Another poem....

I Walked a Mile with Pleasure

I walked a mile with Pleasure;
She chatted all the way;
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.

I walked a mile with Sorrow,
And ne’er a word said she;
But, oh! The things I learned from her,
When sorrow walked with me.

-Robert Browning Hamilton

I love the old hymns....

My Hope is Built

My hope is built on nothing less,
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

by Edward Mote (1797-1874)

Picnic with the Huffs

Today we had a picnic with the Huffs at Riverside Park.

We had a wonderful time with fried chicken, green salad, fresh grapes and juice, followed by a space themed birthday cake for my little man. The kids played and ran and played and ran. As you can see, even Reya made some new friends. :)

Thanks for such a great day!

A Warning to The Lazy Man or Woman

A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest;
So shall your poverty come like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.
Proverbs 24:33-34

I must remind myself not to be lazy. My Lord, my children, my husband, and yes, even I, deserve better. It is insidious, creeping into every moment of my life, unless I am watchful against it.

Things that help me?

1. Putting on music while I do my chores.

2. Praying while I do my dishes (this is my #1 problem area).

3. Do one thing at a time. Regardless of how much there is to do, it is too easy to get discouraged with 20 things half done.

4. Don't get stuck in the blame and guilt games. Get up and do better now!

5. Scheduling! A decent bedtime, and starting your day with bible and prayer time. Things are always more difficult if you are tired. And life can easily get out of perspective if not grounded in the word.

So, if you struggle with this also, let us stand up and do what is needed. Confess our sins, and put them behind us.

A friend that holds you accountable, is a friend indeed.

Gift From God

GIFT FROM GOD

A new song wells within my heart,
As small and precious life within me grows.
Fear is melting, doubt no more,
This promise more felt than heard.

Has time changed the quality of me,
To a Woman, a child no more?
Daughter, now Mother, Love, now Wife,
My name is as changing as wind on the grass.

Now building creation, inside a womb I denied,
A miracle, a wonder, my mind a mute hostage,
To question, not ever, to fear, do not speak,
For watching and waiting for fruition to bear.

Have you given me my namesake,
An inheritance for my lasting joy?
Have you given me the place to dwell,
within your arms of healing love?

My song it rises quickly, slowly, strongly,
To praise your gift to me and mine,
May it never die upon my lips,
Except for speechless awe.

I wrote this when I found out I was pregnant with Isaiah who today turns 4 years old. Much love to my little man and the Lord who gave him to me.

Mosquito Heaven - No More

I've been tending my garden in the evenings just as the sun is setting and the day is cooling down. Unfortunately this is apparently when the mosquitoes come out for their daily feast.

Sooooooo... I've researched and found some tips of dealing with the evil beasts and their miserable bites.

To deter the pests in the first place, put Listerine in a spray bottle and spray it on yourself. I'm not sure if other brands will work, but until shopping day next week, that is what I'll be trying. I am so grateful that Michelle mentioned this! I need relief!

And if you have already been viciously attacked here is a list of things you can try for itch relief.

http://tipnut.com/over-40-mosquito-bite-itch-relief-tips/

I just tried the first one, rubbing a dry bar of soap on your bites. It worked!

Hope this helps!

My Cup Runneth Over

I have been so very blessed this week.

We found out that we are expecting a wonderful new baby. By March 2011, we will have 3 beautiful children to fill our home and our hearts.

The sewing shop fixed my sewing machine and gave me a 75% (!!!) rebate. I was so sad when if fell off of my table and discouraged when I heard that the service rates had gone up. So when the repairman called me with the total I was so grateful.

And yesterday the Parks and Rec Department called to let me know that I can indeed have a third garden plot for free! They offered several more as well, scattered around the garden. I admit I was tempted. But I started with the plan for 3 plots and this one is directly next to my plots.

Here is a pic of my new plot - A-4. You can see it is backing A-3. It gives me access to another water spigot as well.

And my neighbor and friend, Floyd, is actually out there RIGHT NOW tilling it.

I am so excited. I see rows of potatoes, cabbage and onions. I can put out the kid pool for my children to while away the hours I labor there.

I am very thankful.

Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever.

Happy News - And Bible Verses for Pregnancy

When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved,
He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
Genesis 29:31

Then God remembered Rachel,
and God listened to her and opened her womb.
Genesis 30:22

By the God of your father who will help you,
And by the Almighty who will bless you With blessings of heaven above,
Blessings of the deep that lies beneath,
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
Genesis 49:25

And He will love you and bless you and multiply you;
He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land,
your grain and your new wine and your oil,
the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock,
in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you.
Deuteronomy 7:13

Did not He who made me in the womb make them?
Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?
Job 31:15

But You are He who took Me out of the womb;
You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts.
Psalm 22:9

I was cast upon You from birth.
From My mother’s womb You have been My God.
Psalm 22:10

By You I have been upheld from birth;
You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb.
My praise shall be continually of You.
Psalm 71:6

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Psalm 127:3

For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
Psalm 139:13-14

As you do not know what is the way of the wind,
Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child,
So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.
Ecclesiastes 11:5

Thus says the LORD who made you and formed you from the womb, who will help you:
'Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.'
Isaiah 44:2

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb:
"I am the LORD, who makes all things,
Who stretches out the heavens all alone,
Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;"
Isaiah 44:24

"Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?" says the LORD.
"Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?" says your God.
Isaiah 66:9

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations."
Jeremiah 1:5

But when it pleased God,
who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace,
Galatians 1:15

For He has strengthened the bars of your gates;
He has blessed your children within you.
Psalm 147:13

The righteous man walks in his integrity;
His children are blessed after him.
Proverbs 20:7

Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
Proverbs 31:28

They shall not labor in vain, Nor bring forth children for trouble;
For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the LORD,
And their offspring with them.
Isaiah 65:23

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
Psalm 127:4-5

Self Evident...

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
United States Declaration of Independence Preamble

Oh the fresh smell of dirt...

I am overjoyed!

A kind neighbor tilled my garden today! He asked for nothing in return, and in fact has turned down my every offer so far to assist or repay him. I just met him at the garden last week, as we stood and looked sadly at our grassy plots, both looking forlorn and directionless. We laughed about how well our gardens grew grass and comfrey, and how if we looked REALLY hard we could just see our onions sticking out of the wild foliage.

He said he would be back this week and would gladly till my garden along with his own. I was so very impressed with his kindness. And on Monday, I found that he had impressed others as well.

Floyd Willet - Local Good Samaritan

And here.... for your pleasure and most definitely mine......