Marriage

Before I get to the actual topic I have the April mitt of the month (although it's actually a pot holder with a matching towel)

This weekend I was able to attend my Aunt and Uncle's 50th wedding anniversary party. They were married young so they were able to really enjoy the celebration. Here is my daughter and several cousins at the party.

My cousin Jodi took this picture-she is amazing with a camera and photoshop.

50 years of marriage really made me think.
This year is my 15th wedding anniversary. I have to admit I am a very lucky woman. My husband is very kind, loving, loyal, full of intregrity, smart, hard working and generally a much better person than I am.
Here's the rub, it's hard to be married to someone you know is actually a more likeable than you are.
We started dating 18 years ago and I have pretty much held the title of "the Bad Guy" in our relationship ever since. It's my own fault but man, the only time I shook it was when he forgot our anniversary and I remembered it (twice).

I am a talker- I love to talk all the time about everything. My husband does not, and I end up feeling like the host of the "Hey, let's talk" Game show.

"Hi and welcome to the 'Hey, Let's Talk' Game Show.
The first topic up for this evening is 'Things that happened to you today'"

"I'll take "Not a whole lot" for $200, Alex"



I guess when I look at the big picture- it's not much to gripe about. The truth is I am most grouchy when he's gone- working late or on a business trip. There's not much in this world I wouldn't rather do with him, and every time anything happens he's the first person I want to tell. He understands my sense of humor and thinks I am so funny. For me, there's not much that beats that.
I would be a very happy woman if I got to celebrate a 50th wedding anniversary with him.

The Thinking Chair

I call this the thinking chair.

I know my Dad put it by his pond to sit and fish, but I use it to think. When I get stressed or need to pray with out interruption I go there. I have sat there in the wild wind of an incoming storm and in the sweet sun light of a new dawn. I have had to admit the depths of my own rotten apple core there. I have found the very words of God spoken on the wind there.


God did something untouchable when he designed this world. Even with the introduction of sin and decay to the world- ponds, mountains, rivers, deserts, have a glory about them that leads straight to Him.  Even a little pond in the middle of nowhere.

For example this little Rose called "Shockwave" might have been bred to be vibrant yellow, bushy and hearty but who put those little genes in this plant- the Master gardener. Now if he can hide that away in a rose- what can he do with the heart of a man or woman?

Drink up abundant life today.

Morning Walk

So, I have been walking every morning to outsmart my clingy metabolism that appears to have hunkered down for famine and drought. I have really begun to enjoy these walks as a special time to worship in music and to get in touch with gratitude.
Here are some highlights of my walk this morning:



Grancy Grey Beard tree

Old Tractor- most of these shots were near my grandmother's house which does at times seem like something out of a fairy tale.

around the corner from my parent's house

This one makes me think of the old Irish blessing "may the road rise up to meet ya!"

part of my yard.

My little "Joseph's coat" rose. It's a mix of yellow, red and pink.

God really piled it on this Morning.

Side note- I watched a little film called Flipped last night and I happily recommend it. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0817177/

Thought food for the Soul

Best Book Ever: Crazy Love by Francis Chan
http://crazylovebook.com/

Great illustrations from this book:

What if the disciples had took the fishes and loaves from Jesus after he bless them, said "Thank you so much for these great blessings" then sat down and ate them all, never passing any out? Terrible right, but that's pretty much exactly what American Christians do. God put enough food on this planet for everyone but we have to see that it gets to who needs it. It's our job as the ones with all the wealth.
Having gone to Mexico on a mission trip I can say we live like kings and most of our "Necessities" aren't anywhere near being necessary for life. Give some up to care for another soul.

When Jesus said if you fed the poor you fed me, if you clothed the naked, you clothed me. It means, we should treat everyone we meet like Jesus. Take the Bible literally - no really take it word for word especially the words Jesus said.

Love your enemies- if you don't and you say your a Christian you are a liar. Love terrorist, pray for them, send aid to their children, tell them about God even if you die in the process. Love criminals, grouches, lazy folks, liars, fakers, etc... Give without expecting back in return. God will do great miracles though acts like these, eternal miracles.

If you don't believe me, or the bible check out this movie for confirmation:
http://endofthespear.com/

Love, Hope and Faith- abide in these

Pine wood derby

This weekend my first born had his scout banquet and competed in the pine wood derby with a car he and his dad built. Dad is his den leader. He learned an important lesson- being a cool snake with racing flames does not guarantee a win. This is one race where being the heaviest is really good- (gravity based race). He came in dead last but much to my great pride, took it very well and had a great time. Score one for amateur parenting!

Sigh

Why do we want others to hurt along with us? Fear of being alone? I did it this morning. Made a snide comment about my husband's weight loss because I know I am going down in a blaze of glorious failure on my weight loss struggle. I cannot express how vile I feel about it. I am an absolute waste of air when Jesus is not at the wheel. Lord, please make me strong enough to take my pain only to you.
Fortunately there is hope in Christ, power in Christ and sincere repentance. I can honestly say I hate what I did, deeply desire never to do it again and will truthfully apologize.

Okay, spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down. The rose gardener in me loves this ring and the whole blossom line is so beautiful.

Elegant simplicity

http://search.jamesavery.com/?q=blossom&search_originated=1

This Weekend

• My husband and son went on a boyscout camping trip. They always have so much fun and adventure on these. My daughter and I had a "girls night" as she calls it. This entails us watching a marathon of the 1st season of 5 Mile Creek - a great Disney series from back in the day- and eating tons of junk food (chocolate cookies, potato chips and ice cream). We also painted our nails, had tea parties and watched When in Rome with my Mom. The weather was lovely so we all spent time outside.

My daughter in dreamland on "Daddy's Pillow"

The softest most sinful Chocolate sugar cookies - My daughter's pick

My sister and children investigating a fallen tree on my father's property.

• My grandmother celebrated her 91st Birthday this weekend and we were happy to be there to celebrate with her. I got her signature dessert Strawberry Punch bowl cake - now made by my aunts. It is super easy to make but I cannot keep it in my house. You take the lid of a cake saver and layer crumble yellow cake, smashed sugared strawberries, vanilla pudding, and cool whip then repeat until the container is full. When you scoop down through the layer- well suffice it to say, you get one of my sweetest childhood memories.

Grandma opening her birthday cards- she had quite a few considering her 11 children, and hundreds or so grand kids and greatgrands.
the CAKE-


My sweet son with his sunburned cheeks from a weekend outside and Dad's sunscreen handicap.