potted for almost two years. Want it? It's yours. My husband "saved it" Waste of time if you ask me!
Lately I have been looking at every plant and saying, "Hmmm, a weed is only a weed if I don't like it" Right? Well, BE GONE Leather Leaf Mahonias and the birds that eat the berries and plop them on my outdoor furniture. I gave my neighbor THREE potted ones yesterday and cut down a 6 foot tall one not too long ago. My husband very much dislikes it when I do stuff like rip out "beautiful" Nandinas and toss them away like trash. Any one want some? I better not! We only have about 20 or more...
I accidentally destroyed my "Bridal Veil Clematis" a week ago. I was heart broken for about a minute then I got over it. It'll come back next year, besides now I have more light in my house and I kinda like that!
If chopping down Lilacs is a sin then I am guilty! If digging up and throwing away 6 Mediterranean Heathers is bad then, ahem, guilty! They were overgrown and about 10 years old anyway! Besides the Lavender and Shasta Daisies look Oh so much better in that spot.
So what does this have to do with my neighbor? I simply said to her "You have to look at my house everyday where do you think I should put these thousands of Stella D'Ora Lilies that need to be moved?" Yes, my Ferns came back and now, no more lilies (at least if I keep the Lilies in that spot.
I was into killing ALL of the Lilies but I suppose my husband is right on this one, they do cost around $6 a piece. I know, I could sell them but it's just too much trouble.
Anyway so guess what I did today? Yup, planted Day Lilies just in front of the Roses and behind my walk-way behind the Salvia and Candy Tuft.
The joke around here is if you see a new plant coming up that you might like don't tell mom! She'll cut it down or kill it. The truth of it is though, Our yard, it's beautiful. While I might make my hubby frustrated at times I'll never forget to remind him how he reacted when he saw the side yard After I took out the 20 plus trees. He loved it. He said he simply could not imagine how lovely it would look. Now what to do with the dozen Oak Leaf Hydrangeas and the Vinca Minor taking over my yard. Hmmm, I learned how to use a chainsaw last week maybe I'll get out that sprayer and buy some chemicals and see about using that thing as well! Just kidding honey, if your reading this!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

he DID it AGAIN!

Can you believe it? YES! The enemy came in when I was doing life and tried to destroy my family and marriage. Surprised? Who me? I wish I could say no. But, alas, YES. I did not give the enemy enough credit. Do we ever? Yes God is control but He has given this world over to the enemies schemes. satan prowls around this world seeking to steal, kill, and destroy those whom he may devour. "he" got me out on a limb so to speak and then fired up the chainsaw and I came crashing down along with everything and everyone around me.
I have a beautiful friend praying for me, pursuing me, calling me, and not giving up because she loves Jesus, not just me, but Jesus and she HATES satan and what he is doing to marriages and families. satan wants what God wants. God wants our family. "satan" wants our family. God already has our family BUT if he can destroy our witness and tear us apart by the roots then that's exactly what he will do! Today HIS (GOD's) Mercies are new and I am walking the path He has for me! I am calling in the calvary! Enough of this! I am commanding the enemy to leave. Jesus I am forever yours. Protect our family--our foster children, our marriage, our children in Africa, our biological children etc. Today I am "CHOOSING" to walk in your Grace Lord. It is always ENOUGH!

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Today

Who knew? Who knew that this cross of mine to bear would be so hard? Who knew? Jesus knew. He kept himself nailed for my transgressions and sins. Some days all you need is a shoulder to cry on and a friend to listen to you. Today I need you Jesus (my husband) to wrap your loving arms around me and give me the strength to fight the battle I am in with the enemy.
Help me,please,just help me.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

As it turns out

This day will go down in history for me. It truly is the little things and the little decisions you make along this journey that matter isn't it? The small decisions like, "should I cook dinner or read to my three year old?" Does it matter if dinner is late? What about the homeless lady that needs a shoulder just for an hour or the spouse that's crying out for attention, the spouse that just wants to be nurtured and loved? What about the orphans, the widows, the AIDS victims? Is life fair? NO! NO! NO! IT never will be.
Every ending is a NEW Beginning. I suppose today is the first day of the end... a new beginning of sorts.

My feet are to the fire!

Ever have one of those days that seems to last forever? That's how my life has felt lately. The song I am posting below says it all. I cannot go on much longer the way things are but I know God will take care of me.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Letting go and GOING!

We are jumping! No More Comfort ZONES for us!




more about "Francesca Battistelli - I'm Letting Go", posted with vodpod

Monday, May 10, 2010

Let us go together...

Yes. I would have loved to be able to worship the Lord in church yesterday with my fellow family in Christ, however: I felt like God called me out to serve. So I did. I know several people don't get that and feel the need to tell me. I know you are motivated by love and care for me. I do admit though, it makes me sad. I prayed, I danced, I worshiped. I experienced the filling of the Spirit and received fresh faith for the Journey. God is bigger than the four walls of the church. I am however looking forward to worshiping with my family in the church building next Sunday.
I was blessed anew last night as I was reading Charles Spurgeon's:
"Morning and Evening" evening May 9th.
Here it is:

"Come, My beloved, let us go out into the fields...Let Us...See whether the vines have budded. Song of Solomon 7:11-12"
The Bride was about to engage in hard work and desired her beloved's company in it. She does not say, "I will go," but "let us go," In like fashion, it is a blessing to work when Jesus is at our side! It is the business of God's people to be the trimmers of God's vines. Like our first parents, we are put into the garden of the Lord for usefulness; let us then go out into the fields. When God's people are thinking properly, they desire to enjoy communion with Christ. Some may imagine the cannot serve Christ actively and still have fellowship with Him; they are mistaken. Ther is no doubt that we may easily neglect our inward life in outward exercises and be forced to say, "They made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own my vineyard have I not kept!" There is no reason why this should be the case except for our foolishness and neglect. It is certain that a professing Christian may do nothing and end up just as lifeless in spiritual things as those who are most busy. Mary was not praised for sitting still, but for her sitting at Jesus' feet. Even so, Christians are not to be praised for neglecting duties under the pretense of having secret fellowship with Jesus: It is not sitting, but sitting at Jesus' feet that is commendable. Do not think that activity is in itself an evil: It is a great blessing and a means of grace to us. Paul called it a Grace given to him to be allowed to preach; and every form of Christian service may become a personal blessing to those engaged in it. Those whose have most fellowship with Christ are not recluses or hermits, who have time on their hands, but tireless workers who are toiling for Jesus and who, in their endeavor have Him side by side with them, so that they are workers together with God. Let us remember then, in anything we have to do for Jesus, we can do it and should do it in close communion with HIM.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Mother's Day

Since today is Mother's Day you might expect that you would find me inside a church. Instead I am taking the church to a lady I met a week or so ago. She and her husband lost there jobs and subsequently lost their house and the state took their daughter. I met her in the most "foot in your mouth" kind of way! I walked into the place she now works and she asked me how I was. I promptly responded "TIRED" But I'll be better though, when I get a large cup of coffee with cream and sugar! Then I went on to pour out all my troubles. Why not? She was listening and seemed to care. I needed someone to talk to and I had been praying all day! I think God may have needed a break (Just kidding about God needing a break)
So I proceeded to tell her about my two biological children and the three foster care children we just took in a few months ago. I said I was exhausted, that the boys were full of energy and that I was burdened by their situation etc. Oh yah, I went on and on to a perfect stranger!
Then the FOOT WENT IN! She says to me, "yeah, I lost my daughter about three months ago. The state took her because we couldn't care for her." Wow. Me and my big stupid mouth! She was a mom grieving the loss of her child to foster care and I was standing their grumbling.
I shared the Gospel with her and told her I would pray for her and I do!
I am going to try and find her today. I am going to hug her and share God's love with her in some small way. This IS the church. Jesus PLEASE minister to this lady through me. Then I am going to prepare a small "feast" for the biological mom of the three children in our care. Please pray as we go about trying to be Jesus to the broken-hearted.
I will be praying this song as I try to find her.
By Britt Nicole:
Feels like I've been here forever,
Why can't you just intervene?
Do you see the tears keep falling
I'm falling apart at the seams,
You never said the road would be easy
You said you would never leave,
And you never promised that this life isn't hard,
But you promised you'd take care of me,
So I'll stop searching for the answer,
I'll stop praying for an escape,
I'll trust you God with where I am
And believe you will have your way,
Just have your way,
Just have your way,
My friends and my family have left me,
And I feel so ashamed and so cold,
Remind me you take broken things,
And turn them into beautiful,
So I'll stop searching for the answer,
I'll stop praying for an escape,
I'll trust you God with where I am
And believe that you will have your way,
Just have your way,
Just have your way,
Even if my dreams have died,
Eve if I don't survive,
I'll still worship you with all my life,
My life, yeah,
And I'll stop searching for the answers,
I'll stop praying for an escape,
And I'll trust you God with where I am,
And believe that you will have you way,
Just have your way,
Just have your way, yeah
I know you will,
I won't forget,
You love me,
Have your way,
Yeah

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Coupons for photos

HI! I have been going through some digital photos recently and found this site. You can save a lot of money by using these coupons. Plus, you can down load the photos to your local Walgreen's for pick up or if your like me and have family all over the country you can choose another Walgreen's in another city/state and download them for pick up there at no extra charge. Pretty Cool, Huh?
http://www.retailmenot.com/view/walgreens.com
Happy Scrapbooking!

Friday, May 7, 2010

The Sunday Box

I wanted to tell you all about our
"Sunday Box"
It works like this:
If a child/teen leaves something lying around the house and doesn't put it away BEFORE bedtime I pick it up and put it in a large plastic box in my room. This includes things left on kitchen counters and also bathroom counters such as hair brushes and toothbrushes. Hey, they can brush their teeth with their finger and they won't get a cavity in a couple of days!
This week I have a plethora of things! Shoes, lots of clothes----clothes that I might add one of my daughters was looking for and needed "before" Sunday. Hmmmm, too bad huh? I have had school bags go in there---you wouldn't believe it!
The point is to remember, when you are sharing a bathroom amongst 5 siblings it isn't nice to leave things on the counter, floor, or outside the door in the hallway. And, when there are seven of us we don't want to be tripping over each others things.
Everyone gets all of their things back on Sunday. One catch is if they do not go immediately and put it away where it belongs then we get to keep it another week. If they get it taken on Monday or Saturday they will still get it back on Sunday.
You would be surprised at what they DON'T miss! Those things I keep a while longer then we talk about whether they really need them or not.
My husband and I hope to teach all of our children "people, BEFORE things." I sure hope it works.
Still relying on the Lord!
Blessings
Ami